The Unhoneymooners: Further Problems with Ethan (Mainly)
Image of book provided by author for purposes of book review and discussion. Copyright © 2024 Christina Lauren. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
SPOILERS Obviously
Dear Storytellers,
If it isn’t obvious from my previous post, I didn’t care for this book. So please forgive me in advance because this will be a long winded rant.
I have nothing against the quality of the writing. But the story itself just wasn’t for me. I can be a sucker for enemies to lovers just as much as the rest of the girliepops, but in general, the quality of enemies to lovers as a troupe has gone down hill.
The classic confusion that causes the animosity is usually silly and can be fixed with one simple conversation. I say that as someone that usually likes nonsensical stories. But nonsensical in the sense of whimsy and magical realism, not one conversation would dismantle the whole “plot” of this story.
Unfortunately, the enemies to lovers troupe will never again hit the marks of Pride and Prejudice or North and South. Nor should we expect it to, as those are the blue print, and they are layered with societal standards relating to class, upbringing, background, and cultural geography.
The problems or “hatred” may have started with a simple miscommunication but that one thing builds and builds into much more, until it takes a lot more than one conversation to sort everything out.
There is also much more required of the characters in terms of personal growth before they are allowed their happily ever after. Essentially, they have to earn it.
The most recent additions of the troupe don’t dig this deep and although I wish more would. I can respect that everyone has their own preference of quick romantic guilty pleasures.
I would just like more of them to go a little bit deeper than the multiple versions of “arrogant twenty-five year old CEO playboy with daddy issues” bumps into the “I’m not like every girl next door struggling nineteen year old college student” and says something snarky with her responding in kind, resulting in them hating each other on sight.
But they’re just so attractive that they can’t stop glaring into one another’s orbs or admit that they have the hots for each other. Even though we have to hear about it via internal monologue for the entire book. You know what they say, all manufactured tension is sexy tension…right? They say that right?
Thankfully, this story doesn’t take us down that path. But that doesn’t mean it does any better at succeeding in getting out of the shallow waters of what has become the standard for the enemies-to-lovers trope.
There is no build after the initial miscommunication and as embarrassing as it might have been to have, one conversation could’ve cleared that up right away at any time in the story.
The problem then becomes a focus on a relationship that is not the one we’re reading about and the female main character is somewhat convinced pretty quickly to follow the male main characters way of B.S. thinking on this.
A lot of people seemed to like this book and they’re entitled to. I’m also not saying that the writers were going for anything deeper than a light read.
But can it be called a light read when the characters are this frustrating. Without further ado:
Ethan
via TENOR
Seriously, is this your king? This is a romance novel. Is this what we have to look forward to in terms of our romantic lead? Our hero? This is suppose to be a desirable partner to have readers wishing for? Fictional women shouldn’t even want this man.
As a concept, I liked the idea of the sister of the bride and brother of the groom having to go on the honeymoon instead. But in execution I just found it infuriating.
I can give Josh from The Hating Game a slight pass for a traumatic childhood, though it’s reasoning might’ve been just a little weak. However, Ethan I cannot abide by.
It wasn’t like we were given proof of Dane always having Ethan’s back or there was a traumatic incident that Dane saved Ethan from in the past; meaning now he can never see his brother in a bad light.
Hell, in the way of trauma, all we know is that Ethan had what he thought was good relationship with a woman who worked with his brother.
Based upon Dane’s obvious abhorrent behavior, I was shocked that relationship didn’t end because he and Ethan’s ex were having an affair. But I guess he just wasn’t able to get around to her.
Of course while they’re on the trip, Dane and Ami’s relationship comes up and Olive figures out that Dane is cheating on her sister. Ethan gets defensive and shows just how dense he’s going remain until almost the end of the novel.
It’s more than fine to stick up for your sibling and always have their back. But once a pattern of bad behavior starts to emerge that proves they were using you to cover their wrongs throughout the entirety of their relationship (i.e. Dane cheating on Ami) - it’s time to call them out on that.
Not to mention having the audacity to expect understanding when it comes to standing up for your sibling because you know them better than that. But not expecting the other party to do the same for theirs or tell them the truth for the exact same reason.
I mean he honestly expected Olive to move on without either of them having that conversation with their siblings just because “y’all don’t know what’s going on there?”
First of all, he clearly assumed he knows what’s going on by saying Ami was aware they weren’t exclusive yet; but Olive can’t assume to know by saying that she wasn’t? Hypocritical and backtracking much?
Second of all, how the hell would Ethan get to know if he doesn’t question him on it? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for people minding their own business. But I don’t think that applies in this scenario.
Olive and Ethan have discrepancies in their knowledge of their siblings relationship. Ignoring it because it’s “none of your business” is not an option if that leaves one of them out of the loop and in a vulnerable and potentially painful position.
Especially when Ethan is claiming he cares about Olive; but the way he wants to treat this situation could lead to her twin, Ami, getting hurt.
Worse still, his refusal to see the truth about his brother later leaves his own girl, Olive, in an awkward, uncomfortable, and vulnerable position with Dane.
Thus, leaving her feeling alone and abandoned when both he and Ami don’t believe her. Of course not believing women has never been dangerous or detrimental to them in anyway in the past, present, or future right? Oh wait…
It’s one thing to not like confrontation but that doesn’t excuse being weak in a relationship. We don’t need him to be perfect but he does need to be able to stand up for and protect his partner.
He also needs to be better able to take accountability than what we see from him in the end. If I were Olive I would accept his apology but I would not get back together with him.
I may not of liked the cheap reasoning of their enemieship, but to use that to discount her opinion on this serious matter and get her to question herself, just for the sake of being in a relationship with him is some serious b.s.
Everyone should question themselves in the sense of being introspective. But not at the expense of knowing their own mind and second guessing themselves at every turn…especially not for a man who can’t even stick up for you.
The Last Act: AKA Even More Problems with Ethan (mainly)
Olive ask the question do I forgive him or do I walk away? Guess what? You. Can. Do. both. You can forgive him and you can walk away. The two things aren’t mutually exclusive.
You can miss someone and still be smart enough not to get back with them because you know its not the best thing for you. It is also possible for Olive not fall back into being cynical whether she gets back together with him or not.
She can take the good from the experience knowing it’s possible to find love again, feel the warm and fuzzies, and keep her optimistic soft innocent light without the man. She can hear him out, let him make amends, and forgive him. it doesn’t mean she has to be with him.
Ethan showing up at the restaurant to “grand gesture” was a given. But can rom coms and romance novels do me a favor? If we have to keep doing grand gestures, stop show up at women’s places of business to do them whether they include apologies or not.
Unless you severely disrespected someone publicly then of course keep that same energy when you apologize, if you know them to be that type of person who would want that.
If not, do not, and I repeat: DO NOT show up at a woman’s job to apologize or give a grand gesture of any sort unless you’re absolutely sure she’s the type of woman who would appreciate that. If you are even the slightest bit unsure about how she feels about doing that in front of everyone, just don’t do it.
I do understand that’s par for the course with this genre. Also that this scene is suppose to make it seem like they are so chummy and so in love that they can’t help but fall back into their old rhythm once she sees him in the restaurant.
But personally, it’s over done and I’m sick of it. Unfortunately, I don’t see any other way it could’ve been done with the way this book is set up between these four characters.
I mean that is the genre, hit the beats designed for it if you must. But at the very least, can we make sure he apologizes first? Huh? Can we do that?
That apology was weak as hell! He thought he could just show up in a Hawaiian shirt, a green tank top, mention falling in love with her over Mai tai’s, and everything would be copasetic?
The worst part is he was right! That is exactly what he did and it worked. Couldn’t be me.
via GIPHY
She even had to coax the apology out of him. He couldn’t keep the same energy from the grand gesture (if you can call it that) and make that obvious to everyone huh? Ethan could whisper that one.
Yes, I know, him leaning to whisper directly in her ear is suppose to jumpstart a sexy vibe for the eventual reconciliation. But the nerve of him!
Imagine coming up there to say I want you back without even having the decency to apologize first, before she has to bring it up herself.
Read it for yourself:
“This moment is starting to feel like a reconciliation, and as much as my heart, and lungs, and lady parts are on board for that, I don’t want to roll over the deeper issue here, which is that what he did by ignoring my truth wasn’t okay. “You really hurt me. We had this rare awesome honesty. So when you thought I was lying it was really hard.”
“I know. He bends so his lips are right near my ear. I should’ve listened to you. I should’ve listened to my own instincts. I’m going to feel shitty about that for a long time.”
There are two responses in me. One is a joyful okay then lets do this and the other is a fearful oh hell no. The first feel breezy and light. The second feels comforting and familiar and safe. As good as it feels to be careful and to risk boredom and loneliness over heartache, I don’t particularly want comfortable and safe anymore.
“I guess you deserve another chance I tell him. Only inches away from his kiss you do give a great massage.”
Is that it? Really? That’s all? You’re not going to make him grovel. I felt disrespected on your behalf Olive and then you turn around and disrespect me (yes I know I’m talking directly to a fictional character here)!
She very much rolled over on the deeper issue. Just because he whispers three sentence of an apology you had to get him to say and because he’s got some magical hands you good?
He didn’t even say I’m sorry and they never had “this rare awesome honesty”. He literally accused her of tricking the truth out of him. The TRUTH!
He also didn’t think she was lying. He was just in denial about her being right and suggested that she was misunderstanding the situation.
He went as far as to pity her because her own sister didn’t believe her. Then had the absolute audacity to ask if she was going to be able to get past this? Feel shitty until the end of time my guy!
Then he still can’t even get her name right?! The finish line is upon us! He is grand gesturing, and he’s still calling her Olivia! Forreal?
People please have enough self respect not to be with someone who can’t/won’t get your name right. It’s not funny or cute. It’s just disrespectful.
Sure I’ve seen it done before where enemies to lover characters have rude nicknames for each other and it comes off as witty.
However, in this case I’m just questioning whether the authors really wanted to name her Olivia but thought the name Olive was quirkier, so just killed two birds with one stone to be able to use it.
Rating: Ethan did not deserve another chance. He just sounds like a bad AITA reddit story boyfriend that you should have left where you found him.
via TENOR
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