★Connor, Erin. Unromance. Forever: Grand Central. Jan. 2025. 352p. ISBN 9781538759424. pap. $17.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

DEBUT Romance novelist Sawyer Greene has an extreme case of writer’s block, and her book is overdue. What she needs is inspiration, and she’s desperate for it. When a recent one-night stand, Mason West, suggests that they could help each other, she’s all ears. Mason has recently been dumped—again. He’s a hopeless romantic, falling in love quickly and seeing romance everywhere. What he really needs is someone to ruin romance for him, and who better than a romance writer? They strike a deal and make a list of romance tropes that Sawyer will ruin for Mason. Hopefully these “dates” will break Sawyer’s writer’s block and let her write romance again. What starts out as a fun, platonic series of dates grows into something deeper, despite Sawyer and Mason’s attempts to quash their feelings. These protagonists are interesting and well-drawn, with relatable flaws and past baggage. The writing style is fluid and nicely paced; fast enough to pull readers along but slow enough to draw out the tension and get to know the characters. The plot is unique, and the writing is witty, amusing, and well done. VERDICT This sexy, swoon-worthy romance is an unputdownable debut.