Custom House | May 2020 | 320 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss 

Catherine House -- an elite school with a strict selective admission and policy hidden deep in the woods of rural Pennsylvania. Each year, they select the extraordinary pupils and these lucky selected ones will be given free tuition, room and board. However, all these come with a price and the students will have to leave their materialistic values and disconnect with the outside world for three years but they can earn points to "buy" the things they want and most of all, they're assured that in return they'll graduate from Catherine with a bright future of sublime power and prestige. 

Our protagonist, Ines, enter Catherine with a hope that the school will reform her into a better person than what she was in the past. There, she meets her roommate, Barbara Pearce (a.k.a. Baby) and the two become friends quickly. Baby is the polar opposite of Ines; she's studious and she's also obsessed in getting into a specialty concentration class for their study of a certain material they called plasm. As Ines continues her life at Catherine with indifference, Baby's sudden death hit her and soon she learns that there's something more than meets the eye behind the school's strange protocols but what most intrigue her is the tightly knit group of pupils they called the concentrators and their mysterious curriculum. She knew that the concentrators are carefully selected pupils and their projects in their respective labs are kept under locks at all times. What lurks behind these closed doors and is Baby's death connected to them?

William Morrow | May 2020 | 320 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss 

Lucy Foley's previous psychological thriller, The Hunting Party, was an absorbing read and a reminiscent of Agatha Christie's and I'm glad to report that this book is no exception. The story is set in an island off the coast of Ireland and it depicts the secrets and resentment within a group of acquaintances and how their past deeds are later revealed and justified amid a wedding reception. 

Julia "Jules" Keegan is the publisher of a successful online magazine and she is set to marry the handsome Will Slater, who is the rising star of TV show, Survivor. Given their status and the intention of an extraordinary wedding, they decided to hold it in an island and all preparations will be organised by a local couple, Aoife and Freddy, who have the necessary skills to meet their expectations. But what everyone expected to be a perfect wedding will become a nightmare as the weather turn nasty but that's only the beginning. As they mingle around and drink more champagne, some of them will soon realise that secrets can't be hidden forever and their ugly past will quickly catch up on them no matter how hard they've tried to keep it covered. 

This book was compelling in a way that you know you've no one to root for but yet you're anxious to know where the story will lead and how the characters are going to meet their fate. Aside from the suspense, I think this story gives the reader a good look of humans behaviorism under various circumstances through the eyes of a few narrators here (the new couple, the bridesmaid and the best man, as well as a plus-one and the wedding planner). The switching between the past and the present usually work for me as I enjoy that thrilling anticipation during my reading journey and it's always fun to guess the perpetrator(s). Lucy Foley has once again written a riveting and an atmospheric read which had my full attention from the beginning till the end and I'm glad to say her name is now added onto my favourite authors list. 

I'd like to thank a few overseas friends who had emailed or messaged me and asked me how I'm doing and coping with the number of coronavirus cases escalating daily and the recent implementation of "circuit breaker" measures here. Well, I've to say it is hard not to feel anxious and worried but I'm trying to keep a positive mind and I'm hoping that we'll all win this battle soon. Whether if it's anxiety or a reading slump, I find myself reading lesser nowadays since there's always cooking to do (I'm sure many of you are able to relate but I've to say my cooking skills have definitely improved a lot!) and some (good) distractions at home since the schools and tuition centres have closed and all lessons have now been moved online. There are pros and cons, that's for sure, but if all these measures will help to flatten the curve, then let's all do our part and stay home. 

So aside from reading a bit, I'm also slowly catching up on K-dramas which I haven't been doing for a while. I'd finished watching Crash Landing on You (which I loved) and am currently watching another drama hit, Itaewon Class, which is based on a webtoon of the same name and I'm enjoying watching this, too. I'm not sure if I'd share my thoughts on these two dramas later (we shall see) but I do have a book review coming up soon. 

Meanwhile, I hope you stay well and safe! Here's some cartoons to make you laugh in this stressed situation. 

Penguin  Publishing Group | September 2019 | 336 pgs

Source: Library 

Emily is heartbroken after her boyfriend decided to end their relationship. They'd been through some financial hardship and Emily had helped to support her then boyfriend through law school until the ungrateful brute decided he'd be better off without her after he'd become successful in his career. With no job and nowhere to live, Emily moves to a small town in Willow Creek, Maryland, to help her older sister recover from an accident. 

Emily enjoys her time at Willow Creek but she didn't expect she'd get roped into volunteering for the local annual Renaissance Faire as a tavern wench alongside with her teenage neice, who is already one of their acting participants. While Emily is sceptical with her acting skills and some other things, she feels encouraged by the other participants and the enthusiastic residents except for a man who played a pirate and he is supposed to be the love of her life in their fictitious world. 

Right from the beginning Emily has get off on the wrong foot with Simon, who's also in-charge of the fair. She thinks he is too uptight and lacks flexibility; and finding faults with her unreasonably. Simon, on the other hand, has no time with Emily's lightheartedness approach towards the faire. It is no wonder he is serious in his work since he is continuing the family legacy and as much as he finds it tiresome at times, there is a reason for him to get through this annually as the reader would find out eventually. And as much as Emily finds Simon annoying, she finds herself attracted by his pirate persona -- a man who's passionate not only in his life but towards her as well. But what confuses Emily is, Simon continues his pirate-like charm outside the faire grounds sometimes and this makes her wonder if he is continuing with their act or if his feelings towards her has changed? 

I really enjoyed this light and fun romcom which had me laughing at times (I've to say Simon's pirate persona was quite swoon-worthy. I don't know why, but the image of Captain Jack Sparrow kept popping into my mind while reading this. Go figure.) With the gloom surrounding us lately, this book managed to distract me from reality for a while and made me think of all the wonderful things and not to mention the power of love and family. And I loved it that Emily and Simon, this two sworn enemies, who had had their fair share of unhappiness and unfairness in life, managed to walk out of their gloom and find love again through understanding and respect. Another thing I loved is the (small community) atmosphere of Willow Creek, the Renaissance Faire element and even the supporting cast which all contributed to this delightful read. The next book, Well Played, will feature Emily's newfound friend in Willow Creek and I hope it'd be another fun, romantic read like this book.

Little, Brown and Company | September 2018 (Reprint) | 352 pgs

Source: Library 

This second installment of Joe Ide's IQ series was packed with more actions and intensity as we follow Isaiah Quintabe's investigation of a new case as well as unraveling the mystery of his older brother's death. 

For ten years, Isaiah still hasn't really let go of the news of Marcus's death. How could he when Marcus was a perfect role model and the only family he had had? He's never stopped his search for the driver who was responsible for Marcus's death; and the feelings of rage and despair nearly drove him to an edge until he received a call from Sarita. Isaiah has had a crush on Marcus's girlfriend since he was a teenager. But knowing that she's out of bounds and their expectations differ, Isaiah could only admire her from afar. She has not contacted him since Marcus's death until now and it seems she needs his help. 

Janine is Sarita's half sister and they aren't really close. Partly due to physical distance and the difference of mindset, Janine is often portrayed as the "wild" girl of the family. She's given up her studies to become a DJ, but given it's more of a gig so she's been running around clubs and having the best of her time. Her boyfriend, Benny, is a gambling addict and he has owed the loan sharks a number of debts and it seems Janine is in trouble too since she's also into it. There's a saying that love is blind, and this describes Janine's current relationship perfectly as she'd go along with Benny despite the dangers, even if it means going against the gangsters and blackmailing them. 

Once again, Isaiah finds himself partnering with Dodson, who is now into food truck business and a father-to-be. Isaiah and Dodson have come a long way and while Dodson has some reservations, he gave in eventually. So their search for Janine lead them to Vegas where they'll deal with various mobs and amid the mayhem Isaiah will unravel the mystery surrounding Marcus's death. 

I read the first book and find it enjoyable. This second installment was a lot more fast paced and there were more actions given the plot and the mob theme. While they were entertaining to read, I was more intrigued by the diverse cast of characters and their interactions which made this book such an interesting read. Isaiah continues to intrigue me; and I'm glad to see there's closure and justice pertaining to his older brother's death as this is what troubled Isaiah the most since the first book. I'll continue to follow this series with anticipation. 

William Morrow | March 2020 | 288 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss 

I always look forward to a new Peter Swanson book. Aside from being suspenseful and unputdownable, most often his characters intrigue me and this book is no exception. 

Our protagonist, Malcolm Kershaw, is a bookseller and he loves mystery books, although he hasn't read them for a while now. He's lived by himself ever since his wife passed from an accident and it seems his life only revolves around the bookshop. But distraction comes when an FBI agent, Gwen Mulvey, comes knocking on his door one day and question him about a list of book titles which he'd compiled on his blog years ago. Titled "Eight Perfect Murders", Malcolm had chosen eight books featuring various crime acts which he thought were clever and seamlessly executed. There's nothing wrong about the list, but it seems someone has started using Malcolm's list to commit murders. While they don't mirror the original acts from the books, it isn't hard to pinpoint the hints and the similarities. 

(To the inquiring mind, the titles are: Agatha Christie's A.B.C. Murders, Patricia Highsmith's Strangers on a Train, Ira Levin's Death Trap, A. A. Milne's Red House Mystery, Anthony Berkeley Cox's Malice Aforethought, James M. Cain's Double Indemnity, John D. Macdonald's The Drowner, and Donna Tartt's A Secret History. There's also a reason for naming these titles because they contain some spoilers and if you intend to read those titles, then perhaps you should do so before picking up this book.)

At this stage, Malcolm knew perhaps there's someone who's watching his every moves since the hints of targeting begins to get a bit too personal. To protect himself and to avoid being suspected, he decides to investigate on his own but is he ready for the truth? 

I thought this story was clever; and it'd definitely makes a bibliophile (or at least readers of the thrillers genre) very happy of the bookish references and yes, more titles to explore if you haven't read those eight books. Malcolm was an intriguing character; and it makes it more interesting to read because he's the narrator and at times you wouldn't know if you could trust their words. I'd fun following Malcolm's journey into his investigations; and I'd say the conclusion would leave many readers itching for a discussion. I wouldn't say more so I'd leave you with a favourite quote from this book: 

Little, Brown and Company | October 2016 | 336 pgs

Source: Library 

Isaiah Quintabe a.k.a. IQ, is an intelligent young black man who wouldn't mind helping his neighbourhood at East Long Beach in solving cases which the police wouldn't take for a small token of gifts, or whatever his "clients" could offer him. He lives with his older brother, Marcus, and their relationship is close considering they only have each other. But that bond is shattered after Marcus passed due to a hit-and-run and his death leave Isaiah devastated and determined in finding the driver. With this mindset, Isaiah drop out of high school and continues with his investigation gig despite he is good in his studies.  

His sidekick, Dodson, is on another different league and it is through chance that bring them together. Their characteristic or moral standards may differ, but funnily they complement each other in a way that makes their so-called investigations work. It is also through Dodson that Isaiah is given his latest case -- a rap mogul who is being targeted and someone wants him assassinated. This won't be an easy case for both Isaiah and Dodson, especially if it involves the hit man's monstrous attack dog alongside with other suspects like a vengeful ex-wife and a few other notorious characters. 

Isaiah is an interesting character and he's dependable and straightforward, the boy next door. He's proficient in observing people and things, and together with his logical reasoning he's the remake of the modern Sherlock Holmes, but of course Isaiah is very much on his own and though he's not perfect, he still easily catches a reader's attention through his demeanour and his perspective of seeing things differently. There are two timelines in this story -- 2005 and 2013 in which we'll learn about Isaiah's younger past and his encounter with Dodson while the later year will portray more of his investigations into the rap mogul case. Both timelines are equally satisfying to read and the language used fits the authentic mood amid the tough neighbourhood. This is Joe Ide's debut novel and I'll be sure to check out the rest of this series.

Montlake Romance | May 2019 | 444 pgs

Source: Library 

I started this book without knowing that this is book 2 of the Dark Lure series. That said, it works fine as a standalone and I'm glad to report that Loreth Anne White's books will be added to my "books-to-look-out-for" list after having read and enjoyed her latest release, In the Dark, and now this book which was published last year. 

Penguin Publishing Group | March 2020 | 432 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss 

Alma Katsu's previous novel, The Hunger, was an absorbing read mixed with true historical event and fiction of the Donner Party during the 1800s and I liked it that it has a horror twist aside from the historical facts. In this latest release, the author takes readers on board the Titanic and her sister ship, Britannic, set in 1912 and 1916 respectively. 

Annie Hebbley has been spending four years in an asylum after surviving from the Titanic tragedy. She isn't mentally challenged, but the place deems like a safe place given the traumatic experience she'd suffered from her past. When she receives a letter from her friend, Violet Jessop, to work with her as a nurse on Britannic, a hospital ship, she knew her days at the asylum is up and also she couldn't turn Violet down. After all, Violet is one of the survivors from the Titanic tragedy, too. 

But Britannic isn't a smooth sailing ride for Annie either; and to top it off, she meets Mark Fletcher again - a man whom she knew when she worked as a stewardess on the Titanic. Seeing him has conjured some memories during their days on the Titanic, her interactions with his wife and their little daughter as well as the strange occurrences that happened before the ship sunk. 

Alternate between two different timelines, Alma Katsu weaves a foreboding and a haunting tale (with a dash of supernatural element) about the dynamics and the complexity of a few key characters and how their acts and decisions would lead to unexpected consequences. I've to confess the first part took me some time to be immersed in the story. This is neither a flaw nor a complaint as the author took her time in introducing the characters and constructing the background settings. Once the pace pick up and there's a shift of directions, I was eager to find out what happened. Once again, Alma Katsu has proven that she's a wonderful storyteller and she could expertly blend historical events with supernatural elements and give readers something unique and refreshing from a new perspective. While I'd still choose The Hunger over this one as my favourite, overall it was still an enjoyable read. I wonder which historical event would the author feature for her next book, if she intends to do so, that is. 

Note: Violet Jessop may be a supporting character in this book, but she was truly one of the Titanic and Britannic survivors. 

Click the following links for more info on - 

1) RMS Titanic

2) HMHS Britannic

3) Violet Jessop

4) 12 Titanic survivors whose stories reveal the tragedy's true scope

William Morrow | March 2020 | 320 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Set at a prestigious boarding school on the Maine coast, Carol Goodman's latest release depicts a woman's carefully hidden past and how a death would unleash all the secrets and lies amid the peaceful community. 

Tess is a teacher and the wife to a respected professor and both of them teach at the same boarding school -- Haywood. She has a 17-year-old son, Rudy, whom she worries a lot due to his erratic moods partly due to his complicated childhood. There's been some history about Tess and Rudy when they were younger so I'll leave it to the readers to find out themselves, considering they play a crucial part to the story. 

Tess's constant worrying and her protectiveness about Rudy becomes a nightmare come true when she receives Rudy's text one early morning, asking for help. When Tess picks him up she finds him drenched and is in a dark mood. Thinking he had a fight with his girlfriend,  Lila, Tess didn't ask but she does notice a dark stain on his sweatshirt. Hours later, Tess receives a call from the school that Lila has been found dead at the coast. It may be an accidental death, but speculations point to Rudy and even Tess's husband, since Tess isn't sure if he was in their house as he claims to be during those hours. 

As suspense mounts, the story is also infused with an old folklore surrounding the drowning of the Abenaki sisters and how their stones could be seen lined from the peninsula to the island. The history of Haywood (formerly a school for wayward girls) and the mysteries of the death of a few school girls back then further add intrigue to the story. Tess was an interesting character, but she came across as a helicopter parent and one couldn't help but to wonder if her overly protectiveness meant more harm than love towards Rudy but that'll be another topic for discussion. Suspense-wise, it was a grabbing one as each turning point had me wondering about the suspect and where the direction would go. All in all, it was an enjoyable read. 

Park Row Books | June 2019 | 336 pgs

Source: Library 

With so many psychological thrillers flooding the books market, it takes good writing, good execution and an intriguing plot to stand out from the rest and I'm glad to report that Dear Wife is such a case. 

Beth Murphy is on the run. She's been planning for a day to escape from home and that day has come. She has everything planned - a new identity and a place far away from Pine Bluff Arkansas, and she'd do anything just to escape from her abusive husband. 

On the other end, Jeffrey returns home from his business trip to find his wife, Sabine, missing. There's nothing amiss in the house and her car has been left behind. Sabine is a successful realtor with good working ethics so it's perplexing to everyone. Her sister, Ingrid, insists that Sabine wouldn't leave without a word although she is aware that Sabine has some marital issues with Jeffrey. Detective Marcus Durand is assigned to look into Sabine's disappearance and as he investigates, he finds that the case isn't what it appears to be. 

As the story progresses, the mystery surrounding Beth's story and Sabine's disappearance become convoluted and suspense mounts. I'll be vague by not disclosing more about this story but I've to say this is one of the best psychological suspense I read in a while as it ticked all my expectations of a good suspense thriller. But don't just take my word for it, go read it yourself and then we can discuss about it. 

William Morrow | February 2020 | 400 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

I'd read Sarah Pinborough's Behind Her Eyes and was impressed by her storytelling and her writing skills. The conclusion of that book still stumped me today, and despite some mixed reactions from readers, personally I thought it was quite a good psychological thriller based on the suspense element. Dead to Her, her latest release, may not have a shocking ending which is equivalent to BHE but nevertheless still a suspenseful, riveting read with a dash of voodoo (though not as a main theme, in case you're wondering).  

Set in the glittering Savannah society where the rich and the powerful mingle, the reader is introduced to our main protagonist, Marcie Maddox, who has worked hard to be the new wife of a successful attorney after starting an illicit affair with him a few years ago. But keeping up with her new, glamorous life isn't what she's expected and it seems she has met her new match when her husband's boss, William Radford IV, brings home a sexy new wife from his trip to London. Like Marcie, Keisha comes from a lower class family and like her, they're both second wife to their husbands. Feeling jealous and threatened by Keisha's beauty and her existence, Marcie tries to befriend her with an agenda but unexpected circumstances soon lead to deceptions, conspiracies and murder as they dip further into their classy world of no return. 

This is only the tip of what's going to unravel as the journey is filled with untrustworthy characters and twisty paths which would send your mind whirling (and gasping in the end). One of the highlights is her fleshed out characters; you may not care about them but you do want to know what happened to them ultimately. The dynamic and the interactions between Marcie and Keisha are an interesting read but not all are necessarily appealing but they are crucial to how the story unfolds. Sarah Pinborough has an imaginative mind and BHE and this book are good examples of her talents. 

HarperCollins | January 2019 | 368 pgs

Source: Purchased 

Penguin Publishing Group | July 2019 | 304 pgs

Source: Library 

I've read two of Shari Lapena's books so far and thought they were fast-paced and twisty and this one was no exception, although I didn't like or connect with any of the characters and most of all, I didn't know how I should feel towards the ending -- which borders between sympathy and disbelief.  

The book opens with a woman being bludgeoned to death by a hammer. Amanda Pierce was a pretty woman and the residents at the suburb Aylesford are susceptible to her charms, especially the men. When she was reported missing by her husband one day, the police didn't raise too much of an alarm considering there were occasions that Amanda went out of town with her friend until her body was found in the trunk of a submerged car. 

Detectives Webb and Moen are called to investigate Amanda's death. Initial speculation points to her husband, Robert, who appears to be a quiet and reserved man but would he kill his wife out of jealousy? Then there are the wives who aren't pleased with Amanda's flirtatious behaviour towards their husbands. To complicate matters, there's been a few cases of a teenager sneaking into people's houses and hacking their computers. Feeling guilty and out of moral consciousness, the teenager's mother sent out two anonymous letters to the homeowners with her apologies. But her act may have opened up a can of worms, for the news of the house breaking have spread within the neighbourhood and many of them fear their secrets might be at stake. How far would these people go to protect their secrets? And is Amanda's murderer hidden among them?  

First off, let me just say that Shari Lapena really knows how to write an unputdownable suspense. The chapters are relatively short and this allows a faster and easier read alongside the suspense. However, I've some issues with the characters and how ridiculous the story seems to be as it progresses and then becomes repetitive whenever there's a new suspect and so on. That said, it was still a compelling read although this won't be my favourite Lapena book. There are readers who loved it based from the reviews on Goodreads so I suppose I'm in the minority. 

First Second | April 2013 | 176 pgs

Source: Library

I've enjoyed Lucy Knisley's Kid Gloves a while back and thought I'd try another of her older release; this time around with a food theme. 

Since young, Lucy isn't a stranger when it comes to food and their sources. After all, she's the daughter of a chef and a gourmet. She followed her mother to markets and farms and every time she visited them, she came home with more information about the various ingredients she's come across. But that's not all, this vibrant, food-themed memoir not only shows us the magic of ingredients (of course there's some recipes included - either Lucy's family dishes or her own inventions) but it also chronicles Lucy's different stage of life through the food she ate at that time and the lessons she'd learned along the way. To top it off, Lucy even dug through her family photos for reference, in which she added a few of them and captions at the end of this book.  

This graphic memoir is a relish itself and all the more you should read it if you're a foodie. Below are some illustrations which I thought would make a good introduction of this book. 

Montlake Romance | December 2019 | 411 pgs

Source: Library 

Locked-room mysteries are quite popular among the suspense/thriller genre and no matter how many times I read them I still find them captivating. 

In this book the story was set in the secluded high-end wilderness in mountain lodge at Kluhane Bay. Eight guests, including the private floatplane pilot, are invited to the all-expenses-paid trip at Thunderbird Ridge for the "lodge experience" and to decide if they want to put in tenders for long-term contracts; among these guests' field include services like housekeeping, catering, security and a few other expertise according to their profession. One could say it's a perfect getaway with business opportunities and all but the trip didn't start out smoothly even before they fly. 

First, one of the guests is sick and couldn't take the trip and when the pilot cross checked his name on the list, she realises that his name isn't even listed. Although this seems a little off, they all proceed without giving it much thoughts, thinking it's a mess up. Then there's the bad weather which leads them for an emergency landing and with no coordinates and connections, they're cut off from civilisation but they do manage to find an abandoned lodge which offers them some refuge. 

As they try to settle down and hope that help will be on the way, the pilot has more bad news for the group. It seems someone has tempered with the plane radio and without it, they are all stranded without any way of connecting with the outside world. Fear could induce a person to do something to get out of the unexpected circumstances, but it could also make him brutal and murderous, especially when it appears each of the guest has secrets and something to hide. And when they finally realise that the trip is more of a trap than a getaway, it's a little too late as someone is trying to kill for the things they'd done in the past -- for they're all connected in one way or another. 

When homicide cop Mason Deniaud and search and rescue expert Callie Sutton are alerted to the eight missing persons case, they initially think it is simply a plane tragedy caused by bad weather until they stumbled on a few bodies which make them think otherwise. Based on their initial findings, the bodies they found have injuries that indicate they were being stabbed or mutilated. Something had happened at the isolated lodge and they intend to find out what happened as well as to search for the other missing persons. Most of all, are the remainings still alive and if the killer is among them? 

In the Dark is kind of a reminiscence to Agatha Christie's And Then There Is None; a book which remains one of my favourite locked-room mysteries. That said, this book stands on its own through its plot and the complexity relationship among the characters as they shared their ugly dark past and in return how each individual's act would play a part in their own tragedy thereafter. The suspense and the execution was quite well done in my opinion, but as it was told in multiple narrations and between the past and the present, some readers may find this a distraction but personally I found this style to be effective. I also liked the interactions between Mason and Callie; their background and the things they'd gone through in their personal life have added some depth to the story and have me hoping if there would be a series featuring them in the near future. 

Some information about the author: Loreth Anne White also writes romantic suspense alongside thrillers and mysteries. She's also the recipient of the Overall 2017 Daphne du Maurier Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, the National Readers' Choice Award, and the Romantic Crown for Best Romantic Suspense and Best Book Overall. 

Gallery Books | May 2019 | 432 pgs

Source: Library 

Olive and Ami are identical twin sisters but aside from their looks, everything about them is very different from each other. Olive is more reserved and her luck in life equals to zero, whatwith her losing of her job recently and anything else. Ami is the opposite though; she's positive and is always lucky when it comes to winning things. Why, she didn't even have much to worry about her wedding since she'd most of them covered by winning a series of Internet contests, and that includes her honeymoon to Maui. Olive is envious but is happy for Ami and Dane, but she's definitely not pleased to pair up with Dane's older brother, Ethan, who is the best man. Olive knows him briefly on a few occasions but both didn't really leave a good impression on each other. She figured she'd get through the wedding day and get on with her pitiful life once everything is over but it seems like fate has other plans for her. 

What happens to be a wonderful wedding event turns out a nightmare as the buffet has made everyone ill, excluding Olive and Ethan since they've their own food preferences. With Ami and Dane down from food poisoning, it seems their all-expenses-paid honeymoon will go to waste unless they find someone to go in their place. With the new couple's coaxing and encouragement, Olive and Ethan set for their trip to Maui though how they're going to fake as newlyweds, they've no idea except avoiding each other at all costs if possible. But when both of them meet the people they know in the hotel where they're staying, they've no choice but to act lovey-dovey. As the days go by, Olive finds another side of Ethan which leads her into thinking that perhaps being with him isn't that bad after all. 

You know, I could imagine The Unhoneymooners being played on the big screen because it's funny, dramatic and not to mention the chemistry between Olive and Ethan are palpable and I enjoyed their banters. While some scenes may seemed cheesy and unbelievable, I found them entertaining and most of all, they made me laugh and root for them. A great romcom to indulge in if you're looking for something light and an escapism.