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Cover of The Unmarried Bride

The Unmarried Bride

First published 1993 · 288 pages

A breezy, sun-drenched romp through forced proximity and fake marriage tropes, anchored by the chaotic charm of a ready-made family.

What it feels like

Reading this feels like stepping into a time capsule of nineties romantic comedy, where the stakes are delightfully low and the misunderstandings are high. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging clip, sweeping the reader away to a sun-drenched island hideaway that feels both chaotic and incredibly cozy. It is a story built on the friction of forced proximity, contrasting exasperation with a slow-burning, undeniable warmth. The prose is straightforward and heavily reliant on snappy dialogue, capturing the playful, slightly melodramatic tone of classic category romance. It is the perfect escapist read for anyone who delights in the fake marriage trope, single fathers, and the joyful surrender to a messy, unexpected happily-ever-after.

Mood
  • breezy
  • sun-drenched
  • escapist
  • cozy
Tone
  • playful
  • lighthearted
  • wry
  • romantic
Pace
brisk
Themes
forced proximity · unexpected family · fake relationship · chaos of love
The writing
Straightforward and dialogue-heavy, carrying the breezy, slightly heightened melodrama characteristic of classic nineties category romance.
The arc
Moves from exasperated reluctance to warm affection, culminating in a joyful surrender to unexpected family life.
Who it's for
Readers who crave nostalgic, fast-paced romantic comedies featuring single fathers, forced proximity, and wacky misunderstandings.
Content notes
  • media harassment
  • mild outdated gender dynamics

About the book

Sharing the same island hideaway with gorgeous Selby Farnsworth and his mischievous son wasn't Abby's idea of heaven -- especially with all the chaos created by the two Farnsworth men. — TLC was in short supply and Abby seemed destined to dole it out in large doses. Selby, in return, seemed determined to dazzle her with kisses. Slowly but surely, the island was becoming paradise.

Until a throng of reporters showed up demanding to know what Congressman Farnsworth was doing there -- and just who was the lovely woman with him? And that's when Selby told them Abby was his wife!

Description from Open Library.

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