Book Review: Honeymoon Phase Explained 12 Reasons Falls Flat
Addison Monroe needs a husband for exactly one year to inherit her dad’s lumberyard, so naturally her best mate Luke Fletcher—who’s been madly in love with her forever—volunteers to fake-marry her. What follows is 432 pages of agonising slow burn, predictable rom-com beats, and enough lumberjack masculinity to make your eyes roll into next week. Luke enters a Man of the Mountain competition (yes, really) to prove he’s husband material, gets injured like a total muppet, and Addison finally caves.
Then they spend the rest of the book pretending their marriage is fake whilst everyone with half a brain cell knows they’re gonna end up together anyway.
The kicker? You’ll spend 11.5 hours on audiobook watching two grown adults dance around feelings they’ve had for years, only for the story to hit every single predictable beat you saw coming from Chapter One.
Stick around to discover:
- Why 432 pages is about 150 too many for this plot
- How the “shocking” twists are visible from space
- The cringe-worthy smut scenes readers couldn’t stomach
- Whether this book actually earned its bloated page count
Detailed Summary
Prologue: The Letter
Luke Fletcher pens a marriage proposal letter to his best friend Addison, offering a business arrangement to help her inherit her family’s lumberyard. The catch? She needs to be married for one year per her late grandfather’s trust stipulations.
Luke’s already in love with her but won’t admit it because he’s convinced she’ll bolt if she knows. So instead, he writes this painfully earnest letter suggesting they get hitched for practical reasons, knowing full well he’s setting himself up for heartbreak.
The entire prologue is just this one letter, which honestly should’ve been the first red flag that this book was gonna drag things out unnecessarily.
Chapter 1: Roe’s Dilemma
Addison “Roe” Monroe learns from her old-fashioned father that she can’t inherit Monroe Lumber Company unless she’s married for a full year. Her dad’s basically using this archaic rule to force her into traditional domesticity, which is rich considering she’s been running the damn place alongside him for years.
Roe is furious, independent, and absolutely not interested in marriage—ever. She’s got abandonment issues from her mum leaving when she was young, and she’s built her entire identity around being “one of the boys” at the lumberyard.
So naturally, her brilliant plan is to find some random bloke to marry for a year, complete with a prenup, then divorce quietly once she gets her inheritance. Nothing could possibly go wrong with that scheme, right?
Chapter 2: Luke’s Proposition Gets Rejected
Luke officially proposes his marriage-of-convenience plan to Roe, and she shoots him down faster than a duck at a shooting gallery. She’s worried it’ll ruin their friendship, which is literally the only genuine relationship she’s got besides her work mates at the lumber company.
Luke’s gutted but tries to play it cool, because he’s been friend-zoned so hard he’s basically the mayor of Friend-Zone City. He goes home to Fletcher Mountain where he lives with his brothers in what can only be described as a blokey compound.
His niece Everly, who’s nine years old and fancies herself a matchmaker, immediately clocks that Uncle Luke is in love with Roe. This kid becomes the puppet master for the rest of the book, which is either adorable or annoying depending on your tolerance for precocious children.
Chapter 3: The Man of the Mountain Competition
Roe announces she’s going to the local lumberjack competition to scout potential husbands—essentially treating it like Tinder but with axes and flannel. Luke loses his mind at this plan because he’s imagining her marrying some serial killer who happens to be good at chopping wood.
So with Everly’s encouragement, Luke decides to enter the Man of the Mountain competition himself, despite having zero training and being a construction worker, not a professional lumberjack. The Fletcher brothers think he’s lost the plot but agree to help train him anyway.
Cue a montage of Luke learning axe throwing, log rolling, and other hypermasculine activities whilst nursing his bruised ego and even more bruised body. It’s meant to be romantic but mostly feels like watching someone have a midlife crisis at 30.
Chapter 4: Competition Day Drama
The lumberjack competition arrives and it’s exactly as over-the-top as you’d imagine—massive blokes swinging axes, crowds cheering, and Roe evaluating potential husbands like she’s judging cattle at a country show. Luke competes and actually does pretty well until he injures himself in one of the events.
Roe freaks out seeing Luke hurt, which is apparently the wake-up call she needs to realise that maybe, just maybe, she cares about him as more than a friend. But does she admit this? Of course not, because we’re only on Chapter 4 and there’s still 400 pages to go.
She agrees to marry Luke, but insists it’s purely transactional and they’ll divorce after the year is up. Luke agrees because he’s desperate and figures a year of fake marriage is better than nothing.
Chapter 5: Moving to Fletcher Mountain
Roe moves into Luke’s place on Fletcher Mountain, which is basically a family compound where all the Fletcher brothers live with their respective partners. The brothers—Max, Calder, and Wyatt—have all broken their pact to stay single, and now Luke’s doing the same.
The house comes complete with Luke’s pet rooster named Rufus, who becomes an unexpected character in this story. Roe adapts surprisingly well to mountain life, though she maintains this is all temporary and means nothing.
Luke cooks for her, they establish house rules (including Roe’s insistence on no sex), and they start this awkward dance of living together whilst pretending they’re not attracted to each other. It’s painful to read because the sexual tension is supposed to be palpable but mostly feels forced.
Chapter 6: Meeting the Family
Roe gets properly introduced to the Fletcher family ecosystem, including Luke’s mum and his brothers’ partners—Trista, Dakota, and Cozy. The women immediately adopt Roe into their girl gang, which is sweet but also feels a bit like she’s being absorbed into the Borg collective.
Luke’s family is aggressively supportive and meddlesome, constantly pushing the two of them together and making suggestive comments. Everly continues her matchmaking schemes with the subtlety of a brick through a window.
Roe starts to feel something she’s never had before—a proper family—which chips away at her emotional armour. But she’s still convinced this is all temporary and she’ll go back to her solitary life once the year is up.
Chapter 7: Roe’s Dad Demands Proof
Roe’s father announces he doesn’t believe their marriage is real and demands they have a proper wedding ceremony to prove they’re legitimately in love, not just doing this for the inheritance. This throws a spanner in the works because they’d planned to just sign papers at the courthouse.
Now they have to plan an actual wedding, which means more time together, more forced intimacy, and more opportunities for their fake relationship to feel real. Roe’s stressed because she’s never wanted a wedding and now she’s got to play dress-up for her controlling father.
Luke sees this as an opportunity to court her properly, to show her what a real relationship could look like. He starts doing romantic gestures whilst pretending they’re just “for show,” which is manipulative when you think about it too hard.
Chapter 8: Walls Coming Down
Roe and Luke start having actual conversations about their pasts, including the traumas that shaped them. Roe opens up about her mother abandoning the family and how it made her terrified of depending on anyone. She also reveals she works out at a cemetery because it’s the only place she feels at peace.
Luke shares his own grief and vulnerabilities, though the book doesn’t dig quite as deep into his backstory as it does Roe’s. They’re both damaged people who’ve been hiding behind walls, and slowly those walls start crumbling.
This is where the book tries to add emotional depth, tackling themes of abandonment, grief, and body image issues. It’s handled okay but feels a bit surface-level considering how much page time we’ve wasted on lumberjack competitions and matchmaking schemes.
Chapter 9: The Sexual Tension Breaks
After chapters and chapters of agonising slow burn, Roe and Luke finally get physical. The book’s been edging readers just as much as it’s been edging the characters, and when they finally hook up, it’s supposed to be this explosive moment.
But here’s the thing—some readers found the smut scenes cringe-worthy and awkward rather than steamy. The dirty talk doesn’t quite land, and after all that buildup, the payoff feels a bit underwhelming.
They agree to add physical intimacy to their arrangement, but Roe still insists on keeping emotional distance. Luke’s playing the long game, hoping that physical intimacy will lead to emotional intimacy, which is either romantic or manipulative depending on your perspective.
Chapter 10: Wedding Planning Chaos
The Fletcher family goes into overdrive planning this wedding, with everyone contributing ideas and opinions whether Roe wants them or not. She’s overwhelmed by having this many people involved in her life, but she’s also secretly touched by how much they care.
Luke’s ex Robyn makes an appearance—and she’s portrayed as a proper villain, the kind of woman who’s shallow, mean, and exists solely to make Roe look better by comparison. There’s a confrontation where Roe literally rips out Robyn’s hair extensions, which readers seemed to love but feels a bit juvenile.
The wedding planning brings Roe and Luke closer together, but it also ratchets up the pressure. Roe’s starting to panic because her feelings are getting real, and that terrifies her more than anything.
Chapter 11: Pre-Wedding Doubts
The night before the wedding, Roe has a massive freak-out and nearly calls the whole thing off. She’s convinced she’s going to ruin Luke’s life, that she’s not capable of being the partner he deserves, and that she should run before she hurts him.
Luke has to talk her down from this ledge whilst dealing with his own hurt that she still doesn’t trust him or their relationship. It’s frustrating because we’re this far into the book and she’s still pulling the same emotional avoidance she’s been doing since Chapter One.
This is supposed to be the dark moment before the dawn, but mostly it feels like manufactured drama to extend the page count. We know they’re going to end up together because this is a romance novel, so the suspense feels artificial.
Chapter 12: The Wedding
They get married in a proper ceremony with all their family and friends present, and it’s described as this beautiful, emotional event. Roe finally admits to herself that she loves Luke, though she still struggles to say it out loud.
The wedding scene is designed to make you cry—Luke’s vows are heartfelt, Roe’s are vulnerable, and the Fletcher family is sobbing in the audience. If you’re into that sort of thing, it probably works, but if you’re already annoyed by how long this book took to get here, it might feel like too little too late.
They consummate the marriage properly (again), and this time it’s supposedly meaningful and intimate rather than just scratching an itch. The book really wants you to feel the difference between sex and making love, which is sweet but also a bit heavy-handed.
Chapter 13: The Honeymoon Phase
Post-wedding, Roe and Luke settle into actual married life rather than fake married life. Roe starts therapy to deal with her abandonment issues, which is honestly the most realistic part of this entire book.
She integrates fully into the Fletcher family and the lumber company continues under her leadership. Her relationship with her father improves slightly, though he’s still a controlling git who used emotional manipulation to force his daughter into marriage.
Luke’s construction business is thriving, and they’re building a life together on Fletcher Mountain. It’s all very domestic and sweet, which is great if you’re into the white-picket-fence fantasy but might feel a bit saccharine if you’re not.
Epilogue: Ever After
The epilogue shows them properly loved up and hints at future stories in the series. There’s a tease for Everly’s book because apparently this nine-year-old matchmaker is getting her own romance eventually, which seems ambitious but okay.
Roe’s fully embraced her role as a Fletcher, Luke’s got the girl of his dreams, and everyone lives happily ever after in their mountain paradise. It ties everything up with a neat bow, leaving no loose ends or ambiguity.
The epilogue also confirms that their honeymoon phase isn’t actually a phase—they’re in this for life, which is the whole point of the title. Cute, but we already knew that was coming about 300 pages ago.
Characters
Luke Fletcher
Luke’s the youngest of four brothers, which means he’s spent his whole life trying to prove himself and not be treated like the baby. He’s described as caring, kind, and emotionally available—basically the cinnamon roll hero who’s been in love with his best friend for years.
His defining trait is his patience, which borders on doormat territory at times. He lets Roe reject him repeatedly, hurt his feelings, and keep him at arm’s length whilst he just keeps coming back for more. It’s supposed to be romantic but honestly feels a bit pathetic.
The book tries to give him depth by revealing his own trauma and grief, but it’s not developed as thoroughly as Roe’s backstory. He’s more of a fantasy figure than a fully realised character—the perfect man who will wait forever and never pressure you but also conveniently knows exactly what you need.
Addison “Roe” Monroe
Roe’s the tough, independent woman who doesn’t need anyone—you know, that character we’ve seen a million times before. She’s got abandonment issues from her mum leaving, she’s one of the boys at the lumberyard, and she’s terrified of emotional vulnerability.
Her character arc is about learning to accept love and let people in, which is fine as far as romance arcs go. But she’s frustratingly stubborn to the point where you want to shake her and tell her to get over herself already.
The book tries to make her relatable by giving her body image issues and trauma, but then undermines it by making her effortlessly fit in with Luke’s family and become the cool girl everyone loves. She’s written as “not like other girls” which is tiresome.
Everly Fletcher
Luke’s nine-year-old niece who fancies herself a matchmaker and is apparently responsible for setting up all three Fletcher brothers with their partners. She’s precocious, meddling, and convinced she knows what’s best for everyone’s love life despite being in primary school.
Some readers find her adorable; others find her annoying. She’s definitely overused as a plot device to push Luke and Roe together when the story’s flagging. The fact that she’s getting her own romance book is bizarre considering she’s currently a child.
Max, Calder, and Wyatt Fletcher
Luke’s older brothers who all feature in previous books in the series. They’re supportive, meddlesome, and provide comic relief with their banter and teasing. They’re basically interchangeable personality-wise except for their respective relationship types.
Max is grumpy, Calder is also grumpy but different, and Wyatt is… well, you get the picture. They exist primarily to be Luke’s support system and to show what functional relationships look like, which is meant to inspire Luke and Roe.
Trista, Dakota, and Cozy
The partners of Luke’s brothers who immediately adopt Roe into their friend group. They’re supportive, fun, and create the girl gang energy that helps Roe open up emotionally.
They’re not particularly distinguished from each other beyond their relationships to the Fletcher brothers. They exist to show Roe what female friendship looks like and to help plan the wedding.
Roe’s Father
A controlling, old-fashioned man who uses an archaic trust stipulation to force his daughter into marriage. He’s emotionally distant, dismissive of Roe’s capabilities despite her running his company, and generally a bit of a tosser.
The book tries to redeem him slightly by showing he cares in his own way, but mostly he’s just an obstacle and a representation of patriarchal nonsense. His character doesn’t develop much beyond being the villain of Roe’s backstory.
Robyn
Luke’s ex-girlfriend who shows up to cause drama and make Roe look good by comparison. She’s shallow, mean, and has hair extensions that get ripped out in what’s meant to be a triumphant moment.
She’s a cardboard cutout villain with no depth or motivation beyond being jealous and nasty. The book doesn’t even try to make her three-dimensional.
Rufus
Luke’s rooster who lives in the house and becomes a weird recurring character. He’s meant to be quirky and charming, showing Luke’s soft side, but mostly just seems unhygienic.
Compare With Other Works
| Book | Similarity | What’s Better/Worse |
| The Marriage Solution by Kelly Oram | Both feature best friends entering marriage of convenience with one secretly in love | The Marriage Solution moves faster and doesn’t drag out the angst for 400+ pages |
| Waking Up Married by Reese Ryan | Best friends accidentally marry in Vegas, decide to keep it going | Ryan’s version has better pacing and doesn’t rely on manufactured obstacles |
| Wait With Me by Amy Daws (her own series) | Similar humor style, small town vibes | Wait With Me is fresher and doesn’t feel as formulaic as Honeymoon Phase |
| Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws | First book in same series, grumpy mountain man | Nine Month Contract has a more unique premise than the tired marriage of convenience trope |
| The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker | Alaska setting, city girl meets rugged man | Tucker’s writing is more polished and her characters have better chemistry |
Amy Daws’ earlier work in the Harris Brothers series and Wait With Me series shows more creativity and tighter plotting. Honeymoon Phase feels like she’s coasting on a formula that worked before but hasn’t evolved.
The mountain man romance genre is oversaturated, and this book doesn’t bring anything new to the table. It hits every predictable beat you’d expect without subverting or surprising readers in any meaningful way.
Achievement
Sales & Rankings:
- Amy Daws is a #1 Amazon Bestseller and USA Today Bestselling Author with 23 published novels
- She signed with HarperCollins (second-largest consumer book publisher globally) in 2024, bringing her indie-published works to mainstream distribution
- Daws has sold millions of books as an independent publisher before the HarperCollins deal
- The Mountain Men Matchmaker series has been commercially successful, though specific sales figures for Honeymoon Phase haven’t been released
Critical Reception:
- Goodreads rating averages around 4.0-4.5 stars based on early reviews
- Publishers Weekly gave it a positive review, calling it “sexy, funny, and ultimately feel-good”
- Mixed reader reactions with some calling it their favorite in the series whilst others found it too long and predictable
- The Gloss Book Club rated it 5/5 stars
- Multiple advance readers noted the audiobook narration by Teddy Hamilton and Erin Mallon as exceptional
Industry Recognition:
- Published by Canary Street Press (HarperCollins imprint) on November 11, 2025
- 432-page trade paperback with audiobook running 11.5 hours
- Part of ongoing Mountain Men Matchmaker series with confirmed future installments
- Daws featured on “Behind the Business, Founders in the 605” podcast discussing her journey from self-publishing to traditional publishing
Notable Stats:
- Book #3 in Mountain Men Matchmaker series
- First book in series (Nine Month Contract) has 44,115 ratings on Goodreads
- Daws writes from South Dakota and credits unconventional writing locations (like tire shops) for her productivity
- Active social media presence with engaged fanbase across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
The Verdict
Look, Honeymoon Phase isn’t terrible—it’s just aggressively mediocre. At 432 pages, it’s at least 150 pages too long for a plot this straightforward. We get it: she’s scared of commitment, he’s in love with her, they’ll obviously end up together. Did we need nearly 12 hours of audiobook to reach the inevitable conclusion? Absolutely not.
The slow burn is so slow it’s practically glacial, which works for some readers but will have others screaming at the characters to just communicate like actual adults. By the time they finally get together, you’re more relieved it’s over than excited about their happily ever after.
The masculinity is laid on thick—lumberjack competitions, mountain men, construction workers, everyone’s aggressively manly and protective. If that’s your fantasy, brilliant, but it feels a bit dated in 2025. Same with the white-picket-fence, traditional family vibes that dominate the book’s second half.
Where’s the book actually decent? The audiobook narrators are top-notch, the family dynamics are warm (if overwhelming), and there are genuinely funny moments. If you’re already invested in the Fletcher family from previous books, you’ll probably enjoy seeing Luke get his happy ending. The handling of grief and trauma is more thoughtful than your average rom-com, even if it doesn’t go deep enough.
But let’s be real: this book is comfort food, not fine dining. It’s predictable, formulaic, and exactly what you expect from a small-town marriage-of-convenience romance. Amy Daws can write—her earlier work proves that—but Honeymoon Phase feels like she’s working on autopilot, hitting genre beats without adding anything fresh or surprising.
If you love slow burns, mountain men, and don’t mind retreading familiar ground, you’ll probably eat this up. If you want something that challenges you or subverts expectations, give it a miss and read one of Daws’ earlier, tighter books instead.
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