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Unorthodox Love
Perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood and Sophie Kinsella, Heidi Shertok’s delightful debut about love and family will tug on your heartstrings.
Twenty-nine-year-old Penina longs for true love and marriage, but being infertile in the Orthodox Jewish community means she’s rarely matched with the cream of the crop—or even skim milk two weeks past its expiration date. Matchmakers either set her up with men twice her age or those with serious mommy issues. At this point, she might as well wear a sign around her neck that says “professional virgin.”
As if things weren’t bad enough, her sister Libby then shares a terrible secret: her husband’s failed businesses have already put strain on their marriage, and now they might also lose their family home. Penina is desperate to help, so when a secretly gay Orthodox Jew offers a payout in exchange for a fake marriage, it feels like kismet. Who needs true love anyway?
Enter Sam Kleinfeld. Rude, secular, undeniably sexy, and also…Penina’s new boss. The last thing he wants is a relationship, especially not with a beautiful, smart-mouthed employee. But soon an attraction builds that they both can’t ignore. Will Penina follow her heart and find true love, or will she stick to the traditions she knows best?
Twenty-nine-year-old Penina longs for true love and marriage, but being infertile in the Orthodox Jewish community means she’s rarely matched with the cream of the crop—or even skim milk two weeks past its expiration date. Matchmakers either set her up with men twice her age or those with serious mommy issues. At this point, she might as well wear a sign around her neck that says “professional virgin.”
As if things weren’t bad enough, her sister Libby then shares a terrible secret: her husband’s failed businesses have already put strain on their marriage, and now they might also lose their family home. Penina is desperate to help, so when a secretly gay Orthodox Jew offers a payout in exchange for a fake marriage, it feels like kismet. Who needs true love anyway?
Enter Sam Kleinfeld. Rude, secular, undeniably sexy, and also…Penina’s new boss. The last thing he wants is a relationship, especially not with a beautiful, smart-mouthed employee. But soon an attraction builds that they both can’t ignore. Will Penina follow her heart and find true love, or will she stick to the traditions she knows best?
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2023
86 people are currently reading
2717 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Shertok
3 books115 followersHeidi Shertok is an Orthodox Jewish woman, wife to a stud muffin engineer, and mother of three. When she isn't writing, she can be found walking her eight pound attack dog, admiring other people's gardens, or hiking in high heels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 506 reviews
December 30, 2024
1.5/5 stars-
confession, i don't think i am the intended demographic for the book.
i learned a lot about a religion and way of life that i was otherwise unfamiliar with, and that was great, but as a queer and left-leaning agnostic atheist, i had a tough time relating to a book about a straight and conservative orthodox jew.
i did have a number of issues with the book, hence the rating, but i think it's important to note that that disconnect impacts my experience and, however much i might try, this review.
but moving on, one of my biggest problems with this was how the mmc was described.
HE WAS DESCRIBED AS ALPHA AND TESTOSTERONEY AND AGGRESSIVELY MALE ABOUT 23 TOO MANY TIMES.
another issue, i am so unbelievably over mmc's being downright rude because they were in love. because the mmc was nothing short of intolerable in the first 40%. and then, gasp, we learn that it's because he was head over heels for her, so now he gets a pass for not being a decent human being? sorry, how the fuck does that make any sense?
not only is that offensive if someone just doesn't care enough to be polite to you, but it perpetuates the idea that men can't help themselves and have no accountability over their actions if they feel… basic emotions.
and this is something i have to be careful of too, because it's easy to get blindsided when mmc's get all lovey dovey at the 50% mark, but that doesn't excuse being an asshole.
and then there's the fmc. i've never met someone so inanely oblivious. and so horny. i can confidently say, i've never been in a situation where speaking to a man has made me so turned on i was genuinely concerned i would faint. BECAUSE THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
it was so over the top, i was out here hoping it was satire.
it was not.
and i understand that a large part of this book is about the fmc trying to realize her overdeveloped sense of obligation and savior complex, but taking on the burden of everyone else's unrelated problems, and then crying "woe is me," isn't a good look. it's just annoying.
and not only that, but the financial issue, which was a large part of the conflict, HAD A MUCH MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD SOLUTION THAT EVEN MY LAX PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS RECOGNIZED AT LEAST 150 PAGES BEFORE IT WAS RESOLVED.
there was also a lot of references to pop culture, which i was fine with until it compared memories to tiktok reels.
all that being said, i liked the representation. i liked being able to learn more about a different culture. and though i am historically not a fan of endings where one partner relinquishes their religious/social beliefs for the other (see: purple hearts), i rather liked how this one was done.
i don't feel like any religious beliefs were being pushed on other characters (except for maybe a little her younger sister who, for the record, is an adult and can choose her own path).
and despite it all, i have a lot of respect for books that have characters that show a different side of life than generally portrayed.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
confession, i don't think i am the intended demographic for the book.
i learned a lot about a religion and way of life that i was otherwise unfamiliar with, and that was great, but as a queer and left-leaning agnostic atheist, i had a tough time relating to a book about a straight and conservative orthodox jew.
i did have a number of issues with the book, hence the rating, but i think it's important to note that that disconnect impacts my experience and, however much i might try, this review.
but moving on, one of my biggest problems with this was how the mmc was described.
HE WAS DESCRIBED AS ALPHA AND TESTOSTERONEY AND AGGRESSIVELY MALE ABOUT 23 TOO MANY TIMES.
another issue, i am so unbelievably over mmc's being downright rude because they were in love. because the mmc was nothing short of intolerable in the first 40%. and then, gasp, we learn that it's because he was head over heels for her, so now he gets a pass for not being a decent human being? sorry, how the fuck does that make any sense?
not only is that offensive if someone just doesn't care enough to be polite to you, but it perpetuates the idea that men can't help themselves and have no accountability over their actions if they feel… basic emotions.
and this is something i have to be careful of too, because it's easy to get blindsided when mmc's get all lovey dovey at the 50% mark, but that doesn't excuse being an asshole.
and then there's the fmc. i've never met someone so inanely oblivious. and so horny. i can confidently say, i've never been in a situation where speaking to a man has made me so turned on i was genuinely concerned i would faint. BECAUSE THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
it was so over the top, i was out here hoping it was satire.
it was not.
and i understand that a large part of this book is about the fmc trying to realize her overdeveloped sense of obligation and savior complex, but taking on the burden of everyone else's unrelated problems, and then crying "woe is me," isn't a good look. it's just annoying.
and not only that, but the financial issue, which was a large part of the conflict, HAD A MUCH MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD SOLUTION THAT EVEN MY LAX PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS RECOGNIZED AT LEAST 150 PAGES BEFORE IT WAS RESOLVED.
there was also a lot of references to pop culture, which i was fine with until it compared memories to tiktok reels.
all that being said, i liked the representation. i liked being able to learn more about a different culture. and though i am historically not a fan of endings where one partner relinquishes their religious/social beliefs for the other (see: purple hearts), i rather liked how this one was done.
i don't feel like any religious beliefs were being pushed on other characters (except for maybe a little her younger sister who, for the record, is an adult and can choose her own path).
and despite it all, i have a lot of respect for books that have characters that show a different side of life than generally portrayed.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
July 11, 2023
Happiest of Pub Days to the truly spectacular Heidi Shertok! I read Unorthodox Love months ago, and I couldn’t be more thrilled that this book is finally here FOR EVERYONE TO READ!
Unorthodox Love tells the story of an infertile Orthodox woman, Penina, unable to find a match in the shidduch process, who finds herself in a fake-marriage scheme with a gay Orthodox Jew. But her plans for a sort of happily ever after go awry when she meets her sexy new boss, Sam.
Some reasons I loved this book:
*It’s funny as heck! Look, ya’all... I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again! There is a difference between a romantic comedy and a romance with comedic elements. THIS. IS. A. ROMANTIC. COMEDY. This book teeters on outrageous at times and I just loved that! I laughed aloud more than once, and scenes I read months ago are still in my head!
*Penina is richly developed, with an amazing voice, and I found myself both liking her and rooting for her!
*I heard someone once say that the only time people tell stories about Orthodoxy is when they’re leaving it. Well, guess what?!? NOT IN THIS BOOK. Penina deeply loves her Judaism, her family, and her community. (Also fashion!) It's actually her love of her community that is the main source of conflict here.
*I don't know if everyone will understand how truly SUBVERSIVE this book is. Shertok tackles, "What happens when you don't completely fit into the system you love and were born into." As someone who has also had this dilemma, (read: chronic illness) I appreciated her bringing light to this topic.
*I want more books like this on our shelves.
This is Shertok’s debut and I truly cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
Read this book if you like: glimpses into different cultures/worlds, laugh-out-loud funny scenes, heroines that give voice, and also, Jewish romance! It's got enough meat to be a book club pick, but fun enough on the surface to be a beach read. Snag your copy today!
Congrats @heidi_shertok
My Blurb: "Subversive, hilarious, and heartfelt…Unorthodox Love reminds us all that the things which set us apart, make us the worthiest of being loved."
Unorthodox Love tells the story of an infertile Orthodox woman, Penina, unable to find a match in the shidduch process, who finds herself in a fake-marriage scheme with a gay Orthodox Jew. But her plans for a sort of happily ever after go awry when she meets her sexy new boss, Sam.
Some reasons I loved this book:
*It’s funny as heck! Look, ya’all... I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again! There is a difference between a romantic comedy and a romance with comedic elements. THIS. IS. A. ROMANTIC. COMEDY. This book teeters on outrageous at times and I just loved that! I laughed aloud more than once, and scenes I read months ago are still in my head!
*Penina is richly developed, with an amazing voice, and I found myself both liking her and rooting for her!
*I heard someone once say that the only time people tell stories about Orthodoxy is when they’re leaving it. Well, guess what?!? NOT IN THIS BOOK. Penina deeply loves her Judaism, her family, and her community. (Also fashion!) It's actually her love of her community that is the main source of conflict here.
*I don't know if everyone will understand how truly SUBVERSIVE this book is. Shertok tackles, "What happens when you don't completely fit into the system you love and were born into." As someone who has also had this dilemma, (read: chronic illness) I appreciated her bringing light to this topic.
*I want more books like this on our shelves.
This is Shertok’s debut and I truly cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
Read this book if you like: glimpses into different cultures/worlds, laugh-out-loud funny scenes, heroines that give voice, and also, Jewish romance! It's got enough meat to be a book club pick, but fun enough on the surface to be a beach read. Snag your copy today!
Congrats @heidi_shertok
My Blurb: "Subversive, hilarious, and heartfelt…Unorthodox Love reminds us all that the things which set us apart, make us the worthiest of being loved."
February 21, 2023
Thank you Alcove Press and Netgalley for this arc for an honest review!
This book was quite interesting to me not only with the romance but with the world and a lot of Orthodox Jewish traditions that I’m used to and see every day.
Unorthodox Love is about 29-year-old Penina who has been using a matchmaker to find love with someone in her religious community. Penina belongs to the Orthodox Jewish community and is also infertile which makes falling in love in her community even harder.
There are financial problems in Penina's family and because of them, Penina agrees to start fake dating Zevi, one of the men she is matched with. That person isn’t the love interest though so it was somewhat confusing to me when there was a focus on him. Zevi and her do not end up together but develop a long-lasting friendship that was so nice to see.
Penina’s love interest is her boss Sam who is also Jewish but not Orthodox or religious and over the course of the book, we get to see their relationship grow and blossom. He’s grumpy and she’s the complete opposite and they both have to navigate in her world together and get to know each other better and develop a deep friendship.
There was good banter, and fun moments and I quite liked some of the issues brought up in this book. There isn’t any spice in this book which is necessary because of the religious aspect of this and I love that the author stuck to that.
This book was also nice in the way it depicted orthodox traditions and practices. I also think that this book would fit in adult/women’s fiction alongside contemporary romance.
Overall I liked reading this, I loved the family moments and characters, especially Penina who stayed true to her beliefs throughout the book. I loved the traditions, modesty, beliefs, and uniqueness of this book.
Rating: 4/5
This book was quite interesting to me not only with the romance but with the world and a lot of Orthodox Jewish traditions that I’m used to and see every day.
Unorthodox Love is about 29-year-old Penina who has been using a matchmaker to find love with someone in her religious community. Penina belongs to the Orthodox Jewish community and is also infertile which makes falling in love in her community even harder.
There are financial problems in Penina's family and because of them, Penina agrees to start fake dating Zevi, one of the men she is matched with. That person isn’t the love interest though so it was somewhat confusing to me when there was a focus on him. Zevi and her do not end up together but develop a long-lasting friendship that was so nice to see.
Penina’s love interest is her boss Sam who is also Jewish but not Orthodox or religious and over the course of the book, we get to see their relationship grow and blossom. He’s grumpy and she’s the complete opposite and they both have to navigate in her world together and get to know each other better and develop a deep friendship.
There was good banter, and fun moments and I quite liked some of the issues brought up in this book. There isn’t any spice in this book which is necessary because of the religious aspect of this and I love that the author stuck to that.
This book was also nice in the way it depicted orthodox traditions and practices. I also think that this book would fit in adult/women’s fiction alongside contemporary romance.
Overall I liked reading this, I loved the family moments and characters, especially Penina who stayed true to her beliefs throughout the book. I loved the traditions, modesty, beliefs, and uniqueness of this book.
Rating: 4/5
June 4, 2023
Quick Recap: A 29-year-old Orthodox Jewish woman with fertility problems meets an attractive secular man who drives her crazy-LITERALLY. But sparks cannot fly because she needs a man of faith and he is her boss.
I liked this book. It kept me entertained. Our main protagonist, Penina, had a few issues that I am familiar with and so I felt it easy to connect to her. I really enjoyed her relationship with her sisters and her deep-rooted need to help her family. She was an imperfect character but I loved her flaws and all.
On the other hand, I felt her romantic partner and boss, Sam, took some time to get to know and root for him.
What I didn't like was that the novel begins with an emphasis that Penina is really connected to her faith and it is very important to her. She is often reminding other characters of what is dictated. So I don't really buy into an ending where a character pushes aside their faith for a HEA.
Thanks to NetGalley and Embala Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Goodreads Review Published 04/05/23
Expected Publication Date 06/06/23
#UnorthodoxLove #NetGalley.
I liked this book. It kept me entertained. Our main protagonist, Penina, had a few issues that I am familiar with and so I felt it easy to connect to her. I really enjoyed her relationship with her sisters and her deep-rooted need to help her family. She was an imperfect character but I loved her flaws and all.
On the other hand, I felt her romantic partner and boss, Sam, took some time to get to know and root for him.
What I didn't like was that the novel begins with an emphasis that Penina is really connected to her faith and it is very important to her. She is often reminding other characters of what is dictated. So I don't really buy into an ending where a character pushes aside their faith for a HEA.
Thanks to NetGalley and Embala Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Goodreads Review Published 04/05/23
Expected Publication Date 06/06/23
#UnorthodoxLove #NetGalley.
June 22, 2023
This audio-book started well, an easy breezy romance, but developed some serious problems fairly quickly.
The narrator did not bother to find out how to pronounce the (frequent) Hebrew and Yiddish words. Challah is pronounced with either an "h" sound or like the "ch" in "loch". Not a hard ch sound. Was it too hard to get a narrator who has had some exposure to Jewish culture and people? Although the narrator mispronounced a number of other words - the "p" in psalm is usually silent. Also, the accent she does for Natan who is meant to be Israeli, borders on offensive.
So, don 't listen to the audio. Should you eye-read it?
This book has major consent issues. Penina, the main character, is allegedly an observant orthodox Jew. She states that she can't be alone with or touch a man, but she is constantly alone with and touching men. And Sam touches her again and again, even after being told. More concerning is the pregnant 14 year old. No-one seems too concerned about how she got pregnant. There is a real problem with sexual abuse in religious communities, because the children are not educated about sex, and so it makes them easier to exploit. Also, a 14 year old cannot give consent. So the whole (barely developed) pregnancy plot-line is just a way of providing an available baby, which is icky. It's frustrating, because I was looking forward to some Jewish rep, but maybe the romance space is not the best place for this. Or maybe I'm just not in a place to suspend my serious, critical faculties enough to enjoy romance, and I should stick to depressing books. Anyway, the ending was sweet even if I never felt much chemistry between the main characters, but that might be because I was so busy flinching at the mispronunciations.
The narrator did not bother to find out how to pronounce the (frequent) Hebrew and Yiddish words. Challah is pronounced with either an "h" sound or like the "ch" in "loch". Not a hard ch sound. Was it too hard to get a narrator who has had some exposure to Jewish culture and people? Although the narrator mispronounced a number of other words - the "p" in psalm is usually silent. Also, the accent she does for Natan who is meant to be Israeli, borders on offensive.
So, don 't listen to the audio. Should you eye-read it?
This book has major consent issues. Penina, the main character, is allegedly an observant orthodox Jew. She states that she can't be alone with or touch a man, but she is constantly alone with and touching men. And Sam touches her again and again, even after being told. More concerning is the pregnant 14 year old. No-one seems too concerned about how she got pregnant. There is a real problem with sexual abuse in religious communities, because the children are not educated about sex, and so it makes them easier to exploit. Also, a 14 year old cannot give consent. So the whole (barely developed) pregnancy plot-line is just a way of providing an available baby, which is icky. It's frustrating, because I was looking forward to some Jewish rep, but maybe the romance space is not the best place for this. Or maybe I'm just not in a place to suspend my serious, critical faculties enough to enjoy romance, and I should stick to depressing books. Anyway, the ending was sweet even if I never felt much chemistry between the main characters, but that might be because I was so busy flinching at the mispronunciations.
May 23, 2023
When I saw the description for Unorthodox Love, I was immediately intrigued. We know I love Jewish rep in all forms. And I so appreciated the Jewish rep Heidi Shertok brings in this book. As an Orthodox Jew, Penina is not the kind of Jewish character typically included in fiction, let alone in romance. And Shertok's voice and narration is different, but in a good way. Things like "G-d" and "Shabbos" and Penina's modest fashion are just part of the story. There was a lot of good Jewish content that was included throughout the story, including lots of holidays, including minor ones like Shavuot, and the rules of Shabbat that some readers might not be familiar with, and I think Shertok did a good job of making it accessible and understandable for someone who isn't familiar. (As someone who is familiar, it felt a little repetitive and expository, as opposed to showing me what was going on, but I think better to err on the side of overexplaining when it comes to some of these customs and holidays.)
This book also fits squarely into the chaotic good category. There are lots of minor characters, particularly Penina's sisters, who are part of funny and chaotic subplots, and honestly even the main plot(s) have a chaotic energy to them. I do mean this positively, to be clear -- chaotic good books are some of my favorites because they are so fun to read about and so many of the characters are so different from characters I typically encounter.
While I did enjoy Penina and Sam's dynamic, the ending felt rushed to me (although I can understand it). But I liked their bantering and their interactions and Penina's persistent act of trying to convince herself that Sam isn't hot. Again, chaotic good energy that I am here for!
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an eARC of Unorthodox Love in exchange for my honest review.
This book also fits squarely into the chaotic good category. There are lots of minor characters, particularly Penina's sisters, who are part of funny and chaotic subplots, and honestly even the main plot(s) have a chaotic energy to them. I do mean this positively, to be clear -- chaotic good books are some of my favorites because they are so fun to read about and so many of the characters are so different from characters I typically encounter.
While I did enjoy Penina and Sam's dynamic, the ending felt rushed to me (although I can understand it). But I liked their bantering and their interactions and Penina's persistent act of trying to convince herself that Sam isn't hot. Again, chaotic good energy that I am here for!
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an eARC of Unorthodox Love in exchange for my honest review.
May 25, 2023
3☆ A Heart-warming Story
Unorthodox Love was an interesting read but i found it quiet difficult to connect with the storyline and main character.
It was very much a slower paced read and it felt like it took a long time to get going.
I did however enjoy reading and learning about the orthodox Jewish culture and community.
There was some good Witty humour, a slow burn romance, and a sprinkle of disastrous dates.
I would definitely recommend reading this quirky book, just bear in mind it takes a long time to get into the swing of the storyline. But that's just my personal opinion.
Thank you to Embla Books and Netgalley for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Unorthodox Love was an interesting read but i found it quiet difficult to connect with the storyline and main character.
It was very much a slower paced read and it felt like it took a long time to get going.
I did however enjoy reading and learning about the orthodox Jewish culture and community.
There was some good Witty humour, a slow burn romance, and a sprinkle of disastrous dates.
I would definitely recommend reading this quirky book, just bear in mind it takes a long time to get into the swing of the storyline. But that's just my personal opinion.
Thank you to Embla Books and Netgalley for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
November 9, 2023
Unorthodox Love was so fun to listen. Penina awkward first day got me laughing out loud and here i am still laughing. it was so funny.
📖 Read this if you love
- Friends to Lovers
- Enemies to Lovers
- Opposites Attract
- Slow Burn
- Grumpy Sunshine
- Jewish Representation
Twenty-nine-year-old Penina longs for true love and marriage, but being infertile in the Orthodox Jewish community means she’s rarely matched with the cream of the crop—or even skim milk two weeks past its expiration date.
As if things weren’t bad enough, her sister Libby and her husband’s failed businesses have already put strain on their marriage, and now they might also lose their family home.
Penina is desperate to help, so when a secretly gay Orthodox Jew offers a payout in exchange for a fake marriage, it feels like kismet.
Enter Sam Kleinfeld. Rude, secular, undeniably sexy, and also…Penina’s new boss. The last thing he wants is a relationship, especially not with a beautiful, smart-mouthed employee. But soon an attraction builds that they both can’t ignore.
.... This is a sweet book with a refreshing and new take on romance. Most of the characters are lovable except for Sam of course who was a Jerk, he just sucks and I felt Penina deserved better, and i didn't really feel a deeper connection between them.
The family dynamics was great, very realistic. The bond between Penina Family members were great.
This book was quite long and dragged a bit. it would have been great if it was shorter which would have probably reduced the too many repetitions.
I liked learning about a religion i didnt know much about. It was interesting knowing about Orthodox Judaism. However I feel the explanation of Jewish religion was a bit too much.
Plus i felt Penina was not true to herself and religion.
There was a disjunct between what Penina preached and what she actually practiced.
I wanted a bit of steam between the two main characters, but i guess its understandable from what I've read about OrthodoxJudaism.
I absolutely loved the ending.
The epilogue wrapped everything up so perfectly and gave me closure to certain questions that was running through my mind.
But I still believe Penina deserved better.
I Recommend this if you're looking for a different take in romance.
Thanks NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this Audiobook
📖 Read this if you love
- Friends to Lovers
- Enemies to Lovers
- Opposites Attract
- Slow Burn
- Grumpy Sunshine
- Jewish Representation
Twenty-nine-year-old Penina longs for true love and marriage, but being infertile in the Orthodox Jewish community means she’s rarely matched with the cream of the crop—or even skim milk two weeks past its expiration date.
As if things weren’t bad enough, her sister Libby and her husband’s failed businesses have already put strain on their marriage, and now they might also lose their family home.
Penina is desperate to help, so when a secretly gay Orthodox Jew offers a payout in exchange for a fake marriage, it feels like kismet.
Enter Sam Kleinfeld. Rude, secular, undeniably sexy, and also…Penina’s new boss. The last thing he wants is a relationship, especially not with a beautiful, smart-mouthed employee. But soon an attraction builds that they both can’t ignore.
.... This is a sweet book with a refreshing and new take on romance. Most of the characters are lovable except for Sam of course who was a Jerk, he just sucks and I felt Penina deserved better, and i didn't really feel a deeper connection between them.
The family dynamics was great, very realistic. The bond between Penina Family members were great.
This book was quite long and dragged a bit. it would have been great if it was shorter which would have probably reduced the too many repetitions.
I liked learning about a religion i didnt know much about. It was interesting knowing about Orthodox Judaism. However I feel the explanation of Jewish religion was a bit too much.
Plus i felt Penina was not true to herself and religion.
There was a disjunct between what Penina preached and what she actually practiced.
I wanted a bit of steam between the two main characters, but i guess its understandable from what I've read about OrthodoxJudaism.
I absolutely loved the ending.
The epilogue wrapped everything up so perfectly and gave me closure to certain questions that was running through my mind.
But I still believe Penina deserved better.
I Recommend this if you're looking for a different take in romance.
Thanks NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this Audiobook
January 19, 2023
This book!! I didn't fully know what to except when I started reading this book but I absolutely loved it. As a Jewish woman, it was incredible to read about a Jewish FMC. I loved the representation of the Jewish community throughout the book. For someone who is not of Jewish faith - have no fear, this book does an amazing job at going over and explaining the details without being too over the top. I laughed a lot while reading this book; I did NOT expect it to be so funny. Without giving away spoilers - the ending is perfection. I can't recommend this book enough.
I was given an Advanced Reader Copy by NetGalley for an honest review.
I was given an Advanced Reader Copy by NetGalley for an honest review.
February 16, 2023
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received an advanced copy of Unorthodox Love and it certainly lived up to its title of a romance that was far from traditional. I learned so much about the important acts of Judaism while reading this book, such as modesty, marriage, and matchmaking. Most of my knowledge about this religion comes from the Old Testament and I really appreciated how much dedication the author invested in creating this unique love story. I was fully invested in Penina and Sam’s relationship and I could have honestly done with a few extra chapters detailing their romance. Our heroine was so appealing and it was easy to picture myself in her sparkly shoes. The hero was a total dreamboat and he was the perfect pairing for Penina. Put these two together and we’ve got a match made in matzo ball soup.
While Penina and Sam’s romance gave me faint pangs of the honeyglow, I didn’t receive its full radiance. Unorthodox Love was a complex piece of fiction, but unfortunately the romance was secondary to the plot. This was marketed as a love story, but the heroine spent the majority of the novel engaged in a relationship with a man she didn’t love. The true object of her affection was ripe for the picking, but the reader was left frustrated waiting for her to make the right decision. I would have happily migrated the bridal offer to a marriage of convenience with Sam as an alternate plot instead of focusing on a candidate who only wanted to appease his dying Orthodox mother’s final wishes. I just wanted more of a spotlight on Penina’s blossoming relationship with Sam and didn’t want another guy in the picture who merely wanted her for a sham marriage. Sam and Penina had such a magnetic chemistry that I was greedy for as many interactions as my little gentile heart could handle. My favorite scenes were when they pretended to be an engaged couple to scope out the rival jewelry stores. Look how right this feels! Doesn’t that ring fit perfectly? Go ahead and make it official, you two lovebirds!
Unorthodox Love was a lovely, unique romance and I’m glad to have read it. I haven’t read many books featuring a Jewish lead and I hope this opens the door for more diverse romances. I really appreciate the author’s attempt at educating the reader on Judaism within a modern love story while still maintaining the respect for her religion. I’d be happy to read more books from this author, whether it’s diving further into Penina’s happy ever after or focusing on completely new characters. I learned plenty of new Jewish phrases and traditions, thanks to Unorthodox Love. If I can find more Jewish love stories just like this, I hope we can make glass smashing and chair dances synonymous with a fairy tale ending.
I received an advanced copy of Unorthodox Love and it certainly lived up to its title of a romance that was far from traditional. I learned so much about the important acts of Judaism while reading this book, such as modesty, marriage, and matchmaking. Most of my knowledge about this religion comes from the Old Testament and I really appreciated how much dedication the author invested in creating this unique love story. I was fully invested in Penina and Sam’s relationship and I could have honestly done with a few extra chapters detailing their romance. Our heroine was so appealing and it was easy to picture myself in her sparkly shoes. The hero was a total dreamboat and he was the perfect pairing for Penina. Put these two together and we’ve got a match made in matzo ball soup.
While Penina and Sam’s romance gave me faint pangs of the honeyglow, I didn’t receive its full radiance. Unorthodox Love was a complex piece of fiction, but unfortunately the romance was secondary to the plot. This was marketed as a love story, but the heroine spent the majority of the novel engaged in a relationship with a man she didn’t love. The true object of her affection was ripe for the picking, but the reader was left frustrated waiting for her to make the right decision. I would have happily migrated the bridal offer to a marriage of convenience with Sam as an alternate plot instead of focusing on a candidate who only wanted to appease his dying Orthodox mother’s final wishes. I just wanted more of a spotlight on Penina’s blossoming relationship with Sam and didn’t want another guy in the picture who merely wanted her for a sham marriage. Sam and Penina had such a magnetic chemistry that I was greedy for as many interactions as my little gentile heart could handle. My favorite scenes were when they pretended to be an engaged couple to scope out the rival jewelry stores. Look how right this feels! Doesn’t that ring fit perfectly? Go ahead and make it official, you two lovebirds!
Unorthodox Love was a lovely, unique romance and I’m glad to have read it. I haven’t read many books featuring a Jewish lead and I hope this opens the door for more diverse romances. I really appreciate the author’s attempt at educating the reader on Judaism within a modern love story while still maintaining the respect for her religion. I’d be happy to read more books from this author, whether it’s diving further into Penina’s happy ever after or focusing on completely new characters. I learned plenty of new Jewish phrases and traditions, thanks to Unorthodox Love. If I can find more Jewish love stories just like this, I hope we can make glass smashing and chair dances synonymous with a fairy tale ending.
November 5, 2023
4.5/5 stars
This is a Jewish rom-com.
The narrator is Penina, a 29 year old infertile Jewish woman.
I really enjoyed this book! It was great to see an Orthodox Jewish heroine! I really enjoyed how much faith and family meant to her. She was so family oriented. And so extremely kind. I loved it!
I also really enjoyed seeing her go on dates. She works in a jewelry store. And her co-workers and new boss added such a fun layer to the story.
Overall, this book made me happy. The romance aspect of the book was really good. And there was so much amazing Jewish rep. I can't wait to see what this author writes next.
This is a Jewish rom-com.
The narrator is Penina, a 29 year old infertile Jewish woman.
I really enjoyed this book! It was great to see an Orthodox Jewish heroine! I really enjoyed how much faith and family meant to her. She was so family oriented. And so extremely kind. I loved it!
I also really enjoyed seeing her go on dates. She works in a jewelry store. And her co-workers and new boss added such a fun layer to the story.
Overall, this book made me happy. The romance aspect of the book was really good. And there was so much amazing Jewish rep. I can't wait to see what this author writes next.
February 12, 2023
My heart always does a flip whenever I see Jewish books on NetGalley. It’s even better when I have time in my reading schedule for them. I requested Unorthodox Love by Heidi Shertok (Alcove Press, 2023) as soon as I spotted it, and then waited. And waited. And waited. And when I was finally approved, of course I already had a stack of books I needed to get to first! Such is the way of a reader’s life. But when I was finally able to dive in, I discovered a read that had been worth the wait.
At twenty-nine and unmarried in a community where young women most often get married by their early twenties, Penina Kalish is practically geriatric in the Orthodox world. A medical condition ensures that she’ll never have children, and as this is something extremely important to Orthodox Jews, Penina knows she’s damaged goods and unlikely to find a husband. The dates she does go on, set up by a feisty but out-of-touch matchmaker, never go well. So Penina focuses on her family, her volunteer work holding babies at the local NICU, and her job at a local jewelry store. She’s doing her best to make her life as fulfilling as possible, no matter how much she wants what she can't have.
But everything changes the day a handsome stranger walks through the NICU. This man, Sam Kleinfeld, ends up being Penina’s new boss, the son of the jewelry store’s owner. He’s filthy rich, incredibly handsome, Jewish (though not Orthodox), single (or is he?), and more than a little grumpy. As Penina gets to know him, she realizes how easy it would be to love him, but she’s damaged, he’s not Orthodox, and there’s that super gorgeous, bikini-sporting doctor who keeps tagging him in Facebook photos. So many reasons he’s off-limits.
But as Penina struggles to keep her heart in check and help save her sister’s house, she’ll learn a thing or two about how not damaged she is, what makes a person whole, and maybe she’ll fall in love along the way.
Super cute romance. It’s set in an Orthodox Jewish community, but as Sam is a secular (non-religious) Jew, he needs certain things explained to him and thus he serves well as a point of education for readers who may not be familiar with terms and traditions common among the Orthodox. Penina truly is Every Woman, dealing with not just health challenges that have set the course for her life, but with everyday bouts of awkwardness, like coffee spills, wardrobe malfunctions (a very minor plot point is Penina’s role as a modest fashion influencer on Instagram, which was fun), and constantly managing to say the wrong thing, especially while nervously babbling to fill the silence. Same, girl.
Sam is gruff, a little rough around the edges, but with a good heart. His status as a bit of an outsider, as non-Orthodox, is what allows him to more fully see Penina; to him, she’s not broken or missing something essential like she’s learned to think of herself. Their relationship, always following the strict rules of comportment laid out by Orthodox Judaism, grows, twisting and turning as Penina begins to accept that despite her lack of ability to have children, there’s nothing wrong with her. While at times I felt Sam was maybe a little too gruff (or at least too gruff for my liking, but that’s a personal preference), the two make a good pair.
The ending was exactly what I expected - not just the usual romance HEA, but…I won’t give any spoilers, but in that context, it’s the only acceptable solution. How realistic it is, I don’t know; it’s one I’ve seen before in other outsider-falls-in-love-with-insider type romances, and it always pulls me out of the story just a little bit because I’m wondering about the practicality of it, and how it would work out long-term. But overall, Orthodox Love is a cute, fun romance that gives you a peek inside a world most people aren’t familiar with, and I love that.
Unorthodox Love will be available at your favorite retailers July 11, 2023. Huge thanks to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Heidi Shertok for allowing me to read and review an advance copy.
At twenty-nine and unmarried in a community where young women most often get married by their early twenties, Penina Kalish is practically geriatric in the Orthodox world. A medical condition ensures that she’ll never have children, and as this is something extremely important to Orthodox Jews, Penina knows she’s damaged goods and unlikely to find a husband. The dates she does go on, set up by a feisty but out-of-touch matchmaker, never go well. So Penina focuses on her family, her volunteer work holding babies at the local NICU, and her job at a local jewelry store. She’s doing her best to make her life as fulfilling as possible, no matter how much she wants what she can't have.
But everything changes the day a handsome stranger walks through the NICU. This man, Sam Kleinfeld, ends up being Penina’s new boss, the son of the jewelry store’s owner. He’s filthy rich, incredibly handsome, Jewish (though not Orthodox), single (or is he?), and more than a little grumpy. As Penina gets to know him, she realizes how easy it would be to love him, but she’s damaged, he’s not Orthodox, and there’s that super gorgeous, bikini-sporting doctor who keeps tagging him in Facebook photos. So many reasons he’s off-limits.
But as Penina struggles to keep her heart in check and help save her sister’s house, she’ll learn a thing or two about how not damaged she is, what makes a person whole, and maybe she’ll fall in love along the way.
Super cute romance. It’s set in an Orthodox Jewish community, but as Sam is a secular (non-religious) Jew, he needs certain things explained to him and thus he serves well as a point of education for readers who may not be familiar with terms and traditions common among the Orthodox. Penina truly is Every Woman, dealing with not just health challenges that have set the course for her life, but with everyday bouts of awkwardness, like coffee spills, wardrobe malfunctions (a very minor plot point is Penina’s role as a modest fashion influencer on Instagram, which was fun), and constantly managing to say the wrong thing, especially while nervously babbling to fill the silence. Same, girl.
Sam is gruff, a little rough around the edges, but with a good heart. His status as a bit of an outsider, as non-Orthodox, is what allows him to more fully see Penina; to him, she’s not broken or missing something essential like she’s learned to think of herself. Their relationship, always following the strict rules of comportment laid out by Orthodox Judaism, grows, twisting and turning as Penina begins to accept that despite her lack of ability to have children, there’s nothing wrong with her. While at times I felt Sam was maybe a little too gruff (or at least too gruff for my liking, but that’s a personal preference), the two make a good pair.
The ending was exactly what I expected - not just the usual romance HEA, but…I won’t give any spoilers, but in that context, it’s the only acceptable solution. How realistic it is, I don’t know; it’s one I’ve seen before in other outsider-falls-in-love-with-insider type romances, and it always pulls me out of the story just a little bit because I’m wondering about the practicality of it, and how it would work out long-term. But overall, Orthodox Love is a cute, fun romance that gives you a peek inside a world most people aren’t familiar with, and I love that.
Unorthodox Love will be available at your favorite retailers July 11, 2023. Huge thanks to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Heidi Shertok for allowing me to read and review an advance copy.
February 18, 2024
Funny and heart-warming story of a woman yearning for love but ready to sacrifice everything to make sure her family are happy and safe.
Penina is one of those characters you cannot help but like. Generous and kind with a great sense of humour and enough sass to make her stand out. The fact that she's an Orthodox Jewish woman adds to the story because it throws in all the complications that she faces trying to date whilst conforming to traditions of her faith.
I really enjoyed that book. A sweet and quick read with a great heroine.
Penina is one of those characters you cannot help but like. Generous and kind with a great sense of humour and enough sass to make her stand out. The fact that she's an Orthodox Jewish woman adds to the story because it throws in all the complications that she faces trying to date whilst conforming to traditions of her faith.
I really enjoyed that book. A sweet and quick read with a great heroine.
July 4, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
I have mixed feelings on this forbidden, slow burn, friends to lovers, interfaith romance. On the one hand I really enjoyed learning more about the Orthodox Jewish lifestyle and the strict restrictions adherents follow but on the other hand I felt the book was longer than it needed to be and dragged a bit in the middle.
There was great disability rep (the heroine, Penina has a misshaped uterus that makes her infertile and unable to bear children) - a condition I hadn't heard of before and causes her a great deal of distress as a woman raised and wanting children of her own. Recommended for fans of Jean Meltzer and good on audio narrated by Caitlin Thorburn.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review. I hope we get more stories featuring Penina's sisters!
I have mixed feelings on this forbidden, slow burn, friends to lovers, interfaith romance. On the one hand I really enjoyed learning more about the Orthodox Jewish lifestyle and the strict restrictions adherents follow but on the other hand I felt the book was longer than it needed to be and dragged a bit in the middle.
There was great disability rep (the heroine, Penina has a misshaped uterus that makes her infertile and unable to bear children) - a condition I hadn't heard of before and causes her a great deal of distress as a woman raised and wanting children of her own. Recommended for fans of Jean Meltzer and good on audio narrated by Caitlin Thorburn.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review. I hope we get more stories featuring Penina's sisters!
dnf
July 5, 2023Got 40% in before I DNF’d
March 10, 2024
I don’t know why I read this. If you find the main character relatable, just know the call is coming from inside the house.
October 18, 2023
Heidi Shertok's debut Jewish rom-com, Unorthodox Love, is incredibly enjoyable throughout! I had a lot of fun reading it and getting to know Penina. And Sam is definitely swoonworthy!
Penina has a lot of stress in her life. It was interesting to see what kind of decisions she would make. I like that this novel teaches different facets of Orthodox Judaism, from holidays to keeping Kosher to shomer negiah (men and women not touching before marriage, keeping a door open if they are in a room together, etc.) to family purity...there is a lot you can learn through such a charming and delightful story. Penina reminds me of myself in some ways, especially with the desire to help people. I liked that about her.
The story opens with a really bad blind date that was arranged by a shadchen (matchmaker). It's actually hilarious but hard not to totally cringe for Penina and want to be her emergency call. From there, it just continues to stay fun and interesting, especially when Sam enters the scene. I loved the banter between Penina and Sam and how she was teaching him about Orthodox Judaism. However, his reaction to one of the rituals was a bit triggering for me.
I really like that Heidi touched on the subject of infertility and its impact on Orthodox women. While I don't wish this on anyone, I hope that someone who is going through it can find comfort from reading this novel.
There were some inconsistencies that I hope were ironed out for the final publication, as I read an advanced copy. There were also some comments that could be seen as insensitive. In the long run, it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment.
I already am looking forward to Heidi's next novel! And if she lived closer, I'd invite her over for a Shabbat meal.
Movie casting suggestions:
Penina has a lot of stress in her life. It was interesting to see what kind of decisions she would make. I like that this novel teaches different facets of Orthodox Judaism, from holidays to keeping Kosher to shomer negiah (men and women not touching before marriage, keeping a door open if they are in a room together, etc.) to family purity...there is a lot you can learn through such a charming and delightful story. Penina reminds me of myself in some ways, especially with the desire to help people. I liked that about her.
The story opens with a really bad blind date that was arranged by a shadchen (matchmaker). It's actually hilarious but hard not to totally cringe for Penina and want to be her emergency call. From there, it just continues to stay fun and interesting, especially when Sam enters the scene. I loved the banter between Penina and Sam and how she was teaching him about Orthodox Judaism. However, his reaction to one of the rituals was a bit triggering for me.
I really like that Heidi touched on the subject of infertility and its impact on Orthodox women. While I don't wish this on anyone, I hope that someone who is going through it can find comfort from reading this novel.
There were some inconsistencies that I hope were ironed out for the final publication, as I read an advanced copy. There were also some comments that could be seen as insensitive. In the long run, it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment.
I already am looking forward to Heidi's next novel! And if she lived closer, I'd invite her over for a Shabbat meal.
Movie casting suggestions:
Penina: Lily Collins
Sam: James Wolk
Zevi: Max Rhyser
April 25, 2023
It is a really cute story that offers a unique protagonist's perspective on modern social issues. loved the nuanced representation of a minority religious community and all the cute babies. not fully to my taste as a reader but was an enjoyable read. This was such a beautiful, fun look at how relationships can develop. I loved this glimpse into the Orthodox lifestyle. This is a clean romance, slow burn with a HEA. I highly recommend giving this book a read. Heidi Shertok did a beautiful job of making me feel all the things.
Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an eARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an eARC.
June 25, 2023
Remember when romance was about love, connection, and mutual respect not about sex? Unorthodox Love puts us on the roller coaster of love and I never want to get off!
When you are 30 your life’s desires become out of reach A woman trying to make it in her world runs into a breathtaking benefactor. They can’t touch! They can’t kiss! It’s forbidden. This creates an intense attraction between the wrong people.
I enjoyed the audiobook version of this book. I was impressed by some of the verbiage they had to pronounce. Narrator did an excellent job.
When you are 30 your life’s desires become out of reach A woman trying to make it in her world runs into a breathtaking benefactor. They can’t touch! They can’t kiss! It’s forbidden. This creates an intense attraction between the wrong people.
I enjoyed the audiobook version of this book. I was impressed by some of the verbiage they had to pronounce. Narrator did an excellent job.
June 15, 2023
I absolutely adored this book!!! It was so cutesy and sweet. Like a Hallmark movie come to life. Perfect if that’s your style!. Thank you so much for this eARC Dreamscape, NetGalley, and Heidi Shertok.
May 24, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CONTENT WARNING: infertility, homophobia, blood
I was so, so excited to hear about this book, then again to get approved for this ARC, and all over again when I started reading it. And within a chapter, I knew that I was going to love it.
Penina is a great character. She’s funny, hip, and just awkward enough to make her relatable. This is the first time I’ve seen an Orthodox woman featured as a main character in a romance, and it was a nice change. Penina works at a jewelry shop, but also helps out with her family, volunteers with preemies at the NICU, and maintains an Instagram account focused on modest, budget-friendly, and fashionable attire.
Penina’s Jewish identity plays a big role in the story. I liked hearing her talk about how her adherence to faith sometimes conflicts with her modern lifestyle, yet she prioritizes her faith and finds ways to work around any issues. Except a couple which are beyond her control—a medical condition and her status in the Orthodox marriage hierarchy. Because while this book shares so much of the joys that Penina finds in being an Orthodox Jew, it also talks about one of the major negative sides that people outside the community can’t see. Both of these issues happen to be related to the same thing, and that is infertility.
If you’ve ever spent any amount of time around an Orthodox gathering, you’re bound to notice a bunch of children. Because having children is especially important to Orthodox Jews, which lends additional weight to Penina’s struggle with infertility. It also explains why she views herself as damaged or broken, why she hasn’t found a decent (or even vaguely acceptable) match in her ten years of dating, and why she winds up in this situation. Being in a community where you can usually find someone who is pregnant or has a baby with them can’t be easy when all you want is a baby and know you can’t have one, and Penina also explains the complex rules surrounding adoption. This quote really stood out to me:
“Sometimes, the yearning to be a mother is so strong, that it literally steals my breath away and I have to remind myself to breathe. I keep telling myself that it’ll get easier with time, that this ache in my chest will eventually stop hurting, that there will come a day when I’ll see a pregnant woman and not feel envy, but deep down I know the truth: no matter how many years or decades pass, it won’t get easier. I’ll never make peace with the fact that I couldn’t be a mother.”
While the romance was relatively predictable, I still really loved this story. The comedy had me laughing, and I loved Penina’s character right from the start. She’s hilarious and just a little snarky, while her sisters step in with some very different personalities and comedic timing, and the pacing was perfect. This is a great story, and I recommend it for everyone.
CONTENT WARNING: infertility, homophobia, blood
I was so, so excited to hear about this book, then again to get approved for this ARC, and all over again when I started reading it. And within a chapter, I knew that I was going to love it.
Penina is a great character. She’s funny, hip, and just awkward enough to make her relatable. This is the first time I’ve seen an Orthodox woman featured as a main character in a romance, and it was a nice change. Penina works at a jewelry shop, but also helps out with her family, volunteers with preemies at the NICU, and maintains an Instagram account focused on modest, budget-friendly, and fashionable attire.
Penina’s Jewish identity plays a big role in the story. I liked hearing her talk about how her adherence to faith sometimes conflicts with her modern lifestyle, yet she prioritizes her faith and finds ways to work around any issues. Except a couple which are beyond her control—a medical condition and her status in the Orthodox marriage hierarchy. Because while this book shares so much of the joys that Penina finds in being an Orthodox Jew, it also talks about one of the major negative sides that people outside the community can’t see. Both of these issues happen to be related to the same thing, and that is infertility.
If you’ve ever spent any amount of time around an Orthodox gathering, you’re bound to notice a bunch of children. Because having children is especially important to Orthodox Jews, which lends additional weight to Penina’s struggle with infertility. It also explains why she views herself as damaged or broken, why she hasn’t found a decent (or even vaguely acceptable) match in her ten years of dating, and why she winds up in this situation. Being in a community where you can usually find someone who is pregnant or has a baby with them can’t be easy when all you want is a baby and know you can’t have one, and Penina also explains the complex rules surrounding adoption. This quote really stood out to me:
“Sometimes, the yearning to be a mother is so strong, that it literally steals my breath away and I have to remind myself to breathe. I keep telling myself that it’ll get easier with time, that this ache in my chest will eventually stop hurting, that there will come a day when I’ll see a pregnant woman and not feel envy, but deep down I know the truth: no matter how many years or decades pass, it won’t get easier. I’ll never make peace with the fact that I couldn’t be a mother.”
While the romance was relatively predictable, I still really loved this story. The comedy had me laughing, and I loved Penina’s character right from the start. She’s hilarious and just a little snarky, while her sisters step in with some very different personalities and comedic timing, and the pacing was perfect. This is a great story, and I recommend it for everyone.
June 27, 2023
Unorthodox Love was funny, light-hearted, and genuinely lovely to read.
Panina is 29 and searching for love. She's an Orthodox Jew, and her matchmaker keeps sending her on awful date after awful date - leading her to think she may never find the one. We follow her on this journey.
Panina - you have my heart! She's totally on my wavelength. A people pleaser who'll do anything to see her loved ones happy, while sacrificing her needs and goals. I loved getting to embark on a journey with her as she learned that sometimes it's better to put yourself first, say no, and do what's right for you. She has the most beautiful soul, strong values, and a penchant for style.
Sam took me a little longer to warm to, but I liked that about him - it gave the book more depth than your typical girl + boy meets, immediately falls in love kinda trope. Throughout it all, though you know that he'd do anything for Panina, and literally worships the ground she walks upon...even if he is stubborn!
The plot was well thought out and had enough going on throughout that I never felt bored or like it was too long - something that can be hard to gauge. Side characters and settings were great too. The insight into love and life as an Orthodox Jew was also so interesting for me, I've never read a romance like it, and it was so well done!
I've given this book 4 lovely, well-deserved stars.
Thank you, NetGalley for this arc in return for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Panina is 29 and searching for love. She's an Orthodox Jew, and her matchmaker keeps sending her on awful date after awful date - leading her to think she may never find the one. We follow her on this journey.
Panina - you have my heart! She's totally on my wavelength. A people pleaser who'll do anything to see her loved ones happy, while sacrificing her needs and goals. I loved getting to embark on a journey with her as she learned that sometimes it's better to put yourself first, say no, and do what's right for you. She has the most beautiful soul, strong values, and a penchant for style.
Sam took me a little longer to warm to, but I liked that about him - it gave the book more depth than your typical girl + boy meets, immediately falls in love kinda trope. Throughout it all, though you know that he'd do anything for Panina, and literally worships the ground she walks upon...even if he is stubborn!
The plot was well thought out and had enough going on throughout that I never felt bored or like it was too long - something that can be hard to gauge. Side characters and settings were great too. The insight into love and life as an Orthodox Jew was also so interesting for me, I've never read a romance like it, and it was so well done!
I've given this book 4 lovely, well-deserved stars.
Thank you, NetGalley for this arc in return for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
April 13, 2023
This is the second book I’ve read (the first being Jean Meltzer’s Mr. Perfect on Paper), in which the MC is an orthodox Jewish woman who ends up partnering with a less- or non-Jewish man. A significant part of the plot in both that book at Heidi Shertok’s Unorthodox Love is these women grappling with whether the version of their faith that they know and love can mesh with the love of a man who does not share that faith.
It’s important to say, I think, that Penina truly does love her Judaism, exactly the way she practices. She is not struggling against the rules of the orthodoxy she follows, nor does she ever consider a way out. Her doubts are only whether Sam, a secular Jew, is willing to fit into her life.
My own personal feelings about religious orthodoxy of any kind (full disclosure: I grew up in a Reform synagogue and consider myself a secular or cultural Jew), I appreciate that Shertok avoided making Penina defensive about her faith, even though her community has in many ways shunned her because she is unable to have biological children. I actually struggled far more that Penina’s desire to be a mother is one of her defining traits, inextricably interwoven with her Judaism, even if it is a reasonable one.
But most of all, the biggest struggle with Unorthodox Love is that Sam, for a lot of the book, just kinda sucks. He’s mean (and not in a flirtatious teasing way, as I think the author intended) and temperamental. I want better for Penina, even if she doesn’t think better is possible.
Unorthodox Love by Heidi Shertok
✡️ ✡️ ✡️
💍 💍 💍 creative use of fake engagement
👨👨👧 disrupted throuple vibes
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It’s important to say, I think, that Penina truly does love her Judaism, exactly the way she practices. She is not struggling against the rules of the orthodoxy she follows, nor does she ever consider a way out. Her doubts are only whether Sam, a secular Jew, is willing to fit into her life.
My own personal feelings about religious orthodoxy of any kind (full disclosure: I grew up in a Reform synagogue and consider myself a secular or cultural Jew), I appreciate that Shertok avoided making Penina defensive about her faith, even though her community has in many ways shunned her because she is unable to have biological children. I actually struggled far more that Penina’s desire to be a mother is one of her defining traits, inextricably interwoven with her Judaism, even if it is a reasonable one.
But most of all, the biggest struggle with Unorthodox Love is that Sam, for a lot of the book, just kinda sucks. He’s mean (and not in a flirtatious teasing way, as I think the author intended) and temperamental. I want better for Penina, even if she doesn’t think better is possible.
Unorthodox Love by Heidi Shertok
✡️ ✡️ ✡️
💍 💍 💍 creative use of fake engagement
👨👨👧 disrupted throuple vibes
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2023
What a sweet Jewish romance! I like this one quite a bit.
July 15, 2023
This one really did not work for me, I didn't care for either main character, Penina or Sam. I think this would have possibly benefitted with POVs from both characters and not just Penina.
Penina is an Orthodox Jewish woman looking for an Orthodox man to be with, but she didn't come across as someone who actually cared about the religion itself. It seemed like she wanted someone who ticked the boxes of being Orthodox and following the rules. That itself could have been interesting to explore, but we didn't get any of that. Why is Penina really Orthodox? What is she getting out of it? She also comes across so judgmental and naive; she never really grew out of these traits.
Sam is the main love interest, and he is so rude and unlikable for the majority of the book. There are moments where the reader is supposed to feel like he and Penina are bonding and having fun, but he still comes off like such a jerk to her. His POV may have helped in these moments to see what he was thinking, especially in the scenes where he's overreacting to Penina being nice to strangers (??). Him being a jerk to being completely crazy about her just felt very forced.
Also, there's a very small subplot about a 14-year-old girl getting pregnant who has multiple partners, and no one seems too concerned?? The concern is about the baby?? There's a throwaway line about having her "see someone", but that's the most we get. Yikes.
The audiobook narration for this too was ROUGH. The male voices were bad, and there were mispronunciations over Yiddish, Hebrew, and common English words. That definitely did not help with my enjoyment of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy!
Penina is an Orthodox Jewish woman looking for an Orthodox man to be with, but she didn't come across as someone who actually cared about the religion itself. It seemed like she wanted someone who ticked the boxes of being Orthodox and following the rules. That itself could have been interesting to explore, but we didn't get any of that. Why is Penina really Orthodox? What is she getting out of it? She also comes across so judgmental and naive; she never really grew out of these traits.
Sam is the main love interest, and he is so rude and unlikable for the majority of the book. There are moments where the reader is supposed to feel like he and Penina are bonding and having fun, but he still comes off like such a jerk to her. His POV may have helped in these moments to see what he was thinking, especially in the scenes where he's overreacting to Penina being nice to strangers (??). Him being a jerk to being completely crazy about her just felt very forced.
Also, there's a very small subplot about a 14-year-old girl getting pregnant who has multiple partners, and no one seems too concerned?? The concern is about the baby?? There's a throwaway line about having her "see someone", but that's the most we get. Yikes.
The audiobook narration for this too was ROUGH. The male voices were bad, and there were mispronunciations over Yiddish, Hebrew, and common English words. That definitely did not help with my enjoyment of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy!
June 6, 2023
I am always a little wary when a book is described as 'laugh out loud funny'. Humour is so subjective that I sometimes find that I barely raise a smile to books described in this way. This book was the exception to that, and I thought it was hilarious in parts, and did indeed laugh out loud.
To read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
To read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
March 28, 2023
Firstly, massive thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
It’s been so long since a book made me laugh aloud like this one!
Penina is the perfect protagonist. I was gutted that Sam wasn’t Zevi in disguise, but the actual situation was even crazier! Being raised a reform Jew, it was interesting to see the differences in Penina’s life being raised orthodox.
This was such a light and easy read, the dialogue and characters were all believable. I suffer from PCOS and while having children in the future isn’t completely off the table for me, I appreciated the way Shertok handled Penina’s condition and her struggle with infertility.
This was such a beautiful story to read, but also funny and enlightening. I can’t wait to read more of Shertok’s work in the future
It’s been so long since a book made me laugh aloud like this one!
Penina is the perfect protagonist. I was gutted that Sam wasn’t Zevi in disguise, but the actual situation was even crazier! Being raised a reform Jew, it was interesting to see the differences in Penina’s life being raised orthodox.
This was such a light and easy read, the dialogue and characters were all believable. I suffer from PCOS and while having children in the future isn’t completely off the table for me, I appreciated the way Shertok handled Penina’s condition and her struggle with infertility.
This was such a beautiful story to read, but also funny and enlightening. I can’t wait to read more of Shertok’s work in the future
June 12, 2023
This is a fabulous Jewish romance. Although the story isn't a traditional line story, it is the story of a traditional Orthodox woman trying to find her way in life when life doesn't go as planned. It's cute, it's sweet, it's heartbreaking and the HEA is more than I could have wished for. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.
August 24, 2023
This was so entertaining and I don't know why.
Initially when the book started out with a 29 year old virgin, from a conservative religion which inspired her to start a blog proclaiming modesty is sexy I wanted to run for the hills.
But when I read so many positive reviews I decided to give it another go.
There were a few moments that made me cringe like the convenient baby and the no touching before marriage (went to a fundamentalist church just like this, yikes)
But there was a charming love story in here for Penina and Sam who fall in love over several trips to local jewelry stores for work that lead to deeper conversations. Meanwhile Penina doesn't see Sam as an option as he is her boss and not orthodox.
I feel like the reader knows as soon as Sam says he doesn't consider Penina a friend. It was gut wrenching and also very telling.
The love confession gave me all the feels. And I was hopeful it was all going to end with a dramatic airport scene, but she was too late.
After weeks away she bumps into him again where they first met! Of course now she doesn't want to talk to him, and the elevator scene that follows is so funny.
Luckily after they make up Sam already knows the perfect ring to buy.
I was wishing for a more steamy first kiss, but it's probably more accurate the way it was done here.
Enjoyable, but I wouldn't reread it.
Initially when the book started out with a 29 year old virgin, from a conservative religion which inspired her to start a blog proclaiming modesty is sexy I wanted to run for the hills.
But when I read so many positive reviews I decided to give it another go.
There were a few moments that made me cringe like the convenient baby and the no touching before marriage (went to a fundamentalist church just like this, yikes)
But there was a charming love story in here for Penina and Sam who fall in love over several trips to local jewelry stores for work that lead to deeper conversations. Meanwhile Penina doesn't see Sam as an option as he is her boss and not orthodox.
I feel like the reader knows as soon as Sam says he doesn't consider Penina a friend. It was gut wrenching and also very telling.
The love confession gave me all the feels. And I was hopeful it was all going to end with a dramatic airport scene, but she was too late.
After weeks away she bumps into him again where they first met! Of course now she doesn't want to talk to him, and the elevator scene that follows is so funny.
Luckily after they make up Sam already knows the perfect ring to buy.
I was wishing for a more steamy first kiss, but it's probably more accurate the way it was done here.
Enjoyable, but I wouldn't reread it.
Read
June 18, 2023DNF around 18%. I was already finding this to be super cringe and not my vibe whatsoever.
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