Unorthodox Love by Heidi Sherlock

Unorthodox Love Unorthodox Love by Heidi Shertok
My rating: 4 of 5 stars






When the expectations you have for yourself cannot realized, how do you find your happy ending?

This was a delightful story about 29 year old Penina, who is facing some unbelievable choices, trying to keep her head up while facing her own, self-described, shortcomings. How can she be true to her faith and beliefs and ever expect her life to become more than it is?

I loved the story, the twists and plot lines. Penina’s character seems to glaze over and have some rather hilarious moments when faced how she superficiously feels about her new boss, Sam Keinfeld, juxtaposed with how she internally and involunatarily reacts to him.

I was drawn to this book because of its Jewish themes and I was not disappointed.  The book has all of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers, love epiphany and different worlds. I loved seeing my people, as an Orthodox woman, on the page. From the little things: the fair and honest characterization of being an Orthodox Jewish person out with non-Jews and going hungry at an event - so true - to the bigger things: Zevi is one of the men pursuing Penina and his story is complex and characterized with honesty and without judgement here. Also I loved that Penina has a side hustle as a modest fashionista on Instagram - it was a fun detail.

What I did not like so much was a line that was meant to illustrate a point about how Jewish women think that was a dig about converts. It was just passing comment, but the underlying theme that a person who chooses to be Jewish is not really Jewish is low hanging fruit and not something I find to be funny. The other piece that I felt was not really addressed is Maya, the so called best friend to Penina, who is actually awful and felt like a composite characterization of all non-Jewish young women that painted her to be selfish, unkind and not very bright. It seemed unfinished that Penina did not confront Maya for not being a true friend and unnecessary that the Maya’s character was so outrageously pagan in her beliefs.

Those small things aside, I really enjoyed the evolving stories of Penina and the different choices and men in her life. There were so many hilarious moments and more than one cringy moment - in a good and entertaining way. 

Overall I really enjoyed this book and recommend it very much.

A final thought, someone decided to put on the book’s back cover that the book is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood….not really seeing that. There is virtually no sex in the book and no one is a scientist or in STEM. In fact, Penina’s aspirations are to be a wife and mother, so it is kind of opposite. So if you are a big Ali Hazelwood fan, this may not be your cup of tea

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