Unorthodox Love is a sweet, fun look at the love life of an orthodox Jewish woman who tries to land true love and help her family out at the same time.  While there are a couple of dull stretches, it’s still a nice romance.

Penina is a virgin at twenty-nine, and the matchmaking scene just isn’t cutting it. She thinks she’s going to die alone and unloved as, in her Orthodox Jewish community, her infertility–she’s been diagnosed with uterine hypoplasia–has made her a less than desirable prospect for romance.

She settles for a paper engagement for what will be a paper marriage to a handsome guy named Zevi, who is gay, and who thinks that a paid arrangement with Penina is better than dying alone. This deal will also mean that Penina will have enough money to be able to inject some cash into her brother-in-law’s faltering business and hopefully end the rift between hin her sister Libby, who has resented Penina’s not helping them out.

Enter Sam Kleinfeld, her new boss and the son of her retired and hated previous boss. Sam’s a handsome guy with a big mouth who follows the reform side of the faith. Culturally, they couldn’t be further apart, and the last thing Sam wants to do is get involved with an employee. Penina is at first dismayed by, then intrigued by, then attracted to Sam. But can their opposing viewpoints mesh to make beautiful music? Or is Penina doomed to a loveless marriage?

I liked a lot of Unorthodox Love. Much of the tale is funny, sweet, romantic and well-handled. It reminded me very much of a Jewish slant on My Big Fat Greek Wedding, only Penina is much less of a mouse than Toula ever was.

I mostly liked Penina. She a bit too perfect at times – the level of her self-sacrifice alone grates – but she’s also yearning for a well-rounded life and her desire for more is understandable. She grows up throughout the book and comes into her own as a wife. I did think the novel became a little bit image obsessed, especially when it came to over-describing every facet of whatever Penina is wearing.

Sam is perfect, with his snarky, grumpy ways and great one-liners. He and Penina have to work to get their clashing points of view on life to properly jibe. And the romance? Yeah, this is what Penina has more than earned, and she’s welcome to the happy ending she gets.

Her sister Libby is a little annoying – I wanted her to stop hectoring and start helping, for heaven’s sake! Mousy husband Natan grated as well. And the deus ex machina employed to make Penina a Mom After All (don’t worry, our infertile lead remains infertile) had me groaning and keeps Unorthodox Love at a B. But it’s a solid, fun, readable B.