Save the Date

by Rachel Bowdler

According to her overbearing mother, Lee is required to bring a date to her cousin’s upcoming wedding, where she has been roped into bridesmaid duties. The options are either go alone and never hear the end of it, risking a run-in with a woman who broke her heart in the process, or take up best friend, Violet, on her offer to go together and pretend that they’re dating. It should be a simple weekend in Ireland, then, but Lee soon realises that she doesn’t have to act too much when it comes to her feelings for Violet. In fact, something has been
developing between them for a while now, and she’s been ignoring it to preserve their friendship. But nothing can stay hidden forever, no matter how badly Lee wishes it could be. The only question is: does Violet feel the same?

*Previously published in Violet Gaze Press's Friends to Lovers Vol 1 anthology.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance

80 pages, ebook

Published February 17, 2023

About the author

Rachel Bowdler grew up and still lives just outside of Manchester, on the edge of West Yorkshire. Her books feature queer and plus-size characters finding their happily ever afters. You can usually find her hosting the Swords & Sapphics Podcast, writing under the pen names Bonnie Woods and Bryony Rosehurst, and working as a freelance editor.

Her festive debut novel, Honeymoon for One, was brought to readers in 2022 and became a bestseller in lesbian romance.

Reviews

[EM Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, Bowdler's romances have never let me down. Every time I hit a reading slump, I pick up one of her books thinking I can't possibly manage to get through it... and then suddenly I can't put it down. Save the Date is short and sweet, but still full of genuinely unique little moments that make Bowdler stand out. I can't wait to read the next in my growing collection of her stories.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my fuzzy heart. I love all of Rachel's stories and "A Honeymoon for One" is high up there in my romance book loves but this one!!! It was very short....I think around 80 pages, but I loved it so much.

The cutest storyline.
The cutest characters.
Funny moments.
A trip to Ireland with a broken down taxi.
A bit of 😉
Friends to Lovers which I actually prefer to enemies to lovers!

Packed everything it needed to for a short story. I only wish it was longer!

Another hot chocolate with a marshmallow on top in the form of a book!

[Issy Waldrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and enjoyable low-angst, friends-to-lovers, fake-relationship novella with lots of heart.

[Magnolia]

Short and sweet, perfectly rounded up like a delicious macaron. Rachel is quickly becoming my go-to for cosy feel-good romance with a twist on known tropes.
I loved this light and fluffy take on the fake dating dynamic, and the chemistry between the two main characters was just the cutest. I like how it highlights the challenges of family interactions and the stress of big gatherings when you're the odd one out, as well as the importance of finding that one person who has your back and makes you feel at ease.
Like I said, a perfect, lovely confectionery of a book, one to pick up when we need a moment of relaxation and an infusion of cosy feels.