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White Wedding
From the Sunday Times bestselling author
‘The feeling you get when you read a Milly Johnson book should be bottled and made available on the NHS’ Debbie Johnson
It's the day they've always dreamed about. But will it turn out to be a nightmare?
Bel is in the midst of planning her perfect wedding when disaster strikes and everything she thought she knew is turned on its head. Can she hold it all together and, with the help of her friends, and a mysterious man she meets unexpectedly, turn disaster into triumph?
Bel's friend, ice-cream parlour owner Violet, is engaged to Glyn, who is besotted by her although Violet fell out of love with him long ago. But however trapped she feels in the relationship, she can't quite say the words, 'I don't want to marry you anymore.' Then, just when she's about to give up and resign herself to married life, she finds love in the most surprising of places. Will duty rule her heart or will she allow herself to be swept off her feet?
Max was planning a quick registry office do with her fiancé Stuart until she sees a TV programme about traveller brides and becomes determined to have the most extravagantly glitzy wedding ever. But in all the excitement has she lost sight of what's really important? Does she want the wedding more than she wants the groom?
And as all three friends find the dress of their dreams at the White Wedding bridal shop, its owner, the lovely Freya, guarantees that her gowns will bring them happiness - though maybe not quite in the way they expected …
Praise for Milly Johnson:
'Every time you discover a new Milly book, it’s like finding a pot of gold' heat
'A glorious, heartfelt novel' Rowan Coleman
‘Absolutely loved it. Milly's writing is like getting a big hug with just the right amount of bite underneath. I was rooting for Bonnie from the start' Jane Fallon
‘Bursting with warmth and joie de vivre’ Jill Mansell
‘Warm, optimistic and romantic’ Katie Fforde
‘The feeling you get when you read a Milly Johnson book should be bottled and made available on the NHS’ Debbie Johnson
It's the day they've always dreamed about. But will it turn out to be a nightmare?
Bel is in the midst of planning her perfect wedding when disaster strikes and everything she thought she knew is turned on its head. Can she hold it all together and, with the help of her friends, and a mysterious man she meets unexpectedly, turn disaster into triumph?
Bel's friend, ice-cream parlour owner Violet, is engaged to Glyn, who is besotted by her although Violet fell out of love with him long ago. But however trapped she feels in the relationship, she can't quite say the words, 'I don't want to marry you anymore.' Then, just when she's about to give up and resign herself to married life, she finds love in the most surprising of places. Will duty rule her heart or will she allow herself to be swept off her feet?
Max was planning a quick registry office do with her fiancé Stuart until she sees a TV programme about traveller brides and becomes determined to have the most extravagantly glitzy wedding ever. But in all the excitement has she lost sight of what's really important? Does she want the wedding more than she wants the groom?
And as all three friends find the dress of their dreams at the White Wedding bridal shop, its owner, the lovely Freya, guarantees that her gowns will bring them happiness - though maybe not quite in the way they expected …
Praise for Milly Johnson:
'Every time you discover a new Milly book, it’s like finding a pot of gold' heat
'A glorious, heartfelt novel' Rowan Coleman
‘Absolutely loved it. Milly's writing is like getting a big hug with just the right amount of bite underneath. I was rooting for Bonnie from the start' Jane Fallon
‘Bursting with warmth and joie de vivre’ Jill Mansell
‘Warm, optimistic and romantic’ Katie Fforde
444 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Milly Johnson
50 books2,298 followersMilly Johnson was born in Barnsley, raised in Barnsley and still lives in Barnsley. She writes about strong women, often having a renaissance, all ages and has just released her 22nd novel Same Time Next Week. Do check out her website for up to date news and appearance dates.
As well as a novelist she is a professional joke writer, performance poet, newspaper and magazine columnist and also after dinner/motivational speaker.
She is on insta as @themillyjohnson, facebook as @millyjohnsonauthor, Twitter as @millyjohnson and a ridiculous presence on TikTok @millyjohnsonauthor. Do give her a follow - even if it's just out of sympathy!
As well as a novelist she is a professional joke writer, performance poet, newspaper and magazine columnist and also after dinner/motivational speaker.
She is on insta as @themillyjohnson, facebook as @millyjohnsonauthor, Twitter as @millyjohnson and a ridiculous presence on TikTok @millyjohnsonauthor. Do give her a follow - even if it's just out of sympathy!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
November 12, 2019
**Rereading on audible 08/20/2023**
Additional thoughts upon re-reading. The 3 protagonists meet at a wedding shop (which gets mysteriouser and mysteriouser as the book progresses) and become fast friends. Max is a dynamic successful go-getter and workaholic. She loves the competitiveness of business. Unfortunately, she is mismatched with the nice, unambitious Stuart to whom she is getting married. Max becomes obsessed with having the biggest, grandest "Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" she can after promising Stuart that she will keep it plain and simple to the point that it will be held in a registry office with hardly anyone present. Max's story is comic and over the top. The farther she goes, the closer the happy ending is for both Max and Stuart as we know that when all is revealed, it will lead to a break-up and they both can end up with partners that are more suited to each of them.
Bel's story is a little more complex. When she finds out that her fiance is cheating on her with her own cousin, she plans a wedding will serve as her revenge by embarrassing and horrifying everyone. We follow her after the big day when she escapes to a cottage on the moor and she meets her true love. When they part, Her fiance who is very handsome, high-society, charming, and very very contrite, re-enters the picture and tries to get her back. Will he succeed?
Violet's story is very sad and frustrating. She is the "wet dish-rag" character who suffers to the very end smothered and manipulated by her vile fiance. He has convinced kind and compassionate Violet that he will commit suicide if she ever leaves him. He pretends to have agoraphobia and is totally dependent on her for everything. When she leaves the house to work on opening her own business, an ice cream shop, he calls her incessantly to make sure she is alright, what she is doing, and when she is coming home. Meanwhile, she is falling in love with the Polish Artist who is painting her ice cream shop. Although I couldn't help but love her, Violet is a very frustrating character because there is no reason that she is trapped in the relationship and can't leave. Even if it was true that Glyn, her fiance's life was in her hands, she was an enabler. She could have insisted he get therapy, exercise, and stop his unhealthy eating or she would not marry him, forcing him to act and get better.
All ends satisfactorily with romantic happy endings for all. In Bel's case, there is a bonus because she learns some home truths about her family and her past, which results in better relationships with them. Lots of good comeuppances all around in good Milly Johnson fashion.
**original review**
Indeed. Violet is finally coming clean to her two friends about what a horror her fiance, Glynn, has been. Having read A Winter Flame and The Mother of All Christmases I have met Violet before and was interested in how she suffered before she found her happy ending in the subsequent books.
This one follows Milly's go-to template of tracing the romantic and other relationships of 3 women friends, one of whom is usually a victim of a man and won't stand up for herself until the very end. Generally, I'm fine with that for now because her writing is smart, both witty and comical, and her characters so interesting and likable. There are always some surprises and twists and some parts that are genuinely moving.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
Additional thoughts upon re-reading. The 3 protagonists meet at a wedding shop (which gets mysteriouser and mysteriouser as the book progresses) and become fast friends. Max is a dynamic successful go-getter and workaholic. She loves the competitiveness of business. Unfortunately, she is mismatched with the nice, unambitious Stuart to whom she is getting married. Max becomes obsessed with having the biggest, grandest "Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" she can after promising Stuart that she will keep it plain and simple to the point that it will be held in a registry office with hardly anyone present. Max's story is comic and over the top. The farther she goes, the closer the happy ending is for both Max and Stuart as we know that when all is revealed, it will lead to a break-up and they both can end up with partners that are more suited to each of them.
Bel's story is a little more complex. When she finds out that her fiance is cheating on her with her own cousin, she plans a wedding will serve as her revenge by embarrassing and horrifying everyone. We follow her after the big day when she escapes to a cottage on the moor and she meets her true love. When they part, Her fiance who is very handsome, high-society, charming, and very very contrite, re-enters the picture and tries to get her back. Will he succeed?
Violet's story is very sad and frustrating. She is the "wet dish-rag" character who suffers to the very end smothered and manipulated by her vile fiance. He has convinced kind and compassionate Violet that he will commit suicide if she ever leaves him. He pretends to have agoraphobia and is totally dependent on her for everything. When she leaves the house to work on opening her own business, an ice cream shop, he calls her incessantly to make sure she is alright, what she is doing, and when she is coming home. Meanwhile, she is falling in love with the Polish Artist who is painting her ice cream shop. Although I couldn't help but love her, Violet is a very frustrating character because there is no reason that she is trapped in the relationship and can't leave. Even if it was true that Glyn, her fiance's life was in her hands, she was an enabler. She could have insisted he get therapy, exercise, and stop his unhealthy eating or she would not marry him, forcing him to act and get better.
All ends satisfactorily with romantic happy endings for all. In Bel's case, there is a bonus because she learns some home truths about her family and her past, which results in better relationships with them. Lots of good comeuppances all around in good Milly Johnson fashion.
**original review**
Listening to Violet’s story both her mouth and Bel’s had dropped open so much that they looked like two copies of Munch’s Scream.
Indeed. Violet is finally coming clean to her two friends about what a horror her fiance, Glynn, has been. Having read A Winter Flame and The Mother of All Christmases I have met Violet before and was interested in how she suffered before she found her happy ending in the subsequent books.
This one follows Milly's go-to template of tracing the romantic and other relationships of 3 women friends, one of whom is usually a victim of a man and won't stand up for herself until the very end. Generally, I'm fine with that for now because her writing is smart, both witty and comical, and her characters so interesting and likable. There are always some surprises and twists and some parts that are genuinely moving.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2012
Wedding season is definitely at the height of the season right now and this book is a great one to read during these months. However, a word of caution, if you are the bride, maybe read it after you have tied the knot!
The book follows three women, who are due to get married and the book is split into each of their individual story, although each women is in each others story, providing an intertwining story throughout the three forthcoming weddings. The three characters met in Freya's wedding shop, White Wedding, and became firm friends, helping each other through the coming months.
Reading this book reminded me of my time spent wedding dress shopping and although I would love to say that I wish I could have visited Freya's White Wedding shop to choose my dress, on the other hand I am quite glad that I didn't as I was so glad my wedding went to plan!
As with all of Milly Johnson's fabulous back catalogue, this book has strong female characters, who have a great story to tell, and believable stories, although if this all happened to the customers of one shop, I don't think the shop would be in business long as they would gain a reputation very quickly!
If you want a great book to read on the beach this summer or to relax in the garden over a long (Jubilee or Bank Holiday weekend) this is the book for you! A great read for lovers of chick lit anywhere.
The book follows three women, who are due to get married and the book is split into each of their individual story, although each women is in each others story, providing an intertwining story throughout the three forthcoming weddings. The three characters met in Freya's wedding shop, White Wedding, and became firm friends, helping each other through the coming months.
Reading this book reminded me of my time spent wedding dress shopping and although I would love to say that I wish I could have visited Freya's White Wedding shop to choose my dress, on the other hand I am quite glad that I didn't as I was so glad my wedding went to plan!
As with all of Milly Johnson's fabulous back catalogue, this book has strong female characters, who have a great story to tell, and believable stories, although if this all happened to the customers of one shop, I don't think the shop would be in business long as they would gain a reputation very quickly!
If you want a great book to read on the beach this summer or to relax in the garden over a long (Jubilee or Bank Holiday weekend) this is the book for you! A great read for lovers of chick lit anywhere.
May 5, 2020
I am glad it wasn't my first book by Milly Johnson. It wasn't bad, it was definitely Johnson's style of writing, but I had difficulties with enjoying it as I did her other novels.
Yes, there was Johnson's humour.
Yes, there was Johnson's wisdom, her messages for women.
But...
I couldn't stand (understand) two of three main heroines. And, yes, I don't have to like all characters to appreciate a book but in this case, each of the mentioned two women did something that spoilt my joy.
Bel: her attitude towards her step-mother and that she 'did the wedding' (I understand that hate can be powerful but considering the whole Bel's personality and her other thoughts, also about Richard - it didn't fit).
Max: her secret preparations - I don't understand how she could believe it could work out and her workaholism, tainted with lying - considering she supposed to be such warm, loving and giving person.
Only Violet (and her story) was a balm for my heart.
Summarizing: It was a good book but it didn't 'attune' with me.
Yes, there was Johnson's humour.
so old it boiled in Latin
Yes, there was Johnson's wisdom, her messages for women.
Life’s too short to be a martyr
It would have been so much easier to fight a mean man than a kind one
But...
I couldn't stand (understand) two of three main heroines. And, yes, I don't have to like all characters to appreciate a book but in this case, each of the mentioned two women did something that spoilt my joy.
Bel: her attitude towards her step-mother and that she 'did the wedding' (I understand that hate can be powerful but considering the whole Bel's personality and her other thoughts, also about Richard - it didn't fit).
Max: her secret preparations - I don't understand how she could believe it could work out and her workaholism, tainted with lying - considering she supposed to be such warm, loving and giving person.
Only Violet (and her story) was a balm for my heart.
Summarizing: It was a good book but it didn't 'attune' with me.
July 26, 2019
Time taken to read - 1 day
Pages - 444
Publisher - Simon & Schuster
Source - Bought
Blurb from Goodreads
It's the day they've always dreamed about. But will it turn out to be a nightmare …?
Bel is in the midst of planning her perfect wedding when disaster strikes and everything she thought she knew is turned on its head. Can she hold it all together and, with the help of her friends, and a mysterious man she meets unexpectedly, turn disaster into triumph?
Bel's friend, ice-cream parlour owner Violet, is engaged to Glyn, who is besotted by her although Violet fell out of love with him long ago. But however trapped she feels in the relationship, she can't quite say the words, 'I don't want to marry you anymore.' Then, just when she's about to give up and resign herself to married life, she finds love in the most surprising of places. Will duty rule her heart or will she allow herself to be swept off her feet?
Max was planning a quick registry office do with her fiancé Stuart until she sees a TV programme about traveller brides and becomes determined to have the most extravagantly glitzy wedding ever. But in all the excitement has she lost sight of what's really important? Does she want the wedding more than she wants the groom?
And as all three friends find the dress of their dreams at the White Wedding bridal shop, its owner, the lovely Freya, guarantees that her gowns will bring them happiness - though maybe not quite in the way they expected …
My Review
Max, Violet and Bel are all getting married, it should be the happiest time of their lives but all have something going on that is holding their happiness at bay. Bonding and meeting up in the bridal shop they end up becoming more friendly and bonding over their wedding plans. Max's wedding is going to be tiny because the groom, Stu, isn't into big and over the top. Bel has full control over hers and changing it to suit her and Violet is becoming more and more stifled by Glyn, the more his "love and devotion" swarms her the more she is struggling. Each is putting on their game face and battling with their own issues whilst preparing for their big day.
I do enjoy Johnson's books, whilst we have some humour and characters you can identify with she does draw in some serious themes. The relationship issues each character has, whilst different, is something many of us can identify or empathise with. Violet I had my spidey sense up quickly and felt increasingly uncomfortable the further in we got. You are rooting for the characters, well some of them, and totally getting drawn into the dramas pretty much from the get go.
The chapters are tiny which I love, if you are busy you can dip in and out and if you are giving it the old just one chapter you will easily be half way through before you realise it. 4/5 for me this time, I have at least one more of Johnson on my tbrm and need to check the ones I haven't read and buy them. I have yet to read a book by this author I didn't like, absolutely recommend!
Pages - 444
Publisher - Simon & Schuster
Source - Bought
Blurb from Goodreads
It's the day they've always dreamed about. But will it turn out to be a nightmare …?
Bel is in the midst of planning her perfect wedding when disaster strikes and everything she thought she knew is turned on its head. Can she hold it all together and, with the help of her friends, and a mysterious man she meets unexpectedly, turn disaster into triumph?
Bel's friend, ice-cream parlour owner Violet, is engaged to Glyn, who is besotted by her although Violet fell out of love with him long ago. But however trapped she feels in the relationship, she can't quite say the words, 'I don't want to marry you anymore.' Then, just when she's about to give up and resign herself to married life, she finds love in the most surprising of places. Will duty rule her heart or will she allow herself to be swept off her feet?
Max was planning a quick registry office do with her fiancé Stuart until she sees a TV programme about traveller brides and becomes determined to have the most extravagantly glitzy wedding ever. But in all the excitement has she lost sight of what's really important? Does she want the wedding more than she wants the groom?
And as all three friends find the dress of their dreams at the White Wedding bridal shop, its owner, the lovely Freya, guarantees that her gowns will bring them happiness - though maybe not quite in the way they expected …
My Review
Max, Violet and Bel are all getting married, it should be the happiest time of their lives but all have something going on that is holding their happiness at bay. Bonding and meeting up in the bridal shop they end up becoming more friendly and bonding over their wedding plans. Max's wedding is going to be tiny because the groom, Stu, isn't into big and over the top. Bel has full control over hers and changing it to suit her and Violet is becoming more and more stifled by Glyn, the more his "love and devotion" swarms her the more she is struggling. Each is putting on their game face and battling with their own issues whilst preparing for their big day.
I do enjoy Johnson's books, whilst we have some humour and characters you can identify with she does draw in some serious themes. The relationship issues each character has, whilst different, is something many of us can identify or empathise with. Violet I had my spidey sense up quickly and felt increasingly uncomfortable the further in we got. You are rooting for the characters, well some of them, and totally getting drawn into the dramas pretty much from the get go.
The chapters are tiny which I love, if you are busy you can dip in and out and if you are giving it the old just one chapter you will easily be half way through before you realise it. 4/5 for me this time, I have at least one more of Johnson on my tbrm and need to check the ones I haven't read and buy them. I have yet to read a book by this author I didn't like, absolutely recommend!
May 26, 2012
Originally posted at Once Upon A Time.
I went into White Wedding just knowing that I would love it and become a Milly Johnson fan. I wasn't wrong. White Wedding was my first foray into Milly Johnson's fiction and I am now working on getting hold of her other novels (3 out of 7 ain't bad). It is a true feel good chick lit that follows three very different women with three very different stories as they become friends and face their weddings together and the issues that come along with them and thus learn what would really make them happy.
I found the writing style very odd to begin with. It seems fairly ordinary, but every now and then it switches perspectives without warning, and I don't just mean between the three characters but with everybody. We see this story through the eyes of Bel, Violet and Max, of course, but also through those of Freya, their fiancés, parents.. heck even the postman! Usually I would put this down to bad writing form but this is where I found it odd - it didn't bother me at all. It wasn't as jarring as it is in other novels and you do get used to it fairly quickly. It even helps the story along and gives it just a little more depth. Though I did find myself feeling much more sympathetic towards Stuart, Max's fiancé, because of this than I did for Max herself who was just a little too selfish for my tastes.
Violet's fiancé Glyn was such a horror. Whilst I am not fond of the representation of mental health that he presents, I am afraid that there are indeed people like him in this world and that in itself is terrifying. He's basically one of the "nice guys". You know the type who think they're so wonderful so why does nobody love them? Ugh he was horrid. I wanted to kick him in the balls.
And Bel's story had my little heart a-fluttering. I adored her parts. Trouble is, I wouldn't want to spoil the story so I can't discuss why I liked it so much!
Not a single one of the characters in White Wedding are by any means perfect and they all feel so alive as a result. That, I feel, is Milly's greatest accomplishment here. Not even the heroines of the story are entirely innocent in everything they do but even so I found myself craving their happy endings and by golly I finished this book with a smile on my face.
Throughout the story is the presence of Freya, the owner of the White Wedding bridal store who resides in the background but determines to make women happy the only way she can.
I did notice a couple of small hints at magical realism near the end which I usually love in my fiction but I didn't think it fit in well at all here. It just felt too out of place. However, the feel good factor of the novel more than made up for it. There is a certain charm to the writing style which makes me positive that I'll love her other books just as much as I did this one.
I went into White Wedding just knowing that I would love it and become a Milly Johnson fan. I wasn't wrong. White Wedding was my first foray into Milly Johnson's fiction and I am now working on getting hold of her other novels (3 out of 7 ain't bad). It is a true feel good chick lit that follows three very different women with three very different stories as they become friends and face their weddings together and the issues that come along with them and thus learn what would really make them happy.
I found the writing style very odd to begin with. It seems fairly ordinary, but every now and then it switches perspectives without warning, and I don't just mean between the three characters but with everybody. We see this story through the eyes of Bel, Violet and Max, of course, but also through those of Freya, their fiancés, parents.. heck even the postman! Usually I would put this down to bad writing form but this is where I found it odd - it didn't bother me at all. It wasn't as jarring as it is in other novels and you do get used to it fairly quickly. It even helps the story along and gives it just a little more depth. Though I did find myself feeling much more sympathetic towards Stuart, Max's fiancé, because of this than I did for Max herself who was just a little too selfish for my tastes.
Violet's fiancé Glyn was such a horror. Whilst I am not fond of the representation of mental health that he presents, I am afraid that there are indeed people like him in this world and that in itself is terrifying. He's basically one of the "nice guys". You know the type who think they're so wonderful so why does nobody love them? Ugh he was horrid. I wanted to kick him in the balls.
And Bel's story had my little heart a-fluttering. I adored her parts. Trouble is, I wouldn't want to spoil the story so I can't discuss why I liked it so much!
Not a single one of the characters in White Wedding are by any means perfect and they all feel so alive as a result. That, I feel, is Milly's greatest accomplishment here. Not even the heroines of the story are entirely innocent in everything they do but even so I found myself craving their happy endings and by golly I finished this book with a smile on my face.
Throughout the story is the presence of Freya, the owner of the White Wedding bridal store who resides in the background but determines to make women happy the only way she can.
I did notice a couple of small hints at magical realism near the end which I usually love in my fiction but I didn't think it fit in well at all here. It just felt too out of place. However, the feel good factor of the novel more than made up for it. There is a certain charm to the writing style which makes me positive that I'll love her other books just as much as I did this one.
May 31, 2024
I've read several books by Ms. Johnson, but have not posted reviews of all of them. This year however, since I entered the reading challenge I feel obligated to substantiate my rating of the story. I've enjoyed Ms. Johnson's work and her book "The Birds & the Bees" is one of my favorites. White Wedding is a good story but I didn't find much humor in it. (And it could be that I just don't always understand UK culture. Found myself looking up who Phillip Schofield was.😊)
This is a story about three women who meet at a bridal shop and become friends. Bel (Belinda), Max (Maxine), and Violet are planning weddings for different reasons that are divulged to the reader over the course of the book. So the story is told in three sections between the Prologue and Epilogue. Each section is devoted to a different bride and her ultimate wedding ceremony (or trainwreck).
For three supposedly intelligent career women in their early thirties, I found it hard to believe they behaved the way they did. Bel's actions didn't reflect any thought to long term consequences. Max disappointed me because she manipulated Stuart (her fiancé) and didn't communicate with him about what she truly desired for their wedding. For someone who ran her own company, Max acted immature while designing an ostentatious wedding and reception. Violet on the other hand, is a woman whose shoes no female reader would want to be in. Glyn (Violet's fiancé) was just.... gaahh! Rebekah (another reviewer) pointed out an "enabling" factor with Glyn in her posting. This was spot on.
In Max's section, I have to give credit to the author for writing a story revealing that it's not always the groom's fault when something goes awry. While I didn't like Max's character very much, the author does show some redeeming qualities about her later in the book.
One of the reasons I gave this story three stars is because I was disappointed the author did not provide closure on Freya's character and the reasons behind the disposition of her White Wedding bridal shop towards the end of the book. Same with Glyn, Richard, and Shaden.
Lastly, I'm guessing Bel's wedding dress was actually made by Freya because of what Trevor (Bel's father) tells her about finding it in Berlin. Lots of puzzle pieces I could have missed, so I may have to re-read it again later.
So overall, Adam from "The Birds & The Bees" remains my favorite male hero character created by Milly Johnson!
This is a story about three women who meet at a bridal shop and become friends. Bel (Belinda), Max (Maxine), and Violet are planning weddings for different reasons that are divulged to the reader over the course of the book. So the story is told in three sections between the Prologue and Epilogue. Each section is devoted to a different bride and her ultimate wedding ceremony (or trainwreck).
For three supposedly intelligent career women in their early thirties, I found it hard to believe they behaved the way they did. Bel's actions didn't reflect any thought to long term consequences. Max disappointed me because she manipulated Stuart (her fiancé) and didn't communicate with him about what she truly desired for their wedding. For someone who ran her own company, Max acted immature while designing an ostentatious wedding and reception. Violet on the other hand, is a woman whose shoes no female reader would want to be in. Glyn (Violet's fiancé) was just.... gaahh! Rebekah (another reviewer) pointed out an "enabling" factor with Glyn in her posting. This was spot on.
In Max's section, I have to give credit to the author for writing a story revealing that it's not always the groom's fault when something goes awry. While I didn't like Max's character very much, the author does show some redeeming qualities about her later in the book.
One of the reasons I gave this story three stars is because I was disappointed the author did not provide closure on Freya's character and the reasons behind the disposition of her White Wedding bridal shop towards the end of the book. Same with Glyn, Richard, and Shaden.
Lastly, I'm guessing Bel's wedding dress was actually made by Freya because of what Trevor (Bel's father) tells her about finding it in Berlin. Lots of puzzle pieces I could have missed, so I may have to re-read it again later.
So overall, Adam from "The Birds & The Bees" remains my favorite male hero character created by Milly Johnson!
September 24, 2018
A brilliant read. Twists and turns 'til the end. Wonderful!
July 15, 2019
Another lovely book from Milly Johnson. Mostly wonderful main characters, satisfying love stories, mysterious otherworldly bits, and some excellent snarky dialogue. Also, I love how Johnson writes from the perspective of both the men and women and how she focuses more on their feelings and less of sexual mechanics.
Some profanity and mildly sexy but mostly heartwarming with some twisty turny moments.
I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because Max really annoys me. She’s not quite as unlikable as Eve in “A Winter Flame” but she’s certainly one of my least favorite characters.
Merged review:
Such a lovely, satisfying story. Loved listening to it as much as reading it.
Some profanity and mildly sexy but mostly heartwarming with some twisty turny moments.
I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because Max really annoys me. She’s not quite as unlikable as Eve in “A Winter Flame” but she’s certainly one of my least favorite characters.
Merged review:
Such a lovely, satisfying story. Loved listening to it as much as reading it.
November 4, 2012
2.5 stars
I did enjoy it but it wasn't a wow for me.
I found myself mad with the brides half the time.
Bel I enjoyed her story but was confused with the fact that her partner cheated on her with her cousin and yet was thinking maybe the marriage was mendable. Well I don't know what planet she lives on because thats 10x worse than best friend, cousin is family. I wouldn't be ever able to forgive nor forget. I did like the guy she ended up with, how they met, their personailty match and the fact he made her laugh. It was sweet.
Max she drove me crazy this woman. I understand all that rubbish about her having money as secruity but she is one selfish brat even if she did earn her own money. Like she never spends time with her man and always thought what ever she wanted the guy would eventually just let her have it her way. Well no wonder he ran off and fast, if I was a guy I would too. She did not even consider how upset her partner would have been if she changed the plans and even after he said he was leaving her she thought he would turn up at the alter because he always gave in to what ever she wanted. Puhlease with a attitude like that she is lucky she ever had a man. Also she was so mean to her stepmum!
Violet I liked her and I didn't. I thought her story was a tat boring. I didn't find much to her. But I did understand why she stayed in the relationship with her crazy partner. Being trapped. Good for her she did manage to leave at the end.
I was also curious about the wedding store... Why it was gone at the end. I don't get it...
So it was a love and hate this book. It was funny at times and then the other time I was wanted to strangle the brides lol. Oh and what the hell is the V sign? I kept wondering what the hell was that...
I did enjoy it but it wasn't a wow for me.
I found myself mad with the brides half the time.
Bel I enjoyed her story but was confused with the fact that her partner cheated on her with her cousin and yet was thinking maybe the marriage was mendable. Well I don't know what planet she lives on because thats 10x worse than best friend, cousin is family. I wouldn't be ever able to forgive nor forget. I did like the guy she ended up with, how they met, their personailty match and the fact he made her laugh. It was sweet.
Max she drove me crazy this woman. I understand all that rubbish about her having money as secruity but she is one selfish brat even if she did earn her own money. Like she never spends time with her man and always thought what ever she wanted the guy would eventually just let her have it her way. Well no wonder he ran off and fast, if I was a guy I would too. She did not even consider how upset her partner would have been if she changed the plans and even after he said he was leaving her she thought he would turn up at the alter because he always gave in to what ever she wanted. Puhlease with a attitude like that she is lucky she ever had a man. Also she was so mean to her stepmum!
Violet I liked her and I didn't. I thought her story was a tat boring. I didn't find much to her. But I did understand why she stayed in the relationship with her crazy partner. Being trapped. Good for her she did manage to leave at the end.
I was also curious about the wedding store... Why it was gone at the end. I don't get it...
So it was a love and hate this book. It was funny at times and then the other time I was wanted to strangle the brides lol. Oh and what the hell is the V sign? I kept wondering what the hell was that...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2020
This was fine - My first Milly Johnsonand I got exactly what I expected (actually maybe it was a little better than i expected - some of the one liner comedy is really quite witty). This type of book is never going to be fine literature, challenging and thought provoking but if you want escapism like I did between books, then that is what you will get.
The story follows 3 brides-to-be who become friendly through their association with the local wedding dress shop. Violet is my favourite character - the most believable and with deeper experiences to the other two. I believe this character has already featured in other MJ books.
Max is my least favourite - I found it hard to believe that she would have such extreme style views and would want to jeopardise her relationship by being so sneaky, (Perhaps I'm thinking too much about this book!)
I'll read other MJ books in the future - a great palate cleanser. 3.5 stars rounded up.
The story follows 3 brides-to-be who become friendly through their association with the local wedding dress shop. Violet is my favourite character - the most believable and with deeper experiences to the other two. I believe this character has already featured in other MJ books.
Max is my least favourite - I found it hard to believe that she would have such extreme style views and would want to jeopardise her relationship by being so sneaky, (Perhaps I'm thinking too much about this book!)
I'll read other MJ books in the future - a great palate cleanser. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Did Not Finish
July 2, 2020Did not grab me, need to get rid of books
October 2, 2020
A very sweet, easy read that you can curl up with on a cold rainy night.
April 23, 2012
I have read every single book Milly Johnson has written so far, and loved each and every one of them. The warmth in her writing is what makes it so readable, and each time you can't help but fall in love with the characters and be sad when you have to leave them behind when you have finished the book. Somehow, Milly is now releasing 2 books a year, and this is her first release of 2012, White Wedding, and will be followed in October with Winter Flame. The cover is in keeping with the other Milly Johnson books I have on my shelf, and I have to say I do love that they match! The theme of weddings is also pretty relevant to the spring season (although it feels more like autumn at the moment, brrr!), and I couldn't wait to see how the story of all these white weddings was going to pan out!
This book is the story of 3 strangers - Violet, Bel and Max who meet in the White Weddings bridal shop when they are shopping for their own wedding dresses. Max has been with fiancé Stuart for donkey's years, and the pair have finally decided to tie the know, although Max has her heart set on a "big fat gypsy wedding" while Stuart is more hoping for a quiet do at the registry office. Violet is engaged to Glyn, but can't honestly say she is still in love with him after a change of lifestyle has left him a different man from the one she fell in love with, but can't bring herself to tell anyone the dreadful truth. Finally, there's Bel who is engaged to be married to Richard, her dream man, or so she thought, and when a shocking truth is found out by Bel, her whole world begins to fall apart. Which of these white weddings will get the happy-ever-after that the brides crave and deserve?
I have to say this is perhaps one of my favourite Milly Johnson books to date. It has likeable, and realistic characters who aren't skinny, drop dead gorgeous heroines but are real women, with real problems, and real lifestyles. I loved that when I read each of their stories, I could find myself relating to bits and bobs within them, and laughing and crying along with them too. I love how Milly brings 3 strangers together because of their weddings, and they strike up a close bond, like only women can very quickly. My favourite character was definitely Bel, I felt so sorry for her, and really warmed to her, praying that she would see sense in the end (don't want to spoilt it so won't say any more!). She was just so nice, and perhaps the character who gets the most time in the book, although just by a bit. I did like the others but I wanted to tell Violet to get a bit of a backbone, and Max to stop being so rude to her fiance Stuart, even if he was a bit of a wash-out!
The scenarios that happen in the book are all too realistic for some people, but they're written about so well that I found myself completely glued to the book, and not wanting to put it down so that I could find out what the girls were going to do next. I love how Milly managed to write a really funny part and has you laughing out loud, and the next you're sniffling into a tissue with a sad scene, her writing just brings everything to life on the page, and is a joy to read from the first page to the very last. I loved the descriptions of the wedding dresses, especially when they take place in the White Weddings shop, with the owner Freya who was a bit of an enigma. Yes, the weddings are important in the book, of course, but it's really the journey that these characters go on, of self-discovery and self-worth and I found it a wonderful read.
As usual, Milly Johnson has wrapped up a wonderful tale within the pages of White Wedding, and I for one whole-heartedly recommend it. It's a perfect book to snuggle up with in the evening under a blanket, with a glass of wine and big bar of chocolate. It's funny, it's sad and most importantly it's a great read that had me reading it at every spare minute I got. With a cast of likeable characters - although the men could do with a bit of a slap to be honest! - it's got everything you need and want from a fantastic chick lit book. Milly Johnson has definitely become one of my favourite authors, and makes the wait for her next book worthwhile as soon as you dive into it. I loved it, and I'm sure you will too - go read it!
This book is the story of 3 strangers - Violet, Bel and Max who meet in the White Weddings bridal shop when they are shopping for their own wedding dresses. Max has been with fiancé Stuart for donkey's years, and the pair have finally decided to tie the know, although Max has her heart set on a "big fat gypsy wedding" while Stuart is more hoping for a quiet do at the registry office. Violet is engaged to Glyn, but can't honestly say she is still in love with him after a change of lifestyle has left him a different man from the one she fell in love with, but can't bring herself to tell anyone the dreadful truth. Finally, there's Bel who is engaged to be married to Richard, her dream man, or so she thought, and when a shocking truth is found out by Bel, her whole world begins to fall apart. Which of these white weddings will get the happy-ever-after that the brides crave and deserve?
I have to say this is perhaps one of my favourite Milly Johnson books to date. It has likeable, and realistic characters who aren't skinny, drop dead gorgeous heroines but are real women, with real problems, and real lifestyles. I loved that when I read each of their stories, I could find myself relating to bits and bobs within them, and laughing and crying along with them too. I love how Milly brings 3 strangers together because of their weddings, and they strike up a close bond, like only women can very quickly. My favourite character was definitely Bel, I felt so sorry for her, and really warmed to her, praying that she would see sense in the end (don't want to spoilt it so won't say any more!). She was just so nice, and perhaps the character who gets the most time in the book, although just by a bit. I did like the others but I wanted to tell Violet to get a bit of a backbone, and Max to stop being so rude to her fiance Stuart, even if he was a bit of a wash-out!
The scenarios that happen in the book are all too realistic for some people, but they're written about so well that I found myself completely glued to the book, and not wanting to put it down so that I could find out what the girls were going to do next. I love how Milly managed to write a really funny part and has you laughing out loud, and the next you're sniffling into a tissue with a sad scene, her writing just brings everything to life on the page, and is a joy to read from the first page to the very last. I loved the descriptions of the wedding dresses, especially when they take place in the White Weddings shop, with the owner Freya who was a bit of an enigma. Yes, the weddings are important in the book, of course, but it's really the journey that these characters go on, of self-discovery and self-worth and I found it a wonderful read.
As usual, Milly Johnson has wrapped up a wonderful tale within the pages of White Wedding, and I for one whole-heartedly recommend it. It's a perfect book to snuggle up with in the evening under a blanket, with a glass of wine and big bar of chocolate. It's funny, it's sad and most importantly it's a great read that had me reading it at every spare minute I got. With a cast of likeable characters - although the men could do with a bit of a slap to be honest! - it's got everything you need and want from a fantastic chick lit book. Milly Johnson has definitely become one of my favourite authors, and makes the wait for her next book worthwhile as soon as you dive into it. I loved it, and I'm sure you will too - go read it!
May 31, 2014
There is the White Wedding bridal shop. Three women have taken to browsing there for upcoming weddings - and they call seem to arrive about the same time. Max, who is marrying her long-time boyfriend, Stuart, who wants a no-frills registry office wedding which Max is having trouble with. She often browses the shop even though she has a beige suit selected for the wedding day. Bel is also browsing, though she has plans to wear her mother's wedding dress, and is eagerly looking forward to marrying Richard. Violet is browsing also even though she doesn't want to marry Glyn, but thinks she can get out of it before the wedding, letting him down easily because he relies on her so and he tried to commit suicide when she left him before.
The three women become close friends. Meeting often for get-togethers. Violet has leased a small shop near the wedding shop and is planning on opening an ice cream parlour with her own home-made ice cream. She has had chef training and recently quit to open her own shop. Max has her own business, that is thriving. Belinda works for her father in the family candy business.
Belinda is the first to get married. Max and Violet feel she is not as enthusiastic as she was about getting married, but she refuses to open up and say anything. She is independent and keeps things close. Max will be the second to have a wedding and Violet the last.
Freya, the woman who owns the wedding shop, has promised them happiness, but it may not be in the way they expect or with whom. Which turns out to be very true.
A very entertaining story of three women who are in love, but not with whom they thought and their ways in dealing. Belinda's story is the most humorous, I think, although maybe a tad embarrassing. The woman manage to stay close friends, supporting each other. A quite entertaining book.
The three women become close friends. Meeting often for get-togethers. Violet has leased a small shop near the wedding shop and is planning on opening an ice cream parlour with her own home-made ice cream. She has had chef training and recently quit to open her own shop. Max has her own business, that is thriving. Belinda works for her father in the family candy business.
Belinda is the first to get married. Max and Violet feel she is not as enthusiastic as she was about getting married, but she refuses to open up and say anything. She is independent and keeps things close. Max will be the second to have a wedding and Violet the last.
Freya, the woman who owns the wedding shop, has promised them happiness, but it may not be in the way they expect or with whom. Which turns out to be very true.
A very entertaining story of three women who are in love, but not with whom they thought and their ways in dealing. Belinda's story is the most humorous, I think, although maybe a tad embarrassing. The woman manage to stay close friends, supporting each other. A quite entertaining book.
March 19, 2013
I liked this book a lot, but I also ended up frustrated with it a lot too, and that's why I've only given it 3 stars rather than 4. The characters of Bel and Violet are great, with Violet's story being particularly touching and well-developed throughout the novel, but the third main character, Max and her fiance, Stuart, just hacked me off every time they appeared in the novel. Both of them are incredibly selfish and wilfully blind characters, and the way they behave is incredibly childish. I had no sympathy for either of them by the time their story was completed. I also disliked the number of times the main characters said 'there was no way out - there were no other options' when each of them had a dozen other opportunities available to them. I appreciate that the characters aren't meant to be perfect and that that's what often endears them to the reader, but in this case it demonstrated a lack of common sense in any of them which I can't stand. If I'm presented with a character who's successful and intelligent, have them act that way occasionally instead of just giving them a high-powered job to demonstrate their supposed intelligence. It's things like this that meant I didn't love this book as much as I wanted to, so it's a nice read for a slow day, but I don't think I'd go out of my way to recommend it. It was simply pleasant, nothing more, nothing less.
August 17, 2020
I noticed this book was on offer recently for Kindle and as it was one of the few Milly Johnson books I hadn’t read, I snapped it up. With it being an older book (published in 2012) I hadn’t really intended to write up a review post, just to add it to book retail sites as usual – authors love that you know, you should really do it! But I enjoyed the book so much, I just had to add a mini review here.
White Wedding is the story of three women who meet in a bridal shop when shopping for ‘The Dress’ and with weddings planned fairly close together, they soon become firm friends. Bel’s wedding is first but she has learned something which may throw a spanner in the works. Max is next and although she has agreed a small, quiet ceremony with her fiance, what she really wants is a big fat gypsy wedding! Violet is last and although her fiance is infatuated with her, she feels trapped and can’t see a way out.
So we have three very different women, three very different weddings and three love stories that aren’t perhaps quite the ones you might expect!
You just can’t go wrong with a Milly Johnson book. They are funny, uplifting and full of memorable characters, both for good and bad reasons. Friendship is always a strong theme, as is finding love in unexpected places. Best of all, you are guaranteed a feel good ending and who doesn’t want that right now?
White Wedding is the story of three women who meet in a bridal shop when shopping for ‘The Dress’ and with weddings planned fairly close together, they soon become firm friends. Bel’s wedding is first but she has learned something which may throw a spanner in the works. Max is next and although she has agreed a small, quiet ceremony with her fiance, what she really wants is a big fat gypsy wedding! Violet is last and although her fiance is infatuated with her, she feels trapped and can’t see a way out.
So we have three very different women, three very different weddings and three love stories that aren’t perhaps quite the ones you might expect!
You just can’t go wrong with a Milly Johnson book. They are funny, uplifting and full of memorable characters, both for good and bad reasons. Friendship is always a strong theme, as is finding love in unexpected places. Best of all, you are guaranteed a feel good ending and who doesn’t want that right now?
May 14, 2015
I've love every Milly Johnson I have ever picked up, yet surprisingly this one took me a while to get into. I don't know if it's because the characters all landed at once, or disbelief that three such vastly different women would form such a close friendship borne of a few chance meetings.
However once each storyline warmed up, things moved along pretty quickly and the book became very hard to put down. You knew where each one was going, but it was a nice journey all the same.
The one comment that keeps coming up in the Goodreads reviews, is why the bridal shop disappeared so suddenly. There was an element of the supernatural to this book, with angels, etc and I think Freya and her amazing dresses and pearls of wisdom was there to help these three women through each of their crises. Firstly she provided the venue for their repeated "coincidental" meetings, then the perfect dress and tale to go with it; tailor-made service for each bride. Once all three had been "saved" she was no longer needed and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
In retrospect, the women by this time well and truly had each other's friendship, which they had been sorely lacking before, and this was also compliments of Freya. I wonder if Freya and gran's angel visitor was in fact one and the same.... :)
However once each storyline warmed up, things moved along pretty quickly and the book became very hard to put down. You knew where each one was going, but it was a nice journey all the same.
The one comment that keeps coming up in the Goodreads reviews, is why the bridal shop disappeared so suddenly. There was an element of the supernatural to this book, with angels, etc and I think Freya and her amazing dresses and pearls of wisdom was there to help these three women through each of their crises. Firstly she provided the venue for their repeated "coincidental" meetings, then the perfect dress and tale to go with it; tailor-made service for each bride. Once all three had been "saved" she was no longer needed and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
In retrospect, the women by this time well and truly had each other's friendship, which they had been sorely lacking before, and this was also compliments of Freya. I wonder if Freya and gran's angel visitor was in fact one and the same.... :)
August 29, 2020
Three young women meet at a wedding dress shop in their local village.
Businesswoman Max is planning to marry her childhood sweetheart Stuart in a small registry office wedding, but when she sees the TV programme My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding she becomes obsessed with creating her own OTT gypsy wedding.
Violet is marrying Glyn, he dotes on her and spends all his time looking after her, but Violet has fallen out of love with Glyn but feels trapped into marriage.
Bel's is the first wedding but she doesn't seem very enthusiastic about it, she refuses to wear her mother's wedding dress and doesn't even want her two new friends to come to the wedding. Can it be because she is planning a revenge on her cheating fiance?
Three very different brides with three very different stories. Although I enjoyed all three, Bel's was my favourite, although afterwards she seem to undergo a bit of a personality change and be full of coarse innuendos.
A bit obvious and totally predictable, I still enjoyed reading this and would recommend this as idea holiday reading (if we ever get to go away on holiday again).
Businesswoman Max is planning to marry her childhood sweetheart Stuart in a small registry office wedding, but when she sees the TV programme My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding she becomes obsessed with creating her own OTT gypsy wedding.
Violet is marrying Glyn, he dotes on her and spends all his time looking after her, but Violet has fallen out of love with Glyn but feels trapped into marriage.
Bel's is the first wedding but she doesn't seem very enthusiastic about it, she refuses to wear her mother's wedding dress and doesn't even want her two new friends to come to the wedding. Can it be because she is planning a revenge on her cheating fiance?
Three very different brides with three very different stories. Although I enjoyed all three, Bel's was my favourite, although afterwards she seem to undergo a bit of a personality change and be full of coarse innuendos.
A bit obvious and totally predictable, I still enjoyed reading this and would recommend this as idea holiday reading (if we ever get to go away on holiday again).
April 22, 2014
It does what it says on the tin - this is chick-lit, tried and tested formula at its best. Is it original? Not really. Did you know how it would end from the beginning? Well pretty much! That however in and of itself, is not a criticism. Readers of Chicklit/RomComs like their formula. Its part of the genre, we like to know that they will live happily ever after even if we don't!
The characters however were well drawn. The main protagonists were likeable and you cared what happened to them. Glyn was especially well written, he irritated me intensely - which is the sign of good characterisation; a strong response from the reader. I found it highly entertaining, there are some lovely comic moments within it and the relationships between the women made me long for better friendships!
WHen I read this genre, I am looking for something that is easy to read, enjoyable and fun. This delivered on all three counts and I will read more by this author.
The characters however were well drawn. The main protagonists were likeable and you cared what happened to them. Glyn was especially well written, he irritated me intensely - which is the sign of good characterisation; a strong response from the reader. I found it highly entertaining, there are some lovely comic moments within it and the relationships between the women made me long for better friendships!
WHen I read this genre, I am looking for something that is easy to read, enjoyable and fun. This delivered on all three counts and I will read more by this author.
September 9, 2012
I wanted thoughtless chicklit and I got it with this book. It's light, full of cliches, unrealistic, trying a little too hard to make you go 'aaaww' but still getting you to keep turning the pages. It's the literary equivalent of a bag of chips.
I might have rated it higher if it hadn't decided to write in a completely ridiculous re-hashing of 'Jane Eyre' into the plot. Utter blasphemy!
I might have rated it higher if it hadn't decided to write in a completely ridiculous re-hashing of 'Jane Eyre' into the plot. Utter blasphemy!
July 28, 2017
Milly Johnson never let's you down with her books this was another excellent read and had many twists and turns and wanted you reading more so you could find out what dies happen. It's very romantic and so like real life as well. Three ladies are getting married but have they got the right men and can they go through with it or not very well written and a must read.
January 27, 2022
"That was the trouble with workaholics -they too lost their friends along the way".
"She had a fantastic ability to charm the birds out of the trees".
"I'm saving you from a fate worse than death. I'm far too hard to love".
"You can be with someone for so long and then overnight you become strangers".
"She had a fantastic ability to charm the birds out of the trees".
"I'm saving you from a fate worse than death. I'm far too hard to love".
"You can be with someone for so long and then overnight you become strangers".
February 29, 2020
Milly Johnson has done it again. I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. I loved all the characters. It made me laugh and cry. I was sad to finish it.
I love Milly’s writing style and definitely can’t wait to read her next book. I would definitely recommend this.
I love Milly’s writing style and definitely can’t wait to read her next book. I would definitely recommend this.
March 26, 2017
I devoured this book and it was delicious! So exciting and such a joy to read. I bloody love Milly Johnson books!
March 21, 2026
Wasn't sure if this was worth reading .I found it whilst having a sort out .Wanted to get into wedding mode as my daughter getting married in June so thought I would give it a go .Took me a while to get into but then it all starting making sense .Really wasn't expecting the first wedding with Bel and Richard !! Wow . straight away i was seeing a movie in my head .Brilliant..As you go along in the story and lives of the 3 women you kinda know which way their lives are all going .Bit predictable but I was happy with the outcome. Great read if you want something easy .💒🎠
June 21, 2022
Oh wow I just loved this
November 25, 2023
Sirsnīgi, dažbrīd satraucoši, bērnišķīgi un pa īstam. Burvīga grāmata par atšķirību starp īstām jūtām un ilūziju, pieradumu, žēlumu. Neticami daudz pavērsienu un romantikas.
October 15, 2024
A bit slow in the middle but a good story.
February 6, 2024
Another fantastic read by Milly Johnson. I'm working my way through all of her books now but I have to admit that I haven't rushed to read them in the past as I was a little put off by the romantic/hearts and flowers type covers. These books are real page turners for me. They are so well written and I love the humour in them. Couldn't put this one down. Don't be put off by the cutesy covers!
August 16, 2025
Another winner, I just love these books. Great stories, great characters. They make me laugh. Real feel good books.
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