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Never a Bridesmaid
Jessica Monroe is not going to her sister’s bachelorette party. She hates weddings, she hates her sister’s friends, and she hates everything having to do with her sister’s maid of honor, Tanner Caldwell.
Jessica knows Tanner from high school and has vowed never to speak to that preppy know-it-all again. When Jessica’s mother holds her inheritance hostage unless Jessica agrees to be a bridesmaid and attend all her sister’s pre-wedding events over the next six months, she must fly to Ashville for what’s sure to be the longest weekend of her life. It’s one thing to be blackmailed into obligatory heteronormativity, but it’s quite another to be continually thrown into situations with Tanner, who seems to enjoy getting under her skin.
As the wedding gets closer, Jessica’s hatred for Tanner is a bit more complicated than she thought. Maybe it’s not just hatred that’s getting under Jessica’s skin, but something more?
Jessica knows Tanner from high school and has vowed never to speak to that preppy know-it-all again. When Jessica’s mother holds her inheritance hostage unless Jessica agrees to be a bridesmaid and attend all her sister’s pre-wedding events over the next six months, she must fly to Ashville for what’s sure to be the longest weekend of her life. It’s one thing to be blackmailed into obligatory heteronormativity, but it’s quite another to be continually thrown into situations with Tanner, who seems to enjoy getting under her skin.
As the wedding gets closer, Jessica’s hatred for Tanner is a bit more complicated than she thought. Maybe it’s not just hatred that’s getting under Jessica’s skin, but something more?
240 pages, Paperback
Published February 13, 2024
9 people are currently reading
249 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
January 29, 2024
This has been a story with more potential than final outcome.It is about the reunion of a girl, Jessica, with the group of girls who gave her a hard time at school. It is not a casual reunion but a forced one, since the group of girls will be the bridesmaids at Jessica's sister's wedding, and she will also have to be a bridesmaid, much to her regret and a little forced by her work needs.. The proposal is interesting, as is the development of the book. From the typical pre-marriage activities: bachelorette party, dress fittings, etc., in which Jessica will have to face her sister and her group of friends, including Tanner, her teenage crush who disappointed her the most. Through the activities Jessica remembers past situations and her reaction as a teenager and now as an adult things are not so radical and seen in perspective they become relativized.
My biggest disappointment during the book has been that the events have not been explained clearly, with different references in different situations and by different characters the events that traumatized Jessica are told, but they are not completely clarified.
And the ending also seemed rushed to me, Tanner's final decisions were sudden, what role Kayla has now and before in the story, everything has been resolved too quickly.
Publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for an honest review
My biggest disappointment during the book has been that the events have not been explained clearly, with different references in different situations and by different characters the events that traumatized Jessica are told, but they are not completely clarified.
And the ending also seemed rushed to me, Tanner's final decisions were sudden, what role Kayla has now and before in the story, everything has been resolved too quickly.
Publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for an honest review
February 5, 2024
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Never A Bridesmaid
Author: Spencer Greene
Romance
This was pretty darn good! Thank you netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC! Fans of Delilah Green will eat this one up. Our FMC Jessica is forced into her sisters bridal party by her mother threatening to take away her access to her trust if she doesn’t participate. She reluctantly participates even though she hates weddings, and is forced to be in the bridal party with the girl who outed her to her entire high school and who she loathes. I have been a bridesmaid a few times and reading this was so munch fun for me. The characters were lovable and the enemies to lovers romance between Jessica and Tanner was slow burn, but well worth it in the end. I did think the mom threatening her entire inheritance was a bit harsh and unrealistic but it’s a cute romance book, who needs realistic right? This book releases 2/14/24 and definitely add to your TBR!
Never A Bridesmaid
Author: Spencer Greene
Romance
This was pretty darn good! Thank you netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC! Fans of Delilah Green will eat this one up. Our FMC Jessica is forced into her sisters bridal party by her mother threatening to take away her access to her trust if she doesn’t participate. She reluctantly participates even though she hates weddings, and is forced to be in the bridal party with the girl who outed her to her entire high school and who she loathes. I have been a bridesmaid a few times and reading this was so munch fun for me. The characters were lovable and the enemies to lovers romance between Jessica and Tanner was slow burn, but well worth it in the end. I did think the mom threatening her entire inheritance was a bit harsh and unrealistic but it’s a cute romance book, who needs realistic right? This book releases 2/14/24 and definitely add to your TBR!
March 27, 2024
Spencer Greene is a new author for me and I’d put their latest work, Never a Bridesmaid, squarely in the middle of the road/meh category. There were things I liked about it and things I didn’t, but it’s on the shorter side and overall it was a pleasant way to spend an evening.
The positives to this book include a strong and easy to read writing style. The text is well edited and there were no context errors that you find with weak writing and the story was well-paced. I had a good sense of who Jessica was and how her high school experience affected her, especially her coming out.
That being said, it just felt like something was missing. There was a lot of history between Jessica and Tanner and a lot of present day angst as well but something about it didn’t pack the emotional punch I expected it to. I think part of that had to due with the lack of chemistry I felt between the two leads. There is one, admittedly hot, on-page sex scene but it felt somewhat out of the blue and personally I prefer more longing and build up.
Overall I would say this is a decent read and I’d recommend it for people who are fans of the author and second chance or enemies to lovers trope.
I received an ARC from Netgalley and all opinions are my own.
The positives to this book include a strong and easy to read writing style. The text is well edited and there were no context errors that you find with weak writing and the story was well-paced. I had a good sense of who Jessica was and how her high school experience affected her, especially her coming out.
That being said, it just felt like something was missing. There was a lot of history between Jessica and Tanner and a lot of present day angst as well but something about it didn’t pack the emotional punch I expected it to. I think part of that had to due with the lack of chemistry I felt between the two leads. There is one, admittedly hot, on-page sex scene but it felt somewhat out of the blue and personally I prefer more longing and build up.
Overall I would say this is a decent read and I’d recommend it for people who are fans of the author and second chance or enemies to lovers trope.
I received an ARC from Netgalley and all opinions are my own.
February 8, 2024
3.5. Pretty quick read. Jessica’s mother holds her inheritance over her head unless she agree’s to be a bridesmaid in her sister’s wedding. Jessica is forced to be around her sister’s friends whom she did not get along with during high school, including her “nemesis” Tanner. There are obout 4/5 events Jessica must attend and is conveniently in Tanner’s orbit. Jessica has strong opinions about marriage and is pretty emo, some parts had me rolling my eyes. I think with any book dealing with this premise, you kind of know what’s going to happen. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 13, 2024
I don’t typically write reviews of things I don’t enjoy, but I did originally get this as an ARC (thanks NetGalley!) and even though the release date has long passed, it’s only fair to keep up my end of the deal.
I could maybe push this up to a 1.5 star rating, but honestly, I did not think this was good. I’m not a huge romance reader, but I still like enough that the obvious plot, the tropes and the “twist” weren’t a problem for me. Sadly, I just found the writing wasn’t great. Lots of things are over-explained to the reader (while some things are simply not explained at all) and everything feels very inconsistent. One minute Jessica feels indifferent at best towards her sister, the next she’s loved and happy to see her. Her boss is described as misogynistic about a thousand times in one chapter. She says herself quite early on that she thinks maybe her high school experience can’t be categorized with bullying, but then continues to say that throughout the rest of the book anyway. She sees Tanner’s “first real smile” at least twice in one weekend.
A lot of the dialogue felt forced and truly just not how people speak to each other. At one point, in a crowded club on New Year’s Eve we read: "When we moved a few years ago, there were really only super exclusionary 'gay guy' bars," he said with air quotes. "So we had to come check out this amazing new queer space!"
The sex scene was… uncomfortable and made me stop to google the author to check I wasn’t reading something written by a teenage boy.
The reason it’s getting any stars from me at all is because I found a few of the other characters so endearing. Tanner’s life and her friends seem much more interesting than Jessica’s and I kind of wish this had been her book and not revolving around the supposed fuckboi. Bernie was great, and not getting to spend more time with Alex feels like such a huge disappointment.
I would like an explanation as to why they’re still friends with Kayla or confirmation that they ditched her immediately after the wedding.
Ultimately, really disappointing and unimpressive for me personally.
I could maybe push this up to a 1.5 star rating, but honestly, I did not think this was good. I’m not a huge romance reader, but I still like enough that the obvious plot, the tropes and the “twist” weren’t a problem for me. Sadly, I just found the writing wasn’t great. Lots of things are over-explained to the reader (while some things are simply not explained at all) and everything feels very inconsistent. One minute Jessica feels indifferent at best towards her sister, the next she’s loved and happy to see her. Her boss is described as misogynistic about a thousand times in one chapter. She says herself quite early on that she thinks maybe her high school experience can’t be categorized with bullying, but then continues to say that throughout the rest of the book anyway. She sees Tanner’s “first real smile” at least twice in one weekend.
A lot of the dialogue felt forced and truly just not how people speak to each other. At one point, in a crowded club on New Year’s Eve we read: "When we moved a few years ago, there were really only super exclusionary 'gay guy' bars," he said with air quotes. "So we had to come check out this amazing new queer space!"
The sex scene was… uncomfortable and made me stop to google the author to check I wasn’t reading something written by a teenage boy.
The reason it’s getting any stars from me at all is because I found a few of the other characters so endearing. Tanner’s life and her friends seem much more interesting than Jessica’s and I kind of wish this had been her book and not revolving around the supposed fuckboi. Bernie was great, and not getting to spend more time with Alex feels like such a huge disappointment.
I would like an explanation as to why they’re still friends with Kayla or confirmation that they ditched her immediately after the wedding.
Ultimately, really disappointing and unimpressive for me personally.
March 20, 2024
Hilariously funny!
Jessica reluctantly agrees to be a part of her sister’s wedding, despite Tanner being the maid of honor. They knew each other in high-school, and Jessica blames Tanner for the difficult time she had and upon meeting again the tension still exists. As fate seems to keep throwing them into situations together throughout the lead up events to wedding, Jessica and Tanner are forced to try and get along only to find something more between them.
Loved this! Right from the start it had all those typical rom-com moments of hilarity, but slightly heightened. I could literally hear the whine and exasperation in Jessica’s words as she dealt with her mum, her sister, and Tanner, along with a whole crowd of those she went to school with that just made life hard. Resentful, she has her guard up for the longest time, but eventually she can’t avoid Tanner and truths start coming out that neither of them expected.
I loved how Spencer explored the comedy side of this story. It had me laughing and loving all the tension and slight bickering that ensued. It was the epitome of the situation when you are roped into doing something you really don’t want to. To begin with I was totally on Jessica’s side about all of this. It seemed really unfair and Tanner and the rest of the bridal party were annoying! However there were these odd moments when Tanner came across as kind and friendly, a really good person and I began wondering if there was something more to their story. Tanner was such a great character, the life and soul in some cases, but grounded and level headed, taking time to understand Jessica’s feelings and accepting of her part in what happened back in the day at school to make her feel that way, so she completely endeared herself to me.
A great story, very enjoyable, with a bit of a second chance romance feel.
Jessica reluctantly agrees to be a part of her sister’s wedding, despite Tanner being the maid of honor. They knew each other in high-school, and Jessica blames Tanner for the difficult time she had and upon meeting again the tension still exists. As fate seems to keep throwing them into situations together throughout the lead up events to wedding, Jessica and Tanner are forced to try and get along only to find something more between them.
Loved this! Right from the start it had all those typical rom-com moments of hilarity, but slightly heightened. I could literally hear the whine and exasperation in Jessica’s words as she dealt with her mum, her sister, and Tanner, along with a whole crowd of those she went to school with that just made life hard. Resentful, she has her guard up for the longest time, but eventually she can’t avoid Tanner and truths start coming out that neither of them expected.
I loved how Spencer explored the comedy side of this story. It had me laughing and loving all the tension and slight bickering that ensued. It was the epitome of the situation when you are roped into doing something you really don’t want to. To begin with I was totally on Jessica’s side about all of this. It seemed really unfair and Tanner and the rest of the bridal party were annoying! However there were these odd moments when Tanner came across as kind and friendly, a really good person and I began wondering if there was something more to their story. Tanner was such a great character, the life and soul in some cases, but grounded and level headed, taking time to understand Jessica’s feelings and accepting of her part in what happened back in the day at school to make her feel that way, so she completely endeared herself to me.
A great story, very enjoyable, with a bit of a second chance romance feel.
January 24, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t love Jessica Monroe in the beginning as she rails against marriage and its heteronormative normative traditions. But I understood her better and I felt her pain at being outed before she was ready in high school. Jessica hasn’t been in touch with her younger sister for a few years. Her mother pushes and blackmails her into being part of her sister’s wedding party. This means for the next several months there will be a bachelorette weekend, dress fittings, wedding shower and the wedding itself. Jessica actually does want to reconnect with her sister. The big drawback is that the MOH is Tanner Caldwell. The two were co-editors of the school newspaper and were friends until Jess was betrayed in a devastating way.
Sometimes I find high school nemesis books silly but this does a great job of explaining the pain and confusion of being outed. And it is understandable that this isn’t something to easily get over or forget. Tanner is good as the love interest. But I wanted to understand her better. The story has a lot of gay representation with queer friends and community. I was a little taken back why the anti gay friend Kayla is still a BFF of the sister. And was perplexed that no one ever shut her down. This hit me in my feelings, for the couple and for sisters reconnecting. I wanted an epilogue to see where the pair were six months or a year down the road. (4.5 Stars)
Sometimes I find high school nemesis books silly but this does a great job of explaining the pain and confusion of being outed. And it is understandable that this isn’t something to easily get over or forget. Tanner is good as the love interest. But I wanted to understand her better. The story has a lot of gay representation with queer friends and community. I was a little taken back why the anti gay friend Kayla is still a BFF of the sister. And was perplexed that no one ever shut her down. This hit me in my feelings, for the couple and for sisters reconnecting. I wanted an epilogue to see where the pair were six months or a year down the road. (4.5 Stars)
February 2, 2024
I liked the very beginning but was a bit confused by the age of one main. As I’m not American some of the age references don’t register, but this person had been a journalist for 10 years, having attended college, and was in their late 20’s. Not a big deal of course but a confusion. (Having read the book, I now think working as a journalist for ten years included time on the school paper?)I also didn’t quite get all the details of the trust fund inheritance aaaaand I didn’t quite gel with the relationship with the best friend, so not the smoothest start, and that is still chapter one!
Chapter 2 and I’m not really liking one main or at least her petulant behaviour, but then we’ve not really been told why she hates the other main so maybe I will change my mind.
The writing feels young, even for a late 20’s main character. I’m not sure however I can give concrete examples, it’s a feeling, but then all reactions to books are subjective!
I’m not really warming up to the main. The episode in the past happened slightly differently from I expected and I still don’t understand it, so awaiting a bit more perspective. I liked how there were times the mains got on, despite one mains best intention. We do not find out what the other main is thinking or feeling but I do like how we do get told the mains impressions of her body language or how in different situations there are (we are told) glimpses of another side.
There is a plot bump I didn’t like. However although I was irritated by it, it also showed I was a bit more invested in the couple than I thought I was.
I think, having finished the book I would have liked a bit more explanation about the other main, how did she end up at her job? A bit more detail about helping out her sister, why were she and the bride still friends with the other bridesmaid? Rounded up to a 3 from 2.9!
Chapter 2 and I’m not really liking one main or at least her petulant behaviour, but then we’ve not really been told why she hates the other main so maybe I will change my mind.
The writing feels young, even for a late 20’s main character. I’m not sure however I can give concrete examples, it’s a feeling, but then all reactions to books are subjective!
I’m not really warming up to the main. The episode in the past happened slightly differently from I expected and I still don’t understand it, so awaiting a bit more perspective. I liked how there were times the mains got on, despite one mains best intention. We do not find out what the other main is thinking or feeling but I do like how we do get told the mains impressions of her body language or how in different situations there are (we are told) glimpses of another side.
There is a plot bump I didn’t like. However although I was irritated by it, it also showed I was a bit more invested in the couple than I thought I was.
I think, having finished the book I would have liked a bit more explanation about the other main, how did she end up at her job? A bit more detail about helping out her sister, why were she and the bride still friends with the other bridesmaid? Rounded up to a 3 from 2.9!
January 28, 2024
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
to get jessica to go to her sisters wedding and all the party planning her mother bribes her with her inheritance, its a bold move but necessary to get these sisters together
jessica has wounds from her youngers years not only was she outed to the entire school about her sexuality but she ostracized in such a way that she very nearly committed suicide and if it wasnt for the intervention of her dad she very nearly did it as she was that low
it took years to finally get to the mind space she was at now but going back to seeing those people who put in her in that black space wasnt something she was comfortable with
but she had a plan for her future and that included her inheritance so needs must and so she went
i have to say this book had its high and low moments for jessica and it was fun to see her put her ghosts to rest the dynamic between jess and tanner was interesting to read as also the beginning of her new relationship with her sister
have to say i thoroughly enjoyed every minute that jessica squirmed her way through the bridal shower and wedding
cant wait to read more from this author
to get jessica to go to her sisters wedding and all the party planning her mother bribes her with her inheritance, its a bold move but necessary to get these sisters together
jessica has wounds from her youngers years not only was she outed to the entire school about her sexuality but she ostracized in such a way that she very nearly committed suicide and if it wasnt for the intervention of her dad she very nearly did it as she was that low
it took years to finally get to the mind space she was at now but going back to seeing those people who put in her in that black space wasnt something she was comfortable with
but she had a plan for her future and that included her inheritance so needs must and so she went
i have to say this book had its high and low moments for jessica and it was fun to see her put her ghosts to rest the dynamic between jess and tanner was interesting to read as also the beginning of her new relationship with her sister
have to say i thoroughly enjoyed every minute that jessica squirmed her way through the bridal shower and wedding
cant wait to read more from this author
February 7, 2024
This was pretty good! Short and sweet, I figured out the twist pretty early on but I enjoyed the ride. The main ship was interesting and the sister relationship really got to me.
Parts of it did feel weirdly dated though? Like Jessica’s whole attitude towards marriage; obviously it’s still been less than 10 years since gay marriage became legal, but it made it feel like way less than that. Same with the mention of She-Ra as a “new” Netflix series when it came out at the end of 2018/over 5 years ago. If the book was written back then, that would make a lot of sense, but it was jarring.
Still, I had a nice time reading it. Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the digital copy!
Parts of it did feel weirdly dated though? Like Jessica’s whole attitude towards marriage; obviously it’s still been less than 10 years since gay marriage became legal, but it made it feel like way less than that. Same with the mention of She-Ra as a “new” Netflix series when it came out at the end of 2018/over 5 years ago. If the book was written back then, that would make a lot of sense, but it was jarring.
Still, I had a nice time reading it. Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the digital copy!
March 15, 2024
Never a Bridesmaid has potential, and it did keep me engaged (pardon the pun) from start to finish. But, there were serious topics in play, and seriously bad behavior by certain characters, that never ended up being confronted head-on, as the story sequel into something closer to a standard romance by the end.
Thank you Spencer Greene, Bold Strokes Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you Spencer Greene, Bold Strokes Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.
dnf
February 19, 2025I might just DNF this… (update: I did)
I so wanted to love it. It has a niche(enough) plot but I'm just so beyond bored and also Jessica is insufferable which I can look past cause I've definitely read about worse MCs but goddamn???
Also having her butt heads with Tanner who wronged her a million years ago and not Kayla who is an awful bitch NOW is a choice...
I so wanted to love it. It has a niche(enough) plot but I'm just so beyond bored and also Jessica is insufferable which I can look past cause I've definitely read about worse MCs but goddamn???
Also having her butt heads with Tanner who wronged her a million years ago and not Kayla who is an awful bitch NOW is a choice...
December 7, 2025
This was a very fun romance novel, with just enough depth to keep it engaging.
Jessica is a very reluctant bridesmaid, and we can soon see how uncomfortable she is in the overwhelmingly straight wedding world. Adding to her discomfort, she does not have a good relationship with any of the other bridesmaids, and we get to see these relationships play out over the course of the book.
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The chemistry between Jessica and Tanner was there from the start, and I loved seeing how it all unfolded. Even though I predicted the final plot twist very early on, I enjoyed seeing the various characters struggle with it, and it was so frustrating (in the best way!) to see the fall-out in the run up to the reveal. I did think it was resolved a little too quickly, but everything else was wrapping up at the end so it did all come together nicely.
One of the storylines I really liked was the discussion around Tanner’s job. Tanner writes a column for a conservative parenting website, and I liked how this idea was explored. Both Jessica and Tanner struggle with the way their job intersects with their queerness, and while it was sometimes slightly heavy-handed, it was interesting to see that play out.
I will make one quick note about the cover (unrelated to any review of the book itself). The author is very clear that Jessica is quite androgynous, with short hair, so it seems strange to have a very femme image for the book cover, especially when lesbian representation so often highlights femme women and brushes over anyone who presents otherwise.
Overall this was an enjoyable read, with some interesting themes and a great romance.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
Jessica is a very reluctant bridesmaid, and we can soon see how uncomfortable she is in the overwhelmingly straight wedding world. Adding to her discomfort, she does not have a good relationship with any of the other bridesmaids, and we get to see these relationships play out over the course of the book.
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The chemistry between Jessica and Tanner was there from the start, and I loved seeing how it all unfolded. Even though I predicted the final plot twist very early on, I enjoyed seeing the various characters struggle with it, and it was so frustrating (in the best way!) to see the fall-out in the run up to the reveal. I did think it was resolved a little too quickly, but everything else was wrapping up at the end so it did all come together nicely.
One of the storylines I really liked was the discussion around Tanner’s job. Tanner writes a column for a conservative parenting website, and I liked how this idea was explored. Both Jessica and Tanner struggle with the way their job intersects with their queerness, and while it was sometimes slightly heavy-handed, it was interesting to see that play out.
I will make one quick note about the cover (unrelated to any review of the book itself). The author is very clear that Jessica is quite androgynous, with short hair, so it seems strange to have a very femme image for the book cover, especially when lesbian representation so often highlights femme women and brushes over anyone who presents otherwise.
Overall this was an enjoyable read, with some interesting themes and a great romance.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
January 25, 2024
2.5/5 rounded up
This opposites attract, second chances romance follows Jessica and Tanner who are brought together for the former's little sister's wedding. Jessica does not want to be there, but she is and she is dragging her feet every step of the way. She does not want to interact with Tanner, her high school crush and her sister's maid of honor, at all, but Jessica doesn't have a choice when her mother withholds her inheritance.
I had a hard time understanding what made Jessica compelling enough to be an object of pursuit. I typically love an imperfect female main character, but she felt like she lacked complexity and a real personality--she felt a bit like an against-the-grain antagonizing edge-lord with no real gumption behind her convictions; she hates the Institutions (good!), but they're never explored outside of her just criticizing others (tedious). Maybe it's the situation I have gripes with--it really doesn't seem like such a big ask to participate in a wedding for an inheritance. Sure an inheritance with no strings attached would be nice, but let's not act like she is morally superior for participating while antagonizing everyone else. I wish there was more to her so that I could feel more invested in her character arc in the story. The melodrama of the third act felt immature and made the ending feel very meh. I wish the characters were developed more.
As an aside, the cover of the book is immaculate, but maybe tonally very different from the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This opposites attract, second chances romance follows Jessica and Tanner who are brought together for the former's little sister's wedding. Jessica does not want to be there, but she is and she is dragging her feet every step of the way. She does not want to interact with Tanner, her high school crush and her sister's maid of honor, at all, but Jessica doesn't have a choice when her mother withholds her inheritance.
I had a hard time understanding what made Jessica compelling enough to be an object of pursuit. I typically love an imperfect female main character, but she felt like she lacked complexity and a real personality--she felt a bit like an against-the-grain antagonizing edge-lord with no real gumption behind her convictions; she hates the Institutions (good!), but they're never explored outside of her just criticizing others (tedious). Maybe it's the situation I have gripes with--it really doesn't seem like such a big ask to participate in a wedding for an inheritance. Sure an inheritance with no strings attached would be nice, but let's not act like she is morally superior for participating while antagonizing everyone else. I wish there was more to her so that I could feel more invested in her character arc in the story. The melodrama of the third act felt immature and made the ending feel very meh. I wish the characters were developed more.
As an aside, the cover of the book is immaculate, but maybe tonally very different from the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2024
Never a Bridesmaid is an enemies-to-lovers sapphic romance that is so easy to devour!
We follow our main character, Jessica, as her inheritance is held hostage by her mother until Jess fulfills all the requirements of being her sister’s Bridesmaid. That would be enough to send anti-patriarchal and anti-traditional Jessica into a rage - and that’s before she realizes the other bridesmaids will be some unfavorable characters from her past.
One of the things I really appreciated about this book is how it explored stereotypes both in-and-out of the queer community (yes, even lgbt+ people make false assumptions sometimes! It’s real and true and deserves to be addressed and worked on!) and really delved into how problems aren’t always black-and-white. I enjoyed the confidence, growth, and changes the characters go through in both relation to themselves and the other characters. PLUS - we always give bonus points for WLW diversity!
However, I do also feel like the plot was rather predictable and Jessica was rather… unlikable as far as protagonists go. Some of the problems and thought-patterns felt a little juvenile. I also feel like the cover (with shadowed eyes, strong, bold lines and patterns) set me up to expect something much darker and mysterious than the story I got. That being said - it was a very quick and easy read so I was able to concede to those flaws and ignore them for the bigger picture - which is that this is just a cute, escapist, wlw romance attempting to tie in some critical themes. It may not have been the most revolutionary read, but it worked for me to put aside qualms for a minute to enjoy the process of reading and see some new POVs.
We follow our main character, Jessica, as her inheritance is held hostage by her mother until Jess fulfills all the requirements of being her sister’s Bridesmaid. That would be enough to send anti-patriarchal and anti-traditional Jessica into a rage - and that’s before she realizes the other bridesmaids will be some unfavorable characters from her past.
One of the things I really appreciated about this book is how it explored stereotypes both in-and-out of the queer community (yes, even lgbt+ people make false assumptions sometimes! It’s real and true and deserves to be addressed and worked on!) and really delved into how problems aren’t always black-and-white. I enjoyed the confidence, growth, and changes the characters go through in both relation to themselves and the other characters. PLUS - we always give bonus points for WLW diversity!
However, I do also feel like the plot was rather predictable and Jessica was rather… unlikable as far as protagonists go. Some of the problems and thought-patterns felt a little juvenile. I also feel like the cover (with shadowed eyes, strong, bold lines and patterns) set me up to expect something much darker and mysterious than the story I got. That being said - it was a very quick and easy read so I was able to concede to those flaws and ignore them for the bigger picture - which is that this is just a cute, escapist, wlw romance attempting to tie in some critical themes. It may not have been the most revolutionary read, but it worked for me to put aside qualms for a minute to enjoy the process of reading and see some new POVs.
January 26, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. From the synopsis, I expected a typical enemies-to-lovers romance, but what I got was so much more.
The story follows Jessica Monroe, who has been forced by her mother to be a bridesmaid in her sister's wedding. Jessica hates weddings and everything associated with them, including her sister's maid of honor, Tanner Caldwell. Jessica and Tanner have a history from high school and she has sworn to never speak to him again. But when her mother holds her inheritance hostage, Jessica has no choice but to attend all the pre-wedding events and spend time with Tanner.
At first, I found Jessica to be a bit abrasive and difficult to relate to. But as the story progressed, I began to understand her better and sympathize with her. Her struggles with her sexuality and her complicated relationship with her family were portrayed realistically and I found myself rooting for her to find happiness.
Tanner, on the other hand, was charming and funny. He had a quick wit and a carefree attitude that balanced out Jessica's seriousness. Their banter and chemistry were undeniable and I enjoyed every scene they were in together.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book was how it tackled important issues such as homophobia and coming out. It was refreshing to see these topics being addressed in a romance novel and I think the author handled them with sensitivity. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartwarming enemies-to-lovers romance with a touch of humor and depth.
The story follows Jessica Monroe, who has been forced by her mother to be a bridesmaid in her sister's wedding. Jessica hates weddings and everything associated with them, including her sister's maid of honor, Tanner Caldwell. Jessica and Tanner have a history from high school and she has sworn to never speak to him again. But when her mother holds her inheritance hostage, Jessica has no choice but to attend all the pre-wedding events and spend time with Tanner.
At first, I found Jessica to be a bit abrasive and difficult to relate to. But as the story progressed, I began to understand her better and sympathize with her. Her struggles with her sexuality and her complicated relationship with her family were portrayed realistically and I found myself rooting for her to find happiness.
Tanner, on the other hand, was charming and funny. He had a quick wit and a carefree attitude that balanced out Jessica's seriousness. Their banter and chemistry were undeniable and I enjoyed every scene they were in together.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book was how it tackled important issues such as homophobia and coming out. It was refreshing to see these topics being addressed in a romance novel and I think the author handled them with sensitivity. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartwarming enemies-to-lovers romance with a touch of humor and depth.
February 18, 2024
Never a Bridesmaid by Spencer Greene follows Jessica Monroe as she reluctantly becomes a bridesmaid in her sister's wedding. Jessica is not a fan of weddings, her sister's friends, or the maid of honor, Tanner Caldwell. She vowed never to speak to Tanner again after high school, but when her mother threatens to withhold her inheritance, Jessica agrees to participate in all of her sister's pre-wedding events. As the wedding gets closer, Jessica's hatred for Tanner becomes more complicated. She realizes that it may not be just hatred that she feels for him, but something more. Jessica's character is relatable and well-developed. She is a strong and independent woman who is not afraid to speak her mind. However, she also has her flaws, such as her stubbornness and her tendency to judge others. Tanner is also a well-developed character. He is charming and confident, but he can also be arrogant and dismissive. Despite their differences, Jessica and Tanner have a undeniable chemistry. The tension between them is palpable, and it is clear that they are both attracted to each other. The novel is well-written and engaging. The plot is well-paced, and the characters are well-developed. Greene does a great job of creating a realistic and believable world for her characters. The novel is also funny and heartwarming. It is a great choice for readers who are looking for a light and romantic read.
August 27, 2024
Proof there's no need to have a 400+ pages romance to be nice and entertaining!
What is the best romance ever? No, but it was still very much entertaining and a quick read and that's what I'm asking from a romance, so it was a win for me. There were however some repeated parts/infos that we already knew and there were no need to say again, also a bit of an easy road taked especially with the "stumbling upon a very important talk" used more than once, and the outing plot twist could be seen 100km beforehand.
I do really liked the romance between Jessica and Tanner, the way everything revolved around the outing and how things had to change between them with each new reveal and twists etc. It was pretty slow considering the length of this book, but I liked all the steps they took to build their romance, may they be onward or backward.
I related *a lot* to Jessica about all the wedding stuffs and thinking, but most especially with her reaction to the bachelorette party, and particularily with the striptease lmao (I, too, had to see one I never wanted to see and I, too, was able to talk to him outside of his striptease persona). I really liked how she changed her view on wedding yet still stayed true to herself, I was very much afraid she would feel all pro-wedding after her romance - she sees that wedding hasn't only cons points, and that's how I feel as well, which again makes me relate to Jessica.
What is the best romance ever? No, but it was still very much entertaining and a quick read and that's what I'm asking from a romance, so it was a win for me. There were however some repeated parts/infos that we already knew and there were no need to say again, also a bit of an easy road taked especially with the "stumbling upon a very important talk" used more than once, and the outing plot twist could be seen 100km beforehand.
I do really liked the romance between Jessica and Tanner, the way everything revolved around the outing and how things had to change between them with each new reveal and twists etc. It was pretty slow considering the length of this book, but I liked all the steps they took to build their romance, may they be onward or backward.
I related *a lot* to Jessica about all the wedding stuffs and thinking, but most especially with her reaction to the bachelorette party, and particularily with the striptease lmao (I, too, had to see one I never wanted to see and I, too, was able to talk to him outside of his striptease persona). I really liked how she changed her view on wedding yet still stayed true to herself, I was very much afraid she would feel all pro-wedding after her romance - she sees that wedding hasn't only cons points, and that's how I feel as well, which again makes me relate to Jessica.
February 12, 2024
I was given an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Never a Bridesmaid by Spencer Greene is a contemporary Sapphic romance where Jessica, an out Lesbian living in DC who abhors a lot of traditional structures, is given an ultimatum: be a bridesmaid at her sister’s wedding or lose access to her trust. Jessica agrees to be a bridesmaid but the maid of honor is Tanner, her sister’s best friend and the girl who outed Jessica to their high school.
The book delves in homophobia and preconceived notions as well stereotyping inside and outside of the Queer community. Jessica is a bit rigid in some of her views of her own community and has some black and white thinking of her own, thinking which Tanner pushes back on. Tanner is a lesbian herself and has been out most of her life, but works for a Christian mommy blogging site.
I think what I really loved was how much the characters’ flaws were on display, showcasing various opinions within the Queer community as well as opinions on the community from people not inside of it. It’s also nice to see a Sapphic who has a more androgynous style, likes femmes, and experiences body dysmorphia be the lead of a romance.
I would recommend this to readers looking for Sapphic romance and readers looking for an exploration of the Queer community in a Sapphic context
Never a Bridesmaid by Spencer Greene is a contemporary Sapphic romance where Jessica, an out Lesbian living in DC who abhors a lot of traditional structures, is given an ultimatum: be a bridesmaid at her sister’s wedding or lose access to her trust. Jessica agrees to be a bridesmaid but the maid of honor is Tanner, her sister’s best friend and the girl who outed Jessica to their high school.
The book delves in homophobia and preconceived notions as well stereotyping inside and outside of the Queer community. Jessica is a bit rigid in some of her views of her own community and has some black and white thinking of her own, thinking which Tanner pushes back on. Tanner is a lesbian herself and has been out most of her life, but works for a Christian mommy blogging site.
I think what I really loved was how much the characters’ flaws were on display, showcasing various opinions within the Queer community as well as opinions on the community from people not inside of it. It’s also nice to see a Sapphic who has a more androgynous style, likes femmes, and experiences body dysmorphia be the lead of a romance.
I would recommend this to readers looking for Sapphic romance and readers looking for an exploration of the Queer community in a Sapphic context
February 7, 2024
This book follows Jessica who is convinced to participate in her sister’s wedding despite her being completely against the ideas of weddings. Throughout the story, the author does a great job of showing how complex it can be to come to terms with your identity, especially when having to deal with homophobic people around you in life. You see Jessica work through how she felt in high school to how she feels now. During all of this, she has to navigate all of her different feelings toward the maid of honor, Tanner, who she has a complicated past with.
This was a short and sweet sapphic love story that I thought was really good. Jessica’s character is complex and flawed, I definitely found myself loving her at times and other times, getting annoyed at her. But I think this just made her character more real. She has a hard time letting things go. I found the storytelling to be done pretty well. Although, I do think there could have been more substance and build up between the characters. I really enjoyed the way the characters rebuilt different relationships throughout the story. Overall, I think this was cute and fun to read.
This was a short and sweet sapphic love story that I thought was really good. Jessica’s character is complex and flawed, I definitely found myself loving her at times and other times, getting annoyed at her. But I think this just made her character more real. She has a hard time letting things go. I found the storytelling to be done pretty well. Although, I do think there could have been more substance and build up between the characters. I really enjoyed the way the characters rebuilt different relationships throughout the story. Overall, I think this was cute and fun to read.
April 1, 2024
Jessica's sister Bernie is getting married and their mother expects jessica to be the perfect sister and perform her bridemaid duties. The thing is Jessica isn't sure what those duties entail and honestly she's not really interested in these archaic 'rituals'. I felt a connection with Jess on her stance on all the wedding related things. It sounds terrible and I get that Jessica is reluctant to fullfil her part of the deal. But her mother holds her inheritance hostage so she agrees to do all that is expected of her.
Besides the dreadful bridal tasks there is also Tanner. Jessica's former crush/friend/nemesis?! They have a past and it's nog a good one. Tanner is Bernie's best friend so Jessica knows she won't be able to avoid her although she's trying.
This story started out so strong for me and I could not put the book down as I wanted to see how the story evolved. It did drop a bit for me towards the end and during the wedding so 4 stars for me.
An ARC was provided to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.
Besides the dreadful bridal tasks there is also Tanner. Jessica's former crush/friend/nemesis?! They have a past and it's nog a good one. Tanner is Bernie's best friend so Jessica knows she won't be able to avoid her although she's trying.
This story started out so strong for me and I could not put the book down as I wanted to see how the story evolved. It did drop a bit for me towards the end and during the wedding so 4 stars for me.
An ARC was provided to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.
February 1, 2024
In this story, the main character, Jessica, is forced to spend time with her high school bullies when her sister gets engaged. This includes Tanner, the girl that got away but also mega-traumatized her in high school. Parts of this story were hard to read, but it all just made Jessica's healing journey more real to me as a reader. I was really invested in Jessica, but I honestly didn't love her love interest, Tanner. While I did come around to her in the end, these girls had to start over again (and again and again) so many times to get it right. They both need a hug. And probably a few drinks.
This book might be a romance novel, but Tanner's job situation actually raised some really interesting points about morality that sparked a lengthy discussion with my friends. As someone who tends to see things more black and white, this raised some really interesting gray areas for me.
Thank you NetGalley for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review!
This book might be a romance novel, but Tanner's job situation actually raised some really interesting points about morality that sparked a lengthy discussion with my friends. As someone who tends to see things more black and white, this raised some really interesting gray areas for me.
Thank you NetGalley for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review!
February 23, 2024
This was enjoyable, except the one thing that is a minor quibble, which is the premise. We start off with the protagonist's mother telling her that she'll cut her off from the trust fund that is hers if she doesn't go to her sister's wedding and be part of the wedding party.
Aside from this bit of weirdness, I enjoyed the premise. This was reminiscent of Delilah Green Doesn't Care in that we have the quiet, shy wierdo sister who is queer and enjoying life away from her complicated family but is pulled back into the fold for her sister's wedding because the sister really wants to fix their relationship. I enjoyed the first half of the book best, when we are following a deeply struggling and annoyed Jessica as she participates in incredibly heteronormative wedding party situations.
Aside from this bit of weirdness, I enjoyed the premise. This was reminiscent of Delilah Green Doesn't Care in that we have the quiet, shy wierdo sister who is queer and enjoying life away from her complicated family but is pulled back into the fold for her sister's wedding because the sister really wants to fix their relationship. I enjoyed the first half of the book best, when we are following a deeply struggling and annoyed Jessica as she participates in incredibly heteronormative wedding party situations.
January 27, 2024
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC!
Summary: Jessica, a queer woman critical of the institution of marriage, plans to skip her straight sister’s bachelorette party and all other pre-wedding events. But her mom interferes, preventing Jessica from receiving her inheritance unless she acts as her sister’s bridesmaid and attends all the pre-wedding events.
At the pre-wedding events, Jessica reconnects with her high school classmate Tanner, even though Jessica holds Tanner (a feminine, popular lesbian) responsible for how she was treated after being outed in high school.
Thoughts: My favorite part of this book was how both main characters are embedded in queer communities, with queer friends, Pride parades, and queer bars frequently being referenced. In contrast, some other queer romance books I’ve read were written like the queer characters “just happen to be” queer and their queerness doesn’t affect their politics or community.
I also found the Jessica’s discomfort at being confronted with heteronormative wedding traditions relatable.
I liked that it was more slow burn and that Jessica gradually found aspects of Tanner’s personality attractive, instead of insta-love and forgiveness.
This book contained a 3rd act break up, which is one of my least favorite tropes. The “plot twist” after the 3rd act break up felt predictable to me, but I still enjoyed the book overall.
The novel contains one open-door sex scene.
Summary: Jessica, a queer woman critical of the institution of marriage, plans to skip her straight sister’s bachelorette party and all other pre-wedding events. But her mom interferes, preventing Jessica from receiving her inheritance unless she acts as her sister’s bridesmaid and attends all the pre-wedding events.
At the pre-wedding events, Jessica reconnects with her high school classmate Tanner, even though Jessica holds Tanner (a feminine, popular lesbian) responsible for how she was treated after being outed in high school.
Thoughts: My favorite part of this book was how both main characters are embedded in queer communities, with queer friends, Pride parades, and queer bars frequently being referenced. In contrast, some other queer romance books I’ve read were written like the queer characters “just happen to be” queer and their queerness doesn’t affect their politics or community.
I also found the Jessica’s discomfort at being confronted with heteronormative wedding traditions relatable.
I liked that it was more slow burn and that Jessica gradually found aspects of Tanner’s personality attractive, instead of insta-love and forgiveness.
This book contained a 3rd act break up, which is one of my least favorite tropes. The “plot twist” after the 3rd act break up felt predictable to me, but I still enjoyed the book overall.
The novel contains one open-door sex scene.
January 27, 2024
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Jessica hates weddings doesn’t get why do all this just for one day she gets wanting celebrate your love and share with the ones you love but this is too much especially when her mother blackmail her into being in her sister Bernie wedding she has a reason she wants Jessica and Bernie to fix their relationship. Jessica having no choice decides she going to make the most of it but won’t be happy about it when she has to spend time with the one woman who she haven’t forgiven what she did in high school. Tanner is there for her best friend and trying to make the best wedding for her despite the cold shoulder she getting from Jessica. Jessica tries keeping a wall up where Tanner is concerned but starts to see that Tanner isn’t that person who betray her or so she thinks.
Jessica hates weddings doesn’t get why do all this just for one day she gets wanting celebrate your love and share with the ones you love but this is too much especially when her mother blackmail her into being in her sister Bernie wedding she has a reason she wants Jessica and Bernie to fix their relationship. Jessica having no choice decides she going to make the most of it but won’t be happy about it when she has to spend time with the one woman who she haven’t forgiven what she did in high school. Tanner is there for her best friend and trying to make the best wedding for her despite the cold shoulder she getting from Jessica. Jessica tries keeping a wall up where Tanner is concerned but starts to see that Tanner isn’t that person who betray her or so she thinks.
January 17, 2024
Jessica Monroe does NOT want to be a bridesmaid at her sisters wedding. However, after her mother blackmails her with withholding her inheritance from her father, she feels she has to go.
Worse, the maid of honor is Tanner Caldwell, whom she has a history with. Tanner, apparently, outed her in high school.
Mostly liking it, though I will admit the Mom blackmail rubbed me the wrong way. I hope it gets addressed later, because it seems a extremely shitty thing to do. She does apologize later at least.
Good romance, interesting characters. There's at least one dropped plot thread, and the villainess never really get her retribution. But overall, pretty good.
Worse, the maid of honor is Tanner Caldwell, whom she has a history with. Tanner, apparently, outed her in high school.
Mostly liking it, though I will admit the Mom blackmail rubbed me the wrong way. I hope it gets addressed later, because it seems a extremely shitty thing to do. She does apologize later at least.
Good romance, interesting characters. There's at least one dropped plot thread, and the villainess never really get her retribution. But overall, pretty good.
January 19, 2024
Jessica Monroe's aversion to weddings and disdain for her sister's maid of honor, Tanner Caldwell, sets the stage for a tumultuous journey in this engaging romance. Jessica's plans are upended when her inheritance is dangled as leverage by her mother, forcing her to participate in her sister's wedding festivities and spend considerable time with Tanner. As the wedding date approaches, Jessica's feelings towards Tanner shift making her think that maybe Tanner is not exactly who she thought she is. I would have liked to see some sort of ‘divine’ punishment for Kayla and an epilogue.
Free ARC from NetGalley.
Free ARC from NetGalley.
February 6, 2024
Six months. 5 events. One archnemesis.
Self confessed wedding hater Jessica Monroe has been talked into attending her sister Bernie’s wedding as a bridesmaid, which is bad enough (the two are like chalk and cheese), but to make matters worse Jessica’s archnemesis just happens to be Bernie’s best friend and Maid of Honor Tanner Caldwell. As we follow Jessica, Bernie and the wedding party over the 6 months and 5 events leading up to the big day we get a glimpse into the past, present and possible future of the characters.
I absolutely loved this book! It was so well written, the characters felt so real and I loved how the main characters, not all likeable, developed throughout. I really didn’t want it to end!
I found some parts hard to read due to having similar experiences so I’ve included trigger warnings below.
TW: homophobia, death of a loved one, suicide mention
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
Self confessed wedding hater Jessica Monroe has been talked into attending her sister Bernie’s wedding as a bridesmaid, which is bad enough (the two are like chalk and cheese), but to make matters worse Jessica’s archnemesis just happens to be Bernie’s best friend and Maid of Honor Tanner Caldwell. As we follow Jessica, Bernie and the wedding party over the 6 months and 5 events leading up to the big day we get a glimpse into the past, present and possible future of the characters.
I absolutely loved this book! It was so well written, the characters felt so real and I loved how the main characters, not all likeable, developed throughout. I really didn’t want it to end!
I found some parts hard to read due to having similar experiences so I’ve included trigger warnings below.
TW: homophobia, death of a loved one, suicide mention
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
January 21, 2025
Interesting premise, plot line and caracter. The tension is there from the start and I love the fact that it wasnt resolve rapidly, that we could see the struggle but I was still a little to fast for me, like if does event impacted you that much i think it would take a littlr motr timd or profond event to changenypur tune. So yeah, I would have like the struggle.to be more intence or more written in the book. But still a good weekend read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2024
Greene does a fantastic job in this romance story. Characters were easy to connect to and feel for. The writing was lovely and did well in emotionally connecting us to what was happening on page.
Greene writes about the acceptance of oneself and the journey of moving forward after heartbreak. This is done remarkably well and the ending was closed beautifully.
Greene writes about the acceptance of oneself and the journey of moving forward after heartbreak. This is done remarkably well and the ending was closed beautifully.
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