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Honeymoon Hotel
A charming novel in the vein of The Wedding Planner featuring an ambitious and by-the-books event planner who finds herself at odds with her new assistant, who happens to be the son of her boss, on the eve of the biggest wedding of her career—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Runaway Princess and the Little Lady Agency series.The Bonneville Hotel is the best-kept secret in its elegant rooms and discreet wood-paneled cocktail lounge were the home-away-from-home for royalty and movie stars alike during the golden age of glamour. Recent years haven’t been kind, but thanks to events manager Rosie, it’s reclaiming some of its old cachet as a wish list wedding venue. While Rosie’s weddings are the ultimate in romance, Rosie herself isn’t; her focus is fixed firmly on the details, not on the dramas. She lives with a professionally furious food critic and works tirelessly toward that coveted promotion. But when the hotel owner appoints his eccentric son Joe to help run Rosie’s department, she’s suddenly butting heads with the free spirit whose predilection for the unconventional threatens to unravel her picture-perfect plans for the most elaborate—not to mention high-profile—wedding the hotel has ever seen, a wedding that could make or break not only the hotel’s reputation, but also Rosie’s career. From the author whose books are described as “deliciously addictive” (Cosmopolitan), Honeymoon Hotel will reaffirm your belief in happily ever after.
466 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 2014
131 people are currently reading
2516 people want to read
About the author
Hester Browne
16 books814 followersHester Browne was born in England's Lake District, read English at Trinity College, Cambridge, and worked as a fiction editor before leaving publishing to write full time. She enjoys Scottish reeling, driving, baking, and trawling eBay for estate sale bargains. She doesn't enjoy hot weather, tax returns, or any talent programme where people have to plead to be allowed to juggle flaming chainsaws on national television.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
August 20, 2021
Rosie is an events planner. Her favourite events are weddings at the Bonneville Hotel. She is good at micromanaging all the details. Her hope is that Laurence, her boss will notice her hard work and commitment and offer her the manager’s position.When Laurence brings in his son Joe, to teach him the ropes, Rosie can see the position disintegrating before her eyes. Joe has an honest but unsettling way of dealing with things and his ideas are usually a far cry from the way Rosie thinks things should be. What does the future hold for Rosie and her aspirations?
This sounded like a light fun read, nothing too taxing just an enjoyable scene soaking up hotel and wedding plans. Rosie and Joe are both likeable characters. The plot did seem somewhat predictable and at times it felt like the author waffled on too long and threw in some over the top wedding moments. Those quibbles aside it was an enjoyable read without hitting any great heights. My first book by this author I'd be interested to read some others.
This sounded like a light fun read, nothing too taxing just an enjoyable scene soaking up hotel and wedding plans. Rosie and Joe are both likeable characters. The plot did seem somewhat predictable and at times it felt like the author waffled on too long and threw in some over the top wedding moments. Those quibbles aside it was an enjoyable read without hitting any great heights. My first book by this author I'd be interested to read some others.
February 16, 2015
Disappointing, especially for a Hester Browne book. I've come to expect top-notch "chick lit" from her pen and this one just didn't quite deliver for me. Browne still has a way with words, and I found myself enjoying many descriptions, witticisms and scenes, yet ultimately I wasn't satisfied and found many chapters rather forgettable. Mainly, I found the book over-long for the story that needed to be told. And I never felt that I truly got to know Rosie--perhaps partly because her key personality traits are ones that she ultimately tries to change. Some of this evolution felt organic--few of us want to be stagnant--but some of it felt a bit forced and I didn't especially appreciate the free-spirit potential love interest trying to get Rosie to stop being so Type A. I was also quite disappointed that . If you are new to Browne, stick with The Little Lady Agency and the vastly more interesting heroine, Melissa. If you are a Browne fan you will probably still enjoy parts of this book, as I did, but Rosie just lacked the hutzpah I like to see in a modern leading lady and I found myself rather disinterested not only in all the minute details of the weddings she planned, but in finding out whether she would ever get a wedding of her own.
September 11, 2014
To see full review click here
I received an advance copy of this book via Netgalley. It did not affect my opinion of this book. Though it did make my sister a Browne zealot extremely jealous.
As most of you know I’m a woman in my mid twenties who’s an attorney and whose idea of “big” fun consists of watching General Hospital or going to Barnes and Noble and spending my rather pathetic salary on books (yes, attorneys can make pathetic salaries, unfortunately). Consequently, I don’t do spontaneous or fun things. So obviously, I need a wacky hot guy to come in my life and yell at me for how serious I am, make a total disarray of my life, and then obviously I will finally “relax” around him and have a happily ever after that’s worthy of any rom com.
Realistically, if someone told me to relax, I’d bitch slap them. And if they continued to meddle in my life trying to make me realize how uptight I was I’d send them a truck load of elephant dung (yes, that’s possible, you can actually order excrement on the internet).
That being said, when I saw this cliche coming. I groaned.
It’s just not my thing.
And it didn’t help that I didn’t think this was Browne’s strongest effort either. To be honest, I’m going to be talking a lot about the cliche that would make me send my perspective carefree love interest a truck full of elephant shit , but I’ll also be incorporating why Browne just couldn’t pull it off. I should also state that I couldn’t finish this one before I continue. However, since I read over half of it I think I can write a fair and full review.
Back to the cliche, it just annoys me on so many aspects. I think because it facilitates the idea that a a career woman must be an incredibly dull person. Which to me almost, just almost has a sense of antifeminism about it. Which probably isn’t exactly the case..but it sort of appears that way (IMHO).
And seriously, what’s wrong with being serious? And not being carefree. Is it so bad I cared about actually having a career instead of going hang gliding all the time and “breaking the rules”.
Some people just don’t and won’t loosen up. At least according to Joe’s standards.
Browne’s books have always been a bit cliche, but usually I love them. They’re like gooey delicious bites of chick lit that you just can’t help but eat up and they sort of remind me of all those 1990’s/2000’s rom coms with Colin Firth in them, but this one…
It just didn’t work for me. I didn’t like either of the love interests or the side love interests. Maybe Joe would’ve grown on me if I’d continue, and I’ll ask my sister because again-total Browne zealot- but I just couldn’t like the guy. I didn’t like how he interfered with the weddings. It annoyed me. And while I think Browne was trying to (rather over forcefully) teach an important lesson how the groom should have just as much of a role in the bride’s wedding, and how traditions should be broken so that the couple can have a unique wedding. It just didn’t work for me.
An the fact that Rosie was forced to work with this clown and everyone seemed to love him despite the fact he acted like a boneheaded idiot.
Blood pressure rising worthy.
Then there’s Dominic….
Love interest two, or really the original love interest who I can tell is being demonized for the soul purpose so the heroine can get with the carefree boneheaded character.
So, he’s a food critic. And writes bad reviews.
Big freaking whoop.
That doesn’t make him a jerk.
The food just sucks.
Much like people who write books about foul books aren’t automatic jerks either.
Just saying.
But I like how all his faults, obviously relate back to his reviews…
I received an advance copy of this book via Netgalley. It did not affect my opinion of this book. Though it did make my sister a Browne zealot extremely jealous.
As most of you know I’m a woman in my mid twenties who’s an attorney and whose idea of “big” fun consists of watching General Hospital or going to Barnes and Noble and spending my rather pathetic salary on books (yes, attorneys can make pathetic salaries, unfortunately). Consequently, I don’t do spontaneous or fun things. So obviously, I need a wacky hot guy to come in my life and yell at me for how serious I am, make a total disarray of my life, and then obviously I will finally “relax” around him and have a happily ever after that’s worthy of any rom com.
Realistically, if someone told me to relax, I’d bitch slap them. And if they continued to meddle in my life trying to make me realize how uptight I was I’d send them a truck load of elephant dung (yes, that’s possible, you can actually order excrement on the internet).
That being said, when I saw this cliche coming. I groaned.
It’s just not my thing.
And it didn’t help that I didn’t think this was Browne’s strongest effort either. To be honest, I’m going to be talking a lot about the cliche that would make me send my perspective carefree love interest a truck full of elephant shit , but I’ll also be incorporating why Browne just couldn’t pull it off. I should also state that I couldn’t finish this one before I continue. However, since I read over half of it I think I can write a fair and full review.
Back to the cliche, it just annoys me on so many aspects. I think because it facilitates the idea that a a career woman must be an incredibly dull person. Which to me almost, just almost has a sense of antifeminism about it. Which probably isn’t exactly the case..but it sort of appears that way (IMHO).
And seriously, what’s wrong with being serious? And not being carefree. Is it so bad I cared about actually having a career instead of going hang gliding all the time and “breaking the rules”.
Some people just don’t and won’t loosen up. At least according to Joe’s standards.
Browne’s books have always been a bit cliche, but usually I love them. They’re like gooey delicious bites of chick lit that you just can’t help but eat up and they sort of remind me of all those 1990’s/2000’s rom coms with Colin Firth in them, but this one…
It just didn’t work for me. I didn’t like either of the love interests or the side love interests. Maybe Joe would’ve grown on me if I’d continue, and I’ll ask my sister because again-total Browne zealot- but I just couldn’t like the guy. I didn’t like how he interfered with the weddings. It annoyed me. And while I think Browne was trying to (rather over forcefully) teach an important lesson how the groom should have just as much of a role in the bride’s wedding, and how traditions should be broken so that the couple can have a unique wedding. It just didn’t work for me.
An the fact that Rosie was forced to work with this clown and everyone seemed to love him despite the fact he acted like a boneheaded idiot.
Blood pressure rising worthy.
Then there’s Dominic….
Love interest two, or really the original love interest who I can tell is being demonized for the soul purpose so the heroine can get with the carefree boneheaded character.
So, he’s a food critic. And writes bad reviews.
Big freaking whoop.
That doesn’t make him a jerk.
The food just sucks.
Much like people who write books about foul books aren’t automatic jerks either.
Just saying.
But I like how all his faults, obviously relate back to his reviews…
April 8, 2019
In 'Honeymoon Hotel', Rosie works at the Bonneville Hotel as the events manager and enjoys every second of it. Passionate about planning and organizing weddings, she's all geared up for the promotion she's been working hard towards. However, the unexpected arrival of the owner's son, Joe derails her goal. Will she get the promotion she deserves or will nepotism shatter her dreams?
I liked Bonneville Hotel as the setting. It gave me the impression of a sophisticated and timeless venue with a serene and soothing ambience. The details of the weddings that took place there were intricate and well-thought-out, hence I could envision them. That further livened up the story. Reading about all the things Rosie was in charge of and how she went through each step from meeting the client to finalizing every decision kept me interested to find out what would happen next.
From the moment Joe was introduced, I didn't quite like him and throughout the story, I never really warmed up to him (though he became more bearable later on). He was supposed to be the laidback, easygoing and outspoken type who's good with people. Instead, he came across as someone who wasn't business-minded and didn't know when to shut up. His stupidity caused the cancellations of several weddings. On top of that, he was way too focused on the human aspect of a wedding which frustrated me to no end.
Yes, a wedding should be about both bride and groom. Yes, the groom's input should be taken into consideration. Yes, they have every right to have whatever kind of wedding they want (within reason). But Joe, this is a BUSINESS, not a charity. Rosie was merely doing her job, checking off lists and helping couples make the best possible decisions in line with the hotel's image. The clients were allowed to say no. No one was being forced to have a wedding they didn't want. Jeez, Joe.
To make things worse, in the end his approach was made out to be "right" or "better" all along. Apparently he's charming and so darned good at persuading brides to change their minds (how about showing me, instead of telling?). This annoyed me since Rosie was driven and dedicated to her job. She knew how to win clients over without being preachy yet she realized she had to lighten up. Why? Just so that Joe looks like Mr. Perfect and Mr. Right.
On the bright side, I liked that their relationship developed slowly. It was somewhat believable though I'll have to admit I didn't like this pairing. To me, Joe never fully understood Rosie. He kept telling her to relax but he was the one stressing her out by disrupting discussions and taking them into a whole new direction. He never really saw or appreciated her for who she was - someone who was ambitious yet genuinely caring and considerate.
The other characters were bland and one-dimensional. Rosie's best friend, Helen didn't bring much to the table. Her bad breakup followed by left me rolling my eyes. That was clearly only written to make Rosie realize who she was really meant to be with. As for Rosie's boyfriend, Dominic, he was rude, mean and untactful - you could see what was going to happen from miles away.
Of all the contrived things in this book, the one I had the hardest time overlooking was the . That would've made more of an impact rather than the rushed route this story had taken. I did like .
Overall, the characters were mostly forgettable and the romance aspect was a letdown but 'Honeymoon Hotel' was a relaxing and light-hearted read that gave a glimpse into the world of wedding planning.
I liked Bonneville Hotel as the setting. It gave me the impression of a sophisticated and timeless venue with a serene and soothing ambience. The details of the weddings that took place there were intricate and well-thought-out, hence I could envision them. That further livened up the story. Reading about all the things Rosie was in charge of and how she went through each step from meeting the client to finalizing every decision kept me interested to find out what would happen next.
From the moment Joe was introduced, I didn't quite like him and throughout the story, I never really warmed up to him (though he became more bearable later on). He was supposed to be the laidback, easygoing and outspoken type who's good with people. Instead, he came across as someone who wasn't business-minded and didn't know when to shut up. His stupidity caused the cancellations of several weddings. On top of that, he was way too focused on the human aspect of a wedding which frustrated me to no end.
Yes, a wedding should be about both bride and groom. Yes, the groom's input should be taken into consideration. Yes, they have every right to have whatever kind of wedding they want (within reason). But Joe, this is a BUSINESS, not a charity. Rosie was merely doing her job, checking off lists and helping couples make the best possible decisions in line with the hotel's image. The clients were allowed to say no. No one was being forced to have a wedding they didn't want. Jeez, Joe.
To make things worse, in the end his approach was made out to be "right" or "better" all along. Apparently he's charming and so darned good at persuading brides to change their minds (how about showing me, instead of telling?). This annoyed me since Rosie was driven and dedicated to her job. She knew how to win clients over without being preachy yet she realized she had to lighten up. Why? Just so that Joe looks like Mr. Perfect and Mr. Right.
On the bright side, I liked that their relationship developed slowly. It was somewhat believable though I'll have to admit I didn't like this pairing. To me, Joe never fully understood Rosie. He kept telling her to relax but he was the one stressing her out by disrupting discussions and taking them into a whole new direction. He never really saw or appreciated her for who she was - someone who was ambitious yet genuinely caring and considerate.
The other characters were bland and one-dimensional. Rosie's best friend, Helen didn't bring much to the table. Her bad breakup followed by left me rolling my eyes. That was clearly only written to make Rosie realize who she was really meant to be with. As for Rosie's boyfriend, Dominic, he was rude, mean and untactful - you could see what was going to happen from miles away.
Of all the contrived things in this book, the one I had the hardest time overlooking was the . That would've made more of an impact rather than the rushed route this story had taken. I did like .
Overall, the characters were mostly forgettable and the romance aspect was a letdown but 'Honeymoon Hotel' was a relaxing and light-hearted read that gave a glimpse into the world of wedding planning.
July 11, 2014
Thanks to NetGalley, this long-time fan of Hester Browne's writing was able to review an advance reading copy of Honeymoon Hotel, and I declare it a home-run. While readers might be able to figure out who becomes a couple and who splits up long before the end of the book, the journey that Ms. Browne takes us on is delightful.
Jilted-at-the-alter Rosie MacDonald is an event planner extraordinaire at the historic, exclusive Bonneville Hotel in London. She plans fabulous, dream weddings with the aid of a crack staff until the boss' son, Joe, is thrown into the mix as her assistant so that he can learn the hotel trade. Their radically different approaches to life and views on events makes for many missteps in the event calendar and questions about life choices. Joe's mysterious arrival has Rosie worried about the promotion she is angling for and has the rest of the female staff falling over themselves to laugh at his jokes.
All the characters are charming and quirky in their own way. Some you'll love. Some you'll hate. Ms. Browne's sense of humor comes out often in the her characters' snappy banter and situational comedy. The wedding mishaps are quite humorous, and I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. Honeymoon Hotel, along with Ms. Browne's previous novels, has just the right balance of romance, humor, angst and mayhem.
If you haven't discovered her yet, give Hester Browne's Honeymoon Hotel a read; I'm sure you'll be hooked by this sassy, fun book.
Jilted-at-the-alter Rosie MacDonald is an event planner extraordinaire at the historic, exclusive Bonneville Hotel in London. She plans fabulous, dream weddings with the aid of a crack staff until the boss' son, Joe, is thrown into the mix as her assistant so that he can learn the hotel trade. Their radically different approaches to life and views on events makes for many missteps in the event calendar and questions about life choices. Joe's mysterious arrival has Rosie worried about the promotion she is angling for and has the rest of the female staff falling over themselves to laugh at his jokes.
All the characters are charming and quirky in their own way. Some you'll love. Some you'll hate. Ms. Browne's sense of humor comes out often in the her characters' snappy banter and situational comedy. The wedding mishaps are quite humorous, and I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. Honeymoon Hotel, along with Ms. Browne's previous novels, has just the right balance of romance, humor, angst and mayhem.
If you haven't discovered her yet, give Hester Browne's Honeymoon Hotel a read; I'm sure you'll be hooked by this sassy, fun book.
May 27, 2015
A charming novel in the vein of The Wedding Planner featuring an ambitious and by-the-books event planner who finds herself at odds with her new assistant, who happens to be the son of her boss, on the eve of the biggest wedding of her career—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Runaway Princess and the Little Lady Agency series.
I love the Little Lady Agency (well parts 1 and 2) so I was excited to read this book. It sounded cute and different (Hester Browne has a talent for coming up with different storylines) but for some reason I didn't fully love this book. I didn't really buy the love stories or really care for the main characters. It was a fun read at first but somewhere in the middle I got a little bored. It was a nice try on Hester Browne's part.
However, I loved the hotel. Especially now that's I'm old (30 years old), in a relationship, and want to get married so the whole romance of the hotel got me drooling.
I love the Little Lady Agency (well parts 1 and 2) so I was excited to read this book. It sounded cute and different (Hester Browne has a talent for coming up with different storylines) but for some reason I didn't fully love this book. I didn't really buy the love stories or really care for the main characters. It was a fun read at first but somewhere in the middle I got a little bored. It was a nice try on Hester Browne's part.
However, I loved the hotel. Especially now that's I'm old (30 years old), in a relationship, and want to get married so the whole romance of the hotel got me drooling.
June 19, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet book about a wedding planner in a London hotel. Over the course of year, we get to know Rosie, the events manager of a traditional hotel that she's worked at since she was in college. A small family hotel, her well-ordered life is thrown for a loop when the owner's son returns from the States and begins to shadow her.
This was a slow, delicious read. Browne really develops her characters and the her writing is detailed enough to really be a part of the hotel, but not so detailed that it is tedious. As someone whose son was married this year, I loved every bit of the way Rosie choreographs her weddings.
This is a great read for anyone looking for a fun summer read.
This was a slow, delicious read. Browne really develops her characters and the her writing is detailed enough to really be a part of the hotel, but not so detailed that it is tedious. As someone whose son was married this year, I loved every bit of the way Rosie choreographs her weddings.
This is a great read for anyone looking for a fun summer read.
September 11, 2014
Hester Browne already belongs to my favourite authors, those which books I auto - buy. Since I've read "The Runaway Princess", and then "The Vintage Girl", Hester moved to the very top of my fav authors list and every time I hear that she's writing a new book I am totally really excited. And it was the same with "The Honeymoon Hotel". I love the title of this book so much, and the cover is also beautiful, this brilliant, sweet shade of pink, I could really stroke it all the time. And so when a copy of this beauty arrived I couldn't help but squee with joy and dived into it immediately.
As a matter of fact there are so many things that I'd like to tell about this book that I don't know where to start and what to concentrate on. Sad, I know.
With a title like "The Honeymoon Hotel" you can't expect anything other than weddings, and it's fantastic because I am old, poor sucker for a good wedding. The Bonneville Hotel, where those weddings and honeymoons take place is run almost single - handedly by Rosie MacDonald, who'd very much like to be considered for a general manager job. She was jilted by the altar some time ago and now gives all her feelings into organizing THE best weddings. Everything runs smoothly with her event/wedding planning till one day Joe, the boss's son, is being dropped on her like a bomb. He should learn how to run a hotel and Rosie's department is the first to start on. The problem is, they have both a very different approach to organizing weddings and to life in general and so, those differences lead to some mishaps in Rosie's beautifully and carefully planned calendar of the weddings. There is also a question mingling Rosie's mind: is Joe being considered for her dream job?
As usually, Hester created here some wonderful, brilliant, unforgettable characters that you love or love to hate and challenges for those characters. She has also described the Bonneville Hotel in such a vivid, colourful way that if I had planned to re - marry one day, I'd love to this there, and also to spend my honeymoon there, benefiting from all the privileges there, spa or the afternoon tea with the Middletons. Well, a girl can dream :)
Rosie I loved from the very beginning, just after learning that she was jilted at the altar and then how she coped with her broken heart. On one hand she was really a control freak, as Joe has said, and all the weddings that she planned were almost identical, but on the other, she was incredibly funny, witty and delivered some of the greatest one - liners, not only for Dominic but to the story as well. Also, wanted to be a strict and harsh businesswoman at work, but at home she just wanted some closeness and warmth. I love such characters, full of opposites. Her whole world was in order, the wedding planning went sooo well, and then came Joe... Straight from California, the dream boy, and what a great first impression, mmm... This golden boy is probably going to put Rosie's world upside down, what with her neatness and his chaos, her exact approach to life and his carpe diem... Oh, how much I liked him winding Rosie up a little!
As the story progresses, Rosie and Joe find not only that they can work together but, as the fate throws them in one flat, that they can personally also go together and it was great to see how - and if - their relationship develops, how much it changes and how much they both change.
All the other characters were just popping out of the pages, no matter if they were the brides - to - be or Rosie's boss Laurence with his endless suffering. They are all quirky and charming, but also some of them very unfriendly, at first I only had no idea what Helen sees in her boyfriend but then have started to expect that Rosie's Dominic is up to no good. I don't know if all people connected to chefs and food in general are so arrogant and thinking so big about themselves? High five Rosie for your revenge on Dominic, who was arrogant, shallow and boring.
And I absolutely enjoyed the brides - to - be and their mother, some of them real bridezillas, some of them so reasonable, but didn't Joe have a point when he asked what about the grooms? Where are they? Don't they have anything to say about their own wedding? The descriptions of the weddings were also absolutely brilliant, with all their mishaps and insubordinate family members, and how great Rosie managed with all of the problems.
The book is written in this characteristic Hester's writing style but I would say that each of her books is written in a more modern way than the previous one, which is absolutely not a problem for me. Hester has this brilliant, specific sense of humour which comes out through her characters and their dialogues, which are more than often witty and ironic.
Altogether, "The Honeymoon Hotel" is the next jackpot from Hester Browne and if you haven't read her book yet I would say, go and treat yourself to a copy or two. This book is the best example of how Hester writes and how great a storyteller she is. It has the right pace, it is full of twists and turns and Hester is not afraid to drop a very unexpected bomb or two on us, and together with her sense of humour it is a very entertaining read. The descriptions of the hotel and its history are great, as well as the charming characters and I can't see any lows in this book. It's a warm, sweet novel that leaves you feeling better and it's for sure a read with a heart - warming factor. I really do hope that Hester will be back soon with her next great book.
Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.
As a matter of fact there are so many things that I'd like to tell about this book that I don't know where to start and what to concentrate on. Sad, I know.
With a title like "The Honeymoon Hotel" you can't expect anything other than weddings, and it's fantastic because I am old, poor sucker for a good wedding. The Bonneville Hotel, where those weddings and honeymoons take place is run almost single - handedly by Rosie MacDonald, who'd very much like to be considered for a general manager job. She was jilted by the altar some time ago and now gives all her feelings into organizing THE best weddings. Everything runs smoothly with her event/wedding planning till one day Joe, the boss's son, is being dropped on her like a bomb. He should learn how to run a hotel and Rosie's department is the first to start on. The problem is, they have both a very different approach to organizing weddings and to life in general and so, those differences lead to some mishaps in Rosie's beautifully and carefully planned calendar of the weddings. There is also a question mingling Rosie's mind: is Joe being considered for her dream job?
As usually, Hester created here some wonderful, brilliant, unforgettable characters that you love or love to hate and challenges for those characters. She has also described the Bonneville Hotel in such a vivid, colourful way that if I had planned to re - marry one day, I'd love to this there, and also to spend my honeymoon there, benefiting from all the privileges there, spa or the afternoon tea with the Middletons. Well, a girl can dream :)
Rosie I loved from the very beginning, just after learning that she was jilted at the altar and then how she coped with her broken heart. On one hand she was really a control freak, as Joe has said, and all the weddings that she planned were almost identical, but on the other, she was incredibly funny, witty and delivered some of the greatest one - liners, not only for Dominic but to the story as well. Also, wanted to be a strict and harsh businesswoman at work, but at home she just wanted some closeness and warmth. I love such characters, full of opposites. Her whole world was in order, the wedding planning went sooo well, and then came Joe... Straight from California, the dream boy, and what a great first impression, mmm... This golden boy is probably going to put Rosie's world upside down, what with her neatness and his chaos, her exact approach to life and his carpe diem... Oh, how much I liked him winding Rosie up a little!
As the story progresses, Rosie and Joe find not only that they can work together but, as the fate throws them in one flat, that they can personally also go together and it was great to see how - and if - their relationship develops, how much it changes and how much they both change.
All the other characters were just popping out of the pages, no matter if they were the brides - to - be or Rosie's boss Laurence with his endless suffering. They are all quirky and charming, but also some of them very unfriendly, at first I only had no idea what Helen sees in her boyfriend but then have started to expect that Rosie's Dominic is up to no good. I don't know if all people connected to chefs and food in general are so arrogant and thinking so big about themselves? High five Rosie for your revenge on Dominic, who was arrogant, shallow and boring.
And I absolutely enjoyed the brides - to - be and their mother, some of them real bridezillas, some of them so reasonable, but didn't Joe have a point when he asked what about the grooms? Where are they? Don't they have anything to say about their own wedding? The descriptions of the weddings were also absolutely brilliant, with all their mishaps and insubordinate family members, and how great Rosie managed with all of the problems.
The book is written in this characteristic Hester's writing style but I would say that each of her books is written in a more modern way than the previous one, which is absolutely not a problem for me. Hester has this brilliant, specific sense of humour which comes out through her characters and their dialogues, which are more than often witty and ironic.
Altogether, "The Honeymoon Hotel" is the next jackpot from Hester Browne and if you haven't read her book yet I would say, go and treat yourself to a copy or two. This book is the best example of how Hester writes and how great a storyteller she is. It has the right pace, it is full of twists and turns and Hester is not afraid to drop a very unexpected bomb or two on us, and together with her sense of humour it is a very entertaining read. The descriptions of the hotel and its history are great, as well as the charming characters and I can't see any lows in this book. It's a warm, sweet novel that leaves you feeling better and it's for sure a read with a heart - warming factor. I really do hope that Hester will be back soon with her next great book.
Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.
May 14, 2021
I love Hester Browne’s books but this one was, definitely, my least favorite of hers. Although it was well written, it was just waaaay too long. The book is exactly 450 pages long, but you know by page 57 who Rosie’s going to end up with in the end ... that leaves almost 400 pages of fluff to wade through until she finally (fiiiinally!) does. If this book would have been half it’s size, I would’ve easily given it 5 stars ... but, because it was so unnecessarily long, I feel like I wasted my time and am only giving it 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2024
First, reading in a British accent is hard to keep up with BUT worth it for the story. Second, after reading modern romances, I was pleasantly surprised with the way this slow burn, enemies to lovers story played out. I thought that yes it was slow but it reminded me a lot of a movie, where the best scenes are in the last 20 minutes. Gorgeous setting and also a relatable main character. Highly recommend for a more classic romance vibe that plays out like a movie!!
January 24, 2021
Honeymoon Hotel is about an events planner, Rosie, who plans LOTS of weddings at the Bonneville Hotel. One day she’s told that the owner’s son is being tasked with planning the weddings with her. Sparks fly, there’s some character development, etc. In my opinion the book was too long for the story, and everything happened so slowly.
January 15, 2021
I read this book in bits in pieces over a couple of years in between other books. I read the ending first, so I think I was less motivated to finish it having already learned how it ended, lol. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable read - a look at life "behind the scenes" at a London hotel through the eyes of Rosie the events planner.
November 6, 2014
Firstly a massive thank you to Quercus for approving me for a review copy of this novel via NetGalley. It’s the first of Hester Browne’s novels that I’ve read but it certainly won’t be the last!
I want to start out by saying I truly loved this story. There are some books I read where I think yeah I would swap places with her and this is definitely one of them.
The story starts off with a prologue where there is a wedding in the process of being jilted although it wasn’t entirely clear who was being jilted and what our main character’s part was in this wedding but it sets the tone for the rest of the novel which is weddings, weddings, weddings!
I found Rosie’s character really easy to like and relate to right from the beginning of the story. She’s just a normal girl doing her best to fulfill her goals in life, to settle down with the right man and get that promotion she’s after. A girl after my own heart – particularly the promotion as I already have the right man! I love reading stories where you get thrown into this great glamorous rich world and get to pretend you’re part of an elite circle but when you get a character where you can truly imagine yourself in their shoes there is something special about it. I felt that in this story.
The name of the story kind of gives the game away in terms of the plot. It’s a hotel renowned for its classic elegance and glamour favoured by the rich and famous for its discretion and luxury and I loved that Rosie was trying to bring all that the hotel is famous for back into its modern day life. I really enjoyed Rosie’s job and felt like I would love to just step in as her assistant and learn the ropes it all sounded so exciting and although stressful, worthwhile. I would especially love to step into her assistant’s shoes if Joe was still her intern!
Joe. What can I say about Joe? He’s a bit of an idiot. To begin with anyway Joe has a total hippy, love the world be happy vibe going on and his relaxed attitude towards crisis prevention and bride management are not congruent with Rosie’s ideas. I loved the friction it created between them and the underlying chemistry that substantiated it. I always kind of felt like I was rooting for those two to get together and was constantly waiting for that first spark to light the match.
I loved the witty writing in the novel with the dry humour from Rosie towards her situation with handling Joe and the brides and I whipped through this story because I enjoyed it so much! I am definitely on the lookout for more from Hester Browne now!
I want to start out by saying I truly loved this story. There are some books I read where I think yeah I would swap places with her and this is definitely one of them.
The story starts off with a prologue where there is a wedding in the process of being jilted although it wasn’t entirely clear who was being jilted and what our main character’s part was in this wedding but it sets the tone for the rest of the novel which is weddings, weddings, weddings!
I found Rosie’s character really easy to like and relate to right from the beginning of the story. She’s just a normal girl doing her best to fulfill her goals in life, to settle down with the right man and get that promotion she’s after. A girl after my own heart – particularly the promotion as I already have the right man! I love reading stories where you get thrown into this great glamorous rich world and get to pretend you’re part of an elite circle but when you get a character where you can truly imagine yourself in their shoes there is something special about it. I felt that in this story.
The name of the story kind of gives the game away in terms of the plot. It’s a hotel renowned for its classic elegance and glamour favoured by the rich and famous for its discretion and luxury and I loved that Rosie was trying to bring all that the hotel is famous for back into its modern day life. I really enjoyed Rosie’s job and felt like I would love to just step in as her assistant and learn the ropes it all sounded so exciting and although stressful, worthwhile. I would especially love to step into her assistant’s shoes if Joe was still her intern!
Joe. What can I say about Joe? He’s a bit of an idiot. To begin with anyway Joe has a total hippy, love the world be happy vibe going on and his relaxed attitude towards crisis prevention and bride management are not congruent with Rosie’s ideas. I loved the friction it created between them and the underlying chemistry that substantiated it. I always kind of felt like I was rooting for those two to get together and was constantly waiting for that first spark to light the match.
I loved the witty writing in the novel with the dry humour from Rosie towards her situation with handling Joe and the brides and I whipped through this story because I enjoyed it so much! I am definitely on the lookout for more from Hester Browne now!
August 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, even though it was fairly obvious what would happen in the end.
I found it's setting of the London hospitality sector fascinating and loved the description of the highly-strung characters.
An excellent relaxing read.
I found it's setting of the London hospitality sector fascinating and loved the description of the highly-strung characters.
An excellent relaxing read.
October 13, 2014
I always look forward to reading a book by Hester Browne. The characters have depth, interesting plots and they are fun.
This one was a bit more serious than some of the others. Rosie is very career focused (not that there is anything wrong with that) and it would seem is so focused so she doesn't have to think about things in the past that have hurt her or get involved in her own life.
I liked all the interactions with the brides planning their weddings, the preparations, her ideas of the right and wrong way of doing things and how she grows throughout the story.
I should add if you are looking for a steamy romance, you won't find it here or in any of her books. I'd almost say these are more of the Jane Austen style of romance/plot, not that they are old-fashioned. There isn't lots of bed hopping, etc. These are more stories of how people get to know each other and fall in love, not lust.
The only reason this gets a four instead of five is that the love wasn't really built up enough. It comes as a shock to Rosie and since this is first person I guess then we shouldn't be able to see it, but some hints along the way would have made it more believable. That's a minor quibble though.
All in all, I recommend any of Hester Browne's books, including this one. Fun read.
This one was a bit more serious than some of the others. Rosie is very career focused (not that there is anything wrong with that) and it would seem is so focused so she doesn't have to think about things in the past that have hurt her or get involved in her own life.
I liked all the interactions with the brides planning their weddings, the preparations, her ideas of the right and wrong way of doing things and how she grows throughout the story.
I should add if you are looking for a steamy romance, you won't find it here or in any of her books. I'd almost say these are more of the Jane Austen style of romance/plot, not that they are old-fashioned. There isn't lots of bed hopping, etc. These are more stories of how people get to know each other and fall in love, not lust.
The only reason this gets a four instead of five is that the love wasn't really built up enough. It comes as a shock to Rosie and since this is first person I guess then we shouldn't be able to see it, but some hints along the way would have made it more believable. That's a minor quibble though.
All in all, I recommend any of Hester Browne's books, including this one. Fun read.
September 16, 2014
Hester Browne has done it again--the perfect chick-lit, Valentine flick of a book to bring a smile to your face and a warm glow inside. Rosie works as event-planner (mostly weddings) at the hotel she's practically grown up in. Her own love life needs a bit of help, though. And she's starting to treat her entire life as a gigantic to-do list. Can the arrival of the boss's son revive her heart along with her competitiveness, or will her world be as wobbly as a croquembouche tower? With a nod to foodies as well as the hospitality industry, Browne puts her own spin on the "opposites attract" theme. There's also a reading group guide at the end. Miss Em recommends saying "I do," to this one. Especially for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Katie Fforde, Christina Jones, et al.
(I received an e-galley for review from the publisher and Netgalley.)
(I received an e-galley for review from the publisher and Netgalley.)
December 10, 2014
Cute book but a bit too long for the topic in my opinion. It didn't help that I took almost an entire week off from reading it while I was on vacation where I had no time to read except on the Ereader.
October 19, 2014
I only gave this 3 stars, as maybe a bit snobbish of me...it's not up there with one of the worlds best books. I did however thoroughly enjoy it. Great holiday read. Light, fun, Chick Lit. Just bury your head and enjoy
July 18, 2017
Our heroine is rather wimpy and wet. Has been in the same job for years and seems to lack any ambition at all (not that this would matter if happy in a job).
The plot is fairly obvious. The love interest totally obvious. Then ending predictable. Just not really good enough.
The plot is fairly obvious. The love interest totally obvious. Then ending predictable. Just not really good enough.
October 8, 2014
i do love british chick lit :)
September 27, 2014
Hester Browne never disappoints. Thank you for giving me three delightful days of happy reading, Ms. Browne. More please, of course!
Happy siiiiigh......
Happy siiiiigh......
November 5, 2014
Cute but needed more interaction between love interests to make their relationship potential actually believable.
October 20, 2014
For what it is, a chick lit, it is a good one. More of a 3.5. The characters were lovable, but it was a bit slower than I liked.
December 3, 2015
Certainly slow to start and overall, not as entertaining as the other books she's written.
February 4, 2016
Fluffy. Chick lit.
March 25, 2025
4.5
The second half is really 5 stars
The second half is really 5 stars
May 1, 2018
I think this book ranks as a guilty pleasure; it is everything you should dislike about a book, full of cliches and tried and tested tropes but in Hester Browne's hands they feel fresh, new and invented just for this book. The setting itself, The Bonneville Hotel, is exquisite and you can almost smell the beeswax and lavender polish that I am pretty sure they use to buff up the banister of the sweeping staircase - oh, how I want to visit! You would think that constant references to "Hollywood Glamour" and of the building as being a "Grand Old Lady" would irk, but somehow they don't, they just help you inhabit this fictitious setting and make you understand just why Rosie is so devoted to the place. Strange really, I think I loved the hotel more than the people the tale purports to be about.
The characters are realistic and full of personal quirks and foibles that help you to understand them as living and breathing people not just words on the page. I think we all know a hypochondriac like Laurence (if you don't - newsflash - it's you), we understand Joe's reluctance to take on the family heritage and Rosie's sheer dedication to perfection for their events. I didn't really like Rosie as a person, and found myself agreeing with Joe early in the book that she was far too controlling and that her approach to Wedding's in particular was formulaic and didn't allow for individuality. Even though she annoyed me I did warm to her, a bit like a work colleague that drives you up the wall but you know they are ultimately harmless but they just don't really get "it".
The plot of the story is Rosie getting out of a dull relationship and falling in love with a capital L and has plenty of pratfalls along the way. To be honest that did little for me but the day to day events in her chaotic personal and professional lives is told with such verve you do get sucked in. Whilst not laugh out loud funny there is a warm, dry wit here that really does entertain and keep you reading. For once I can see how a book would translate to the screen and this would make a really good chick flick for date night - enough goofiness for the blokes and just enough romance for a starry-eyed girl to enjoy (definitely think early Sandra Bullock).
A couple of times I did find myself thinking "just one more chapter" so you know it can't be all bad. There was also a lot of sighing when I had to stop reading to go to work so it is definitely immersive and I can honestly state is is an awful lot of fun.
The characters are realistic and full of personal quirks and foibles that help you to understand them as living and breathing people not just words on the page. I think we all know a hypochondriac like Laurence (if you don't - newsflash - it's you), we understand Joe's reluctance to take on the family heritage and Rosie's sheer dedication to perfection for their events. I didn't really like Rosie as a person, and found myself agreeing with Joe early in the book that she was far too controlling and that her approach to Wedding's in particular was formulaic and didn't allow for individuality. Even though she annoyed me I did warm to her, a bit like a work colleague that drives you up the wall but you know they are ultimately harmless but they just don't really get "it".
The plot of the story is Rosie getting out of a dull relationship and falling in love with a capital L and has plenty of pratfalls along the way. To be honest that did little for me but the day to day events in her chaotic personal and professional lives is told with such verve you do get sucked in. Whilst not laugh out loud funny there is a warm, dry wit here that really does entertain and keep you reading. For once I can see how a book would translate to the screen and this would make a really good chick flick for date night - enough goofiness for the blokes and just enough romance for a starry-eyed girl to enjoy (definitely think early Sandra Bullock).
A couple of times I did find myself thinking "just one more chapter" so you know it can't be all bad. There was also a lot of sighing when I had to stop reading to go to work so it is definitely immersive and I can honestly state is is an awful lot of fun.
October 9, 2023
I love novels about events managers and/or wedding planners, having worked as one for years. Hospitality and romance... it can totally happen, and it doesn't always end in disaster (hubs and i are proof; and my former events assistant is now engaged to a lighting designer with whom we worked on several major fundraisers)! Hester Browne is one of my favorite British chick lit authors, and she manages to quite realistically portray the strange magic of 14 hour days, managing weird bridal meltdowns, finagling stacks and stacks of favors and breakables, the unscheduled drop-ins during your busiest office hours + when the venue is in absolute disarray because no one was meant to be around "just to see the space again," horrific surprises by unscrupulous members of the bridal party, BOH issues with distribution, emotionally stunted and badly behaved executive chefs, that odd zen-like calm that comes along with completing data entry in one of your zillion trusty-dusty spreadsheets or trackers ... it's like a little wander down memory lane, only better, because Mother-of-the-Bridezillas and alphabetizing placecards are now a thing of my professional past. I saw some reviews that said Browne included some "over the top" moments that seemed "unreal" and guffawed. My lords and ladies, nothing brings out the weird like a wedding. You would not believe the stuff your wedding vendors have seen. 😅😅
December 21, 2024
Rosie is an events planner for the luxurious Bonneville Hotel in Mayfair, England. One of the most famous hotel in London, where many stars came to celebrate their marriage. And that's Rosie big challenge for Rosie: organizing many weddings, thinking about all the details, and the unexpected things that can happen. When her boss's son, Joe, comes to help his father at the hotel, Rosie is upset. Joe is an eccentric man, and he doesn't believe in love.
It's a romantic comedy, with lots of love, arguments, disappointments, and friendships. The atmosphere is nice and light. But the love story is totally predictable. A working girl who meets a lazy man… two disappointed lovers with nothing in common… but despite of all, I enjoyed seeing the feelings grow between these two. But I would had like more dynamism in the story, because I got the impression that there weren't many things happening, and when they did, they happened very slowly.
A romantic comedy, with lots of weddings, lots of love, and positive vibes. After finishing this book, I want to travel to this Bonneville Hotel.
It's a romantic comedy, with lots of love, arguments, disappointments, and friendships. The atmosphere is nice and light. But the love story is totally predictable. A working girl who meets a lazy man… two disappointed lovers with nothing in common… but despite of all, I enjoyed seeing the feelings grow between these two. But I would had like more dynamism in the story, because I got the impression that there weren't many things happening, and when they did, they happened very slowly.
A romantic comedy, with lots of weddings, lots of love, and positive vibes. After finishing this book, I want to travel to this Bonneville Hotel.
January 26, 2018
Picked it up because of the lovely cover (it was pink) and I think event planners and wedding planners are cool. I would say it focuses a LOT in the wedding and the hotel. The story starts with Rosie had a fiancee that vanished just before the wedding start, and now she has a boyfriend who writes critics about restaurateurs. Their interaction basically around trying different restaurants (for the reviews) and at the later part, her boyfriend said they should mortgage a bigger flat (that's where they interact a bit more). Later they dramatically broke up and Rosie has feelings with the boss's son who is helping her.
For the personalities, yes, Hester presented the main characters quite well. But not much about how does the romance really start, like the boss's son didn't show much that he might like Rosie, or when exactly or what happen why Rosie would have feelings on him, it's all very rough.
For the personalities, yes, Hester presented the main characters quite well. But not much about how does the romance really start, like the boss's son didn't show much that he might like Rosie, or when exactly or what happen why Rosie would have feelings on him, it's all very rough.
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