Wedding Bells

by Olivia Porter

Chelsea Boston hasn’t been home in two years. She’s been successfully avoiding the high expectations set by her perfect, older sister Kate. A last minute spring break trip to Florida changes that and her life in the process. There, she meets Maverick—a former marine with a soft spot for the ocean and an internal struggle to return to the service.Chelsea knows the key to not getting her heart broken is to remain hidden and to not fall for anyone. But over the course of the week, between playful assaults and the freedom he gives her to be herself, Chelsea finds herself falling for the one person who could break her heart the hardest.But Chelsea is still in school and Mavericks engaged….to her sister. A bombshell of a truth discovered during an awkward family breakfast when Chelsea is forced to once again return home for the summer.Chelsea figures if she’s going to survive this summer at home and her sister’s surprise wedding at the end of August, she has to pretend nothing ever happened between her and Maverick. But that’s easier said than done when the last night from spring break keeps coming back to haunt her.Can she make it through the summer or will the sound of Wedding Bells be too much for the both of them?

404 pages, Paperback

Published February 13, 2024

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but it would have benefitted from a dual perspective.
So many instances where I really wanted to know what the MMC was thinking.

[kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

i got this book in a subscription box and i was really skeptical with the cover, but after that first chapter… i was hooked. loved it and i personally believe that this story was written so well. there’s so many books coming out and i feel like the effort and care isn’t there. ughhh… i felt feelings. i laughed, screamed, and maybe even teared up a bit. olivia, girl, you actually put your heart into this. many chef kisses to you.

[Shannon Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Fell in love with this story right away!

Definitely a great read. I fell in love with this story right away, the characters were written so well I felt like I was there with them. Beautiful love story. It was so hard to put down only because ya know life! Can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

[Ashley Forrester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg sooooo good!!!!

This book had me laughing, crying, raging at my kindle ready to throw it into a wall, and the characters are so absolutely PERFECT!!! I absolutely loved this book and look forward to anything else Olivia Porter has to release!! Seriously, such an amazing book!!!

[Anne Marko · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when your spring break hookup you think about all the time end up being your sisters fiancée? This book. The characters in this book were so well written, and I don’t even feel bad for the sister because she was a class a B. The only thing that bugged me in this book are the flashback chapters that were super hard to read because they were all in italics.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute dual timeline contemporary romance by a debut author (who happened to be a former student of my sister). Definitely a bright future for this author and I look forward to future novels.

Trigger warnings: cheating and emotional abuse.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A romance story with twists and turns along the way! This debut novel was one I wish I had packed in my bag for a beach vacation. Complex character traits and relationships; nostalgic feel with two time frames woven throughout. Spring break & weddings are stories I enjoy reading!

[Janelle Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing debut novel

I absolutely loved this book!!! I fell in love with the characters immediately. The writer did a great job at describing everything and making you feel connected. I’m highly looking forward to more books by Olivia Porter! Well done!

[Courtney Monreal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Good character development and storyline. Back stories made you find a deeper connection with the characters.definitely worth a read if you love romance drama novels

[Jessica Register · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wedding Bells has a great story line. Would have loved a little more story line of the past (spring brake) but over all a cute love story.

[Alyssa Cassetta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very very very slow read

[Teresa Moorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written debuted novel. I am hoping for another!

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wedding Bells was a great story with so much emotion and I was hooked right from the start!
I really liked the dual timeline. It was well written and easy to follow and it effectively connects the past to the present. The narrative gives the reader a deeper understanding of the bond between Maverick and Chelsea. Even though there is a cheating element to their story, it was hard not to develop a strong connection to the characters.
Olivia Porter was able to evoke a wide range of emotions and get you to emphasize with their struggles. I look forward to reading more of her books!

[MaryBeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed me in from the beginning. It has a dual plot lot which connects the past events to present day. I liked Porter’s ability to manage the plot lines so clearly and cleanly. You always knew which plot you were following and why.

Introduce the main character Chelsea. Feels like the outcast or black sheep of the family because she’s not an Ivy League student like her spotlight sister. Chelsea moves to school in Chicago to escape being in her sister’s shadow. During spring break Chelsea sneaks home to her home state of Florida to spend some time with her best friend Abby to escape and reset.

Enter Maverick. The sexy heartthrob who steals the entire book. A Marine who is trying to live a normal civilian life with his friends after assimilating back into civilian life. Engaged to a woman who doesn’t want him to re-enlist and his friends think is no good for Maverick. She is trying to keep him from being his true self.

After a well placed “bad throw” of a football, Chelsea and Maverick meet during Spring Break and sparks fly but he’s engaged. After some serious flirting, mistakes happen and things must never be discussed again. Chelsea goes home, Maverick moves on and that’s the end…right???

Fast forward to summer break, Chelsea goes home to Florida only to meet with her family for breakfast. Her sister has some big news, she’s engaged. Moments later in walks her fiancé, Lukas, or better known to Chelsea as Maverick. 😳

Porter does a great job as showing the internal struggles of Chelsea helping her sister plan the wedding of her and Lukas/Maverick. The tensions between the three, and the painstaking realities that they all must face. This book had “27 Dresses” overbearing bridezilla vibes meets the internal struggles between friends who can’t be more but want to be more like CoHo’s Maybe Someday. This book was a great read, hard to put down and an amazing first for this author. I hope to read more from her in the future.