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A Revved-Up Romance #1
Always a Bridesmaid
Bridesmaid for hire Jane Drisdol juggles hundreds of weddings a year, not including dress fittings, engagement parties, and bridal showers, she's mastered the art of blending into the bridal landscape, but her latest gig poses a unique challenge. She is hired to play the role of Elle Vaughn—socialite, debutant, and the bride’s childhood friend. And if there is one thing Jane has mastered it’s the ability to play a part if it means making others happy. The only problem is that Jane bumps into the bride’s sexy and infuriating brother at the airport—while not in disguise.
Formula 1 superstar, Henry Norris, has made a career out of trusting his gut while driving at a steady three-hundred kilometers per hour. From the moment Elle sets foot in the wedding festivities, Henry’s suspicions and more personal parts are piqued. He can't quite put his finger on it, but something about this beautiful and brash bridesmaid doesn't add up. She is the opposite of the kind of person his sister associates with: opinionated, smart mouthed, stubborn and, at least with him, snooty. With everyone else, she is the perfect bridesmaid.
As Jane weaves her way through bridal showers, wine tastings, and Formula 1 events, Henry becomes increasingly determined to uncover the truth. Yet, with every question he throws her way, the sexy socialite effortlessly spins a web of plausible explanations, leaving Henry both frustrated and intrigued and all revved up.
Despite their initial clashes, sparks fly between Jane and Henry, igniting a chemistry that is too turbocharged to be denied. But as the wedding day draws near, Jane's web of lies threatens to unravel, and she must confront the truth before it's too late. Will they cross the finish line or is this relationship too turbulent to navigate?
.
Formula 1 superstar, Henry Norris, has made a career out of trusting his gut while driving at a steady three-hundred kilometers per hour. From the moment Elle sets foot in the wedding festivities, Henry’s suspicions and more personal parts are piqued. He can't quite put his finger on it, but something about this beautiful and brash bridesmaid doesn't add up. She is the opposite of the kind of person his sister associates with: opinionated, smart mouthed, stubborn and, at least with him, snooty. With everyone else, she is the perfect bridesmaid.
As Jane weaves her way through bridal showers, wine tastings, and Formula 1 events, Henry becomes increasingly determined to uncover the truth. Yet, with every question he throws her way, the sexy socialite effortlessly spins a web of plausible explanations, leaving Henry both frustrated and intrigued and all revved up.
Despite their initial clashes, sparks fly between Jane and Henry, igniting a chemistry that is too turbocharged to be denied. But as the wedding day draws near, Jane's web of lies threatens to unravel, and she must confront the truth before it's too late. Will they cross the finish line or is this relationship too turbulent to navigate?
.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2024
144 people are currently reading
1852 people want to read
About the author
Marina Adair
39 books1,940 followersMarina Adair is a New York Times author whose fun, flirty contemporary romances have sold over a million copies. She has hit #1 overall in Amazon Kindle Paid and her St. Helena Vineyard series was optioned and made into the original Hallmark Channel Vineyard movies: Autumn in the Vineyard, Summer in the Vineyard, and Valentines in the Vineyard. Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a MFA from San Jose University and currently lives in Northern California with her husband, daughter, and two neurotic cats. Please visit her online at MarinaAdair.com and sign up for her newsletter at www.MarinaAdair.com/newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
September 3, 2024
'27 Dresses' meets 'The Wedding Date'
Not overanalyzing it.
It was short, hot, cute, cheezy & cringy.
- The sister was annoying.
- Lying.
- Car accident and death of a parent.
------------------------------
September 3rd: Happy audio release date!
Not overanalyzing it.
It was short, hot, cute, cheezy & cringy.
- The sister was annoying.
- Lying.
- Car accident and death of a parent.
------------------------------
September 3rd: Happy audio release date!
September 3, 2024
Always a Bridesmaid by Marina Adair
A Revved-Up Romance series #1. Contemporary sports related romance.
Jane Drisdol is a Bridesmaid for Hire. She owns a company that allows a bride to hire someone to stand in and help organize a wedding from within the bridal party. Jane has been hired to pretend to be a specific socialite at a wedding in England, a long time friend of the bride. After an unfortunate squabble with a pushy male at the airport, Janet finds out he is the brother of the bride and one of the main people that’s she’s supposed to fool with the socialite identity. Jane is used to performing, so spins story and after story to keep Henry Norris from guessing what’s going on. He’s used to fast cars and fancy women as a Formula One driver living in Monaco but Jane has him tied up in knots. Something about her just doesn’t add up and for every question he asks, she’s able to spin another explanation. Henry is both frustrated and revved up.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook of this story which is narrated by by Rachel L Jacobs. There are specific and discernible voices for the male and female leads as well as the bride. Emotions such as anger, annoyance, and passion can be clearly heard as the story progresses. I feel like the audio version of this story is able to bring the characters alive.
I listened at my usual speed of 1.5 to more closely match my reading and talking patterns.
Fun concept and story idea. I enjoyed the conflicts between Jane and Henry because you could hear the underlying flirting between the two. There was more attraction than either of them could hide.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
A Revved-Up Romance series #1. Contemporary sports related romance.
Jane Drisdol is a Bridesmaid for Hire. She owns a company that allows a bride to hire someone to stand in and help organize a wedding from within the bridal party. Jane has been hired to pretend to be a specific socialite at a wedding in England, a long time friend of the bride. After an unfortunate squabble with a pushy male at the airport, Janet finds out he is the brother of the bride and one of the main people that’s she’s supposed to fool with the socialite identity. Jane is used to performing, so spins story and after story to keep Henry Norris from guessing what’s going on. He’s used to fast cars and fancy women as a Formula One driver living in Monaco but Jane has him tied up in knots. Something about her just doesn’t add up and for every question he asks, she’s able to spin another explanation. Henry is both frustrated and revved up.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook of this story which is narrated by by Rachel L Jacobs. There are specific and discernible voices for the male and female leads as well as the bride. Emotions such as anger, annoyance, and passion can be clearly heard as the story progresses. I feel like the audio version of this story is able to bring the characters alive.
I listened at my usual speed of 1.5 to more closely match my reading and talking patterns.
Fun concept and story idea. I enjoyed the conflicts between Jane and Henry because you could hear the underlying flirting between the two. There was more attraction than either of them could hide.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
May 25, 2025
Não o classificaria como um “romance de fórmula 1” – ele é só um piloto de fórmula 1 mas, na verdade, o livro passa-se todo durante o casamento – mas é muito fofo! Gostei muito
May 16, 2025
Este é um dos exemplos do porque de gostar de livros grandes.
Adorei as personagens, adorei a história e a premissa, mas foi tudo tão rápido, demasiado, queria mais tensão mais partes sem ser só do casal mais páginas em geral.
De qualquer forma recomendo principalmente para quem quer um livro rápido de ler e fofo.
Adorei as personagens, adorei a história e a premissa, mas foi tudo tão rápido, demasiado, queria mais tensão mais partes sem ser só do casal mais páginas em geral.
De qualquer forma recomendo principalmente para quem quer um livro rápido de ler e fofo.
May 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.15
um pouco mal escrito/ traduzido idk, mas super recomendo para um romance rápido. btw não se iludam isto não é um romance de fórmula 1 visto que só se passa num casamento e não nas pistas
um pouco mal escrito/ traduzido idk, mas super recomendo para um romance rápido. btw não se iludam isto não é um romance de fórmula 1 visto que só se passa num casamento e não nas pistas
August 30, 2024
Always a Bridesmaid was a fluffy, sweet, and easy listen that fit perfectly in the steamy rom-com category. I had a delightful time listening to it! 😍
Plot-wise, the story includes all the classic dynamics you'd expect from a rom-com, but the author did a fantastic job of using clever twists to keep things fresh.
For example, the book has a significant miscommunication element, but it’s handled much better than usual. The female main character (FMC), Jane, is an undercover bridesmaid who has signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and is legally bound not to share certain aspects of her life. This context makes the miscommunication more understandable and less frustrating than in most books.
Jane was a fierce, sexy, and loyal protagonist. I liked her a lot! 🔥 Harry Norris was the perfect book boyfriend—charming, attractive, and British. 🇬🇧 And let's not forget that he’s named Harry and is a Formula 1 driver with the surname Norris—double check! ✔️✔️ His vibe was consistently spot-on, and I was really disappointed that the audiobook didn’t have a male voice actor to represent him.
However, the book is written in the third person, and while I generally enjoy a multiple POV narrative and don’t mind third-person chapters, this time I would have preferred it to be solely from Jane’s perspective. At least that way, the voice would feel more fitting. 🤔
The voice actress did an excellent job, delivering a splendid British accent, but I really wished there had been a male narrator for Harry’s chapters to bring his character to life more vividly. 🎧
Overall, Always a Bridesmaid was a fun and lighthearted listen, perfect for fans of steamy romantic comedies who are looking for an easy and enjoyable story! 💕
Plot-wise, the story includes all the classic dynamics you'd expect from a rom-com, but the author did a fantastic job of using clever twists to keep things fresh.
For example, the book has a significant miscommunication element, but it’s handled much better than usual. The female main character (FMC), Jane, is an undercover bridesmaid who has signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and is legally bound not to share certain aspects of her life. This context makes the miscommunication more understandable and less frustrating than in most books.
Jane was a fierce, sexy, and loyal protagonist. I liked her a lot! 🔥 Harry Norris was the perfect book boyfriend—charming, attractive, and British. 🇬🇧 And let's not forget that he’s named Harry and is a Formula 1 driver with the surname Norris—double check! ✔️✔️ His vibe was consistently spot-on, and I was really disappointed that the audiobook didn’t have a male voice actor to represent him.
However, the book is written in the third person, and while I generally enjoy a multiple POV narrative and don’t mind third-person chapters, this time I would have preferred it to be solely from Jane’s perspective. At least that way, the voice would feel more fitting. 🤔
The voice actress did an excellent job, delivering a splendid British accent, but I really wished there had been a male narrator for Harry’s chapters to bring his character to life more vividly. 🎧
Overall, Always a Bridesmaid was a fun and lighthearted listen, perfect for fans of steamy romantic comedies who are looking for an easy and enjoyable story! 💕
September 29, 2024
Always a Bridesmaid - Marina Adair
Jane is a bridesmaid for hire. She plays whatever role the bride deems for her. The bride has her take on the persona of a friend who isn’t attending the wedding, Elle Vaughn, a socialite, but she bumps into the bride's brother at the airport and is out of character, she finds herself scrambling to keep Jane and Elle separate and to stay away from dashing Henry…
Henry is a formula 1 driver so his fame outshines everything in his path but he doesn’t want his celebrity status to outshine his sister's big day. Jane has to keep everything simple and calm for the bride but it gets harder and harder the more time she spends around Henry, the sparks FLY and I am so here all day for that.
It’s really quite adorable and I love quirky books like this. Jane is awesome and being a bridesmaid for hire… SO COOL!! I am a bit of a fan of insta love too. I’m a serious romantic. If you like HEA with the rich hot guy… You will lurve this one.
4 stars
Jane is a bridesmaid for hire. She plays whatever role the bride deems for her. The bride has her take on the persona of a friend who isn’t attending the wedding, Elle Vaughn, a socialite, but she bumps into the bride's brother at the airport and is out of character, she finds herself scrambling to keep Jane and Elle separate and to stay away from dashing Henry…
Henry is a formula 1 driver so his fame outshines everything in his path but he doesn’t want his celebrity status to outshine his sister's big day. Jane has to keep everything simple and calm for the bride but it gets harder and harder the more time she spends around Henry, the sparks FLY and I am so here all day for that.
It’s really quite adorable and I love quirky books like this. Jane is awesome and being a bridesmaid for hire… SO COOL!! I am a bit of a fan of insta love too. I’m a serious romantic. If you like HEA with the rich hot guy… You will lurve this one.
4 stars
September 12, 2024
This man has more red flags than a carnival.
Henry Norris is an F1 heartthrob and a protective older brother. When Jane sweeps into his life the week of his sister’s wedding posing as Elle Vaughn, Sarah’s longtime pen-pal best friend that he’s never met, a switch flips. The once commitment-phobic Henry falls head over heels for Jane.
This is the root of my frustration with this book. Henry is against relationships at the start of the novel. All he is interested in is a short fling that he can abandon at the end of the wedding week. For that to change, all that happened was him spotting the back of our FMC, Jane, in a crowd and he already began dialing up the possessiveness in his inner monologue.
This insta-love gets progressively worse throughout the novel, with Henry telling Jane after their first rendezvous that “this was more than a hookup.” Seriously? The author wants us to believe that Mr. Playboy who famously Doesn't Do Relationships™️ is fully smitten after having a quickie in a random person’s office (ew…RIP that person’s desk). I’m sorry, I’m not buying it. Adair’s entire character work on Henry up until this point is completely undermined with that singular line of dialogue. At every turn, she sabotages her own writing.
Here’s another example. Adair has us believing that Henry is sweet, if a bit rough around the edges with his protectiveness toward the people he loves. He grew up as the sole boy in a house full of women and he will cater to them at every turn, regardless of the snide remarks he gets from his friends about it. This guy sounds great, right? He’s not afraid of other men’s jeers about “losing his man card” (this is ACTUALLY something one of his “friends” tells him) for doing something as wholesome as supporting the women he loves.
Unfortunately, underneath the protective, sweet older brother mask lies a violent abuser.
After Henry and Jane have sex for the first time, they get into a fight and part ways poorly. The next time they see each other, she’s at an F1 event alongside the rest of his family. Do you want to know what sets off a jealous, violent rampage? Jane bought some merch and puts it on. Lo and behold, she’s wearing Henry’s teammate's shirt — not his. In a blind rage, he grabs a shirt with his number on it, bangs violently on the bathroom door where she's hiding, and says he'll kick down the door if she doesn't open it. She opens it, giving into his threat, and he tells her to change into the shirt he's holding or he'll remove her shirt and put it on for her. He literally says to put it on, “or I will rip that thing off your fucking body and put this on myself.”
Dear reader, is this the tone of a loving, sweet protector? Or a violent, jealous abuser? The fact that Adair writes Jane in this scene as being turned on by his threats is absolutely fucking insane. I paused the audiobook, took a breath, and wondered what the fuck I was reading. Is this a romcom or a cautionary tale?
This next paragraph has a spoiler for how the HEA plays out. Once all of the conflicts have been resolved, Henry proposes to Jane in the epilogue after ONE MONTH of dating. ONE MONTH. Someone give Jane DV resources, STAT, because this feels like love bombing and I fear, given Henry’s violent tendencies thus far, that it’s not a stretch to assume things will only escalate. The fact that he’s already pushing for babies in the epilogue the night of their wedding is more harrowing than heartwarming.
🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
Red flags aside, the writing itself was cringe pretty much all the way through. When Henry and Jane hook up for the first time, Henry’s internal monologue has such stunning turns of phrase as:
“She rode his hand so hard he was certain she’d break it.”
And:
“His dick went impossibly hard, so hard he was certain it would break.”
What’s with all the broken bone[r]s??? If things are breaking, I think you’re doing it wrong. Jesus fucking Christ, he was acting like Jane could do kegels more powerful than Rosalie Cullen. Now, there’s someone who could break his hand.
But I digress.
This was bad and I’m tired. I wanted so much for this to be the fun riff on a classic (27 Dresses) and, instead, it was disappointing, scary, and cringe.
Overall Rating: 1 star.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Rachel L. Jacobs did the best she could with what she was given. Honestly, at times, her line delivery saved some of the cringier sentences from sounding even worse. She was a shining light in this pit of darkness.
A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Dreamscape Media, for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Henry Norris is an F1 heartthrob and a protective older brother. When Jane sweeps into his life the week of his sister’s wedding posing as Elle Vaughn, Sarah’s longtime pen-pal best friend that he’s never met, a switch flips. The once commitment-phobic Henry falls head over heels for Jane.
This is the root of my frustration with this book. Henry is against relationships at the start of the novel. All he is interested in is a short fling that he can abandon at the end of the wedding week. For that to change, all that happened was him spotting the back of our FMC, Jane, in a crowd and he already began dialing up the possessiveness in his inner monologue.
This insta-love gets progressively worse throughout the novel, with Henry telling Jane after their first rendezvous that “this was more than a hookup.” Seriously? The author wants us to believe that Mr. Playboy who famously Doesn't Do Relationships™️ is fully smitten after having a quickie in a random person’s office (ew…RIP that person’s desk). I’m sorry, I’m not buying it. Adair’s entire character work on Henry up until this point is completely undermined with that singular line of dialogue. At every turn, she sabotages her own writing.
Here’s another example. Adair has us believing that Henry is sweet, if a bit rough around the edges with his protectiveness toward the people he loves. He grew up as the sole boy in a house full of women and he will cater to them at every turn, regardless of the snide remarks he gets from his friends about it. This guy sounds great, right? He’s not afraid of other men’s jeers about “losing his man card” (this is ACTUALLY something one of his “friends” tells him) for doing something as wholesome as supporting the women he loves.
Unfortunately, underneath the protective, sweet older brother mask lies a violent abuser.
After Henry and Jane have sex for the first time, they get into a fight and part ways poorly. The next time they see each other, she’s at an F1 event alongside the rest of his family. Do you want to know what sets off a jealous, violent rampage? Jane bought some merch and puts it on. Lo and behold, she’s wearing Henry’s teammate's shirt — not his. In a blind rage, he grabs a shirt with his number on it, bangs violently on the bathroom door where she's hiding, and says he'll kick down the door if she doesn't open it. She opens it, giving into his threat, and he tells her to change into the shirt he's holding or he'll remove her shirt and put it on for her. He literally says to put it on, “or I will rip that thing off your fucking body and put this on myself.”
Dear reader, is this the tone of a loving, sweet protector? Or a violent, jealous abuser? The fact that Adair writes Jane in this scene as being turned on by his threats is absolutely fucking insane. I paused the audiobook, took a breath, and wondered what the fuck I was reading. Is this a romcom or a cautionary tale?
This next paragraph has a spoiler for how the HEA plays out. Once all of the conflicts have been resolved, Henry proposes to Jane in the epilogue after ONE MONTH of dating. ONE MONTH. Someone give Jane DV resources, STAT, because this feels like love bombing and I fear, given Henry’s violent tendencies thus far, that it’s not a stretch to assume things will only escalate. The fact that he’s already pushing for babies in the epilogue the night of their wedding is more harrowing than heartwarming.
🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
Red flags aside, the writing itself was cringe pretty much all the way through. When Henry and Jane hook up for the first time, Henry’s internal monologue has such stunning turns of phrase as:
“She rode his hand so hard he was certain she’d break it.”
And:
“His dick went impossibly hard, so hard he was certain it would break.”
What’s with all the broken bone[r]s??? If things are breaking, I think you’re doing it wrong. Jesus fucking Christ, he was acting like Jane could do kegels more powerful than Rosalie Cullen. Now, there’s someone who could break his hand.
But I digress.
This was bad and I’m tired. I wanted so much for this to be the fun riff on a classic (27 Dresses) and, instead, it was disappointing, scary, and cringe.
Overall Rating: 1 star.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Rachel L. Jacobs did the best she could with what she was given. Honestly, at times, her line delivery saved some of the cringier sentences from sounding even worse. She was a shining light in this pit of darkness.
A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Dreamscape Media, for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
August 8, 2024
Not sure why I read this. His name was Henry and she called him Hank and that disturbed me. It was also third person.
May 27, 2025
3,5 ⭐️ Honestamente, não me incomodou o facto de ser super pequenino. Já ia para ele com essa mentalidade e acho que entrega o que promete!
É excelente para quem quer um romance fofo e com spice para devorar rápido em pouco tempo (o livro passa-se todo em 1 semana)!
Gostei das personagens e adorei tudo à volta do planeamento do casamento e da dama de honor de aluguer! O romance entre o casal não é só química física e eu gostei que a autora tivesse incluído a parte sentimental entre ambos!
Contudo, gostava de ter visto um pouco mais de F1. Apenas sabemos que ele corre numa equipa, algumas dificuldades que passa por causa da fama, os seus amigos de outras equipas e pouco mais… gostava de ter visto mais desse mundo durante toda a história e não só no epilogo (que btw, foi perfeito)!!
É excelente para quem quer um romance fofo e com spice para devorar rápido em pouco tempo (o livro passa-se todo em 1 semana)!
Gostei das personagens e adorei tudo à volta do planeamento do casamento e da dama de honor de aluguer! O romance entre o casal não é só química física e eu gostei que a autora tivesse incluído a parte sentimental entre ambos!
Contudo, gostava de ter visto um pouco mais de F1. Apenas sabemos que ele corre numa equipa, algumas dificuldades que passa por causa da fama, os seus amigos de outras equipas e pouco mais… gostava de ter visto mais desse mundo durante toda a história e não só no epilogo (que btw, foi perfeito)!!
September 3, 2024
Book Title: Always a Bridesmaid
Author: Marina Adair
Narrated by: Rachel L. Jacobs
Always a Bridesmaid is an example of a textbook romance, complete with enemies-to-lovers tension and a hidden identity that kept me listening. It’s the perfect palate cleanser between heavier reads, offering just the right mix of spice and sweetness to satisfy those looking for a light, entertaining weekend escape. While it may not redefine the romance genre, it certainly finds its stride in delivering a well-told story that’s as comforting as it is captivating. Highly recommended for a breezy listen!
Thanks to the NetGally and Dreamscape for the free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Author: Marina Adair
Narrated by: Rachel L. Jacobs
Always a Bridesmaid is an example of a textbook romance, complete with enemies-to-lovers tension and a hidden identity that kept me listening. It’s the perfect palate cleanser between heavier reads, offering just the right mix of spice and sweetness to satisfy those looking for a light, entertaining weekend escape. While it may not redefine the romance genre, it certainly finds its stride in delivering a well-told story that’s as comforting as it is captivating. Highly recommended for a breezy listen!
Thanks to the NetGally and Dreamscape for the free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2024
This one was so cute! I love stories that take place during weddings and the fact that the MMC is an F1 driver was a bonus.
August 14, 2024
4.5
LOVED this dual POV, new Formula 1 racing romance between a pro driver at his sister's wedding and the bridesmaid for hire, Elle (aka Jane) who reluctantly falls for him despite her best efforts not to!! Spicy, funny, and full of heart too. Great on audio narrated by Rachel L. Jacobs and absolutely perfect for fans of books like The secret bridesmaid by Katy Birchall, Bridesmaid for hire by Meghan Quinn or The paid bridesmaid by Sariah Wilson. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait to read the next book in this series!!
LOVED this dual POV, new Formula 1 racing romance between a pro driver at his sister's wedding and the bridesmaid for hire, Elle (aka Jane) who reluctantly falls for him despite her best efforts not to!! Spicy, funny, and full of heart too. Great on audio narrated by Rachel L. Jacobs and absolutely perfect for fans of books like The secret bridesmaid by Katy Birchall, Bridesmaid for hire by Meghan Quinn or The paid bridesmaid by Sariah Wilson. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait to read the next book in this series!!
August 25, 2024
Always a Bridesmaid by Marina Adair
4/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•••Spoiler free review below•••
Sweet and cute — this was such a fun listen! I loved the wedding setting, our caring heroine, and the famous F1 MMC. It is deliciously spicy, laugh out loud funny, and easily bingeable. I’m so excited to see where this series goes!
Read this book if you like:
-bridesmaid for hire
-bride’s brother x bridesmaid
-F1 racing
-secret flings
Always a Bridesmaid is OUT NOW and will be newly released in audio format on September 3rd. If it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
.
.
.
Special thanks to Dreamscape Media for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Review on Instagram
4/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•••Spoiler free review below•••
Sweet and cute — this was such a fun listen! I loved the wedding setting, our caring heroine, and the famous F1 MMC. It is deliciously spicy, laugh out loud funny, and easily bingeable. I’m so excited to see where this series goes!
Read this book if you like:
-bridesmaid for hire
-bride’s brother x bridesmaid
-F1 racing
-secret flings
Always a Bridesmaid is OUT NOW and will be newly released in audio format on September 3rd. If it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
.
.
.
Special thanks to Dreamscape Media for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Review on Instagram
October 11, 2024
Funny, cute, and original, I enjoyed Marina Adair's Always a Bridesmaid.
These are some interesting characters and it's fun to watch as they make their way through this one lol. Adair does a nice job with all the twists and turns this story takes. I like the idea of this business and wish I'd had a bridesmaid to hire who could have fixed all the bumps leading up to my wedding.
The audio version is very nicely performed by Rachel L. Jacobs. Jacobs has her work cut out for her with this huge variety of characters and accents! Wow, nice work.
an audiobook copy of Alwyas a Bridesmaid was provided by Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
These are some interesting characters and it's fun to watch as they make their way through this one lol. Adair does a nice job with all the twists and turns this story takes. I like the idea of this business and wish I'd had a bridesmaid to hire who could have fixed all the bumps leading up to my wedding.
The audio version is very nicely performed by Rachel L. Jacobs. Jacobs has her work cut out for her with this huge variety of characters and accents! Wow, nice work.
an audiobook copy of Alwyas a Bridesmaid was provided by Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
August 18, 2024
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. I loved this book. I’ve been looking for some kind of driver sport type book but make it classy and this was it. I thought both of the characters were very personable. He was famous but not full of himself which is way I connected well to the two. The story was fast and very entertaining.
January 3, 2025
Most unrealistic part of the whole book was the sister saying “I love Missouri” — I can reasonably everything else that happened except for that
June 8, 2025
O epílogo estragou tudo
June 12, 2024
3 ⭐️ 3🔥
Henry Norris, hlavní hrdina, úspěšný jezdec formule 1 🏎️…no a vlastně mě asi nejvíc mrzelo, že o těch formulích tam vlastně skoro nic nebylo. 🙈 Čekala jsem o tom trochu víc, to mě navnadilo a nepřišlo to. Kromě teda jedné scény, kdy všichni jdou na jeho závod a Jane (hlavní hrdinka) tam přivede chlapce z takové té „grant a wish“ nadace, kdy se chce potkat se závodníkem – ale v podstatě během stránky a půl je po formulích. 🥲 Já čekala další Throttled od Lauren Asher, ale to jsem se šeredně spetla…no možná bych měla začít číst pořádně anotace 🙈
Celý ten děj byl hlavně o svatbě Henryho sestry💒, na kterou si najala „na předstírání družičky“ právě Jane. Ta se vydává za Ellu (její bývalou nejlepší kamarádku).
(Pozor spoiler)
Tihle dva měli skvělou chemii, ale prostě tak nějak víš (jako vždycky víme, kam se to zvrhne), ale tady to bylo na můj vkus až nějak moc, že prostě víš, že on ke konci přijde na to, že mu lhala a on ji tak moc věřil, a proto s ní být nechce. No a pak to celé drama na mě zase až moc rychle vyšumělo a konec dobrý, všechno dobré.
Strašně dlouho do na mě působilo jako roztomilá young adultka. Jako kdyby se autorka nemohla rozhodnout, kam to zařadit 🤷♀️
Jako ten nápad s předstíranou družičkou (že má na tom založenou práci) super, originální a úplně to vidím jako netflixový film. 😍
Neříkám, že to bylo hrozné čtení, ale já čekala prostě víc.
Henry Norris, hlavní hrdina, úspěšný jezdec formule 1 🏎️…no a vlastně mě asi nejvíc mrzelo, že o těch formulích tam vlastně skoro nic nebylo. 🙈 Čekala jsem o tom trochu víc, to mě navnadilo a nepřišlo to. Kromě teda jedné scény, kdy všichni jdou na jeho závod a Jane (hlavní hrdinka) tam přivede chlapce z takové té „grant a wish“ nadace, kdy se chce potkat se závodníkem – ale v podstatě během stránky a půl je po formulích. 🥲 Já čekala další Throttled od Lauren Asher, ale to jsem se šeredně spetla…no možná bych měla začít číst pořádně anotace 🙈
Celý ten děj byl hlavně o svatbě Henryho sestry💒, na kterou si najala „na předstírání družičky“ právě Jane. Ta se vydává za Ellu (její bývalou nejlepší kamarádku).
(Pozor spoiler)
Tihle dva měli skvělou chemii, ale prostě tak nějak víš (jako vždycky víme, kam se to zvrhne), ale tady to bylo na můj vkus až nějak moc, že prostě víš, že on ke konci přijde na to, že mu lhala a on ji tak moc věřil, a proto s ní být nechce. No a pak to celé drama na mě zase až moc rychle vyšumělo a konec dobrý, všechno dobré.
Strašně dlouho do na mě působilo jako roztomilá young adultka. Jako kdyby se autorka nemohla rozhodnout, kam to zařadit 🤷♀️
Jako ten nápad s předstíranou družičkou (že má na tom založenou práci) super, originální a úplně to vidím jako netflixový film. 😍
Neříkám, že to bylo hrozné čtení, ale já čekala prostě víc.
August 22, 2024
I'm not going to lie, I found this a bit boring and formulaic. I expected a few twists and a bit more depth to their romance. It was a pretty insta-attraction, insta-love situation that ran exactly as you would expect it to. Jane was dull, and I don't know much about Fomula one racing, but his level of fame and media attention seemed overblown.
June 10, 2024
I always get so excited for a New Marina Adair book! I know I’m going to get a wonderful love story with great chemistry, fantastic supporting characters, and all the feels. This one did not disappoint. It’s the story of Jane, a professional bridesmaid, and Henry, the bride’s brother. It’s complicated and messy and delicious to watch it all unfold. I received this an an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.
June 11, 2024
So sweet.
Read
September 3, 2024Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for providing me with a copy in exchange of an honest review
I read my first F1 romance, Cross the Line, a couple of months ago and I loved it, so when I saw another romance with a F1 driver lead, I was so excited. However, it does not focus much on that, rather on the status it gives the lead.
The story is about Jane, who has a bridesmaid business with her friend, in which they provide a bridesmaid to brides, be it because they don't have enough friends, they need someone to control the other bridesmaids or for any other reason. In this particular ocasion, the bride had a falling out with her bridesmaid-to-be and Jane will need to pose as Elle, a Manhattan socialite. What she does not expect is to have a run-in with the brother's bride before she transforms into Elle and for her to become curious about him.
It always creates a fun and interesting dynamic (plus I love the trope) when one of the characters is famous or has some sort of following, but in this case it was also entertaining because of Jane's job, which had to remain a secret, so there was a case of hidden identity, which added drama to the issue.
It was a short book so I appreciated that it went right into the action, which is the wedding reception. There is a clear attraction betwen the leads, which has them play a sort of dance when interacting, but rather than wondering how and when they would undoubtedly get together, which was undeniable, I was more interested in how Jane's identity would be revealed and how the scene would play out, as well as its consequences and follow-up.
As it happens with a lot of these books, everything happens too fast; for the celebrations last for a week, which is the amount of time they are together. I understand having a set date creates more drama, since it sets a finishing line for the couple, but it always annoys me. And, similarly to other books, the push and pull game between the two leads is more fun than when they actually get together. I also have to mention that it is a spicy book.
The wedding celebrations got my attention as well and I liked whenever Jane interacted with Sarah, the bride-to-be, for she was the reason Jane was there in the first place and I was anticipated an interesting dynamic and building friendship, so I wanted to see more of their interactions.
I listened to this on audiobook and I really appreciated the narrator using different voices for the female and male characters, which helped get into the scenes.
I read my first F1 romance, Cross the Line, a couple of months ago and I loved it, so when I saw another romance with a F1 driver lead, I was so excited. However, it does not focus much on that, rather on the status it gives the lead.
The story is about Jane, who has a bridesmaid business with her friend, in which they provide a bridesmaid to brides, be it because they don't have enough friends, they need someone to control the other bridesmaids or for any other reason. In this particular ocasion, the bride had a falling out with her bridesmaid-to-be and Jane will need to pose as Elle, a Manhattan socialite. What she does not expect is to have a run-in with the brother's bride before she transforms into Elle and for her to become curious about him.
It always creates a fun and interesting dynamic (plus I love the trope) when one of the characters is famous or has some sort of following, but in this case it was also entertaining because of Jane's job, which had to remain a secret, so there was a case of hidden identity, which added drama to the issue.
It was a short book so I appreciated that it went right into the action, which is the wedding reception. There is a clear attraction betwen the leads, which has them play a sort of dance when interacting, but rather than wondering how and when they would undoubtedly get together, which was undeniable, I was more interested in how Jane's identity would be revealed and how the scene would play out, as well as its consequences and follow-up.
As it happens with a lot of these books, everything happens too fast; for the celebrations last for a week, which is the amount of time they are together. I understand having a set date creates more drama, since it sets a finishing line for the couple, but it always annoys me. And, similarly to other books, the push and pull game between the two leads is more fun than when they actually get together. I also have to mention that it is a spicy book.
The wedding celebrations got my attention as well and I liked whenever Jane interacted with Sarah, the bride-to-be, for she was the reason Jane was there in the first place and I was anticipated an interesting dynamic and building friendship, so I wanted to see more of their interactions.
I listened to this on audiobook and I really appreciated the narrator using different voices for the female and male characters, which helped get into the scenes.
September 3, 2024
Happy release day!
Super cute instalove romance with more smut than you'd thinkkkk!
Publisher's summary
Bridesmaid-for-hire Jane Drisdol juggles hundreds of weddings a year, not including dress fittings, engagement parties, and bridal showers, she's mastered the art of blending into the bridal landscape, but her latest gig poses a unique challenge. She is hired to play the role of Elle Vaughn—a socialite, debutant, and the bride’s childhood friend. And if there is one thing Jane has mastered it’s the ability to play a part if it means making others happy. The only problem is that Jane bumps into the bride’s sexy and infuriating brother at the airport—while not in disguise.
Formula 1 superstar, Henry Norris has made a career out of trusting his gut while driving at a steady three-hundred kilometers per hour. From the moment Elle sets foot in the wedding festivities, Henry’s suspicions and more personal parts are piqued. He can't quite put his finger on it, but something about this beautiful and brash bridesmaid doesn't add up. She is the opposite of the kind of person his sister associates with—opinionated, smart-mouthed, stubborn and, at least with him, snooty. With everyone else, she is the perfect bridesmaid.
As Jane weaves her way through bridal showers, wine tastings, and Formula 1 events, Henry becomes increasingly determined to uncover the truth. Yet, with every question he throws her way, the sexy socialite effortlessly spins a web of plausible explanations, leaving Henry both frustrated and intrigued and all revved up.
Despite their initial clashes, sparks fly between Jane and Henry, igniting a chemistry that is too turbocharged to be denied. But as the wedding day draws near, Jane's web of lies threatens to unravel, and she must confront the truth before it's too late. Will they cross the finish line or is this relationship too turbulent to navigate?
Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book!
Always a Bridesmaid
A Revved-Up Romance, Book 1
By: Marina Adair
Narrated by: Rachel L. Jacobs
Series: A Revved-Up Romance, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 09-03-24
Language: English
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Super cute instalove romance with more smut than you'd thinkkkk!
Publisher's summary
Bridesmaid-for-hire Jane Drisdol juggles hundreds of weddings a year, not including dress fittings, engagement parties, and bridal showers, she's mastered the art of blending into the bridal landscape, but her latest gig poses a unique challenge. She is hired to play the role of Elle Vaughn—a socialite, debutant, and the bride’s childhood friend. And if there is one thing Jane has mastered it’s the ability to play a part if it means making others happy. The only problem is that Jane bumps into the bride’s sexy and infuriating brother at the airport—while not in disguise.
Formula 1 superstar, Henry Norris has made a career out of trusting his gut while driving at a steady three-hundred kilometers per hour. From the moment Elle sets foot in the wedding festivities, Henry’s suspicions and more personal parts are piqued. He can't quite put his finger on it, but something about this beautiful and brash bridesmaid doesn't add up. She is the opposite of the kind of person his sister associates with—opinionated, smart-mouthed, stubborn and, at least with him, snooty. With everyone else, she is the perfect bridesmaid.
As Jane weaves her way through bridal showers, wine tastings, and Formula 1 events, Henry becomes increasingly determined to uncover the truth. Yet, with every question he throws her way, the sexy socialite effortlessly spins a web of plausible explanations, leaving Henry both frustrated and intrigued and all revved up.
Despite their initial clashes, sparks fly between Jane and Henry, igniting a chemistry that is too turbocharged to be denied. But as the wedding day draws near, Jane's web of lies threatens to unravel, and she must confront the truth before it's too late. Will they cross the finish line or is this relationship too turbulent to navigate?
Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book!
Always a Bridesmaid
A Revved-Up Romance, Book 1
By: Marina Adair
Narrated by: Rachel L. Jacobs
Series: A Revved-Up Romance, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 09-03-24
Language: English
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
August 21, 2024
Bridesmaid for hire
secret identity
F1 driver
Forbidden romance
Wedding
3rd person
As someone who is firmly in my Formula 1 era and getting married in September this book was exactly what I needed. I loved Jane (Ella) and Henry's relationship. My interest was piqued at their very first encounter, regardless of it not being the best first impression.
Jane is a bridesmaid for hire, but this time her gig is a little different. She is not just pretending to be a friend to the bride, she is actually required to impersonate a real person. A socialite no less. And the bride? She has one rule. Her brother, Henry, the F1 driver, is off limits. The problem is, Henry is making his intentions very clear to Jane - who he thinks is Elle - and she is struggling to resist his charms.
Does it seem realistic that a bridesmaid for hire could legitimately impersonate a socialite who probably spends copious amount of time plastering themselves all over social media? Nope, BUT it made for a very fun concept in this book!
I was completely sold on the chemistry and tension between these characters. No matter how badly Jane didn't want to want Henry, she did.
This was a very fast listen, it's a short 6 hours and 13 minutes if you actually listen at 1x speed.
I really enjoyed the narrator's performance, however in books written in 3rd person, I recognize the POV can change more frequently, but I still feel those books would benefit from dual narration.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the advanced listener copy.
secret identity
F1 driver
Forbidden romance
Wedding
3rd person
As someone who is firmly in my Formula 1 era and getting married in September this book was exactly what I needed. I loved Jane (Ella) and Henry's relationship. My interest was piqued at their very first encounter, regardless of it not being the best first impression.
Jane is a bridesmaid for hire, but this time her gig is a little different. She is not just pretending to be a friend to the bride, she is actually required to impersonate a real person. A socialite no less. And the bride? She has one rule. Her brother, Henry, the F1 driver, is off limits. The problem is, Henry is making his intentions very clear to Jane - who he thinks is Elle - and she is struggling to resist his charms.
Does it seem realistic that a bridesmaid for hire could legitimately impersonate a socialite who probably spends copious amount of time plastering themselves all over social media? Nope, BUT it made for a very fun concept in this book!
I was completely sold on the chemistry and tension between these characters. No matter how badly Jane didn't want to want Henry, she did.
This was a very fast listen, it's a short 6 hours and 13 minutes if you actually listen at 1x speed.
I really enjoyed the narrator's performance, however in books written in 3rd person, I recognize the POV can change more frequently, but I still feel those books would benefit from dual narration.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the advanced listener copy.
September 3, 2024
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Jane is in the business of weddings, ensuring your day goes off without a hitch. And she is good at it, no she is great at it.
So, when she gets hired on to be the bride's childhood friend, Elle is a socialite and debutant, which is far from who Jane is but who has mastered the art of making people happy. But what Jane didn't expect was to bump into the bride's brother on her way to the wedding before she was in character.
Henry is on his way to his sister's wedding and is held up at the airport by a woman who has shocked and intrigued him. He then finds out she is her sister's bridesmaid, Elle, the friend Henry doesn't think is very much a friend at all to his sister.
Despite all that Elle aka Jane and Henry flirt and banter and even though Jane is playing a part she lets Jane shine through.
I loved this book! It was fun and flirty interesting and so very entertaining. I loved that even though Henry is famous he doesn't let it go to his head. I loved that Jane just wanted to help anyone she could.
The narration was perfected, and I wasn't ever taken out of the story if anything I was captured by the performance.
Jane is in the business of weddings, ensuring your day goes off without a hitch. And she is good at it, no she is great at it.
So, when she gets hired on to be the bride's childhood friend, Elle is a socialite and debutant, which is far from who Jane is but who has mastered the art of making people happy. But what Jane didn't expect was to bump into the bride's brother on her way to the wedding before she was in character.
Henry is on his way to his sister's wedding and is held up at the airport by a woman who has shocked and intrigued him. He then finds out she is her sister's bridesmaid, Elle, the friend Henry doesn't think is very much a friend at all to his sister.
Despite all that Elle aka Jane and Henry flirt and banter and even though Jane is playing a part she lets Jane shine through.
I loved this book! It was fun and flirty interesting and so very entertaining. I loved that even though Henry is famous he doesn't let it go to his head. I loved that Jane just wanted to help anyone she could.
The narration was perfected, and I wasn't ever taken out of the story if anything I was captured by the performance.
August 21, 2024
3 stars
Jane/Elle is a professional bridesmaid who is hired by the sister of Henry, a famous race car driver.
Likes: The beginning is strong and Elle is a very likable character. While the premise of a paid bridesmaid is a bit overdone, it’s still a cute trope.
Dislikes: Henry. I just don’t jive with his character. Even though he financially supports his family and wants the best for his sister, he kind of sucks overall. The chemistry isn’t amazing either. I think I need more characterization of everybody, beyond Elle’s hair color and fake freckles. I just don’t know who these folks really are. The steaminess addition feels unnatural and unnecessary. This easily could be a clean romance, because there are only a couple/few short scenes and they aren’t very good.
Narrator- I think she does a good job trying to voice every part. She has to do some accents, male voices, and female voices, which is tough to accomplish.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Jane/Elle is a professional bridesmaid who is hired by the sister of Henry, a famous race car driver.
Likes: The beginning is strong and Elle is a very likable character. While the premise of a paid bridesmaid is a bit overdone, it’s still a cute trope.
Dislikes: Henry. I just don’t jive with his character. Even though he financially supports his family and wants the best for his sister, he kind of sucks overall. The chemistry isn’t amazing either. I think I need more characterization of everybody, beyond Elle’s hair color and fake freckles. I just don’t know who these folks really are. The steaminess addition feels unnatural and unnecessary. This easily could be a clean romance, because there are only a couple/few short scenes and they aren’t very good.
Narrator- I think she does a good job trying to voice every part. She has to do some accents, male voices, and female voices, which is tough to accomplish.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2024
First thought: This book opened with the best meet cute and I was hooked from then on. The banter, the tension, the sass - throw that in with a destination wedding in London and formula one driver this is an instant yes! The hubs and I listen to this audio book together and we both enjoyed it. Fun read and plenty of lol moments.
Jane was hired to do a job, pretend to be a bridesmaid named Elle and pull off the most amazing wedding for her bride and launch her business to a new level. She didn’t anticipate the bride’s brother Henry getting in the way of doing her job. This is going to be a very interesting week of wedding activities in London and she needed to stay in character.
Henry was a famous formula 1 driver and he loves nothing more than his family, and his sister having the wedding of her dreams was his priority. The problem was he met a feisty American at the airport and she got under his skin, now she’s here at the wedding festivities why? Then his sister introduced her as Elle a Bridesmaid and close friend. He knew he needed to keep his distance cause there was something about her he was drawn to but he couldn’t cross that line.
Literally Themes you’ll find:
* Formula 1 Driver x Bridesmaid 4 Hire
* Secret Relationship
* Boss’s Brother - Forbidden
* Boy Obsessed
* Forced Proximity
* Great Banter
* Wedding in London
* Dual POV
* Spice 🔥
🏎️🏁🧡🏎️🏁🧡🏎️🏁🧡🏎️🏁🧡🏎️🏁🧡🏎️
https://www.instagram.com/p/C_caFQcxu...
Jane was hired to do a job, pretend to be a bridesmaid named Elle and pull off the most amazing wedding for her bride and launch her business to a new level. She didn’t anticipate the bride’s brother Henry getting in the way of doing her job. This is going to be a very interesting week of wedding activities in London and she needed to stay in character.
Henry was a famous formula 1 driver and he loves nothing more than his family, and his sister having the wedding of her dreams was his priority. The problem was he met a feisty American at the airport and she got under his skin, now she’s here at the wedding festivities why? Then his sister introduced her as Elle a Bridesmaid and close friend. He knew he needed to keep his distance cause there was something about her he was drawn to but he couldn’t cross that line.
Literally Themes you’ll find:
* Formula 1 Driver x Bridesmaid 4 Hire
* Secret Relationship
* Boss’s Brother - Forbidden
* Boy Obsessed
* Forced Proximity
* Great Banter
* Wedding in London
* Dual POV
* Spice 🔥
🏎️🏁🧡🏎️🏁🧡🏎️🏁🧡🏎️🏁🧡🏎️🏁🧡🏎️
https://www.instagram.com/p/C_caFQcxu...
August 21, 2024
Always a Bridesmaid is not a new concept for the fiction world. A woman whose job is to play a bridesmaid in a wedding without anyone other than the bride knowing. Woman falling for someone related to the bride and trying to keep them from falling out.
The only new concept that this one brings to the table is that the man in question is a famous Formula 1 driver and there’s paparazzi and money at play.
It’s a cute and easy to read (or in my case listen to) story but unfortunately I think is going to be extremely forgettable. The characters were cute and the plot was funny and it definitely got steamy in a couple scenes. The ending wrapped up extremely quickly and the epilogue bugged me a little.
Bonus points to the author for all the swiftie references and the Travis Kelce mention 🫶🏻
Overall I’m glad I listened to it but I have other books I’d recommend with this plot before this one!
The only new concept that this one brings to the table is that the man in question is a famous Formula 1 driver and there’s paparazzi and money at play.
It’s a cute and easy to read (or in my case listen to) story but unfortunately I think is going to be extremely forgettable. The characters were cute and the plot was funny and it definitely got steamy in a couple scenes. The ending wrapped up extremely quickly and the epilogue bugged me a little.
Bonus points to the author for all the swiftie references and the Travis Kelce mention 🫶🏻
Overall I’m glad I listened to it but I have other books I’d recommend with this plot before this one!
September 8, 2024
A fun book all around, and a race car driver as hero was certainly a first for me, and it certainly deserves 4+ stars. Jane, posing as Elle, earns her living serving as a professional bridesmaid (another first--who knew?!), often as a special favor to a bride trying to avoid one complication or another. Discretion is paramount, something that becomes more and more difficult to maintain when Jane agrees to work with a bride whose brother Henry turns out to be as big a complication as she's ever encountered. The immersion into the Formula One world, the intense family dynamics, and the believable romance were all expertly delivered along with hints of a follow-up story to come. This was my first experience with author Marina Adair, but I definitely intend to check out her other books.
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