Save the Date

by Allison Raskin

"Whip-smart, subversive, and infinitely charming. An ode to the beautifully messy work of falling in love on purpose." —Becky Albertalli, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

You are cordially invited to the wedding of Emma Moskowitz and…someone…

When couples therapist Emma Moskowitz is unceremoniously dumped by her fiancé six months before their wedding, her world comes crashing down: her thriving private practice, her status as a popular online creator, even her book deal all hinge on the fact that Emma is an expert when it comes to romantic relationships. Not to mention her heart is ripped in half.

It isn't fair. She worked so hard to be ready for marriage. If only Emma could find a different groom by her planned wedding day, nothing would have to change....

So commences Operation: Save My Date.

As Emma publicly shares her untraditional journey to the altar online, things get complicated quickly. She finds herself caught between Will, a charismatic podcast producer who is not interested in being a replacement groom; and Matt, a sweet, recent divorcee eagerly looking to settle down.

As the wedding day approaches, Emma must decide what future she truly wants for herself. After all, her family, her book editor, and a large portion of the internet are watching...

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Fiction, Adult, Contemporary Romance, Rom Com

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 8, 2025

About the author

Allison Raskin is a New York Times bestselling author, relationship coach and a leading voice in mental health advocacy, in addition to being an accomplished screenwriter and content creator. She co-hosts the popular podcast Just Between Us and created the Emotional Support Lady Instagram and Substack. She also holds a master’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine University and a BFA in screenwriting from USC.

Reviews

[Fairuz ᥫ᭡. · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star! ⭐️ Huge thanks to Harlequin Audio & NetGalley for the ALC 💌 (I wish I could return it and get back my sanity though)

OH. MY. GOD. What did I just put myself through?? This book felt like getting stuck in a never-ending conversation with someone who thinks they're deep and quirky when really they're just loud and unbearable.

The FMC??? Was actually INSANE. Like I get it, heartbreak sucks, but sis was out here trying to REPLACE HER GROOM like it’s a pair of shoes she lost at a party. Therapist?? Where??? More like walking red flag with a license.

And don’t even get me started on Will and Matt. Like okay Will, you're the lesser evil here, but let’s not act like you weren’t being emotionally manipulated into being part of this circus. And Matt? Bro blinked and caught feelings. Then turned around and still wasn’t over his ex??? WHAT ARE WE EVEN DOING HERE.

And THEN—brace yourself—girl literally hopped from Will to Matt’s and then BACK TO WILL at 95% like this is musical chairs and she’s choosing who gets the last rose. Disgusting. I wanted to crawl inside the audiobook and unlisten.

THE NARRATION? No offense to Allison Raskin but her voice made me want to sprint into traffic. It felt like she was trying to convince me that Emma was likable and spoiler alert: SHE’S NOT. Not even a little.

Also… why did this book feel like a TikTok therapist went rogue and turned into a wedding-obsessed maniac?? Your fiancé left you?? I get it. But that doesn’t mean go marry the next warm body that walks by. And you’re gonna try and gaslight ME into rooting for it? Babe. No.

The worst part? I COULD HAVE DNF’d. I COULD HAVE BEEN FREE. But noooo, I had hope. Foolish, stupid hope. Now I’m just bitter and 4.5 hours older.

Final thoughts?
This book tried to be a clever romcom, but it felt like being trapped in a therapy session led by your most annoying group project partner. It’s messy, cringe, unrealistic, and full of secondhand embarrassment. Like girl you are THIRTY, not thirteen.

I’m actually jealous—yes, jealous—of everyone who DNF’d this. You all deserve peace.
Me? I need therapy now.

Hard pass.
Throw it in the fire. And then block the ashes.

CW (from me, because you deserve to know):
- Cheating-adjacent emotional whiplash
- Weird obsession with marriage validation
- Emotional manipulation
- Honestly? Just a toxic spiral pretending to be “growth”

The only Save the Date I needed was the one warning me to RUN.

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Save the Date” is a romantic comedy all about second chances at love! I really enjoyed reading this book, because I found it to be both unique and entertaining. I was fully immersed while reading this story. This book centers around a couples therapist, who has a book deal and is an online creator, named Emma Moskowitz. Her Fiancé ends up breaking up with her close to their wedding date. He seems like a real loser of a guy! Like really, who does that to someone they love? After he breaks it off with her, her and her world starts crumbling down. It was only months before their wedding!

The wedding was already all sorted out. So, this is where the title of this book comes from, she plans on saving the wedding date! However, she doesn’t have a guy to go to the wedding with her. She needs to find her a groom and quick! So, what better way than to do it online? She goes online and shares her story. This is where things start to become complicated because two different men want to be the groom in her wedding! So, we have one runaway groom and two men wanting to be the groom! So, which of these two men does she and up choosing? Or does she end up changing her mind at the last second? This book made me curious as to how it was all going to play out for her in the end. It is an indoor romance, friends to lovers, slow burn romance. It does talk about anxiety and mental health, because she is a therapist. This book gave me the movie 27 Dresses vibes! However, the two storylines are completely different. This was an easy to read book that kept me interested! Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars rating!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Allison Raskin and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is set to be published on April 8, 2025!

[Emily Carter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stopped reading this at 33%. Too much Trump/republican hating. Write the dang book without bringing politics in it.

This was an ARC through NetGalley.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay when I saw Allison wrote a book that was loosely based on her own trauma about being left by her fiancée, I was SO IN.

How she was able to write this without sobbing and hating everything is beyond me, but she penned a lighthearted and comedic approach to life after losing “the one”

It was humorous, intelligent and a must read.

[Elizabeth]

DNF at 2%.

I know, I know. I'm going to get plenty of side eye from reviewing an audiobook I received for free from netgalley after such a short try.

Here's the thing, I don't like the author's voice. Now, it's nothing against her as an audiobook narrator (though she's not my favorite voice to listen to), but her view of the world as captured in her author's note, followed by a chaotic beginning of the book where I immediately felt like I didn't care.

In her author's note, she tells us that this is based on a real-life situation where she was left by her fiancé and "thrown back into an earlier life stage".. As a 48-year old single, that statement rubbed me the wrong way. Being single is not an "earlier life stage". That kind of thinking is pretty toxic and perpetually infantilizes single people and takes them out of the "adult" world by constantly saying a single person doesn't have the maturity of a married person because singleness is something you're supposed to get over. or mature past.

Ya, a lot of folks are single and then get married. And in romance, we celebrate the finding of "the one" and building a family. But, guess what folks! People are single at ANY AGE. And there are many reasons that have nothing to do with "life stage" or maturity.

So... while this could be a perfectly fine book, I just cannot make myself read it.

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen, I know this story won’t be for everyone. But I couldn't get enough of the humour and the absolutely hilarious ridiculousness of it all. Couples therapist Emma Moskowitz gets dumped six months before her wedding, and instead of cancelling like a normal person, she decides she’ll keep the date and just ... find a new groom. It's completely unhinged. And I was 100% here for it.

She’s on a mission to take control of her situation and prove that love can be a choice, something you create rather than just fall into. Her whole dilemma is desperate and absurd, I know, but underneath it all, there are some really sweet moments of self-reflection and surprisingly thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, and marriage.

It definitely takes modern dating to another level with her wild scheme. And as you'd expect when auditioning potential grooms on a deadline, there are some major duds. It’s obvious who she’ll end up with, but I was absolutely grinning over the sarcastic humour and effortless banter between them. You could really feel that Emma was the most herself with him! Through all the madness, I loved them together. It was super funny, silly, and just so refreshingly different.

(heat level: closed door)

["Avonna]

DNF. I do not rate books I do not finish.

[Meghan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a hard one to get through, and in the end I couldn’t finish it. I got to about 25% and sadly gave up. The FMC was such a reg flag for me, how are you a couples therapist and you think “Hm, I just got dumped by my fiancé, but I’m still gonna go through with my wedding. Let me see if I can get a replacement groom!” At first I thought this was going to be a unique and fun read, but it became clear that it was going to be an extremely awkward and cringey read. It felt as if it was trying to be a light and funny read but came off too serious to me.

*Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press and Allison Raskin for the ARC!*

[Stacy Smejkal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Save the Date follows Emma, a family therapist who thought she had life and love all figured out. She has built her career on understanding successful relationships and giving advice to others. Then her fiancé decides it’s over with no explanation or discussion. Just like that, her previous insecurities and trauma come roaring back. Emma doesn’t see why she has to cancel her wedding when she can simply find another person who wants to be committed and working towards build a loving relationship with her. Thus “Operation Save My Date” was born. Problem is, there are two men and two very different paths she can take and it’s unclear which will make her happy and lead her to a fulfilled life in the long run. One of them represents the exact timeline she has decided she wants and a genuinely kind person but someone she is not really connected with. The other represents an unknown timeline but a person she is utterly herself with. So what’s better? Genuine connection and the possibility of love or a guaranteed commitment on her pre-determined timeline?

Emma is a generally anxious person and I related heavily to her on that level. She is highly intelligent and has a logical thought process but the overthinking and the panicking can still take hold of her without much warning. Also watching this person navigate online dating was so familiar it brought me back to all the worst parts about those apps. And the best parts too since that’s how I met my current partner.

Allison Raskin’s writing reads like the thought process of someone who is anxious which made it immediately familiar and comfortable for me. Plus when I saw that Raskin had loosely based this on her own experience with a traumatic break-up, I was here for it and excited to dive in.
It was written in third person but still from the perspective of Emma which felt a bit odd to me. I think if it had been written in first person, it may have allowed me to really be drawn into Emma’s thoughts and feelings on an even deeper level.

At first, I was convinced this was a rom-com like any other but as I continued to turn the pages and allowed myself to be swept up by the story, it became something more for me. As a divorcee who is currently planning her second wedding to a wonderful man, it became something almost cathartic. I found it to be a painfully honest and truly captivating story about the loss we all go through while we search for the path and the people who are right for us. It captures how it feels to let go of the things we thought we wanted in order to grab onto the things that feed our souls and really help us fly.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for offering this ARC for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Kristin Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably not a good idea to bash conservatives and have so much Trump hate. Alienates a lot of potential readers and fans. I’m happy I got an early release of this to read instead of spending my money on a book that insults its readers.

The main character’s self depreciating and desperate personality was already tough to like but then that was the cherry on top to creating a very dislikable lead. Did we really have to read about her anxiety every other paragraph? Sorry to hear the story is inspired by the author because then what does that say about her. Eeeeesh.

My hatred for the female character continues to grow at 85% in. She’s obsessed with being wanted and desired so much that even after she gets what she wants she’s still willing to sabotage it for more attention from more men. “She couldn’t keep doing this to herself “ ?????? She shouldn’t keep doing this to the men. The chosen fiancé deserves better. She’s gross. And THEN the running away to get a man to chase her? Come onnnn. I’m so over it.

Finished this as a courtesy to the publisher for the approved early read - I wanted to enjoy it. The initial idea was nice, not a fan of the execution.

[Lina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 / 5 Stars
I love Allison Raskin so I had high hopes for this book and it delivered in some ways and left me confused in others. In “Save the Date,” Emma is dumped by her fiancé six months before their wedding. No explanation other than “something is off” and no, he doesn’t want to work on it. Devastated, Emma tries to piece her life back together but feels like a fraud – she is a couples therapist with a Youtube channel and book deal who gives people advice on how to maintain happy and healthy relationships. So, she decides that she will keep her wedding date and find someone new. Not to trade one groom for another but to show that a relationship is built on having a certain level of compatibility mixed with a commitment to make it work. She just needs to start something with someone and they can figure out the rest. Weirdly, it kind of works! She finds herself stuck between Will, a podcast producer who is a marriage skeptic, and Matt, a recent divorcee who is ready and willing to settle down. What will her future look like? And can she find marriage, save her book deal, and have the internet not eviscerate her? Maybe or maybe not but it is worth a shot.

I love Allison Raskin. I have followed her since her Buzzfeed days and then when she started a podcast with Gabe Dunn. I remember her talking about her own ended engagement and how she worked to move on. Her recent appearance on Nicole Byer’s “Why Won’t You Date Me?” is one of my favorites. So I was so excited for this book. And it has a lot of great parts especially as they relate to therapy and mental health. Truly, if you are an anxious girlie who wants to learn about secure attachment, this has a LOT of really great advice and modeling. There were also some funny moments and her family dynamic brought nice levity to the book.

BUT, I just couldn’t buy into the whole concept that she is going to get married to someone new in six months. It was explained well with logic and good therapy speak and still, my heart said “Nope, this makes no sense.” If you are trying to find someone you are compatible with, it can take more than six months to do that and placing a false sense of urgency on that connection probably won’t help. And that was an issue in both of her connections. I wanted to root for Emma but her desire to stick to the destination instead of focusing on the journey made that really challenging.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.

And now a BIG SPOILER ALERT about the two relationships and the ending.
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OK. I had two big gripes with her relationships.

1. Emma starts dating Will who she has a great connection with but once she tells him about her plan, he is not interested in getting married in six months (understandable), so they break up. He still wants to interview her for a podcast series so they maintain some sort of relationship while she goes on to date Matt. Matt does buy into the whole concept and is nice and kind. He recently got divorced because his wife cheated on him and he has been cheated on prior to that. But it seems like Emma is not the most forthcoming with Matt about her relationship (current and past) with Will and at one point, Emma and Will almost kiss. Look, I know it is not cheating to ALMOST kiss but it is a betrayal nonetheless (at least in my book) and this poor man already has issues with cheating. And this wasn’t really addressed. Emma didn’t tell Matt. They broke up for other reasons. But still, not cool, Emma!

2. Emma and Will end up together because Emma abandons her plan to get married in six months and even tells Will, “we never have to get married if that is an issue for you.” And Will is down, baby! He and Emma start dating for real. Emma’s parents end up renewing their vows on what would have been her wedding day. And what does Will do on that day? HE PROPOSES TO EMMA. And not just “hey, let’s get married someday.” He says “Let’s get married next week.” EXCUSE ME. This man was not open to the idea of marriage a few months ago and now he wants to get married ASAP. What? HUH? IN WHAT WORLD? And we jump time so it isn’t like we got to see him grow into this. It felt like it came from nowhere and was jammed into the original concept for no reason. Just date normally. It just made no sense for his character.

[Lucy Fukada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!

I have long held the belief that soulmates are made, not found. This is why I share in Emma’s (the main character) view that marriage is less about finding “the one” so much as finding someone who values marriage for the same reasons as you. I also agree that you don’t need a ton of time to get to know someone before getting married. You have your whole lives for that.
Which is why I was seriously worried while approaching the end of the book that she was going to compromise on her beliefs about marriage just to be with Will. But the fact that he in turn also compromised by proposing, and met her where she was at, was such a beautiful ending and a true testament to successful marriage. Comprise and understanding.
I gotta say there were some moments in this book where I seriously judged Emma’s decision making skills. But the banter was top tier and the chemistry was believable.

3.5 ⭐️

[Sarah Martinez · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF’d at 27%. Bashing of political parties is a hard line for me.

•𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.•

[mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Thank you Edelweiss and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)

Save the Date threw a wedding bouquet of tropes at the reader, hoping something sticks. Unfortunately, it mostly landed with a thud. Emma, our dumped-at-the-altar therapist, decided the best way to mend her broken heart is to find a replacement groom which to me didn't stick well on it's own because where is the healing process?

The premise is…ambitious. Like a reality TV show that's run out of ideas, it relied on manufactured drama and a protagonist who seemed determined to learn absolutely nothing from her experiences. The online influencer angle felt forced like the author is trying to cram in every buzzword from a marketing meeting.

On the plus side, there were moments of genuine humour and the supporting characters occasionally managed to escape their roles. Will, the podcast producer provided some much-needed snark and the family dynamics had a relatable chaotic energy.

However, the romantic tension is as thin as day-old wedding cake. Emma's obsession with finding a replacement groom is less empowered and more please stop. The love triangle felt contrived like a game of musical chairs where everyone's just pretending to have a good time.

Ultimately, it was a missed opportunity. It tried to be a witty commentary on modern relationships but ended up feeling like a predictable rom-com with a protagonist who's somehow both overbearing and utterly clueless. Two stars because even a disastrous wedding has a few moments of entertainment.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma is a family and relationships therapist who seems to have it all: a loving fiancé, a large
online following, and a book deal that incorporates her own experiences. That is until she is surprisingly dumped by her fiancé and leaves everything else in her life to feel like it’s on the line. Emma decides that she is going to keep her wedding date in place and find a new groom to meet her at the altar. Can she find someone who will go along with new plan?

This book is a feel-good read that had me instantly drawn in from the beginning. I appreciated Emma’s internal monologue and her openness to discuss her anxiety that affects every part of her life. I was rooting for her to find the man who will be the perfect part of her plan and read the last half of the book so quickly to find out what happened! You will fall in love with Emma’s humor, her family, and the suitors that come across her path. Allison Raskin’s book, Save the Date is set to be released April 8th, 2025.

[Delaney · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

“I used to think gunpoint was an actual place and wondered why people kept going there” Friends Season 1 Episode 22 The One With The Ick Factor (which I assume the author must know because there were several other Friends references in the book. Also making it difficult to believe the MC would actually think gunpoint is an actual place when she would’ve heard this on Friends as she so repeatedly references.)

The book itself had potential but lacked believability.


Thank you to the publisher for the gifted finished copy.

[Taneen · Rating 4 out of 5]

i had fun! i have been listening/watching/reading allison raskin’s content since i was in high school, so when i heard she had something fictional coming out, i knew i had to be there!

while romcoms aren’t really books i reach for too much anymore, i think this was a really silly and fun concept for a book, and i kinda loved her self-insert. i think her writing is also very easy and pleasing to read and i kind of never got tired of it!

it was of course cheesy in some parts, but for the most part it wasn’t and what’s a romcom without some cheese? also i did giggle and kick my feet a bit!

i thought the main character was silly and strong while also being relatable in her anxiety and insecurities. i think sometimes books with fmc who have major insecurities will sometimes be a tad bit unrealistic and annoying, but i honestly don’t think that is the case here! and maybe it’s bc i love allison raskin bc she feels like my family in a way but i don’t think so! it helped that her dialogue seemed grounded a lot of the time when talking about her wants and needs or when being a therapist, and maybe also the fact that she’s a woman who loves a good bit! also i’m a will truther

anyway good book and was fun! i can’t wait for more fiction from allison!

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've followed Allison Raskin for years (I realize about a decade) so I may be a bit biased in the parasocial sense, but this is one of my favorite romance books I've ever read.

I've never read a romance where the main female character is the sole driver of the plot. Emma knows what she wants and has so much agency. It was incredibly refreshing compared to books where events seem to just happen to the protagonist.

I think that's why the whole premise of Emma finding a new groom is so exciting to get behind. Yes, you are suspending your belief somewhat for the sake of the plot, but only because Emma gets the audience to buy in. Her plan is, as she says, bananas. But the best romances are the ones where the author allows you to fully embrace the fantasy.

Obviously I loved reading about characters loosely based on Allison's life. It was a unique experience reading about fictional people who I've never met, but feel like I already somewhat know. However, I know Allison would write original characters with the same depth that gave this story so much life. Please, get this woman another book deal or TV show!!

[Brittany Gerckens · Rating 5 out of 5]

opening up Goodreads again to say that I loved it!!!!! <3 go Allison!!!!! usually it takes a while for me to get into a book & romance isn’t my typical go-to genre, but I couldn’t put this one down! nearly passed out in the sauna bc I got too invested in the book and spent way too much time reading in there haha

[Chrys · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Emma’s fiancé calls off their engagement, she makes an unconventional choice: instead of canceling the wedding venue and date, she sets out to find a new groom. As a couples therapist dealing with her own anxiety, this daring mission is far from easy—but Emma is nothing if not determined.

The story is filled with humor, shocking moments, and heartfelt self-reflection, not only for Emma but also for those she encounters along the way. What truly hooked me was the author’s note, revealing that the inspiration for this unique premise came from her own life experience.

This book is both entertaining and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to reflect on their own relationships. It prompts us to consider what we’re willing to accept—or not—in a partner. A truly intriguing and insightful read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher’s for providing me the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

[Shae Bentley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ - What a delightful break from my usual dark and horrific reads. This one is a heartwarming and downright hilarious take on life after losing “the one.”

We follow Emma, a couples therapist and online personality who gets dumped by her fiancé six months before their wedding. With her reputation as a relationship expert on the line, she decides to stick to her original wedding plans and find a new groom. From there, chaos ensues. Her journey is wild, funny, and emotional, full of self-discovery, healing, and unexpected romance.

I have to give Allison Raskin major props for taking inspiration from her own life. Going through a breakup months before your wedding is tough, and the way she channels that into Emma’s story makes everything feel so genuine and relatable. Emma’s struggle to keep up appearances while juggling heartbreak and her chaotic “Save the Date” project is funny and surprisingly touching. Her job as a therapist and online creator just adds another layer of pressure that makes her antics even more relatable.

The romance was so sweet. Emma’s search for “the one” had me completely invested as she tried to choose between Matt, the dependable and safe option, and Will, the fiery, unpredictable one. Slow burn, friends-to-lovers vibes, humour, heart. It had it all.

Yes, some parts were super unrealistic, but I didn’t care. I laughed, I swooned, and I had a great time.

Thank you so much @harlequinaus for the #gifted copy.

[Tori Okon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review. Thank you to the author and NetGalley.

This was such a light, easy read with a very cute ending. I did struggle to get into book until about 30%. The FMC annoyed me with some of her choices, but they were justified toward the ending when she talked about her fears regarding her book publishing, podcast, and therapy practice.

Would recommend this book if you're looking for a sweet romance story.

[Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I first heard about this story from a TikTok video by Allison Raskin, who I had seen around the internet but never actually followed or kept up with. It sounded like such a fun concept for a romance novel and I immediately requested it when I saw it in NetGalley.

The story is about Emma whose fiancé leaves her just months away from their wedding. Instead of canceling all the non-refundable vendors booked for the wedding, she decides to find a new groom. Emma is a relationship counselor and influencer whose content focuses on relationship advice. This makes her situation particularly sensitive.

I did enjoy the bits where Emma interacts with The One and the ending did leave me with a smile on my face.

Unfortunately I really had to force myself to read this. I found it really hard to like Emma and didn’t particularly care about her search for a new groom. Emma spends more time trying to maintain her influencer lifestyle than she does looking for actual love. The interactions between the couple made up just a tiny fraction of this book. Instead there’s endless repetitive scenes of Emma with her parents, sister, or singular friend. Almost all of these scenes end abruptly and there’s very little flow. The idea for this story is so cute and it’s a shame this wasn’t more polished.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book showing how Emma is going after the life she really wants. After her fiance breaks it off, Emma is determined to still get married on the date they had picked; she just needs to find someone to marry. Can she do it in six months? She meets Will through Hinge and they hit it off, but he is not willing to get married. Emma then meets Matt and they hit it off. Recently divorced, he is willing to marry Emma. Emma and Will do podcasts together, and she finds their chemistry better than what she has with Matt. Emma realizes she and Matt have never said I love you even after he proposes. When Emma is interviewed on a TV show it makes her wonder if she’s making a mistake. Who does Emma end up with?
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Suzanne K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to read the ARC and I absolutely adored this book! Quick read with genuinely lovable characters. It was a heartwarming story with the perfect happy ending.

[alexa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m so sorry but I really didn’t like this. The MFC is the most annoying character I’ve read in a while and is the personification of adult baby. Grow up. It’s obvious how the book is going to end about 12% of the way through, so why did we drag it out? The sister is the worst type of human, literally GROW UP AND LEAVE YOUR HUSBAND. Idk maybe I shouldn’t have finished this but I’m not the type to DNF.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

[Linda Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ A funny and unique romcom! In this book, the FMC is suddenly left by her fiancé, but turns lemons into lemonade by embarking on a journey to find another groom in time for her original wedding date. The writing is witty and has a great sense of humor, and the FMC Emma was easy to root for. The mental health and therapy components added depth to the story, though it maintained an overall lighthearted tone. It took a while for the plot to pick up, but I think this was realistic to the story being told, and ultimately, I liked the direction things went in. Overall, this was a delightful read, though not necessarily one that will stick with me for a long time.

Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing a digital Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Lindsay Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! As a long-time follower of Allison, she has such an authentic voice and it really comes through in this book. The writing is solid and funny! The plot is a little wacky, but fun enough that I could suspend disbelief. Being familiar with her story, it was fun to read this alternate universe plot that was still infused with so much of her real life, though I’d be curious to hear people’s thoughts that don’t know her. I thought the middle was a smidge slow and the end a bit rushed, but overall I was pleasantly surprised by her first romance! It’s also such an ode to her parents’ marriage, which felt really special.

[Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun escapist romcom! Highly recommend the author’s Substack as well

[MMill · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up

After Emma's fiance walks out on her with no warning or explanation, she's forced to face being alone (AGAIN!) as well as the complete derailment of the way she thought her life was going to go. She's a couples' therapist with a book deal all about relationships, and she's now got to tell the world she can't actually make her own work? How can she possibly be all the way back at square one? She's wasted so much time...and now she has to start all over. Or does she? She has a wedding date, venue and dress. Really all she needs is a willing guy to step in for the actual marriage part. Thus begins Operation: Save My Date, a project to find her a new husband in 5 months. No problem!

I've read a lot of reviews of this book that bash Emma for just swapping out one guy with another, as though all potential life partners are interchangeable and easily replaceable. To those readers, I say: DID YOU READ THE BOOK? Her whole family thinks she's bonkers, and she scares multiple guys away by being up front about her plan. She faces a lot of backlash online (because she decides to document the whole thing with a podcast) and fears her career is going to go up in flames. It's not like she's approaching things with some deluded fantasy she's going to meet and marry her soul mate in that short amount of time. She's very clear about turning the "everyone has only ONE true love" narrative on its head by suggesting that you can make a relationship work and be happy and fulfilled with someone who's willing to work on it the same way you are....she's up-front with all the men she goes out with about what she's doing. Is it unconventional and slightly desperate? Of course! She's well aware it is. So I felt like these criticisms missed the point.

Having said that, Emma was hard to "like." She's more mad her fiance left her than she is that he's gone. She doesn't seem to miss HIM at all. She talks a lot about all the work she's done on herself over the years (therapists need therapy too, don'tcha know), but doesn't once take an internal look for her part in why their relationship didn't work out. She comes across as really whiny and spoiled. I understand she's grieving the loss of the picture in her head of how she thought her life would be and that people don't always think or behave rationally when faced with that. But Emma, as written, was really hard to sympathize with. There are difficult, complex, flawed characters you can read about and still appreciate and even respect, but Emma wasn't one of them for me.

The book was easy to read, and there were some pretty funny parts. So I might check out future books by this author because I liked the writing, but I hope her next MC is someone I'd actually want to be friends with and not someone I'd actively avoid in real life.

**Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Canary Street Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!"*