The Reluctant Bride: One Woman's Journey (Kicking and Screaming) Down the Aisle

by Lucy Mangan

Will Lucy make it down the aisle? It's going to be an uphill struggle . . . The bride: A late starter in life, Lucy always swore she'd never get married. But now she has to find a caterer who doesn't charge a fortune for a cupcake, a dressmaker who doesn't make her cry and a way to bring Great-Auntie Betty down from Dundee for the sixpence she is willing to spend - isn't it meant to be HER special day? The groom: Christopher has spent twenty minutes compiling his guest list and checking his suit fits before returning to his newspaper - this wedding business isn't so hard after all. The mother of the bride: Armed with colour-coded wedding planning folders she is all set. However, twice-daily conversations with her daughter don't seem to be shortening the 'to-do' list she's drawn up. The father of the bride: A wedding? My daughter? Who's she marrying? The best friend: Gillian has stood by Lucy through thick and thin, but she is refusing to be a bridesmaid and wear a daft dress.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Memoir

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Lucy Mangan (born 1974) is a British journalist and author. She is a columnist, features writer and TV critic for The Guardian. Her writing style is both feminist and humorous.

Mangan grew up in Catford, south east London, but both her parents were originally from Lancashire. She studied English at Cambridge University and trained to be a solicitor. After qualifying as a solicitor, she began to work instead in a bookshop and then, in 2003, found a work experience placement at The Guardian.

She continues to work at The Guardian writing a regular column and TV reviews plus occasional features. Her book My Family and other Disasters (2009) is a collection of her newspaper columns. She has also written books about her childhood and her wedding.

Mangan also has a regular column for Stylist magazine and has been a judge for the Booktrust Roald Dahl Funny Prize.

Reviews

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not so much actually about planning a wedding but about Lucy Mangan's difficulties as she planned hers. I really like her writing style so I laughed out loud a few times.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious whether you getting married, have been married, or are planning on never getting married.

[Jenny Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fun,light read which reminded me of my own wedding preparation angst - the details of which I had forgotten about until this reminded me. I too was a reluctant bride - not wanting all the 'show' so emphasised completely with the main character, Lucy, whose wedding threatened to snowball out of control. I loved her straight talking family from the north or England and her dad's over exaggerated stories of his childhood and early days with Lucy's mother. I was willing everything to be just right for her in the end.

[Zen Cho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a huge amount of critique of the horrific wedding industry, but a very fun, funny read, and rather touching as well.

[Lorraine Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure comedic genius and refreshingly quirky. I definitely recommend it!

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing and easy to read

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny bits throughout. Characters likeable. Good little read

[Sapna Capoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chick lit! Fun read....:-)

[J.F. Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable with some laugh out loud moments.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book about Lucy’s own wedding planning. It is not a guide and will be of no use as such…..but it is about a bride’s own feelings, the support from family and friends she had on the route to the ceremony. It made me laugh and brought back good, and some not so good, memories of my own wedding planning. Would recommend this book.

[Jennsie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 September 2014
I wish I had enjoyed this book more! I just could not really jell with the characters in the book. It was witty in some placed, but I didn't care for the style of writing and the direction of the book.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but didn't love it and as it is Lucy Mangan I had expected to love it :-(

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pure Mangan. So pleased to pick this up in a charity shop on hols. Weightier tome abandoned for this entertaining and welcome diversionary read.

[June White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny tender story about getting married. Great for anybody who has had to organise a wedding, is about to organise or is close to someone.

[Velda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compulsory reading for any prospective bride. Or mother of the bride. Or bridesmaid. Also, take tissues with you when you read it on the train. Crying with laughter draws attention.

[Jeanette]

great story very funny