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Hitched

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LONGLISTED FOR BOOKTOK AUTHOR OF THE YEAR
Bridesmaids meets The Hangover in the laugh-out-loud rom-com of the year

What happens in Vegas . . . doesn’t always stay there.

Kate is the ultimate planner. She has her happily-ever-after all plotted out, starting with her dream wedding to successful dental surgeon, Norman, and an iconic Las Vegas hen party with her three best girlfriends. Even running into her DJ ex, Trevor Rush, the man who broke her heart nine years ago, won’t ruin Kate’s vision for the perfect girls’ trip.

But when an alcohol-fuelled night out leaves Kate and Trevor accidentally hitched, her plans are officially out the window. To make matters worse, Trevor has decided he wants Kate back, and won’t sign the annulment papers until she agrees to go on three last dates with him.

With her fairy tale wedding just days away, Kate is determined to fight her growing feelings for Trevor. But in the scorching heat of Sin City, is it time for her to tear up the rule book, and finally take a gamble on love?

************
Praise for J. F. Murray

‘The freshest, sexiest, funniest and most poignant book I’ve read in a very long time’ Claudia Carroll

‘Clever, original, witty’ Sinead Moriarty

‘Utterly original, emotionally astute and cripplingly funny. Murray is a bright and talented new voice in fiction’ Laura Jane Williams

‘Hilarious and original – one of the best books I’ve read this year’ Laura Price

‘Fresh, funny, genuinely heartwarming’ Catherine Walsh

‘Fabulous! A beautiful rom-com of the Nora Ephron variety’ Edel Coffey

‘A literary soul brother to the likes of Marian Keyes and Beth O’Leary’ Irish Independent

Audible Audio

Published November 5, 2024

11 people are currently reading
330 people want to read

About the author

J.F. Murray

3 books7 followers

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5 stars
148 (39%)
4 stars
91 (24%)
3 stars
68 (18%)
2 stars
46 (12%)
1 star
19 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
Profile Image for Leona (ateachersguidetoreading) .
285 reviews8 followers
February 1, 2024
Forget Bridesmaids meets The Hangover! This book is 1000% Derry Girls in Las Vegas and I loved it even more for that! Jesus, Joseph has a way with banter like no other! I lost count of the amount of times I laughed out loud and had to take a picture of the premium quality gegs and send them to friends to hype them up for this book! I need Netflix or something to pick this book up and make it into a movie because it would rake in the big bucks! And if you're a Swiftie, you need to read this! (Seriously, it's even dedicated to you)

Kate has planned the perfect hen party in Vegas with her three friends. But all her best laid plans go out the window when she wakes up drunkenly married to her ex days before her actual wedding! What's a girl to do? Well, he asks for three dates to try and win her back.

The girls make this book! The friendship between the Four Lokos was the pinnacle of this book! And girls, Siobhan is my favourite! Think Michelle from Derry Girls mixed with Samantha from Sex and the City. The banter is so relatable and I think that's why I loved it so much. Joseph captured the real humour of us Irish but made it something all readers will in understand.

I'll admit, it took me a while to get into the name Trevor (sorry to all the Trevors out there) but Joseph added layers to him and every time one came away I got to see more of the type of man he was. I'm also not a fan of cheating but come on, Norman was obviously made to dislike.

A fantastic, side-splitting rom-com that will have you laughing at the turn of every page. I can't wait to read more from Joseph!
Profile Image for Rachel's Corner.
4 reviews1 follower
February 3, 2024
ADORED this book!!! It was def giving Derry Girls meets Bridesmaids. I did love the romance but the highlight is really the friendship with the girls. Siobhan had me in stitches laughing! This also needs to be made into a movie ASAP!!!
Profile Image for Engrossed Reader.
354 reviews8 followers
February 5, 2024
I laughed a lot, and the conclusion brought a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. Really well written, ignore the premise of a simple misunderstanding and get ready for a perfect read. Great characters, wicked dialogue, wrapped up in emotional resonance. Loved it.

If you want to read more of me gushing about this book, head over to the blog for a full review with quotes! Hitched Book Review

My thanks to NetGalley and publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


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Profile Image for Sapphyre Haynes.
359 reviews11 followers
February 9, 2024
Absolutely loved this! I have to admit that I predicted quite a bit of the storyline but the banter was top class. This had me giggling.
One of my favourite quotes - "I missed you more than men miss the point"
I despised Norman on a visceral level. Everything about him made me dislike him. I was team Trevor all the way.
Siobhan is my favourite, absolutely hilarious and unapologetically herself.
100% recommend this hilarious read!
Profile Image for Sonja Charters.
2,737 reviews140 followers
January 2, 2024
This is your classic second chance romance with such a predictable storyline ....and I absolutely loved this !!!

As I always say, it's all about the journey and although I absolutely knew how this story would turn out, this didn't spoil my enjoyment of this one bit! And I'm overjoyed that there was no twist at the end to spoil my expectations!

But the journey we went on was a rollercoaster ride!

I totally loved all the girls. I'm not really a girly girl and don't have many very close female friends - but if I did, these girls would absolutely be my besties!!
They all had totally different personalities, but all quirky and hilarious in their own ways.
I loved their support of Kate and the way they put their views of Norman and Trevor forward, without being disrespectful to Kate's decisions.

The setting was just perfect for the plotline - a hen party in Vegas! It was everything!!
The debauchery, the tacky wedding venue, the exclusive events and dates - it was just the perfect ride and I was completely immersed in the whole thing - I could not put this down!

This is the first book I've read by this author and I will definitely be hunting out more!

Brilliant read for any time of the year - but am obsessed that this was my first read of 2024 and that I've enjoyed it so much!
Everyone needs this on their 2024 tbr!!
Profile Image for Eimear's Bookshelf.
3 reviews
February 5, 2024
This is my official petition for Siobhan to get a spin-off. Kate was okay but Siobhan was the REAL STAR!
5 reviews1 follower
February 8, 2024
This is such a brilliant book. I adored every minute of it and couldn’t put it down. I laughed and I cried and laughed some more. You need to read it
Profile Image for Steph.
478 reviews51 followers
December 17, 2023
This book is HILARIOUS. You know what, I’ve had such a crap time this past week and this book was everything I needed. It was the perfect distraction, many laugh out loud moments and just such a fun experience reading it.

Hitched gave me major ‘The Hangover’ vibes but bridesmaids and bride style… it was perfect!

The book has a real mix.. a group of friends, a clingy fiancé and an ex that is quite charming and intriguing. What could possibly go wrong? 🤣

The group of friends were chaos at times, apart from Kate and her itinerary haha, but I loved all the banter and everything they got up to in Vegas. They just clicked so well and were quite the rowdy bunch.

It’s funny because although I just knew what would happen and how things would go, it didn’t take away my enjoyment. Absolutely loved every single page and you’re all in for a treat when this is published.
Profile Image for Jade aka MrsTosh.
1,114 reviews63 followers
February 2, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan UK Audio for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is absolutely hilarious, and just what the doctor ordered for a bleak January. Although it could be read anytime throughout the year. It has just really cheered me up, it had me laughing out loud from the very beginning and who does love the bright lights of Vegas. The heading Bridesmaids meets The Hangover is very apt.

It is the first book I have read by the author but it definitely wont be the last. I love the flow of the story and the writing. At the beginning of the book we meet the girls, each one quirky and likeable, they make a great group of friends and you know adventures are going to happen especially with Shioban around, she is an absolute scream and cringy. The four girls are travelling to Las Vegas for their friend Kate, hen party. Kate is the ultimate planner and has a list for everything, she has planned their trip meticulously. She is marrying Norman, who seems perfect to her mother, he is a dentist and such a catch. He seems the very opposite to Kate but she is trying to settle down and do what everyone does when you get older. During their trip things do not go according to plan and Kate bumps into Trevor, the one that got away and they both realise they might have a second chance.

I have to say the narrator did a really good job, it was almost more like listening to a radio play rather than an audiobook. for me personally I think this added to the story line, I don't think I would have had the same enjoyment reading a printed version. Somehow the voice and accent brought the characters to life.
Profile Image for zilan.
407 reviews45 followers
January 28, 2024
What if you end up marrying your ex-boyfriend during your honeymoon in Las Vegas? And not just any boyfriend but the one who broke your heart? What can I say, this is the story of Kate who was ready to get married to her perfect (maybe) boyfriend and instead finds Trevor after 9 years, who has decided that he wants her back and refuses to cancel the wedding.
This audiobook was a fun experience with lots of Taylor Swift quotes and while I was listening to the audiobook I got transported to Las Vegas with Kate and her friends because one of the things I liked about the book was this group of friends! I also appreciated the complicity between the characters during the various scenes and dialogues.The (silly) misunderstanding in my opinion was the weakest part of the story but apart from that it was still a pleasant story to listen to and experience.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Jo Lee.
1,168 reviews22 followers
January 2, 2024
What happenes in vegas stays in vegas - but not always!

Hilarity and lots of laugh out loud cringy moments made a novel that was billed as Bridesmaids meets The Hangover completely live up to the hype, and I can definitely see the potential for a screen adaptation to rival both.

I loved the girls. The Four Loco’s (cringe to the extreme brilliance) The plot was so ridiculous, following them on Kate’s hen weekend in Vegas a week before her nuptials, ridiculous but believable in the way that things that only happen when your drunk are. Enough backstory to easily get into the plot, and get to know the girls, and to introduce DJ Trevor Rush to the story. Yet enough emotion to have you rooting for a happy ending. Cute. Sweet. Funny. The perfect cheer you up novel. I loved the narration too.

Easy 4 stars 🌟

Thank you to MacMillan U.K. audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Karen's World.
490 reviews10 followers
November 27, 2023
What the girls get up to on a hen weekend in Vegas, funny, cringy but well worth spending a weekend reading this. Vegas sounds great if you’ve never been but remember what happens in vegas stays in vegas.
Profile Image for Naomi .
269 reviews9 followers
March 23, 2024
0 stars this was atrocious and no irish woman would EVER CALL PENNEYS PRIMARK.
Profile Image for Tasha.
66 reviews
February 7, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I saw a review that said ‘Derry Girls in Las Vegas’ and I have to 100% absolutely agree!

This was a hilarious story full of Irish Gal charm, banter and friendship!

An easy listen (I had the audiobook version) and throughly enjoyable! Likeable and funny characters and yes it was a typical HEA ending but that’s what Rom-Coms are meant to have and this ticked the Rom-Com criteria to a T!

4 stars!
Author 1 book9 followers
February 12, 2024


When Kate chooses to have her hendo in Las Vegas, the saying 'What stays in what happens in Las Vegas' stays in Las Vegas applies.

Kate has been in love with one guy for the last nine years. But she's now moved on and ready to marry Norman, the dentist, and have the happiest day of her life.

But Kate and her three best friends head to Vegas for the weekend. It doesn't end well when alcohol is involved, and fate brings you the love of your life.

This novel was the Hangover meets How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days, with fantastic one-liners that left me laughing, especially with the character Siobhan.

Our main character, Kate, develops so much in this novel but, this couldn't be done without her best friends, and this novel would not be the same without them.

From the start, Murray gives us characters we know to dislike, with a narrative you won't see coming and a happy ever after that will have readers, and characters, with their jaws dropped to the floor.

This was a fantastic novel and I would honestly love to have a continuation with the other friends having a main storyline.
Profile Image for Becky.
49 reviews2 followers
January 31, 2024
Hitched is a hilarious comedy which follows a group of 4 best friends on a bachelorette party to Vegas. Kate, siobhan, nat and chloe also known as the 4 lokos are reliving their youth with a wild weekend before kate marries Norman, the one who ticks all her boxes. Except when the weekend really does go wild, Kate wakes up already married. Except its not to Norman. Its to world famous DJ Trevor Rush, who coincidentally happens to be kates ex boyfriend who cheated on her. And Kate doesn't remember a second of it. But Trevor won't let her go so easily and makes Kate agree to 3 dates with him before he signs the annulment. Can Kate resist his smug smile and cheeky charm? Or will her heart fall all over again?

What a refreshingly hilarious book. I have not laughed out loud at a book for a long time but this really hit the mark. Siobhan has some of my favourite one liners and sarcastic comments I have ever heard. This group of girls is a comfort group for sure and makes us all remember the wild and wonderful stories of our youth. This is an absolute triumph and a great read to kick back and relax with.
101 reviews
February 5, 2024
Guys, I laughed SO MUCH! Kate and her friends are just hilarious, I loved the humour, and how we rout for Trevor directly cause.... Normann is a douch! It's a miscommunication trope, so be warned. Also no spice in there, but I was laughing so much I didn't even care! If you need a light book / audiobook to make you feel good, go for that! I listened to the audiobook and found it really good.

*Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan UK Audio for access to the audiobook against a honest review.*
45 reviews2 followers
February 5, 2024
Wow! 'Bridesmaids meets The Hangover!'
Definitely the funniest read so far this year! Had me giggling and laughing out loud the whole way through! I would love for this to be a series of interconnected standalones, just to spend more time with these girls!

Here we meet super organised Kate, who is off on her well planned Hen Party with her best friends. We follow the group on the journey of their Hen Party, the highs, the lows and the laugh out louds in between! Kate thinks she has met the one, until a blast from the past shakes up her present. We all love a second chance romance! One for the swifties out there too! I would love a playlist for this!

Loved the message throughout this book - never giving up on your dreams!

Overall, such a good laugh! So may one liners! Could not put this down, and keeps you wanting more! I has so much fun! Would definitely recommended.
Profile Image for Rebecca Larsen.
248 reviews8 followers
January 25, 2024
Second chance romance? Las Vegas? Drunken night mishap? It all sounded so boring and done before. And it has been. But it didn't stop me loving this book! The characters were fun, the plot predictable yet comforting, and the message of never giving up on your dreams - no matter what they are - was a nice sideline. Not a literary masterpiece, but a great read.
Profile Image for Rachael.
489 reviews2 followers
February 13, 2024
Absolute perfection!
This was the book that I didn't know I needed and found myself completely hooked and laughing my head off.
I loved the storyline, with the mix of Bridesmaids & The Hangover and I found myself laughing along throughout. From reading, you could tell how the story was going to end, but this didn't affect me reading it and I completely devoured it and got caught up within the story.
I loved the friendships between the girls and each one was so unique and dynamic. They were very supportive of each other and their banter was just hilarious.
There were important topics covered in the book and these were written so well. The writing style of the book was so easy to read and instantly gets you invested in each character.
I adored Trevor 🥰 He was just perfection, especially compared to Norman (less said about him the better!) and the ending was every thing I could have wished for and had me on tenterhooks at one point. I would love to see a sequel to this and follow the friends on another life journey together.
Profile Image for Megan.
171 reviews14 followers
February 18, 2024
‘I was just a chapter in your book. But you were the title of mine.’

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan for letting me read this book!

First of all, omg this book was so good. It’s the perfect second chance romance book. I normally don’t like books written in third person but this book was *chefs kiss*.

I loved all the characters but especially the girls, their connection with each other was amazing and they are such an iconic group of swifties!!

Kate has planned a perfect, well thought through hen do to Las Vegas with her girlies. But when they have too much to drink one night, she wakes up in a hotel room with a ring on her finger. Only to discover that she married her ex however in order for her to get the annulment, he gives her a condition, go on three dates with him and then he will sign. What could possibly go wrong (or right 😏)
Profile Image for Pheobe Harper.
93 reviews2 followers
February 11, 2024
Kate is the ultimate planner and she has biggest event yet... her wedding! She's planned for the happily ever after until Kate and her 3 best friends head to Vegas for her hen party!

Typically, me and third person books do not get along, but I'm so glad I gave this book a go! I found it easy to keep up with all of the characters, I loved all of their personalitys.

I don't think I've ever read a book that made me laugh as much as this one. The girls all work so well together, and the banter between them is A*.

No spice involved, and this might be one or my top books for the year.

I had this in my list of books to read for a while, and I'm disappointed in myself I didn't put it higher in the list.

I was kindly gifted this book by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for HotHeadBookNerd.
42 reviews1 follower
February 12, 2024
Firstly Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC of this book. Please note this gift has not affected the way in which I have reviewed this book.

The most Hilarious story of a group of girlfriends from Ireland running Wilde in Las Vegas, I’ve read so far!

The quote of the month for me has to be: “Who has babies away? It’s like keeping sperm as a pet!”

I’m giving it a big round Five Stars all the way!!!
Profile Image for Clarke.
359 reviews7 followers
January 10, 2024
DNF @ 38%
I'm sorry, I genuinely tried but every other sentence made me wanna scream, throw my phone, or punch the author. Give it a rest with the quirky statements you’re hoping will be quoted all over insta in 2010 and educate yourself on what is actually okay.

This book was cringey from the off (at best), and not in a good way. The introduction of the book was very odd and Kate clearly didn't wanna marry the guy from the off so kinda ruined the suspense (not that the plot wasn't obvious anyway but this definitely removed any tension/stress immediately bc why would she pick him?). The introduction of each friend felt stilted and almost like purposefully giving everyone a stereotype to play. I can't imagine ever calling on of my friends a 'curvy brunette' or 'she seldom touched grass'. How dare someone want to take a selfie on holiday with their friends/at a hen do??? The irony of mocking people using social media whilst also referencing it or using popular phrases extremely frequently throughout seems to be lost on the author. The conversation about 'you can't say fat' and pansexuality was fucking hell. I don't care if the author says a friend questioned it "innocently", it was gross. The whole conversation and subsequent shaming for not having sex in a while despite "double the options" was not remotely okay, nor was it okay to be followed by slut shaming. And "I asked one guy for romance so he asked for a blowjob in the rain" is not funny anymore, nor was it funny when I first heard it in 2005. If the sound of this friendship group wasn't already bad enough, they shame her for breaking up with and blocking her cheating ex (she saw him kissing someone else) without waiting for an explanation - my friends would hunt the man down and help me bury the body yknow? (I imagine this is for vindication when Kate inevitably gets back with her ex and it was all just a big misunderstanding). These people have been friends for years, and yknow exist in a fictional world similar to our own, surely they should understand what it appropriate or not? It's not about being 'woke' but about not being a twat to everyone you encounter? I continued reading past this and hoped maybe it'd get better, and to give it a fair shot, but it kept that same energy. I couldn't ignore these issues and the humour felt very dated - it's marketed as a cross between the hangover and bridesmaids and probably would've been more suited to a release at that time period.

Also how the fuck is four loco so strong that you black out every time you drink? She'd probably disintegrate after a whiff of vodka.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
Profile Image for Sophie Farrar-Mills.
42 reviews14 followers
February 13, 2024
After having DNFed this author's debut, I went into this a little reserved. But since I'm having quite the love affair with second chance romances this year, Hitched sounded perfect for me. Filled with Irish charm (it's 100% Derry Girls go to Vegas), Taylor Swift references and the best group of gal pals this side of the Atlantic, Hitched will have you laughing from the first page. We meet Kate, bride-to-be, jetting off the Las Vegas with her three best friends on a hen trip of a life time. Kate's friends aren't the biggest fan of Kate's fiancé, but they love her to pieces and will do anything to give her the best weekend of her life. Well, the best weekend since those she spent with ex-boyfriend Trevor almost a decade ago. A chance encounter with her lost love and a spate of Vegas amnesia leaves Kate and Trevor married, and Kate desperate to annul the marriage before her wedding at the end of the week! Trevor will sign the papers on one condition - Kate goes on three dates with him.

My main issue is that I was left wanting so much more. Hitched was fun, but not groundbreaking. This novel didn't so much feature the miscommunication aspect that a lot of romance books do, but rather features our bride-to-be just not communicating at all. This story needn't have happened at all if Kate just asked the damn question that needed to be asked! But if Siobhan gets a spin-off, I will be diving headfirst into this world with a one-way ticket.

Read this if you love Derry Girls, What Happens in Vegas and the Married By Mistake trope.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan UK Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Chloe Power.
22 reviews
February 9, 2024
I enjoyed the actual story for the most part, but didn’t enjoy the writing at all - it felt very stunted, with so many references that felt like they were thrown in for the sake of it (Taylor Swift, crystals, starsigns). It just all felt very unbelievable that Kate would be with Norman in the first place when he seemed to have no redeeming qualities for her, and while Trevor is the romantic option, I couldn’t handle one more reference to him smirking. The conversations between the group of four girls were funny but also, no one talks like that.
Profile Image for Danielle.
3 reviews13 followers
Read
September 14, 2025
I have to wonder if the author really thinks that this is what female friendships are like.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews

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