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The Race to Save the Date
The Race to Save the Date is the contest … but the real prize might be her happily ever after.
Maggie is a Los Angeles-based producer living the dream … until her show suddenly gets shelved. Now it feels like everyone has something going on but her—including her best friend Shelby, who’s been renovating an old Vermont barn into an event venue with her husband Adam.
Shelby enters a contest for the venue to be featured on the first season of the upcoming show Save the Date, and—surprise!—is named a finalist. Given that Maggie has … not much going on at the moment, she agrees to help Shelby with the contest while she figures out what’s next.
Maggie isn’t the only one helping out. Enter Cole, the contractor on the project. He’s totally prepared, totally helpful and has a face totally made for television. (Objectively speaking.)
As the contest ramps up, so does the connection between Maggie and Cole. She’s just there for the contest … but what else could she win along the way?
The Race to Save the Date is perfect for fans of fun banter, female friendship, found family and cute, closed-door love stories.
Maggie is a Los Angeles-based producer living the dream … until her show suddenly gets shelved. Now it feels like everyone has something going on but her—including her best friend Shelby, who’s been renovating an old Vermont barn into an event venue with her husband Adam.
Shelby enters a contest for the venue to be featured on the first season of the upcoming show Save the Date, and—surprise!—is named a finalist. Given that Maggie has … not much going on at the moment, she agrees to help Shelby with the contest while she figures out what’s next.
Maggie isn’t the only one helping out. Enter Cole, the contractor on the project. He’s totally prepared, totally helpful and has a face totally made for television. (Objectively speaking.)
As the contest ramps up, so does the connection between Maggie and Cole. She’s just there for the contest … but what else could she win along the way?
The Race to Save the Date is perfect for fans of fun banter, female friendship, found family and cute, closed-door love stories.
205 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 27, 2025
•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•
{𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒆}
“𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚣𝚒𝚗𝚐.”
🎬 Release Date: February 28, 2025 🎬
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I LOVED this book!! I quickly fell in love with the writing style; it was very upbeat and captivating and definitely kept my interest piqued in the story. This was the first book I’ve read by Holly Dart and I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up enjoying it!
The characters in this story were amazing! They were the type that instantly win you over and keep you constantly smiling or giggling at their antics. I also found the plot very entertaining and genuinely wanted to know how everything was going to work out in the end!
The story began with Maggie losing her job and deciding to go to Vermont to assist her friend, Shelby, with participating in a contest, The Race to Save the Date, put on by the Gather Network. The goal was to win best venue and then Gather would use the winning venue to film their new show, Save the Date. Shelby’s event venue was a gorgeous remodeled barn that had belonged to her husband’s grandparents and, with it being located in Vermont, it was in an ideal location that had beautiful seasons. Maggie’s job was to film the video content that would be submitted for the public to vote on the best venue.
Shelby was unable to pick Maggie up at the airport so she sent Cole Allen, a Mr. Prepared for Anything good looking fellow. While Maggie did feel a sense of attraction towards him, she found herself conflicted because she would have also loved to start a relationship with her best friend, Archie. I found myself torn as well because I loved both Cole and Archie, as either of them would have been perfect for Maggie!
Grandma Birdie was the best and totally stole the show with her lovable character! I loved the way she said whatever she was thinking and wasn’t afraid to show her appreciation for Cole’s good looks 🤭 She definitely had me giggling a few times!
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.
.
Thank you, Holly, for allowing me to read an arc of your new book 🩵
{𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒆}
“𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚣𝚒𝚗𝚐.”
🎬 Release Date: February 28, 2025 🎬
.
.
.
I LOVED this book!! I quickly fell in love with the writing style; it was very upbeat and captivating and definitely kept my interest piqued in the story. This was the first book I’ve read by Holly Dart and I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up enjoying it!
The characters in this story were amazing! They were the type that instantly win you over and keep you constantly smiling or giggling at their antics. I also found the plot very entertaining and genuinely wanted to know how everything was going to work out in the end!
The story began with Maggie losing her job and deciding to go to Vermont to assist her friend, Shelby, with participating in a contest, The Race to Save the Date, put on by the Gather Network. The goal was to win best venue and then Gather would use the winning venue to film their new show, Save the Date. Shelby’s event venue was a gorgeous remodeled barn that had belonged to her husband’s grandparents and, with it being located in Vermont, it was in an ideal location that had beautiful seasons. Maggie’s job was to film the video content that would be submitted for the public to vote on the best venue.
Shelby was unable to pick Maggie up at the airport so she sent Cole Allen, a Mr. Prepared for Anything good looking fellow. While Maggie did feel a sense of attraction towards him, she found herself conflicted because she would have also loved to start a relationship with her best friend, Archie. I found myself torn as well because I loved both Cole and Archie, as either of them would have been perfect for Maggie!
Grandma Birdie was the best and totally stole the show with her lovable character! I loved the way she said whatever she was thinking and wasn’t afraid to show her appreciation for Cole’s good looks 🤭 She definitely had me giggling a few times!
.
.
.
Thank you, Holly, for allowing me to read an arc of your new book 🩵
March 22, 2025
⭐️4.5 rounded up for Goodreads
Language 🤐: Clean
Spice ❤️🔥: Kisses only
- Love that sneaks up on you
- Hilarious internal dialog
- Super relatable FMC
- TV Show Competition
- Super fun Best friend
- Character growth
- Just a super comfy warm feeling read
I adored this book! From the dedication to the end of the story this book is just a feel good story! It focuses on Maggie and her trip to help her friend Shelby after the show she has been working on producing get cancelled. So from LA to Vermont she goes when she finds out that Shelby has entered her venue into a contest for a chance to be featured in a TV show.
"She wanted to be doing something. Even if it was being a part of someone else's something, she wanted to be doing something."
Internal dialog like this is what makes Maggie so relatable! She is searching to find herself when everything she's worked for is not working out. I feel like we can all relate at one point or another. I definitely can. Maggies made me laugh and crack up and I just felt like man I can relate to this girl! Shelby is the hype girl everyone needs as this best friend. Her and Maggies interactions had me smiling. Truly all the characters were absolutely delightful.
Cole is such a sweet character. I feel like this book highlights a love that sneaks up on you in a way that is beautiful and unexpected. I feel like this happens where it is something that you weren't looking for but suddenly it's there.
If you want a cozy story with wonderful relatable characters, a MFC that is so relatable and a tender romance that sneaks up when you aren't looking, and all the warm fuzzy feelings for it this book is for you!
I look forward to reading more of Holly Dart's wonderful work and appreciate so much the opportunity I had to read her wonderful story!
Language 🤐: Clean
Spice ❤️🔥: Kisses only
- Love that sneaks up on you
- Hilarious internal dialog
- Super relatable FMC
- TV Show Competition
- Super fun Best friend
- Character growth
- Just a super comfy warm feeling read
I adored this book! From the dedication to the end of the story this book is just a feel good story! It focuses on Maggie and her trip to help her friend Shelby after the show she has been working on producing get cancelled. So from LA to Vermont she goes when she finds out that Shelby has entered her venue into a contest for a chance to be featured in a TV show.
"She wanted to be doing something. Even if it was being a part of someone else's something, she wanted to be doing something."
Internal dialog like this is what makes Maggie so relatable! She is searching to find herself when everything she's worked for is not working out. I feel like we can all relate at one point or another. I definitely can. Maggies made me laugh and crack up and I just felt like man I can relate to this girl! Shelby is the hype girl everyone needs as this best friend. Her and Maggies interactions had me smiling. Truly all the characters were absolutely delightful.
Cole is such a sweet character. I feel like this book highlights a love that sneaks up on you in a way that is beautiful and unexpected. I feel like this happens where it is something that you weren't looking for but suddenly it's there.
If you want a cozy story with wonderful relatable characters, a MFC that is so relatable and a tender romance that sneaks up when you aren't looking, and all the warm fuzzy feelings for it this book is for you!
I look forward to reading more of Holly Dart's wonderful work and appreciate so much the opportunity I had to read her wonderful story!
March 13, 2025
Cole + Maggie
I really enjoyed this sweet romance!
Cole is so quiet and mysterious. He doesn’t show all of his cards at once. He has already seen Maggie years prior at their friend’s wedding but he didn’t take his shot. Now he has to pick Maggie up from the airport & after spending time together and remembering her free spirit from the wedding - he really wants to make it work.
There are a lot of swoon worthy moments in this one that I absolutely LOVED.
Favorite quotes -
“Maggie,” he said again, and waited until he was sure he had her attention. “You’re the only woman on or off the internet I’m worried about right now.” His gaze caught hers and held on. “Okay?”
She wasn’t anything close to an artist, but looking at him made her want to be. She felt like she could study that face forever.
Content -
No foul language
Kisses only
I really enjoyed this sweet romance!
Cole is so quiet and mysterious. He doesn’t show all of his cards at once. He has already seen Maggie years prior at their friend’s wedding but he didn’t take his shot. Now he has to pick Maggie up from the airport & after spending time together and remembering her free spirit from the wedding - he really wants to make it work.
There are a lot of swoon worthy moments in this one that I absolutely LOVED.
Favorite quotes -
“Maggie,” he said again, and waited until he was sure he had her attention. “You’re the only woman on or off the internet I’m worried about right now.” His gaze caught hers and held on. “Okay?”
She wasn’t anything close to an artist, but looking at him made her want to be. She felt like she could study that face forever.
Content -
No foul language
Kisses only
January 18, 2026
This was my first book by this author. It was a cute story. It follows a woman who had some unforeseen circumstances develop in her life, and a door opened for her to go visit a friend, stepping through that door allowed her to find a renewed friendship and romance, along with a new purpose. The pace of the book went by quickly. I did like all of the characters. It felt like the romance could’ve been a little more developed and begun earlier in the book, but had a good ending.
February 16, 2026
Great Friendmance and Romance
A fabulous story about best friends with witty dialogue and inner monologue and blossoming romance! Lots to bring a smile to your face and happy book feels to your heart!
A fabulous story about best friends with witty dialogue and inner monologue and blossoming romance! Lots to bring a smile to your face and happy book feels to your heart!
March 10, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book, and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author!
Want to Read
April 10, 2025This book has been nominated for a 2025 Swoony Award, to vote for it click here: Swoony Awards.
March 27, 2025
I loved this book for lots of reasons…it’s a fun read, the characters are people I’d love to be friends with, there’s little moments of wisdom throughout, great examples of friendship and a really cute love story! This is a book you can share with your mom, grandma, church ladies, teenagers, really anyone without worrying about offending them 💙
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews