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Save the Date: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 14 Apr 26A romantic comedy of manners about a lavish wedding weekend gone very, very wrong with the slow-burn romance of Emily Henry and the fizzy humor of Sophie Kinsella.
The Bride: Beautiful, seemingly carefree Marigold, is tired of being treated like a shallow it-girl. That’s one of the many reasons she’s excited to marry Jonathan—the handsome, kind, respectable doctor of her dreams. So, when a shocking secret from her past threatens to ruin her wedding, she’ll do anything to make it disappear...even if it means tracking down a man she vowed to avoid forever.
The Maid of Honor: As the bride’s best friend, all Natalie wants is for this wedding to go off without a hitch. There’s only one problem: Natalie has secretly been in love with the groom since college. When Marigold disappears, Natalie is forced to ask whether she can keep burying her feelings for the sake of friendship...or if she’s ready to risk everything to pursue her own happy ending.
The Sister: Olivia has spent her life cleaning up Marigold’s messes. So, she’s determined to keep the wedding on track for the sake of their mother, who’s battling cancer and longs for one last perfect weekend. But when Jonathan’s best man—a prickly academic with a heart of gold—ropes her into a fake dating scheme, sparks unexpectedly fly. Will Olivia sacrifice her own happiness again, or could this fake relationship turn into the truest choice she’s ever made?
Heartwarming, hilarious, and sparklingly romantic, Save the Date will have you cheering for love in all its messy, unexpected glory.
The Bride: Beautiful, seemingly carefree Marigold, is tired of being treated like a shallow it-girl. That’s one of the many reasons she’s excited to marry Jonathan—the handsome, kind, respectable doctor of her dreams. So, when a shocking secret from her past threatens to ruin her wedding, she’ll do anything to make it disappear...even if it means tracking down a man she vowed to avoid forever.
The Maid of Honor: As the bride’s best friend, all Natalie wants is for this wedding to go off without a hitch. There’s only one problem: Natalie has secretly been in love with the groom since college. When Marigold disappears, Natalie is forced to ask whether she can keep burying her feelings for the sake of friendship...or if she’s ready to risk everything to pursue her own happy ending.
The Sister: Olivia has spent her life cleaning up Marigold’s messes. So, she’s determined to keep the wedding on track for the sake of their mother, who’s battling cancer and longs for one last perfect weekend. But when Jonathan’s best man—a prickly academic with a heart of gold—ropes her into a fake dating scheme, sparks unexpectedly fly. Will Olivia sacrifice her own happiness again, or could this fake relationship turn into the truest choice she’s ever made?
Heartwarming, hilarious, and sparklingly romantic, Save the Date will have you cheering for love in all its messy, unexpected glory.
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 14, 2026
398 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
October 24, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ Review to come.
December 4, 2025
weddings are so serious to me!!!
the cover and title of this book had me hooked before i even knew what it was really about. once i read the synopsis and realized it was following three different women at a wedding, the bride, the maid of honor, and the bride's sister... i was so in!! this book truly felt like one of those early 2000's romcom where you follow tons of characters, i.e. valentines day and he's just not that into you, and i was eating it up. i loved the maine setting so much, it reminded me of the proposal. basically this book just felt like one big romcom, it truly was written for the movie girlies and i loved it!!
marigold and olivia were lovely to read about. in an earlier update i said that marigold and hugo felt like a east coast sweet home alabama story and i'm sticking by that. from the moment we learned about their predicament i knew their story would be my favorite to follow. it was for the most part, hello the dog remembering and missing her is unmatched. olivia and zack did end up beating them out but it's truly just because olivia was my favorite character to follow through this messy wedding weekend. give me an overworked and misunderstood older sister any day of the week, i will eat up that story forever and ever!! zack truly was the best partner for her, he was so sweet and understanding. plus at one point he said to her "i love the way your brain works" and that made me swoon harder than any romantic line ever...
sadly my least favorite part of this book was natalie and jonathan. sorry for another movie reference but they were like the couple in something borrowed, in love forever but not saying anything until the very last possible minute.. fucking spare me. i also hated how natalie's character was portrayed, her giving up the mfa for a fake job in nyc... why would a woman give so much up for a man she can't even admit she's in love with. their whole vibe just angered me and i didn't really care where their story ended up. lulu and bill were more interesting and heartwarming.
if you adore romcoms and you love weddings, you're gonna need to put this on your radar for 2026 releases. this would be the perfect beach read and i kinda want a bonus epilogue of my babies, olivia and zack, living their very best life..
*thank you atria marketing for the early copy!*
the cover and title of this book had me hooked before i even knew what it was really about. once i read the synopsis and realized it was following three different women at a wedding, the bride, the maid of honor, and the bride's sister... i was so in!! this book truly felt like one of those early 2000's romcom where you follow tons of characters, i.e. valentines day and he's just not that into you, and i was eating it up. i loved the maine setting so much, it reminded me of the proposal. basically this book just felt like one big romcom, it truly was written for the movie girlies and i loved it!!
marigold and olivia were lovely to read about. in an earlier update i said that marigold and hugo felt like a east coast sweet home alabama story and i'm sticking by that. from the moment we learned about their predicament i knew their story would be my favorite to follow. it was for the most part, hello the dog remembering and missing her is unmatched. olivia and zack did end up beating them out but it's truly just because olivia was my favorite character to follow through this messy wedding weekend. give me an overworked and misunderstood older sister any day of the week, i will eat up that story forever and ever!! zack truly was the best partner for her, he was so sweet and understanding. plus at one point he said to her "i love the way your brain works" and that made me swoon harder than any romantic line ever...
sadly my least favorite part of this book was natalie and jonathan. sorry for another movie reference but they were like the couple in something borrowed, in love forever but not saying anything until the very last possible minute.. fucking spare me. i also hated how natalie's character was portrayed, her giving up the mfa for a fake job in nyc... why would a woman give so much up for a man she can't even admit she's in love with. their whole vibe just angered me and i didn't really care where their story ended up. lulu and bill were more interesting and heartwarming.
if you adore romcoms and you love weddings, you're gonna need to put this on your radar for 2026 releases. this would be the perfect beach read and i kinda want a bonus epilogue of my babies, olivia and zack, living their very best life..
*thank you atria marketing for the early copy!*
November 18, 2025
I received a free copy of, Save the Date, by Mallory Kass, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Marigold is getting married, if only she was divorced first, Her sister Olivia and not much of a friend Natalie, tell their stories as well. I did not care for the characters or story.
November 13, 2025
Marigold is getting married- if she can fly to Canada and get a quick divorce without anyone knowing.
Olivia is her corporate lawyer sister, who is crushing on a guy there (the wrong one). She is keeping it as secret from Marigold that their mom Lulu has stopped her cancer treatment and won’t be around much longer.
Natalie is the maid of honor, who has loved the groom Jonathan for 10 years in secret.
There is a lot to love about this book- I genuinely liked reading it and laughed out loud at several lines. The banter is elite and I did love the setting. The premise reminded me a lot of The wedding People as it was a very high luxury wedding at a resort and several characters.
What I didn’t like was the utter selfishness of all the characters- which I completely get was the point- but at the end it got a little harder to root for them. Except Lulu, who was a delight. This book could have used a precocious child or a dog.
That said, I very much enjoyed the pacing and consistency. I will go back and read more by this new-to-me author.
3.75/5
Thanks to NetGalley and atria for the ARC! Book to be published April 13, 2026.
Olivia is her corporate lawyer sister, who is crushing on a guy there (the wrong one). She is keeping it as secret from Marigold that their mom Lulu has stopped her cancer treatment and won’t be around much longer.
Natalie is the maid of honor, who has loved the groom Jonathan for 10 years in secret.
There is a lot to love about this book- I genuinely liked reading it and laughed out loud at several lines. The banter is elite and I did love the setting. The premise reminded me a lot of The wedding People as it was a very high luxury wedding at a resort and several characters.
What I didn’t like was the utter selfishness of all the characters- which I completely get was the point- but at the end it got a little harder to root for them. Except Lulu, who was a delight. This book could have used a precocious child or a dog.
That said, I very much enjoyed the pacing and consistency. I will go back and read more by this new-to-me author.
3.75/5
Thanks to NetGalley and atria for the ARC! Book to be published April 13, 2026.
November 2, 2025
I like books with multiple POVs but here characters are not interesting. I’m sure some people will like this but this books isn’t for me.
November 9, 2025
I ACTUALLY LOVED READING THIS BOOK!
Usually I don’t read books that talk about more than one person, but this one was amazing. The book is about the story of 3 women and how they are connected and how their experiences affect the other’s life. I literally finished it in one day and I loved the ending of this book. I highly recommend everyone to read it.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Usually I don’t read books that talk about more than one person, but this one was amazing. The book is about the story of 3 women and how they are connected and how their experiences affect the other’s life. I literally finished it in one day and I loved the ending of this book. I highly recommend everyone to read it.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
September 24, 2025
3.5 ✨
RTC
Thanks to NetGalley & Atria Books
RTC
Thanks to NetGalley & Atria Books
August 23, 2025
3/5✨
⤷ 𝒷𝓇𝒾ℯ𝒻 𝓈𝓊𝓂𝓂𝒶𝓇𝓎
Marigold is getting ready to marry the man of her dreams...until she realizes her divorce papers were never finalized from her first secret marriage. Natalie, the maid of honor is credited for introducing Marigold and Jonathan, but no one knows she's been in love with him since college. Olivia has a lot on her plate during her sister's wedding, but fake-dating the annoying best man wasn't part of the plan.
⤷𝓂𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈
Listen. I love drama. I love weddings. I love Maine. But there was SO MUCH going on here. I was pretty hooked the whole time as the story moved between the three female leads each chapter. I just wish they were more likable. Marigold is vapid and irresponsible, but she judges all of her high-society friends for the SAME THINGS. Why does Natalie only have one friend?? She and Marigold might be super tight, but come on girl, meet some new people. Maybe stop JUDGING every person you meet SO harshly. Olivia's only personality trait is that she's a soulless bitch who never stops working and, you guessed it, judges every person she meets for every thing they ever do. And it's never explained why she hates Natalie so much either.
The drama was good though, I won't lie. There were a couple times I gasped. It was like watching a soap: highly unrealistic but extremely entertaining. I read this very quickly, considering I'm in a reading slump. Despite Olivia's annoying traits, her romance with Zach was my favorite to follow. I love a good fake dating and "only one bed" trope, especially at a wedding.
If you don't like cheating, this book is not for you. There is both emotional and physical cheating that takes place. Given the nature of the plot, I definitely saw it coming, but cheating always makes me less sympathetic for the characters. They knew what they were doing.
Also there way way way too many modern references in this book. I DO NOT WANT TO READ ABOUT AI GENERATED GIRLFRIENDS OR THE INSUFFERABLE MAN'S SUBSTACK, for goodness sake.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
⤷ 𝒷𝓇𝒾ℯ𝒻 𝓈𝓊𝓂𝓂𝒶𝓇𝓎
Marigold is getting ready to marry the man of her dreams...until she realizes her divorce papers were never finalized from her first secret marriage. Natalie, the maid of honor is credited for introducing Marigold and Jonathan, but no one knows she's been in love with him since college. Olivia has a lot on her plate during her sister's wedding, but fake-dating the annoying best man wasn't part of the plan.
⤷𝓂𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈
Listen. I love drama. I love weddings. I love Maine. But there was SO MUCH going on here. I was pretty hooked the whole time as the story moved between the three female leads each chapter. I just wish they were more likable. Marigold is vapid and irresponsible, but she judges all of her high-society friends for the SAME THINGS. Why does Natalie only have one friend?? She and Marigold might be super tight, but come on girl, meet some new people. Maybe stop JUDGING every person you meet SO harshly. Olivia's only personality trait is that she's a soulless bitch who never stops working and, you guessed it, judges every person she meets for every thing they ever do. And it's never explained why she hates Natalie so much either.
The drama was good though, I won't lie. There were a couple times I gasped. It was like watching a soap: highly unrealistic but extremely entertaining. I read this very quickly, considering I'm in a reading slump. Despite Olivia's annoying traits, her romance with Zach was my favorite to follow. I love a good fake dating and "only one bed" trope, especially at a wedding.
If you don't like cheating, this book is not for you. There is both emotional and physical cheating that takes place. Given the nature of the plot, I definitely saw it coming, but cheating always makes me less sympathetic for the characters. They knew what they were doing.
Also there way way way too many modern references in this book. I DO NOT WANT TO READ ABOUT AI GENERATED GIRLFRIENDS OR THE INSUFFERABLE MAN'S SUBSTACK, for goodness sake.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
August 19, 2025
Save the Date is a romantic comedy set over a weekend at the extravagant wedding of Marigold and Jonathan. Told in three separate POVs; we meet Marigold the fun-loving bride and social media influencer, Natalie the maid of honor who is secretly pining for the groom, and Olivia the bride’s sister who finds herself fake dating the best man to make her crush jealous.
My favorite storyline was Oliva’s fake relationship with best man Zack. When her crush Andrew arrives at the wedding with a model, Zack suggests the perfect way to make him jealous is to pretend they are in a relationship. I am a sucker for the fake dating trope. Not to mention Zack and Olivia have great banter.
Beyond the glitz and glamour and hijinks, each of the women has a secret they are struggling to keep. And while it is a romance, the relationship I was rooting for most was the friendship between them.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC.
My favorite storyline was Oliva’s fake relationship with best man Zack. When her crush Andrew arrives at the wedding with a model, Zack suggests the perfect way to make him jealous is to pretend they are in a relationship. I am a sucker for the fake dating trope. Not to mention Zack and Olivia have great banter.
Beyond the glitz and glamour and hijinks, each of the women has a secret they are struggling to keep. And while it is a romance, the relationship I was rooting for most was the friendship between them.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC.
November 17, 2025
3 ⭐️
Thank you to Atria Books for sending me a widget and inviting me to read this, and to NetGalley also for providing the review copy of Save the Date. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Honestly, what a ride. This book was something else. You could hand me this plot as a script and I’d fully believe it was meant for a soap opera because the level of chaos in this was unreal. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything that juggles this many romantic disasters and twists at once.
First off, the bride is still technically married. Meanwhile, the groom has a crush on the maid of honour, and the said maid of honour has been silently in love with him since their college days. And if that weren’t enough, the bride’s sister decides to fake-date one of the groomsmen to get the attention of the guy she actually wants, only to accidentally fall for her fake boyfriend instead.
But the plot doesn’t even stop there. taking it upon herself, the bride decides to go and hunt down her still-husband in Canada to get those divorce papers resigned.
The narrative hops between three POVs, the bride, the maid of honour, and the bride’s sister, each offering their own version of events leading up to the wedding and own circumstances.
It’s messy, dramatic, and was sometimes hard to keep up with, but it was entertaining. A whirlwind of romantic entanglements that kept me equal parts confused and invested, and some did in the end get married!
Thank you to Atria Books for sending me a widget and inviting me to read this, and to NetGalley also for providing the review copy of Save the Date. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Honestly, what a ride. This book was something else. You could hand me this plot as a script and I’d fully believe it was meant for a soap opera because the level of chaos in this was unreal. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything that juggles this many romantic disasters and twists at once.
First off, the bride is still technically married. Meanwhile, the groom has a crush on the maid of honour, and the said maid of honour has been silently in love with him since their college days. And if that weren’t enough, the bride’s sister decides to fake-date one of the groomsmen to get the attention of the guy she actually wants, only to accidentally fall for her fake boyfriend instead.
But the plot doesn’t even stop there. taking it upon herself, the bride decides to go and hunt down her still-husband in Canada to get those divorce papers resigned.
The narrative hops between three POVs, the bride, the maid of honour, and the bride’s sister, each offering their own version of events leading up to the wedding and own circumstances.
It’s messy, dramatic, and was sometimes hard to keep up with, but it was entertaining. A whirlwind of romantic entanglements that kept me equal parts confused and invested, and some did in the end get married!
November 29, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Mallory Kass for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for my honest opinions and thoughts.
**A special thank you thank you thank you to Atria Books for inviting me to read this book. I am super honored and appreciative for this opportunity.
Save The Date is told in 3 POV's (which I totally love.) This book was so hard to put down, I couldn't get enough. It brought to mind all my favorite 2000's Rom-Com movies like: Sweet Home Alabama, My Best Friends Wedding and Something Borrowed. I love how Ms. Mallory took us through each person's story while weaving the inter-connected story, OMG 5 star Michelin chef's kiss. The character development and world building is phenomenal. The flow is perfect.
If y'all loved the 2000's Rom-Coms, then this book is for y'all.
I wholeheartedly recommend that y'all get y'alls hands on this book, trust me on this one. Y'all won't be disappointed.
**A special thank you thank you thank you to Atria Books for inviting me to read this book. I am super honored and appreciative for this opportunity.
Save The Date is told in 3 POV's (which I totally love.) This book was so hard to put down, I couldn't get enough. It brought to mind all my favorite 2000's Rom-Com movies like: Sweet Home Alabama, My Best Friends Wedding and Something Borrowed. I love how Ms. Mallory took us through each person's story while weaving the inter-connected story, OMG 5 star Michelin chef's kiss. The character development and world building is phenomenal. The flow is perfect.
If y'all loved the 2000's Rom-Coms, then this book is for y'all.
I wholeheartedly recommend that y'all get y'alls hands on this book, trust me on this one. Y'all won't be disappointed.
November 4, 2025
Save the Date was everything I never knew I needed in a romcom. Three women, a bride, the sister and the best friend all work through their own personal struggles as they prepare a giant wedding in Maine.
The bride Marigold has a secret and a dilemma she has to resolve asap. Olivia the sister also has a secret and suddenly a fake boyfriend. Natalie the bff and maid of honor has a secret crush and struggles with feeling the odd one out compared to the others in the wedding party.
It was messy and sloppy and hilarious. But it’s also sweet and sad and introspective. I loved this book and if I’m honest I wouldn’t mind watching a big screen version of this from my couch one afternoon cuddled up in a blanket and swooning over the leading men.
My only criticism is the epilogue. Kass made me love all these characters and I wanted more of a teeny tiny glimpse of them in their futures. Just a little one beyond the wedding.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
The bride Marigold has a secret and a dilemma she has to resolve asap. Olivia the sister also has a secret and suddenly a fake boyfriend. Natalie the bff and maid of honor has a secret crush and struggles with feeling the odd one out compared to the others in the wedding party.
It was messy and sloppy and hilarious. But it’s also sweet and sad and introspective. I loved this book and if I’m honest I wouldn’t mind watching a big screen version of this from my couch one afternoon cuddled up in a blanket and swooning over the leading men.
My only criticism is the epilogue. Kass made me love all these characters and I wanted more of a teeny tiny glimpse of them in their futures. Just a little one beyond the wedding.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 23, 2025
Ok, the characters in this book are super interesting and feel incredibly real. But also...they are really terrible at communicating. And not very nice. I really just wanted all the main characters to stop worrying about love and get some therapy? I did love Hugo and Humphrey though, they were the best part of the whole thing!
August 10, 2025
Save the Date by Mallory Kass was such a fun and engaging read! I loved how the story switched between Marigold, Natalie, and Olivia, giving each woman a distinct voice and swapping between them at just the right moments. Marigold is determined to marry her perfect doctor fiancé, but her past threatens to unravel everything. Natalie, her best friend and maid of honor, secretly harbors feelings for the groom and has to decide whether to finally speak up. And Olivia, Marigold’s sister, just wants to make the day perfect for their mother. I really enjoyed how each romantic plotline unfolded differently but felt equally satisfying. The multiple perspectives added depth and emotion, and it was refreshing to read a love story that wasn’t just about one couple but a whole web of relationships, each messy, real, and heartfelt.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 23, 2025
This was such a fun and engaging read about a weekend wedding where everything goes wrong. This intensely fast paced story had me smiling an awful lot and I was constantly wondering what drama would be stirred up next.
I loved getting perspectives from Marigold, Olivia, and Natalie, even if I didn’t always find them to be the most likable characters. I appreciated how easy it was to keep the three women straight since all of their voices were so different.
If you are looking for a plot driven romcom full of drama you may want to check this one out.
Read this if you like:
💐 Multiple POV
💐 Fake dating
💐 Only one bed
💐 Drama
Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy of the book.
I loved getting perspectives from Marigold, Olivia, and Natalie, even if I didn’t always find them to be the most likable characters. I appreciated how easy it was to keep the three women straight since all of their voices were so different.
If you are looking for a plot driven romcom full of drama you may want to check this one out.
Read this if you like:
💐 Multiple POV
💐 Fake dating
💐 Only one bed
💐 Drama
Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy of the book.
November 21, 2025
thank you to netgalley and atria books for the arc! (3.25 ★)
it's that time of the year! wedding season! marigold cannot wait to get married!.....right after she settles a snafu with a man she never thought she'd see again...while she runs off to try and cover that mistake up, her maid of honor, natalie faces a bigger challenge of facing and eradicating her crush (more than crush if you ask anyone..) on..the groom. and while the maid of honor struggles through her moral dilemmas and the bride strives to fix a legal matter, the sister of the bride, olivia finds herself caught in a fake dating plot with a guy she can't quite stand, who's the best man of the groom. (doesn't this sound like a proper MESS ough OODLES AND OODLES OF FUN!!)
honestly, as someone who loves family drama (and i mean lovee. i have multiple lists of various media sorted by exact types of family drama) this was sooo fun.
it truly was a really enjoyable story, ESPECIALLY because i think all of the characters were genuinely mature adults that found themselves into messy situations. human existence is messy, finding yourself is messy, and all three of these women went through their own journey! i was so scared going in, having read just that summary (which intrigued me enough to get the arc i will say that) that this would be childish and contrived, but it was a breath of fresh air! i could understand all of their motives, all their decisions, and while i didn't agree with them, they made sense! character work was so gooddddddd (my favorite was obviously olivia. duh. what, you think you can just put a anal-retentive type a major bitch eldest daughter who just wants to be cared for and not be the caretaker for once? and i WASNT going to get immediately attached? let's get #real.)
i was especially worried about marigold being flighty, naive, and childish—an archetype that lesser authors would flatten her character out to be— but thank god for mallory kass, because she wrote three complex well rounded female characters with genuine flaws and strengths like marigold was honestly pretty mature (they call her flighty and i get it but like she's still GROUNDED and level headed and idk i truly expected poppy from people we met on vacation which i hated so i was pleasantly surprised!), was she so type B in a way that stresses me the fuck out? well, yes, you're talking to someone who plans every minute of their day out. every. single. minute. but it was fun! i had fun! and in everyone else's pov it is so clear the foundation of love and trust that they have with marigold and how she loves and cares so deeply and shows it! i forgot all the apprehensions i had abt this book as soon as i delved into the read. there are some minor gripes i had regarding a lack of romantic development for one of the couples imo and there was a typo on page 126- natalie’s husband should be hannah’s husband that i wanted to mention but otherwise:
mallory kass is really an exceptional writer because when u start the book you are so scared for everything to blow up in their faces, and when u get to the end youre rooting FOR an explosion of finally confessing the truth and being honest w each other. olivia's plot seems the most low stakes, but once you get into this book, you're never anxious about the high stress situations marigold and natalie are in, which as someone who gets high strung really easily, was a major plus for me. there's this sense that everything is going to work out which is sort of why you want it to blow up to get resolved and i liked that!
i will say the ending is a bit disappointing, after being on a precipice for the majority of this book and the unraveling mess of a week, the ending doesn't wrap up upon the drama we built up for so long satisfactorily and the reader has to be content sampling knowing the happy ending is about to begin in the future. booo come on please miss kass please give me an epilogue or SOMETHING. but i really truly did love these characters, i had a fun time and that's the most important thing!
finally, my last point is that calling this a comedy of manners is where we get into some issues, because could it be counted as that? maybe if u squinted. the background characters were definitely made to fit the genre, but they're just that. in the background. as the focus is on these three women and their issues, it was more melodrama (positive) than a straight comedy of manners. like it's not "importance of being earnest" (which. love that book so funny so silly so satire!) and in marketing as such you're doing a disservice to how GOOD the book stands on its own!!
also ☝🏽 near the end there's a mention of how heart transplant patients get their donors' memories and mallory kass did indeed do that for ME specifically because how did she know i did a research project + wrote a paper + presented on that EXACT TOPIC (it's called cellular memory btw! really really fascinating)
overall. i love weddings i love family drama and this book made me want to attend a white wedding even more than i already didddd (like every one of my white friends says it's boring but i still want to experience it for myself!!)
it's that time of the year! wedding season! marigold cannot wait to get married!.....right after she settles a snafu with a man she never thought she'd see again...while she runs off to try and cover that mistake up, her maid of honor, natalie faces a bigger challenge of facing and eradicating her crush (more than crush if you ask anyone..) on..the groom. and while the maid of honor struggles through her moral dilemmas and the bride strives to fix a legal matter, the sister of the bride, olivia finds herself caught in a fake dating plot with a guy she can't quite stand, who's the best man of the groom. (doesn't this sound like a proper MESS ough OODLES AND OODLES OF FUN!!)
honestly, as someone who loves family drama (and i mean lovee. i have multiple lists of various media sorted by exact types of family drama) this was sooo fun.
it truly was a really enjoyable story, ESPECIALLY because i think all of the characters were genuinely mature adults that found themselves into messy situations. human existence is messy, finding yourself is messy, and all three of these women went through their own journey! i was so scared going in, having read just that summary (which intrigued me enough to get the arc i will say that) that this would be childish and contrived, but it was a breath of fresh air! i could understand all of their motives, all their decisions, and while i didn't agree with them, they made sense! character work was so gooddddddd (my favorite was obviously olivia. duh. what, you think you can just put a anal-retentive type a major bitch eldest daughter who just wants to be cared for and not be the caretaker for once? and i WASNT going to get immediately attached? let's get #real.)
i was especially worried about marigold being flighty, naive, and childish—an archetype that lesser authors would flatten her character out to be— but thank god for mallory kass, because she wrote three complex well rounded female characters with genuine flaws and strengths like marigold was honestly pretty mature (they call her flighty and i get it but like she's still GROUNDED and level headed and idk i truly expected poppy from people we met on vacation which i hated so i was pleasantly surprised!), was she so type B in a way that stresses me the fuck out? well, yes, you're talking to someone who plans every minute of their day out. every. single. minute. but it was fun! i had fun! and in everyone else's pov it is so clear the foundation of love and trust that they have with marigold and how she loves and cares so deeply and shows it! i forgot all the apprehensions i had abt this book as soon as i delved into the read. there are some minor gripes i had regarding a lack of romantic development for one of the couples imo and there was a typo on page 126- natalie’s husband should be hannah’s husband that i wanted to mention but otherwise:
mallory kass is really an exceptional writer because when u start the book you are so scared for everything to blow up in their faces, and when u get to the end youre rooting FOR an explosion of finally confessing the truth and being honest w each other. olivia's plot seems the most low stakes, but once you get into this book, you're never anxious about the high stress situations marigold and natalie are in, which as someone who gets high strung really easily, was a major plus for me. there's this sense that everything is going to work out which is sort of why you want it to blow up to get resolved and i liked that!
i will say the ending is a bit disappointing, after being on a precipice for the majority of this book and the unraveling mess of a week, the ending doesn't wrap up upon the drama we built up for so long satisfactorily and the reader has to be content sampling knowing the happy ending is about to begin in the future. booo come on please miss kass please give me an epilogue or SOMETHING. but i really truly did love these characters, i had a fun time and that's the most important thing!
finally, my last point is that calling this a comedy of manners is where we get into some issues, because could it be counted as that? maybe if u squinted. the background characters were definitely made to fit the genre, but they're just that. in the background. as the focus is on these three women and their issues, it was more melodrama (positive) than a straight comedy of manners. like it's not "importance of being earnest" (which. love that book so funny so silly so satire!) and in marketing as such you're doing a disservice to how GOOD the book stands on its own!!
also ☝🏽 near the end there's a mention of how heart transplant patients get their donors' memories and mallory kass did indeed do that for ME specifically because how did she know i did a research project + wrote a paper + presented on that EXACT TOPIC (it's called cellular memory btw! really really fascinating)
overall. i love weddings i love family drama and this book made me want to attend a white wedding even more than i already didddd (like every one of my white friends says it's boring but i still want to experience it for myself!!)
November 30, 2025
"A romantic comedy of manners about a lavish wedding weekend gone very, very wrong with the slow-burn romance of Emily Henry and the fizzy humor of Sophie Kinsella"
It took me nearly 45% of the way through to be able to remember who was who. 3 POV's and storylines was a little tricky to get a grasp of, but once it all started to cross-over, it was easier.
Everyone can relate to doing what they thought was in everyone's best interest, even their own, only to discover that they were lying to themselves and shouldn't settle for less.
This heartwarming novel is told in third person from the pov of 3 women. Natalie, the bride's best friend and maid of honor. Olivia, the bride's sister who does everything to protect those around her. And Marigold, the influencer who tries to perfect for everyone around her.
Each woman ends up on a journey of their own where they realize what they really want and even if it totally screws up Marigold's wedding. Once the 3 confirm with each other where they are all at currently, it's time to figure out what to do next.
I really enjoyed this book and it got stronger the further I read, even with a predictable ending. My one hangup was the main character’s decision at the end. She married a guy after two weeks, left the country, spent over two years in a committed relationship with a new man that led to a wedding, and then bailed to chase the first husband after spending less than twenty four hours with him the day before. It also made me wonder what she would have done if she had not caught Jonathan kissing her best friend Natalie, even though Natalie ended up being a perfect match for him. Eventhough everyone ended up with who their hearts tell them, it was just so chaotic LOL
Going through my highlights, I have a lot where there are heartfelt and profoundly written moments, mostly about love and family.
Here are a few:
"Sometimes looking for love feels like sending radio waves into the darkness of space— you can go years without any response, and then just when you start to wonder if we really are alone in the universe, you hear that voice. That someone who’s tuned to your exact frequency."
“That’s the one good thing about dying,” Lulu said with a smile. “Everything feels special. Every morning when I wake up, I feel overwhelmed by gratitude, knowing that I have one more day to spend with all of you. I don’t need a big party. Every day feels like a party.”
“I’m not letting you off that easy,” and relieved laughter bubbled up from the audience. “No,” Bill said, stroking Lulu’s cheek. “Nothing can part us. I’m yours in this life and the next.”
Thank you NetGalley and Atria for an early e-ARC!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Initial review after finishing:
Took me awhile to be able to keep track of all the character with the 3 POV’s. Glad the girls end up with who we can only hope are their HEA’s.
It took me nearly 45% of the way through to be able to remember who was who. 3 POV's and storylines was a little tricky to get a grasp of, but once it all started to cross-over, it was easier.
Everyone can relate to doing what they thought was in everyone's best interest, even their own, only to discover that they were lying to themselves and shouldn't settle for less.
This heartwarming novel is told in third person from the pov of 3 women. Natalie, the bride's best friend and maid of honor. Olivia, the bride's sister who does everything to protect those around her. And Marigold, the influencer who tries to perfect for everyone around her.
Each woman ends up on a journey of their own where they realize what they really want and even if it totally screws up Marigold's wedding. Once the 3 confirm with each other where they are all at currently, it's time to figure out what to do next.
I really enjoyed this book and it got stronger the further I read, even with a predictable ending. My one hangup was the main character’s decision at the end. She married a guy after two weeks, left the country, spent over two years in a committed relationship with a new man that led to a wedding, and then bailed to chase the first husband after spending less than twenty four hours with him the day before. It also made me wonder what she would have done if she had not caught Jonathan kissing her best friend Natalie, even though Natalie ended up being a perfect match for him. Eventhough everyone ended up with who their hearts tell them, it was just so chaotic LOL
Going through my highlights, I have a lot where there are heartfelt and profoundly written moments, mostly about love and family.
Here are a few:
"Sometimes looking for love feels like sending radio waves into the darkness of space— you can go years without any response, and then just when you start to wonder if we really are alone in the universe, you hear that voice. That someone who’s tuned to your exact frequency."
“That’s the one good thing about dying,” Lulu said with a smile. “Everything feels special. Every morning when I wake up, I feel overwhelmed by gratitude, knowing that I have one more day to spend with all of you. I don’t need a big party. Every day feels like a party.”
“I’m not letting you off that easy,” and relieved laughter bubbled up from the audience. “No,” Bill said, stroking Lulu’s cheek. “Nothing can part us. I’m yours in this life and the next.”
Thank you NetGalley and Atria for an early e-ARC!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Initial review after finishing:
Took me awhile to be able to keep track of all the character with the 3 POV’s. Glad the girls end up with who we can only hope are their HEA’s.
August 20, 2025
Wow ! I loved this book. This is everything I want in a rom-com. A messy situation that leads into more chaos. And that’s what this book is.
Marigold is about to get married to Jonathan but, the day before the wedding, she has to deal with an unfinished situation from the past. Natalie is in love with Jonathan, but has never told him, and Olivia sees her crush with another woman. It was dramatic in the best way. It takes place over the weekend of the wedding, the pace is fast. We get the POVs of the three women and I enjoyed reading all 3. Sure, they are not perfect, but they are real and I could relate to their struggles.
While this is still a light rom-com book, at its core it explored regrets and their consequences. Marigold, Olivia and Natalie are able to grow from this situation, and make better choices and I really enjoyed that.
I definitely recommend this book !
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.
Marigold is about to get married to Jonathan but, the day before the wedding, she has to deal with an unfinished situation from the past. Natalie is in love with Jonathan, but has never told him, and Olivia sees her crush with another woman. It was dramatic in the best way. It takes place over the weekend of the wedding, the pace is fast. We get the POVs of the three women and I enjoyed reading all 3. Sure, they are not perfect, but they are real and I could relate to their struggles.
While this is still a light rom-com book, at its core it explored regrets and their consequences. Marigold, Olivia and Natalie are able to grow from this situation, and make better choices and I really enjoyed that.
I definitely recommend this book !
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.
December 8, 2025
Marigold, a sweet but flighty influencer, is getting married to her fiancee on a picture perfect, exclusive island off Maine. But when she learns that the divorce papers from her previous and secret marriage were never properly filed, she flees the island to Nova Scotia to track down the man she ghosted years ago.
Natalie, the maid of honor and Marigold’s best friend, has been in love with the groom for years and is putting in a major effort just to get through the weekend.
Olivia, Marigold’s older sister, is hoping to hook up with a longtime crush, but when he unexpectedly brings a stunning plus one, she agrees to a fake dating arrangement with the best man, which works a little too well.
Told from three points of view and over the course of one chaotic long weekend, these interconnected stories are well-balanced, tender and engaging. Readers will relish following each woman as she struggles to live up to familial and societal roles and find love in this feel-good romcom full of fun wedding hijinks.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Atria Books for providing me with a complimentary advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Natalie, the maid of honor and Marigold’s best friend, has been in love with the groom for years and is putting in a major effort just to get through the weekend.
Olivia, Marigold’s older sister, is hoping to hook up with a longtime crush, but when he unexpectedly brings a stunning plus one, she agrees to a fake dating arrangement with the best man, which works a little too well.
Told from three points of view and over the course of one chaotic long weekend, these interconnected stories are well-balanced, tender and engaging. Readers will relish following each woman as she struggles to live up to familial and societal roles and find love in this feel-good romcom full of fun wedding hijinks.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Atria Books for providing me with a complimentary advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2025
Oh my goodness what a good book, I was hooked from the very beginning and didn’t want to set the book down.
I loved the multiple POV’s in the book, you got to see everything going on throughout and it allowed you to connect with the characters.
What is supposed to be a wonderful weekend wedding turns into everyone keeping secrets, lots of character growth and all the romantic entanglements.
If you want a fast, whirlwind, engaging romantic book, this is it.
Thank you so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this Arc!
Save the Date by Mallory Kass comes out April 14/2026
I loved the multiple POV’s in the book, you got to see everything going on throughout and it allowed you to connect with the characters.
What is supposed to be a wonderful weekend wedding turns into everyone keeping secrets, lots of character growth and all the romantic entanglements.
If you want a fast, whirlwind, engaging romantic book, this is it.
Thank you so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this Arc!
Save the Date by Mallory Kass comes out April 14/2026
November 4, 2025
Save the date is such a fun whirlwind wedding weekend- from catastrophe to chaos to I do, we follow three women and their journey towards true love. I absolutely enjoyed all three women and their vastly different personalities but similar desire to be safe, accepted, and loved in a relationship. I laughed out loud, got teary-eyed in parts, and absolutely love how the ending came together. From the setting to the characters, this book will grab your attention and keep you interested until the end. I can totally see this book becoming a movie or series someday, especially with the author’s background! Here’s hoping!
November 8, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the invitation to read the ARC of Save The Date! This book was messy, dramatic, and so engaging—I enjoyed it more than I expected to! I loved that there were three different POVs from women struggling with different challenges. It was fun feeling like I was reading three different stories, and I loved seeing them each grow in their own ways throughout the story. Despite not agreeing with each of their choices, I stayed invested the whole way through, and felt like the ending was overall sweet and satisfying. I’m excited to add a physical copy to my shelf when it releases and to read more from Mallory Kass in the future!
November 11, 2025
For a book with only one scene of somewhat spice, I LOVED IT. Three POVs, "Something Borrowed" vibes, and takes place in my State (which doesn't happen often). I read this book in 24 hours because I needed to know who each girl ended up with (if anyone). Cute. Cute. Cute.
Why did I give it 4 stars if I absolutely loved it? My only issues were...
1. When Maine is referenced in a book, our major items are ALWAYS referenced as well. Blueberries and lobster. It honestly makes me roll my eyes at this point.
2. I wanted MORE. Please tell me there will be a book two because I neeeeed to know how each couple is doing a few years beyond the story.
If those minor, very me, things don't bother you, then pick this book up if you like closed door romantic comedies.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.*
Why did I give it 4 stars if I absolutely loved it? My only issues were...
1. When Maine is referenced in a book, our major items are ALWAYS referenced as well. Blueberries and lobster. It honestly makes me roll my eyes at this point.
2. I wanted MORE. Please tell me there will be a book two because I neeeeed to know how each couple is doing a few years beyond the story.
If those minor, very me, things don't bother you, then pick this book up if you like closed door romantic comedies.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.*
November 29, 2025
I was excited to read this book because I love a story with multiple main characters. Seeing the parallel of their journeys and how it entertwines always interests me. This book was not that. The relationships between the girls was already riddled with insecurity and jealousy. We were only told about their closeness and saw their worst moments together. All the romantic relationships felt shallow with no real reason for existing. I wasn’t rooting for any of the couples - everyone seemed very idiotic to me. It was okay and a cute read, but ultimately the characters had no substance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the arc.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the arc.
December 12, 2025
This book had all of the drama and feel good -ness you could ever ask for in a book. Friendship, family, and lovers and haters- it’s all there. Does that seem like too much? It might be. Or it might be just enough for a nice read on a cold day when you just want to escape the world.. Yes there might’ve been 10 storylines happening at the same time, but the important thing is I didn’t have to think about them and I could just read and relax.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.
November 17, 2025
A captivating and unique prologue that led into some questionable first few chapters. None of the main characters were particularly likable in the beginning but that did shift! I ended up really liking Marigold and Olivia and both of their stories. And while I initially anticipated Natalie’s story to be the one I liked the most, that one gave me the ick pretty consistently throughout the book. All in all, a fun and messy read.
November 19, 2025
This story takes place over Marigold's wedding weekend, and the POV alternates between her, sister Olivia, and best friend Natalie. It's a predictable, easy read, though not a lot of likable folks - especially since many of them are filthy rich. The main characters do show some growth, though, which helps.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
November 13, 2025
a really fun cute romance novel. I liked that it features different characters and doesn't focus on just one love story. several troupes represented. a great light quick read.
October 28, 2025
I was quickly pulled into this novel. Told in multiple POVs. The first few chapters take a bit to get into, it is setting the scene for the rest of the book. Then the book is off! This is a semi-train wreck of a book you just can’t look away.
I found myself rooting for some couples while not for others. The synopsis does a great job describing what the book is about. That is one of the firsts I’ve read in a while that is so accurate.
Marigold is getting married only to realize she was never formally divorced from her first husband. No one even knew she was married.
Olivia is trying to get the attention of Andrew. Zack, the best man, offers his help. They have good chemistry. Zack is such a golden retriever and I loved him!
Natalie has been in love with Jonathan, the groom, since college. She actually introduced Marigold to him.
All these women have to navigate their feeling and discover what they and their hearts truly want.
Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for the advanced read copy. All opinions are my own.
I found myself rooting for some couples while not for others. The synopsis does a great job describing what the book is about. That is one of the firsts I’ve read in a while that is so accurate.
Marigold is getting married only to realize she was never formally divorced from her first husband. No one even knew she was married.
Olivia is trying to get the attention of Andrew. Zack, the best man, offers his help. They have good chemistry. Zack is such a golden retriever and I loved him!
Natalie has been in love with Jonathan, the groom, since college. She actually introduced Marigold to him.
All these women have to navigate their feeling and discover what they and their hearts truly want.
Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for the advanced read copy. All opinions are my own.
August 7, 2025
Insufferable from the get go. No thanks!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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