Breakaway Bridesmaid: A Galveston Novel

by Maria Elena Sandovici

It was supposed to be the perfect wedding weekend. Until one bridesmaid disappears without a trace.

Left to pick up the pieces, the rest of the bridal party have to confront their own secrets, their animosities, insecurities, and coping mechanisms. While festivities and activities carry on, the wedding weekend in Galveston is marred by the possibility that something dreadful might have happened to the missing bridesmaid. Or did she just decide to leave without telling anyone? While preferable to a more gruesome scenario, the idea that she would leave the wedding and thus turn her back on her lifelong friendship with Beth, the bride, is disconcerting in a whole new way.

Friendship breakups are more than painful. They can shake one to the core. With her former bestie gone, Beth is left to contemplate her own shortcomings, her blind spots, but also ultimately her ways of forming and sustaining attachments, the ways in which she can reclaim her self-worth and learn to be true to the ones she loves.

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 31, 2025

About the author

Maria Elena Sandovici has been loitering around Galveston Island for twenty years now. In this time, she's befriended some very interesting people, learned many Island stories, and made up many more. Have you heard about the horses, for example? If you visit the historic Leage Kempner House, the Broadway mansion that inspired Storms of Malhado, you might just hear their hoofbeats going up the stairs. Or not. Island lore, fiction, and history blend seemslessly in a universe scented with sea salt, jasmine, and perhaps the faintest whiff of manure.
Recently, the author has acquired a tiny Island cottage that survived the Great Storm of 1900 and resolves to spend more time on Galveston Island, giving historic walking tours, doing book signings, and soaking up inspiration. We'll let you know how that goes.

Reviews

[Joy Angelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. I go to Galveston quite a bit & enjoy picturing the places talked about

[Kristina L. | bookinandcookintx · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Galveston setting was my favorite part. So vivid and nostalgic, it made me want to plan a trip to the strand soon! The writing style is warm and descriptive, which really brings the heart of Galveston life. The story itself had some fun moments, though the multiple POVs and slower pacing initially made it hard for me a major mood reader) to get hooked. Beth, the bride, was somewhat insufferable and made me want to shake her! Still, if you love Texas beach settings and wedding drama, this would be a charming read for you.

[Christy’s Books]

As someone who is in the era of non stop weddings, I immediately could picture each of the types of bridesmaids within this story. There is something very relatable to friendship break ups and the tension that builds up to that inevitable breaking point. I think anyone can relate to that.

However, I was having a difficult time with the multiple POVs. It made it difficult to emotionally connect with a single individual when we in constant shift amongst the many POVs.

[Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book for so many reasons!
The book is written from several different POVs; each one very different & intriguing. Each character was well developed & relatable.
There were so many twists & turns, nothing was what I expected. I read through it in one day, treating myself to a mini vacation in Galveston via my Kindle. It was the best escape I’ve had in quite a while!

[AndreaReads ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love the tattooed bridesmaid and what she represents
the switching between point of views of bridesmaids was really sweet… but callie was definitely my favorite ✨