How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings

by Cynthia Timoti

It’s 27 Dresses meets Sonya Lalli’s The Matchmaker’s List in this delightful romcom where she doesn’t believe in love…he’s determined to prove her wrong -- by being her matchmaker!

Kimiko Halim thinks happy endings only exist in fairy tales. But her late grandmother’s will specifies settling down as a condition to inherit her yarn store, and the family’s legacy is the only thing that matters. Kim’s plan is find a guy, date him until the store is hers, then gently uncouple from the poor, unsuspecting victim.

But the clock is ticking, and her dates have been more frogs than princes. When Rob Carmichael, a perpetual groomsman and self-proclaimed proponent of happily-ever-afters, overhears Kim’s cynical view of love, he’s baffled. Having been surrounded by happy relationships all his life, Rob convinces her that he can find her a soulmate in one of the next five weddings he’s going to.

What can possibly go wrong?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Fiction, Audiobook, Rom Com, Contemporary Romance

320 pages, Paperback

Published May 12, 2026

About the author

Cynthia Timoti writes fun multicultural romcoms with plenty of heart and snark, where happy endings are always guaranteed. She was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, and moved to Australia when she was seventeen. She later studied Commerce and spent too many years working in finance, even though numbers aren’t her strongest suit.

When she isn’t writing, she's probably trying to make a dent in her TBR pile, hunting for the perfect cup of bubble tea, and collecting pretty notebooks that she’ll never use. Cynthia currently resides in Melbourne with her husband and two sons.

Find her on Instagram: @cynthiatimoti

Reviews

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and overall a good time. Family forward story.

The dialogue felt a little dry/formal at times but that could have been enhanced because I read via audio.

| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Bramble for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Amanda Blanche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this e-Arc of this title releasing in May 2026.

I was lucky enough to get to ARC read the first of the series “Salty, Spiced and a little bit Nice”, and it was fun to be back in that world again. This is an interconnected stand alone.

Kim has been on a lot of bad dates. Like a lot. But with a stipulation in her grandmothers will coming up, she has to either find someone to settle down with or lose her grandmothers yarn store. Wanting to carry on her legacy, Kim pushes on trying to find Mr.Right. But in reality, Kim doesn’t believe in love and commitment, having been burned by a previous relationship and having other family baggage. On one of these horrible dates, she gets saved by none other than Rob. Rob is the charismatic best friend of her best friend’s partner- and also one of Kim’s bad dates. Well I mean as bad as a date can be when he no shows. Rob is a romantic, but is not looking for love after coming out of a messy break up himself in the last year. But after hearing about Kim’s struggles - he decides to be her matchmaker and help her find a good guy. In return, Kim will attend the five weddings he has coming up so he won’t run into his ex alone. The more time they spend together, the more she starts to trust and depend on Rob. And for two people who don’t want a relationship, they are together a lot. But staying within the “just friends” boundary, will they miss out on what’s been in front of them all along. Or will Kim take a leap of faith and start to believe in a fairy tale love?

[Mai T.]

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

"How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings" by Cynthia Timoti is pretty good. It's not my favorite book of the year, but it does have its moments of levity and fun. It's got a really cute premise where the main male character, Rob, offers to set Kim, the main female character, up on a series of dates with acquaintances of his, since she has been having such bad luck with online dating. In the process, after several more dates that don't go exactly as planned, they both realize, albeit slowly, that they have actually fallen for each other and aren't sure what to do about it. I think this is a good palate cleanser of a book. It's a little bit heavy in terms of its themes at times (parental abandonment and a parental figure who has a chronic illness, mainly), but it's mostly a lighthearted matchmaker romance that's not too terribly spicy and not too high-stakes. It has some good banter between the characters, an interesting commentary on the current dating scene, and a wonderful relationship between Kim and her grandfather, aka her Opa. I loved Opa so, so much. His love for and parentage of Kim was so well written! I loved the care and respect they had for one another. I wasn't always convinced by Kim and Rob's chemistry, unfortunately. They felt like they were only great friends until the last 15% or so. This is a slow-burning romance, so know that going into it. There is a large subplot about Rob and his relationship with his dad that comes and goes and is basically explained away at the end with an "he'll come around" line, but it sure didn't feel like he was the kind of guy that would *ever* come around! The third act felt really rushed to me. Still, this was a decent enough read that managed to make me smile and laugh a few times. I'll definitely go back and read the author's first book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Cynthia Timoti, Tor Publishing Group, and Bramble for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so cuteeeeee!

It made me think of another book I read and loved, but I can't recall the title... Anyways, I love when the FMC is a little bit naive and friend zone a guy that's just perfect for her.... and realize her error WAY MUCH LATER.

I listened to the audiobook, I tore through it completely. It was really captivating, the characters were vibrant and exciting to read about.

You'll love this one too if you enjoy:
-matchmaker/dating coach
-he fell first and hard
-second chance romance

TW for cheating, death/sickness of a grandparent/grief, family drama

Many thanks to TLC Book tours for the audiobook copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Abby and her hobbies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! Kim has been unlucky in love and has lost hope in finding her person. After her grandmother passed away she took over her yarn store with the stipulation that she would find a partner within two years. Enter Rob who offers to play matchmaker for her if she’ll agree to be his date to five weddings. The chemistry is undeniable from the start. I love a matchmaker romance! Opa (her grandfather) is adorable and the way that Kim cares for him is amazing. The writing style was easy to read and enjoy! There are a few Indonesian sayings sprinkled throughout the story that reinforced the multi-cultural influences.

Thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Cynthia Timoti for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

P.S. If you liked Sarah Adams book “Practice Makes Perfect” chances are you’ll like this too with its charming main characters and memorable side-characters.

[Brianna Higdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by Cynthia Timoti. I was very intrigued by the title and thought it would give off 2000’s romcom vibes which it absolutely did. This romcom had everything I wanted and I’m so happy that I took a chance on a new to me author. The idea of Kim not believing in love but needing a partner to keep her grandmother’s yarn store was such a fun concept that I loved reading about. Rob was such a great character for this story to help Kim find her person while also accidentally becoming that person. I really enjoyed this book and now I want to go back and read her other book Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice. I rate this book 4/5 stars and recommend it to anyone who likes a slow burn, friends to lovers romance.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This did have some light, funny moments. Though this was a light rom com type story I found that it was easy for me to put down. Took me longer to read this than it should.

The inheritance clause has me rolling my eyes. Seemed silly. The FMC was annoying. I found the MMC kinda dull. I did like grandpa.

Overall, this was light and fine but didn’t blow me away.

[casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

⋆˙⟡ tropes ⟡˙⋆
🔥 slow burn
💍 wedding shenanigans
🌹 friends to lovers
🥂 he falls first
🧶 yarn puns

⋆˙⟡ thoughts ⟡˙⋆
what a cute romcom!!!! can we discuss the way rob showed up for kim 👏🏻👏🏻 a MAN!!! this was my first book from cynthia and now i want to read more!!! i felt their chemistry and it felt so genuine. i was rooting for them!!!! do note, there are some heavier themes but i love me a book that dives deep and has such an emotional impact on me.

⋆˙⟡ synopsis ⟡˙⋆
rob lives life as a perpetual groomsmen knowing his happy ever after is out there. kimiko thinks happy endings only exist in fairy tales but her late grandmother’s will specifies settling down to inherit her yarn store. kim has a simple plan: find a guy, date him until the shore is hers, then breakup. when rob overhears her view on love, he convinces her he can find her a soulmate in one of the next five weddings he is attending. will she fall for her matchmaker???

🎧audio: the narrator did such a great job with tone, attitudes, etc!!!! i was engaged the entire time!!!

[colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

i absolutely adored this book! this was my first cynthia timoti novel, and i can confidently say i’m hooked. the plot, the characters, the writing style — i loved every part of it.

kim and rob won my heart from the moment they met. their connection felt so genuine, and their chemistry grew in such a natural, beautiful way. watching their journey from friends to lovers was incredibly satisfying. there’s just something special about a story where you fall for your matchmaker — it makes the whole thing so fun and charming.

i also loved the strong focus on family in this book. opa was hilarious and added so much warmth, humor, and guidance to the story.

overall, this is a lighthearted, warm, feel-good rom-com that will leave you smiling. i recommend it to everyone!
thank you netgalley for the arc <3

[Elizabeth Sands · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was a cute book hiding somewhere inside this one. Unfortunately, it desperately needed an editor to find it.

The premise initially got me: a woman who doesn’t particularly believe in love, a man who does, five weddings, and a challenge to find her a partner. Throw in a yarn shop she may inherit and, as a knitter, I was sufficiently suckered in.

You got me, Timoti.

Unfortunately, somewhere around the halfway point, the actual story seemed to grind to a halt so that we could repeatedly hear some variation of, “but she couldn’t be with him.”

Why?

Because she believed he was still in love with his ex.

Had she actually confirmed this? No.

Did we nevertheless need to revisit this problem approximately four hundred times? Apparently.

I have very little patience for romantic conflict that could be resolved by two adults having one reasonably straightforward conversation, and eventually the repetition became so tedious that I started skipping portions of chapters. The particularly damning part was discovering that I could do that without losing the plot.

The romance itself also felt strangely unbalanced. The male lead is written as practically perfect (his biggest flaw was lacking a degree), while I struggled to identify what made the heroine equally compelling as a partner. I don’t need either person in a romance to be perfect—in fact, please don’t make them perfect—but I do need to believe why these two specific people belong together. A satisfying romance should feel like two imperfect people who complement one another, not an exceptional man awarded to the heroine because she’s the heroine.

The dialogue didn’t help. Too much of it felt formal, dry, and stilted rather than like something actual human beings would say to one another, which made it even harder to believe in the chemistry.

There were pieces here that could have worked. I liked the basic premise. I liked the yarn-shop element. And apparently there was just enough story buried underneath everything else to keep me from abandoning it completely.

But by the end, finishing this had become less about enjoyment and more about determining whether there was going to be some redeeming quality hiding in the chapters ahead.

There wasn’t enough.

Two stars, mostly because I did, against my better judgment, actually finish the damn thing.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

a cute and lighthearted read

This book had me feeling so nostalgic for 90s/early 00s romcoms. It was a cute and sweet read. I enjoyed the slow burn and how they were just friends at first but developed feelings as they spent more time together. Kim really did have some terrible dates which brought some nice humor. And the way Rob always showed up for her was the sweetest. And Opa was a true gem! 🩵 If you’re looking for a light, feel-good romcom vibe then def check this one out.

[Anahita Karthik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear with me, because I have an official, non-spoiler-y review for this book, and an unofficial one, very spoiler-y one, and both involve me gushing about the author and the characters way too much, because this is the sweetest romcom I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a long while!

So here goes, the ✨official, non-spoiler-y review✨

“How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings in everything one could want in a romcom. Through the POV of Kim, I didn’t just return to the bustling, dreamy city of Port Benedict that I adore (along with its residents), I also got to see this headstrong, cynical, beautifully complicated woman experience love and friendship that’s more than perfect . . . but utterly ungrudging, selfless, and swoony. Rob and Kim’s romance reminded me of why it’s worth believing in love, even after a comically heavy dose of failed dates and heartbreaks. Each plotline is treated with the love and care it deserves, and the Asian representation had my heart swelling with joy. Packed with endless chuckles, fun dates (from go-karting to skydiving), long, heartwarming conversations, and a slow burn romance, How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings is the quick fix book you need, especially if you miss the magic of 90’s romcoms!”

And now, the unofficial, ridiculously long, rambling, and spoiler-y one (there are lots of SPOILERS, so please don’t read beyond this if you haven’t read the book):

For context, Cynthia’s first book, Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice is one of my favourite romcoms ever written. I read it during a time where I was in a rough place, but that book gave me the escape I so desperately needed, and once again, this book did it for me!

Port Benedict is like one of those fictional places that I’d love to keep going back to, again and again, like Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls! I could read a hundred romcoms set here, I swear.

The writing and humour had me in stitches from the very first page, Kim and Rob’s chemistry, banter, and slow burn romance had me squealing and literally begging for them to kiss with all the moments of tender yearning they had, and reading Ellie, Alec, and Jenna’s cameos was the highlight of the book for me. And a certain wedding scene in the epilogue? I SQUEALED at that.

One of my favourite scenes in the book is the skydiving one, because it was so dreamy and swoony, and I truly was begging Kim to open her damn heart and see Rob for the wonderful man that he was, and I screamed and kicked my pillow off my bed when they finally kissed. Because god I waited so damn long for that!

Kim’s relationship with her Opa was one of my favourite dynamics and storyline in the book. I love the cinnamon roll of a man that was Opa, and how funny and familial all the scenes with them were. Rob really has to be the greenest flag man possible because he was so perfect with Opa.

Speaking of perfect, the fact that the first chapter was titled The Perfect Kim and the last line was Rob talking about who he thinks is the perfect Kim? Cynthia’s a literal genius, that was such a delightful callback!

She masterfully dealt with all the plots, because there was so much going on I was in awe of how she balanced all of it: Kim’s dates, the will, her relationship with Opa and her friends, her dad, Kim’s romance with Rob, the Goodwin property plot, Rob’s relationship with his dad and his family members, all the weddings, the Port Benedict fair that they decide to organise, and more. And every single plot was neatly wrapped up.

The writing was stunning; I annotated so many lines, but I especially loved the bits where Kim would try to match the colour of Rob’s eyes with a yarn colour. And when she called it her favourite colour? My heart!

Kim and Rob’s romance was so slow burn that the romantic payoff felt well-earned and had me rooting for them throughout. Their preparatory dates (golfing, go-karting, coffee dates? So fun!), their non-preparatory dates (Hunger Games watch, dinner with Opa, picking dresses for Kim), the weddings, banter, long conversations, and how they felt like they were actually meant for each other.

I also adored the format of the five weddings / five dates, and the way Kim confessed to Rob in the fifth wedding. It was so romcommy! I was so annoyed when I read that Kim saw Lucy next to Rob in that moment – like I think it actually shattered my heart.

Fans of Emily Henry, who love long conversations + slow burn + how the world feels like a character on its own in her books, will absolutely love Cynthia’s books.

I can’t wait to place this book on my shelf next to Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice! And Emily Henry!

[N · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book burned so slow i lowkey regenerated part of my virginity. but it was cute!

[Nyah Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 ~ I LOVED this. Perfect rom-com vibes. The premise of the MMC playing match maker for our FMC set us up for a really well built-up slow burn. The chemistry and the banter were so well done, the relationship felt genuine and like it progressed at a natural pace, and I was rooting for them so hard.

I also love so dearly how much the author brings in elements of Indonesian culture. The FMC’s relationship with her grandfather, and the subsequent relationship the MMC built with him was such a heartwarming part of the story.

Both main characters were well fleshed out with backstories and motivations that felt substantial for a shorter contemporary romance. The cast of characters and all the little running jokes added to the charm, and every side plot wrapped nicely. My only wish is we got a bit more of the plot point of the FMC working through her relationship with her farther, but that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment!

Thank you to Tor Publishing group for this advanced copy! Cynthia is cementing herself as an auto-read romance author for me!

[Sam Corey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming, heartwarming romcom with real emotional depth. Kim is trying to honor her late grandmother’s wish to find love and keep the family yarn store afloat, and after a series of bad dates, her friend becomes an unofficial matchmaker, taking her to weddings in search of “the one.”

The friends-to-lovers romance between Kim and Rob is sweet and easy to root for, with a gentle slow burn and a cozy Hallmark-style vibe.

What stood out most was Kim’s relationship with her Opa, who brought so much warmth and heart to the story, along with the authentic Indonesian representation woven throughout.

A comforting, feel-good read with just the right balance of sweetness and heart.

[Hillary VP · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

This book was so cute! It had a classic rom-com feel, but the predictability didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed it. Timoti really pulled me in and kept me emotionally invested the whole way through.

I was rooting for Kim and Rob from the start. Their banter was fun and natural, and I loved the friends-to-lovers dynamic. Even the moments of backpedaling had me frustrated in the best way because I wanted to see them grow. Kim’s inner monologue was a highlight and made her feel very relatable.

Overall, this was a charming, feel-good read that rom-com fans will love.

I received an advance copy via NetGalley; all thoughts are my own.

[Arthur Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bramble for providing me with an eARC of How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings in exchange for my honest review!

I truly did love what Cynthia Timoti did with Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice. Not only was that successful at wrapping me up in its lovely romance, but it also knew how to create the space for a nuanced story of dysfunctional family baggage that hit me deep in the heart. So I'll say right upfront that this standalone sequel basically goes for the same goals, and it's not achieving them as superbly as the first book, but hey, it's still a charming ride that makes me glad I was able to spend time with Kim and Rob. My god, the very opening that plunges us into Kim's outrageously cringe-inducing date with Shane, who only dates women named Kim and their variations as a way to cope with an obsession over his ex-wife Kimmy, lands as a humorous and appropriate choice for launching this book. The subsequent shenanigans are fascinating, too, including Kim's date with film editor Elijah, who turns out to be such an intense filmbro. He makes me wince, considering I'm a cinephile who's aware of how my movie community can overload people with their opinionated passion. So I'm familiar with such attitudes! Yes, yes, I am.

The chemistry between Kim and Rob builds up into a likable dynamic that gets me rooting for them while we're seated in Kim's POV and feeling how much she's dealing with the romance and the steam that's rising in her heart for her matchmaker. It's all material that we've seen a thousand times before, so it's not like we're heading down any unpredictable paths, but I'm all good with that. What I do take issue with is the dysfunctional family side of the tale, though, because I don't think it's as fleshed-out as what we got in Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice with Ellie and her controlling mother. That aspect had hit me so powerfully, connecting me with Ellie's journey to free herself from her mom's suffocating grasp, and the conclusion of that whole familial arc was able to weave in some hope while refusing to wrap up the tale in a neat little bow. It wasn't trying to be overly and unrealistically clean with its ending. It allows room for the messiness of family BS, convincingly reminding us that there will be plenty more growth for Ellie and her mom to progress through. It's not like they could reach a suddenly healthy and forgiving point all of a sudden. So now with Kim and her father's estranged relationship, it's aiming for a similar accomplishment, but it's not striking me with the same nuanced and moving impact that I got out of Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice. The conclusion for Kim and her father's dynamic is decent enough, but again, that's also not gripping me as powerfully as it could have (shout-out to Opa, though, because I do click with the heartfelt core of Kim's bond with her paternal grandpa). Even with the difficulties hanging between Rob and his own father, that could have been more fully developed. And honestly, even the classic trope of the third-act breakup could have been stronger, too. But instead, it comes off like it's getting pushed into Kim and Rob's romance to serve as an extraneous wedge between them.

Overall, I'm officially rating How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings 3.5 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding up to 4 stars. I may not regard it on the same high level as Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice, but it continues to be a romance that earns my affection. I'm certainly remaining seated for whatever Timoti writes next.

[D. Logan (loganloveslit) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but it just fell flat for me.

There is so much to like about this book. The FMC “needs” a relationship and her male friend offers to help her. They go to multiple weddings together, he sets her up with people and tags along on the way, and their heat starts at a sizzle and increases throughout.

But the whole setup was extremely tough for me to get over. She’s a literal business owner taking care of her family and abandoned by her parents and after alllll that her grandma is totally cool with staking her livelihood on a relationship status in her will. Through it all, the FMC also is not super into knitting, just the family legacy, which is why she continuously tries to save the store. I really thought the story would go a different way, ending with her NOT having a relationship by the deadline, selling the store or giving it to the other worker there, then finding her own passion before reconnecting with the MMC, but instead the MMC finds HIS passion. I really disliked it happened for him and not her.

At no point does the FMC tell the horrible people in her life to shove it, especially her dad, and it ends with a pretty little bow and promise to make it all better, even though his reason for never getting in touch with her was “well you wouldn’t have answered” and she’s like “you’re right, makes sense, I forgive you for not being even texting for 30 years.” Like… what?!!! And though her grandfather readily acknowledges the clause in the will is something he wishes he could change, he goes along with it and just wants her to be in a relationship because then she’ll be happy.

The whole thing just gave me the ick. Like a relationship was the end all be all of happiness. The main character also completely contradicts herself over and over and over. Is self-actualized was a person, she’s the exact opposite. It came across as very surface level and didn’t allow me to connect with the FMC. I also didn’t love the ending and it left me feeling unsatisfied.

Last note: I could have used 3 less story lines. All the friends as side characters with back stories, the names of the 5 siblings of the MMC, the father son legacy thing and his moms anxiety of their relationship, her grandfathers health, her ex and their history, the history of the store, the knitting influencer, her parents history and dad relationship, the festival and historical application process, and then of course all the guys she goes on dates with. There’s probably more I’m forgetting. This book is doing a LOT.

In fact, it did too much and yet not enough for me. 2 ⭐️ and I hope the future books get a tougher editor who cuts cuts cuts.


Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify for an advanced copy for an honest review.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kim struggles to believe in love and happy endings. Growing up, she didn’t have the best example of love, but now she must find it in order to inherit the family business—all part of the inheritance clause in her grandmother’s will. After multiple horrible first dates, Kim has had enough.

Then she runs into Rob, someone she knows through her best friend’s fiancé. Rob is a firm believer in happily-ever-afters and comes to her rescue during one of her disastrous dates—where she also runs into her ex-fiancé, the one who shattered her heart.

During another chance encounter, Kim runs into Rob again. This time, he comes up with a plan to help her find “the one.” Rob has five weddings to attend before the end of the year and offers to take Kim as his date. He believes weddings are the perfect place to meet new people and promises to help her weed out the weirdos. So, it’s decided: Kim will attend the weddings as Rob’s date, and he’ll act as her matchmaker.

Rob is determined to prove to Kim that true love and happily-ever-afters do exist—and that they can exist for her, too.

If you loved the movie 27 Dresses and enjoy friends-to-lovers and slow-burn tropes, this book is for you. I couldn’t put it down!

I especially loved the family aspect of this book and how important Kim’s Oma and Opa are to her. They’ve shaped who she is through the love they showed her growing up. Opa, in particular, is one of my favorite parts of the story. He has such a profound impact on Kim and encourages her to do more for herself.

And then there’s Rob—sweet, swoon-worthy Rob. He’s easily one of the best parts of the book. I loved his perspective on love and how determined he is to find his own happily ever after. He’s such a dedicated friend and is completely set on changing Kim’s outlook on love.

The diverse cast is another standout element, handled beautifully. It’s such an important part of the story and really helps you connect with Kim. I especially loved the Indonesian phrases woven throughout the book—they added so much depth and richness, particularly to Kim and Opa’s relationship. Their interactions feel warm, authentic, and full of cultural pride.

There are so many emotional moments in this story. I found myself tearing up—and even monitoring my heart rate at times—because the banter and friendship between Kim and Rob are just that beautiful.

Thank you so much to Cynthia Timoti, Booked With the Emilys, and Bramble Publishing for the ARC of How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings. This book is incredibly enjoyable, and I can’t wait to recommend it to my friends!

[Bbecca_marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings 💐Book Review 📖 thank you @bookedwiththeemilys @brambleromance for the gifted book!

How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings
by Cynthia Timoti
Narrated by Sura Siu
out now!

Kimiko Halim thinks happy endings only exist in fairy tales. But her late grandmother’s will specifies settling down as a condition to inherit her yarn store, and the family’s legacy is the only thing that matters. Kim’s plan is simple: find a guy, date him until the store is hers, then gently uncouple from the poor, unsuspecting victim.

But the clock is ticking, and her dates have been more frogs than princes. When Rob Carmichael, a perpetual groomsman and self-proclaimed proponent of happily-ever-afters, overhears Kim’s cynical view of love, he’s baffled. Having been surrounded by happy relationships all his life, Rob convinces her that he can find her a soulmate in one of the next five weddings he’s going to.

What can possibly go wrong?

💭 My thoughts:

Sweet, funny, and full of charm, this was a great feel good rom com! This was a fast and fun read. Truly the perfect book to fly through over a weekend. I’m already a sucker for romances centered around weddings, especially during spring and summer, so this immediately had me in a good mood. The romance itself was incredibly sweet, but what really made this one stand out for me was the cast of characters. The friendships, family dynamics, and wedding chaos added warmth and personality to the story. Rob is a true green flag king. The slow burn and “he falls first” energy was pretty dang good. The terrible dates had me laughing, and overall this was just one of those books that leaves you smiling. Reasons to read this one… it’s cozy, romantic, and impossible not to enjoy.

What to expect👇🏽
❤️‍🔥Slow burn
💗Friends to lovers
☝🏽He falls first
💐Wedding shenanigans
🍷Horrible (but funny) first dates
✨AAPI representation

Happy reading 📖 💐💗

[A.A.B · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*s. Given that I couldn't even finish the first book I read by this author, this is a huge improvement, but I still found many aspects of the author's storytelling rather annoying. Unfortunately, some of them were foundational to the story.

This book reads like a typical romcom movie script — too typical for the story it tries to tell and the relationship it tries to portray.

For example: The obligatory 80% breakup scene hinges on such a silly issue that the guy's reaction to it undermines everything he said and did until then. That could have been an interesting twist on the story (with a much more sinister ending), but it did not make sense within the trajectory the narrative takes in this book.

The characters are fixated on (inconsequential) things to the extent that only makes sense in movies, where there isn't enough space to give them realistically complex lives and motivations. In a book, the same simplistic treatment is very silly and contributes to a completely unnecessary repetitiveness in the characters' words, thoughts and interactions.

I think the author's writing has potential, especially when she tackles real issues close to her heart (in this case — the main character's upbringing and her grandparents' story), but so far her books are too narrowly pigeonholed into convenient narrative formulas and feel "dumbed down" (presumably for wider appeal).

[Toni Rose · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Bramble, and the author for sharing an ARC of this book with me in exchange for an honest review.

Overall a fun read with good chemistry, but packed with characters that seemed unreal to me and plot points that left me with questions. Even so, I'd consider reading another book by this author.

The plot:
Kim's life is nearly in order. She's moved home to take over her late grandmother's beloved yarn store and to take care of the grandfather who raised. The only thing that's missing? The love of her life. Or at least, that's what Kim's grandmother thought she was missing. So much so that she included a "settle down" clause in her will -- if Kim can't find someone to share her life with within two years, she loses the yarn store. The problem is that Kim doesn't believe in true love. She's been hurt in the past and isn't sure "forever" is really for her. She'll temporarily put up with terrible dating app men if it means she can keep the store, though. But when a friend of a friend, Rob, saves Kim from a truly disastrous date and discovers how she feels about love, he's determined to show her that love exists... by bringing her as a plus one to several weddings and setting her up with single guests. Will Rob be able to change Kim's mind about true love? And what happens if she finds it where she least expects it?

What I liked:
- This is a second chance-ish kind of plot I can get behind. Kim and Rob were supposed to go on a date long before the start of this book, but he never showed. However, they've talked it out and remained civil. No big drama between them, but some shared history.
- She calls him by his last name! That's how you know something is brewing between them!
- Really good chemistry between Kim and Rob. They're funny together and it's easy for them to be around each other. I enjoyed their mini golf scene.
- I love when there’s a physical uncontrollable reaction to casual touches with no meaning behind them, like when he’s zipping up her dress and she can’t keep herself together .
- I love when a guy rubs the back of his neck when he’s flustered or embarrassed.
- Hidden tattoos👀👀
- Rob being protective is so so good! He's such an acts of service man.
- Kim's grandpa is a gem. My new fave social media influencer.
- I'm so glad that Kim was the one who did the grand gesture, because Rob had done so so much for her. It was his turn to be seen. Very 27 Dresses.

What I didn't like:
- I feel like you don't really see the "settle down" clause plot in everyday, working class families. Usually it's in rich families who are trying to control inheritance or a company. While Kim's grandma isn't actually a character in the book because she's passed away, based on what I know about her and her love for Kim, I find it a little far fetched that she would put that pressure on her granddaughter and create such stipulations for inheriting the shop.
- I really felt like Kim was a large part of her problem when it came to dating. She had really high expectations for her dates, but she was often rude and abrupt. Occasionally even leaving dates without seemingly saying anything? Sometimes it was hard to root for her.
- I didn't always understand Kim's motives. Like, she explained that she job hopped because of her ex, because she didn't want to be reminded of her life with him. That didn't make much sense to me or explain why she would have stayed away from her grandparents, especially when she resented her dad for doing the same. I wish she had more of an aha moment about how she's like her dad and why she needs to be better.
- I'm big on dialogue, and while I did enjoy parts of the dialogue in this book (especially between Kim and Rob), I thought there wasn't enough of it. There was a lot of fluff and description that could've been communicated via dialogue instead. Some of the dialogue was also confusing because there were a lot of characters involved and they were repeating a lot of the same thoughts.
- Love protective Rob but he sometimes verges on stalker territory... especially when he shows up at one of her dates because he hasn't heard from her. At least his friends call him out for it and he pretty much admits to it. My guy just needs to chill out a little.
- NOT A THIRD ACT BREAK UP!!!! I swear, they were only together for 15 pages before their issues arose... not that that was surprising, but come on. And there were only like 30 pages left in the book after that. I wanted more happy Rob and Kim and less angsty sad Rob and Kim.
- In my head, the real reason Rob had bailed on that initial date with Kim was that he had taken one look at her, fallen and gotten scared. Because obviously we can tell Rob feels drawn to her very early on. And I thought this would be revealed later in the book, but it wasn't. And so I still feel like I have questions about his motivation for that, or I feel like the explanation wasn't good enough for me.

Some notes (I'm neutral on these but figured I'd share):
- There are some really horrible dating app stories in here. I hope they're not based on real life because if so, the dating landscape is really far worse than I thought. And I already thought it was terrible.
- A lot of foreshadowing and foils, making some plot points predictable but not in a bad way.
- I kinda wish this was dual POV. I would've loved to know what Rob was thinking and feeling. Yes, we get that in the epilogue, but that wasn't enough for me. I wanted his thoughts on falling in love, not just being in love.
- I definitely see the 27 Dresses comparison, but also some influence from The Hating Game, specifically Kim telling off Rob's dad at a wedding event . I saw that coming from a mile away.
- This is a SLOW BURN. Definitely builds up but I feel like it took foreverrrrr.

[Sharlene Baldeo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall rating:4.0

"27 Dresses meets The Matchmaker's List" 100%

Cute romcom that reminded me of 27 dresses a little. Enjoyable light read. Great for a vacay or summer read. Definitely has the makings of a hallmark movie :) 💒💘🧶

Set in Port Benedict, Washington, Kim faces a deadline in her grandmother's will requiring her to settle down. After failing at online dating and 27 bad dates, she is desperate.
Rob is a perpetual groomsman who loves happy endings. He volunteers to find her a true soulmate through five upcoming weddings in exchange for her being his wedding date. As they spend time prepping for dates and attending celebrations together, Kim and Rob develop real chemistry, leading to a classic friends-to-lovers romance.

Charcters:
Kimiko Halim (Kim): A cynical yarn store owner who doesn't believe in love and plans to date a guy just long enough to satisfy her late grandmother's will.

Rob Carmichael: A perpetual groomsman, optimist, and Kim's former date who steps in to act as her matchmaker for the next five weddings he attends.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad that I tried this author again! While I liked Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice, I really enjoyed How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings.

I really liked our main character, Kim, and the love interest, Rob. I loved the concept of her needing to find a partner to get her grandmother's yarn store. And I loved that you could tell Rob wanted the best for Kim, and her slow realization of that over the course of the story.

I love when romances don't just focus on the romantic relationship. I really like seeing our characters interact with family and friends. I did sometimes find that our author tells us more than shows us the other friendships that these characters have. I will say that this bothered me more in the first book, so I do think that the author has improved a bit in this aspect. But she was able to bring in Kim and Rob's families in a way that was seamless and actually important to the story and characters.

I thought that the third-act breakup was a bit drawn out, but I loved the reconciliation! I will definitely be trying more books by this author!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Amber (amberdevouredthis) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look if you’re like me, and you’ve watched/read your fair share of rom-coms, then you’ll probably suspect how this story will end. Nevertheless, there’s just so much joy in picking up a Romance book or movie and knowing there will be a happy ending. Some parts of the dialogue didn’t work for me, but this was a quick easy read with a familiar rom-com vibe 💗

Cynthia’s FMC’s always have a bit of bite and banter, and Kim was definitely not settling for any mediocre man. Kim and Rob’s romance was a slowwwwburn, that had me internally screaming at them to just date each other already 😩. Cynthia also doesn’t shy away from family drama, and I love the way she writes about complicated family dynamics in both her books.

Thank you Cynthia for sending me a copy to review. I recommend this book if you’re in the mood for a 90’s rom-com feel with a bit of wedding shenanigans and matchmaking

[bookswithmari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun and easy read with plenty of chaos, family pressure and awkwardly entertaining moments.

I really enjoyed the humor and the messy family dynamics that made everything feel relatable and entertaining. The wedding setting kept the story moving reminding me of several 2000s romcom movies. I also enjoyed how the book explored cultural expectations around dating and marriage while still keeping the tone fun and approachable.

For me, the biggest issue was the lack of character growth throughout the story. The main character is 30 years old, yet so much of her decision making still revolves around unresolved daddy issues and it started to feel frustrating after a while. I’m glad I read it but I don’t think this will be a reread for me. And if you’re looking for a fast read that reminds you of early 2000s romcom movies this is it!

Thank you NetGalley, Cynthia Timoti, Tor Publishing and Bramble for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Spotify Audiobooks and Cynthia Timoti for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a really fun friends to lovers story. All of the set ups made for great a great rom com plot. The motivation to be paired up for an inheritance was a bit hard to believe- and the MMC reaction was a bit dramatic. I do wish they just got together sooner because it all seemed inevitable.

Overall, I liked it!

Narration was really well done.

[Alexandra Almond]

Gorgeous heartwarming rom com; Rob is so gorgeous I want to wrap him up in a big hug and stay there, and Kim is worthy of him (I love how she's standing up for him even before they're in love).

Note: I'm friends with the author and read an early draft, but I don't say things I don't mean about books so believe me, this is delighful.

[Selma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was vulnerable and raw. I felt strangely powerful. The FMC is dealing with grief and balancing keeping her grandmothers last wish.
The MMC was such a green flag, he was so kind understanding and supportive. I loved how he didn’t let his father’s demands keep him from pursuing his own path.
I will say this is a clean fun read!