My Best French Wedding

by Amanda Sellet

Will it be l’amour the merrier or too haute to handle when rival reporters with a tangled history compete to tell the story of the year at a ritzy destination wedding?

Once upon a time, Walter was Hildy’s favorite person—until he crushed her teenage dreams. A decade later, she has a new the magazine she built from the ground up. Unfortunately, getting rid of Walter isn’t as easy as shedding her romantic illusions. He’s always around, vying for the juiciest scoops on the elite wedding circuit and provoking her into public displays that don’t scream “mature and sophisticated media maven.”

When Hildy scores exclusive access to the wedding of the season—a week-long parade of luxury in southern France—it’s a chance for her magazine to finally make its mark. Except Walter isn’t sitting at home crying; he’s right there in France, trying to steal Hildy’s story. Again.

Now it’s a head-to-head battle to see whose coverage will make it to print. The problem? Between the champagne and the chateaux, it’s easy to lose sight of the prize. Hildy knows better than to believe in fairy tales, but Walter is doing his best to convince her they could have a part deux.

In this gender-flipped twist on His Girl Friday, Hildy has seven days to prove she is totally over it, living her best life, and definitely not hung up on the past . . . or Walter.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, France, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Contemporary, Summer

320 pages, Paperback

Published August 11, 2026

About the author

Amanda Sellet is a Gen X ex-journalist who loves old movies, baked goods, and banter.
On the comedy/tragedy question, she is team comedy all the way.

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise but the non-chronological jumps back in time didn’t work for me; it was difficult to keep track of where I was in the story. Hildy was utterly unbearable and I lost my patience with her at about 40% when I gave up on the book. Even the gorgeous French setting couldn’t save this for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.

[Jello · Rating 3 out of 5]

⋆˚࿔ My Best French Wedding by Amanda Sellet 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
Release Date: 8/11/2026
[Triggers]
2.75 ⭐️/5 || 1 🌶️/5

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this reading.

Hildy and Walter have known each other since they attended a high school journalism program, 10 years prior. After sparks flew, misunderstanding struck, causing the two to drift apart from each other slowly turning them against each other in their professional settings. Soon enough, Hildy branches off to create her own magazine and is on the search for an upcoming story that would put her on the list of coveted wedding magazines. Finding herself covering a destination wedding, in rural France, Hildy discovers she's not the only one covering the story, but Walter as well. How will the two stay professional and cordial during the week long in the charming French countryside.

A gender-flipped twist on the film “His Girl Friday,” “My Best French Wedding” is a rom-com filled with comfortable banter between friends turned rivals turned lovers. It is also dual POV and dual time line, alternating between Hilda’s POV and Walter’s POV, as well as giving the reader a look at what had happened before the rivalry began 10 years prior to them reuniting on the job. As a reader, I love when the two leads bicker and become snarky due to being unable to convey or understand their true feelings for one another, but reading this, I felt like it was constant and droll in a sense. You can see that their constant arguments would upset the soon-to-be-wed couple and would only alleviate once they both agree to play nice for the sake of the wedding and their stories.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this one was a pretty big miss on all fronts for me. I loved the premise of a destination wedding in France with rival reporters, but the story just fell super flat.

Hildy Johnson, editor in chief of Life, Styled magazine, has just landed exclusive access to one of the biggest weddings of the century. When she arrives in France, she is appalled to find her nemesis, Walter Burns is already there.

From the first chapter, we immediately realize that there is some significant history between Hildy and Walter. However, due to the style of storytelling, that history is slowly and painfully revealed through flashbacks. We don’t learn anything of relevance until the last 10% of the book, which made it almost impossible to tolerate their constant bickering or root for their relationship. With such a slow burn I just wanted more. I also expected a lot more out of the setting based on the description. The promise of a beautiful wedding in the South of France never really came to life.

I did think the pool scene was hilarious and actually laughed out loud. It’s not that the book as bad, it just didn’t work for me. I think I would have liked it a lot more if their relationship was told chronologically.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jacqueline Firkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun it’s been to journey through Sellet’s trilogy of classic film adaptations, and I’ve been eagerly anticipating this one, which is inspired by one of my favourite films, His Girl Friday, in turn adapted from the play The Front Page. The film is known for its sharp, fast-paced banter and sparking, push-and-pull rivalry/second-chance romance between the 2 leads as famously played by Rosalind Russsell and Cary Grant. Sellet deftly captures both the banter and the sparks in her contemporary reboot, trading a politically fraught murder case for a frothy French destination wedding as the two reporters cover the event while sparring their way into falling in love again. As with the first book in the series, Sellet’s love of the setting shines on the page, taking the reader to the French countryside with its castles and caves, wine and cuisine, gardens and green hills. The humour warmly embraces the antic and farcical as the duo gets caught up in pool noodle jousting or traversing a dark carnival themed bouncy castle, navigating a complicated ten-year history that tore them apart while repeatedly bringing them back together again. Sellet drops in delightfully fun nods to the previous two books, and to the source material, but readers don’t need to know either to enjoy this one on its own. A joyful escape, a loving tribute to a fabulous film, and a perfect fit for armchair travellers who enjoy a lot of push in their push-and-pull love stories, and a lot of “com” in their rom-coms.

[LESLIE J (mrsj_readsbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Net Galley for my complimentary eArc of My Best French Wedding. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fun palate cleansing read. Light hearted and full of snark. The absolute text book definition of Enemies to Lovers/Second Chance Romance.

The tension between Walter and Hildy builds throughout the book. We finally get some insight into what is going on by alternating POV. This “relationship” is 10 years in the making !

A great read for those last trips to the beach or pool when you want something fun to read while holding a cold beverage.

[Kasee Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing about me is that I’m always gonna read (and love!) an Amanda Sellet novel. Her brand of storytelling is something that appeals to me so deeply — it’s quirky and fun, smart and romantic with a one-of-a-kind voice.

MY BEST FRENCH WEDDING is the story of two rival journalists with history (read: TENSION!) who are battling to cover the wedding of the century. Their professional rivalry forces them to confront their past and what results is an intensely readable, swoony, redemptive novel and I loved every page. Amanda Sellet forever!!!!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. MY BEST FRENCH WEDDING is out now!

[Linda Dominick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun quick read and the banter had me laughing out loud. Hildy and Walter have known each other since they were teens and can’t seem to stop floating back into each other’s lives. Yes, they are rivals, vying for all the best weddings to write about. They are also extremely attracted to each other, but will not give in to temptation because there is way too much history and hurt feelings. Although I do like that Walter wants to talk to her about their issues.
One thing is for sure they work together and make a great team. And when they finally leave the past behind, they are so good together.
If you are in the mood for a destination wedding with rivals to lovers, this is a fun one.

#MyBestFrenchWedding #AmandaSellet #StMartinsPress #YouHadMeAtHEA

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My best French wedding is about wedding journalist Hildy Johnson and Walter Burns. They are covering the wedding of the century - a week long affair in France. Over the course of the week, we learn more about Hildy and Walter’s past and what drove them from friends to enemies. This is a cute fun read. I loved that the chapters alternated from different view points. And of course with any wedding story, it has a happy ending. Thank you to Net Galley and st. Martins press for the ARC.

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Best French Wedding by Amanda Sellet was so enjoyable! It was hilarious and heartfelt in the best way. I don't think I expected it to be so funny--maybe because it wasn't pitched as a romcom--but it was! I also loved the French country setting. Highly recommend this summer read!

Hildy and Walter are journalists competing for the wedding story of the year: a grand castle wedding in France. But their pasts might be getting in the way as these former lovers duke it out for the scoop. Their past and present intertwine to complete this tumultuous love story.

I received this book as a free ARC and all views are entirely my own.

[Mathea Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Best French Wedding by Amanda Sellet | Review

The Setup
Hildy Johnson and Walter Burns—yes, the same names as the leads from the classic screwball comedy His Girl Friday—are rival wedding reporters covering the rich and famous. That's not a coincidence, and it tells you exactly what kind of energy this book is going for. When Hildy scores an exclusive on the wedding of the year—a castle in France, a week of festivities planned by the bride's older sister Maude—she feels like she's finally won. Then Walter shows up, apparently dating the older sister of the bride, and he's been invited to cover part of the wedding too. Game on.
What unfolds is a week of competitive, bickering, slow-building enemies-to-lovers tension against the most gorgeous backdrop imaginable.
What Worked
The Banter is Top Notch
The back-and-forth between Hildy and Walter is genuinely witty and sharp throughout. You can feel the history underneath every exchange—they know exactly how to get under each other's skin, and that familiarity makes the tension crackle.
The Setting
A castle in France, a week of wedding festivities, and two rivals forced into proximity. The atmosphere does a lot of heavy lifting and it works. You feel the romance of the setting even as these two are actively annoying each other.
The Root of It All
When you finally learn what happened ten years ago to start the rivalry, it reframes everything. It's worth the wait—just frustrating getting there.
What Didn't Work
The Reverse Chronological Flashbacks
This structural choice was more distracting than rewarding. Starting a couple of months back and slowly working toward the ten-year-old incident means the reader is missing crucial context for most of the book. Instead of building tension, it creates frustration. When we finally get the root of the conflict near the end, the reaction is more relief than revelation.
The Immature Bickering
Both characters spend a significant portion of the book sniping at each other over things that a five-minute honest conversation could resolve. It reads as immature rather than charming at times, which makes it harder to root for them.
The Fast Flip at the End
The enemies-to-lovers transition happens quickly. If you think of the entire ten-year history as the slow burn, it makes emotional sense—but within the book itself it feels rushed, like the story ran out of room to let it breathe.
Final Thoughts
My Best French Wedding is a fun, breezy rivals-to-lovers romance with sharp banter and a dreamy setting. The structural choice to reveal the backstory in reverse chronological order is interesting in concept but ultimately gets in the way. If you can settle into the bickering and trust that the payoff is coming, there's a lot to enjoy here—especially if you love witty dialogue and French castle atmospherics.
Best for: Readers who love witty banter, enemies-to-lovers, and travel romance. If structural complexity frustrates you, just know it resolves—eventually.

[Sydney Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to StoryGraph for hosting a giveaway for this book and the author for sending me a free advanced reader copy. Nothing was promised in exchange for this book.

This book had the potential to be really good, but it just didn’t work for me. I’m a big fan of rivals to lovers and don’t mind miscommunication when it’s done right, but this was downright goofy. It literally would have taken a 2 minute conversation to realize why they were even fighting in the first place. I mean, they go through a ten year grudge and Walter doesn’t even know why she’s mad at him for A WHOLE DECADE. And we as the readers don’t find out what the conflict was until a couple of chapters before the end.

Corrine was the villain of this story and it is wild to me that she never suffers any consequences despite being the reason the miscommunication and fight happened in the first place and didn’t do anything to smooth things over or come clean about her role in it. In fact, she actively keeps them apart and refuses to get in the middle of their conflict even though she was the one that instigated everything. The fact that she never had to fact any consequences and it’s never brought up really ticked me off.

Also you cannot tell me that after we hear the conversation that caused the conflict, Hildy decides to become BFFs with Corrine who was awful to her, never bring up what she said, and gives her a job with zero thoughts, but she’s willing to hold a grudge against someone that proved he was a decent person for a decade. Nope, not buying it one bit.

I felt like the characters themselves didn’t really have a lot of personality and I didn’t feel any chemistry between them. I could tell the author was trying really hard to show that they had all this sexual tension even though they hated each other, but I just didn’t feel it. I’m not sure if it was the writing or the characters, but I wasn’t engaged in the romance, which was difficult with this book because so much of it hinged on the reader rooting for the characters to get together. Not only did I not feel the connection, I just didn’t really like the characters. Hildy was way too abrasive and I felt like she didn’t have a good enough reason to hate Walter as much as she did. Walter let Hildy walk all over him and didn’t stand up for himself.

There were some good lines and I think there was potential with the story, but ultimately this book just didn’t work for me. I wouldn’t recommend it and I don’t see myself reading another book by this author, but I might give another book a chance if I felt like the characters had more chemistry or had a better plot to be interested in.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started Amanda Sellet’s My Best French Wedding on the patio with my morning coffee, and somewhere between the French château, the champagne, and two journalists arguing like it was an Olympic event, my coffee went completely cold. St. Martin’s Griffin, thank you for the gifted advance copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️½

Hildy and Walter have the kind of relationship where everyone around them can see exactly what is happening, while they remain committed to misunderstanding each other for an entire decade. Honestly, these two could turn ordering breakfast into a competitive sport.

Their banter was easily my favorite part. Walter knew exactly how to push Hildy’s buttons, and she never missed an opportunity to return the favor. Some of their arguments made me laugh out loud, especially during the wonderfully ridiculous pool scene. I listened to part of the book during my commute and caught myself smiling at their verbal sparring more than once.

Walter won me over pretty quickly. Underneath all the teasing, he seemed to understand Hildy better than almost anyone. Hildy took a little longer. I admired how determined she was to make her magazine successful on her own terms, but there were also moments when I wanted to gently take her by the shoulders and say, “Please let the man finish one sentence.”

The story moves between the present-day wedding and moments from Hildy and Walter’s past, slowly revealing how they went from close friends to professional rivals. I enjoyed piecing their history together, although the backward jumps sometimes pulled me out of the wedding story. I also wanted a little more of southern France. Give me every château, pastry, vineyard, and unnecessary glass of champagne, please.

Faith interrupted my reading during one of the biggest emotional conversations, and for once I appreciated the break because these two were testing my patience. Still, by the end, I understood the hurt and fear underneath all that bickering, and I was rooting for them to finally stop competing long enough to tell the truth.

I’d hand this to someone who enjoys second chances, clever dialogue, complicated history, destination weddings, and romances where everyone except the couple knows they belong together.

What romance setting would tempt you more: a French château wedding, an Italian villa, or a seaside ceremony in Greece?

#MyBestFrenchWedding #AmandaSellet #StMartinsGriffin #SecondChanceRomance #RivalsToLovers #RomanticComedy #SummerReading #BookstagramReview #DestinationWeddingRomance

[Robynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Best French Wedding was a cute, atmospheric romance that transported me straight to the south of France. The castle setting, its history, and the overall wedding backdrop were some of my favourite aspects of the book and added a wonderful sense of charm and escapism.

Hildy and Walter’s relationship follows a lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers trajectory, although their years of “hatred” stem largely from a misunderstanding when they were younger. At times, it felt less like genuine animosity and more like prolonged flirting that neither of them knew how to navigate. The constant bickering occasionally became tiresome, and some of the conflict felt a little forced when honest communication could have resolved so much.

I found myself feeling particularly sympathetic toward Walter. Throughout much of the story, he seemed to want Hildy more than she wanted him. The dynamic often felt like a sad, loyal puppy dog trying to win over a driven business tycoon, and it was difficult not to root for him. That imbalance added an interesting emotional layer to their relationship, even if it occasionally made me wish Hildy showed her feelings more openly.

The nonlinear timeline also requires attention. The chapter timestamps are absolutely essential, and readers who skip over them may find themselves confused, as the story jumps around quite a bit.

Interestingly, I was just as invested in some of the side elements as I was in the central romance. The castle’s history was fascinating, and I remained curious about Walter’s connection with the plant lady throughout the novel. Were they dating? Were they simply close friends? Was there some element of mutual benefit or social clout involved? That ambiguity added another enjoyable layer to the story.

My only other criticism is that the excerpts from the wedding articles could have been stronger. Given that writing about weddings is central to the characters’ professional lives, I expected those pieces to feel a little more polished and distinctive.

The ending was fairly obvious, but that didn’t take away from the book’s overall charm. If you’re looking for a light, romantic read filled with French scenery, historic settings, and a second-chance romance, this is a delightful choice.

[Alexandra Morales · Rating 2 out of 5]

****Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for an advanced eArc in exchange for my honest opinion****

2 Stars. What started out as amusing in the first 30% or so quickly become monotonous.

Hildy I really did like in the beginning. Finally.. a FMC who loves to put time and effort into her appearance and enjoys shopping. Who loves her career and is whip smart. But that's it. Except for this life altering grudge with poor Walter. Around 36% I was OVER the book. OMG. The POV's in the past literally made no sense as nothing was expanded on between these two. I would have loved I don't know life moments besides random wedding scenes. Like maybe a chaotic charity event with Hildy's family where her and Walter have a heart warming moment alone. Or Walters mother's birthday party or an airport fiasco where Hildy and Walter are stuck... MOMENTS instead of 15 minute banter sessions with scenery changes....

Walter... This POOR man deserves so much better than Hildy its almost ridiculous. I wouldn't be surprised if he has whiplash from all the back and forth between the two of them. I feel like he has old school romantic intentions with Hildy and reading her chapters I truly don't think they would have ended up together. Their final moment when all that sexual tension finally climaxes was embarrassing to read just by how choppy and awkward it was. Banter talking STILL?!? Shut up for once in your life Hildy. Enjoy the damn moment. Lord Almighty.

One of my "favorite" Hildy lines that stuck out to me.

"The most romantic relationships are a distraction at best - if not a straight up liability"- Hildy

Walter does not deserve someone who thinks like this. Don't even get me started about the GIGANTIC moment that supposedly started this whole "feud" between them. Miscommunication that would have been solved if you just had the courage to stand up out of the shadows and go "hey wtf Walter?".

Fiona and Robbie had more chemistry than our supposed main characters and that's just sad..

Sadly a One & Done chance with Amanda Sellet.

[Holley Desigio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of "My Best French Wedding" from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, Hildy is a wealthy heiress to a media family trying to make her own way in the world. Walter is a middle class man with a chip on his shoulder . When they meet in a program the year between high school and college, their lives change forever. Years later, they hate each other, but are forced to work the Prescott-Schafer wedding in France together. Their mutual friend from college, Corinne, who now works for Hildy, tries to keep things fair, and sparks from flying, as they compete to win wedding coverage for the couple in competing magazines. But as old slights, and old misunderstandings come out, they might just have their own second chance and fairy tale love story. The positives of the story are that it is easily readable, and there are some funny moments. However, Walter and Hildy are both obnoxious and annoying and while the writer gives them the common bad family tropes to try and explain their toxicity, it really didn't make me root for them. Hildy was right that too much time and hurt seemed to have festered and this is a couple that if the book didn't end with a wedding announcement, I'd believe broke up again( and will probably divorce in a couple of years realistically). Walter being so quick to dismiss and talk bad about Hildy in the flashbacks and Hildy being so quick to first ghost him for years and then go back to him with one apology was just ridiculous. I also hated how Hildy ghosted Walter for years and was so hesitant to start a romance with him because of his bad behavior as a teen, but completely ignored Corinne's bad behavior and even rewarded her with a job and kept her as a friend. He explanation of her understanding of this didn't sit well with me, and didn't work well in the book. For someone supposedly so afriad of being used, Corinne is the only one who got everything she wanted out of that relationship. Overall, it was fine, but not something I will re-read.

[Ayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Best French Wedding by Amanda Sellet

Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

My Best French Wedding features a fun enemies to lovers romance and is set in Southern France. With a destination wedding, a well-written enemies to lovers romance, and lots of entertaining moments, My Best French Wedding is fresh, enjoyable, and engaging!

Hildy used to really like Walter, until he crushed her teenage dreams. Ten years later, she is now focused on her magazine. Unfortunately, she can’t get rid of Walter easily. He is always around, looking to get the best scoops on elite weddings and provoking her. When Hildy gets access to the biggest wedding of the year in southern France, it’s a huge opportunity for her magazine. Except Walter is also in France and is trying to steal Hildy’s story again. Now it’s a battle to have coverage that gets printed. The problem is that while Hildy knows better than to believe in happily ever after, Walter is doing his best to convince her they could have a second chance.

My Best French Wedding is a charming, witty, and fast-paced enemies to lovers romance that is absolutely perfect for summer! Hildy is determined, intelligent, and committed. Walter provides the perfect balance in their enemies to lovers journey as he exasperates her often while still obviously understanding her better than anyone else. Their history adds further tension to their interactions, especially as they compete in the south of France. Also, the setting, drama, glamour, and chaos makes the story even more compelling.

Overall, My Best French Wedding is fun, romantic, witty, and clever. A second chance, enemies to lovers romance with impeccable chemistry, fantastic banter, and great characters!

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun-to-read second chance romance set in France.

Hildy Johnson is up for the Game Changer Prize as part of the 87th Annual New Voices in Media Awards. She’s editor in chief of Life, Styled. Her biggest rival, Walter Burns is also a finalist for his”gritty but empathetic” article on weddings. For the upcoming Prescott-Schafer nuptials in southwestern France (in Marquay in the Dordogne department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine), Hildy’s magazine is offered exclusive access that could put her magazine on its mark for the recognition Hildy feels it deserves but Walter’s on the hunt for another juicy wedding story and it looks like he could steal Hildy’s thunder. This wedding offers these two a chance to square off possibly. Can the champagne and chateaux thwart them or make them a part deux?

The book alternates between present day pre-wedding activities and past events that brought about Hildy’s and Walter’s estrangement. I learned that Hildy Johnson is actually a character in the screwball 1940s comedy, His Girl Friday. In that movie, Cary Grant tries to get Hildy (his ex-wife) back and keep her as his ace reporter. The author twists this plot to made Hildy the one that actually wants Walter back on her team - I think that was very clever, plus for anyone who’s seen that movie knows the love story is fun and witty (and Cary Grant is swoony, playing to type and hilarious). While I don’t think the author quite captured that, it’s still a fun cozy book - perfect for that minute beach read before fall approaches.

Mt thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me access to this ARC.

[Molly Smiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Sellet has officially convinced me that my ideal vacation is apparently arguing with a handsome rival in the French countryside while wearing fabulous outfits and pretending I'm totally, absolutely, 100% over him.

My Best French Wedding is pure rom-com escapism. Think champagne, châteaus, breathtaking scenery, sharp banter, and enough unresolved tension to power a small European nation. The vibe is old-school screwball comedy meets destination wedding chaos, and I was more than happy to buy a one-way ticket.

The real star of the show is the banter. Hildy and Walter spend so much time verbally sparring that I started looking forward to their arguments almost as much as the romance. Their chemistry practically leaps off the page, even when they're doing their best to convince themselves (and absolutely nobody else) that they can't stand each other.

I also loved how glamorous and immersive the setting felt. Reading this book was basically the literary equivalent of lounging at a French château with a pastry in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. Was I suddenly an expert on luxury weddings? No. Did I enjoy every second of it anyway? Absolutely.

This wasn't quite a 5-star read for me only because there were a few moments where I wanted the emotional payoff to hit a tiny bit harder, but honestly, I was having too much fun to dwell on it.

If your favorite romance ingredients include rivals-to-lovers energy, witty chaos, glamorous settings, and the kind of banter that deserves its own award category, this one should be packed in your beach bag immediately. 🇫🇷🥂✨💌

[M. K. French · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hildy and Walter were once friends, but her dreams were shattered as a teen and the two have been rivals ever since. He keeps trying to grab the headlines on the elite wedding circuit, undermining her and provoking her in public displays of temper. Hildy gets an invitation to a decadent week-long lavish wedding celebration in France, but she's not the only one. Walter tries to convince her they can get together again, but Hildy's got one week to convince him that she is living her best life and doesn't need him.

We see from the start that Hildy and Walter are attracted to each other and irritate each other in equal measure. They share the wedding reporting in their respective jobs, and every time they report on the same wedding it devolves into sniping at each other. Sometimes the chaos involves messy accidents, such as mud getting all over white clothes at an outdoor wedding. The sniping is awkward and occasionally upsets the bride and groom, and at times seems to interfere with the activities planned before the nuptials.

The two bicker constantly. It involves innuendo and vague threats regarding their careers; as much as I love snark in a rivals to lovers story, this felt over the top. Some of it is probably endearing, but I found it irritating that grown adults would keep acting like annoying teenagers. We get flashbacks to prior interactions between them, and then the situation that sparked it all in the first place. Once the two were able to talk to each other without sniping, it was more tolerable for me. The story otherwise progresses toward its happily ever after for our married couple as well as for Hildy and Walter.

[Tonnie Craft · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book.

2.5/5 stars

I really wanted to like this book. I love books with destination weddings and love stories abroad. The synopsis of this book sounded great, unfortunately, the book just did not come through for me. The first 25% of this book flew by and was really good, after that, I found the story to be repetitive and just not keeping my interest. The flashbacks of Walter and Hildy felt like the same thing over and over again...there is a wedding or major media event, they have tension, they fight, repeat. I was wanting a flashback of when they were together before the fight happened. I wanted more cute moments between them. Overall, I just wanted more. For how long this book was, I didn't feel like there was enough of those moments that make you kick your feet or giggle, it was all fighting and bickering until the very end. That said, the banter between the characters in some of the scenes was well written. I did like Walter and felt bad for him throughout the book. He deserves so much better, what a guy!

Outside of Walter and Hildy, I also was not a fan of most of the side characters. The characters just felt kind of flat. I really did not like Corrine. How Hildy remained friends and worked with her but was down right mean to Walter after the fight, I will never understand. Corrine is a terrible person, I was hoping to find something redeeming about her, but there is literally nothing.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

New author for me. I'm going to start right off by saying I liked the idea of this story...it was a good start. However, I really wasn't as fond of the "entirety" of the story/book. I never really felt I got totally invested in Hildy and Walter's story. Part of that was the back and forth between past and present. While I understand why authors write that way, it is one of my least favorite ways to read a story. So it always puts me off and/or takes me much more work to "fall" into the story. That being said, I hung in and tried hard to really enjoy the read. The slow burn in this story was, in my opinion, way too slow. I felt the drag was forever, and that somewhat sucked my joy out of this read.

Eventually, I determined it was probably just me, but this book was not my thing. While I truly enjoyed Walter, Hildy left me cold. At times I just wanted to reach out and smack her. Okay, well, suffice to say, this one wasn't for me. I do think there are many out there that would enjoy this story. The travel to France, the descriptions, the (at times) witty dialogue will definitely make some happy while reading. I did have a few laugh-out-loud moments. Truth be told, it just didn't grab me enough for it to matter to me. Even the end was just okay for me. Oh well, that happens at times. I'd still encourage others to give it a try. It's not a bad read, it just wasn't for me. I'm sure there are others out there that will really enjoy it!

[Ali Bunke · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Best French Wedding is a fun enemies to lover romance. Hildy once thought Walter was perfect for her, but after he crushed her teenage hopes, she built her own magazine and tried to move on. He keeps showing up on the elite wedding circuit competing for the same stories, though, and when she lands exclusive access to the wedding of the season in southern France, he appears again to challenge her for the scoop. Their rivalry turns into a week‑long battle over whose coverage will make it to print, and amid the champagne and chateaux, Walter starts hinting they might have a second chance. Hildy knows better than fairy tales, but resisting him isn’t as simple as she’d like.

The story moves between Hildy and Walter’s perspectives and shifts back and forth in time, giving a fuller picture of how their history shapes their present. Both characters can be a bit childish in their reactions, which made some of their miscommunication frustrating for me, since that’s something I personally struggle with in books. Even so, the settings are great, and their banter has an easy charm that keeps the story moving.

It’s a destination wedding romance with plenty of entertaining moments, and you do have to trust that the payoff for this couple is coming. I loved the atmosphere and the location, and once the story settles into its rhythm, it becomes a fun read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

[charmette.books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love anything related to France, so I was excited to read a novel set in France. Hildy and Walter are journalists and archrivals who had a falling out ten years prior. They end up competing for the scoop at a luxury wedding in France. Their arguing hides the feelings that never quite died over the years. I wish they could have resolved their conflict a bit earlier. While I enjoyed their banter, it did get a bit old, and it was frustrating to realize that they could have solved their issues with a brief conversation years ago.

Miscommunication is not my favorite part of any romance, and this situation was very dragged out. The pacing of this story was really slow at times, and it also felt like the book could have been much shorter. The premise of this book sounded great, and I definitely love enemies to lovers. I just got exasperated with the length of the conflict and wanted Hildy and Walter to move forward. I don’t mind different timelines in a story because it helps develop the plot and offers more information about the characters, but I got a bit confused while reading this book because of the dual timelines.

I wanted to love this book, but the drawn-out enemies to lovers relationship just didn’t work for me. I would have loved an earlier resolution and more romance though I did love the setting. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book (Via eArc by Netgalley) for free from the Publisher (St. Martin's Press ) in exchange for an honest review*
I had such a great time reading My Best French Wedding! If you’re a fan of His Girl Friday, I think you’ll really enjoy this one. It has that fun, fast-paced rivalry between two journalists who are both determined to get the scoop on the wedding of the year. But underneath the competition is the real romance: these two journalists actually grew up together and had a budding romance years ago that eventually fizzled out. The story flips back and forth between then and now, slowly piecing together how two people who were once so in love could become so cold toward each other years later. I really enjoyed watching their history unfold and getting to understand what happened between them. One of my favorite touches was the inclusion of the news article clippings throughout the book. I thought they added something fun and unique to the story and fit perfectly with the journalism aspect. That said, there were definitely moments where the writing felt a little jarring and disconnected, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. Even with that, I still had a great time reading this book and really enjoyed the overall story, characters, and romantic tension. If you love rivals-to-lovers, journalism, second-chance romance, and a little bit of His Girl Friday energy, definitely give this one a try!

[Thelit bookreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a light, fun and summery read for me. I really liked the plot, the characterization and the fun banter between them.


What I liked:

- Intresting french terms to learn 

- Good research on the french menu and the terms

- Fun Banter between the characters


What I would have liked more is that

- The interactions could have been written more clearer, I had to go back and read it two three times to know what they were talking about.

- The pronouns were kind of confusing for me, I guess I am not a big fan of third person point of views as much

- Also I would have liked if the storyline was more gripping. It was very drift through I had to fall out of it couple times to get into finishing the book.


Hildy and Walter were high school friends who departed after a misunderstanding. But the fate seems to get them together in unexpected places at the same time. The story unravles with their ech meeting from the past years to present.



What to expect

- Read if you like The Hating Game this whole story gave me that vibes.

- Same Profession

- competitive nemesis

- Friends to rivals to lovers

- Different Timeliness 

- Travel themed and Destination Weddings

- Second Chance

- Fun Banter

- Double Pov

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in return of review

[Julia Evelyn]

I’m so sorry for this review I truly truly am. I gave it a chance. Got 30% in and had to DNF. Please consider that when reading this review as, of course, I did not finish! But from the 30% I read, here are my thoughts:

- Hildy & Walter are hot and steamy from the start! I liked that we got the vibe that Walter was obsessed at the beginning. I liked the imagery and could picture Hildy’s “sexy dress” perfectly (something about cascading like melting silver idk but nice)

- Where did this vibe go ?? Like I know they’re ~enemies with benefits~ or it at least seemed that way based on one scene, but suddenly we’re at odds with each other in a “high stakes” journalism opportunity, reporting on a wedding. There’s “tension” but I don’t buy it. Nothing about their dynamic screams deep in any way, shape, or form.

- The wedding is in beautiful FRANCE. Where’s the ambience? All I’m hearing is Hildy and Walter engage in insufferably cringe dialogue throughout the whole book. You think something will change when we flashback to 10 months ago, but nope still cringe & still the same dialogue.

I did not connect to the characters, I didn’t buy the plot, I did not like the dialogue, and the setting was a major let down, too.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I wish I had better things to say :(

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rival reporters with a messy past end up competing for the same huge wedding story in the south of France…while very much not over each other.

I’m kind of torn on this one. It’s probably a 3.5 for me. (Goodreads, I want half stars!!)

The writing is genuinely really good. Like, laugh out loud funny at times. The banter especially is so strong, which is always my thing, and it definitely got me into it early on. The pacing starts off solid.

But…it started to lose me a bit in the second half.

We jump around a lot, and while the pacing is technically moving, it also somehow starts to drag? And I’m not sure the payoff of why they hated each other so much was strong enough to justify all that tension.

Also, Hildy kind of wore me down. At a certain point I was like okay please just be serious for one second. It got a little exhausting, and by the end I was more ready to be done than excited to see how it wrapped up.

It also felt a bit overwritten toward the end, which didn’t help. And then…closed door??? With that much buildup?? I was like oh. okay. lol.

BUT overall, the writing is excellent, and the banter is fun, but it ended up feeling a little more like a chore to finish than I wanted it to.

A solid 3.5 for me!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Griffin, and Amanda Sellet for this eARC!

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this book! In particular, the banter really stood out to me. I also really enjoyed the ode to the written word. Magazines are a lost art, and some of my favorite articles are, of course, weddings. It was really lovely to see that all portrayed in a successful way.
Our starring lady is independent, goes for what she wants, is unapologetic, and more than a bit closed off. Our guy is a sucker for her, a bit shy and closed off except for with her. They bring the fire out in each other in a good way, not one that stokes the flames negatively.
This book balanced whimsy with serious topics well. For example, the numerous wedding stories shared with abandonment issues. The vulnerability of teenage angst paired with bouncy houses. It allows the reader to understand the main characters with depth while maintaining the rom com genre.
I was a bit confused by the time jumps. They purposely go backward each time. In hindsight, it makes sense, but in the moment, it felt a little jarring. Just with that and dual POV there was a lot of bouncing around. Would I change that for the depth I got out of both characters? Nope.

A great late summer read, a palette cleanser, a good book to pick up during back to school. Thanks so much to the author and publisher for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Best French Wedding by Amanda Sellet
Contemporary romance, romcom. Multi-timeline. Closed door with minor teasing.
Hildy Johnson and Walter Burns are competitors in the wedding story and reporting world. They compete and fight for the next big impressive wedding. And they constantly try to one up each other at business events. Why? Thats the question every one of their coworkers and business associates want to know.
The answer may be as far back as their high school years.

It took me a bit to engage with this story and the characters. They were interesting but I wasn’t fully invested. I am not a fan of arguing or bickering. Then I noticed more of the banter and flirting and his total awareness of her every move. By 25% I was all in and loving these two characters and their interactions. By 90%, I was swooning, crying, and begging for them to talk it out and jump in already.

So much contention. Alternating chapters of now and then. More than once, I thought about skipping “then” but knew that’s where the both the tension and answers would come from. So I didn’t skip ahead. I read the next chapter and learned more back story and laughed at tension and adored his love so clear to us.

Ultimately a happiness that took her a long time to accept and believe.
Loved the banter and engagement between Hildy and Walter.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

[Jennifer Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Best French Wedding, by Amanda Sellet, is the story of journalist Hildy Johnson, publisher of lifestyle magazine Life, Styled, and Walter Burns, her nemesis since before her senior year in high school when they met and parted in a misunderstanding. Both have earned a name for their reporting of high society weddings, but it is Walter who wins the Game Changer prize, but perhaps it is what happens before the prize winner is announced that meant the most to him.

Losing the prize was more than a personal loss for Hildy as the magazine needed that boost. But she has the coverage of the wedding of the year, the Prescott-Schafer wedding is the south of France. When Hildy finds Walter also covering it as a reporter at large she is enraged. When the bride and groom decide both will write their pieces and the couple will choose the one they like best, the games begin.

The story unfurls, both looking back to the summer Hildy and Walter met and to navigating current happenings, the stories of the bride and groom and her sister, and her mystery man, become interwoven as the plot takes the reader on a fun ride. Told with humor and heart, Ms. Sellet has penned a lovely adventure for her readers. The characters are multidimensional, the setting well described, and there are surprises along the way. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!