What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26It’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?
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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?
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 12, 2026
1 person is currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Timoti
4 books64 followersCynthia 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
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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
2026
November 21, 2025📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble
December 6, 2025
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.
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.
November 30, 2025
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
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
Review of advance copy received from Author
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!
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!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️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.
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.
November 29, 2025
This book is so charming, swoonworthy, romantic, funny, heartwarming. It was such a delight to read. What a classic romcom! it sure feels like one, anyway! It made me feel, it made me smile, laugh, giggle, feel sad back and forth and I was immersed.
The writing was super strong, both main characters were really well rounded and had good development.
Plus the chemistry was just sparkling! The way they got closer through the matchmaking plans felt so authentic as they let their walls down around each other. Their dialogue and banter was fun and you could just tell how much they genuinely like each other and wanted to be around each other. Something I also love in romance is when the relationship feels mutual with the care and support and this book had that and had it so so well.
The other parts of the story were really enjoyable too, like Kim's relationship with her grandfather (he is such a joy and a fun character), the plot about the developers and saving the store. I also loved the community they had with the shops and customers.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher and author for the chance to read the advanced copy!
The writing was super strong, both main characters were really well rounded and had good development.
Plus the chemistry was just sparkling! The way they got closer through the matchmaking plans felt so authentic as they let their walls down around each other. Their dialogue and banter was fun and you could just tell how much they genuinely like each other and wanted to be around each other. Something I also love in romance is when the relationship feels mutual with the care and support and this book had that and had it so so well.
The other parts of the story were really enjoyable too, like Kim's relationship with her grandfather (he is such a joy and a fun character), the plot about the developers and saving the store. I also loved the community they had with the shops and customers.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher and author for the chance to read the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I want to start off by saying thank you for having the opportunity to read this book as an ARC!
How To Find A Guy In Five Wedding is a beautifully written romance with lovable characters and swoon worthy connections. No only was the chemistry between Rob and Kim amazing, but Kim's connections with her friends, family, and community made her feel real and even more lovable. Rob was the perfect spot of light in a shade of darkness and his optimistic personality fit well with Kim's realism.
I was able to sit and soak this book up in a sitting, and I loved every second of it. The book is paced well and the writing is amazing.
This book is a reverse Grumpy X Sunshine and i absolutely recommend it for everyone who struggles to believe in love!
I enjoyed this book so much and can't wait to read other pieces by Cynthia!
How To Find A Guy In Five Wedding is a beautifully written romance with lovable characters and swoon worthy connections. No only was the chemistry between Rob and Kim amazing, but Kim's connections with her friends, family, and community made her feel real and even more lovable. Rob was the perfect spot of light in a shade of darkness and his optimistic personality fit well with Kim's realism.
I was able to sit and soak this book up in a sitting, and I loved every second of it. The book is paced well and the writing is amazing.
This book is a reverse Grumpy X Sunshine and i absolutely recommend it for everyone who struggles to believe in love!
I enjoyed this book so much and can't wait to read other pieces by Cynthia!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Cynthia for an ARC of this book. Like your first romcom, Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice, I devoured it in a day.
Cynthia's multicultural romcoms are charming, with swoonworthy heroes and strong, sassy heroines.
You'll be captivated by Rob, the best cinnamon roll hero I've read in ages (my new book boyfriend for sure!)
Cynthia has a talent for creating realistic characters, and surrounding them by flawed families you can relate to. Her secondary characters will captivate you as much as the protagonists.
If you enjoy funny, heartwarming romcoms that make you smile, How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings is for you.
Cynthia's multicultural romcoms are charming, with swoonworthy heroes and strong, sassy heroines.
You'll be captivated by Rob, the best cinnamon roll hero I've read in ages (my new book boyfriend for sure!)
Cynthia has a talent for creating realistic characters, and surrounding them by flawed families you can relate to. Her secondary characters will captivate you as much as the protagonists.
If you enjoy funny, heartwarming romcoms that make you smile, How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings is for you.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If you love rom-coms with a multicultural twist, some snark and plenty of heart with a HEA, I cannot recommend this book enough. It is such a fun, quick read, almost guaranteed to put a smile on your face and some pep in your step.
I would like to thank Tor Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!
I would like to thank Tor Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews