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My Best French Wedding
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26Will 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.
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.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 11, 2026
About the author
Amanda Sellet
7 books491 followersAmanda 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.
On the comedy/tragedy question, she is team comedy all the way.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
April 9, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
March 1, 2026
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
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
February 13, 2026
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.
February 5, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Storygraph
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.
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.
July 29, 2026
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
⭐️⭐️⭐️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
July 5, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
****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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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. 🇫🇷🥂✨💌
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. 🇫🇷🥂✨💌
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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
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
Did Not Finish
March 21, 2026I’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 :(
- 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 :(
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
April 8, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the premise - rival reporters, a French wedding and witty banter but the execution didn’t fully land for me. While I am usually a fan of dual timelines, for this book the back and forth made it harder to stay invested in the present-day story and slowed the momentum considerably.
Hildy was my bigger issue. I wanted to root for her but found myself frustrated more often than not. I wish we had seen more of her inner struggle as far as Walter was concerned. Walter, on the other hand, was genuinely enjoyable and the chemistry and banter between them were the clear highlight, and honestly I wished there had been more of that throughout. When those two were sparring, the book showed real promise. But the slow burn dragged in a way that dulled the payoff rather than building toward it.
The wedding setting, while lush on paper, ended up feeling a bit Hallmark-movie to me and some of the characters felt like caricatures. I do think readers who love light, escapist romances set in France will find a lot to enjoy here. It just wasn’t quite the read I was hoping for.
I liked the premise - rival reporters, a French wedding and witty banter but the execution didn’t fully land for me. While I am usually a fan of dual timelines, for this book the back and forth made it harder to stay invested in the present-day story and slowed the momentum considerably.
Hildy was my bigger issue. I wanted to root for her but found myself frustrated more often than not. I wish we had seen more of her inner struggle as far as Walter was concerned. Walter, on the other hand, was genuinely enjoyable and the chemistry and banter between them were the clear highlight, and honestly I wished there had been more of that throughout. When those two were sparring, the book showed real promise. But the slow burn dragged in a way that dulled the payoff rather than building toward it.
The wedding setting, while lush on paper, ended up feeling a bit Hallmark-movie to me and some of the characters felt like caricatures. I do think readers who love light, escapist romances set in France will find a lot to enjoy here. It just wasn’t quite the read I was hoping for.
Read
March 13, 2026'My Best French Wedding' by Amanda Sellet is a witty rivals-to-lovers romance that fizzes like a perfectly chilled glass of champagne in the French sunshine. Sharp banter, slow-burning tension, and an indulgent setting make this the ultimate escapist summer read.
Hildy Johnson has worked hard to build her magazine from the ground up, and even harder to put Walter Burns firmly in her past. When she secures exclusive access to the most coveted wedding of the season, a lavish week-long celebration set against the sun-drenched chateaux of southern France, it feels like the big break she's been waiting for. That is, until Walter turns up with the exact same idea. As the week unfolds amid breathtaking scenery and a wonderfully warm cast of supporting characters, the line between rivalry and romance grows harder and harder to define.
With its breezy pacing and a central duo whose banter crackles off every page, 'My Best French Wedding' is pure romantic joy — the perfect book to devour on a sun lounger this summer.
Thank you to NetGalley for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review!
Hildy Johnson has worked hard to build her magazine from the ground up, and even harder to put Walter Burns firmly in her past. When she secures exclusive access to the most coveted wedding of the season, a lavish week-long celebration set against the sun-drenched chateaux of southern France, it feels like the big break she's been waiting for. That is, until Walter turns up with the exact same idea. As the week unfolds amid breathtaking scenery and a wonderfully warm cast of supporting characters, the line between rivalry and romance grows harder and harder to define.
With its breezy pacing and a central duo whose banter crackles off every page, 'My Best French Wedding' is pure romantic joy — the perfect book to devour on a sun lounger this summer.
Thank you to NetGalley for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
~Second chance romance
~Professional rivalry
~Dual timeline
~Destination wedding
While it took me a minute to get into this story, when I finally did I had a great time. We follow Hildy Johnson and Walter Burns, two rival journalists with a messy and emotional history that have been a thorn in each other's side for the better part of a decade. With the dual timeline, we get to see glimpses of the present - where the two journalists are at a destination wedding in the French countryside for the wedding of the century, and the past - where we see both snippets of their beginning, and bits and pieces of their run ins over the decade they spend antagonizing each other. I loved that we got to see these historical meetings and moments, as it really added to the tension between the two main characters.
Overall this was a fun read, very fitting for a summer day. The banter was great. The characters were funny while also smart and emotionally deep (though they try to hide it). The side characters added even more comedy.
If you're looking for a light-hearted read with banter, tension, "it's always been you" vibes, this is one to pick up.
~Professional rivalry
~Dual timeline
~Destination wedding
While it took me a minute to get into this story, when I finally did I had a great time. We follow Hildy Johnson and Walter Burns, two rival journalists with a messy and emotional history that have been a thorn in each other's side for the better part of a decade. With the dual timeline, we get to see glimpses of the present - where the two journalists are at a destination wedding in the French countryside for the wedding of the century, and the past - where we see both snippets of their beginning, and bits and pieces of their run ins over the decade they spend antagonizing each other. I loved that we got to see these historical meetings and moments, as it really added to the tension between the two main characters.
Overall this was a fun read, very fitting for a summer day. The banter was great. The characters were funny while also smart and emotionally deep (though they try to hide it). The side characters added even more comedy.
If you're looking for a light-hearted read with banter, tension, "it's always been you" vibes, this is one to pick up.
April 20, 2026
Okay so I’m going to start by saying I loved the premise of this book, the destination (bonjour Paris) and the whole rivalry aspect but for me it just fell a little flat.
Hildy Johnson is the youngest editor in chief of Life Styled magazine and she has just landed exclusive access to the biggest weddings of the season. When she arrives in France, she is gobsmacked to find Walter Burns her arch enemy already there.
From the first chapter you can tell there is a turbulent history between the two, one they have never dealt with. I found the story moved slow and with the amount of bickering between the two you don’t really get to the root of their problems until the very end. I thought the story had some great light hearted laughable moments.
I want to clarify that I don’t think the book is bad, it’s just not a book for me. But for everyone else out there, if this seems like a book for you give it a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.5/5
Pub date: Aug 11 2026
Hildy Johnson is the youngest editor in chief of Life Styled magazine and she has just landed exclusive access to the biggest weddings of the season. When she arrives in France, she is gobsmacked to find Walter Burns her arch enemy already there.
From the first chapter you can tell there is a turbulent history between the two, one they have never dealt with. I found the story moved slow and with the amount of bickering between the two you don’t really get to the root of their problems until the very end. I thought the story had some great light hearted laughable moments.
I want to clarify that I don’t think the book is bad, it’s just not a book for me. But for everyone else out there, if this seems like a book for you give it a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.5/5
Pub date: Aug 11 2026
July 30, 2026
I wanted to love this one because a wedding in the south of France felt like the perfect setting. Unfortunately that’s the only part of this one I enjoyed, and I ended up DNFing this one. Hildy was self centered and childish. She seemed to blame Walter for her bad behavior instead of taking responsibility for it. Walter felt one dimensional. He pushed Hildy’s buttons just to get a reaction. He didn’t seem to want to own up to his part of their rivalry. It felt like whatever had happened between them was the result of miscommunication or over something trivial and silly. I honestly didn’t see how their antagonism was going to spill over into something more than an argument. They were so focused on beating each other that I couldn’t get past it. The setting in France was beautiful and well described. I felt like I was there with the characters. I think this one just didn’t work for me but others who enjoy enemies to lovers will enjoy it. Thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I liked the premise of this one, but unfortunately, it fell a little flat for me. There were a bunch of flashbacks, which were helpful to the storyline, but I felt like I couldn’t track the time jumps with the story consecutively, especially reverse-chronologically. It took so long for the story to play out and we were missing crucial pieces of backstory because of this.
I also felt like Hildy & Walter were extremely immature and argued the majority of the book, a lot of times over extremely simple things that a quick conversation would have fixed. I was also hoping for more with the French atmosphere for a wedding, but felt like the focus was on the flashbacks and build-up to the end instead of the gorgeous surroundings of the south of France during wedding season and a wedding story.
It did have some funny scenes and I loved the descriptions of the castle when Hildy was giving them the example tour! Some of the banter had me cracking up.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley & Amanda Sellet for the E-Arc.
I also felt like Hildy & Walter were extremely immature and argued the majority of the book, a lot of times over extremely simple things that a quick conversation would have fixed. I was also hoping for more with the French atmosphere for a wedding, but felt like the focus was on the flashbacks and build-up to the end instead of the gorgeous surroundings of the south of France during wedding season and a wedding story.
It did have some funny scenes and I loved the descriptions of the castle when Hildy was giving them the example tour! Some of the banter had me cracking up.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley & Amanda Sellet for the E-Arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hilda and Walter have known each other for years. They used to be friends, but that ended when Walter crushed Hildy’s dreams. Now all these years later she can’t stand him, but he keeps showing up on the same wedding circuit Hildy does stories for. When Hildy scores and exclusive on the wedding of the season, she doesn’t expect to find Walter there as well, but of course he is. Will Hildy be able to pull off this story and still score the exclusive while keeping Walter at arms length?
I’m a fan of enemies to lovers romances so I picked this book up. I really wanted to like it and parts of it kept my interest, but other parts were long and drawn out. I did like Walter and Hildy together, but the story drug on of me. I felt like it was a lot longer than necessary and if it had been cut down to a shorter length I would have enjoyed this romance more. I did like how the chapters flipped back and forth to Then and Now. Overall I thought the story had good potential, but it didn’t hit the target like I had hoped.
I’m a fan of enemies to lovers romances so I picked this book up. I really wanted to like it and parts of it kept my interest, but other parts were long and drawn out. I did like Walter and Hildy together, but the story drug on of me. I felt like it was a lot longer than necessary and if it had been cut down to a shorter length I would have enjoyed this romance more. I did like how the chapters flipped back and forth to Then and Now. Overall I thought the story had good potential, but it didn’t hit the target like I had hoped.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you enjoy witty banter, a love story that hasn’t quite found its ending, and a charming setting in France, this might be your next read.
Walter and Hildy have been crossing paths—and swords—since high school. Miscommunication and misunderstandings follow them into adulthood, and despite a promising start, they struggle to find their way back to each other. The sharp, clever one-liners never stop, though at times it became a little frustrating because if they had simply paused to really listen to one another, things might not have taken so long to resolve. That trope can sometimes feel a bit tiring for me.
That said, I loved the French countryside setting and the wonderful cast of side characters the author included. They added warmth and charm to the story and made the journey even more enjoyable. Overall, this was a fun and lighthearted read that kept me smiling and left me happy with the ending.
⭐️ 4 bones from Herb and me.
Walter and Hildy have been crossing paths—and swords—since high school. Miscommunication and misunderstandings follow them into adulthood, and despite a promising start, they struggle to find their way back to each other. The sharp, clever one-liners never stop, though at times it became a little frustrating because if they had simply paused to really listen to one another, things might not have taken so long to resolve. That trope can sometimes feel a bit tiring for me.
That said, I loved the French countryside setting and the wonderful cast of side characters the author included. They added warmth and charm to the story and made the journey even more enjoyable. Overall, this was a fun and lighthearted read that kept me smiling and left me happy with the ending.
⭐️ 4 bones from Herb and me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Hildy once adored Walter, but after he shattered her teenage dreams, she moved on and built her own magazine. Years later, he’s still her rival, constantly competing with her for stories. When Hildy lands exclusive coverage of a lavish celebrity wedding in southern France, Walter shows up to steal the spotlight, forcing them into a week-long professional and personal showdown. As they compete, lingering feelings resurface, which challenge Hildy to prove she’s truly over him while pursuing success.
This book had a little bit of everything readers should enjoy: a wonderful setting in southern France, characters with chemistry, and good banter writing. A bonus are the great secondary characters which added a fun layer to this book. Perfect for summer!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book had a little bit of everything readers should enjoy: a wonderful setting in southern France, characters with chemistry, and good banter writing. A bonus are the great secondary characters which added a fun layer to this book. Perfect for summer!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My best French wedding is a very romantic, cute, rivals story by Amanda Sellet.
There was a time in Hildy’s life that she liked the idea of Water but lately she couldn’t seem to find a way to get rid of him.
I absolutely enjoyed this book. Hildy and Walter’s banter was honestly just a good amount and not to over bearing. I have read other rivals to lovers books where their banter was too much, and it made the story unbearable. However, in this book FMC and MMC’s banter was funny, and witty. I also really enjoyed Corinne in this book, I think she was the perfect third POV to their relationship and had really funny commentary for Hildy and Walter.
I really enjoyed that they always try to one up each other, but always seem to be finding themselves inches from each other.
Overall, I can’t really say anything that I didn’t like about this book. This is a perfect romantic, enemies to lovers read. I highly recommend.
There was a time in Hildy’s life that she liked the idea of Water but lately she couldn’t seem to find a way to get rid of him.
I absolutely enjoyed this book. Hildy and Walter’s banter was honestly just a good amount and not to over bearing. I have read other rivals to lovers books where their banter was too much, and it made the story unbearable. However, in this book FMC and MMC’s banter was funny, and witty. I also really enjoyed Corinne in this book, I think she was the perfect third POV to their relationship and had really funny commentary for Hildy and Walter.
I really enjoyed that they always try to one up each other, but always seem to be finding themselves inches from each other.
Overall, I can’t really say anything that I didn’t like about this book. This is a perfect romantic, enemies to lovers read. I highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm a huge judge by the cover girlie, so when I saw this one, I assumed it would lean more into women's fiction. But it was a rom-com all the same. The beginning was very trying and I had to reread a good chunk of the first few chapters to be able to get in the story, and when I did, I enjoyed the story. Hildy and Walter have great banter even in the flashbacks, but this book has too much of the miscommunication/misunderstanding trope and it's not done well. The whole reveal of what's got them bickering comes very late in the story, which in my opinion made the writing very slow placed up until that point.
I'd probably read more by the author, but I had to DNF a book I previously tried reading Hate to Fake It to You and don't even remember much of it. I do recommend reading this book for it's fun characters and plot aside from romance, which I think is quite fun. It's a mostly lighthearted story with a few memorable scenes here and there.
I'd probably read more by the author, but I had to DNF a book I previously tried reading Hate to Fake It to You and don't even remember much of it. I do recommend reading this book for it's fun characters and plot aside from romance, which I think is quite fun. It's a mostly lighthearted story with a few memorable scenes here and there.
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