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For the Bride: A Novel
From the author of I’ll Get Back To You, a sapphic enemies-to-lovers romance that follows a Type-A maid of honor setting out to do the most and a Type-B bridesmaid with her life only just put-together, who must put aside their animosity to plan the wedding of the summer
On the surface, Alice has her life together. She's got a job in music she loves; she's firmly sober; and she's grateful to be back in the good graces of her ex-girlfriend-once-best-friend-now-literal-only-friend Gin. Just in time, too, because Gin's getting married this summer! And Alice gets to be a bridesmaid.
If only the maid-of-honor wasn't Renee Type-A, the opposite of her in every way, and a long-time Alice-hater who's clung to her animosity like a leech. Every second Alice spends around Renee makes her feel like who she used to be, rather than the person she’s spent years trying to make herself into—and she doesn’t want to be reminded of her younger self any more than she wants to be thinking, more constantly than she wants to admit, about her hair, her lips, her wit.... No, Alice has her own stuff to figure out. She still loves music, but her career feels directionless. She’s grieving the loss of her father just a year ago, to alcohol. And then she finds out that her mother's started to date her father’s ex-bandmate, which sends her reeling…and with the wedding just around the corner, she doesn't want to bother Gin about any of it.
It's pure chance that Renee runs into Alice, just when she needs someone the most—and suddenly, everything shifts. Neither of them are what they assumed the other to be. Over the days and nights they’re spending helping Gin throw a DIY summer wedding of epic proportions, Alice and Renee discover that though they have nothing in common—that might be precisely what each of them need. Heartfelt and hopeful, For the Bride is a banter-filled sapphic romance with deep emotional resonance about found family, second chances, and finding love in the unexpected.
On the surface, Alice has her life together. She's got a job in music she loves; she's firmly sober; and she's grateful to be back in the good graces of her ex-girlfriend-once-best-friend-now-literal-only-friend Gin. Just in time, too, because Gin's getting married this summer! And Alice gets to be a bridesmaid.
If only the maid-of-honor wasn't Renee Type-A, the opposite of her in every way, and a long-time Alice-hater who's clung to her animosity like a leech. Every second Alice spends around Renee makes her feel like who she used to be, rather than the person she’s spent years trying to make herself into—and she doesn’t want to be reminded of her younger self any more than she wants to be thinking, more constantly than she wants to admit, about her hair, her lips, her wit.... No, Alice has her own stuff to figure out. She still loves music, but her career feels directionless. She’s grieving the loss of her father just a year ago, to alcohol. And then she finds out that her mother's started to date her father’s ex-bandmate, which sends her reeling…and with the wedding just around the corner, she doesn't want to bother Gin about any of it.
It's pure chance that Renee runs into Alice, just when she needs someone the most—and suddenly, everything shifts. Neither of them are what they assumed the other to be. Over the days and nights they’re spending helping Gin throw a DIY summer wedding of epic proportions, Alice and Renee discover that though they have nothing in common—that might be precisely what each of them need. Heartfelt and hopeful, For the Bride is a banter-filled sapphic romance with deep emotional resonance about found family, second chances, and finding love in the unexpected.
336 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
April 12, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4 (4.75 stars, rounded up)
Did I finish this book in one big sitting, basically forgetting to eat or drink, because I was so hooked and just wanted to keep going?
Yess, I guess I really did.
So it’s no surprised now, when I say that I totally adored this book and its story.
I especially liked Alice and her character development and all her ups and downs throughout the book, as well as how the book portrayed the topic of grief. Though back to Alice, I gotta say that I thought she was somewhat unlikeable at the beginning though in a funny way and throughout the book, I totally changed my mind about her and really appreciated her growing and being more honest as well as her having her few struggles with staying sober. And I gotta say, I loved ho she always wrote notes to her dead dad in her notes app, it really was such an emotional and cute detail!!!
Moreover, I also adored the friendgroup and the way Reese was written as well!
I also think that the enemies to friends to lovers was soo well down!! And had a great pace too (which is surprising considering I usually complain about it being too fast once they get to the friend part). I even liked the little back and forth and how Alice struggled to express her feelings.
Besides that, I adored the writing. And as I mentioned, the pace of the book. I might even go as far as saying that I wish this would’ve been longer because I didn’t want to say goodbye to the characters just yet.
Overall though, I can only say that I totally recommend this. Especially if you like enemies to lovers romances with a (big) touch of wedding things and a really wonderful character development!
Thank you to Netgalley as well as the publisher for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest and voluntarily given review.
Did I finish this book in one big sitting, basically forgetting to eat or drink, because I was so hooked and just wanted to keep going?
Yess, I guess I really did.
So it’s no surprised now, when I say that I totally adored this book and its story.
I especially liked Alice and her character development and all her ups and downs throughout the book, as well as how the book portrayed the topic of grief. Though back to Alice, I gotta say that I thought she was somewhat unlikeable at the beginning though in a funny way and throughout the book, I totally changed my mind about her and really appreciated her growing and being more honest as well as her having her few struggles with staying sober. And I gotta say, I loved ho she always wrote notes to her dead dad in her notes app, it really was such an emotional and cute detail!!!
Moreover, I also adored the friendgroup and the way Reese was written as well!
I also think that the enemies to friends to lovers was soo well down!! And had a great pace too (which is surprising considering I usually complain about it being too fast once they get to the friend part). I even liked the little back and forth and how Alice struggled to express her feelings.
Besides that, I adored the writing. And as I mentioned, the pace of the book. I might even go as far as saying that I wish this would’ve been longer because I didn’t want to say goodbye to the characters just yet.
Overall though, I can only say that I totally recommend this. Especially if you like enemies to lovers romances with a (big) touch of wedding things and a really wonderful character development!
Thank you to Netgalley as well as the publisher for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest and voluntarily given review.
January 30, 2026
My heart feels impossibly full after reading this. It felt like the type of rollercoaster that makes your heart leap in your chest and your stomach bottom out.
Alice has been through the trenches and back. With her father’s passing and her sobriety, the days are a struggle. She lost her friends due to her alcoholism, and she can’t get herself to see her mom much since her father died. We all have so many regrets from our past, things we wish we would’ve done different, and Alice is no different.
I was hooked from the minute I picked up this book. The grief tore me apart, the forgiveness made my heart full, and the love was by far the best part. Alice is perfect proof that you can find yourself again no matter what you’ve gone through.
I truly love when a book has a deeper meaning and a message. No matter the mistakes we make, they don’t define us. And if we choose to change and do better for ourselves, there will always be the ones we care about standing bedding us and cheering us on.
Bravo Becca Grischow, this one was incredible. When I can’t get myself to put the book down to even sleep, I know it’s a good one.
Thank you NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC!
Alice has been through the trenches and back. With her father’s passing and her sobriety, the days are a struggle. She lost her friends due to her alcoholism, and she can’t get herself to see her mom much since her father died. We all have so many regrets from our past, things we wish we would’ve done different, and Alice is no different.
I was hooked from the minute I picked up this book. The grief tore me apart, the forgiveness made my heart full, and the love was by far the best part. Alice is perfect proof that you can find yourself again no matter what you’ve gone through.
I truly love when a book has a deeper meaning and a message. No matter the mistakes we make, they don’t define us. And if we choose to change and do better for ourselves, there will always be the ones we care about standing bedding us and cheering us on.
Bravo Becca Grischow, this one was incredible. When I can’t get myself to put the book down to even sleep, I know it’s a good one.
Thank you NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book! The characters were amazing and even though at first I didn't understand why Renee was acting the way she did at the beginning and didn't really like her at about 60% everything is explained and I got to love both MCs so much! The soft moments between them were sooo cute!!!
It actually amazed me how the author handled grief so thoughtfully in this book. The little notes that Alice was writing to her father made me cry a couple of times.
One thing that really bothered me and why I can't rate this book any higher is the third act break up. I just thought that a little communication would have handled everything and there wouldn't have been any point to them staying apart.
In the end, I really loved the book and the characters and I'm really looking forward to read more from this author!
I loved this book! The characters were amazing and even though at first I didn't understand why Renee was acting the way she did at the beginning and didn't really like her at about 60% everything is explained and I got to love both MCs so much! The soft moments between them were sooo cute!!!
It actually amazed me how the author handled grief so thoughtfully in this book. The little notes that Alice was writing to her father made me cry a couple of times.
One thing that really bothered me and why I can't rate this book any higher is the third act break up. I just thought that a little communication would have handled everything and there wouldn't have been any point to them staying apart.
In the end, I really loved the book and the characters and I'm really looking forward to read more from this author!
June 11, 2026
Many thanks to Penguin Books and Netgalley for the digital review copy. This book is out now!
I came for the promise of sapphic romance and summer-y wedding vibes. But I stayed for the emotional depth and the exploration of grief.
The summer and wedding vibes are great in this one: Alice's friend's wedding is very central to the story, which was such a fun setting. I think this will be a great summer read!
More importantly, the sapphic romance is absolutely wonderful. This is a true slow burn, but one where the characters spend a lot of time together, and you can really see their connection and mutual understanding slowly build overtime. Renee was an absolutely wonderful love interest, and I could really see the chemistry.
But most importantly, I felt so touched by Alice's emotional journey in the story. She's recently lost her rock star father to alcoholism, so she's dealing with her grief, which felt so deeply real. She also used to be a rock star herself, but had to step out of that environment to get sober and not end up like her father. I loved how this was approached as a way to explore how it can feel like your life is essentially over when you're only in your 20s, but how you can always start over and find new opportunities and happiness.
I came for the promise of sapphic romance and summer-y wedding vibes. But I stayed for the emotional depth and the exploration of grief.
The summer and wedding vibes are great in this one: Alice's friend's wedding is very central to the story, which was such a fun setting. I think this will be a great summer read!
More importantly, the sapphic romance is absolutely wonderful. This is a true slow burn, but one where the characters spend a lot of time together, and you can really see their connection and mutual understanding slowly build overtime. Renee was an absolutely wonderful love interest, and I could really see the chemistry.
But most importantly, I felt so touched by Alice's emotional journey in the story. She's recently lost her rock star father to alcoholism, so she's dealing with her grief, which felt so deeply real. She also used to be a rock star herself, but had to step out of that environment to get sober and not end up like her father. I loved how this was approached as a way to explore how it can feel like your life is essentially over when you're only in your 20s, but how you can always start over and find new opportunities and happiness.
June 26, 2026
3.75/5
a bridesmaids love story???? sign me up!!!
from the very first second i heard what this book was about i KNEW i needed to get my hands on it. two bridesmaids who don't like each other have to basically plan a wedding for their mutual friend together which forces them to be close and fall in loveeeeee!!! we see from the start that alice and renee do not mesh well. alice would like to be chill and spontaneous (and grieve her father in peace) where as renee would like to plan everything down to the second (and ignore her passion of the musical rent). these two clearly needed to be pushed together by gin (the character not the alcohol), the way they balance each other out was genuinely perfect!!
alice is really struggling with the death of there father, her new/weird relationship with her mom, and being in her exes wedding party as someone who is three years sober. her story was so interesting to me, i really loved how grief was discussed but i wish we would've seen more of her love for music. i got that she loved her dad and his band but we didn't see too much of her future in the business which i would've loved. renee doesn't really like alice because she knew her when alice was very much not sober so she really has to come around to this new person. i liked how the walls between them were broken down, i only wish we were in renee's head a bit more. since the story is told solely from alice's perspective i felt kinda disconnected from renee. her issues with her job and her future were very real and relatable so having her own perspective would've really added another element to this story that might've bumped it up for me.
the book really hit its stride in the last third, which feels like something i've never ever said in my life, but i didn't love the beginning to middle chunk. reading the text messages between the "i do crew" and reading the disastrous palm springs trip, was not fun. also how were they all so nice to gin when she basically made them plan her wedding and use their own money/homes for the ceremony. like i get that she's a great person but you're all unemployed or unpaid????
*thank you so much to viking penguin and netgalley for the copy!!*
a bridesmaids love story???? sign me up!!!
from the very first second i heard what this book was about i KNEW i needed to get my hands on it. two bridesmaids who don't like each other have to basically plan a wedding for their mutual friend together which forces them to be close and fall in loveeeeee!!! we see from the start that alice and renee do not mesh well. alice would like to be chill and spontaneous (and grieve her father in peace) where as renee would like to plan everything down to the second (and ignore her passion of the musical rent). these two clearly needed to be pushed together by gin (the character not the alcohol), the way they balance each other out was genuinely perfect!!
alice is really struggling with the death of there father, her new/weird relationship with her mom, and being in her exes wedding party as someone who is three years sober. her story was so interesting to me, i really loved how grief was discussed but i wish we would've seen more of her love for music. i got that she loved her dad and his band but we didn't see too much of her future in the business which i would've loved. renee doesn't really like alice because she knew her when alice was very much not sober so she really has to come around to this new person. i liked how the walls between them were broken down, i only wish we were in renee's head a bit more. since the story is told solely from alice's perspective i felt kinda disconnected from renee. her issues with her job and her future were very real and relatable so having her own perspective would've really added another element to this story that might've bumped it up for me.
the book really hit its stride in the last third, which feels like something i've never ever said in my life, but i didn't love the beginning to middle chunk. reading the text messages between the "i do crew" and reading the disastrous palm springs trip, was not fun. also how were they all so nice to gin when she basically made them plan her wedding and use their own money/homes for the ceremony. like i get that she's a great person but you're all unemployed or unpaid????
*thank you so much to viking penguin and netgalley for the copy!!*
Read
July 12, 2026Alice and Renee are both bridesmaids for their friend Gin’s wedding. The catch? Renee absolutely loathes Alice because Alice was terrible to Gin back when they dated. (Listen, it’s convoluted, but that’s just life in a queer friend group, babe!) Since the breakup, Alice has gotten sober, found a stable job, and is quietly grieving both her musician father and her own failed career as a recording artist.
The book's depiction of recovery is really compelling. Alice spends a lot of time taking it on the chin for her past behavior, and she grapples with a classic recovery contradiction: she doesn't explicitly tell people she's sober, but she's deeply hurt when they don't notice she's changed. I do wish the story had dug even deeper into that complexity!
Alice is also processing intense grief over her father, who couldn't stay sober. While heavy themes and rom-com fun can coexist, the balance here felt a bit off, making it hard to relax into the lighter wedding elements. And like a lot of WLW romances, you could honestly strip it out without changing the core plot.
Without spoiling anything, the final resolution left me conflicted. While the romantic ending perfectly matched genre expectations, the resolution to Alice’s career, financial, and family woes felt incredibly jarring and out of step with how grounded the rest of the book was. That said, I peeked at Goodreads and this one is wildly popular, so definitely take my opinion with a grain of salt!
The book's depiction of recovery is really compelling. Alice spends a lot of time taking it on the chin for her past behavior, and she grapples with a classic recovery contradiction: she doesn't explicitly tell people she's sober, but she's deeply hurt when they don't notice she's changed. I do wish the story had dug even deeper into that complexity!
Alice is also processing intense grief over her father, who couldn't stay sober. While heavy themes and rom-com fun can coexist, the balance here felt a bit off, making it hard to relax into the lighter wedding elements. And like a lot of WLW romances, you could honestly strip it out without changing the core plot.
Without spoiling anything, the final resolution left me conflicted. While the romantic ending perfectly matched genre expectations, the resolution to Alice’s career, financial, and family woes felt incredibly jarring and out of step with how grounded the rest of the book was. That said, I peeked at Goodreads and this one is wildly popular, so definitely take my opinion with a grain of salt!
September 7, 2026
I VERY RARELY give 4 or 5 stars to romance books, so you can trust that this book is pretty solid. There was nothing about this book that felt overly cheesy or ridiculous. The characters were complex, there was a variety of relationships that changed (not just romantic ones), and I LOVEEE a wedding setting (especially as a recently engaged woman).
- 1 star because I wish there had been a ~bit~ more spice and the “third act breakup” was a little predictable
- 1 star because I wish there had been a ~bit~ more spice and the “third act breakup” was a little predictable
August 2, 2026
This gave me the warm and fuzzies! So happy I was able to meet the author, Becca, at Barnes & Noble, who told me all about this new book of hers!
July 12, 2026
read this the week I got married so this book will be famous forever
July 9, 2026
Um, WOW. This is one of my favorite Romance novels now. There was growth and chemistry and interesting characters. I loved this. 10/10
June 3, 2026
As someone who reads blurbs only to request an arc or add a book to my tbr then promptly forgets all about it, I was not prepared for how much this hit me in the heart. As someone who's sober now, books about addiction always make me tender and in this book, with Alice choosing recovery because she didn't want to end up like her dad, I think it made me tear up far more than I like to when reading lol. The topic was handled so so beautifully that I don't think I'll ever be able to read this again.
The way Alice's emotions were written about, even when they seemed contradictory or not the best...ugh I love her so much. Grischow wrote her with so much love and care. Renee was about as intriguing as a love interest could be when seen through the main characters pov. Their relationship though was absolutely adorable, I was cheering for them to kiss the entire time.
Books about grief and exploring how various characters deal with it are one of my favorite things in fiction ever and I'm so so glad I could read this on the second day of pride month! The amount of bisexuals in this didn't hurt either:))))
Thank you Netgalley and Viking Penguin for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
The way Alice's emotions were written about, even when they seemed contradictory or not the best...ugh I love her so much. Grischow wrote her with so much love and care. Renee was about as intriguing as a love interest could be when seen through the main characters pov. Their relationship though was absolutely adorable, I was cheering for them to kiss the entire time.
Books about grief and exploring how various characters deal with it are one of my favorite things in fiction ever and I'm so so glad I could read this on the second day of pride month! The amount of bisexuals in this didn't hurt either:))))
Thank you Netgalley and Viking Penguin for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2026
4.25
This has to be the best enemies to friends to lovers, and it's a true slow burn! I flew through this, the pacing is great and never felt dull.
I wish more books that are labeled as enemies to lovers for contemporary romance are done this way. There is no instant lusting, which I love to see. There are some moments of noticing Renee's looks, but again, there is no lusting, and commenting on appearance is normal and acceptable. I also wish most slow burns were done at this pace too.
There is a really nice character development not just for Alice, but also Renee. I liked Alice the entire time, probably because we're in her head and can see she's trying, but I did not like Renee at first. The author does a great job of having us understand her motives and giving her a wonderful character arc to where I ended up loving her too half way through.
The author depicted grief and sobriety perfectly, and a realistic way of navigating both.
This has to be the best enemies to friends to lovers, and it's a true slow burn! I flew through this, the pacing is great and never felt dull.
I wish more books that are labeled as enemies to lovers for contemporary romance are done this way. There is no instant lusting, which I love to see. There are some moments of noticing Renee's looks, but again, there is no lusting, and commenting on appearance is normal and acceptable. I also wish most slow burns were done at this pace too.
There is a really nice character development not just for Alice, but also Renee. I liked Alice the entire time, probably because we're in her head and can see she's trying, but I did not like Renee at first. The author does a great job of having us understand her motives and giving her a wonderful character arc to where I ended up loving her too half way through.
The author depicted grief and sobriety perfectly, and a realistic way of navigating both.
May 25, 2026
What a book to receive as a goodreads giveaway arc. It was incredibly emotional, deep and filled with life lessons you were learning along with the main character.
It had its silly goofy sweet moments of girlhood when they were on the bachelorette but also included moments of rolling grief and how to learn how to be yourself after changing so drastically through sobriety.
The cover alludes to a run of the mill romance but this was a beautiful and moving read. Some say it contains multitudes.
It had its silly goofy sweet moments of girlhood when they were on the bachelorette but also included moments of rolling grief and how to learn how to be yourself after changing so drastically through sobriety.
The cover alludes to a run of the mill romance but this was a beautiful and moving read. Some say it contains multitudes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2026
Cannot stop thinking about this book therefore 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
God I love romance!! And I love romance that can offer so much more than just a love story. Lessons, friendships, character growth and family dynamics. This is what I love to read!!
First off I want to say how glad I am that there were REAL stakes in this sapphic romance. It wasn’t an easy ride, there was personal struggles woven throughout with both of the main characters but with our secondary characters too. Too often sapphic romances seem to be “light and fluffy” or almost like they don’t want to rock the boat but this one hit hard and didn’t shy away from some heavy topics and I appreciate that a lot.
The romance. This is a true slooooowburn and I ate it up, these two have some history where they didn’t start off on the right foot. Now, having both been declared bridesmaids for their mutual friend Gin, Alice and Renee need to work together to pull of their best friends wedding whilst also learning how to work together and keep the peace. This is an animosity to friends to lovers story done right and I loved reading the growth both of these women go through. I just loved them.
The writing. Beautiful, colourful and absolutely hilarious I don’t think I stopped laughing since I started. This is the kind of writing I love to read where it’s so incredibly easy to get swept up and taken away and you can see it all play out in your head.
This book also has something I have been screaming out for in contemporary romances for the last few years. A solid group of friendships where each character feels like a real person. Every single one of these characters have a life of their own and they never feel like a cardboard cut out. They have wished and dreams themselves and it’s evident time and effort went into giving them depth.
The sex. Hot and completely fits the vibe of the book. I was kicking my feet and giggling when these two finally got together and it made the push and pull they had going on that more sweeter!
I adored this book, I need more stories like this and I can’t wait to see what Becca Grischow has up her sleeve for us next. Just do yourself a favour and read it!
God I love romance!! And I love romance that can offer so much more than just a love story. Lessons, friendships, character growth and family dynamics. This is what I love to read!!
First off I want to say how glad I am that there were REAL stakes in this sapphic romance. It wasn’t an easy ride, there was personal struggles woven throughout with both of the main characters but with our secondary characters too. Too often sapphic romances seem to be “light and fluffy” or almost like they don’t want to rock the boat but this one hit hard and didn’t shy away from some heavy topics and I appreciate that a lot.
The romance. This is a true slooooowburn and I ate it up, these two have some history where they didn’t start off on the right foot. Now, having both been declared bridesmaids for their mutual friend Gin, Alice and Renee need to work together to pull of their best friends wedding whilst also learning how to work together and keep the peace. This is an animosity to friends to lovers story done right and I loved reading the growth both of these women go through. I just loved them.
The writing. Beautiful, colourful and absolutely hilarious I don’t think I stopped laughing since I started. This is the kind of writing I love to read where it’s so incredibly easy to get swept up and taken away and you can see it all play out in your head.
This book also has something I have been screaming out for in contemporary romances for the last few years. A solid group of friendships where each character feels like a real person. Every single one of these characters have a life of their own and they never feel like a cardboard cut out. They have wished and dreams themselves and it’s evident time and effort went into giving them depth.
The sex. Hot and completely fits the vibe of the book. I was kicking my feet and giggling when these two finally got together and it made the push and pull they had going on that more sweeter!
I adored this book, I need more stories like this and I can’t wait to see what Becca Grischow has up her sleeve for us next. Just do yourself a favour and read it!
June 1, 2026
FOR THE BRIDE is a sapphic romance about friendship, love, and not being defined by our worst moments.
I loved this enemies-to-lovers story! The friendship dynamics and character development were fantastic. Alice is navigating grief and her sobriety while coming to terms with what’s next for her career-wise.
🎧 Kristen DiMercurio was the perfect voice for Alice. I feel like I blinked and the audiobook was over… it went by so fast!
💚 bi x lesbian bridesmaids
💚 punk rock x theater girlie
💚 slow burn
🌈 If you’re looking for another book to add to your pride month TBR, look no further!
I loved this enemies-to-lovers story! The friendship dynamics and character development were fantastic. Alice is navigating grief and her sobriety while coming to terms with what’s next for her career-wise.
🎧 Kristen DiMercurio was the perfect voice for Alice. I feel like I blinked and the audiobook was over… it went by so fast!
💚 bi x lesbian bridesmaids
💚 punk rock x theater girlie
💚 slow burn
🌈 If you’re looking for another book to add to your pride month TBR, look no further!
July 18, 2026
first of all, they did my girls dirty with this cover!!!! alice has a much gayer haircut and renee has explicitly white blonde hair. and they???? brown washed gin???? who has auburn hair??? bizarre but okay.
otherwise, wow i loved this book. it was a whirlwind in the best way. a lot of heavy topics around grief (specifically losing a parent), alcoholism, money/passion/losing a job, art, and forgiving yourself for your past mistakes. it handled a lot of depth while also being a very fun novel about two dislike to love bridesmaids falling in love.
brilliant character work, i related so hard to alice and renee at different times. they were really sweet together and the sex scene was good! i think the “breakup” moment was a lot smaller than i’m used to / felt like “really??? that’s going to stop you???” but it also felt more realistic and like, yeah actually that would stop you esp after being vulnerable/sleeping together for the first time.
anyways, just a lovely book to consume!!!! i’m having a sick day and seeing how many books i can read. also thought it was super fun that they stayed in a neon renovated motel in palm springs after reading about those in fabulous bodies. also i love when authors dramatically improve their writing /plotting between their first and second book!!!! grischow is def one to watch now!!!
otherwise, wow i loved this book. it was a whirlwind in the best way. a lot of heavy topics around grief (specifically losing a parent), alcoholism, money/passion/losing a job, art, and forgiving yourself for your past mistakes. it handled a lot of depth while also being a very fun novel about two dislike to love bridesmaids falling in love.
brilliant character work, i related so hard to alice and renee at different times. they were really sweet together and the sex scene was good! i think the “breakup” moment was a lot smaller than i’m used to / felt like “really??? that’s going to stop you???” but it also felt more realistic and like, yeah actually that would stop you esp after being vulnerable/sleeping together for the first time.
anyways, just a lovely book to consume!!!! i’m having a sick day and seeing how many books i can read. also thought it was super fun that they stayed in a neon renovated motel in palm springs after reading about those in fabulous bodies. also i love when authors dramatically improve their writing /plotting between their first and second book!!!! grischow is def one to watch now!!!
May 10, 2026
4.5⭐️
Loved:
The emotional rollercoaster this took me on. I’ll be honest, I didn’t like many of the main characters until around 30% in, but when we started getting the context behind their decisions I couldn’t put it down. I read this in about 5 hours and don’t regret it. This whole group embodies chaos, in a deeply understanding but still messy way that made me cry more than once.
For the main romance, I loved that they took their time coming to respect each other and then fall in love. No insta love here, natural progression. The level of respect and understanding they had at the end felt organic and real. They’re both a mess but they’re each other’s mess.
Overall, this was an emotional journey about love, forgiveness, and the reality of mistakes. I’m hunting down this author’s other book as soon as possible!
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions expressed are my own. 🖤
Loved:
The emotional rollercoaster this took me on. I’ll be honest, I didn’t like many of the main characters until around 30% in, but when we started getting the context behind their decisions I couldn’t put it down. I read this in about 5 hours and don’t regret it. This whole group embodies chaos, in a deeply understanding but still messy way that made me cry more than once.
For the main romance, I loved that they took their time coming to respect each other and then fall in love. No insta love here, natural progression. The level of respect and understanding they had at the end felt organic and real. They’re both a mess but they’re each other’s mess.
Overall, this was an emotional journey about love, forgiveness, and the reality of mistakes. I’m hunting down this author’s other book as soon as possible!
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions expressed are my own. 🖤
June 3, 2026
Whew! This book was a ride! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved Alice. Her grief was done authentically without being overwhelming. It was tender and relatable. I enjoyed her journey and strength.
I wasn’t sure about River for a bit but then I really liked her. She and Alice complimented one another nicely. There were a lot of feels and I was almost giddy towards the end.
Good pacing. Well written. Recommend!
I loved Alice. Her grief was done authentically without being overwhelming. It was tender and relatable. I enjoyed her journey and strength.
I wasn’t sure about River for a bit but then I really liked her. She and Alice complimented one another nicely. There were a lot of feels and I was almost giddy towards the end.
Good pacing. Well written. Recommend!
June 4, 2026
I really enjoyed this one, but I debated with myself about whether my rating should be 4 or 5. I'm going with 5 because...well, Kristen DiMercurio narrated, and she is fire.
July 13, 2026
Not my usual type of book, but someone gave it 4 stars, so I gave it ago. First 1/3-half was pretty Pumpkin Spice Latte and I nearly dropped it, but then it found its soul in the second half, and I really enjoyed it. Definitely a little surface level at the beginning, but worth it to get to the second half where the characters and storyline get more deep. Honourable mention for the last few lines of the dedication at the end, which was hilarious.
July 27, 2026
All the things I like in a book (except the ever too obvious trope in romance novels of one of the MCs having a tragic parent back story)
Anyway.
Anyway.
July 29, 2026
2,75⭐
August 27, 2026
Gehuild en gelachen! Mooi geschreven! Niet gewoon romcom maar meer diepgang!
August 16, 2026
Content warnings: alcohol and alcoholism, references to parental death, side character disowned by parents for being bisexual.
Rep: Alice (MC) is cis, white, and lesbian. Renee (LI) is cis, white and bisexual. Side queer characters, side BIPOC characters.
This was such a great novel.
At the start, I wasn't sure if I was going to like Renee much, but she really grew on me.
I loved that this one explored Alice's alcoholism, and her struggles with being like her dad (who died from his addiction).
The plot was fantastic, the characters were messy and wonderful, and the eventual romance between Alice and Renee was just so tender.
I had a great time reading this one.
One of my favourite narrators does this one, so I highly recommend the audio if you read via audio like I do 🩷
Rep: Alice (MC) is cis, white, and lesbian. Renee (LI) is cis, white and bisexual. Side queer characters, side BIPOC characters.
This was such a great novel.
At the start, I wasn't sure if I was going to like Renee much, but she really grew on me.
I loved that this one explored Alice's alcoholism, and her struggles with being like her dad (who died from his addiction).
The plot was fantastic, the characters were messy and wonderful, and the eventual romance between Alice and Renee was just so tender.
I had a great time reading this one.
One of my favourite narrators does this one, so I highly recommend the audio if you read via audio like I do 🩷
June 23, 2026
You’re telling me that Alice wore a dress to Gin’s wedding? I don’t believe you.
July 2, 2026
this book is absolutely perfect and i wouldn’t change a single thing about it. five stars is not enough.
May 23, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | 🌶️ 0.5/5
Read if you like: self-discovery arcs, messy main characters, complicated friendships, and a romantic subplot rather than a central focus.
Review:
I had a hard time defining this book as a romance. There is a romantic storyline, sure, but the heart of the story felt much more focused on Alice learning to love herself than on the romantic relationship. Sometimes the greatest love story isn't between two people; it's between a person and the version of themselves they're trying to become.
What worked best for me was how clearly we saw the main character’s insecurities. Alice is grieving, messy, unsure, and carrying immense guilt over how she showed up for her loved ones in the past. I appreciated that the book didn’t rush her into being “fixed,” and I liked watching her slowly start to understand what she needed from herself and from the people around her.
The romance itself was fine, but I never felt much chemistry between Alice and Renee. Their relationship felt less like undeniable romantic tension and more like two people finding each other when they needed someone most.
I also wish we had seen more of the foundation behind Alice's friendships. There were moments where I found myself wondering why this group of women stayed so loyal to her, and I think seeing more of what built that loyalty early on would have made those relationships feel stronger and made Alice getting in her own way that much more apparent.
That said, I really enjoyed the way the story wrapped up. It didn’t feel overly predictable, and I appreciated that the ending fit the emotional journey of the book. I like this author's writing style, and I am curious to explore her other stories.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read if you like: self-discovery arcs, messy main characters, complicated friendships, and a romantic subplot rather than a central focus.
Review:
I had a hard time defining this book as a romance. There is a romantic storyline, sure, but the heart of the story felt much more focused on Alice learning to love herself than on the romantic relationship. Sometimes the greatest love story isn't between two people; it's between a person and the version of themselves they're trying to become.
What worked best for me was how clearly we saw the main character’s insecurities. Alice is grieving, messy, unsure, and carrying immense guilt over how she showed up for her loved ones in the past. I appreciated that the book didn’t rush her into being “fixed,” and I liked watching her slowly start to understand what she needed from herself and from the people around her.
The romance itself was fine, but I never felt much chemistry between Alice and Renee. Their relationship felt less like undeniable romantic tension and more like two people finding each other when they needed someone most.
I also wish we had seen more of the foundation behind Alice's friendships. There were moments where I found myself wondering why this group of women stayed so loyal to her, and I think seeing more of what built that loyalty early on would have made those relationships feel stronger and made Alice getting in her own way that much more apparent.
That said, I really enjoyed the way the story wrapped up. It didn’t feel overly predictable, and I appreciated that the ending fit the emotional journey of the book. I like this author's writing style, and I am curious to explore her other stories.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2026
Did not expect to happy cry through the entire final third of this.
Alice felt so real. Her relationship with grief and how that impacted her relationship with her mother and friends really impacted me.
The romantic tension! The tiny bridesmaid rivalry with her and Renee made everything so juicy.
Truly such an unexpected five star read. Need to read everything Becca Grischow writes.
Beyond the contents of the book I cannot stress enough how much I hate the cover. Not at all indicative of the vibe.
Thank you to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for the eARC!
Alice felt so real. Her relationship with grief and how that impacted her relationship with her mother and friends really impacted me.
The romantic tension! The tiny bridesmaid rivalry with her and Renee made everything so juicy.
Truly such an unexpected five star read. Need to read everything Becca Grischow writes.
Beyond the contents of the book I cannot stress enough how much I hate the cover. Not at all indicative of the vibe.
Thank you to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for the eARC!
June 3, 2026
୨୧ book title: For the Bride
୨୧ author: Becca Grischow
୨୧ my rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
୨୧ blurb
for the bride follows alice, a woman trying to rebuild her life after the loss of her father and a difficult battle with alcoholism. when her best friend and previous ex, gin, asks her to be a bridesmaid, alice is forced to spend the summer planning a wedding alongside renee brooks, a polished perfectionist she has never been able to stand. as wedding festivities, late-night conversations, and unexpected moments bring them closer together, their long-standing animosity begins to give way to understanding. what starts as a tense partnership slowly evolves into something neither woman expected, forcing them to confront old assumptions, open themselves to vulnerability, and consider the possibility of a future they never saw coming.
୨୧ my review (a lil all over the place but as honest as it can be):
wow. so. this book took me completely by surprise. i like going into books blind, so several elements from this book hit me harden than a train at full speed.
at first glance, i thought this book would be about wedding planning with a sapphic love story in the background, but it was more than just that. i had never read any books by becca grischow before, but when i tell you i was eating up her writing like my starved orange cat eats his dinner… her writing alone would inspire me to reread this book again. it was purposeful. it was vivid. it was rich in every way that it counts.
i really connected to this book in a deeper level than i thought i would. i was not mentally prepared to cry over this book on a random week night but i would do it again. honorable mention to the background feeling of raging nostalgia that kept me at the edge of my seat reading in the dark all evening. i was even thinking about this book earlier today, wanting to find out how the hell alice and renee would be anything other than friends. because let me just say something.. even though it starts off as an enemies to lovers (my absolute favorite), it truly turns into a friends to lovers story that took me by surprise. it was so gradual that i thought the book may end before anything happened (slow burn shenanigans). it was the perfect friendship that eventually became something more. i only wish that the book didn’t end when it did because i wanted more of alice and renee! i absolutely loved them.
overall: if you love sapphic romance, laughing your ass off, and stories about found family, loss, and healing - this book is worth the read. it is officially one of my favorite reads of 2026.
thank you to netgalley, becca grischow, and penguin books for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
୨୧ core tropes/themes:
* sapphic romance
* forced proximity
* grief and healing
* enemies to lovers
* opposites attract
* slow burn
* sobriety and recovery
* second chances
୨୧ author: Becca Grischow
୨୧ my rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
୨୧ blurb
for the bride follows alice, a woman trying to rebuild her life after the loss of her father and a difficult battle with alcoholism. when her best friend and previous ex, gin, asks her to be a bridesmaid, alice is forced to spend the summer planning a wedding alongside renee brooks, a polished perfectionist she has never been able to stand. as wedding festivities, late-night conversations, and unexpected moments bring them closer together, their long-standing animosity begins to give way to understanding. what starts as a tense partnership slowly evolves into something neither woman expected, forcing them to confront old assumptions, open themselves to vulnerability, and consider the possibility of a future they never saw coming.
୨୧ my review (a lil all over the place but as honest as it can be):
wow. so. this book took me completely by surprise. i like going into books blind, so several elements from this book hit me harden than a train at full speed.
at first glance, i thought this book would be about wedding planning with a sapphic love story in the background, but it was more than just that. i had never read any books by becca grischow before, but when i tell you i was eating up her writing like my starved orange cat eats his dinner… her writing alone would inspire me to reread this book again. it was purposeful. it was vivid. it was rich in every way that it counts.
i really connected to this book in a deeper level than i thought i would. i was not mentally prepared to cry over this book on a random week night but i would do it again. honorable mention to the background feeling of raging nostalgia that kept me at the edge of my seat reading in the dark all evening. i was even thinking about this book earlier today, wanting to find out how the hell alice and renee would be anything other than friends. because let me just say something.. even though it starts off as an enemies to lovers (my absolute favorite), it truly turns into a friends to lovers story that took me by surprise. it was so gradual that i thought the book may end before anything happened (slow burn shenanigans). it was the perfect friendship that eventually became something more. i only wish that the book didn’t end when it did because i wanted more of alice and renee! i absolutely loved them.
overall: if you love sapphic romance, laughing your ass off, and stories about found family, loss, and healing - this book is worth the read. it is officially one of my favorite reads of 2026.
thank you to netgalley, becca grischow, and penguin books for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
୨୧ core tropes/themes:
* sapphic romance
* forced proximity
* grief and healing
* enemies to lovers
* opposites attract
* slow burn
* sobriety and recovery
* second chances
July 28, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin | Penguin Books for the e-ARC of this title to read and review. I am quickly but officially calling Becca Grischow a favorite author- I absolutely LOVED this book!! I am so excited to have this ~thrill~ of reading back, where I stayed up until like 3am because I was so invested in the story and "just one more chapter!"'ed my way into the night.
I do have a secret weakness for all bridesmaid-themed media, because it could either be a) a genuinely heartwarming friendship story about a tight-knit group at the precipice of a big milestone, or b) a descent into Bridezilla-type drama or bonkers group travel stories -- all of which I would be truly SO HAPPY to read. This book has a little bit of both: all of the bridesmaids are genuinely such fantastic friends of the bride with really great personal backstories, AND ALSO they are kind of a mess when they first come together as a bridal party. For starters, the bride Gin is the ex of one of her bridesmaids, Alice - that's either going to be complicated and dramatic, or a beautiful reconciliation of friendship. Plus, each woman seems to have pre-conceived notions about the others that color their interactions, but it really is a great read to see them all let their walls down and come to understand themselves and their new friends. BUT, more than anything, this is a GORGEOUS story about grief, sobriety, and letting love into your life in the little (and big) ways it breaks through.
I was absolutely blown away by how this book handled grief - especially since our lead Alice is living through the first year since her famous father's passing, and she's re-defining the relationship she has with all of her family members (and dad's band members) and her own self. She's sober because she saw how her father's health declined right in front of her, and she is trying to make up for all the years she was known as only a partier. These topics are handled with sensitivity, but they also.. GO THERE. There's a point to that journey, and it's not just gratuitous sad background for our hero to overcome. It is very central to who Alice is, and how she's going to approach 1) letting Gin back in as a dear old friend and 2) letting herself have a crush on Renee, despite getting off to a rocky start. All of the relationships are PERFECTION - from delicious romance to tender love and acceptance.
I do have a secret weakness for all bridesmaid-themed media, because it could either be a) a genuinely heartwarming friendship story about a tight-knit group at the precipice of a big milestone, or b) a descent into Bridezilla-type drama or bonkers group travel stories -- all of which I would be truly SO HAPPY to read. This book has a little bit of both: all of the bridesmaids are genuinely such fantastic friends of the bride with really great personal backstories, AND ALSO they are kind of a mess when they first come together as a bridal party. For starters, the bride Gin is the ex of one of her bridesmaids, Alice - that's either going to be complicated and dramatic, or a beautiful reconciliation of friendship. Plus, each woman seems to have pre-conceived notions about the others that color their interactions, but it really is a great read to see them all let their walls down and come to understand themselves and their new friends. BUT, more than anything, this is a GORGEOUS story about grief, sobriety, and letting love into your life in the little (and big) ways it breaks through.
I was absolutely blown away by how this book handled grief - especially since our lead Alice is living through the first year since her famous father's passing, and she's re-defining the relationship she has with all of her family members (and dad's band members) and her own self. She's sober because she saw how her father's health declined right in front of her, and she is trying to make up for all the years she was known as only a partier. These topics are handled with sensitivity, but they also.. GO THERE. There's a point to that journey, and it's not just gratuitous sad background for our hero to overcome. It is very central to who Alice is, and how she's going to approach 1) letting Gin back in as a dear old friend and 2) letting herself have a crush on Renee, despite getting off to a rocky start. All of the relationships are PERFECTION - from delicious romance to tender love and acceptance.
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