Bachelorettes

by Rosa Rankin-Gee, Georgina Sadler (Narrator), Erin Doherty (Narrator)

For fans of Emily Henry and Dolly Alderton, from bestselling author Rosa Rankin-Gee, Bachelorettes is a sharp, heart-warming, and laugh-out-loud tale of friendship, wedding seasons, and finding love where you least expect it.

Narrated by Golden Globe winner Erin Doherty (Adolescence) and Georgina Sadler (The A List).

Alex has sworn off straight girls for good. After too many heartbreaks, she's determined to protect herself - even if that means shutting out love completely. But when she reluctantly attends her best friend's bachelorette weekend, Alex meets Lila - smart, gorgeous, and, predictably… straight. Despite her best efforts, Alex can't deny the spark between them.

As the weekend unfolds, replete with rivalries, a naked chef and ungodly amounts of prosecco, Alex and Lila are inescapably drawn to each other. But Lila lives in New York, and has a boyfriend to get back to– surely Alex is headed for heartbreak once again. Can she let down her walls and take a chance on love? Or will her fears keep her from finding true happiness? And for Lila, are her feelings for Alex a temporary madness, or undeniable fate? And which is the crazier to ignore this overwhelming instinct, or to embrace it?

Told with wit and warmth–and based on the author’s own story of how she met her wife – Bachelorettes is a feel-good romantic comedy about taking risks, being true to yourself, and discovering that love often arrives when you least expect it.

Genres: Audiobook, Queer, Contemporary, Lesbian

Audible Audio

Published January 22, 2026

About the author

Hi! My name is Rosa.

I've written four novels and am working on my fifth, mostly at a McDonalds in Delhi, NY.

My first THE LAST KINGS OF SARK won Shakespeare and Company's Paris Literary Prize.

My second DREAMLAND has just been made into a 6-part drama for the BBC.

My third BACHELORETTES, is a romcom based on how I met wife, for Audible.

And my fourth, MY ONLY BOY, is coming out in May this year.

I live with my wife and our newborn daughter Mara in between a few different places, including the Catskills, the East Village and whenever I'm allowed to get back: England.

Reviews

[Shannon Waters]

I really wanted to like Bachelorettes. The premise is sharp and timely, female friendship, class tension, gender politics, all set against a grimy near-future London…

Rosa Rankin-Gee clearly has an eye for atmosphere. The novel is soaked in sweat, smoke, and desperation, and the sense of social decay is vivid. Unfortunately, that mood does a lot of the heavy lifting. The characters often feel more like vessels for ideas than fully realized people, which made it hard to care about what happened to them. Conversations veer into slogan-y territory, and the satire is so blunt it sometimes flattens the nuance it seems to be reaching for.

The pacing also drags. There’s a lot of circling the same emotional beats alienation, resentment, powerlessness without enough escalation or payoff. By the end, the novel feels less like a story and more like a sustained vibe, and not one I found especially rewarding to stay in.

I appreciate what Rankin-Gee is trying to interrogate, and I can see this working better for readers who prioritize themes over character. For me, though, it felt undercooked and emotionally distant provocative on the surface, but ultimately unsatisfying.

[Tierney Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was ok, not outstanding. The plot is fun, with the gathering friends. I found it a little difficult to bond with either MC, tho.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the hen party setting for a story which allowed for lots of humour and a good mix of relatebale (not always likeable) characters. Love Erin Doherty and enjoyed her narration on this.
Based on the authors own experiences of how she met her wife. ❤️

[Davia Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mid - just a fun way to pass time. Nothing groundbreaking but still v enjoyable

[Orla · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Danasia Perry · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. It was boring and a lot of rambling

[Donna Cameron · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok, it lacked something though. The story seemed to focus on two acutely insecure people that find themselves in a situation-ship. It had potential but one of the heroines was very over the top and self centred, after a while it became repetitive. There was also a part where a character was “fired” from their job via a 3 sentence email, which just wouldn’t happen in the UK - I know that seems a bit picky, but it wouldn’t have taken long to research it if the books based in London. Not sure I would recommend

[Nikita Perri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay so I was liking this book until we hit the 3rd act conflict.

I was very excited to read a FF romance book and while this wasn't inherently bad there are some issues I had with it.

1. Alex. She acted very immature during their conflict. I understand she has baggage and it is hard for her to trust that a women would want to be with her but the fact that she was just blatantly ignoring Lyla and not even looking at her pissed me off. She is supposed to be a 30 something yr old women and she can't handle a conversation. If i wanted to read about emotionally stunted people I would of read a book about men.

2. It was very insta lovey. They met once 5 years ago shared a kiss but then didn't speak or really have anything to do with each other over the 5 years and then after spending 3 days together they are in love. Yeah not for me.

I wanted to give this book 2 stars but I really liked Lyla and Benji and their maturity and ability to have the hard conversations, so for that I am bumping it to a 3 star.

[nye !!! · Rating 3 out of 5]

my very first audiobook!

i found alex to be quite unlikeable, and the whole ending quite cliché, when the whole book was about these group of people trying to run away from cliches and stereotypes, like alex losing her job when she runs away to the seaside, or the whole i love you at the airport, and benji proposed to me and i said no but im still with him. i really liked Lila as a character, however, i found her growth throughout the novel quite slow, and then when we were nearing the resolution the development was really fast, which for me seemed out of character for Lila. I wish we had more chapters from other perspectives, like AJ, watching the bachelorette party from afar, or maxie, as a bride. i found it funny in the epilogue when they are at the end that they're thinking of getting married themselves when they haven't even been together for a year - lesbian relationships move quick amirite!

[Beca Piña · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an audio experience with duet style narrators. Alex is a lesbian who has been with way too many straight girls, and Lila is discovering her own sexuality. During their friend's bachelorette weekend, the chemistry that they previously shared returns only a lot can change in 5 years.
I liked enjoyed the narrators who really gave life to the characters. The story felt a bit rushed at times, and long during other scenes. This story really makes a point that communication is key and maybe don't make assumptions. 3.75/5

[Joanna Trigg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was light and fine. I much preferred Lila’s chapters to Alex’s. Unfortunately I found a lot of her stuff really cringe and not very funny (which is very bad for a character that’s supposedly a comedian). However, I wonder if some of it was the delivery because I didn’t mind Alex as much when she was being read as part of Lila’s chapters. It was an easy listen but I didn’t love it. I think I wanted a little more depth to the characters too.

[Frances Wakefield · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of interesting characters and I loved the setting of a hen party and the dynamics that followed, but I struggle with romances where the main struggle could be solved if the characters just talked!


But the spicy scene was chefs kiss

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved: the voice actors, some of the figurative language, exploration of people sabotaging their own romantic success to avoid being vulnerable

Did not love: the ‘Love Actually’ plane/airport ending. Cool for cute eight year olds accompanied by expansive music. Less cool for supposed adults.

[Sharondblk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is fine. The plot is fine, if a little tropey. It' sweet. I think I might be dead inside and should stick to mysteries, sci-fi and thrillers. I just felt a little untouched. the dual narrators were brilliant, and perfectly cast.
I listened to this as part of Audible plus.

[Laura Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Done this on audio first one by this author. Since I listened to heated rivalry my algorithm keeps recommending lgtb romances.
Enjoyed this had some funny moments, some interesting female characters (there is one male character in the whole book briefly)
Will do more by author.

[Joanne Levey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. It’s always great to have a British story like this that is well written and realistic to life. Entertaining but didn’t blow my socks off. No real jeopardy but not total fluff either.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and it was narrated well.

Cute story and mostly believable story line.

Stumble upon it on Audible and gave it a crack. Not disappointed.

[Rachael · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this at all.

[Sax]

DNF @31%

[Nav · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars… a light hearted romantic story about Lila and Alex, who meet again after 5 years earlier at a bachelorette party.

[Arlene Bowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the queer love story. I didn’t like the way the main character handed conflicts, felt like that part dragged on a bit. But overall I enjoyed!

[Carrie Silvester · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8*

[Jess Tortoise · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok…

[Chris Finn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4*. I thought this book was well written and enjoyable. It lost me at times but on the whole I liked it.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy listen and entertaining enough.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s OK. I went into a blind, so I honestly didn’t know if the book was about the storyline was decent and it kept pretty good pace. It just felt like the end was kind of underwhelming.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its my first time reading about a queer couple and I really enjoyed it

[Jey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a average/decent read, pretty mild

[Mahayana Dugast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great narration, and so many funny moments. I had fun!

[Roksolana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't understand whether this story a queer bait at the start. The plot itself is quite predictable as it's basically a rom com. But I liked the part of the story connected to discovering identity and sexuality. Otherwise, the dialogues were cringe at times and the characters were boring.