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How to Ruin a Wedding
Not yet published
Expected 1 Aug 26When a professional wedding crasher storms the wrong party, an irresistibly charming man enlists her services for a job that’s about to give her outlook on love a run for its money.
Lucy Delgado knows all about things that don’t work out. Between two failed marriages and losing her job, “meant to be” doesn’t seem to mean much anymore. And watching her sister’s marriage deteriorate isn’t convincing Lucy otherwise.
Desperate for money and disillusioned by love, she turns her nothing-left-to-lose attitude into action as a professional wedding saboteur. Lucy knows how to play any part—old lover, nosy relative, wise stranger—to save brides and grooms from making the same mistakes she did.
Until she crashes the wrong ceremony.
For Anders Kennedy, Lucy’s timing couldn’t be better. She’s exactly what he needs to derail his own sister’s upcoming nuptials by posing as Anders’s new girlfriend so she can slip into the family circle and sabotage from within. And Anders has the kind of money Lucy can’t afford to turn down.
As they fake-date their way through family celebrations, high jinks, and secrets, Lucy and Anders are forced to confront their cynicism about marriage. Their schemes were meant for the greater good, but what if love really does conquer all?
Lucy Delgado knows all about things that don’t work out. Between two failed marriages and losing her job, “meant to be” doesn’t seem to mean much anymore. And watching her sister’s marriage deteriorate isn’t convincing Lucy otherwise.
Desperate for money and disillusioned by love, she turns her nothing-left-to-lose attitude into action as a professional wedding saboteur. Lucy knows how to play any part—old lover, nosy relative, wise stranger—to save brides and grooms from making the same mistakes she did.
Until she crashes the wrong ceremony.
For Anders Kennedy, Lucy’s timing couldn’t be better. She’s exactly what he needs to derail his own sister’s upcoming nuptials by posing as Anders’s new girlfriend so she can slip into the family circle and sabotage from within. And Anders has the kind of money Lucy can’t afford to turn down.
As they fake-date their way through family celebrations, high jinks, and secrets, Lucy and Anders are forced to confront their cynicism about marriage. Their schemes were meant for the greater good, but what if love really does conquer all?
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 1, 2026
About the author
Elba Luz
4 books49 followers Elba Luz is a lover of stories, whether in the form of anime, manga, video games, or, of course, books. A failed astrophysicist turned publishing professional in New York City, she can be found annoying people with facts about space or lounging about with her adorable pit bull Stormy. She writes romance for adults and teens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 6, 2026
Wasn't what I thought
This came up as a Read for Free Prime book and based on the description blurb, I thought it would be a lot more funny than it is. It's really pretty angsty, and a bit tedious. There are some good, quotable lines, and the writing was good enough for me to want to finish it, sans the bedroom scene, but really not the type of book I enjoy reading.
Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it? No. For those who ask: skip it. The sex is throughout the book and the bedroom scene is very graphic. I skipped the majority of a whole chapter.
This came up as a Read for Free Prime book and based on the description blurb, I thought it would be a lot more funny than it is. It's really pretty angsty, and a bit tedious. There are some good, quotable lines, and the writing was good enough for me to want to finish it, sans the bedroom scene, but really not the type of book I enjoy reading.
Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it? No. For those who ask: skip it. The sex is throughout the book and the bedroom scene is very graphic. I skipped the majority of a whole chapter.
Read
July 6, 2026i wish i could erase this book from my mind so i could binge read it all over again
July 8, 2026
I am so glad that I came across this book on First Reads! From the second I read that first sentence, I knew this was going to be good….and I was soooo right! I loved it from start to finish-it was a combination of comedy, romance, sisterly love, self love anddddd a little spice. It was such an amazing & FUN read!
July 9, 2026
This book was hilarious from start to finish. When your opening sentence starts with “face down ass up,” you just know you’re about to laugh your way through a book and have a banger of a song stuck in your head whilst reading the book. Lucinda “Lucy” Delgado is the definition of “hot mess express” but she is so endearing and relatable that you don’t care. Life has really kicked her in the lady balls and has left her in a position where she is scraping her way through life as a “wedding wrecker” - but only when there’s good cause - she’s not doing it maliciously or just for funsies…she’s poor, not a monster. Lucy meets our mysterious cinnamon roll MMC, Anders as she’s ’face down ass up’ under a bench while gathering proof for one of her jobs…spoiler alert: this job goes massively sideways (understatement) but that’s how the ballad of Lucy and Anders begins…
I’ve already mentioned how funny this book is (because it is), but it’s also very heartfelt, the sexual tension between Lucy and Anders was crazy, the banter was fantastic between Lucy and everyone, the side characters were all super entertaining and actually interesting. You actually get to know them and care about them and their feelings, Lucy is a dog person so that makes me love her even more - especially since my dream is to have my own animal shelter, there are some heavy emotional parts that caused me to tear up too. Lucy is a really relatable character and I think anyone will be able to identify with some part of her. This was a fantastic read and I highly recommend it. Shout out to Amazon for offering it as a July First Read pick!
I’ve already mentioned how funny this book is (because it is), but it’s also very heartfelt, the sexual tension between Lucy and Anders was crazy, the banter was fantastic between Lucy and everyone, the side characters were all super entertaining and actually interesting. You actually get to know them and care about them and their feelings, Lucy is a dog person so that makes me love her even more - especially since my dream is to have my own animal shelter, there are some heavy emotional parts that caused me to tear up too. Lucy is a really relatable character and I think anyone will be able to identify with some part of her. This was a fantastic read and I highly recommend it. Shout out to Amazon for offering it as a July First Read pick!
July 3, 2026
Lucy is a hot mess - literally. She lost her job and fell into wedding wrecking, which she could be great at if she didn’t let her life get in the way. While at a resort wedding she finds herself getting drunk in the bar with a stranger. A very attractive stranger who happens to be at a different resort wedding - that of his first love and best friend. Months later this stranger reaches out to hire her to ruin his little sisters wedding to his college roommate. This of course leads to her fake relationship with the stranger turning all too real. Which creates a weird push pull between the developing relationship and doing her job.
Overall I liked the story and found it easy to read. The only reason I didn’t give it five stars is there were some plot holes and mistakes (e.g: at one point Anders says he met Lucas in college but a few pages later it talks about how they had been friends since childhood).
Overall this is an easy read and perfect for sitting by the pool
Overall I liked the story and found it easy to read. The only reason I didn’t give it five stars is there were some plot holes and mistakes (e.g: at one point Anders says he met Lucas in college but a few pages later it talks about how they had been friends since childhood).
Overall this is an easy read and perfect for sitting by the pool
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
This was really cute. I liked the concept and the main character, as a oldest sibling myself, sacrificing for your younger siblings at the expense of yourself really hit.
I wish we got to see a little more of her sabatoging weddings but the whole books gave me a 27 dresses vibe.
Matthew infuriated me, I'm so glad the sister dumped his ass. I knew she'd be pissed finding out the way he spoke to her sister.
Even though Victoria was very flighty, I appreciated her backing up Lucy when she ripped her friend a new one. And then saying that the dress she liked was perfect for her and even forgiving her after the fact which she didnt need to do.
I do wish we got more of the fun loving Anders from the bar, especially if Lucy would've told the store at a family dinner - like people we meet on vacation. I would've liked to see hi. make a more prominent appearance with Lucy and his family. And just loose some of that seriousness as a bit more character development.
All in all, a good read.
I wish we got to see a little more of her sabatoging weddings but the whole books gave me a 27 dresses vibe.
Matthew infuriated me, I'm so glad the sister dumped his ass. I knew she'd be pissed finding out the way he spoke to her sister.
Even though Victoria was very flighty, I appreciated her backing up Lucy when she ripped her friend a new one. And then saying that the dress she liked was perfect for her and even forgiving her after the fact which she didnt need to do.
I do wish we got more of the fun loving Anders from the bar, especially if Lucy would've told the store at a family dinner - like people we meet on vacation. I would've liked to see hi. make a more prominent appearance with Lucy and his family. And just loose some of that seriousness as a bit more character development.
All in all, a good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2026
Downhill fast
What started out as a clever, interesting concept quickly descends into an overly smutty will they or won’t they trope, where everyone really needs therapy and communication skills. But don’t worry, all the pieces will suddenly come together as if the author got halfway through writing it, got bored, and decided to finish it off quickly. Once the fun sexy tension is over it’s like “okay, everyone, time to wrap this up”. The sex scenes are more than a little weird and almost feel as if they’ve been written by a man, a male fantasy come to life not a woman’s. Seriously, how wet does this chick get? Does she have some sort of medical condition? She should probably get that looked at. This was recommended to me by Amazon and I’m wondering how much the publisher paid them.
What started out as a clever, interesting concept quickly descends into an overly smutty will they or won’t they trope, where everyone really needs therapy and communication skills. But don’t worry, all the pieces will suddenly come together as if the author got halfway through writing it, got bored, and decided to finish it off quickly. Once the fun sexy tension is over it’s like “okay, everyone, time to wrap this up”. The sex scenes are more than a little weird and almost feel as if they’ve been written by a man, a male fantasy come to life not a woman’s. Seriously, how wet does this chick get? Does she have some sort of medical condition? She should probably get that looked at. This was recommended to me by Amazon and I’m wondering how much the publisher paid them.
July 6, 2026
I thought this would be a fun read. The premise has potential and the MC is funny. But the actual story is basically all about the main characters attraction to a guy that makes her wet. I pushed through hoping it would get better, but stopped almost halfway before DNFing it. The lack of creativity and suspenseful attraction is completely missing. The same disgusting phrase is used repeatedly for her physical response to him. The storyline can’t even progress forward because it’s so caught up in this loop. Very disappointing. Granted, if I would have previewed the first chapter before buying I would have known. The opening line is quite blunt.
July 9, 2026
How to ruin a wedding or your life!
Poor Lucinda, hopeless yet hopeful to recreate her life. As a professional wedding destroyer, everything she does backfires, imploding upon her conscience, in her sorry life, including finding misery in her new romance with her client.
Funny, insanely driven, Elba Luz has created a unique character, Lucinda, A woman who begins in a hole and digs herself deeper in her escape.
Laugh. Cry. Know that we all have felt awkward, or undeserving, or not at our best. Luz has revealed our innermost desires and fears, and sets us free to choose and improve.
Entertainment and a fun read, thanks, Elba Luz.
Poor Lucinda, hopeless yet hopeful to recreate her life. As a professional wedding destroyer, everything she does backfires, imploding upon her conscience, in her sorry life, including finding misery in her new romance with her client.
Funny, insanely driven, Elba Luz has created a unique character, Lucinda, A woman who begins in a hole and digs herself deeper in her escape.
Laugh. Cry. Know that we all have felt awkward, or undeserving, or not at our best. Luz has revealed our innermost desires and fears, and sets us free to choose and improve.
Entertainment and a fun read, thanks, Elba Luz.
July 8, 2026
Crazy Premise Makes a Great Story
Lucy and Anders make an interesting pair as the main characters in this romantic comedy. There’s a lot of great character building for them and many other players in the story. The premise of Lucy being a professional wedding breaker provides the freedom for some unexpected episodes. Woven through the story is the inner struggles of multiple characters who have conflicts of who they are versus who they think they want to be. I really enjoyed the story.
Lucy and Anders make an interesting pair as the main characters in this romantic comedy. There’s a lot of great character building for them and many other players in the story. The premise of Lucy being a professional wedding breaker provides the freedom for some unexpected episodes. Woven through the story is the inner struggles of multiple characters who have conflicts of who they are versus who they think they want to be. I really enjoyed the story.
Review of advance copy
Read advanced copy with Amazon first read.
Lucinda is down on her luck, working as a professional “wedding ruiner.” Lucinda had to grow up early when both her parents died, leaving her to have to care for her younger sister. She meets Anders, and starts a “fake dating” relationship with him.
I didn’t like Lucinda being heavily intoxicated when she and Anders met (and then drinking heavily when they meet up again).
Lucinda is down on her luck, working as a professional “wedding ruiner.” Lucinda had to grow up early when both her parents died, leaving her to have to care for her younger sister. She meets Anders, and starts a “fake dating” relationship with him.
I didn’t like Lucinda being heavily intoxicated when she and Anders met (and then drinking heavily when they meet up again).
July 8, 2026
Such A Sweet Story!
Lucy’s story was such a fun read and such a sweet story from start to finish! I loved reading about Lucy and her life. This is the first book of Elba’s that I have read. The story was written so well with laughs and sweet moments. I thoroughly enjoyed following Lucy on her journey and meeting her family and new friends. There was a very spicy scene that I could have done without but I absolutely loved this book.
Lucy’s story was such a fun read and such a sweet story from start to finish! I loved reading about Lucy and her life. This is the first book of Elba’s that I have read. The story was written so well with laughs and sweet moments. I thoroughly enjoyed following Lucy on her journey and meeting her family and new friends. There was a very spicy scene that I could have done without but I absolutely loved this book.
Review of advance copy
Read book through Amazon Prime First Reads! 4*
This is such a fun book. I loved Lucy, an out of work, couch hoping, dog loving woman who decides to ruin weddings for a living. After running into Anders at a previous wedding crash, he hires Lucy to ruin his sister's wedding. The chaous that follows is immensely readable and I could not put this book down! If you're looking for a fun little rom/com this is a must read!
This is such a fun book. I loved Lucy, an out of work, couch hoping, dog loving woman who decides to ruin weddings for a living. After running into Anders at a previous wedding crash, he hires Lucy to ruin his sister's wedding. The chaous that follows is immensely readable and I could not put this book down! If you're looking for a fun little rom/com this is a must read!
Review of advance copy
I was only looking for a new book when I stumbled across the amazon first reads. I really enjoyed this book, the writing sucked me in, the FMC reminds me of myself. Her internal struggles with herself are a lot like my own I found her very relatable. I loved the way the story grew and continued to expand i couldn't put it down until it was done. I do recommend this for a romance reader looking for their next read.
July 6, 2026
The premise here had tons of promise, much of it unrealized unfortunately. Charming at times, but unnecessarily smutty through much of the story, the wedding is a minor player as backdrop to a tedious infatuation that evolves predictably throughout the book. Most plot twists are brief jogs that are not twisty after all.
July 7, 2026
How To Make Your Day
A really good, thoroughly entertaining story with nothing to do but read and enjoy.
Lucy and Anders meet under very unorthodox circumstances and their relationship just keeps getting more entertaining and more intriguing from there.
Fun, easy read.
In this very complicated world of ours, its nice to just sit and read and smile.
For a change.
A really good, thoroughly entertaining story with nothing to do but read and enjoy.
Lucy and Anders meet under very unorthodox circumstances and their relationship just keeps getting more entertaining and more intriguing from there.
Fun, easy read.
In this very complicated world of ours, its nice to just sit and read and smile.
For a change.
July 9, 2026
strange meet cute fun rom com
The FMC is soooooo whiny. I realize that her entire character was built around that fact and it’s a symptom of her upbringing, however I felt reminded WAY to many times that she gave up everything for her sister and now can’t take anything from her. Classic rom com with bad communication from everyone…really wish someone punched Matt.
The FMC is soooooo whiny. I realize that her entire character was built around that fact and it’s a symptom of her upbringing, however I felt reminded WAY to many times that she gave up everything for her sister and now can’t take anything from her. Classic rom com with bad communication from everyone…really wish someone punched Matt.
July 8, 2026
Grew on me
The main character is flawed, which annoyed me at first but the writing is so good I kept at it. Character development is good and the plot complex and unique. Very graphic sex scenes - be aware. It left me with some themes to ponder, including sisterhood, friendship, and forgiveness.
The main character is flawed, which annoyed me at first but the writing is so good I kept at it. Character development is good and the plot complex and unique. Very graphic sex scenes - be aware. It left me with some themes to ponder, including sisterhood, friendship, and forgiveness.
Review of advance copy
This book got better as it went.
The lust - especially initially and at the pool hall - was over the top. And since my personal 🌶️preference is low, I skipped over the one s3x scene. But the bonds the FMC forms in Charleston are so sweet and well-written - with people & with animals. And I liked how she had the MMC handle things at the end.
The lust - especially initially and at the pool hall - was over the top. And since my personal 🌶️preference is low, I skipped over the one s3x scene. But the bonds the FMC forms in Charleston are so sweet and well-written - with people & with animals. And I liked how she had the MMC handle things at the end.
July 10, 2026
This was such a surprise read for me!!! I generally read quite dark novels but this, this was BRILLIANT TO ME! I absolutely loved the writing style, the characters, the storyline. I very rarely cry while reading but this book got me, probably because it hit home on some of my own insecurities, but it wasn’t at all Iike what I expected in the best possible way!! A true fan has been gained! 🙌🏽
Review of advance copy
devoured this story that ultimately asks, how do you decide what's worth loving? the answer will surprise you!!
made me giggle and cry, and the found family trope, in addition to the fake dating trope, just makes this book perfect in my eyes <3
made me giggle and cry, and the found family trope, in addition to the fake dating trope, just makes this book perfect in my eyes <3
July 7, 2026
Funny and cute
Sweet story, good ending, a little over use of "between her legs" every time the main character got a little turned but still a light hearted love story and also a great reminder how important it is to take of our precious pets and strays.
Sweet story, good ending, a little over use of "between her legs" every time the main character got a little turned but still a light hearted love story and also a great reminder how important it is to take of our precious pets and strays.
July 7, 2026
A storyline about a wedding wrecker. I was onboard from the get go. I enjoyed reading the blunders, witty banter and serious emotions in play. First time reading this author and I will look for more to read from her.
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Review of advance copy
I think I got this through Kindle First Reads and I’m SO GLAD I DID! I couldn’t put it down. I loved every single detail…the dogs, the characters, the storyline. The klepto Jennifer was such a funny side character that just demonstrates how detailed this story is…so so good!!
July 8, 2026
Simply Wonderful!
This novel was such a lovely read. Love the female protagonist, flaws and all! I laughed, cried and remained hopeful. The other characters were fun and quirky. And of course the male protagonist was heart pounding wonderful!
This novel was such a lovely read. Love the female protagonist, flaws and all! I laughed, cried and remained hopeful. The other characters were fun and quirky. And of course the male protagonist was heart pounding wonderful!
July 9, 2026
Engaging and humorous
I enjoyed this entertaining romcom with drama, humor, chemistry, great secondary characters and defined MCs who are likable, engaging, opposites, and have a fake relationship that becomes more. I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my honest review.
I enjoyed this entertaining romcom with drama, humor, chemistry, great secondary characters and defined MCs who are likable, engaging, opposites, and have a fake relationship that becomes more. I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book offered the perfect mix of funny, OMG, and heart wrenching moments. It was well worth taking a chance on Kindle's first readers selection. So pleased to read a genuine love story between adults who experienced complex relationships.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
got me out of a slump and i read the whole thing is probably less than 5 hours (minus all the hours i was sleeping at night)
Want to Read
July 2, 2026(E) I got this for free from Kindle First Reads in July 2026.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
freebies
July 2, 2026First Reads selection - July 2026
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews