Say Yes to the Mess

The Bad Decisions Dress #1

by Jax McQueen

Sometimes the best way forward is one bad decision at a time.At thirty-four, Zara Whitmore has had her entire adult life planned since childhood—right down to the wedding scrapbook with yellowing pages to prove it. An endlessly patient elementary school teaching assistant, she’s determined to build the stability she never had growing up. All she needs is her long-time boyfriend to finally propose…

Instead, she gets screenshots—from the woman he’s been cheating with.

Heartbroken and furious at the years she’s wasted, Zara does what any sensible woman spiral spectacularly and turn to her ride-or-die friend group, The Sensational Six. Their solution? Help her make up for all the reckless fun she missed out on in her twenties.

Enter the Bad Decisions Dress.

Alluring, irresistible, and maybe even a touch magical, the moment Zara slips it on, she feels bold and unstoppable. A scandalous breakup party with hot male strippers? Yes. Spontaneous tattoo? Why not. Over-the-top weekend getaway planned by the friend group’s resident stay-at-home-mom who hasn’t had a kid-free vacation in two years? Bring it on.

But when a special school project pairs her with the hunky new music teacher, Zara realizes bad decisions aren’t the only risks worth taking.

As she rebuilds her life one questionable choice at a time, Zara must decide what’s clinging to the safe, predictable life she knows—or saying yes to the messy, unexpected present that might be better than anything she imagined.

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 26, 2026

About the author

Jax McQueen is the author of shenanigan-packed stories featuring hot mess heroines who stumble into love while attempting to pull their lives together. She lives in the vibrant, ever-changing heart of North Carolina which often provides the setting inspiration for her work. When she’s not writing, you can find her in the middle of the dance floor, at the movie theater, hosting bar trivia, or napping. Naps are life.

Reviews

[Tracy Banghart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love how this romance centers so much around the friendship between Zara and the Sensational Six. The banter and dialogue is A++. Such a fun book!

[sandy]

im saying no to the mess!!!!
dnf 28%
i cant do this anymoreeeeeeee. i lost it when the fmc said she has to learn a new D after her ex of a decade and a half cheated on her.
im sorry netgalley. i really wanted to like this arc but i cant.

[Chasity McCurdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, relatable, and a great time! We all need a friend group like the Sensational Six!

[Kelsey reviews•books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is perfect for readers who love women’s literature with a sprinkle of romance, and a heavy dash of powerful female friendships.

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Expresso Book Tours and the author for an advanced e-copy. This book publishes March 26, 2026.
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○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– About: 34-year-old Zara Whitmore has been waiting for her long-term boyfriend to propose. And now that he is up for a promotion and all of the pieces are falling together in their lives it’s what she’s expecting. But what she ends up with are DMs from the woman who her boyfriend has been cheating with.
With the help of her best friends, Zara sets out to heal from this hurt while also keeping up with her duties as a teacher’s assistant at the same school where she formed her friendships. And it doesn’t hurt that the new, hot music sub, Caleb, keeps running into her everywhere.
– Location: North Carolina
– POV: Single first-person
– Spice: 1-2 open-door spicy scenes
– Tropes: female friendships, healing after a breakup, finding your confidence again, dating, workplace romance, found family, slow burn
– Content warning: cheating ex, emotionally manipulative ex, pressure to be married at a certain age, meddling friends (with good intentions but a lack of boundaries)
– Representation: BIPOC MCs, LGBTQ+ side characters, male stripping

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↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: bad bitch alert by Ty Dolla $ign

╰┈➤ ❝had her heart break from a baller, but she bounced back quick, quick, quick…❞

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★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ Abbott Elementary—but only from the MCs perspective and add in more of a solid non-work friend group
➼ Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants—but it’s actually a dress
➼ Stories where the main storyline is healing, building friendships, learning who you are again, and where the romance is secondary

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⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven—✧——————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn——————————✧—Slow Burn
Sweet—✧——————————Spicy
Light/Fluffy——————✧—————Heavy/Emotional

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🎯 My Thoughts:

This book was so fun and cute and cathartic! Despite the beautiful cover, this book has a lot more to it than romance. It’s really about the power of your family/found family stepping in and taking care of you when your life turns upside down. It’s also about learning to trust yourself again after being told that you aren’t “fit” or “good enough” to rely on yourself. Which is something a lot of readers (especially women) can relate to.

The thing that shone the most in this book was the zany, ride-or-die, best-friend group. Several times that I was reading their scenes I kept thinking, “Dang! I really wish I could be in their friend group.“ They were the type of friends that make a really great found family.

Despite that, I do wish I had maybe about 20% less of the friend group scenes and 20% more of the relationship building with Caleb. I feel that it wasn’t quite as emotionally developed. By the time the slow burn starts hitting, the romance ultimately felt rushed. But Caleb! What an ideal man. The intimacy scene was so tender because of how he was written to communicate. I just would have loved to have seen more tender moments between Caleb and Zara throughout the story to create just a little bit more of that romantic tension and yearning.

One more thing: Geoff with a G can go fall off a cliff. Boy bye.

I hope this series continues and the dress brings more luck to the Sensational Six!!

•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zara is our main character, her and her partner Geoff with a g have been together for over fourteen years, and today he is up for the big promotion at work. Which she thinks will lead to their engagement finally off. He goes to find out his fate and she goes to school where she's a teacher assistant at the same school. She actually has gone to since middle school while waiting to find out her fate. How about Geofff's promotion, she gets a text message which she assumes is from him. But it's not, it's from somebody. He's been cheating on her with for the past 8 months. she sees red and decides to go home- where she goes half angela bassett from waiting to exhale, up, throwing his belongings out into the yard on a rainy night, after wallowing the next day, she finally breaks down and calls her sister and tells her what happens. And she gets of hold of their friend group called the significant six all women that they have grown up with and gone to school with - all in the middle of their own stories.So to say, they decide that zara needs to make up for lost time from the fast fourteen years.That she spent with Geoff, so there needs to be strip clubs , girls night dating yourself speed, dating tattoos, girls weekend and redoing the house and getting Geoff's aura out of there- azarov starts out her new adventure with a new dress, a different kind of dress. A dress of bad decisions, which leads her to an all male dance review.(code= strippers) - well, they are dancing with one of the men she realizes.He is the inter music teacher at her school, she panicks and doesn't know what to think as she starts to do. All of the ideas and the chores that her friends had thought up for her. As she realizes, maybe none of this is for her. And she starts to look inward and at the same time it deals with the relationship with each of her friends and the. Relationship her friends have with each other. And with themselves, it's a fine romcom, it wasn't the greatest wasn't the worst, it was a very quick read. So if you like just something quick and easy and light to we'll get through, it was okay

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

[Elia Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Say Yes to the Mess was such a fun, heartwarming story! The story starts with Zara finding out her boyfriend of 14 years has been cheating on her for a year when she receives messages from the other woman. Geoff (Who spells it that way 🤣) was a dick from the beginning, he clearly only cared about himself and what Zara could do for him instead of being a true partner. Toodaloo Geoff!

Zara's friends, the Sensational Six, were instantly there for Zara and wanted to help her through her breakup and next steps in life. I loved all of them! They were each unique both in personality and where they are in life. Also, with the 'bad decisions' dress being passed on, it gave me a grown-up sisterhood of the traveling pants feeling and I am here for it! There were so many hilarious moments with the friends as they were helping Zara live out her crazy 20's, I can't even pick my favorite one there were so many.

Ok, Caleb, oh Caleb. While the story was more focused on Zara and her finding herself and coming into her own after her breakup, the romance with Caleb was top notch! I don't want to spoil anything but their early interactions were hilarious and I love how honest they were with each other. Zara could be herself with Caleb and I loved seeing her happy! Caleb was all of the green flags for me and my new book boyfriend!

Also, how could I forget, there were so many funny scenes with Zara and her students at school, it had me laughing out loud! As someone with kids at that age, I cannot imagine being with them all day five days a week. 😜

I loved every minute of this story and I am so excited for the sequel to see more of the Sensational Six and I hope to see more of Zara and Caleb in the future! 💕

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌶️🌶️ Spice Level: If you like romance but not exactly a full play by play with a front row seat to what’s happening in the bedroom this is great read.
—-——————-

Would you ever want to go back to your 20s and do the things you missed out on? That’s exactly what Zara Whitmore gets the chance to do, though not in a Back to the Future kind of way.

Say Yes to the Mess by Jax McQueen is a funny and heartfelt story about friendship, rediscovery, and the courage to choose yourself after choosing someone else’s version of you for so many years.

What I loved most about this book is how Zara’s friends, the Sensational Six, refuse to let her wallow after her breakup. Instead, they jump into action and pull her into a series of hilarious and occasionally adult’s only adventures centered around the infamous “Bad Decisions Dress.” Their loyalty and chaotic energy make the story feel rich and authentic.

This story also does a great job of reminding you of your own friendships. I found myself thinking about my own friend group and recognizing bits of them in these characters, which made the story even more enjoyable.

I enjoyed this book so much! Knowing this is only the first book makes me excited to see what Jax McQueen does next in the series.

If you’re looking for a read that’s fun, flirty, full of girl power, with a little risqué romance along the way, this is definitely one to add to your list!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

#blackauthors #netgalley

[YanaKeii · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a rom-com at its best. A form of sisterhood, self worth discovery and possibly new love.

This book really showed a sisterhood between ladies at different points of their lives and personalities but their common goal is making sure each other is alright.

Zara learns that her long time boyfriend is cheating on her and her friends are there to help her move on quickly but also show that she is still that girl. Zara buys a dress that symbolizes freedom and to help bring her out more. She's an assistant aid and here comes Caleb sub music teacher, instant attraction, then a wild night discovers a secret moonlighting job but that connection is still there and im happy she explored. There is a smidge of spice as well.

There are some points I wish Zara could have explored when it came to her and Geoff with the G, lol, like why did he cheat and why did he put her on standby for so long. I think the girls friendship is more the main character here, the Senstational Six were marvelous. I also wanted more about the mystery woman cause maam where you come from.

I can't wait for the next installment the dress is passed into Max's hand and she is the "wild" one of the bunch.

Great first read from the author. Thanks to XpressoBookTours and Jax MCQueen Creative LLC via NetGalley

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Zara finds out her long time boyfriend has been cheating on her, she turns to her group of friends. Their solution is to help Zara recreate the mistakes and risks from their 20's that she missed out on. From a potentially magical dress, to a break up party with male strippers, a spontaneous tattoo, a weekend get away. Her friends are there for every risk taken. 
A school project pairs her up with the handsome new music teacher, and Zara learns that there different kinds of risks that are worth taking.
This story immediately had me hooked. I caught myself smiling throughout reading. Jax did a wonderful job portraying the different dynamics within the group of friends. She made Zara feel so real. And I adored Caleb. I was a little disappointed that i was able to predict who the Cowboy was as soon as he was mentioned, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the breakup party scene. 
I will definitely be recommending this book to friends and will be adding it to my book trophies.
Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[A Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the strongest aspects of this book is the characters and their relationships. The female friendships were incorporated really well, not as an after thought or just to be there for the MC to talk about her relationships, but in a meaningful and realistic way. I do feel like almost a little too much time was spent on the friends though, rather than on the romantic relationship given that this is a romance.

While I liked Zara and Caleb as characters, I wasn't quite sold on their relationship. Not that I wasn't feeling it, but I felt like it was missing some page time so that it ended up feeling somewhat rushed. But what we did get from them was well written.

I like how seamlessly this on sets up for book two, and can't wait to see where the dress is going to take us next. If you like romantic comedies that include strong friend groups, finding yourself, and are positive/uplifting reads, then I definitely recommend this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, damn you Geoff-with-a-G!!! But enough about him. The real highlight in this Abbott Elementary meets Sex&The City mash-up is in the phenomenally dynamic and hilarious friend group of woman. The banter, the supportive chaos, the ridiculous situations they get each other into, and the group chats all feel painfully real. I felt like I was right there in the chat, the dressing room, wine bar, and vacation house with the Sensational Six.

There were so many memorable moments that had me laughing out loud, especially the scene with the confused waiter trying so hard to stay polite while the protagonist is hiding under the table 😅. And yes, if you came for the romance, there is also a standout sexy date scene that manages to be both genuinely hot and perfectly in line with the book’s girl-power energy.

This is the perfect beach read to reach for as the weather warms up: hysterical, up-lifting, and fun.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Jax McQueen for the advanced copy of this book!

4.5/5 stars

I thought this was SUCH a fun read!! It is women's literature with a dash of romance and I found it really refreshing. Zara is our FMC and the book follows her on her journey of finding herself after a messy end to a 14 year relationship with a man she thought was going to be her and game. With the help of her amazing and fun friend group she finds herself again, reassesses what SHE wants, both in life and in a future partner, and gets into lots of shenanigans along the way. Plus there are some silly dating scenarios and a potential new love interest. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy book about feminine strength and the power of female friendships with a sprinkling of hot men and potential for new love. ❤️

[Brittany Selken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast paced romance book and I honestly could of finished last night but I had to get up in the morning for work. This was a wonderful story about a woman who find out her boyfriend had cheated on and now she is just trying to figure out what she wants to do with her love life. I love her friendship that she has with these amazing women that were involved in helping her find her love again and I honestly love that she stood up for herself when it came to her ex boyfriend. I’m can’t wait to read the rest of this series to see who next in the group and see where these characters that were involved in the book are at in their life.

[Patty McGovern Pugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it !!!

This is the best book I have read this year! I had never read anything by Jax McQueen but saw the book cover and blurb and had to get it. I am so glad I did. This book has everything you want in a feel good book that will make you laugh. I loved all the things her girlfriends planned to cheer her up. What a fun wacky group of girlfriends. I just can’t tell you how wonderful this book is. The author is very talented. You feel like your right there with all her friends on the party bus having fun or at school where she teaches and crazy things happen. I want to say so much more but I hate spoilers. I highly recommend this book and this author!

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first, I would like to thank Netgalley and also Xpresso Book Tours for this ARC!

Just like the describtion had promised, this was a fun book that was really able to lift up my mood and was exactly what I did need - not going into detail on the internet, but 2026 sadly sucks so far for me. I did really enjoy tagging along with Zara, who did all the things I would never dare doing myself. Because yes, I am also a person who does always prefer to play safe. I guess, through Zara, I was actually able to live a little as well, if only for a short while. Very much recommended!

[Chia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks, NetGalley and Jax for this ARC. I received the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Say Yes to the Mess was such a wonderful book. I had a blast, I feel in love, I felt seen. This book felt like a warm hug. Zara was me, I was Zara. She deserves a break, a freaking holiday, her fantastic friends, all the fun in the world, and -perhaps- a certain man to love and adore her (not necessary but pretty much encouraged if the situation arises).
As soon as I reached The End I needed TBDD2. I am hungry for more. So please, Jax, I begg you!

[Honestly Rani · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars. Say Yes to the Mess by Jax McQueen is the perfect spring-break, sitting-by-the-hotel-pool kind of read. It doesn’t take itself too seriously—except for Stevie, haha.

The pure joy of this book for me was the friendship. I quickly fell in love with each of Zara’s friends, and their dialogue felt lively and fun.

Minus two stars for references to one of the world’s oldest “teenagers.” I just… can’t.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

[Kasey Connors-Beron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good self-discovery book, especially when it involves a cute romance. The male main character is such a wonderful person that I’m envious tbh. But that’s part of the charm of the book and how the female main character grows. I definitely recommend this! Also wonderful spice and supportive best friends.

[Anita| FantasyandFeelings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from the shenanigans and our FMC finding her way and a new love…top tier. The girl group is amazing, I wanted to be a member of the group text. I can’t wait to see where romance take our FMC next. You won’t stop laughing, kicking your feet in giggles0 and reminiscing because like in your 20s was really when all the hot mess took place.

[RijaReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for this ARC! Release date: March 26, 2026.

When I first requested this ARC, I thought I was signing up for a typical cutesy romance. You know the type—predictable, a little cheesy, happily-ever-after. Instead, it ended up feeling more like a story about adult friendships, trying to figure your life out again, and a very light sprinkle of romance.

I really liked Zee and her friend group. One thing the author did well was not pretending their friendships were perfect. They had their messy moments, disagreements, and rough patches, but they still showed up for each other.

Zee herself was also genuinely funny. As a fellow homebody, I respected the lifestyle. The situations she kept getting herself into were chaotic in the best way—especially the whole under-the-table moment.

Now the romance… that’s where things lost me a bit. It felt forced and honestly kind of unnecessary. There wasn’t enough real interaction between Zee and Caleb to believe there was anything deeper going on. Most of it just felt like them messing around.

And I’m sorry but we need to talk about the dress!!!!! It was literally the seventh friend. I get that it made her feel good. Love that for her. But did she have no other clothing options? Because the way that dress kept making appearances started to feel personal. Wearing it on the first date especially irked me more than it probably should have and I was so happy when she finally put it to rest in the end!

Overall though, I had fun with this one. Since this is supposed to be a series, I’m really hoping Stevie’s story is next because she deserves her moment.


I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Danielle Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute! I really enjoyed this book—it was fun, engaging, and easy to relate to.

[danie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one had me as soon as the author dropped a Swan Princess reference. I was so not expecting to have that Princess Odette flashback today, and I loved it. This was a great, fun read and I really enjoyed the storytelling. The characters were fun and well thought out, the FMC, Zara, was so enthralling to follow as she started out as a people pleaser, pushover to her own women. I have to share my favorite quote on this one, "I don't need to be someone's other half- I'm whole all on my own." It's so, so good.

The absolute AUDACITY of Geoff with a G. No spoilers, but at a certain point I literally said out loud, "That absolute b*tch" He was so incredibly written and McQueen made me hate him very, very much. I loved Caleb, the Sensational Six was so great. I wish I had a friend group like that.

Overall, this was a great book and I really hope the series continues!

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, light rom-com with a great friend group dynamic.

Zara, a teaching assistant recovering from a cheating ex, is a little awkward but surrounded by a chaotic crew of ride-or-die friends and her sister. Caleb, the interim music teacher, initially seems like a total cinnamon roll… until the reveal of his part-time job, which absolutely took me out. 🤣

In true rom-com fashion, they’re continuously thrown into each other’s lives, and the book leans into that energy with plenty of humor (the scene with the six friends dressed as old ladies had me laughing).

Overall, I enjoyed it, but the romance itself felt a bit underdeveloped. Since this is the start of a series, the story reads more like an introduction to the characters and world rather than a fully fleshed-out romance. I would have loved to see more relationship development.

Readers who enjoy light, humorous rom-coms with chaotic friend groups will likely enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours | Jax McQueen Creative, LLC for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review 💖.

[Jamie Hicks · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was boring, and it was hard to finish.