The Night Before the Wedding: A completely heartbreaking and gripping page-turner

by Emma Robinson

Looking out at the crystal clear waters of Sorrento, my heart aches at the loss of the future I’d allowed myself to dream. But Tom’s lie is bigger than I could have imagined. How can we survive it? My decision will shatter more than just my own heart. Am I really ready to say the words that will change everything?

It was supposed to be a week of bliss leading to our dream wedding on the Italian coast. But it’s obvious our families are against it. My mother questions why Tom has controlled so much of the planning, twisting his generous surprise into something sinister. Tom’s daughter, Lily, makes it known she’ll never see me as her mother.

Trying to focus on our dream day, I can’t help but notice a woman who spends every day at the pool, alone. She seems fascinated by Lily in a way that worries me. When Tom finally locks eyes with her, he immediately pales.

This week should have been the best time of our lives but before our future can begin, Tom will confess a secret that could destroy everything. But he’s not the only one who kept a past lie hidden for the sake of happily-ever-after. By the end of the week with both our secrets laid bare, will we really say, ‘I do’?

A totally addictive novel about family secrets which will have you turning the pages long into the night. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Liane Moriarty and Diane Chamberlain.

What readers are saying about Emma

‘Wow… Ooomph this book sure does pack an emotional punch… My eyes simply couldn’t read fast enough… I loooooove this kind of book… Held me tight and didn’t let go… Brilliant.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Will keep you hooked from start to finish!… Heartbreaking with a few surprises that will leave you gasping!’ sapphirenst9ne, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Emotional family drama that grabs you by the throat, whispers “you’re not ready for this,” and then absolutely wrecks you anyway… Emotional, twisty, and painfully real. If you love family dramas that make you feel everything, this one delivers!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Impossible to put down… Will leave you on the edge of your seat and also punch you in the heart… Beautiful.’ Kkecreads

‘Wow! I’ve come to expect lots of twists and turns, emotion and family drama from this author, but this book just keeps going with the surprises… Just one more chapter you will say, but no, it’s not that easy!’ cypresscornerreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Cancel all plans while reading – I inhaled this over one weekend and resented everything that kept me away from it!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Had me reaching for the tissues… Beautiful… Had my heart in my chest!’ Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews

‘I honestly couldn’t

264 pages, Paperback

Published April 27, 2026

About the author

Emma Robinson is a USA Today Bestseller with a passion for stories which explore the power of family and friendship in the most challenging circumstances. Whilst her early novels are humorous; her recent work focuses on emotional themes and these novels are both heart-breaking and life affirming.

Emma currently lives in Essex, England with a husband, two children and a small black dog.

Reviews

[Caz]

4.75⭐️ I absolutely loved The Night Before the Wedding by Emma Robinson - it completely pulled me in from the start.


The story is set over the night before a wedding, which I thought was such a brilliant idea because it instantly creates this tense, emotional atmosphere. What should be a happy occasion slowly unravels as secrets start to come out, and I found myself hooked, wanting to know what had happened in the past and how it would all come together.


For me, the characters really made this book. They felt so real and relatable, with flaws and emotions that made their actions believable—even when things got messy. I kept changing my mind about them as more was revealed, which made the whole reading experience even more engaging.


I really enjoyed Emma Robinson’s writing style—it’s easy to read but still very emotional and powerful. She does such a great job of building tension while also exploring deeper themes like love, trust, and how the past can affect the present.


Overall, I found this to be such a compelling and emotional read. It’s the kind of book that keeps you turning the pages because you just need to know how everything will unfold. I’d definitely recommend it if you enjoy character-driven stories with plenty of drama and heart.


Thank you NetGalley, bookoulture and the author Emma Robinson for the ARC in exchange for my honest review


Publishing date: May 1st 2026

[Bookaholic__Reviews]

The night before the wedding follows a young couple as they are preparing for their dream wedding of the coast of Italy in Sorento. What should be the happiest time of their lives quickly unravels into shambles and uncertainty when characters from their past make appearances.

This story delves pretty deeply into family dynamics and how the things parents do out of the desire to protect their children might not be the best choice. The story balances family drama and romantic suspense and is perfect for readers wanting an emotional family drama.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Christina C]

The Night Before the Wedding was a captivating and entertaining read from start to finish. The story immediately pulled me in and kept me hooked as the drama surrounding Carrie and her upcoming wedding to Tom unfolded in beautiful Italy. Just as everything seems to be falling into place, the sudden reappearance of Tom’s daughter Lily’s mother adds tension and chaos, making the story even more compelling.

The characters were well written and felt realistic, each bringing their own layer of emotion and complexity to the story. I especially enjoyed how the relationships were explored, showing both the excitement and the underlying challenges that can come with blending families.

Overall, this was a thoroughly engaging read with plenty of twists to keep things interesting. A solid 4-star book that I’d definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys relationship drama and emotionally driven stories.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publishers for an ARC.

[Sandy Lazarovici]

Is this some kind of Jane Eyre? I love Jane Eyre and this book just gave me a flash of crazy ex-wife in the attic.

I really, REALLY want to slap that horrible woman! That is a horrible mother (Carrie's mother). She emotionally abused her daughter her whole life and I bet she lied about her father too. I really hope she will get what she deserves. Maybe I have read too many MM romances with family members who get cut out of their lives and I am the last person to say you should break any connection to your family, because family is important and you don't need to all think the same, different points of view are OK. But this woman is TOXIC AS FUCK!!! I hate her so much! Toxic people don't need to be in your life!

I did read a little towards the end of the book and I am loving how it ends. So satisfying. My boyfriend is telling me I suck 🤣, but I just like spoilers, doesn't mean I suck 🤷🏻‍♀️. I didn't tell him and he wouldn't read the book anyway 🤣. But yes, I am loving this book and I like how it ends. I might be able to finish it tomorrow, not sure.

[Mary Hall]

Gals this was good!

[Molly Willis]

Huh? Just no. I will not recommend this book. It was not gripping or heartbreaking. It was boring and very superficial.

[Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews]

First, I would like to thank Emma Robinson, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

YES!! Emma Robinson who is my favorite author when it comes to emotional reads is back with her eighteenth book!! Being a huge fan of hers I think I have read most if not all of hers. The Night Before The Wedding is her latest read with the main theme being based on family. Emma surprised me in this book. Usually all of her books make me ugly cry with a tear jerking storyline. I honestly think this is the first one I did not cry over!! Oh I still loved the storyline regardless but just was shocked.

I love how Emma wrote a very sweet dedication to her first friend in publishing Kim Nash.

Instantly, Emma sweeps us away to Sorrento to a destination wedding and we don’t even have to leave our comfy chairs!!

Emma’s book is all about families and the secrets they keep to protect the ones that they love. Many of the stories paralleled each other.

Out of all the characters in the book my heart ached for Lily the most! Growing up thinking her Mom was dead because that is what her Dad told her was so wrong on so many levels!!! She had so many emotions to process that I am so glad that Carrie could be there for her!! Oh this storyline was one of the best!

The Night Before The Wedding in my opinion digs a little deeper in emotional intensity (but not waterworks wise). I highly suggest you add this to your tbr pile! It is one of her best!

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer]

The Night Before The Wedding by Emma Roberts, Kerry is in Italy with her fiancé and his 11-year-old daughter Lily there to get married the only one they invited was her mother who isn’t happy on the best of days and being in Italy doesn’t change that Lily and Kerry seem to get along and Tom is a devoted dad all Carrie knows is Lily lost her mom as a young baby so the next day when she’s watching Lily at the swimming pool she notices a beautiful woman staring at Lily she doesn’t know who she is but once she finds out it will put everything carry new into jeopardy while all that is happening Kerry is doing her best to please her mom but before the trip is over Carrie will learn her mom didn’t feel the same. In a world where not speaking to your parents is a new fad this book is very timely like most Emma Roberts books it was absolutely well done. Every now and then you run across a book that you can’t find anything negative to say about it and that is definitely this book it was so good you just want the pages to keep turning and turning and when it’s over your mind has to catch up with that. such a great book a definite recommend so so good! #NetGalley, #BlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,.

[Teresa Nikolic]

Carrie doesn't do well in relationships and she wonders if it's linked to what happened to her as a child, a fact that her mother Janet loves to keep reminding her about, but then she meets Tom, a work colleague to begin with and they just click, within three months he's asked her to marry him and she's looking forward to them being a family, alongside his twelve year old daughter Lily. Now they are in beautiful Sorrento for their wedding in just a few days time with just Lily and Janet as guests. Everything is going fine until she spots Lily talking to a woman at the pool and, when she questions Lily, she tells her that Tom also knows her, something that Tom denies when asked but, when he sees her, his face tells a different story. Carrie wants to know what he's hiding and won't give up till she knows the truth.

The Night Before the Wedding is the new domestic drama by Robinson and, as with her other books, it doesn't disappoint, I inhaled this compelling read in a matter of hours! Set in beautiful Sorrento, we meet Carrie, Tom and Lily and, of course, the formidable Janet who never seems happy, especially when she's not centre of attention. From the start I sensed that something wasn't right, the rush to get married, what was Tom's reasoning behind it all and was Carrie truly happy with it. The secrecy with Alex, the woman at the pool, dredges up memories of her own childhood and she can't get any straight answers from her mum, who was a real piece of work, in my opinion. The only characters I trusted were Carrie and Lily, the rest of them couldn't lie straight in bed but, this is the thing about this authors work, she writes multi-layered stories about relatable characters, flaws and all, nobody is perfect and this is what I love about her books and why I keep coming back for more. For a long time now Robinson has been one of my go to authors and I can't see that changing any time soon.

I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day,

[◒ rö ◒]

I flew through this one, which tends to be the case for me with books written like this. At first, I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it. The premise—a woman preparing to marry a wealthy businessman she’d only known for a few months who she’d met working for him—immediately raised questions for me. Maybe I’m cynical, but I found myself suspicious long before the book needed me to be. Fortunately, the story’s real strength lies elsewhere.

What stayed with me most was the relationship between Carrie and her mother. The book explores childhood wounds, grief, secrets, and the complicated guilt that can exist between parents and children. Carrie’s mother constantly reminds her of everything she’s sacrificed and done for her, and even at 42 years old, Carrie still feels trapped by that guilt and obligation. It’s toxic, but it’s also painfully familiar.

The story captures that feeling of loving a parent while also carrying resentment, confusion, responsibility, and the sense that you’ve spent your life managing their emotions alongside your own. The wedding mystery kept the pages turning, but these family dynamics were what gave the book its emotional weight. Some moments genuinely moved me to tears because they touched on experiences and feelings that felt very real. Her move to reconnect with her father and uncover all the mistruths from her mother was incredibly powerful and I wish we got more of that. That said, I often found the emotional depth more compelling than the central wedding storyline itself. I was far more invested in the family drama than the mystery surrounding Tom or the glamorous Italian setting.

Overall, while the premise and plot didn’t completely win me over, the exploration of family, guilt, trauma, and healing gave the story far more depth than I expected. A good way to pass a quick moment of time, even if I found some parts much stronger than others.

[Aga]

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. Out May 1st.

This was such a captivating and intriguing read, set against the beautiful backdrop of Sorrento — because apparently sunshine, sea views and wedding planning are not enough without a few buried secrets casually exploding everywhere.

The story follows Carrie, who is about to marry Tom, a man with a twelve-year-old daughter, Lily. But as the wedding gets closer, Tom’s past begins to catch up with him, and Carrie starts to realise there may be far more to the man she loves than she ever imagined.

While the character of Alex felt quite obvious to me in terms of who she was, the why behind it all was much harder to guess, which kept me turning the pages. The whole story takes place over a short period of time, which gave it that tense, slightly claustrophobic feeling of everything unravelling at once.

Carrie starts off a little clueless, but I really enjoyed watching her grow into herself. She becomes more self-assured, more aware, and finally starts standing up for what is right — not just for herself, but for Lily too.

And speaking of Lily, I thought she was a brilliant character. She felt like a very believable twelve-year-old whose life is changing quickly, and her emotions and reactions added a lot of heart to the story.

Carrie’s mum also has secrets of her own, and I really enjoyed seeing Carrie finally stand up to her and uncover the truth there too. Because apparently this family had enough secrets to fill several suitcases and still pay extra baggage.

Overall, this was a gripping, emotional and very readable story about love, trust, family secrets and finding your voice when it matters most.

[Leslie Krepp]

ARC READER For NETGALLEY. Thank you to NetGalley and Emma Robinson for allowing me to read this book and give an honest review! I could not put it down!

I picked this up thinking it would be a light, romantic destination wedding story… and it definitely was not that. It ended up being way more emotional and tense than I expected.

The setting in Sorrento is beautiful, and you can really picture the scenery, which makes everything unfolding feel even more dramatic. What I liked most was how quickly the story shifts from “perfect wedding week” to something that feels uncomfortable and uncertain. You can tell pretty early on that things aren’t right—between the family tension, Tom’s controlling tendencies, and Lily making it clear she doesn’t accept the relationship.

The mysterious woman by the pool added a really interesting layer. At first it feels subtle, but once it connects to Tom, it completely changes the tone of the story. That’s when it really hooked me.

I also appreciated that the characters weren’t perfect. Both of them are holding onto things they probably should have been honest about sooner, and it makes the situation feel more real, even when it’s frustrating. There were definitely moments where I wanted to shake them and say “just be honest already.”

The pacing dragged a little in the middle for me, but the tension kept building enough that I still wanted to know what was going to happen. The ending felt emotional and made sense for the story, even if it wasn’t the easiest outcome.

Overall, it’s more about secrets, trust, and complicated relationships than romance. If you like character-driven stories with drama and twists, it’s worth picking up.

[Timothy]

Emma Robinson has a way of blending emotional family drama with just enough suspense to keep the pages turning, and The Night Before the Wedding was no exception.

What starts as a destination wedding in beautiful Italy quickly becomes a story about long buried secrets, complicated family relationships, and the difficult choices people make in the name of love. The setting added a wonderful contrast to the tension building beneath the surface, making it feel like paradise was slowly unraveling.

This is definitely more of an emotional domestic suspense than a fast paced thriller, and I appreciated that it took the time to develop its characters. Carrie was easy to root for as she slowly found her confidence, but Lily completely stole the show for me. She brought so much heart to the story, and I found myself just as invested in her future as I was in the mystery surrounding the adults.

The twists weren't necessarily shocking, but they were satisfying because they were grounded in the characters and their relationships rather than relying on pure shock value. The story also explores themes of trust, blended families, forgiveness, and the lasting impact of past decisions in a thoughtful way.

I knocked off one star because I would have liked a little more tension throughout the middle, but the emotional payoff and strong character work made it well worth the journey.

If you enjoy character driven domestic suspense with family secrets, emotional depth, and a beautiful setting, this is one I'd definitely recommend.

[Patty]

While I thought this was a decent read, it wasn't "heartbreaking" as the subtitle suggests.

Carrie, 42, is marrying Tom in the beautiful Italian city of Sorrento. Is it the wedding she dreamed of all her life? Nope, it is the opposite, in what most people would think of in a good way. The hotel is opulent, meals are gourmet, amenities to die for, and only her mother and his daughter as attendees. Sounds lovely, right? It is, until things start to change.

When Tom's ex-wife shows up at the hotel, Tom and his daughter Lily are very surprised. Tom, because he thought Alex was out of his life for good, and Lily, because she'd been told her mother was dead. At 12, that's a lot to deal with. Mix it in with mysteries swirling around Alex, who is portrayed very aloof and suspicious and you have some drama. Soon after that, another long lost relative enters the picture, throwing another wrench into the plans.

I feel like the story missed the mark a bit for me. Carrie was very complacent, went along with things rather than having a voice. Her mother is a b and she just takes it. Tom makes all the plans and Carrie just goes along. Lily is rude and no problem. Just not my kind of person. The ending was satisfying, though.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

[JBirdReads]

Thinking of what to read on your summer vacation? Put this one on the top of your list!! Publish date May 1st!

Enter Sorrento, Italy for the wedding of your dreams to the guy you never thought existed, much less would choose you…only to be blindsided by another woman and secrets that make you question everything. From the opening Prologue section there is zero wind-up to get hooked in this story and you won’t want to put this down. This too-good-to-be-true wedding week indulgence creeps in a feeling that something feels “off” and only continues to turn into an avalanche of doubts and insecurities. To make matters more complex Carrie is not only second guessing her fiancé, but her own mother?!

This story captivates the reader in a 2-fold way that tugs at the heart of childhood abandonment wounds and insecurities that lead to adult life of feeling not good enough. It begs the question for any marriage of what to choose to look at and where to find forgiveness. And ultimately, lands on the line of boundaries. Author Emma Robinson, has a vivid and relatable writing style that will make this a hot read this summer.

I give this a 5⭐️

Thank you to @NetGalley, @Bookouture and @emmarobinsonauthor for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy!

[Jan]

The Night Before the Wedding is marketed as a thriller, but it simply isn’t one — and that mismatch shapes the whole reading experience. I went in expecting tension, twists, and psychological suspense. What I got instead was a straightforward family drama that moves quickly but never delivers the depth or intrigue promised in the blurb.

The writing itself is easy to read and the pacing is brisk, so if someone wants a fast, uncomplicated page‑turner, this will suit them. But for readers looking for genuine suspense or emotional complexity, it feels thin. The characters — particularly Carrie’s mum and Alex — come across more as red flags than fully developed people, and their behaviour becomes irritating rather than gripping. The story hints at darker layers but never follows through, leaving the plot feeling flat and missing the “something more” that a true thriller requires.

I didn’t dislike the book; it just wasn’t what it claimed to be. As a family drama, it’s fine. As a thriller, it simply doesn’t qualify. Readers who enjoy light, quick reads may find it satisfying, but those expecting tension, mystery, or psychological depth will likely feel misled.

[A Lane]

Holy Amazeballs!! Emma Robinson did it again with her latest heartwarming story, The Night Before the Wedding. This is a love story and so much more. I absolutely loved this book.

Carrie and Tom are about to be married at a beautiful Italian destination. Along with them, Tom's daughter Lily and Carrie's mother are to be the only ones present for the ceremony. When a mysterious woman at the pool starts paying Lily too much attention, Carrie is on high alert. When Tom sees the woman, he reacts in a suspicious way. When Carrie confronts him, all his past secrets come tumbling out. Though she's shocked at what he tells her, Carrie too has some secrets that need to be told before she can marry Tom.

The story is told with finesse and grace. The emotions are real and raw. The characters are all very engaging and real. I flew through the pages needing to know how this was going to end. Robinson knows how to delight her readers with stories of family dynamics, hope and forgiveness.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

[Claire]

I think I say this about every one of Emma’s books, you can’t just read one more chapter! It’s impossible! The chapters end on such cliffhangers you just have to keep reading.

It’s another fantastic tale with so many twists and turns but family, as ever, at its heart.

I want to make sure I don’t give anything away, but will say the way this author conveys family and relationships is something special. You can really feel what the characters feel, share in their discomfort and difficult decisions but also feel their love for one another, feel the unbreakable bonds between them, despite what may be going on.

I loved the tangle of webs within this one. There’s so much more than whether the wedding will go ahead because of Tom’s secret, there are secrets a plenty within these pages!! As the book goes on, different characters grow on you as you begin to understand them more.

The pace of the book is perfect and I love this authors writing style. She sure knows how to pull you in and not let go!

Thank you Emma for another whirlwind adventure!!

[Kimberly Sullivan]

Weddings can be stressful. But Tom was hoping to ease the burden for his fiancée, Carrie, by handling all the details of their luxurious, destination wedding in Sorrento, Italy.

At first, everything seems like a fairy tale, and the small wedding including only Carrie’s mother and Tom’s twelve-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, Lily, seems intimate, even if Carrie regrets the absence of her close friends.

But as the wedding approaches, secrets begin to unfold. An attractive woman at the hotel appears very interested in Tom. Although he swears he doesn’t know her, the woman tells Carrie a different story. Did Lily’s mother die when she was a baby? Did Carrie’s father choose to cut his daughter out of his life when he divorced her mother?

All these complications come to a head as Carrie and Tom prepare their idyllic wedding, proving all unhappy families are unhappy in their own way. An enjoyable pre-wedding story that was well-paced and engaging.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy - all thoughts are my own.

[Joanna]

4 stars for me.

Carrie can't wait to marry Tom,together his daughter Lily she plans to enjoy beautiful Italy.When at the swimming pool beautiful woman is watching Lily Carrie get suspicious,but when Tom saw her he pales.It is obvious that he knows who that is and he's keeping some sectrets.Who is that woman and what is her connection to Tom and his daughter?

It was a tension filled read.The secrets and twist were executed in a way that keep me guessing what is going on.To the end you really can never be sure how author will twist the plot.I liked they way Carrie took care of Lily,she really cares for her soon to be step daughter,and it was emotional and sweet.Carrie mother on the other hand get away to lightly with her lies in my opinion.It was a great drama full of secrets and tension,I could not put it down.My first book by this author and hope to read more.

Thank you bookoutre and author for arc,my review is honest and my own.

[ShersBooks]

Some lies come back to bite you. Some are misplaced. And some change the entire path of your future. Emma Robinson explores all of these in The Night Before the Wedding, weaving together the different reasons people hide the truth and the consequences that follow. At the heart of the story is the question: can you trust again once the foundation has cracked?
What stood out most for me were the characters of Carrie and Lily. Their maturity, emotional intelligence, and ability to make decisions for themselves and those they love, gave the story its strongest moments. They felt grounded and real, and their choices carried weight.
Readers who enjoy domestic drama centered on relationships, secrets, and resilience will find plenty to appreciate here.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book. The comments are mine alone.

[Leeann]

So, "The Night Before the Wedding" by Emma Robinson was a mixed bag for me.

I enjoyed the overall storyline overall and the dialogue between the characters was fine. However, Carrie's waffling, her redundant sharing of her inner thoughts and turmoil got pretty tiresome after a while. It got to where I felt like a quarter of the book was just Carrie ruminating and thinking, over and over again.

Overlooking that, "The Night Before the Wedding" was an enjoyable read. I liked how Carrie championed Lily's point of view and autonomy, and I am very much a fan of Carrie coming into her own as a woman, and expressing what she was willing to tolerate and what she was not, particularly in regards to her mother.

3.5 stars, rounded up. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mark]

A double layered story here where Carrie and Tom are in Sorrento (with Tom’s daughter Lily ) and are due to be married….until the past doesn’t only appear but intends to wreck the perfect week

It was clever how the past involved them all but for separate and different reasons but the underlying emotive theme was broadly linked ( hope that makes sense ) really well done and interesting to see how different aspects of the problems affected each of them

A starring role from Carrie’s Mum ( who was
also there ) who was all stiff upper lip and arched shoulders and was a great character to read about and imagine

I liked that there wasn’t a perfect solution to everything and I know in these situations this is way more truthful and likely

Love this authors books, so easy to join the story and be there with them and feel a part of it, enjoyable and realistic

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review]

Set in beautiful Sorrento, Carrie and Tom are due to be married, with just Carrie’s mum and Tom’s daughter with them.

The arrival of someone from Tom’s past shakes him up and when Carrie discovers he hasn’t been completely honest with her, she questions whether marrying him is the right step for her.

This emotional story explores the impact of a broken family on the child and how it helps to shape the adult they become.

Carrie was a very likeable character, but quite weak and a real people pleaser, but when she started to uncover the truth about her own parent’s marriage, I was pleased to see the change in her as she decided to put herself first for once. Her relationship with Tom’s daughter, Lily, was very sweet.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Emma Robinson and Bookouture, for an ARC of this book.

[Jo Fryer]

This is my first time reading Emma Robinson and it won’t be my last. I was expecting a light summer read featuring a beautiful destination wedding in Sorrento, Italy, but it was so much more than that. The small cast of characters were well written and the glimpses of their backstories helped you to understand why they behaved and reacted the way they did to the twists and obstacles that pop up during the five days leading up to the wedding. This is no fluff piece but a love story that focuses on themes of abandonment and mis-truths. If you enjoy the likes of Elin Hildebrand or Beatriz Williams then I’m certain you will enjoy this book. Thank you to NetGalley, Emma Robinson and Bookouture for the ARC.

[Dee Groocock]

Review of advance copy from NetGalley.

Carrie and Tom are in Sorrento preparing for their wedding. With only Tom’s twelve-year-old daughter, Lily, and Carrie’s mum joining them, it will make for an intimate celebration.

When Carrie catches a woman staring at Lily in the swimming pool, her gut realises something isn’t right. Who is this woman and what does she want?

What a great story this is, I was hooked from the start. I liked Carrie’s character, how she was trying to have a good relationship with Lily, building up a friendship rather than being a stepmum.

The relationship between Carrie and her own mum was interesting, and I could see why Carrie had her insecurities.

A story of secrets and lies, which when they come to light, change everything for everyone. A superb read that left me hanging off every word.

[Trina Dixon]

Carrie is in an idyllic setting in Sorrento preparing for her upcoming wedding to Tom. With only her mum and 12 year old step daughter Lily in attendance its going to be very intimate.
Carrie's senses are on full alert though when almost immediately a woman by the pool is acting suspiciously, talking to Lily and staring at Tom. This is made more strange when Lily says the lady knows her dad Tom. He denies this but events come to a head and he has to come clean.
In true Emma Robinson style she's given us another great read, the setting was lovely. I loved how Carrie related to Lily, didn't force herself into the relationship and empathised with the situation as it slightly mirrored her own childhood

[Sabiha]

I absolutely loved The Night Before the Wedding by Emma Robinson—it completely pulled me in from the very start, and I couldn’t put it down. It’s an emotionally layered and suspenseful read that blends relationship drama with just the right amount of mystery.

The characters are well-rounded and feel incredibly realistic, which makes the story even more engaging. Robinson does a great job exploring complex relationship dynamics.

Overall, this is a compelling, character-driven story that will appeal to fans of domestic drama with a touch of suspense. I’d especially recommend it to readers interested in gaining insight into narcissistic personality disorder, as the book offers a thought-provoking look at its impact on relationships.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kathi Brennan]

Carrie arrives in beautiful Sorrento ready to marry the love of her life. Her fiancé, Tom, has thought of everything. When a woman approaches and speaks to Lily, Carrie’s soon to be step-daughter, at the pool things start to go horribly wrong. Who is this woman and what is her interest in Lily? As things unfold, the more things Carrie finds out, the more questions she has.

Carrie is a very likable character. She is no pushover, but she is kind enough to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I enjoyed the way she advocates for Lily, even when she begins to question her relationship with Tom.

The Night Before the Wedding is another great book by Emma Robinson.

Thank you to Netgalley, Emma Robinson and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Angela Michaels]

I would give 3.5 stars for what it is.

Just about anyone can relate to the layers of complication and forgiveness that make up many family relationships, and the idea that parents are doing what they think is best at the time for their child. I could also relate to our FMC, Carrie, in having to see her mother through an adult lens. She has to work through things with her mother from the past, and reconcile herself with the person that her mother is today.

I don’t know that i would say this is as suspenseful of a novel as it was made out to be but it was compelling enough to keep me with it.

This is my first book by the author and i would definitely read more.

Thank you to Emma Robinson, Bookouture, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.