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Bride Without a Groom
Rebecca has chosen the most luscious, five tiered, wedding cake – as featured in Hello! Magazine. The engagement ring that she has selected is celebrity inspired. The wedding singer is on speed dial. He doesn’t usually do Michael Bolton, but as it’s for a first dance he’ll make an exception. Father Maguire is checking dates for the parish church as we speak. The deposit on the white sand honeymoon is paid for in full on Barry’s card. Sure, the resort was good enough for Pierce Brosnan when he tied the knot. She has fallen for an ivory lace couture gown that is to die for. The down payment may require her to sell a left kidney, but it will be worth it. Isn’t that why you have two?
There’s one teeny problem. It’s nothing, really. No need to panic! It’s just that Barry has yet to propose. Says he’s not ready! He can be a bit of a kill joy that way. It’s time to face the harsh reality – she is a bride without a groom.
Truth be told, Barry’s had enough. There’s only so much wedding talk that one man can take. Discovering the credit card statement is the final straw. Now he’s leaving for a conference in Bangkok and frankly, he’s looking forward to the peace and quiet. He says he needs time to think about their relationship. As the Tiger beer flows and the tie loosens, his colleague Shelley is providing more than a shoulder for him to cry on. Maybe Shelley is right. Maybe Rebecca only wants the big day.
Back in Dublin, Rebecca worries. Maybe she has pushed Barry too far this time. Best mates Pam and Emer are on hand for counseling and cocktails. With the help of family, friends and a well stocked drinks cabinet, Rebecca puts her cunning plan together. Operation ‘Win Back Barry’ is in full swing. She needs to convince Barry that she’s not crazy – just crazy about him. But wait… who is the mysterious woman that is so keen to talk to her, and what is it that Barry needs to get off his chest?
There’s one teeny problem. It’s nothing, really. No need to panic! It’s just that Barry has yet to propose. Says he’s not ready! He can be a bit of a kill joy that way. It’s time to face the harsh reality – she is a bride without a groom.
Truth be told, Barry’s had enough. There’s only so much wedding talk that one man can take. Discovering the credit card statement is the final straw. Now he’s leaving for a conference in Bangkok and frankly, he’s looking forward to the peace and quiet. He says he needs time to think about their relationship. As the Tiger beer flows and the tie loosens, his colleague Shelley is providing more than a shoulder for him to cry on. Maybe Shelley is right. Maybe Rebecca only wants the big day.
Back in Dublin, Rebecca worries. Maybe she has pushed Barry too far this time. Best mates Pam and Emer are on hand for counseling and cocktails. With the help of family, friends and a well stocked drinks cabinet, Rebecca puts her cunning plan together. Operation ‘Win Back Barry’ is in full swing. She needs to convince Barry that she’s not crazy – just crazy about him. But wait… who is the mysterious woman that is so keen to talk to her, and what is it that Barry needs to get off his chest?
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First published October 10, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
May 27, 2024
Could not get into this.
Both the plot and characters felt very shallow to me. Didn't particularly gel with any of the characters, all seemed self-obsessed, selfish and generally unlikeable.
Two stars.
Both the plot and characters felt very shallow to me. Didn't particularly gel with any of the characters, all seemed self-obsessed, selfish and generally unlikeable.
Two stars.
July 21, 2015
Oh GOD. This book was awful. When I first started reading it, I thought it was cute. But Rebecca is one of the most selfish characters I've ever met. She's clearly meant to be based on the beloved Rebecca Bloomwood, but they're so far apart it's unreal. The only thing they have in common is their first name. Rebecca was just so vapid, selfish, self-absorbed. Jesus Christ, she didn't even know what country her boyfriend was in, which wound me up no end. She barely showed up to work, coming up with excuse after excuse (ridiculous excuses as well, mind) and I just wanted to punch her in the face.
I kept persevering until I couldn't persevere any more. There's only so much whinging and whining you can put up with, until you want to tell someone to get a grip and Rebecca sorely needed to get a grip. She didn't live in the real world, in fact the real world was barely a speck on her horizon.
I don't actually know how anyone could like or warm to Rebecca. She was not redeemable in the slightest. Eventually I had to give up on this book. I don't mind a bridezilla at all, in fact it can be very entertaining, but Rebecca just didn't care enough about ANYBODY ELSE to get out of her own bubble of selfishness and that is what I hated. Rebecca was too calculating and too much of an idiot for me to ever warm to her. I'm just surprised it took me until halfway through to see that she would never change. Ugh.
I kept persevering until I couldn't persevere any more. There's only so much whinging and whining you can put up with, until you want to tell someone to get a grip and Rebecca sorely needed to get a grip. She didn't live in the real world, in fact the real world was barely a speck on her horizon.
I don't actually know how anyone could like or warm to Rebecca. She was not redeemable in the slightest. Eventually I had to give up on this book. I don't mind a bridezilla at all, in fact it can be very entertaining, but Rebecca just didn't care enough about ANYBODY ELSE to get out of her own bubble of selfishness and that is what I hated. Rebecca was too calculating and too much of an idiot for me to ever warm to her. I'm just surprised it took me until halfway through to see that she would never change. Ugh.
November 30, 2023
This book was recommended to me by a friend who is also a bit of a fan of chick lits. When I started I was enthralled. Amy Lynch was giving Sophie Kinsella vibes, I was giggling to myself and generally really enjoying the book.
This lasted for maybe 50 pages. I realised that Rebecca (the protagonist) was a self obsessed narcissist with no room for personal development. She is as conceited from the very start to very end of the book.
The main hook of the book ends up being a lie and by the end I was ready for it to be over.
This lasted for maybe 50 pages. I realised that Rebecca (the protagonist) was a self obsessed narcissist with no room for personal development. She is as conceited from the very start to very end of the book.
The main hook of the book ends up being a lie and by the end I was ready for it to be over.
July 9, 2015
This book just wasn't for me. I couldn't connect with the main character at all. She seems very shallow from the first start and it only got worse as she described her friends and even her boyfriend. When I got to Barry's chapter and there was foreshadowing of cheating, I had to stop reading. I skimmed the rest, but nothing really struck a cord with me. I'm sure others will enjoy this book; it just wasn't for me.
*Thanks the NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Maze for the ARC+
*Thanks the NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Maze for the ARC+
May 17, 2015
This is such a funny read, I couldn't stop laughing. I loved Rebecca as she is likeable but really funny too. This is a nice easy read that you can just pick up and put down. I would recommend it as a holiday read, I got engaged to my partner at Christmas and I know I would definitely not be anything like Rebecca, even though it was funny to see what she gets up to, I look forward to a quiet and intimate wedding but I did really enjoy this book.
May 17, 2015
Bride Without a Groom is the début novel from Irish author Amy Lynch. I had first heard about it late last year when it had a different cover but now Avon have given it a sparkling make over and Rebecca and her madcap ways are about to be launched onto an unsuspecting public. I normally don't like pink, girly covers but this really is lovely and so apt for the storyline in the book. The title is clever and snappy and right from the get go this book reminded me of both Marian Keyes and Sophie Kinsella. Well reminded me of their earlier books which were always funny and gripping - I find this is not the case any more. Amy obviously loves reading chick-lit/women's fiction and coming from Ireland she has a wealth of women's authors for inspiration and guidance. This love shines through in her writing in what proved to be a light, extremely easy yet strangely unputdownable read that I raced through in two sittings. Yes there are just a few faults but for a début novel Amy has written a book that readers will gobble up caught up in the wacky world of Rebecca.
The book opens as Rebecca is just about to celebrate her 30th birthday. Having been in a relationship with Barry for four years she feels now is the moment, things need to move forward and for sure he is going to propose. When I first read this I thought oh no I had read a book with a very similar opening only a few months ago and I didn't like the book. But quickly my fears were quashed as Bride Without a Groom turned into a totally different enjoyable, quirky read. Rebecca is a snooper and she has found a velvet box so the tension is palpable as she is presented with her birthday present. When she opens it you can literally feel her deflate, all her dreams and preparations are washed away as sitting in the box is a bracelet. This is the last straw for her and a row ensues. You knew both of them loved each other but Barry seemed to have that fear of commitment that so many men in chick lit books have. But could you blame him? Rebecca is the ultimate bridezilla - the honeymoon is booked, the dress has been selected, the wedding scrapbook is bulging at the seams, she even has the parish priest looking up availability. Rebecca really wants 'the champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget' (what a great line) and is so disappointed when Barry fails to deliver. What man wouldn't want to run away under such enormous pressure? I did think to myself are there really women like this out there? Then I remembered all those programmes you see on t.v and Amy has taken elements of all these women and created Rebecca. A woman who knows what she wants but falls apart when she doesn't get her way.
Barry has the perfect opportunity to avoid further confrontation and facing up to his future by escaping on a work trip to Bangkok with the delectable Shelley. Queue emotional breakdown from Rebecca as she left alone and goes on an emotional downward spiral with the help of takeaways and copious amounts of alcohol. Rebecca's friends Pam and Emer try to help her out of her fog of misery but when your dreams and long term plans have so cruelly gone off kilter you just want to wallow in your pj's. Not hearing from Barry only further ensures Rebecca upset. This bit of the book was good at first but it went on way too long. There were too many pages of Rebecca sitting at home eating and drinking and then going on spending sprees. Ok in the middle of this her night out with Pam was pure classic and the 'incident ' in the supermarket was so vivid and to be honest my worst nightmare but after that there was too much repetition. Rebecca seemed to drink to excess, suffer the next day and make up the lamest excuses not to go to work.
I felt this was the only lull in the book and if it had been cut shorter it wouldn't have bothered me. Also her mum and dad were really under utilised the typical Irish mammy and daddy can provide so many classic laughable moments but for me not enough in this case. One more minor gripe from me but believe me as these complaints are really minor and my own personal opinion because overall the book was really good. But would international readers really get all the Irish references? I mean I did but that's because I live here and they so worked for me in the book. I don't think people would know what Fair City or the RTE Guide was or who Gay Byrne is? So maybe have more well known references in future books. But as I said this was just me.
Rebecca and Barry really are the polar opposites to each other but they did have a deep affection and connection to each other even if Rebecca does ram down her wedding expectations down everyone's throats.They really reminded me of Becky Bloomwood and Luke Brandon. As in Rebecca goes overboard with everything without seeing the consequences of her actions and Barry is the long suffering partner who attempts to keep things in check. At one point I couldn't make Rebecca out, yes she was a wedding addict but at the same time she wasn't dim so why couldn't she have opened up to Barry how she really felt about everything? Ok so this would have made for a much shorter book but if this had happened the angle with Barry and Shelley could have been developed a lot more. Admittedly for a thirty year odd she did need to act her age and start taking some responsibility for herself and her actions. If you want something in the world you really have to go out and get it and be honest in doing so. Interspersed throughout the book are chapters from Barry's point of view which was great to see, as all too often the men in this genre are never heard from and here it enabled me to think ok maybe this is not all Barry's fault. He was pushed away and if pressure is piled upon men they can act in strange ways and do things they will certainly regret. Having spent quite a bit of time detailing Rebecca and her anger at Barry the ending for me was too rushed and I felt the author wanted it to be longer but had a word limit as such. But in contrast to this maybe it will provide for a future book about Rebecca because to me there is more in this story to be told.
Amy has taken all that she loves about chick-lit, rom-com books and the modern day Twitter and Facebook and celebrity crazed age and ploughed it very successfully into this book. Her writing is sharp, witty and bang on and laugh out loud funny. One minute I was cringing at Rebecca's exploits the next chuckling away to myself as bridezilla took over. Amy should be very proud of this book and if she keeps writing in this way she is sure to have a long career ahead her. It's great to have another Irish woman on the writing scene, dare I say a certain author's crown is in fear of being snatched away by Amy. Only the future will tell but in the meantime enjoy this hilarious take on the phenomenon of the bridezilla and their search for perfection for their wedding.
The book opens as Rebecca is just about to celebrate her 30th birthday. Having been in a relationship with Barry for four years she feels now is the moment, things need to move forward and for sure he is going to propose. When I first read this I thought oh no I had read a book with a very similar opening only a few months ago and I didn't like the book. But quickly my fears were quashed as Bride Without a Groom turned into a totally different enjoyable, quirky read. Rebecca is a snooper and she has found a velvet box so the tension is palpable as she is presented with her birthday present. When she opens it you can literally feel her deflate, all her dreams and preparations are washed away as sitting in the box is a bracelet. This is the last straw for her and a row ensues. You knew both of them loved each other but Barry seemed to have that fear of commitment that so many men in chick lit books have. But could you blame him? Rebecca is the ultimate bridezilla - the honeymoon is booked, the dress has been selected, the wedding scrapbook is bulging at the seams, she even has the parish priest looking up availability. Rebecca really wants 'the champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget' (what a great line) and is so disappointed when Barry fails to deliver. What man wouldn't want to run away under such enormous pressure? I did think to myself are there really women like this out there? Then I remembered all those programmes you see on t.v and Amy has taken elements of all these women and created Rebecca. A woman who knows what she wants but falls apart when she doesn't get her way.
Barry has the perfect opportunity to avoid further confrontation and facing up to his future by escaping on a work trip to Bangkok with the delectable Shelley. Queue emotional breakdown from Rebecca as she left alone and goes on an emotional downward spiral with the help of takeaways and copious amounts of alcohol. Rebecca's friends Pam and Emer try to help her out of her fog of misery but when your dreams and long term plans have so cruelly gone off kilter you just want to wallow in your pj's. Not hearing from Barry only further ensures Rebecca upset. This bit of the book was good at first but it went on way too long. There were too many pages of Rebecca sitting at home eating and drinking and then going on spending sprees. Ok in the middle of this her night out with Pam was pure classic and the 'incident ' in the supermarket was so vivid and to be honest my worst nightmare but after that there was too much repetition. Rebecca seemed to drink to excess, suffer the next day and make up the lamest excuses not to go to work.
I felt this was the only lull in the book and if it had been cut shorter it wouldn't have bothered me. Also her mum and dad were really under utilised the typical Irish mammy and daddy can provide so many classic laughable moments but for me not enough in this case. One more minor gripe from me but believe me as these complaints are really minor and my own personal opinion because overall the book was really good. But would international readers really get all the Irish references? I mean I did but that's because I live here and they so worked for me in the book. I don't think people would know what Fair City or the RTE Guide was or who Gay Byrne is? So maybe have more well known references in future books. But as I said this was just me.
Rebecca and Barry really are the polar opposites to each other but they did have a deep affection and connection to each other even if Rebecca does ram down her wedding expectations down everyone's throats.They really reminded me of Becky Bloomwood and Luke Brandon. As in Rebecca goes overboard with everything without seeing the consequences of her actions and Barry is the long suffering partner who attempts to keep things in check. At one point I couldn't make Rebecca out, yes she was a wedding addict but at the same time she wasn't dim so why couldn't she have opened up to Barry how she really felt about everything? Ok so this would have made for a much shorter book but if this had happened the angle with Barry and Shelley could have been developed a lot more. Admittedly for a thirty year odd she did need to act her age and start taking some responsibility for herself and her actions. If you want something in the world you really have to go out and get it and be honest in doing so. Interspersed throughout the book are chapters from Barry's point of view which was great to see, as all too often the men in this genre are never heard from and here it enabled me to think ok maybe this is not all Barry's fault. He was pushed away and if pressure is piled upon men they can act in strange ways and do things they will certainly regret. Having spent quite a bit of time detailing Rebecca and her anger at Barry the ending for me was too rushed and I felt the author wanted it to be longer but had a word limit as such. But in contrast to this maybe it will provide for a future book about Rebecca because to me there is more in this story to be told.
Amy has taken all that she loves about chick-lit, rom-com books and the modern day Twitter and Facebook and celebrity crazed age and ploughed it very successfully into this book. Her writing is sharp, witty and bang on and laugh out loud funny. One minute I was cringing at Rebecca's exploits the next chuckling away to myself as bridezilla took over. Amy should be very proud of this book and if she keeps writing in this way she is sure to have a long career ahead her. It's great to have another Irish woman on the writing scene, dare I say a certain author's crown is in fear of being snatched away by Amy. Only the future will tell but in the meantime enjoy this hilarious take on the phenomenon of the bridezilla and their search for perfection for their wedding.
November 18, 2015
To start, I promise I will try to get through this without too much gushing, as I really, really enjoyed this book. So here we go! Bride Without A Groom starts with the pre-empting of a proposal that doesn’t come, followed by the dramatics of one who believed their happy ever moment had arrived only to have their hopes shot down and stamped out. We quickly find out that one of the reasons for the hysterics is that our lead, Rebecca Browne, has already organised the planning of the bulk of the wedding, down to the tiniest details.
Rebecca reminds me of a mixture of Elle (Legally Blond), Becky Bloomwood (Confessions of a Shopaholic) and Cher (Clueless), in that she’s what would traditionally what would be viewed as selfish, and yet you can’t not like her (see note *), you just clickety clack along with her (my impression of high heels there, NOT a train), as aghast as her when things don’t go her way.
Her boyfriend, Barry, is what some people may call gutless (I would be one of those people) and yet you can easily jump between empathizing (sympathising!) with him and not liking him at all. This is consistant with the characters in Bride Without a Groom which are generally done very well, and play their part in leading you to various conclusions or just surprising you.
This book felt like it was made for me, or maybe it was just built for my generation. It is set in Dublin and so we quickly hear names such as Brown Thomas’ (large exclusive department store) and Dundrum Town Centre (large exclusive shopping centre). On the entertainment front we hear of Fair city (Irish version of Eastenders which is a british soap opera where nothing goes the way of the always unhappy residents of Albert Square), Legally Blonde, Dirty Dancing, Patrick Swayze and Michael Bolton and Top Gear (Barry not Rebecca), with a hilarious letter sent when she realises The Young and The Restless is due to be cancelled. A point to note is that although the settings and backdrops are mostly Irish, this book is definitely translateable, I think it could be popular anywhere in the world.
One thing I would say to you would be in terms of character development, as in the journey the character goes through to get to a point whre ethey might figure something out that changes themselves. There is none. None at all. But, before this bothers you, look at the bottom of this review. I’ll give you a hint, the rating I gave it was 4.75/5. So I took off .25/5 for that fact, because I was waiting for a certain something to happen and it didn’t, and it bothered me just a little but I would assume that there will be a sequel and if there is it doesn’t really matter (if there isn’t, yes, it will continue to bother me just because I’m like that!). To date this is possibly one of my standout books for 2015. When someone’s looking for a commercial, light read that will make them laugh and keep them interested, this is a serious contender (for the right person, mind, again, see my note marked *)
Rating: 4.75/5
*This is a marmite one. If you look at the reviews on this you’ll see it’s a love it or hate it type of book and people seemed to find Rebecca to be a love her or hate her type of character. The people who didn’t like it/ her went for it tooth and nail, but to be honest if you take a look at the cover, blurb and the first few pages you’ll know. I love it. I cannot gush about it enough and as I read it I had at least three people in mind who would flip for it. It is pure unadulterated chick lit at its best!
Rebecca reminds me of a mixture of Elle (Legally Blond), Becky Bloomwood (Confessions of a Shopaholic) and Cher (Clueless), in that she’s what would traditionally what would be viewed as selfish, and yet you can’t not like her (see note *), you just clickety clack along with her (my impression of high heels there, NOT a train), as aghast as her when things don’t go her way.
Her boyfriend, Barry, is what some people may call gutless (I would be one of those people) and yet you can easily jump between empathizing (sympathising!) with him and not liking him at all. This is consistant with the characters in Bride Without a Groom which are generally done very well, and play their part in leading you to various conclusions or just surprising you.
This book felt like it was made for me, or maybe it was just built for my generation. It is set in Dublin and so we quickly hear names such as Brown Thomas’ (large exclusive department store) and Dundrum Town Centre (large exclusive shopping centre). On the entertainment front we hear of Fair city (Irish version of Eastenders which is a british soap opera where nothing goes the way of the always unhappy residents of Albert Square), Legally Blonde, Dirty Dancing, Patrick Swayze and Michael Bolton and Top Gear (Barry not Rebecca), with a hilarious letter sent when she realises The Young and The Restless is due to be cancelled. A point to note is that although the settings and backdrops are mostly Irish, this book is definitely translateable, I think it could be popular anywhere in the world.
One thing I would say to you would be in terms of character development, as in the journey the character goes through to get to a point whre ethey might figure something out that changes themselves. There is none. None at all. But, before this bothers you, look at the bottom of this review. I’ll give you a hint, the rating I gave it was 4.75/5. So I took off .25/5 for that fact, because I was waiting for a certain something to happen and it didn’t, and it bothered me just a little but I would assume that there will be a sequel and if there is it doesn’t really matter (if there isn’t, yes, it will continue to bother me just because I’m like that!). To date this is possibly one of my standout books for 2015. When someone’s looking for a commercial, light read that will make them laugh and keep them interested, this is a serious contender (for the right person, mind, again, see my note marked *)
Rating: 4.75/5
*This is a marmite one. If you look at the reviews on this you’ll see it’s a love it or hate it type of book and people seemed to find Rebecca to be a love her or hate her type of character. The people who didn’t like it/ her went for it tooth and nail, but to be honest if you take a look at the cover, blurb and the first few pages you’ll know. I love it. I cannot gush about it enough and as I read it I had at least three people in mind who would flip for it. It is pure unadulterated chick lit at its best!
November 25, 2015
Man, I loved this book! I chortled and giggled my way through all 300 odd pages. How could I not after floating in the head of one self-absorbed, dilettante named Rebecca on a mission to land herself a husband. As for the target of her ambitions, Barry the lawyer, well, he was simply outgunned. The poor man had to beat a hasty retreat to Bangkok, (or was it Hong Kong, or Taiwan?) in order to muster his defense against Rebecca's 'you have to marry me' onslaught. In Barry's absence there's hope that Rebecca would see the light, which she attempts through a veil of self-indulgence, fried-foods and gin & tonics. But Rebecca isn't alone in her quest as she has the unwavering support of her BFF, the wealthy Emer.
Every dastardly challenge is rewarded with a mani-pedi, spa retreat, body wax, spray-on tan, and another gin & tonic; in other words Rebecca's world is deliciously superficial. And that's the brilliance of author Lynch's writing, because as a reader you still wish for Rebecca to get her man despite her obvious failings.
As for writing style, it's so successful rendered in the first person, from Rebecca's perspective, that I could not help but become fully engaged in her trials and tribulations. The dialog was sassy, snappy and spot on in a British/Irish kind of way (which I found thoroughly refreshing). I especially enjoyed it when Amy Lynch lifted the lid on the inner workings of Rebecca's mind; I so enjoyed the ruminations and rationales made by this hopeful bride in her effort pursue her life's single purpose--to get herself a husband. Poor Barry never had a chance! There is no doubt I'd be delighted to read Amy Lynch's next book because of her ability to both charm and amuse me. A fun, fun read.
Every dastardly challenge is rewarded with a mani-pedi, spa retreat, body wax, spray-on tan, and another gin & tonic; in other words Rebecca's world is deliciously superficial. And that's the brilliance of author Lynch's writing, because as a reader you still wish for Rebecca to get her man despite her obvious failings.
As for writing style, it's so successful rendered in the first person, from Rebecca's perspective, that I could not help but become fully engaged in her trials and tribulations. The dialog was sassy, snappy and spot on in a British/Irish kind of way (which I found thoroughly refreshing). I especially enjoyed it when Amy Lynch lifted the lid on the inner workings of Rebecca's mind; I so enjoyed the ruminations and rationales made by this hopeful bride in her effort pursue her life's single purpose--to get herself a husband. Poor Barry never had a chance! There is no doubt I'd be delighted to read Amy Lynch's next book because of her ability to both charm and amuse me. A fun, fun read.
September 19, 2015
What an absolutely laugh-out-loud, light-hearted read - chock full of trademark Irish humour and an amazing debut from Amy Lynch. This is a book to lose yourself in and not take too seriously as I can see that Rebecca could annoy a lot of people, but I thought she was hilarious. This book would make a great film!
Rebecca and Barry seem completely mis-matched but that is the beauty of their relationship as their individual traits complete one (slightly crazy) whole. Rebecca reminds me a bit of Elle, Reese Witherspoon's character, in Legally Blonde - she is so pink and bubbly and her heart is in the right place, even though her hand is in Barry's wallet. Rebecca is completely harmless but so superficial and selfish - as highlighted by Barry's business trip when she has no idea where he has gone, the location changes whenever she mentions it and I never got tired of it - I laughed every time!
It did sometimes wonder whether Rebecca really loved Barry or just wanted to be a bride. I think perhaps she got there in the end when she finally showed that she cared more about her relationship than her appearance.
All in all, this book was real good fun and I felt an important message came across - weddings can be elaborate and expensive but it's the marriage that's important. I'm really looking forward to more books by Amy Lynch.
I picked this up from Amazon when it was on promotion for free.
Rebecca and Barry seem completely mis-matched but that is the beauty of their relationship as their individual traits complete one (slightly crazy) whole. Rebecca reminds me a bit of Elle, Reese Witherspoon's character, in Legally Blonde - she is so pink and bubbly and her heart is in the right place, even though her hand is in Barry's wallet. Rebecca is completely harmless but so superficial and selfish - as highlighted by Barry's business trip when she has no idea where he has gone, the location changes whenever she mentions it and I never got tired of it - I laughed every time!
It did sometimes wonder whether Rebecca really loved Barry or just wanted to be a bride. I think perhaps she got there in the end when she finally showed that she cared more about her relationship than her appearance.
All in all, this book was real good fun and I felt an important message came across - weddings can be elaborate and expensive but it's the marriage that's important. I'm really looking forward to more books by Amy Lynch.
I picked this up from Amazon when it was on promotion for free.
July 8, 2015
Thanks to the author Amy Lynch for providing me a copy of her book to read in exchange for an honest review...
When the story opens we meet Rebecca who is planning and organsing her own dream wedding. She's so obsessed that she already has her Vera Wang dress picked out, the honeymoon chosen and a deposit put down, the only thing that's missing is a ring, she's not even engaged to her boyfriend, Barry. She's practically driven Barry away to the other side of the world for a business meeting with her constant wedding nagging and we follow Rebecca through the ups and downs of her life as she tries to get her boyfriend whom she loves so much to commit and up the aisle for her perfect day.
I did like this book and it did make me laugh in parts but I felt it was a little too long, I couldn't warm to the main character and there were some parts that I felt were also a bit unrealistic. The main character was whingy, needy & got on my nerves at times throughout the book. While I can honestly only say that I liked the book, I do think that people who like to hear stories or watch shows like I Found The Gown, Say Yes To The Dress or Bridezillas will love this book.
When the story opens we meet Rebecca who is planning and organsing her own dream wedding. She's so obsessed that she already has her Vera Wang dress picked out, the honeymoon chosen and a deposit put down, the only thing that's missing is a ring, she's not even engaged to her boyfriend, Barry. She's practically driven Barry away to the other side of the world for a business meeting with her constant wedding nagging and we follow Rebecca through the ups and downs of her life as she tries to get her boyfriend whom she loves so much to commit and up the aisle for her perfect day.
I did like this book and it did make me laugh in parts but I felt it was a little too long, I couldn't warm to the main character and there were some parts that I felt were also a bit unrealistic. The main character was whingy, needy & got on my nerves at times throughout the book. While I can honestly only say that I liked the book, I do think that people who like to hear stories or watch shows like I Found The Gown, Say Yes To The Dress or Bridezillas will love this book.
June 23, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The chatty writing style had me engrossed from page one.
Rebecca is desperate to marry boyfriend Barry. Unfortunately Barry isn't so keen. Not to be deterred, Rebecca books the honeymoon and orders her beloved Vera Wang dress, refusing to let the small matter of the 'non proposal' stand in her way. When matters come to a head, and Barry leaves the country on a business trip, Rebecca slumps into an alcohol and calorie-laden depression. During this time the shower doesn't see much action!
Much of the book is set during Barry's absence, and also features his viewpoint too. I laughed and cringed my way through this well-written book. I couldn't predict the ending, and was in fact surprised. I'm looking forward to reading more from Amy Lynch.
Rebecca is desperate to marry boyfriend Barry. Unfortunately Barry isn't so keen. Not to be deterred, Rebecca books the honeymoon and orders her beloved Vera Wang dress, refusing to let the small matter of the 'non proposal' stand in her way. When matters come to a head, and Barry leaves the country on a business trip, Rebecca slumps into an alcohol and calorie-laden depression. During this time the shower doesn't see much action!
Much of the book is set during Barry's absence, and also features his viewpoint too. I laughed and cringed my way through this well-written book. I couldn't predict the ending, and was in fact surprised. I'm looking forward to reading more from Amy Lynch.
March 3, 2015
OK, 'chick-lit' isn't my usual genre of choice, but I'm so glad I picked up this one.
Ms. Lynch is a very talented writer with a marvelous sense of humor. There are literally laughs on every page of this book and I enjoyed it a great deal.
The book gives great insight into the workings of a young woman's mind and does so in a hilarious way. Well done.
Ms. Lynch is a very talented writer with a marvelous sense of humor. There are literally laughs on every page of this book and I enjoyed it a great deal.
The book gives great insight into the workings of a young woman's mind and does so in a hilarious way. Well done.
June 23, 2020
What I like about this book were only the prologue and the ending. I don't really like this "Rebecca" character. Throughout this book, all I read were how childish and "whiny" she was. She overspend her boyfriend's credit card, threw tantrums when things don't go her way and blamed on everything but herself. At some point, I feel a little mad and keep questioning "why did she had to be like this?". One thing I admired about her was that she volunteered at an animal shelter. That's all. I just wish that she could, at least be less a diva, but yeah in the end, it was still the same.
May 24, 2015
Originally reviewed for Bookaholic Confessions
When we first meet Rebecca Browne she is about to turn thirty. Rebecca’s not worried about hitting a landmark Birthday though, ohhh no. After all, her boyfriend of four years Barry is taking her for dinner at a swanky restaurant AND he’s about to pop the question! Rebecca is certain of it…So sure in fact that she’s paid for the deposit on the honeymoon (well, she’s put it on Barry’s credit card…), been for various fittings for her dress and even arranged for the vicar to come round to discuss potential dates. All that is to be done now is for Barry to do the honours and get down on one knee to present her with…A BRACELET. A BRACELET!?
Yes…A bracelet. You see, the thing is, Barry’s just not ready for marriage yet. Someday, maybe, but just not yet…
However, Rebecca isn’t the type of girl to let the minor details bring her down. An avid subscriber to Confetti magazine, Rebecca isn’t going to let a tiny thing like not being proposed to ruin her plans.
Only there comes a point when these plans start to cheese Barry off. Quite a bit. After the pair have an argument he sets off in a business trip to Bangkok looking forward to spending some time in a wedding-free zone. Whilst staying in a different time zone Barry becomes friendly with one of his colleagues, Shelley, who tries to convince him that Rebecca is a total drama queen who is only interested in wearing a white dress.
Meanwhile Rebecca is in a panic back home and consuming her own bodyweight in chocolate. Maybe she has gone a bit too far; after all she loves Barry. She just needs to convince him that she loves him MORE than the dreams she’s harboured all life about her big day…
Bride Without a Groom was one of those books that I knew I was going to simply love right from the off. It’s the kind of book that will make you laugh-until-you-snort and books like that are always winners for me!
With Rebecca, Amy Lynch has taken a ‘Bridezilla’ role to the extreme. Every girl fantasies about her big day, right? Just not perhaps to the extent that they’ve been for numerous dress fittings but haven’t actually been proposed to yet. I will admit that I initially thought Rebecca wasn’t going to be the most likeable of characters (she has tendencies to be an OTT, drama queen whose number one priority is herself…but no one’s perfect, right!?) Whilst they might not be the characteristics you’d look for in a friend they make absolutely cracking characteristics for the lead character of a novel. Rebecca was a DREAM to read about and I loved her craziness, I loved her impulsiveness, I loved her sheer outrageousness and I loved the bare-faced cheek of the woman. She was simply hilarious, but there were times when I wanted to give her a good shake and/or was cringing on her behalf. She wasn’t all bad though, I loved the side to her that volunteered at the animal shelter, she loves dogs and she’s quite simply a girl who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go out there and get it. Whilst she may have been extreme she was the kind of girl that everyone will be able to relate to in some shape or form, however minor and say what you like about her – she is certainly entertaining!
The rose-tinted daydreams that Rebecca often indulged in reminded me of another chick-lit heroine of mine and that is Sophie Kinsella’s Becky Bloomwood. (They both certainly like to shop…) Her thoughts on her neighbours, her brother, her work colleagues, just the world in general were pretty darn hilarious.
In fact a lot of Amy Lynch’s writing reminded me of Sophie Kinsella’s early Shopaholic books. This is possibly the highest form of praise I could ever give to a book being a die-hard Shopaholic fan.
I really enjoyed the way that we get alternating chapters between Rebecca and Barry, rather than just hearing from one character’s perspective. I felt that this helped me to warm to both of the characters and helps you to understand how Rebecca’s wedding-obsession is actually affecting them both. Plus, we get to find out exactly what Barry gets up to his trip to Bangkok, so unlike Rebecca we’re not sat at home wondering (and consuming vast amounts of crisps…)
As a chick lit fanatic, I found Amy Lynch’s writing to be such a brilliant fit for my favourite genre. It’s laugh-out-loud, realistic, clever and accomplished. Amy got so many things right about this story; the concept, the characters, the Irish settings, the classic Irish dialogue and references and it made for such a fun, exciting and sweet story which will leave you wanting more. I really, really hope that we do get another book about Rebecca because as much as I thought I’d never say this…I miss her already!
Fun, light-hearted and a must-read for any chick-lit fan, Amy Lynch has produced a really strong debut that is certain to leave you with a smile on your face (and possibly make you slurp your tea everywhere with laughter…)
When we first meet Rebecca Browne she is about to turn thirty. Rebecca’s not worried about hitting a landmark Birthday though, ohhh no. After all, her boyfriend of four years Barry is taking her for dinner at a swanky restaurant AND he’s about to pop the question! Rebecca is certain of it…So sure in fact that she’s paid for the deposit on the honeymoon (well, she’s put it on Barry’s credit card…), been for various fittings for her dress and even arranged for the vicar to come round to discuss potential dates. All that is to be done now is for Barry to do the honours and get down on one knee to present her with…A BRACELET. A BRACELET!?
Yes…A bracelet. You see, the thing is, Barry’s just not ready for marriage yet. Someday, maybe, but just not yet…
However, Rebecca isn’t the type of girl to let the minor details bring her down. An avid subscriber to Confetti magazine, Rebecca isn’t going to let a tiny thing like not being proposed to ruin her plans.
Only there comes a point when these plans start to cheese Barry off. Quite a bit. After the pair have an argument he sets off in a business trip to Bangkok looking forward to spending some time in a wedding-free zone. Whilst staying in a different time zone Barry becomes friendly with one of his colleagues, Shelley, who tries to convince him that Rebecca is a total drama queen who is only interested in wearing a white dress.
Meanwhile Rebecca is in a panic back home and consuming her own bodyweight in chocolate. Maybe she has gone a bit too far; after all she loves Barry. She just needs to convince him that she loves him MORE than the dreams she’s harboured all life about her big day…
Bride Without a Groom was one of those books that I knew I was going to simply love right from the off. It’s the kind of book that will make you laugh-until-you-snort and books like that are always winners for me!
With Rebecca, Amy Lynch has taken a ‘Bridezilla’ role to the extreme. Every girl fantasies about her big day, right? Just not perhaps to the extent that they’ve been for numerous dress fittings but haven’t actually been proposed to yet. I will admit that I initially thought Rebecca wasn’t going to be the most likeable of characters (she has tendencies to be an OTT, drama queen whose number one priority is herself…but no one’s perfect, right!?) Whilst they might not be the characteristics you’d look for in a friend they make absolutely cracking characteristics for the lead character of a novel. Rebecca was a DREAM to read about and I loved her craziness, I loved her impulsiveness, I loved her sheer outrageousness and I loved the bare-faced cheek of the woman. She was simply hilarious, but there were times when I wanted to give her a good shake and/or was cringing on her behalf. She wasn’t all bad though, I loved the side to her that volunteered at the animal shelter, she loves dogs and she’s quite simply a girl who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go out there and get it. Whilst she may have been extreme she was the kind of girl that everyone will be able to relate to in some shape or form, however minor and say what you like about her – she is certainly entertaining!
The rose-tinted daydreams that Rebecca often indulged in reminded me of another chick-lit heroine of mine and that is Sophie Kinsella’s Becky Bloomwood. (They both certainly like to shop…) Her thoughts on her neighbours, her brother, her work colleagues, just the world in general were pretty darn hilarious.
In fact a lot of Amy Lynch’s writing reminded me of Sophie Kinsella’s early Shopaholic books. This is possibly the highest form of praise I could ever give to a book being a die-hard Shopaholic fan.
I really enjoyed the way that we get alternating chapters between Rebecca and Barry, rather than just hearing from one character’s perspective. I felt that this helped me to warm to both of the characters and helps you to understand how Rebecca’s wedding-obsession is actually affecting them both. Plus, we get to find out exactly what Barry gets up to his trip to Bangkok, so unlike Rebecca we’re not sat at home wondering (and consuming vast amounts of crisps…)
As a chick lit fanatic, I found Amy Lynch’s writing to be such a brilliant fit for my favourite genre. It’s laugh-out-loud, realistic, clever and accomplished. Amy got so many things right about this story; the concept, the characters, the Irish settings, the classic Irish dialogue and references and it made for such a fun, exciting and sweet story which will leave you wanting more. I really, really hope that we do get another book about Rebecca because as much as I thought I’d never say this…I miss her already!
Fun, light-hearted and a must-read for any chick-lit fan, Amy Lynch has produced a really strong debut that is certain to leave you with a smile on your face (and possibly make you slurp your tea everywhere with laughter…)
February 2, 2020
A lighthearted book about the perfectly planned wedding. with just the tiniest hitch that the groom has failed to propose. Rebecca has planned her fairytale wedding since she was a little girl - what could possibly go wrong. An easy, amusing read. A debut novel- and I will look out for more by this author.
May 18, 2015
Originally posted on http://beccasbooooks.blogspot.co.uk/
In Amy Lynch's Bride without a Groom, we meet Rebecca Browne. Now, I'm not quite sure whether I've ever met a character quite like Rebecca before. Something tells me that I haven't. Rebecca is a complete diva, and I'm not using the term lightly here, book folk. She is a diva through and through, and despite not knowing whether myself and Rebecca were going to get along throughout the duration of reading this book, by the end, I didn't really want to say goodbye to her. She is, without a doubt, one of the most entertaining, slightly surreal, over-the-top, sometimes rather stupid, a little bit selfish characters that I've ever come across. There were times during reading when I couldn't quite believe something that Rebecca had said or done, times when I covered my face with my hands and groaned because I wasn't sure what the consequences of her actions were going to be. There were also times where I absolutely laughed out loud, unable to disguise my amusement, and times when I actually felt a bit sorry for Rebecca and her warped fantasies. She was hilarious and made my reading of this book a complete and utter joy!
As the title suggests, Rebecca Browne really does become a bride without a groom. She is obsessed with weddings. In fact, I've never met a character more obsessed with getting married than this one. From the five-tier wedding cake to the Vera Wang dress, Rebecca has strict ideas of what she wants, and exactly how her big day will play out. She has wedding magazines galore, she's already booked the honeymoon and Barry hasn't even proposed, but anyway, she's got it all sorted, so it's fine. Except, Barry, Rebecca's other half, begins to feel slightly overwhelmed with all of the wedding talk. He isn't quite ready yet, and quite frankly, he's beginning to get on Rebecca's nerves. She doesn't understand what it is exactly that Barry is waiting for! Gradually, Barry blows and the two of them end up having an almighty blow-out, right before Barry jets off on a business trip with work, leaving Rebecca alone, drowning in wedding plans.
During Barry's absence, Rebecca goes into meltdown. From her usually glamorous self, she becomes a bit of a slob, feasting on junk food while lounging on the sofa, feeling sorry for herself and pining over Barry. I laughed so much throughout this book, I really cannot even tell you. Amy Lynch has such a smart, witty way with words, passing these along to her character and sprinkling them with the most hilarious humour and sarcasm I've come across in a long time. What I loved was Rebecca's internal monologue. She had the most entertaining thoughts, whether that be about her friend's children, or her boss at work, or the nosey neighbour next door who just couldn't seem to leave her alone and keep her nose out of Rebecca's business. Rebecca wasn't afraid to say what she really thought, and during her time of meltdown, we get to see her interact with her parents and her two best friends as well. Which, again, like the rest of the novel, was absolutely hilarious.
Something else that bumped up my enjoyment of Bride without a Groom by Amy Lynch was the use of narrative within the book. When with Rebecca, we're reading from her first person narrative, but when with Barry, we're reading from third. I loved this so much, it really separated the two characters. Of course, when the unthinkable happens, it felt brilliant to be able to be all the way over in Bangkok with Barry, when Rebecca was back at home in Dublin, sleeping soundly. I loved pinging back and forth between the two characters. It gave me such a fantastic insight into not only Rebecca, but Barry as a separate character, too.
Bride without a Groom was just brilliant, inside and out. Rebecca was such an enjoyable character to spend time with during my reading of this book, and I honestly couldn't wait to see what the crazy little Dublin diva did next! It was entertaining, funny and so, so different to anything I've read before!
Becca's Books is awarding the fabulous Bride without a Groom by Amy Lynch with FOUR SCRUMMY CUPCAKES! This is a laugh-out-loud story that will have you giggling away, way past midnight.
In Amy Lynch's Bride without a Groom, we meet Rebecca Browne. Now, I'm not quite sure whether I've ever met a character quite like Rebecca before. Something tells me that I haven't. Rebecca is a complete diva, and I'm not using the term lightly here, book folk. She is a diva through and through, and despite not knowing whether myself and Rebecca were going to get along throughout the duration of reading this book, by the end, I didn't really want to say goodbye to her. She is, without a doubt, one of the most entertaining, slightly surreal, over-the-top, sometimes rather stupid, a little bit selfish characters that I've ever come across. There were times during reading when I couldn't quite believe something that Rebecca had said or done, times when I covered my face with my hands and groaned because I wasn't sure what the consequences of her actions were going to be. There were also times where I absolutely laughed out loud, unable to disguise my amusement, and times when I actually felt a bit sorry for Rebecca and her warped fantasies. She was hilarious and made my reading of this book a complete and utter joy!
As the title suggests, Rebecca Browne really does become a bride without a groom. She is obsessed with weddings. In fact, I've never met a character more obsessed with getting married than this one. From the five-tier wedding cake to the Vera Wang dress, Rebecca has strict ideas of what she wants, and exactly how her big day will play out. She has wedding magazines galore, she's already booked the honeymoon and Barry hasn't even proposed, but anyway, she's got it all sorted, so it's fine. Except, Barry, Rebecca's other half, begins to feel slightly overwhelmed with all of the wedding talk. He isn't quite ready yet, and quite frankly, he's beginning to get on Rebecca's nerves. She doesn't understand what it is exactly that Barry is waiting for! Gradually, Barry blows and the two of them end up having an almighty blow-out, right before Barry jets off on a business trip with work, leaving Rebecca alone, drowning in wedding plans.
During Barry's absence, Rebecca goes into meltdown. From her usually glamorous self, she becomes a bit of a slob, feasting on junk food while lounging on the sofa, feeling sorry for herself and pining over Barry. I laughed so much throughout this book, I really cannot even tell you. Amy Lynch has such a smart, witty way with words, passing these along to her character and sprinkling them with the most hilarious humour and sarcasm I've come across in a long time. What I loved was Rebecca's internal monologue. She had the most entertaining thoughts, whether that be about her friend's children, or her boss at work, or the nosey neighbour next door who just couldn't seem to leave her alone and keep her nose out of Rebecca's business. Rebecca wasn't afraid to say what she really thought, and during her time of meltdown, we get to see her interact with her parents and her two best friends as well. Which, again, like the rest of the novel, was absolutely hilarious.
Something else that bumped up my enjoyment of Bride without a Groom by Amy Lynch was the use of narrative within the book. When with Rebecca, we're reading from her first person narrative, but when with Barry, we're reading from third. I loved this so much, it really separated the two characters. Of course, when the unthinkable happens, it felt brilliant to be able to be all the way over in Bangkok with Barry, when Rebecca was back at home in Dublin, sleeping soundly. I loved pinging back and forth between the two characters. It gave me such a fantastic insight into not only Rebecca, but Barry as a separate character, too.
Bride without a Groom was just brilliant, inside and out. Rebecca was such an enjoyable character to spend time with during my reading of this book, and I honestly couldn't wait to see what the crazy little Dublin diva did next! It was entertaining, funny and so, so different to anything I've read before!
Becca's Books is awarding the fabulous Bride without a Groom by Amy Lynch with FOUR SCRUMMY CUPCAKES! This is a laugh-out-loud story that will have you giggling away, way past midnight.
December 17, 2023
what the actual fuck was this??
I have never read a book and genuinely despised the main character. rebecca was everything i hate in a person on paper, throughout the whole book, everything was “woe is me” and “i deserve everything” and “suck my dick because i’m richer than you”
you wont find me within a ten mile radius from this book.
total shit.
(justice for barry and shelley”
I have never read a book and genuinely despised the main character. rebecca was everything i hate in a person on paper, throughout the whole book, everything was “woe is me” and “i deserve everything” and “suck my dick because i’m richer than you”
you wont find me within a ten mile radius from this book.
total shit.
(justice for barry and shelley”
October 15, 2014
Thank you to Amy Lynch for sending a copy of this book to me for review.
I wasn't supposed to finish this book quite as quickly as I did! This was another of my books that I was reading when I didn't have my paperback with me or for when it’s quite in work (sshhhh) and to my amazement I got it finished in 2 days, it’s not even a book that’s particularly short either! It is one of those books that once you start you can’t stop and you don’t realise how much you actually read in one sitting, hours flew by whilst reading this book!
I loved the whole concept and idea of this book, it takes the word 'Bridezilla' to a whole new level! Every woman has probably thought about her perfect wedding day and has a good idea of what they want, they are just waiting for the special somebody in their lives to pop the question to make it all a reality. Well what happens if they haven't popped the question yet but you have already booked a honeymoon, tried on your wedding dress and spoken to the vicar? Hard to imagine yes? Well read Bride without a Groom and you will get a pretty good idea of what would happen!
At first I disliked Rebecca, she was so self-centered, vain and arrogant, and although this never really goes away (and it annoys me right the way through), I did start to soften to it and laugh at her selfish moments and outbursts and started to warm to her a little, this helps as you see more of her as the book goes on. I actually found that although I didn't 100% like her I was rooting for her, I wanted her to have her special day but I also wanted her to find out the truth about what Barry had done and make up her own mind about what to do about it.
Barry however I wasn't really sure of, he seemed as though he loved Rebecca but the moment they had an argument and somebody else showed an interest in him he pretty much forgot about her and the meaning of a relationship, he also let himself get pushed around by Rebecca when I would of liked him to stand up for himself a little bit more and tell her no when she was asking for ridiculous and overpriced things!
I loved how Amy has written this book, it felt as though Rebecca was talking to us like she would be talking to a diary or just chatting to a friend, this made the book so easy to just fly through, this and Amy’s brilliant writing style. She makes you laugh out loud throughout the whole book.
I liked that a few of the chapters were written from Barry’s point of view, this meant that we could see his view on things rather than seeing everything through Rebecca’s story. Especially when Barry is away on his business trip, it is good to be able to join him for parts of it that even Rebecca doesn't see. We got to hear all of the important things through both characters and I think this made it easier to be able to like or dislike to Barry, as well as follow both character’s story.
Despite finding the lead character annoying I loved her and really enjoyed this book. It is one of those books you can pick up after a long day or when you’re feeling a bit sad and it will cheer you up straight away. But be warned, you need to have time on your hands as you won’t be able to put it down! I didn't realise until after I finished the book that there is going to be a sequel to this book, continuing Rebecca’s love life, I am so excited about that!
Amy Lynch is a brilliant writer, she reminds me of some of the bestselling author’s out there with her witty and addictive writing style, I can definitely see a big future from her!
Also, just a little note about the cover, look how cute and intriguing it is! There is also a quote is from Claudia Carroll so how can you not pick it up?
I wasn't supposed to finish this book quite as quickly as I did! This was another of my books that I was reading when I didn't have my paperback with me or for when it’s quite in work (sshhhh) and to my amazement I got it finished in 2 days, it’s not even a book that’s particularly short either! It is one of those books that once you start you can’t stop and you don’t realise how much you actually read in one sitting, hours flew by whilst reading this book!
I loved the whole concept and idea of this book, it takes the word 'Bridezilla' to a whole new level! Every woman has probably thought about her perfect wedding day and has a good idea of what they want, they are just waiting for the special somebody in their lives to pop the question to make it all a reality. Well what happens if they haven't popped the question yet but you have already booked a honeymoon, tried on your wedding dress and spoken to the vicar? Hard to imagine yes? Well read Bride without a Groom and you will get a pretty good idea of what would happen!
At first I disliked Rebecca, she was so self-centered, vain and arrogant, and although this never really goes away (and it annoys me right the way through), I did start to soften to it and laugh at her selfish moments and outbursts and started to warm to her a little, this helps as you see more of her as the book goes on. I actually found that although I didn't 100% like her I was rooting for her, I wanted her to have her special day but I also wanted her to find out the truth about what Barry had done and make up her own mind about what to do about it.
Barry however I wasn't really sure of, he seemed as though he loved Rebecca but the moment they had an argument and somebody else showed an interest in him he pretty much forgot about her and the meaning of a relationship, he also let himself get pushed around by Rebecca when I would of liked him to stand up for himself a little bit more and tell her no when she was asking for ridiculous and overpriced things!
I loved how Amy has written this book, it felt as though Rebecca was talking to us like she would be talking to a diary or just chatting to a friend, this made the book so easy to just fly through, this and Amy’s brilliant writing style. She makes you laugh out loud throughout the whole book.
I liked that a few of the chapters were written from Barry’s point of view, this meant that we could see his view on things rather than seeing everything through Rebecca’s story. Especially when Barry is away on his business trip, it is good to be able to join him for parts of it that even Rebecca doesn't see. We got to hear all of the important things through both characters and I think this made it easier to be able to like or dislike to Barry, as well as follow both character’s story.
Despite finding the lead character annoying I loved her and really enjoyed this book. It is one of those books you can pick up after a long day or when you’re feeling a bit sad and it will cheer you up straight away. But be warned, you need to have time on your hands as you won’t be able to put it down! I didn't realise until after I finished the book that there is going to be a sequel to this book, continuing Rebecca’s love life, I am so excited about that!
Amy Lynch is a brilliant writer, she reminds me of some of the bestselling author’s out there with her witty and addictive writing style, I can definitely see a big future from her!
Also, just a little note about the cover, look how cute and intriguing it is! There is also a quote is from Claudia Carroll so how can you not pick it up?
February 9, 2017
Time taken to read - 5 days on and off
Pages - 230
Publisher - Maze
Blurb from Goodreads
Rebecca has chosen the most luscious, five tiered, wedding cake – as featured in Hello! Magazine. The engagement ring that she has selected is celebrity inspired. The wedding singer is on speed dial. He doesn’t usually do Michael Bolton, but as it’s for a first dance he’ll make an exception. She has fallen for an ivory lace couture gown that is to die for. The down payment may require her to sell a left kidney, but it will be worth it. Isn’t that why you have two?
There’s one teeny problem. It’s nothing, really. No need to panic! It’s just that Barry has yet to propose. Truth be told, he’s had enough. There’s only so much wedding talk that one man can take. Now he’s leaving for a conference in Bangkok and frankly, he’s looking forward to the peace and quiet. As the Tiger beer flows and the tie loosens, his colleague Shelley is providing more than a shoulder for him to cry on.
Back in Dublin, Rebecca worries, and Operation ‘Win Back Barry’ is in full swing. But wait… who is the mysterious woman that is so keen to talk to her? And what is it that Barry needs to get off his chest?
My Review
Rebecca is thirty and has one thing on her mind, getting married to Barry. Barry isn't ready yet but that doesn't stop Rebecca, she has everything planned and frustration leads to impulsive behavior. She starts actually booking things for the wedding and Barry has had enough, they have a huge flight, Barry heads off to Bankok for work with his colleague who is more than happy to take his mind off things. Rebecca is left contemplating her behaviour, her life and of course still the wedding of her dreams.
Dear Lord this girl is bat crazy! Think of the worst Bridezilla ever, multiply her by ten and you are coming close to Rebecca. She isn't even engaged but she is seriously obsessed to the point she pushes her man to the limit. She is really spoilt and shallow, she spends his money with no second thought, she is obsessed with the celebrity style, labels, names and lifestyle. She cannot wait to be married because she can give up her job and spend her husbands money, ugh she has very little redeeming qualities to be honest. Whilst Rebecca is one of the most shallowest creatures created I think she brings to life to the character really well. We live in a modern world were so much is focused on money, showbiz, labels, fashion and I think Lynch en captures this well. Whilst Rebecca is a horror or a human being, she is also quite funny at times and I did chuckle at a few parts of the story.
I think this book is a cracking read for a holiday, spoiled madam, self examination, relationship troubles, infidelity, third world problems and obsession with the world created in magazines. Whilst I wasn't a huge fan of many of the characters in this book I did actually enjoy reading it, I think Lynch did well to bring the characters to life and capture modern day issues, 3/5 for me this time. This is my first time reading this author and I would read her again, thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book.
Pages - 230
Publisher - Maze
Blurb from Goodreads
Rebecca has chosen the most luscious, five tiered, wedding cake – as featured in Hello! Magazine. The engagement ring that she has selected is celebrity inspired. The wedding singer is on speed dial. He doesn’t usually do Michael Bolton, but as it’s for a first dance he’ll make an exception. She has fallen for an ivory lace couture gown that is to die for. The down payment may require her to sell a left kidney, but it will be worth it. Isn’t that why you have two?
There’s one teeny problem. It’s nothing, really. No need to panic! It’s just that Barry has yet to propose. Truth be told, he’s had enough. There’s only so much wedding talk that one man can take. Now he’s leaving for a conference in Bangkok and frankly, he’s looking forward to the peace and quiet. As the Tiger beer flows and the tie loosens, his colleague Shelley is providing more than a shoulder for him to cry on.
Back in Dublin, Rebecca worries, and Operation ‘Win Back Barry’ is in full swing. But wait… who is the mysterious woman that is so keen to talk to her? And what is it that Barry needs to get off his chest?
My Review
Rebecca is thirty and has one thing on her mind, getting married to Barry. Barry isn't ready yet but that doesn't stop Rebecca, she has everything planned and frustration leads to impulsive behavior. She starts actually booking things for the wedding and Barry has had enough, they have a huge flight, Barry heads off to Bankok for work with his colleague who is more than happy to take his mind off things. Rebecca is left contemplating her behaviour, her life and of course still the wedding of her dreams.
Dear Lord this girl is bat crazy! Think of the worst Bridezilla ever, multiply her by ten and you are coming close to Rebecca. She isn't even engaged but she is seriously obsessed to the point she pushes her man to the limit. She is really spoilt and shallow, she spends his money with no second thought, she is obsessed with the celebrity style, labels, names and lifestyle. She cannot wait to be married because she can give up her job and spend her husbands money, ugh she has very little redeeming qualities to be honest. Whilst Rebecca is one of the most shallowest creatures created I think she brings to life to the character really well. We live in a modern world were so much is focused on money, showbiz, labels, fashion and I think Lynch en captures this well. Whilst Rebecca is a horror or a human being, she is also quite funny at times and I did chuckle at a few parts of the story.
I think this book is a cracking read for a holiday, spoiled madam, self examination, relationship troubles, infidelity, third world problems and obsession with the world created in magazines. Whilst I wasn't a huge fan of many of the characters in this book I did actually enjoy reading it, I think Lynch did well to bring the characters to life and capture modern day issues, 3/5 for me this time. This is my first time reading this author and I would read her again, thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book.
May 31, 2015
THE TAMING OF A BRIDEZILLA – MISSION IMPOSSIBLE!
This is the perfect book for single girls in their 20s or 30s, who can understand and relate to the (anti)heroine Rebecca instantly! I can picture them reading it on a beach, sipping through it with ease and giggling, then commenting with gal pals on Rebecca's perseverance, shopping frenzy and celebrity obsessions. They would pity her and then bash on Barry, debating on whether he was being too patient, or just typically male in playing it safe for as long as it suited him, his supposed infidelity serving him right, or something along those lines.
Rebecca's obsession with brand names and looks, absurdly expensive wedding plans, the lives of celebrities and her own self, however, make her an antiheroine in my book. Cheeky is her charm, but she is so shamelessly frivolous and selfish that you feel like knocking some sense and sensibility into her. I'd love to see her and Bridget Jones exchange some ideas over a cup of coffee. I got till about half the book on the breeze of the author's upbeat style and humour (take a bow, Amy Lynch, wonderfully defined writing style), but as you read on, Rebecca's character gives a new meaning to superficiality. Getting an ARC, I promised to give an honest review, so I am. The author's witty style was the only thing making the Bridezilla likeable for me. Rebecca is really believable, with her reality-show upbringing and gossip-magazines values, workday hangovers and morning painkillers with alcohol, skipping work, faking sickness to go on a shopping spree, charging her boyfriend's credit card while he's on a business trip, weighing whether to dump her or marry her. She reminded me of similar girls we all know, who are not evil, but you wouldn't really consider giving them the badge of graciousness. But then again, perhaps I was thinking too much like a mother. The author did me a favour there – made me feel grateful for my life experience and age, and lit a red light in my head, warning me to make sure my daughter is not brought up anything like Rebecca. Therefore, my stars do not go to Rebecca at all, or her life story for that matter. They go to the author. Amy Lynch's style is truly witty, her descriptions funny and illustrative, and her loyalty to her characters truly admirable. You know how they say when a child is less than cute – that only a mother could live such a face? Well, this author sure has lots of love for her character, and sticks to Rebecca's inner voice all the way, the way a mother would. Every good comedy must have a reality sting to it, and I choose to believe Amy Lynch has packed that sting here, deep under the brand names and Rebecca's ego-tripping monologues. A book is supposed to make you think and feel. This one has, although in a really quirky, awkward and unexpected way. I am definitely looking forward to reading Amy Lynch's future books.
If you are looking for a funny, quirky, guilt-free, ego-boosting, sinfully sweet, layered wedding cake-ish summer read, knock yourselves out with Rebecca's bride dreams!
This is the perfect book for single girls in their 20s or 30s, who can understand and relate to the (anti)heroine Rebecca instantly! I can picture them reading it on a beach, sipping through it with ease and giggling, then commenting with gal pals on Rebecca's perseverance, shopping frenzy and celebrity obsessions. They would pity her and then bash on Barry, debating on whether he was being too patient, or just typically male in playing it safe for as long as it suited him, his supposed infidelity serving him right, or something along those lines.
Rebecca's obsession with brand names and looks, absurdly expensive wedding plans, the lives of celebrities and her own self, however, make her an antiheroine in my book. Cheeky is her charm, but she is so shamelessly frivolous and selfish that you feel like knocking some sense and sensibility into her. I'd love to see her and Bridget Jones exchange some ideas over a cup of coffee. I got till about half the book on the breeze of the author's upbeat style and humour (take a bow, Amy Lynch, wonderfully defined writing style), but as you read on, Rebecca's character gives a new meaning to superficiality. Getting an ARC, I promised to give an honest review, so I am. The author's witty style was the only thing making the Bridezilla likeable for me. Rebecca is really believable, with her reality-show upbringing and gossip-magazines values, workday hangovers and morning painkillers with alcohol, skipping work, faking sickness to go on a shopping spree, charging her boyfriend's credit card while he's on a business trip, weighing whether to dump her or marry her. She reminded me of similar girls we all know, who are not evil, but you wouldn't really consider giving them the badge of graciousness. But then again, perhaps I was thinking too much like a mother. The author did me a favour there – made me feel grateful for my life experience and age, and lit a red light in my head, warning me to make sure my daughter is not brought up anything like Rebecca. Therefore, my stars do not go to Rebecca at all, or her life story for that matter. They go to the author. Amy Lynch's style is truly witty, her descriptions funny and illustrative, and her loyalty to her characters truly admirable. You know how they say when a child is less than cute – that only a mother could live such a face? Well, this author sure has lots of love for her character, and sticks to Rebecca's inner voice all the way, the way a mother would. Every good comedy must have a reality sting to it, and I choose to believe Amy Lynch has packed that sting here, deep under the brand names and Rebecca's ego-tripping monologues. A book is supposed to make you think and feel. This one has, although in a really quirky, awkward and unexpected way. I am definitely looking forward to reading Amy Lynch's future books.
If you are looking for a funny, quirky, guilt-free, ego-boosting, sinfully sweet, layered wedding cake-ish summer read, knock yourselves out with Rebecca's bride dreams!
June 21, 2015
Nest's Review
Bride without a Groom is Amy Lynch's debut novel and it certainly is a highly entertaining read from start to finish.
I can honestly say I have never come across a character like REBECCA BROWNE, she is definitely something! Rebecca simple just wants to get hitched. Planning a wedding takes up almost all of her time and nothing or no one will stop her having the spectacular wedding she is so desperately dreaming of. She has everything mapped out in her scrapbook since she was 12 years old, the wedding dress, the venue, the flowers etc. Of course, we must not forget THE GROOM! He is also quite important but Barry, the groom, is apparently not ready YET. Well... this little hurdle won't stop the BRIDEZILLA OF THE CENTURY!
Rebecca is a complete diva, very self-absorbed, sometime a bit shallow, selfish and hypocritical.
She absolutely hates her day job and always seem to find "an alphabetical" excuse not to turn up at the office. I am frankly gobsmacked that she kept her job for as long as she could.
Rebecca's other interests, aside from planing her wedding, is having fun ( that is great! ), going out and getting sloshed almost every night( I could slightly relate to it when I was twenty years old but not so in my thirties) . Poor Barry, I think he must be a saint or a slightly deranged man?
After having an almighty row, overwhelmed Barry flies the country for some piece and quiet, aka work conference in Bangkok. Becky is left to drown her wedding sorrows in lots and lots and lots of alcohol, junk food and trashy tv. Literary slobbing it out!
There were plenty of hilarious scenes involving Rebecca's frequent internal monologue, her askew fantasies, her constant criticising of the highly annoying next door neighbour or her already married friends with children and not to mention her long suffering boss Harry who had to put up with Rebecca's less than perfect work ethics, that had me in stitches every time !
I really enjoy reading about Rebecca's family. It was wonderful how her mother came through with lots of comfort, food, hugs and one suspicious visit to a fortune teller!
Amy Lynch cleverly used different narrative in the book, Rebecca's thought process is told from her first person but Barry's story is told from the third person perspective, so we also get to see what Barry IS really thinking about the whole wedding debacle and what drives him into the open arms of his colleague Shelley. I think this format of writing added to the charm of the whole book.
I must say at the beginning I was not so sure I could come on the journey with Rebecca but by the time I turn the last page over, I was very pleased that I stuck with her right to the end, because despite her rather selfish character, Rebecca also had a big heart, she really loved her Barry and to my utter surprise she enjoyed working in an animal shelter.
Reading Bride Without a Groom was an absolute joy. I can't wait what is next in store from the fabulous Amy Lynch. Do not keep us waiting for too long!
Bride without a Groom is Amy Lynch's debut novel and it certainly is a highly entertaining read from start to finish.
I can honestly say I have never come across a character like REBECCA BROWNE, she is definitely something! Rebecca simple just wants to get hitched. Planning a wedding takes up almost all of her time and nothing or no one will stop her having the spectacular wedding she is so desperately dreaming of. She has everything mapped out in her scrapbook since she was 12 years old, the wedding dress, the venue, the flowers etc. Of course, we must not forget THE GROOM! He is also quite important but Barry, the groom, is apparently not ready YET. Well... this little hurdle won't stop the BRIDEZILLA OF THE CENTURY!
Rebecca is a complete diva, very self-absorbed, sometime a bit shallow, selfish and hypocritical.
She absolutely hates her day job and always seem to find "an alphabetical" excuse not to turn up at the office. I am frankly gobsmacked that she kept her job for as long as she could.
Rebecca's other interests, aside from planing her wedding, is having fun ( that is great! ), going out and getting sloshed almost every night( I could slightly relate to it when I was twenty years old but not so in my thirties) . Poor Barry, I think he must be a saint or a slightly deranged man?
After having an almighty row, overwhelmed Barry flies the country for some piece and quiet, aka work conference in Bangkok. Becky is left to drown her wedding sorrows in lots and lots and lots of alcohol, junk food and trashy tv. Literary slobbing it out!
There were plenty of hilarious scenes involving Rebecca's frequent internal monologue, her askew fantasies, her constant criticising of the highly annoying next door neighbour or her already married friends with children and not to mention her long suffering boss Harry who had to put up with Rebecca's less than perfect work ethics, that had me in stitches every time !
I really enjoy reading about Rebecca's family. It was wonderful how her mother came through with lots of comfort, food, hugs and one suspicious visit to a fortune teller!
Amy Lynch cleverly used different narrative in the book, Rebecca's thought process is told from her first person but Barry's story is told from the third person perspective, so we also get to see what Barry IS really thinking about the whole wedding debacle and what drives him into the open arms of his colleague Shelley. I think this format of writing added to the charm of the whole book.
I must say at the beginning I was not so sure I could come on the journey with Rebecca but by the time I turn the last page over, I was very pleased that I stuck with her right to the end, because despite her rather selfish character, Rebecca also had a big heart, she really loved her Barry and to my utter surprise she enjoyed working in an animal shelter.
Reading Bride Without a Groom was an absolute joy. I can't wait what is next in store from the fabulous Amy Lynch. Do not keep us waiting for too long!
December 9, 2014
Review originally posted on my blog www.LivingLifeWithJoy.com
I’ve gotten into the habit of enjoying my books through the Kindle app on my iPad, however, because I was generously given a PDF copy of the novel from the author, I was not able to mark up the digital copy the way I normally do. I decided to use the Notes app on my iPad to keep notes and make witty remarks for later use. However, due to my iPad Notes app being faulty, I lost all of the notes I made while reading Bride Without a Groom, so I apologize in advance for not writing a review as thoroughly as I normally do.
Bride Without a Groom is a laugh-out-loud novel about a woman named Rebecca that is one step away from saying ‘I do’, when she hasn’t even been asked to be engaged! She does the most ridiculous things in preparation of a wedding that hasn’t even been proposed yet, from putting a deposit on the honeymoon, choosing the dress (how many fittings?!) and practically planning the whole day down to the smallest details. Although she’s been in a relationship with Barry for years, he just doesn’t seem to be ready to take the plunge and make the all important commitment.
Rebecca is completely wedding crazed, yet she doesn’t seem to be as thrilled at the prospect of ever becoming a mother, though she loves the idea of being a wife and never having to lift a finger again. She dreams about filling her days with shopping and manicures and all things lovely. With a loyal best friend in each arm, a job that she doesn’t exactly live for and a husband that can’t quite figure out if he’s committed to their relationship, Rebecca’s got herself a recipe for a lot of laughter and disaster!
Bride Without a Groom was a fun, quick read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, one thing I didn’t like was that Rebecca was more obsessed with the wedding and not so much on the marriage. It’s always been a major pet peeve of mine, the type of woman that wants the wedding but couldn’t seem to care less about the marriage. That’s the main reason why I’ve given it a 4.5 instead of a 5, though on single digit scales, I’ll rate it a 5. I’m not entirely convinced that Rebecca learned a lesson about not overspending or about being a loving wife and mother. However, the hilarity of the way that Rebecca does things and reacts to her situation, more than made up for my dislike of her personal viewpoints on relationships and weddings. Well done Amy, on a fabulously fun novel!
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
ARC was provided by the author via a fellow book blogger Librarian Lavender, in exchange for an honest review. Receiving the novel free of charge in no way reflects on my honest opinion and no monetary compensation was provided for my review. Writing a review is the best way to say thank you to an author. I encourage you to write reviews and let the world know what you think!
I’ve gotten into the habit of enjoying my books through the Kindle app on my iPad, however, because I was generously given a PDF copy of the novel from the author, I was not able to mark up the digital copy the way I normally do. I decided to use the Notes app on my iPad to keep notes and make witty remarks for later use. However, due to my iPad Notes app being faulty, I lost all of the notes I made while reading Bride Without a Groom, so I apologize in advance for not writing a review as thoroughly as I normally do.
Bride Without a Groom is a laugh-out-loud novel about a woman named Rebecca that is one step away from saying ‘I do’, when she hasn’t even been asked to be engaged! She does the most ridiculous things in preparation of a wedding that hasn’t even been proposed yet, from putting a deposit on the honeymoon, choosing the dress (how many fittings?!) and practically planning the whole day down to the smallest details. Although she’s been in a relationship with Barry for years, he just doesn’t seem to be ready to take the plunge and make the all important commitment.
Rebecca is completely wedding crazed, yet she doesn’t seem to be as thrilled at the prospect of ever becoming a mother, though she loves the idea of being a wife and never having to lift a finger again. She dreams about filling her days with shopping and manicures and all things lovely. With a loyal best friend in each arm, a job that she doesn’t exactly live for and a husband that can’t quite figure out if he’s committed to their relationship, Rebecca’s got herself a recipe for a lot of laughter and disaster!
Bride Without a Groom was a fun, quick read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, one thing I didn’t like was that Rebecca was more obsessed with the wedding and not so much on the marriage. It’s always been a major pet peeve of mine, the type of woman that wants the wedding but couldn’t seem to care less about the marriage. That’s the main reason why I’ve given it a 4.5 instead of a 5, though on single digit scales, I’ll rate it a 5. I’m not entirely convinced that Rebecca learned a lesson about not overspending or about being a loving wife and mother. However, the hilarity of the way that Rebecca does things and reacts to her situation, more than made up for my dislike of her personal viewpoints on relationships and weddings. Well done Amy, on a fabulously fun novel!
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
ARC was provided by the author via a fellow book blogger Librarian Lavender, in exchange for an honest review. Receiving the novel free of charge in no way reflects on my honest opinion and no monetary compensation was provided for my review. Writing a review is the best way to say thank you to an author. I encourage you to write reviews and let the world know what you think!
May 7, 2015
*Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
This book was quite a while on my TBR list, and I managed to finished it last month. I must say I love the cover, especially the blue one (when it was self-published). It is a story of a young woman, Rebecca, who wants to get married just like every young woman does. She has a boyfriend but it seems that Barry is not so keen to tie the knot. In fact, he is not so sure that he is in love with Rebecca that much. Rebecca is so desperate to make him marry her, and she takes the whole bridezilla thing to a completely new level.
The author wrote chick-lit story that involves two characters and tried to show their pre-marriage doubts in a comic way. It is hard for men to sense some things, they are from Mars, and women are from Venus. Rebecca desperately tries to pop up the big question and even plans every single detail. The whole picture reminded me of an old scene from Mr.Bean’s show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUd_n...
But, as much as enjoyed the writing and funny scenes, I’ve found Rebecca the most annoying character. I’ve seen a lot of bridezillas, but this one is the ultimate. Often I’d get the feeling that she acts like a spoiled brat. ‘Who throws the trash? Barry does. Who pays the bills? Barry does. Who feeds the cat? Barry does. Who cleans the house? Mum, can you help me?’ I just wanted to shout at her: And what do you do? Just stand in the spotlight and look beautiful? Adults are supposed to be responsible and mature. It seemed that Rebecca just wants to get married for the sake of it, because she is not capable of living on her own and because she needs someone to do the responsible things for her. At the beginning she seemed cute, clumsy and funny, something that I often find charming, but as the story moved on, she started going on my nerves. She plans every possible detail for the proposal and for the wedding (many women do that too) but she often forgets that she can’t stand on the wedding day all alone.
And when Barry comes in the picture, cheating is a big NO for me in a relationship, before or after the wedding. He really needs to decide what he really wants in life. I know that men are men, but when you’re really in love, that colleague can be the cutest thing ever, yet you should know you’re taken if you love your woman.
Maybe I am too serious, maybe this is just a story for spending some fun and relaxing afternoon. Even if the characters are not-so-charming, the whole story is well written with a good dose of a humor. If you’re into rom coms, maybe you should give it a try, you might like Rebecca and Barry’s story more than I did.
My rating: 6/10
This book was quite a while on my TBR list, and I managed to finished it last month. I must say I love the cover, especially the blue one (when it was self-published). It is a story of a young woman, Rebecca, who wants to get married just like every young woman does. She has a boyfriend but it seems that Barry is not so keen to tie the knot. In fact, he is not so sure that he is in love with Rebecca that much. Rebecca is so desperate to make him marry her, and she takes the whole bridezilla thing to a completely new level.
The author wrote chick-lit story that involves two characters and tried to show their pre-marriage doubts in a comic way. It is hard for men to sense some things, they are from Mars, and women are from Venus. Rebecca desperately tries to pop up the big question and even plans every single detail. The whole picture reminded me of an old scene from Mr.Bean’s show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUd_n...
But, as much as enjoyed the writing and funny scenes, I’ve found Rebecca the most annoying character. I’ve seen a lot of bridezillas, but this one is the ultimate. Often I’d get the feeling that she acts like a spoiled brat. ‘Who throws the trash? Barry does. Who pays the bills? Barry does. Who feeds the cat? Barry does. Who cleans the house? Mum, can you help me?’ I just wanted to shout at her: And what do you do? Just stand in the spotlight and look beautiful? Adults are supposed to be responsible and mature. It seemed that Rebecca just wants to get married for the sake of it, because she is not capable of living on her own and because she needs someone to do the responsible things for her. At the beginning she seemed cute, clumsy and funny, something that I often find charming, but as the story moved on, she started going on my nerves. She plans every possible detail for the proposal and for the wedding (many women do that too) but she often forgets that she can’t stand on the wedding day all alone.
And when Barry comes in the picture, cheating is a big NO for me in a relationship, before or after the wedding. He really needs to decide what he really wants in life. I know that men are men, but when you’re really in love, that colleague can be the cutest thing ever, yet you should know you’re taken if you love your woman.
Maybe I am too serious, maybe this is just a story for spending some fun and relaxing afternoon. Even if the characters are not-so-charming, the whole story is well written with a good dose of a humor. If you’re into rom coms, maybe you should give it a try, you might like Rebecca and Barry’s story more than I did.
My rating: 6/10
August 31, 2015
Review first posted on my blog: http://spoonfulofhappyendings.blogspo...
Rebecca Browne has just turned thirty years old and she just knows she’s about to have one of her biggest dreams come true: she will marry the love of her life, Barry. Rebecca has been busy organising the perfect wedding for quite some time already; she has found the most stunning Vera Wang dress, a delicious five tiered wedding cake, a relaxing honeymoon destination... While all of this is costing both her and Barry a lot of money, Rebecca knows it will all be worth it in the end. There’s one small problem though: Barry hasn’t actually proposed yet. Rebecca is sure it will only be a matter of days before he finally pops the question, but in reality Barry has had enough of Rebecca’s crazy bridezilla behaviour and decides he needs some time to think about their relationship. Suddenly Rebecca is no longer a bride-to-be but a bride-without-a-groom, with one important question: how to get her groom back?
Amy Lynch’s ‘Bride Without a Groom’ is a promising debut novel with a fun storyline at its core, focusing on thirty-year-old Rebecca who wants nothing more than to get married. However, while Rebecca is already busy planning all the small details of their wedding, her boyfriend Barry hasn’t actually proposed yet. Rebecca is definitely quite the diva and a true ‘bridezilla’ which makes her, on the one hand, a fun over-the-top main character who gets herself into all kinds of situations, but at the same time I couldn’t help but find it a bit difficult to really warm to her. Rebecca is quite spoiled and self-centred and I personally just didn’t really click with her. However, I am positive numerous readers will be really entertained by Rebecca’s antics; this was just my own experience while reading the book.
The story is told from both Rebecca and Barry’s point of view which is something I really enjoyed and which also added something to the novel as a whole. Rebecca is in Dublin while Barry is on a business trip to Bangkok, and the switch between the two perspectives also added to the flow of the story and kept me curious to see what would happen next. Amy Lynch’s writing was comfortable to read and fits the genre of the book well. Overall, ‘Bride Without a Groom’ is a fun and entertaining read, especially perfect for people who also enjoy TV shows and other books about bridezillas. This wasn’t 100% my cup of tea, but still an enjoyable read and one which I’m sure other chick lit fans will pick up and love!
Rebecca Browne has just turned thirty years old and she just knows she’s about to have one of her biggest dreams come true: she will marry the love of her life, Barry. Rebecca has been busy organising the perfect wedding for quite some time already; she has found the most stunning Vera Wang dress, a delicious five tiered wedding cake, a relaxing honeymoon destination... While all of this is costing both her and Barry a lot of money, Rebecca knows it will all be worth it in the end. There’s one small problem though: Barry hasn’t actually proposed yet. Rebecca is sure it will only be a matter of days before he finally pops the question, but in reality Barry has had enough of Rebecca’s crazy bridezilla behaviour and decides he needs some time to think about their relationship. Suddenly Rebecca is no longer a bride-to-be but a bride-without-a-groom, with one important question: how to get her groom back?
Amy Lynch’s ‘Bride Without a Groom’ is a promising debut novel with a fun storyline at its core, focusing on thirty-year-old Rebecca who wants nothing more than to get married. However, while Rebecca is already busy planning all the small details of their wedding, her boyfriend Barry hasn’t actually proposed yet. Rebecca is definitely quite the diva and a true ‘bridezilla’ which makes her, on the one hand, a fun over-the-top main character who gets herself into all kinds of situations, but at the same time I couldn’t help but find it a bit difficult to really warm to her. Rebecca is quite spoiled and self-centred and I personally just didn’t really click with her. However, I am positive numerous readers will be really entertained by Rebecca’s antics; this was just my own experience while reading the book.
The story is told from both Rebecca and Barry’s point of view which is something I really enjoyed and which also added something to the novel as a whole. Rebecca is in Dublin while Barry is on a business trip to Bangkok, and the switch between the two perspectives also added to the flow of the story and kept me curious to see what would happen next. Amy Lynch’s writing was comfortable to read and fits the genre of the book well. Overall, ‘Bride Without a Groom’ is a fun and entertaining read, especially perfect for people who also enjoy TV shows and other books about bridezillas. This wasn’t 100% my cup of tea, but still an enjoyable read and one which I’m sure other chick lit fans will pick up and love!
June 3, 2015
What’s It About?
“It’s time to face the harsh reality. I’m a bride without a groom.”
Rebecca is crazy over her boyfriend Barry, and is crazy about weddings. You might even call her a “bridezilla”… One problem, she isn’t even engaged!
She spends her time volunteering at an animal shelter, going to bars and drinking fancy cocktails with her best friends, Pam and Emer, and fantasizing about her dream wedding. Her obsession with weddings is pushing her boyfriend further and further away. Conveniently, he leaves for Thailand on a business trip, after a huge fight.
Is this the end? Will Rebecca be a bride without a groom?
My Thoughts
I was hooked by the prologue, and completely entertained throughout Bride Without A Groom, by Author Amy Lynch. To say that the main character, Rebecca, is hilarious, is an UNDERSTATEMENT. Her introspective thoughts had me literally laughing out loud.
If that wasn’t enough, I also loved the surrounding characters. Barry, the non-groom, comes off at first as a jerk, referring to Rebecca as a “pampered princess”, and confiding in his female friend about his problems with Rebecca. Slowly but surely, the reader comes to the conclusion that Barry is just overwhelmed by Confetti magazines, a priest who stops by to confirm a wedding date, (what wedding?!), and a booked honeymoon. Rebecca would drive a saint mad!
I also enjoyed her best friends, Pam and Emer. Pam is the devil on Rebecca’s shoulder, and Emer the angel. They were the perfect addition for this chick lit. Throw in an annoying mother who means well, and a nosy, gossipy neighbor, Bernie, and you have yourself a very interesting story with characters who have DEPTH!
I would recommend this novel to women who enjoy humorous chick lit, brides-to-be, brides-who-want-to-be, and anyone who enjoys a good rom-com. You will not be disappointed!
5 Stars! :) (Or in this case, engagement rings!)
***In the interest of full disclosure, a received an e-copy of Bride Without A Groom, from Light Brigade PR, in exchange for a thoughtful, fair, and honest book review.
Full review @ https://aprillwood.wordpress.com/2015...
“It’s time to face the harsh reality. I’m a bride without a groom.”
Rebecca is crazy over her boyfriend Barry, and is crazy about weddings. You might even call her a “bridezilla”… One problem, she isn’t even engaged!
She spends her time volunteering at an animal shelter, going to bars and drinking fancy cocktails with her best friends, Pam and Emer, and fantasizing about her dream wedding. Her obsession with weddings is pushing her boyfriend further and further away. Conveniently, he leaves for Thailand on a business trip, after a huge fight.
Is this the end? Will Rebecca be a bride without a groom?
My Thoughts
I was hooked by the prologue, and completely entertained throughout Bride Without A Groom, by Author Amy Lynch. To say that the main character, Rebecca, is hilarious, is an UNDERSTATEMENT. Her introspective thoughts had me literally laughing out loud.
If that wasn’t enough, I also loved the surrounding characters. Barry, the non-groom, comes off at first as a jerk, referring to Rebecca as a “pampered princess”, and confiding in his female friend about his problems with Rebecca. Slowly but surely, the reader comes to the conclusion that Barry is just overwhelmed by Confetti magazines, a priest who stops by to confirm a wedding date, (what wedding?!), and a booked honeymoon. Rebecca would drive a saint mad!
I also enjoyed her best friends, Pam and Emer. Pam is the devil on Rebecca’s shoulder, and Emer the angel. They were the perfect addition for this chick lit. Throw in an annoying mother who means well, and a nosy, gossipy neighbor, Bernie, and you have yourself a very interesting story with characters who have DEPTH!
I would recommend this novel to women who enjoy humorous chick lit, brides-to-be, brides-who-want-to-be, and anyone who enjoys a good rom-com. You will not be disappointed!
5 Stars! :) (Or in this case, engagement rings!)
***In the interest of full disclosure, a received an e-copy of Bride Without A Groom, from Light Brigade PR, in exchange for a thoughtful, fair, and honest book review.
Full review @ https://aprillwood.wordpress.com/2015...
August 7, 2015
This book is about a woman called Rebecca (Becky for short) who is the ultimate bridezilla. She knows what she wants, when she wants it and how she wants her perfect wedding to be but it's just a pity that she hasn't yet received a proposal from her long suffering boyfriend Barry. The story follows Becky as things fall apart and she has to fight to repair the damage.
I found that this book reminded me of the books "A Wag Abroad" & "A Wag's Diary" by Alison Kervin, in the way in which it is written. I enjoyed all three books immensely. Bride Without A Groom is a humorous take on a real life situation. We probably all know someone like Becky, who is over dramatic, fixated on the idea of the perfect wedding and has selective hearing in that she only hears what she wants to hear. I thought that Bride Without A Groom was really easy to read and very funny. It's as though Rebecca lives in a bubble and nothing else matters bar what she wants and if it isn't about her then she doesn't want to know.
I have to admit that I didn't warm to Rebecca very easily because of her selfishness, narrow mindedness, she displays a lax attitude to work & other responsibilities and her drama queen reactions to things. At times I really did want to slap Rebecca for the way that she treated people and especially Barry. However, I did chuckle away to myself at times about how ditzy she was, how daft she was and the fact that she had such a false impression of her own capabilities. It's as if Rebecca doesn't realise or care about people's perceptions of her, which is refreshing in a way.
I found that I warmed really easily to Barry, the downtrodden & long suffering other half of Rebecca. Barry is henpecked & submissive but I really do wish he would grow a backbone and stand up for himself more.
This book was well written and well structured. It captured my attention from the start and I was sorry that it had to end. It could form the basis of a very funny comedy show.
I look forward to reading any further books by Amy Lynch & especially in this series. I would certainly recommend this book to others.
I found that this book reminded me of the books "A Wag Abroad" & "A Wag's Diary" by Alison Kervin, in the way in which it is written. I enjoyed all three books immensely. Bride Without A Groom is a humorous take on a real life situation. We probably all know someone like Becky, who is over dramatic, fixated on the idea of the perfect wedding and has selective hearing in that she only hears what she wants to hear. I thought that Bride Without A Groom was really easy to read and very funny. It's as though Rebecca lives in a bubble and nothing else matters bar what she wants and if it isn't about her then she doesn't want to know.
I have to admit that I didn't warm to Rebecca very easily because of her selfishness, narrow mindedness, she displays a lax attitude to work & other responsibilities and her drama queen reactions to things. At times I really did want to slap Rebecca for the way that she treated people and especially Barry. However, I did chuckle away to myself at times about how ditzy she was, how daft she was and the fact that she had such a false impression of her own capabilities. It's as if Rebecca doesn't realise or care about people's perceptions of her, which is refreshing in a way.
I found that I warmed really easily to Barry, the downtrodden & long suffering other half of Rebecca. Barry is henpecked & submissive but I really do wish he would grow a backbone and stand up for himself more.
This book was well written and well structured. It captured my attention from the start and I was sorry that it had to end. It could form the basis of a very funny comedy show.
I look forward to reading any further books by Amy Lynch & especially in this series. I would certainly recommend this book to others.
November 12, 2014
Sit back, relax, and prepare to be thoroughly entertained!
Bride Without A Groom immediately reminded me of my favorite Chick Lit series, Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. Both have a quirky main character that is just too outrageous to believe. Their antics keep you laughing nonstop and leave you with a happy heart when you’re done. Well done, Ms. Lynch!
Rebecca Browne lives in her own happy little bubble, where (in her mind) every woman wants to be her and every man wants to be with her. She needs to be the center of attention 24/7 and doesn’t like sharing the spotlight. Fashion is her passion and staying up to date on all the latest issues of her favorite gossip magazines is as close to current events as she gets.
Rebecca is literally, as the title implies, a bride without a groom. She’s so obsessed with getting married that she has every single detail down to the dress and venue worked out before her boyfriend Barry has even proposed. She’s convinced the proposal is coming though, except it isn’t. Barry isn’t ready to pop the question just yet, which puts a tiny hitch into Rebecca’s plans.
This story takes place roughly over the course of a week while Barry is away on a business trip. It happens to be the most devastating week of Rebecca’s life. You’ll see why ;) I don’t want to summarize the story line too much since that’s what the synopsis is for. A majority of the story is told by Rebecca herself, but we do get some chapters from Barry’s POV which helps give us some insight into how he’s feeling about everything. It’s pretty fast paced and moves from one over-the-top-panic-inducing-scene to the next and is just absolutely hilarious!
Ms. Lynch does a fabulous job of getting inside Rebecca’s head and keeping her in character from beginning to end. She presents us with a loveable character in a very unlikely package. Yes Rebecca is loveable! She’s too funny not to be. Ms. Lynch kept me full invested in this page turning story!
I highly recommend this one and will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series!
Bride Without A Groom immediately reminded me of my favorite Chick Lit series, Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. Both have a quirky main character that is just too outrageous to believe. Their antics keep you laughing nonstop and leave you with a happy heart when you’re done. Well done, Ms. Lynch!
Rebecca Browne lives in her own happy little bubble, where (in her mind) every woman wants to be her and every man wants to be with her. She needs to be the center of attention 24/7 and doesn’t like sharing the spotlight. Fashion is her passion and staying up to date on all the latest issues of her favorite gossip magazines is as close to current events as she gets.
Rebecca is literally, as the title implies, a bride without a groom. She’s so obsessed with getting married that she has every single detail down to the dress and venue worked out before her boyfriend Barry has even proposed. She’s convinced the proposal is coming though, except it isn’t. Barry isn’t ready to pop the question just yet, which puts a tiny hitch into Rebecca’s plans.
This story takes place roughly over the course of a week while Barry is away on a business trip. It happens to be the most devastating week of Rebecca’s life. You’ll see why ;) I don’t want to summarize the story line too much since that’s what the synopsis is for. A majority of the story is told by Rebecca herself, but we do get some chapters from Barry’s POV which helps give us some insight into how he’s feeling about everything. It’s pretty fast paced and moves from one over-the-top-panic-inducing-scene to the next and is just absolutely hilarious!
Ms. Lynch does a fabulous job of getting inside Rebecca’s head and keeping her in character from beginning to end. She presents us with a loveable character in a very unlikely package. Yes Rebecca is loveable! She’s too funny not to be. Ms. Lynch kept me full invested in this page turning story!
I highly recommend this one and will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series!
January 5, 2015
Rate: 5 Stars =)
Check the Complete review
www.chapterfive.wix.com/chapter5
My Thoughts:
Bride without a groom, the 1st book in this series cemented my love for Amy Lynch’s writing. I enjoyed so much I had a hard time put it down, and I am so grateful Amy gave a me a copy in exchange of a honest review and since I loved it so much I pick it to be the post on my birthday!
I’m not the type that love characters like Rebecca who dream to have their fairytale wedding because I don’t relate to them, but something about this brizellia make fall for her maybe it was all the confident she wear, but I have to said the lack of interest that she puts in others bothers me a little bit but I think it’s with a purpose to make this brizellia to another new level.
Barry is her long term boyfriend, he is attractive, but no so smart I guess because he figure out Shelly intentions until the damage is done, Oh just like all the men.
The story is far from boring. Rebecca is enough to hook readers with all her annoying stuff and what will connect you to her is how much you’ll want to be so confident as her even when she isn’t a model fit rather she is a 10 size and still feel gorgeous and love herself.
Through the pages you realize that she isn’t that selfish only wanting a big dream wedding, she really want that happy ending with Barry because she loves him and wants all but just with him.
Overall, bride without a groom is a wonderful hilarious story in which you’ll laugh a lot with all the situations around planning the wedding of your life. It’s a sweet fun story that will leave you with a huge smile on your face and of course wanting to know if Barry and Rebecca get their happy ending and if so how everything would workout.
Check the Complete review
www.chapterfive.wix.com/chapter5
My Thoughts:
Bride without a groom, the 1st book in this series cemented my love for Amy Lynch’s writing. I enjoyed so much I had a hard time put it down, and I am so grateful Amy gave a me a copy in exchange of a honest review and since I loved it so much I pick it to be the post on my birthday!
I’m not the type that love characters like Rebecca who dream to have their fairytale wedding because I don’t relate to them, but something about this brizellia make fall for her maybe it was all the confident she wear, but I have to said the lack of interest that she puts in others bothers me a little bit but I think it’s with a purpose to make this brizellia to another new level.
Barry is her long term boyfriend, he is attractive, but no so smart I guess because he figure out Shelly intentions until the damage is done, Oh just like all the men.
The story is far from boring. Rebecca is enough to hook readers with all her annoying stuff and what will connect you to her is how much you’ll want to be so confident as her even when she isn’t a model fit rather she is a 10 size and still feel gorgeous and love herself.
Through the pages you realize that she isn’t that selfish only wanting a big dream wedding, she really want that happy ending with Barry because she loves him and wants all but just with him.
Overall, bride without a groom is a wonderful hilarious story in which you’ll laugh a lot with all the situations around planning the wedding of your life. It’s a sweet fun story that will leave you with a huge smile on your face and of course wanting to know if Barry and Rebecca get their happy ending and if so how everything would workout.
July 27, 2015
With big thanks to Amy Lynch for allowing us a copy of Bride Without A Groom in exchange for an honest review. It’s been sitting on my kindle for some time & I was eager to get to it. Following a little stint of crime novels I felt it was time for a break with something a little more witty and this was the perfect pick.
Rebecca is busy planning her wedding, she’s chosen her dress, knows what designer she wants for the bridesmaid, spoken to the vicar and even booked the honeymoon. There’s just one teeny tiny problem in her planning…. her boyfriend Barry is yet to propose.
Barry feeling pushed by Rebecca into popping the question has finally had enough and a huge fight ensues just as he flies off on a business trip abroad. Rebecca is left at home wondering if the relationship is over, slumming in the tracksuit eating junk food she is unable to function and when she does try to go back to work she doesn’t last very long. Meanwhile Barry has problems of his own with a colleague making it very clear she has designs of her own on him, can he escape her clutches and forgive Rebecca.
Rebecca’s narrative had a very strong voice and you learn a lot about the central characters thoughts and feelings. If I’m honest I’m not sure I liked her in the sense that her imaginings on herself, her wedding and Barry were exhausting (and you can understand why Barry reacts the way he does to her constant wedding talk), but this was also very funny. From her run in with the neighbours wing mirror, to her attempts to ‘work’. It’s a great book for a holiday read if you want something light and fun.
Rebecca is busy planning her wedding, she’s chosen her dress, knows what designer she wants for the bridesmaid, spoken to the vicar and even booked the honeymoon. There’s just one teeny tiny problem in her planning…. her boyfriend Barry is yet to propose.
Barry feeling pushed by Rebecca into popping the question has finally had enough and a huge fight ensues just as he flies off on a business trip abroad. Rebecca is left at home wondering if the relationship is over, slumming in the tracksuit eating junk food she is unable to function and when she does try to go back to work she doesn’t last very long. Meanwhile Barry has problems of his own with a colleague making it very clear she has designs of her own on him, can he escape her clutches and forgive Rebecca.
Rebecca’s narrative had a very strong voice and you learn a lot about the central characters thoughts and feelings. If I’m honest I’m not sure I liked her in the sense that her imaginings on herself, her wedding and Barry were exhausting (and you can understand why Barry reacts the way he does to her constant wedding talk), but this was also very funny. From her run in with the neighbours wing mirror, to her attempts to ‘work’. It’s a great book for a holiday read if you want something light and fun.
May 15, 2015
Bride without a Groom, is a very well written book, I can see that Amy Lynch has had a lot of experience in this genre of literature; she knows her stuff in chic lit.
This was evident in the main character Rebecca, who is self-centred, self-obsessed, and interested in her wedding, beauty and fashion, drinking, gossip, her wedding, her diamond ring, TV Soaps and reality TV, shopping, her wedding, junk food, and being the centre of attention. The things Rebecca is good at though is making up stories and giving excuses to get out of work, and blaming others and excusing herself for her own mistakes and shortcomings. Rebecca also had confidence in herself and in her own opinion.
The story is told in a chatty style by Rebecca, we hear her thoughts and dialogue most of the time. Her partner Barry, we get to hear about how he feels being pestered into marriage, when he’s not ready, and his frustration as Rebecca makes appointments with the Vicar, and puts a deposit for a very expensive honeymoon on his credit card. But it’s mostly about Rebecca and her point of view, and her bubble of the fantasy world that she lives within.
As I read through the story, I found myself slipping into the role of mother, I was getting very annoyed and frustrated with Rebecca and her ways, I started willing her to ’grow up’ and change.
I can see how this book has been well received and I appreciate the expertise of Amy Lynch as an author, the dialogue is fast, clever and witty and full of ‘one liners ‘strung together with expertise. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a light, chic-lit style read.
This was evident in the main character Rebecca, who is self-centred, self-obsessed, and interested in her wedding, beauty and fashion, drinking, gossip, her wedding, her diamond ring, TV Soaps and reality TV, shopping, her wedding, junk food, and being the centre of attention. The things Rebecca is good at though is making up stories and giving excuses to get out of work, and blaming others and excusing herself for her own mistakes and shortcomings. Rebecca also had confidence in herself and in her own opinion.
The story is told in a chatty style by Rebecca, we hear her thoughts and dialogue most of the time. Her partner Barry, we get to hear about how he feels being pestered into marriage, when he’s not ready, and his frustration as Rebecca makes appointments with the Vicar, and puts a deposit for a very expensive honeymoon on his credit card. But it’s mostly about Rebecca and her point of view, and her bubble of the fantasy world that she lives within.
As I read through the story, I found myself slipping into the role of mother, I was getting very annoyed and frustrated with Rebecca and her ways, I started willing her to ’grow up’ and change.
I can see how this book has been well received and I appreciate the expertise of Amy Lynch as an author, the dialogue is fast, clever and witty and full of ‘one liners ‘strung together with expertise. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a light, chic-lit style read.
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