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All I Want for Christmas Collection
White Water Wedding
Nightmare nuptials in the Pacific Northwest. A December wedding planner on the edge. And a football star making a playful connection in a swoony grumpy-meets-sunshine short story by Elizabeth Stephens.
Just as wedding planner Emery Pettis is challenged by the most insufferable couple who ever threatened to tie the knot, the groom’s cousin, NFL wide receiver Elkin Walker, dares to cross the threshold into her kitchen. He’s not a player making moves. He’s coming to the rescue. Between battling the bridezilla and groomzillo and navigating Category 4 rapids, Emery is finding six feet seven inches of calm amid the chaos she never planned on.
Elizabeth Stephens’s White Water Wedding is part of All I Want for Christmas, holiday stories of winter wonderland weddings to warm the heart. Curl up and read or listen to each in a single dreamy sitting.
Just as wedding planner Emery Pettis is challenged by the most insufferable couple who ever threatened to tie the knot, the groom’s cousin, NFL wide receiver Elkin Walker, dares to cross the threshold into her kitchen. He’s not a player making moves. He’s coming to the rescue. Between battling the bridezilla and groomzillo and navigating Category 4 rapids, Emery is finding six feet seven inches of calm amid the chaos she never planned on.
Elizabeth Stephens’s White Water Wedding is part of All I Want for Christmas, holiday stories of winter wonderland weddings to warm the heart. Curl up and read or listen to each in a single dreamy sitting.
52 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2026
About the author
Elizabeth Stephens
32 books1,613 followersTop 10 USA Today Bestselling author Elizabeth Stephens writes books where beastly men—or sometimes just beasts—always get the girl.
A full-time hybrid indie and traditionally published author, Elizabeth is best known for her Supers in the City series (Montlake) and her indie works like The Bone King and the Starling and Dark City Omega. In all of her books, readers can expect diverse casts, epic world-building, quests with unexpected twists, and women of color being celebrated loudly, Black and biracial women in particular.
When she isn’t writing, you might find Elizabeth enjoying the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest or traveling and making adventures of her own with her husband, tiny humans, and doggo, King Louis.
A full-time hybrid indie and traditionally published author, Elizabeth is best known for her Supers in the City series (Montlake) and her indie works like The Bone King and the Starling and Dark City Omega. In all of her books, readers can expect diverse casts, epic world-building, quests with unexpected twists, and women of color being celebrated loudly, Black and biracial women in particular.
When she isn’t writing, you might find Elizabeth enjoying the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest or traveling and making adventures of her own with her husband, tiny humans, and doggo, King Louis.
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October 24, 2026pre-read:
literally enjoying the books in this series sm that i’m alr in the third book 🤭💞 hope this one is just as good as the first two!
literally enjoying the books in this series sm that i’m alr in the third book 🤭💞 hope this one is just as good as the first two!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
rtc + proper rating after I finish the collection.
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pre-read: I've been enjoying this collection so far.
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pre-read: I've been enjoying this collection so far.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⋆˙⟡ — 1.75 stars
⌗ ┆started: oct 30th ● finished: oct 30th
⤿ arc review with no spoilers
৻ꪆ thank you so much amazon original stories and elizabeth stephens for the arc!!
thoughts ⋆˚࿔
i’m sorry, but what was this… the guy in this book was just SO weird, and he wasn't attractive at all 😭 and don't even get me started on the pet names... baby girl and lil mama now for the fmc, i'm gonna be so honest, but i didn't care for her either 😭 my main problem with this book was mainly the guy bc he was just so creepy from the start...
⌗ ┆started: oct 30th ● finished: oct 30th
⤿ arc review with no spoilers
৻ꪆ thank you so much amazon original stories and elizabeth stephens for the arc!!
thoughts ⋆˚࿔
i’m sorry, but what was this… the guy in this book was just SO weird, and he wasn't attractive at all 😭 and don't even get me started on the pet names... baby girl and lil mama now for the fmc, i'm gonna be so honest, but i didn't care for her either 😭 my main problem with this book was mainly the guy bc he was just so creepy from the start...
November 10, 2026
This was a very cheesy yet cute athlete x grumpy wedding planner romance short read 😂😂
Plot Summary
Wedding planner Emery is pushed to her limits when she takes on a particularly difficult couple just before Christmas. But when the groom’s cousin, athlete Elkin Walker, steps in to help, she finds an unexpected source of comfort amid the chaos. As the two grow closer, Emery discovers that even the most stressful situations can lead to something wonderful.
My Bookstagram
Plot Summary
Wedding planner Emery is pushed to her limits when she takes on a particularly difficult couple just before Christmas. But when the groom’s cousin, athlete Elkin Walker, steps in to help, she finds an unexpected source of comfort amid the chaos. As the two grow closer, Emery discovers that even the most stressful situations can lead to something wonderful.
My Bookstagram
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hilarious and so sweet with just a hint of heat. Hot kisses only. I definitely could have read more! Elizabeth Stephens proves she can even write contemporary romance with her signature style. I can't wait for more.
Elkin could not be more green flag perfect (without being annoying). Emery was about her business but not too busy to notice a hot NFL player trying to get her attention real hard. This was like a small appetizer of a story but I was kicking my feet and giggling the whole time. I really wanted more, but this was great!
Elkin could not be more green flag perfect (without being annoying). Emery was about her business but not too busy to notice a hot NFL player trying to get her attention real hard. This was like a small appetizer of a story but I was kicking my feet and giggling the whole time. I really wanted more, but this was great!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.0 ⭐️
Wedding planner who secretly longs to find her other half? 💍
Professional athlete? 🏈
Big winter wedding? ☃️
Sign me up!
How crazy to think that you never know what day you’ll meet the love of your life. One morning, you’ll just wake up and destiny will make you run into that someone who will change your path forever.
I really liked the lil epilogue at the end, they always add a nostalgic touch to the stories.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Wedding planner who secretly longs to find her other half? 💍
Professional athlete? 🏈
Big winter wedding? ☃️
Sign me up!
How crazy to think that you never know what day you’ll meet the love of your life. One morning, you’ll just wake up and destiny will make you run into that someone who will change your path forever.
I really liked the lil epilogue at the end, they always add a nostalgic touch to the stories.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC!
I just didn't love the mmc. He was a nice guy, but I'm not a fan of the insta-attraction. I usually don't mind it, but I didn't like it in this book.
I just didn't love the mmc. He was a nice guy, but I'm not a fan of the insta-attraction. I usually don't mind it, but I didn't like it in this book.
November 3, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy
I was really excited for this collection and this was the first one I read in it. Unfortunately - this was a big flop for me. Nothing worked here for me - the dialogue was cringe, even for a novella this was insta love, and honestly, the writing was really not it.
I was really excited for this collection and this was the first one I read in it. Unfortunately - this was a big flop for me. Nothing worked here for me - the dialogue was cringe, even for a novella this was insta love, and honestly, the writing was really not it.
November 4, 2026
All I Want for Christmas is a series compiled of five romantic novellas written by some of the genres most notable authors. Each love story distinctively stands out on their own with ease with a sprinkle of winter magic, guaranteeing that there's something for every reader of the Romance genre to binge and enjoy.
💒 White Water Wedding by Elizabeth Stephens (3.5 stars):
A down-bad man that’s all in from the first moment he sees her at the height of her frustration and inability to defeat plastic packaging? Count me in! White Water Wedding held my attention from the very beginning and there’s no denying how fun it is to explore the dynamic between a professional wedding planner and one of the groomsmen… especially when said groomsman is a six-foot-seven, professional football player that immediately calls her ‘baby’ as a term of endearment (the rules of fiction gives me permission to find this cute). Emery and Elkin’s development was so sweet in the way that he seemed to immediately understand and truly see her to her depths. Their direct communication was refreshing to see and I loved getting to see Elkin recognise Emery’s independence, whilst also being keen to step up in support of whatever she needed simply because he wanted to. The fact that he has also been longing for a genuine relationship that isn’t based on his celebrity status or how much money he’s worth felt really wholesome to understand in the way that he immediately falls for Emery in her authenticity. The book itself was a little silly at times in a really humorous way, and honestly I’m starting to sound like a broken record but you truly cannot go wrong with this fun story if you’re looking for something short and sweet. It’s endearingly charming with a fast-paced romance that still manages to make you want to swoon at some of the dialogue. I’ve had author Elizabeth Stephens on my ‘to read’ radar for far too long… so I’ll definitely be looking to prioritise her books after enjoying this unputdownable novella.
📸 Just for the Camera by Sarah Adams (4.5 stars):
Just For the Camera had me grinning and feeling giddy from the very first page with Fizzy’s drunken wit seamlessly setting a humorous tone to indulge in. Her interactions with Silas continued to highlight their magnetic and instantaneous connection with their unexpected first meeting creating an unforgettable reading experience. Their playful
banter softens into a soft and tender interaction as Fizzy feels comfortable enough to confide to Silas about the difficult night that leads up to their meet-cute, and it felt really sweet to see his endeavour in taking care of her despite having no obligation to do so. The story is short and sweet, and there’s no denying how well this overall premise works as a novella whilst leaving enough room to have wished for more out of greed. I’ve read a little of Adams’s work in the past and I’m definitely keen to read more from her after enjoying this brief experience.
⛷️ The Plus-One Pact by Lana Ferguson (4 stars):
The Plus-One Pact is an adorable friends-to-lovers story that packs a curation of fan-favourite tropes into a very short space of time. Fake dating, only one bed and is filled with a delicious amount of yearning and longing? Yes please. I was thrilled to see that this is told through dual-narration as we get to simultaneously witness Emma battle with her sudden and unexpected feelings for her best friend of five years, whilst Cole suddenly recognises his long-awaited chance to take the next step in their relationship after years of pining after her. Their dynamic works perfectly for a novella with their close bond already being established through time, even if we don’t get insight into those earlier years. Emma and Cole are both such wholesome people who recognise the merits in getting the opportunity to fall in-love with your best friend, and there’s no denying how inevitable their relationship is with the support and reaffirmation from Emma’s family. The writing is easy to follow, and overall you truly cannot go wrong with this one as a quick read for a guaranteed sweet time with some on-page spice.
💍 Just Say I Do by Catherine Walsh (4.5 stars):
Just Say I Do offers something fresh within this collection of novellas as it centres around two people already in love and preparing for one of the most important days in their lives… their wedding day. Chloe and Robbie are blissfully in love and more than ready for this next step in their lives, however unfortunately their dream of a small and intimate wedding has spiralled into something much larger. I adored getting to see how deeply both characters instinctively understand each after progressing from childhood playmates into a romantic relationship throughout their teenage years. It’s clear that their initial m friendship acts as a strong foundation for their bond and it was genuinely so wholesome to see Chloe and Robbie reassure one another that it’s the marriage that matters the most. The side-characters introduced added so much unexpected personality and heart to the story as they all jump at the chance to provide our (not entirely un)happy couple with the perfect ceremony that they never could’ve anticipated. It was really sweet to focus on a journey between a couple already in-love with an established history and an eagerness to take another step towards happily ever after. This is my first experience with author Catherine Walsh and it most definitely will not be my last after this charming, romantic reading experience.
🏴 A Scottish Christmas by Lorraine Brown (2 stars):
I’m really sad that A Scottish Christmas has ultimately ended up being the sacrificial ‘least favourite’ of the bunch for me as I feel like it was trying to achieve too much in too little time. For some reason I found myself struggling with the writing flow in general and cannot discern what exactly it is that I don’t vibe with.
Our heroine Ali is treated like absolute garbage by her own family as she fulfils her ‘chief bridesmaid’ duties (aka being forced to act as a stand-in events planner) and allows herself to be walked over for the majority of the story. It’s downright disrespectful the way they all treated her and it frustrated me to no end that Ali seemed very unwilling to speak up in defence of herself which doesn’t match her later highlighted struggles that people have been known to find her too opinionated and volatile. Riley (William) is an author that is faced with enduring the aftermath of his first ever ‘release flop’ after publishing multiple bestselling titles. I really struggled to connect to his character in general as he came across as rather shallow and lacking in overall depth for me. I sympathised with his career struggles and the genuine care he seems to harbour in not letting his fan base down… and yet, despite stating on multiple occasions that his newest poor performance isn’t anybody else’s fault, Riley still read to me like somebody who is trying to shift the onto anybody other than himself. It felt like he was trying to hold as little accountability as possible, and unfortunately the way he reacted to the conflict nearer the end in the way he tried to guilt-trip Ali for doing her job just put me off his character completely.
I wasn’t feeling any chemistry between Ali and Riley as a believable couple either, unfortunately. On their third brief interaction Ali finds herself inner-monologuing, “being with William makes me feel like everything will be alright, no matter what” which feels like an excessively quick sentiment considering they know absolute nothing about one another (nor have they even exchanged names at this point) other than feeling a spark of mutual attraction. I’m all for a fast-burn dynamic in my understanding of how limited in time a novella has to flesh out a relationship, but this just wasn’t working for me on this occasion with the suddenness of their development. After spending one singular night together suddenly Riley is envisioning Ali walking down the aisle to meet him as the groom despite his self-proclaimed distaste for weddings? I couldn’t even find myself to root for them in the end either with the rather vague and uncertain note that their story concludes with.
I found it really fun to see a story centring around an author and a book critic, and think the overall premise would’ve worked better in a full-length novel. Plus as a Scottish reader I’ll always feel overjoyed to see the beauty of my country being described at lengths… uncertain weather conditions notwithstanding.
💒 White Water Wedding by Elizabeth Stephens (3.5 stars):
A down-bad man that’s all in from the first moment he sees her at the height of her frustration and inability to defeat plastic packaging? Count me in! White Water Wedding held my attention from the very beginning and there’s no denying how fun it is to explore the dynamic between a professional wedding planner and one of the groomsmen… especially when said groomsman is a six-foot-seven, professional football player that immediately calls her ‘baby’ as a term of endearment (the rules of fiction gives me permission to find this cute). Emery and Elkin’s development was so sweet in the way that he seemed to immediately understand and truly see her to her depths. Their direct communication was refreshing to see and I loved getting to see Elkin recognise Emery’s independence, whilst also being keen to step up in support of whatever she needed simply because he wanted to. The fact that he has also been longing for a genuine relationship that isn’t based on his celebrity status or how much money he’s worth felt really wholesome to understand in the way that he immediately falls for Emery in her authenticity. The book itself was a little silly at times in a really humorous way, and honestly I’m starting to sound like a broken record but you truly cannot go wrong with this fun story if you’re looking for something short and sweet. It’s endearingly charming with a fast-paced romance that still manages to make you want to swoon at some of the dialogue. I’ve had author Elizabeth Stephens on my ‘to read’ radar for far too long… so I’ll definitely be looking to prioritise her books after enjoying this unputdownable novella.
📸 Just for the Camera by Sarah Adams (4.5 stars):
Just For the Camera had me grinning and feeling giddy from the very first page with Fizzy’s drunken wit seamlessly setting a humorous tone to indulge in. Her interactions with Silas continued to highlight their magnetic and instantaneous connection with their unexpected first meeting creating an unforgettable reading experience. Their playful
banter softens into a soft and tender interaction as Fizzy feels comfortable enough to confide to Silas about the difficult night that leads up to their meet-cute, and it felt really sweet to see his endeavour in taking care of her despite having no obligation to do so. The story is short and sweet, and there’s no denying how well this overall premise works as a novella whilst leaving enough room to have wished for more out of greed. I’ve read a little of Adams’s work in the past and I’m definitely keen to read more from her after enjoying this brief experience.
⛷️ The Plus-One Pact by Lana Ferguson (4 stars):
The Plus-One Pact is an adorable friends-to-lovers story that packs a curation of fan-favourite tropes into a very short space of time. Fake dating, only one bed and is filled with a delicious amount of yearning and longing? Yes please. I was thrilled to see that this is told through dual-narration as we get to simultaneously witness Emma battle with her sudden and unexpected feelings for her best friend of five years, whilst Cole suddenly recognises his long-awaited chance to take the next step in their relationship after years of pining after her. Their dynamic works perfectly for a novella with their close bond already being established through time, even if we don’t get insight into those earlier years. Emma and Cole are both such wholesome people who recognise the merits in getting the opportunity to fall in-love with your best friend, and there’s no denying how inevitable their relationship is with the support and reaffirmation from Emma’s family. The writing is easy to follow, and overall you truly cannot go wrong with this one as a quick read for a guaranteed sweet time with some on-page spice.
💍 Just Say I Do by Catherine Walsh (4.5 stars):
Just Say I Do offers something fresh within this collection of novellas as it centres around two people already in love and preparing for one of the most important days in their lives… their wedding day. Chloe and Robbie are blissfully in love and more than ready for this next step in their lives, however unfortunately their dream of a small and intimate wedding has spiralled into something much larger. I adored getting to see how deeply both characters instinctively understand each after progressing from childhood playmates into a romantic relationship throughout their teenage years. It’s clear that their initial m friendship acts as a strong foundation for their bond and it was genuinely so wholesome to see Chloe and Robbie reassure one another that it’s the marriage that matters the most. The side-characters introduced added so much unexpected personality and heart to the story as they all jump at the chance to provide our (not entirely un)happy couple with the perfect ceremony that they never could’ve anticipated. It was really sweet to focus on a journey between a couple already in-love with an established history and an eagerness to take another step towards happily ever after. This is my first experience with author Catherine Walsh and it most definitely will not be my last after this charming, romantic reading experience.
🏴 A Scottish Christmas by Lorraine Brown (2 stars):
I’m really sad that A Scottish Christmas has ultimately ended up being the sacrificial ‘least favourite’ of the bunch for me as I feel like it was trying to achieve too much in too little time. For some reason I found myself struggling with the writing flow in general and cannot discern what exactly it is that I don’t vibe with.
Our heroine Ali is treated like absolute garbage by her own family as she fulfils her ‘chief bridesmaid’ duties (aka being forced to act as a stand-in events planner) and allows herself to be walked over for the majority of the story. It’s downright disrespectful the way they all treated her and it frustrated me to no end that Ali seemed very unwilling to speak up in defence of herself which doesn’t match her later highlighted struggles that people have been known to find her too opinionated and volatile. Riley (William) is an author that is faced with enduring the aftermath of his first ever ‘release flop’ after publishing multiple bestselling titles. I really struggled to connect to his character in general as he came across as rather shallow and lacking in overall depth for me. I sympathised with his career struggles and the genuine care he seems to harbour in not letting his fan base down… and yet, despite stating on multiple occasions that his newest poor performance isn’t anybody else’s fault, Riley still read to me like somebody who is trying to shift the onto anybody other than himself. It felt like he was trying to hold as little accountability as possible, and unfortunately the way he reacted to the conflict nearer the end in the way he tried to guilt-trip Ali for doing her job just put me off his character completely.
I wasn’t feeling any chemistry between Ali and Riley as a believable couple either, unfortunately. On their third brief interaction Ali finds herself inner-monologuing, “being with William makes me feel like everything will be alright, no matter what” which feels like an excessively quick sentiment considering they know absolute nothing about one another (nor have they even exchanged names at this point) other than feeling a spark of mutual attraction. I’m all for a fast-burn dynamic in my understanding of how limited in time a novella has to flesh out a relationship, but this just wasn’t working for me on this occasion with the suddenness of their development. After spending one singular night together suddenly Riley is envisioning Ali walking down the aisle to meet him as the groom despite his self-proclaimed distaste for weddings? I couldn’t even find myself to root for them in the end either with the rather vague and uncertain note that their story concludes with.
I found it really fun to see a story centring around an author and a book critic, and think the overall premise would’ve worked better in a full-length novel. Plus as a Scottish reader I’ll always feel overjoyed to see the beauty of my country being described at lengths… uncertain weather conditions notwithstanding.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My main issue (and this goes for the four of this series I’ve read) is that there are very little—if any—ties to the holidays. I want more holiday in my holiday novellas.
Aside from that, this story was okay. The writing style wasn’t personally my favorite (a bit cheesy), but I know that’s a personal preference. The story itself was fine, I just wasn’t in love with either character—especially the MMC.
This is dual first person with low spice.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. This will be available on kindle+ as an ebook and audiobook on November 10.
Aside from that, this story was okay. The writing style wasn’t personally my favorite (a bit cheesy), but I know that’s a personal preference. The story itself was fine, I just wasn’t in love with either character—especially the MMC.
This is dual first person with low spice.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. This will be available on kindle+ as an ebook and audiobook on November 10.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The prospect of him proposing with a whole elopement plan instead of just a proposal was very unique and sweet!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The way the first chapter was written made me very confused, the not-swearing was not cute but annoying, and the “white water” from the title only showed up for roughly four pages 71% into the book.
Would not recommend.
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.
Would not recommend.
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I DNF’d this at 27%, which was only the first chapter.
The main characters had zero chemistry. And the male lead was kind of creepy, calling the female lead pet names after knowing her for about 3 minutes - yikes. The "not-swearing" also irritated me.
This book was definitely not for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The main characters had zero chemistry. And the male lead was kind of creepy, calling the female lead pet names after knowing her for about 3 minutes - yikes. The "not-swearing" also irritated me.
This book was definitely not for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Let's be anywhere together."
Final book in the "All I Want for Christmas Collection". Another bingeable one sitting read. It's also a dual POV narration which I always appreciate.
Definitely think that people are going to eat this one up! I'm sad that I'm not one of them.
Unfortunately, this was my least favourite book of the series.. I got the instant ick from the MMC and the pet names and the instant "keep your hands off - she's mine" vibe. Literally after 10 minutes of talking. I understand that it's a short story and that things develop quickly, but my ick shouldn't be one of them.
Emery was cute in trying not to swear (we've all been there) but I can't get past Elkin.
"Perseverance is both my biggest flaw and my most positive trait."
"You're not a side quest."
"When was the last time you really felt heard?"
"When was the last time you ever asked somebody for help?"
ALC received from NetGalley.
Final book in the "All I Want for Christmas Collection". Another bingeable one sitting read. It's also a dual POV narration which I always appreciate.
Definitely think that people are going to eat this one up! I'm sad that I'm not one of them.
Unfortunately, this was my least favourite book of the series.. I got the instant ick from the MMC and the pet names and the instant "keep your hands off - she's mine" vibe. Literally after 10 minutes of talking. I understand that it's a short story and that things develop quickly, but my ick shouldn't be one of them.
Emery was cute in trying not to swear (we've all been there) but I can't get past Elkin.
"Perseverance is both my biggest flaw and my most positive trait."
"You're not a side quest."
"When was the last time you really felt heard?"
"When was the last time you ever asked somebody for help?"
ALC received from NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
﹒⌗﹒advanced reader copy received through netgalley in exchange of an honest review ⸝⸝
| "Understand me when I say this, Emery. You're not a side quest."
white water wedding by elizabeth stephens is clearly not for me, and, being completely honest, i don't see myself recommending it to anyone, although i'm sure there are readers who will enjoy it more than i did.
i've come to accept that i might be particularly difficult to please when it comes to romance novellas, perhaps more than with any other kind of novella, because there is only so much you can realistically accomplish in fewer than seventy pages, and this one is barely fifty. when you're working with such a limited amount of space, you need to be very intentional about what you include, especially when it comes to making two characters fall in love. i'm perfectly happy with instalove when the circumstances justify it, but if you want me to believe that two people have developed genuine feelings for each other in the span of a few interactions, you need to give me a reason to buy into it.
take love antidote by brynne weaver, for example. it's also a short novella, but i bought into the romance because the circumstances gave the characters a believable reason to become attached so quickly. they're relying on each other in life-or-death situations, which naturally creates intense emotions and forces them to develop a level of trust that might take much longer to establish under normal circumstances. does that mean everyone who survives a dangerous situation together will fall in love? obviously not, but at least there's a foundation for why these particular people might.
white water wedding, on the other hand, gives us emery, a wedding planner, and elkin, a sports player attending a wedding as a guest of the groom, and apparently that's enough to make them fall for each other. unfortunately, i never understood why.
their interactions simply didn't give me anything to work with. i couldn't identify the moment when they started liking each other, let alone understand how that attraction supposedly developed into something strong enough to justify the speed of their relationship. their conversations didn't spark anything in me, their dynamic didn't make me particularly curious about what would happen next, and i never found myself thinking that these two people made sense together. the romance was quick, which is expected given the length, but it was also boring, and that's a much bigger problem. i can forgive a lack of development when a novella has a compelling reason to move quickly, but when the characters aren't giving me anything that makes their attraction believable, there's only so much goodwill i can offer.
emery herself was also a bit of a disappointment, particularly because of how her dreams and personality were framed. she describes getting married as her childhood dream and explains that she always wanted it because she was a girly girl who made all her barbies get married. and listen, i have absolutely nothing against a woman who dreams of getting married. i would love to get married one day myself, preferably in a romance that makes me feel like i've stepped into one of my favorite romantic comedies, and i think there's something lovely about growing up with a particular idea of love that you hope to experience someday. but even when i was a little girl dreaming about romcoms, it wasn't just because i wanted the romance. those women also had the coolest jobs, the most interesting lives, the best of friends, and the sort of adventures that made me want to climb into the screen and join them.
that's what bothered me about emery's characterization: the way her dream is presented makes it feel as though marriage is the defining ambition of her entire childhood, rather than one part of a fuller personality. perhaps this wouldn't have bothered me as much if the book had given her other dreams, interests, or ambitions to balance it out, but as it stands, i found her a little shallow. and especially with the rise of the trad wife movement and the way women's happiness is increasingly framed around finding a husband and building a domestic life, i think it's worth being a little more thoughtful about how these ideas are presented in fiction.
no, wanting to get married is not trad wife propaganda, and i'm certainly not suggesting that every fictional woman needs to dream of becoming a ceo or discovering a new planet before she's allowed to fall in love. but there's a difference between a character who genuinely wants marriage and a character whose entire sense of herself seems to revolve around that one dream. i wanted a little more from emery, and i never quite got it.
elkin was... fine, i suppose, but his possessiveness was another thing that didn't work for me. for someone who has known emery for approximately five minutes, he seems remarkably comfortable making declarations that might sound hot on paper but would have me calling my best friend immediately to explain what the hell just happened. and i'm not even opposed to possessive love interests as a general concept. i understand the appeal, and i can absolutely enjoy a fictional man who is a little intense about the woman he loves, provided the story gives me a reason to believe that intensity belongs in their relationship.
but context matters. bringing us back to love antidote, the male lead's protectiveness makes sense because the characters are assassins dealing with genuinely dangerous circumstances. their lives are at risk, and the threats around them give his behavior a foundation within the story. in white water wedding, we're dealing with a wedding planner and a wedding guest. nobody is asking elkin to infiltrate an international criminal organization to save emery's life. there is no comparable danger that would make his level of possessiveness feel necessary, and because the relationship itself hasn't been developed enough to establish that kind of intimacy, his behavior just feels premature. if possessive heroes are your cup of tea, you might enjoy him more than i did, but for me, the combination of instant attachment and a lack of convincing chemistry made it difficult to find his behavior romantic.
and then we have the continuity error, which genuinely baffled me because this is such a short book that i would have hoped someone might catch it during proofreading. at one point, emery says, "her single mama didn't raise a quitter," but later we get, "my parents are still together, and pictures of them on their wedding day still hang on our walls." so which is it? was she raised by a single mother, or did she grow up with parents who are still married? because those are two rather different family histories, and it's especially strange when the relationship between her parents is apparently one of the reasons marriage matters so much to her.
i could probably overlook a small continuity error in a longer book, where a character's hair changes color between chapters or someone is suddenly wearing a different outfit than they were a page ago. those mistakes are annoying, but they don't necessarily change how i understand the character. this, however, is a detail about emery's upbringing, and it directly affects how the story presents her lifelong dream of getting married. in a book this short, where every single detail about the characters needs to do a considerable amount of work, having two contradictory statements about something so fundamental is particularly disappointing.
but none of that prepared me for the epilogue, which features a surprise wedding for the main couple and is, quite possibly, my personal nightmare in romantic-comedy form. i need to clarify that this is a matter of personal taste, because i know plenty of people would find the gesture romantic, and i'm not going to suggest that there's anything wrong with wanting a surprise wedding. however, if my hypothetical fiancé ever tried to pull something like this on me, my best friend would probably be the first person to intervene, because we've already discussed at length how much we would both hate this exact scenario. the fact that the book presents it as the ultimate romantic gesture only made me more aware of how badly it would go for me personally.
the idea is apparently that elkin wants to spare emery the stress of planning her own wedding, since she's a wedding planner who already gets stressed while organizing other people's weddings. on paper, i can understand the intention. he wants to take the burden off her shoulders and give her a day where she doesn't have to worry about every little detail. unfortunately, the execution raises approximately seventeen questions, and i cannot stop thinking about any of them.
first, they're coming back from a hike, which means emery is wearing an orange and pink top with biker shorts, has no makeup on, hasn't styled her hair, and is presumably sweaty. now, there's nothing wrong with getting married without makeup or in athletic clothes, and people should absolutely be allowed to look however they want on their wedding day. the problem is that this particular character has spent the book being presented as someone whose lifelong dream is to get married. are we really supposed to believe that the woman who has apparently dreamed about this moment since childhood wouldn't have any feelings about how she looked or what she was wearing when it finally happened? maybe she wouldn't care, but the story hasn't done enough to establish that, and i certainly wasn't convinced.
second, it's not even just a surprise wedding. it's a surprise proposal first, which is an entirely separate level of terrifying for me. being proposed to in public is already one of my personal nightmares, but being proposed to in front of your wedding party, who are apparently ready and waiting for your actual wedding to begin, would have me looking for the nearest exit. a proposal should be something the people involved have discussed enough that both know they're on the same page about getting married, even if the exact moment is a surprise. turning the proposal itself into a public spectacle and immediately following it with a wedding leaves very little room for the person being proposed to to process anything, let alone decide how they want this major life event to unfold.
and third, elkin has chosen emery's wedding dress for her to change into after she accepts the proposal. i'm sorry, but WHAT? this is the woman who has apparently dreamed of getting married her entire life, who has four older sisters and a loving mother, and we're supposed to believe she wouldn't want to go wedding dress shopping? she wouldn't want to pick out her own dress, try different styles, or share that experience with the people she loves? perhaps she genuinely wouldn't, but the story has given me every reason to believe that choosing her wedding dress would be an important part of the experience for her. having elkin make that decision on her behalf feels less like a romantic surprise and more like the author forgot what kind of character she'd been writing.
and that's what really makes the epilogue frustrating beyond my personal horror at the situation: it doesn't even feel consistent with emery herself. if she were a character who hated planning, had never cared much about weddings, and wanted nothing more than to get married without the fuss, then perhaps this gesture would make sense. but we're talking about a woman whose identity and childhood dreams have been so closely tied to marriage that the book barely gives her room to want anything else. surely someone like that would have opinions about her own wedding, even if she didn't want to plan every last detail herself. the story seems to confuse wanting to get married with wanting someone else to make all the decisions for you, and those are not remotely the same thing.
ultimately, white water wedding was simply not for me. the romance didn't convince me, the characters didn't give me enough to become invested in their relationship, the continuity error was distracting, and the epilogue managed to turn what was supposed to be a romantic grand gesture into a checklist of things i would personally never want to experience. i can appreciate that a short romance has limited space to develop its characters, but that makes it even more important for the moments that are included to feel earned and consistent.
it was quick, at least, which means i didn't spend too long wondering whether emery and elkin would eventually give me a reason to believe in them. unfortunately, i can't say i'd recommend it, and if you're anything like me, you might want to keep your best friend on speed dial in case anyone ever tries to organize your wedding without asking you first.
| "Understand me when I say this, Emery. You're not a side quest."
white water wedding by elizabeth stephens is clearly not for me, and, being completely honest, i don't see myself recommending it to anyone, although i'm sure there are readers who will enjoy it more than i did.
i've come to accept that i might be particularly difficult to please when it comes to romance novellas, perhaps more than with any other kind of novella, because there is only so much you can realistically accomplish in fewer than seventy pages, and this one is barely fifty. when you're working with such a limited amount of space, you need to be very intentional about what you include, especially when it comes to making two characters fall in love. i'm perfectly happy with instalove when the circumstances justify it, but if you want me to believe that two people have developed genuine feelings for each other in the span of a few interactions, you need to give me a reason to buy into it.
take love antidote by brynne weaver, for example. it's also a short novella, but i bought into the romance because the circumstances gave the characters a believable reason to become attached so quickly. they're relying on each other in life-or-death situations, which naturally creates intense emotions and forces them to develop a level of trust that might take much longer to establish under normal circumstances. does that mean everyone who survives a dangerous situation together will fall in love? obviously not, but at least there's a foundation for why these particular people might.
white water wedding, on the other hand, gives us emery, a wedding planner, and elkin, a sports player attending a wedding as a guest of the groom, and apparently that's enough to make them fall for each other. unfortunately, i never understood why.
their interactions simply didn't give me anything to work with. i couldn't identify the moment when they started liking each other, let alone understand how that attraction supposedly developed into something strong enough to justify the speed of their relationship. their conversations didn't spark anything in me, their dynamic didn't make me particularly curious about what would happen next, and i never found myself thinking that these two people made sense together. the romance was quick, which is expected given the length, but it was also boring, and that's a much bigger problem. i can forgive a lack of development when a novella has a compelling reason to move quickly, but when the characters aren't giving me anything that makes their attraction believable, there's only so much goodwill i can offer.
emery herself was also a bit of a disappointment, particularly because of how her dreams and personality were framed. she describes getting married as her childhood dream and explains that she always wanted it because she was a girly girl who made all her barbies get married. and listen, i have absolutely nothing against a woman who dreams of getting married. i would love to get married one day myself, preferably in a romance that makes me feel like i've stepped into one of my favorite romantic comedies, and i think there's something lovely about growing up with a particular idea of love that you hope to experience someday. but even when i was a little girl dreaming about romcoms, it wasn't just because i wanted the romance. those women also had the coolest jobs, the most interesting lives, the best of friends, and the sort of adventures that made me want to climb into the screen and join them.
that's what bothered me about emery's characterization: the way her dream is presented makes it feel as though marriage is the defining ambition of her entire childhood, rather than one part of a fuller personality. perhaps this wouldn't have bothered me as much if the book had given her other dreams, interests, or ambitions to balance it out, but as it stands, i found her a little shallow. and especially with the rise of the trad wife movement and the way women's happiness is increasingly framed around finding a husband and building a domestic life, i think it's worth being a little more thoughtful about how these ideas are presented in fiction.
no, wanting to get married is not trad wife propaganda, and i'm certainly not suggesting that every fictional woman needs to dream of becoming a ceo or discovering a new planet before she's allowed to fall in love. but there's a difference between a character who genuinely wants marriage and a character whose entire sense of herself seems to revolve around that one dream. i wanted a little more from emery, and i never quite got it.
elkin was... fine, i suppose, but his possessiveness was another thing that didn't work for me. for someone who has known emery for approximately five minutes, he seems remarkably comfortable making declarations that might sound hot on paper but would have me calling my best friend immediately to explain what the hell just happened. and i'm not even opposed to possessive love interests as a general concept. i understand the appeal, and i can absolutely enjoy a fictional man who is a little intense about the woman he loves, provided the story gives me a reason to believe that intensity belongs in their relationship.
but context matters. bringing us back to love antidote, the male lead's protectiveness makes sense because the characters are assassins dealing with genuinely dangerous circumstances. their lives are at risk, and the threats around them give his behavior a foundation within the story. in white water wedding, we're dealing with a wedding planner and a wedding guest. nobody is asking elkin to infiltrate an international criminal organization to save emery's life. there is no comparable danger that would make his level of possessiveness feel necessary, and because the relationship itself hasn't been developed enough to establish that kind of intimacy, his behavior just feels premature. if possessive heroes are your cup of tea, you might enjoy him more than i did, but for me, the combination of instant attachment and a lack of convincing chemistry made it difficult to find his behavior romantic.
and then we have the continuity error, which genuinely baffled me because this is such a short book that i would have hoped someone might catch it during proofreading. at one point, emery says, "her single mama didn't raise a quitter," but later we get, "my parents are still together, and pictures of them on their wedding day still hang on our walls." so which is it? was she raised by a single mother, or did she grow up with parents who are still married? because those are two rather different family histories, and it's especially strange when the relationship between her parents is apparently one of the reasons marriage matters so much to her.
i could probably overlook a small continuity error in a longer book, where a character's hair changes color between chapters or someone is suddenly wearing a different outfit than they were a page ago. those mistakes are annoying, but they don't necessarily change how i understand the character. this, however, is a detail about emery's upbringing, and it directly affects how the story presents her lifelong dream of getting married. in a book this short, where every single detail about the characters needs to do a considerable amount of work, having two contradictory statements about something so fundamental is particularly disappointing.
but none of that prepared me for the epilogue, which features a surprise wedding for the main couple and is, quite possibly, my personal nightmare in romantic-comedy form. i need to clarify that this is a matter of personal taste, because i know plenty of people would find the gesture romantic, and i'm not going to suggest that there's anything wrong with wanting a surprise wedding. however, if my hypothetical fiancé ever tried to pull something like this on me, my best friend would probably be the first person to intervene, because we've already discussed at length how much we would both hate this exact scenario. the fact that the book presents it as the ultimate romantic gesture only made me more aware of how badly it would go for me personally.
the idea is apparently that elkin wants to spare emery the stress of planning her own wedding, since she's a wedding planner who already gets stressed while organizing other people's weddings. on paper, i can understand the intention. he wants to take the burden off her shoulders and give her a day where she doesn't have to worry about every little detail. unfortunately, the execution raises approximately seventeen questions, and i cannot stop thinking about any of them.
first, they're coming back from a hike, which means emery is wearing an orange and pink top with biker shorts, has no makeup on, hasn't styled her hair, and is presumably sweaty. now, there's nothing wrong with getting married without makeup or in athletic clothes, and people should absolutely be allowed to look however they want on their wedding day. the problem is that this particular character has spent the book being presented as someone whose lifelong dream is to get married. are we really supposed to believe that the woman who has apparently dreamed about this moment since childhood wouldn't have any feelings about how she looked or what she was wearing when it finally happened? maybe she wouldn't care, but the story hasn't done enough to establish that, and i certainly wasn't convinced.
second, it's not even just a surprise wedding. it's a surprise proposal first, which is an entirely separate level of terrifying for me. being proposed to in public is already one of my personal nightmares, but being proposed to in front of your wedding party, who are apparently ready and waiting for your actual wedding to begin, would have me looking for the nearest exit. a proposal should be something the people involved have discussed enough that both know they're on the same page about getting married, even if the exact moment is a surprise. turning the proposal itself into a public spectacle and immediately following it with a wedding leaves very little room for the person being proposed to to process anything, let alone decide how they want this major life event to unfold.
and third, elkin has chosen emery's wedding dress for her to change into after she accepts the proposal. i'm sorry, but WHAT? this is the woman who has apparently dreamed of getting married her entire life, who has four older sisters and a loving mother, and we're supposed to believe she wouldn't want to go wedding dress shopping? she wouldn't want to pick out her own dress, try different styles, or share that experience with the people she loves? perhaps she genuinely wouldn't, but the story has given me every reason to believe that choosing her wedding dress would be an important part of the experience for her. having elkin make that decision on her behalf feels less like a romantic surprise and more like the author forgot what kind of character she'd been writing.
and that's what really makes the epilogue frustrating beyond my personal horror at the situation: it doesn't even feel consistent with emery herself. if she were a character who hated planning, had never cared much about weddings, and wanted nothing more than to get married without the fuss, then perhaps this gesture would make sense. but we're talking about a woman whose identity and childhood dreams have been so closely tied to marriage that the book barely gives her room to want anything else. surely someone like that would have opinions about her own wedding, even if she didn't want to plan every last detail herself. the story seems to confuse wanting to get married with wanting someone else to make all the decisions for you, and those are not remotely the same thing.
ultimately, white water wedding was simply not for me. the romance didn't convince me, the characters didn't give me enough to become invested in their relationship, the continuity error was distracting, and the epilogue managed to turn what was supposed to be a romantic grand gesture into a checklist of things i would personally never want to experience. i can appreciate that a short romance has limited space to develop its characters, but that makes it even more important for the moments that are included to feel earned and consistent.
it was quick, at least, which means i didn't spend too long wondering whether emery and elkin would eventually give me a reason to believe in them. unfortunately, i can't say i'd recommend it, and if you're anything like me, you might want to keep your best friend on speed dial in case anyone ever tries to organize your wedding without asking you first.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you so much to netgalley, brilliance publishing and amazon original stories for providing me with and alc and arc of this book - this review has been written voluntarily and contains my honest thoughts and opinions!
obviously by this point im super well versed in these amazon originals stories and expect a moderate amount of instalove but woah this one was a little bit crazy hahaha - I do wish there was just a slight bit more of a build up between our main characters. I think that if we got maybe 15-20 more pages then this could've been an incredible, incredible novella... even so, I did really enjoy what I got to see of this authors writing so I would definitely be inclined to check our more of their longer works!
generally though, this one was thoroughly enjoyable! I truly do love when we get to see our lover girls get their happy ending, especially when it seems like they've given up on the prospects of thinking they would get one!
both narrators were super fun to listen to, they truly carried this story through and genuinely felt like they had actual chemistry with each other which truly made this book come to life. I will definitely be going to check out their other and future work!!
obviously by this point im super well versed in these amazon originals stories and expect a moderate amount of instalove but woah this one was a little bit crazy hahaha - I do wish there was just a slight bit more of a build up between our main characters. I think that if we got maybe 15-20 more pages then this could've been an incredible, incredible novella... even so, I did really enjoy what I got to see of this authors writing so I would definitely be inclined to check our more of their longer works!
generally though, this one was thoroughly enjoyable! I truly do love when we get to see our lover girls get their happy ending, especially when it seems like they've given up on the prospects of thinking they would get one!
both narrators were super fun to listen to, they truly carried this story through and genuinely felt like they had actual chemistry with each other which truly made this book come to life. I will definitely be going to check out their other and future work!!
November 10, 2026
4.5 stars
This was a cute, funny, pg short read. These two were just so adorable. Their first meeting was priceless. I love that she’s a bit smitten with him, “He’s a siren. He doesn’t need to be out here scandalizing the female population like he is.”, and she’s so funny about it. He’s as equally smitten, ok probably a bit more to be honest, I believe he considers himself obsessed. But when he calls her baby girl, I melt a bit. I can hear his voice in my head, smooth and deep, checks all my voice boxes, and your girl loves a deep voice…I guess I’m a voice snob, among all the other things. There was a sweet epilogue, because he is just the sweetest most thoughtful guy, his outside definitely matches his inside, he’s more than a sexy siren with great forearms that knows what he wants, and a hea. Great short holiday read.
This was a cute, funny, pg short read. These two were just so adorable. Their first meeting was priceless. I love that she’s a bit smitten with him, “He’s a siren. He doesn’t need to be out here scandalizing the female population like he is.”, and she’s so funny about it. He’s as equally smitten, ok probably a bit more to be honest, I believe he considers himself obsessed. But when he calls her baby girl, I melt a bit. I can hear his voice in my head, smooth and deep, checks all my voice boxes, and your girl loves a deep voice…I guess I’m a voice snob, among all the other things. There was a sweet epilogue, because he is just the sweetest most thoughtful guy, his outside definitely matches his inside, he’s more than a sexy siren with great forearms that knows what he wants, and a hea. Great short holiday read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley & Amazon for the earc of White Water Wedding by Elizabeth Stephens.
This is the fourth book that I've read from the AOS All I Want for Christmas collection.
Out of the four books I've read, I hate to admit this was a miss for me.
The characters weren't very likable. I'm not into overly possessive male characters (totally a me thing- I know) but I also didn't care for the humor in this particular story and a few lines made me cringe.
There are definitely positives to this story despite the few things mentioned above.
I did like that there was a diverse cast of characters. The writing itself was not altogether un enjoyable and it did have a lot going on in the 52 pgs.
Overall, it wasn't terrible but it's not for me.
This is the fourth book that I've read from the AOS All I Want for Christmas collection.
Out of the four books I've read, I hate to admit this was a miss for me.
The characters weren't very likable. I'm not into overly possessive male characters (totally a me thing- I know) but I also didn't care for the humor in this particular story and a few lines made me cringe.
There are definitely positives to this story despite the few things mentioned above.
I did like that there was a diverse cast of characters. The writing itself was not altogether un enjoyable and it did have a lot going on in the 52 pgs.
Overall, it wasn't terrible but it's not for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First, thank you, NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories, for letting me get an e-ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.
3/5 — stars
This book follows Emery, a wedding planner, as she deals with a couple who are a nightmare. She is dreading the wedding until she meets Elkin, a guest at the wedding. It was a fun, quick read. I felt that some parts were awkward, and the MMC was sometimes more unlikeable than appealing, as he came on very strong and intense. But overall, it was a good read, and I always appreciate having two POVs when the book is really short
3/5 — stars
This book follows Emery, a wedding planner, as she deals with a couple who are a nightmare. She is dreading the wedding until she meets Elkin, a guest at the wedding. It was a fun, quick read. I felt that some parts were awkward, and the MMC was sometimes more unlikeable than appealing, as he came on very strong and intense. But overall, it was a good read, and I always appreciate having two POVs when the book is really short
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"I bet it would take a miracle to get you to ask me for help."
"I'd like to stick around and wait for that miracle, if that's okay with you."
This was so cute?! I loved the whole wedding planner x groomsman dynamic. It was short, sweet, with the cutest little epilogue at the end. Emery is soooo eldest daughter coded, taking care of everyone else and never letting anyone take care of her, until Elkin comes along that is ;)
I'm such a big fan of Elizabeth Stephens writing, it's so fun and never fails to crack me up. I truly don't know why the ratings are so low, I thought this was such a cute holiday novella, and THE CASUAL "BABY"?? I was screaming. I am forever feral for a casual pet name drop and that was no different here. Did I think he might have used too many at one point? Yes, but regardless love a man who know what he wants, and will do anything to give the girl he wants everything. (no spoilers, but that ending!?? SO FREAKING THOUGHTFUL!)
Thank you to the publisher for the arc! White Water Wedding is out November 10th!
"I'd like to stick around and wait for that miracle, if that's okay with you."
This was so cute?! I loved the whole wedding planner x groomsman dynamic. It was short, sweet, with the cutest little epilogue at the end. Emery is soooo eldest daughter coded, taking care of everyone else and never letting anyone take care of her, until Elkin comes along that is ;)
I'm such a big fan of Elizabeth Stephens writing, it's so fun and never fails to crack me up. I truly don't know why the ratings are so low, I thought this was such a cute holiday novella, and THE CASUAL "BABY"?? I was screaming. I am forever feral for a casual pet name drop and that was no different here. Did I think he might have used too many at one point? Yes, but regardless love a man who know what he wants, and will do anything to give the girl he wants everything. (no spoilers, but that ending!?? SO FREAKING THOUGHTFUL!)
Thank you to the publisher for the arc! White Water Wedding is out November 10th!
November 11, 2026
I loved this short, sweet, and spicy little read. I’m pretty asexual, but Stephens’s mmcs do something to me that very few other characters can achieve. Like…it’s really hot. I also loved that this is dedicated to the “Blerds”.
Definitely listen to the audio for this. But narrators were great, but the mmc was just perfect.
Definitely listen to the audio for this. But narrators were great, but the mmc was just perfect.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Listen. Amazon sets these little stories at like 50 pages, so the one thing we are going to have? Instalove. Emery is a wedding planner for a high-intensity couple, and she meets one of the wedding party, Elkin and he is in immediate flirt mode. Basically he's a walking green flag, arranging a lovely drinks on a terrace, absolutely not a player despite being a pro athlete, saving her from falling into the water, keeping it kisses-only (in a Stephens book! I know!) because he wants to make this a long-term thing after minutes together. He gets Emery, and even though she has a habit of being prickly so she doesn't wonder why people don't like her, he likes her. HEA the end. It's a little too short and smooth to really read real, but the author did the job of the anthology.
November 11, 2026
🌟 ARC review of White Water Wedding by Elizabeth Stephens 🌟
Elizabeth Stephens writing will always be a comfort read for me. Happy release day to the author!
Before I get into my review, let me address something.
I saw a review of this short story and the reason the person rated it low was because “they couldn’t relate to the characters or the story.” This excuse, one I first encountered after seeing a review of Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport, always comes when the character or author is not… For whatever reason, it has become a sort of cop out for people to reinforce their bias towards certain stories. PUHLEASEEE, find another excuse. It’s getting old. This is 2026. Provide constructive criticism on why a story did not work for you. Do not be shallow. Thank you.
Now to my review of this yummy readddd!
I like how short, sweet and moving this story is. It’s the story of Emery and Elkin, two people from supposedly different worlds who connect at a wedding Emery is planning and their meeting involves them finding comfort in each other while also managing the insufferable energy of the couple.
I like how Emery grows beyond her stereotypes about athletes and romance and finding love. I also like how Elkin supports her even without knowing who she is. I feel they were both drawn to each other within the first few minutes of meeting and Elizabeth Stephens does a great job of capturing the tension and maturity between them.
The narrator of this story did a fantastic job of expressing Emery’s emotions and her tension around Elkin. The narrator for Elkin also showed Elkin’s need to make Emery SEE him outside of her bias against athletes.
I think the title is super creative as it plays on a very important moment in the story. I really like how it’s incorporated into it and the symbolism of it.
If you like contemporary romance, something short and sweet, with a wedding theme and with an athlete MMC, you should read this!
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC!
Elizabeth Stephens writing will always be a comfort read for me. Happy release day to the author!
Before I get into my review, let me address something.
I saw a review of this short story and the reason the person rated it low was because “they couldn’t relate to the characters or the story.” This excuse, one I first encountered after seeing a review of Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport, always comes when the character or author is not… For whatever reason, it has become a sort of cop out for people to reinforce their bias towards certain stories. PUHLEASEEE, find another excuse. It’s getting old. This is 2026. Provide constructive criticism on why a story did not work for you. Do not be shallow. Thank you.
Now to my review of this yummy readddd!
I like how short, sweet and moving this story is. It’s the story of Emery and Elkin, two people from supposedly different worlds who connect at a wedding Emery is planning and their meeting involves them finding comfort in each other while also managing the insufferable energy of the couple.
I like how Emery grows beyond her stereotypes about athletes and romance and finding love. I also like how Elkin supports her even without knowing who she is. I feel they were both drawn to each other within the first few minutes of meeting and Elizabeth Stephens does a great job of capturing the tension and maturity between them.
The narrator of this story did a fantastic job of expressing Emery’s emotions and her tension around Elkin. The narrator for Elkin also showed Elkin’s need to make Emery SEE him outside of her bias against athletes.
I think the title is super creative as it plays on a very important moment in the story. I really like how it’s incorporated into it and the symbolism of it.
If you like contemporary romance, something short and sweet, with a wedding theme and with an athlete MMC, you should read this!
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the ARC
The first couple of paragraphs really grabbed me, and I thought I might be in for a fun time and some quirky humour, but it lost me pretty quickly after that. While the writing did have some cute and fun moments, at times the jokes and wording did take me out of the story, and it read a little bit too much on the cheesy-side.
In terms of the characters, I didn't find really find any of them very appealing. Most of the side characters just seem like terrible people and I didn't really find the main characters all that likeable or interesting either. Without any attachment to the characters, I also didn't feel all that compelled by the plot so there wasn't a lot to keep me interested. The relationship itself was intensely insta-love in a way that was pretty off-putting and I really didn't enjoy, especially on the part of the MMC.
While it's completely understandable for there to be limited opportunity for character or relationship development in such a short story, even keeping that in mind, this one still didn't really work for me.
In saying that, this may be a great pick for anyone looking for a super quick and lighthearted holiday-ish romance, particularly with diverse characters. While the humour wasn't for me in the end, I would still recommend that anyone who finds the premise interesting give it a try.
The first couple of paragraphs really grabbed me, and I thought I might be in for a fun time and some quirky humour, but it lost me pretty quickly after that. While the writing did have some cute and fun moments, at times the jokes and wording did take me out of the story, and it read a little bit too much on the cheesy-side.
In terms of the characters, I didn't find really find any of them very appealing. Most of the side characters just seem like terrible people and I didn't really find the main characters all that likeable or interesting either. Without any attachment to the characters, I also didn't feel all that compelled by the plot so there wasn't a lot to keep me interested. The relationship itself was intensely insta-love in a way that was pretty off-putting and I really didn't enjoy, especially on the part of the MMC.
While it's completely understandable for there to be limited opportunity for character or relationship development in such a short story, even keeping that in mind, this one still didn't really work for me.
In saying that, this may be a great pick for anyone looking for a super quick and lighthearted holiday-ish romance, particularly with diverse characters. While the humour wasn't for me in the end, I would still recommend that anyone who finds the premise interesting give it a try.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 2.25 stars
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest, I really don't know how to rate a book like this.
After seeing a review mentioning that the book contained only kissing, I decided to give it a try, since I'm more of a closed-door romance reader. However, this book was somewhere in between. It's true that the only physical intimacy is kissing, but there are some conversations that are open to interpretation, if you know what I mean.
Maybe it's because this is a short story, but the emotions felt all over the place, and I didn't really feel much depth in the characters or their connection.
There is a lot of potential in the storyline, but perhaps the story is simply too short to properly develop the characters and their relationship. Emery doesn't want to be just a "side quest", but unfortunately, that's exactly how the story felt to me.
Spice rating: Only kissing, with some language and conversations open to interpretation.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest, I really don't know how to rate a book like this.
After seeing a review mentioning that the book contained only kissing, I decided to give it a try, since I'm more of a closed-door romance reader. However, this book was somewhere in between. It's true that the only physical intimacy is kissing, but there are some conversations that are open to interpretation, if you know what I mean.
Maybe it's because this is a short story, but the emotions felt all over the place, and I didn't really feel much depth in the characters or their connection.
There is a lot of potential in the storyline, but perhaps the story is simply too short to properly develop the characters and their relationship. Emery doesn't want to be just a "side quest", but unfortunately, that's exactly how the story felt to me.
Spice rating: Only kissing, with some language and conversations open to interpretation.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC and NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ARC.
I did the audiobook and also the book.
The premise sounded cute and I was so excited for it, but sadly this book just didn’t sit right with me.
You know that guy who’s trying so hard to be charming but it’s just cringe, who’s controlling and possessive and love bombing you from the start? The one you’re trying to escape? Well, that was the MMC.
The FMC was almost childish at times, insecure and anxious, and I felt like he was attracted to her because she’s easy to manipulate. He was just the biggest red flag.
I’m sorry, but I just could not see it any other way.
I’m aware someone might enjoy this book, but these are my opinions.
🎧 Audiobook narrated by Dara Brown and Sean Crisden. The audiobook was narrated well, my issue is with the MMC, not the audiobook!
Book: 2 ⭐️
Audiobook: 3 ⭐️
I did the audiobook and also the book.
The premise sounded cute and I was so excited for it, but sadly this book just didn’t sit right with me.
You know that guy who’s trying so hard to be charming but it’s just cringe, who’s controlling and possessive and love bombing you from the start? The one you’re trying to escape? Well, that was the MMC.
The FMC was almost childish at times, insecure and anxious, and I felt like he was attracted to her because she’s easy to manipulate. He was just the biggest red flag.
I’m sorry, but I just could not see it any other way.
I’m aware someone might enjoy this book, but these are my opinions.
🎧 Audiobook narrated by Dara Brown and Sean Crisden. The audiobook was narrated well, my issue is with the MMC, not the audiobook!
Book: 2 ⭐️
Audiobook: 3 ⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun short read.
This is my first book by the author and I wish it would have been a bit longer. It was quite fun and cute and it had some quirky humor.
The main characters are alright but I couldn't really relate to them given the story being so short and the main characters so little developed. All side characters seem to be terrible people and I wish we could have read more about them.
The ending was nice and it made me want to read more books by this author.
The audiobook was well narrated and the voices and tone fit the characters well, it was really nice to be able to listen to this story.
Thank you Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing, Amazon Original Stories for an ALC of this novella. All opinions are my own.
This is my first book by the author and I wish it would have been a bit longer. It was quite fun and cute and it had some quirky humor.
The main characters are alright but I couldn't really relate to them given the story being so short and the main characters so little developed. All side characters seem to be terrible people and I wish we could have read more about them.
The ending was nice and it made me want to read more books by this author.
The audiobook was well narrated and the voices and tone fit the characters well, it was really nice to be able to listen to this story.
Thank you Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing, Amazon Original Stories for an ALC of this novella. All opinions are my own.
November 11, 2026
Emery is a wedding planner for a difficult couple and Elkin is one of the guests. They bump into each other and he seems to be immediately interested, but she is more hesitant. It is written in dual POV, but most of it is from Emery's POV.
Okay, I'm not sure this really worked in short story format because things escalate QUICKLY. Elkin starts dropping pet names almost immediately. After stating that she has no reason to trust him (because they just met), so he wants to earn it, but then he physically pulls her over to him, which I did not love. I think they needed more time to build up.
Thanks Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for an opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Okay, I'm not sure this really worked in short story format because things escalate QUICKLY. Elkin starts dropping pet names almost immediately. After stating that she has no reason to trust him (because they just met), so he wants to earn it, but then he physically pulls her over to him, which I did not love. I think they needed more time to build up.
Thanks Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for an opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.
November 11, 2026
Emery is a wedding planner for a difficult couple and Elkin is one of the guests. They bump into each other and he seems to be immediately interested, but she is more hesitant. It is written in dual POV, but most of it is from Emery's POV. The audio is also dual format, which is awesome.
Okay, I'm not sure this really worked in short story format because things escalate QUICKLY. Elkin starts dropping pet names almost immediately. After stating that she has no reason to trust him (because they just met), so he wants to earn it, but then he physically pulls her over to him, which I did not love. I think they needed more time to build up.
Thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for an opportunity to listen and review. All opinions are my own.
Okay, I'm not sure this really worked in short story format because things escalate QUICKLY. Elkin starts dropping pet names almost immediately. After stating that she has no reason to trust him (because they just met), so he wants to earn it, but then he physically pulls her over to him, which I did not love. I think they needed more time to build up.
Thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for an opportunity to listen and review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Amazon Publishing and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this as an arc!
This one was my favourite one out of the five, I loved every single second of it and I need Elizabeth Stephens to write a sports romance, like right now. I might have to check out her Supers in love series, because honestly I don't know what she put in this one but I couldn't stop reading. Elkin was *chef's kiss*, my A different world obsession for sure didn't help because kept picturing him as Cornell Young IV and it made me wish to have a full version of this even stronger. I really wish this was a full length novel.
This one was my favourite one out of the five, I loved every single second of it and I need Elizabeth Stephens to write a sports romance, like right now. I might have to check out her Supers in love series, because honestly I don't know what she put in this one but I couldn't stop reading. Elkin was *chef's kiss*, my A different world obsession for sure didn't help because kept picturing him as Cornell Young IV and it made me wish to have a full version of this even stronger. I really wish this was a full length novel.
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