What do you think?
Rate this book
Daniel & Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist
When Daniel gets caught up in the demands of a cheeky wedding planning app, his fiancé Erik grows frustrated with his preoccupation with adhering to heterosexual traditions. Will Daniel’s groomzilla ways give them the wedding of their dreams, or ultimately lead to their relationship’s demise?
194 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2016
3 people are currently reading
330 people want to read
About the author
K.E. Belledonne
2 books67 followersK. E. Belledonne is a writer and translator based in the French Alps. A native New-Englander, Kat spends her time listening to Glenn Miller records, reading history books and cheering on her beloved Red Sox.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 2, 2016
When I first start reading Daniel & Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist by K.E. Belledonne I have to admit I was a little dubious about the writing. I'm not a fan of the style the author chose to write the story, other times the switch between the present and the past often turned me off and made me confused. The beauty of discovering a new author! K.E. surprised me and let me like this writing style a lot. It was well done, the story flew easily, not only, I was anxiously waiting for the switch so I could learn more about the MCs, how they fell in love and who propose to whom, till the present time where Daniel is going crazy following Aurora, the wedding app, and its checklists.
I liked the story very much, it was cute and sweet, just how I like my books to be. What conquered me were the characters, I found myself caught up in Daniel and Erik's wedding planning, I struggle with them and the various hitches they met while deciding the endless details for the perfect wedding Daniel wants. And my sympathy went to Erik, his patience and solid love for his forever man.
I loved the plot, IMO it was perfect because the author was able to give the characters a depth and a realism I wasn't expecting in a book like this. Not just the main ones, but all of them were funny and smart. K.E. did a great job in the relationship between the MCs, I loved (key word) how they interacted, how they were mature enough to stop and think about their future and brave enough to fight for their love. I loved the dialogues and the writing in general.
Daniel & Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist by K.E. Belledonne was a beautiful surprise, a winner for me. I want to highly recommend it to everyone who is looking for a romantic story. You won't be disappointed.
The cover art by CB Messer is funny and fitting and so adorable as the whole story
I liked the story very much, it was cute and sweet, just how I like my books to be. What conquered me were the characters, I found myself caught up in Daniel and Erik's wedding planning, I struggle with them and the various hitches they met while deciding the endless details for the perfect wedding Daniel wants. And my sympathy went to Erik, his patience and solid love for his forever man.
I loved the plot, IMO it was perfect because the author was able to give the characters a depth and a realism I wasn't expecting in a book like this. Not just the main ones, but all of them were funny and smart. K.E. did a great job in the relationship between the MCs, I loved (key word) how they interacted, how they were mature enough to stop and think about their future and brave enough to fight for their love. I loved the dialogues and the writing in general.
Daniel & Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist by K.E. Belledonne was a beautiful surprise, a winner for me. I want to highly recommend it to everyone who is looking for a romantic story. You won't be disappointed.
The cover art by CB Messer is funny and fitting and so adorable as the whole story
June 23, 2016
I didn't know whether to laugh or be horrified with Aurora, the wedding planning app. Poor Daniel was losing his ever loving mind. He'd check one thing off and get like 20 more items to check off his list. The wedding theme suggestions were also horrifying, but hilarious...I mean, Pumpkins, really? of course it is all a joke in the name of Comedy. The responses from his friends were quote hilarious too. Daniel kept calling Aurora a "she" and Erik was all, it's not a person, it's an "it". Their banter had you going as well, I thought it was very cute. I got a little annoyed by it at times though, and felt bad for Daniel.
I think the saving grace was the jump back in time telling the story of how they met, monumental things that happened and the like. It really carved out their story.
What I didn't like was it felt like it was all a waist. When Daniel finally had enough and had is blowout, I really was sad. Then when he had his "come to Jesus" moment, I got so excited. Then my stomach clenched when he found Erik again. It really was just all a swirl of different emotions. In the end, I think Daniel realized what Erik was trying to say and he refocused on what really matters. I thought it was a pretty sweet ending for a pretty sweet book.
I really liked reading about Daniel and Erik, and perhaps this could be a lesson for future planners? and a side note to not use an app lol!! and Bravo to the author for coming up with all the details for the app. That couldn't have been easy.
all in all I give it 3.75 stars
**given as an arc for an honest review**
I think the saving grace was the jump back in time telling the story of how they met, monumental things that happened and the like. It really carved out their story.
What I didn't like was it felt like it was all a waist. When Daniel finally had enough and had is blowout, I really was sad. Then when he had his "come to Jesus" moment, I got so excited. Then my stomach clenched when he found Erik again. It really was just all a swirl of different emotions. In the end, I think Daniel realized what Erik was trying to say and he refocused on what really matters. I thought it was a pretty sweet ending for a pretty sweet book.
I really liked reading about Daniel and Erik, and perhaps this could be a lesson for future planners? and a side note to not use an app lol!! and Bravo to the author for coming up with all the details for the app. That couldn't have been easy.
all in all I give it 3.75 stars
**given as an arc for an honest review**
June 20, 2016
K.E. Belledonne has a great way with words and she creates real, loveable, 3 dimensional characters that leave you wanting to hug them or slap some sense into them. With Daniel and Erik she's created a relationship that can be empathized with by anyone who has planned or tried to plan a big wedding. And they make me even more happy I eloped to Vegas. :)
Kat can write about love and you believe. The passion is real without being pornographic. It's never about just sex, it's about how people love, respect and fit together in a relationship. Give and take, love and disagreements.
Kat can write about love and you believe. The passion is real without being pornographic. It's never about just sex, it's about how people love, respect and fit together in a relationship. Give and take, love and disagreements.
December 27, 2016
Imagine a movie trailer opening with a fun lively pop song, we're introduced to Daniel and Erik, very much in love, in a diner making heart-eyes at each other. Newly engaged, they've just started planning their wedding; or well, Daniel is. Close up on a phone open to an app that says "Welcome to Aurora, your digital life planner!" and some festive wedding themed icons. A montage of wedding shenanigans play with Daniel trying to stay ahead of the many lists he needs, and things coming together, things falling apart, and the music swells and the title card flashes at the screen; two groomsmen on a teetering wedding cake.
This novel leaps off the page; it is so much fun. I'm a big fan of rom-coms in general, and Belledonne delivers every trope and turns them on their head with a genuine and delightful romance. Told simultaneously in the present and through flashbacks of Daniel and Erik's budding relationship, the story of falling in love and also being in love and staying in love is done so well. There are tears and heartbreak and high stakes and I absolutely adore it. Recommended for anyone who's a big fan of romantic comedies.
This novel leaps off the page; it is so much fun. I'm a big fan of rom-coms in general, and Belledonne delivers every trope and turns them on their head with a genuine and delightful romance. Told simultaneously in the present and through flashbacks of Daniel and Erik's budding relationship, the story of falling in love and also being in love and staying in love is done so well. There are tears and heartbreak and high stakes and I absolutely adore it. Recommended for anyone who's a big fan of romantic comedies.
July 25, 2016
What TOTALLY WORKED for me:
The humor: I laughed out loud CONSTANTLY while reading this novel. Half of the time I wanted to read lines aloud just to hear the cadence, and this was in spite of the fact that I was reading in public. My favorite part is how well the novel’s humor reflects and reveals character. Just as with our best friends in real life, we come to know Belledonne’s characters by the ways they make us laugh.
The accuracy: It wasn’t long ago that I was going through the same planning process as Daniel and Erik, and ohhhhhh does this book ever capture that ridiculous adventure.The silliness and the serious undercurrents: it’s all there.
The honesty: Even (or, perhaps, especially) through the comedy and napkin settings, this book’s greatest strength is its emotional honesty. Daniel and Erik go on a truly epic journey together and I rooted for them every step of the way.
You should read this book if:
… you like a romance that, like any good wedding, is equal parts heartfelt and hilarious.
The humor: I laughed out loud CONSTANTLY while reading this novel. Half of the time I wanted to read lines aloud just to hear the cadence, and this was in spite of the fact that I was reading in public. My favorite part is how well the novel’s humor reflects and reveals character. Just as with our best friends in real life, we come to know Belledonne’s characters by the ways they make us laugh.
The accuracy: It wasn’t long ago that I was going through the same planning process as Daniel and Erik, and ohhhhhh does this book ever capture that ridiculous adventure.The silliness and the serious undercurrents: it’s all there.
The honesty: Even (or, perhaps, especially) through the comedy and napkin settings, this book’s greatest strength is its emotional honesty. Daniel and Erik go on a truly epic journey together and I rooted for them every step of the way.
You should read this book if:
… you like a romance that, like any good wedding, is equal parts heartfelt and hilarious.
November 2, 2016
this book was a lovely pick me up read. I've been in a bit of a reading funk (well, and emotional one). This book was exactly what I needed. It's sweet and funny and *real*. I love books with imperfect, very human characters who make mistakes but who demonstrate capacity for growth and love and desire to be happy. I loved Belledonne's first novel, so I knew I would love this one. I read it in two sittings; I laughed out loud several times and absolutely felt so happy at the choices the characters made in the end and the sweetness of their love story. Highly recommended!
June 29, 2016
Review to come.
June 30, 2016
Daniel and Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist by K. E. Belledonne (June 23, 2016); 188 pages. Available from www.interludepress.com.
So, not to make this book review all about me, but I’m going to talk about me for a moment. I prefer to identify as queer—not lesbian (though I do, when asked, agree), not gay, but queer. It’s a political thing. Part of that political thing is feeling suspicious of marriage, its effects and meanings. (I was one of the queers who opposed American gay marriage in theory but advocated for it in the political short term because it was the quickest, surest way to gain all the rights and privileges legal marriage confers on straight folk in the United States.)
That said, I married my partner when gay marriage became legal in the U.S., despite political misgivings. My resistance was not about my feelings for her, but about the expectations that we queers would conform to the straight values of legitimacy/legality, visibility, monogamy and, well, conformity, by accepting something that was a barely-modified form of a straight social/political institution. No sooner was gay marriage made legal than non-marriage was made socially illegitimate, and resistance was futile.
That said, I sure do like my Married Person tax breaks and extra rights.
I needed to include all these explanations at the start of this review because this book takes as its situation the event of a gay wedding/marriage. To be quite honest, I balked a bit, worried a bit about reading the story (even as I trusted its author) because of my feelings.
But enough about me. What do you think of me? (Just kidding; I don’t care what you think of me. This review is only a bit about me and my feelings. Instead, I’m going to tell you what I think of this book. Which is both about me and about this book.)
Daniel and Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist is fun. It’s funny, smart, sunny, romantic, by turns heartbreaking and sweet. It’s all the good things one expects of a rom-com. The characters are wise and complicated enough to be interesting without being too complex to understand. The situation is probably common enough that anyone who’s tried to throw a traditional wedding (or watched folks do it) will empathize. The writing is smooth and gently wry.
Here’s the deal: Daniel (a glasswork artist) loves Erik (an archeologist), and Erik loves Daniel, but when Daniel starts using a mobile phone app to plan their impending wedding, things spiral down the drain right quick. The app persona (Aurora), who is a minor character throughout the novel, is genial enough, but in the stress of planning every detail of an elaborate, classic wedding, it suddenly dawns on Daniel (get it? Aurora? Dawn? See what I did?) that he’s miserable, and everything breaks down rapidly from there. The two men wind up in different countries, on different paths, in different worlds, but similarly heartbroken.
Daniel seems to be all about form: he gets sucked into the Wedding Industrial Complex and agonizes over the differences between two essentially-identical paper colors for their invitations (this reminds me of that scene with the business cards in the film version of American Psycho), while Erik is over it and unafraid to say that he thinks the whole mess is ridiculous. One of them seems most driven by the glory of the ceremony (the wedding), and one seems more concerned with the glory of the outcome (the marriage). Between them, a vast political chasm. Filled with broken glass. And hungry wolves. With guns.
This story has all the trappings of a good rom-com: a hostile bestie secretly in love with one of the grooms-to-be, a few folk who root for the couple, a seemingly senseless but realistic breaking point, an interloping new love interest, and a dramatic journey to proclaim love and establish renewal. Like Belledonne’s first novel, Right Here Waiting, this story intervenes in a traditionally-straight narrative (in RHW, the war romance; in this case, the wedding-centric rom-com) and inserts gay folks at its center without changing the narrative too drastically. It’s one way of claiming territory to extend the borders of a previously-hetero-only institution to include outsiders while keeping the institution recognizable. (Another way is to change the institution itself, but that’s a subject for a different essay.)
DESFUWC a fun, beachy, lovely read. It’s engrossing (I read it in two large gulps over two evenings, because I didn’t want to stop). It’s sweet, and gently harrowing (in that bad things happen, but somehow you know it will all be okay in the end).
Ask me, because you knew it was coming: “do you take this book?” I totally do.
So, not to make this book review all about me, but I’m going to talk about me for a moment. I prefer to identify as queer—not lesbian (though I do, when asked, agree), not gay, but queer. It’s a political thing. Part of that political thing is feeling suspicious of marriage, its effects and meanings. (I was one of the queers who opposed American gay marriage in theory but advocated for it in the political short term because it was the quickest, surest way to gain all the rights and privileges legal marriage confers on straight folk in the United States.)
That said, I married my partner when gay marriage became legal in the U.S., despite political misgivings. My resistance was not about my feelings for her, but about the expectations that we queers would conform to the straight values of legitimacy/legality, visibility, monogamy and, well, conformity, by accepting something that was a barely-modified form of a straight social/political institution. No sooner was gay marriage made legal than non-marriage was made socially illegitimate, and resistance was futile.
That said, I sure do like my Married Person tax breaks and extra rights.
I needed to include all these explanations at the start of this review because this book takes as its situation the event of a gay wedding/marriage. To be quite honest, I balked a bit, worried a bit about reading the story (even as I trusted its author) because of my feelings.
But enough about me. What do you think of me? (Just kidding; I don’t care what you think of me. This review is only a bit about me and my feelings. Instead, I’m going to tell you what I think of this book. Which is both about me and about this book.)
Daniel and Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist is fun. It’s funny, smart, sunny, romantic, by turns heartbreaking and sweet. It’s all the good things one expects of a rom-com. The characters are wise and complicated enough to be interesting without being too complex to understand. The situation is probably common enough that anyone who’s tried to throw a traditional wedding (or watched folks do it) will empathize. The writing is smooth and gently wry.
Here’s the deal: Daniel (a glasswork artist) loves Erik (an archeologist), and Erik loves Daniel, but when Daniel starts using a mobile phone app to plan their impending wedding, things spiral down the drain right quick. The app persona (Aurora), who is a minor character throughout the novel, is genial enough, but in the stress of planning every detail of an elaborate, classic wedding, it suddenly dawns on Daniel (get it? Aurora? Dawn? See what I did?) that he’s miserable, and everything breaks down rapidly from there. The two men wind up in different countries, on different paths, in different worlds, but similarly heartbroken.
Daniel seems to be all about form: he gets sucked into the Wedding Industrial Complex and agonizes over the differences between two essentially-identical paper colors for their invitations (this reminds me of that scene with the business cards in the film version of American Psycho), while Erik is over it and unafraid to say that he thinks the whole mess is ridiculous. One of them seems most driven by the glory of the ceremony (the wedding), and one seems more concerned with the glory of the outcome (the marriage). Between them, a vast political chasm. Filled with broken glass. And hungry wolves. With guns.
This story has all the trappings of a good rom-com: a hostile bestie secretly in love with one of the grooms-to-be, a few folk who root for the couple, a seemingly senseless but realistic breaking point, an interloping new love interest, and a dramatic journey to proclaim love and establish renewal. Like Belledonne’s first novel, Right Here Waiting, this story intervenes in a traditionally-straight narrative (in RHW, the war romance; in this case, the wedding-centric rom-com) and inserts gay folks at its center without changing the narrative too drastically. It’s one way of claiming territory to extend the borders of a previously-hetero-only institution to include outsiders while keeping the institution recognizable. (Another way is to change the institution itself, but that’s a subject for a different essay.)
DESFUWC a fun, beachy, lovely read. It’s engrossing (I read it in two large gulps over two evenings, because I didn’t want to stop). It’s sweet, and gently harrowing (in that bad things happen, but somehow you know it will all be okay in the end).
Ask me, because you knew it was coming: “do you take this book?” I totally do.
June 27, 2016
"Falling in love is easy. Staying in love is the trick."
Amen brother!
This was my face after reading this story. I so thought I was going to get a doozy here, but it is a winner!!! This is a low angst, pretty romantic story. I'm a hopeless romantic, and wedding planning with your significant other is hectic and romantic to me. See the cover drew me in first, I love the funny play on the wedding topper. I need to invest in more of Belledonne's work. She is great. I loved the way her writing flowed. The pacing was good, and even though it's no sex in the story I still adored it.
Daniel didn't know what to expect when his best friend forced him to talk to Erik. Erik was the quiet guy at the party reading a book. I loved that part. I honestly had the biggest smile on my face the entire time. The story is told in the past and present tense. We get a look at the couple's milestones together up until the engagement and once the engagement happens. Then is when Aurora happens. LOL. I love that a wedding app is driving Daniel crazy. I WOULDN'T get once, because those damn checklist will drive people crazy.
In usual form Daniel is wedding crazed. He's focusing all his energy on planning the wedding and getting lost in it. Reading it we can see when the disconnect or the unhappiness starts to happen. Erik would rather go to city hall. He's in the middle of his work and planning for the his dig in Sweden. What the author does is great. I love the ability of them communicating. A scene when Erik storms out and of course Daniel assumes the worst had me in giggles. Well not giggles that would look mean. I love the realistic feeling about the story. I love that they compliment each other and I love how they are able to talk and get why each is hurt.
Let's just say I'm happy without the outcome. Everything happened for a reason.
I won't give the plot away, but I'm so giddy with excitement for this book. I loved every second of it. I am looking forward to more of her writing, and might need to check her back list out!
February 7, 2017
Ha.
Ha ha.
Ha ha ha.
This book gave me too many feelings, and I did not expect that to happen at all. It sounds like a fun rom-com, and whereas it definitely is a rom-com, it also hits you like a ton of bricks.
Daniel and Erik are getting married, so Daniel installed Aurora, a Wedding Planning app. Aurora is hectic, but she/it really cares. Or so it seems. Daniel becomes the ultimate groomzilla, whereas Erik decides to stay calm.
Sometimes I just wanted to bang my head against the table and yell: "JUST ELOPE!", but Daniel wanted things to be perfect. Later on, you realise there's a reason for that, but it still annoys Erik, who just wants to get married to the man of his dreams without all those extra things.
And this book took a turn I did not expect at all. And I applaud K.E. Belledonne for doing that instead of sticking to the usual plot these books can follow.
I didn't think it was as hilarious and I thought it would be, but Aurora is still hilarious. The Featured Articles were the things I looked the most forward to.
Aside from humour, this book also deals with things I did not expect: art, the complexity of family, slight homophobia, and don't even get me started on that glass. That was beautiful.
This book is beautiful!
Oh, and this is my more book-geek side: I always read acknowledgments at the end of the book. First of all, thank you Lex. Second of all, I always love to read how all these authors support each other. It makes reading these books so much better.
Ha ha.
Ha ha ha.
This book gave me too many feelings, and I did not expect that to happen at all. It sounds like a fun rom-com, and whereas it definitely is a rom-com, it also hits you like a ton of bricks.
Daniel and Erik are getting married, so Daniel installed Aurora, a Wedding Planning app. Aurora is hectic, but she/it really cares. Or so it seems. Daniel becomes the ultimate groomzilla, whereas Erik decides to stay calm.
Sometimes I just wanted to bang my head against the table and yell: "JUST ELOPE!", but Daniel wanted things to be perfect. Later on, you realise there's a reason for that, but it still annoys Erik, who just wants to get married to the man of his dreams without all those extra things.
And this book took a turn I did not expect at all. And I applaud K.E. Belledonne for doing that instead of sticking to the usual plot these books can follow.
I didn't think it was as hilarious and I thought it would be, but Aurora is still hilarious. The Featured Articles were the things I looked the most forward to.
Aside from humour, this book also deals with things I did not expect: art, the complexity of family, slight homophobia, and don't even get me started on that glass. That was beautiful.
This book is beautiful!
Oh, and this is my more book-geek side: I always read acknowledgments at the end of the book. First of all, thank you Lex. Second of all, I always love to read how all these authors support each other. It makes reading these books so much better.
June 12, 2016
I must have PTSD from planning my own wedding 11 years ago, because this book made me have flashbacks.
Daniel and Erik are getting married, Daniel downloads a super-fab app to help plan the wedding which only adds stress. Erik doesn't see the point in a big wedding but Daniel feels it's something they have to do. The stress of the wedding planning and the stress of life push Daniel and Erik to the breaking point, will they be able to survive together?
Holy hell, based on the title and the cover I was sure I was in for a sugary sweet read, boy was I wrong. The emotions in this book were so well defined I was feeling stressed about the wedding planning! It was obvious that Daniel and Erik were a matched set and watching them work through the issues that arose was endearing.
When Daniel and Erik called it quits over wedding planning I almost cried. I was so happy when Daniel pulled his head out of the clouds and went after his man.
I'm not usually a fan of a book that flips back and forth from past to present but that format really worked for this story.
This book left me with a warm gooey feeling, I love it! Even though the wedding planning was super stressful the book is low angst, Erik is so chill that there is almost no drama.
I would love a follow up novella that explains why Annika is so evil and why she hates Daniel. I know Erik said he thought she had feelings for him but I want backstory.
Daniel and Erik are getting married, Daniel downloads a super-fab app to help plan the wedding which only adds stress. Erik doesn't see the point in a big wedding but Daniel feels it's something they have to do. The stress of the wedding planning and the stress of life push Daniel and Erik to the breaking point, will they be able to survive together?
Holy hell, based on the title and the cover I was sure I was in for a sugary sweet read, boy was I wrong. The emotions in this book were so well defined I was feeling stressed about the wedding planning! It was obvious that Daniel and Erik were a matched set and watching them work through the issues that arose was endearing.
When Daniel and Erik called it quits over wedding planning I almost cried. I was so happy when Daniel pulled his head out of the clouds and went after his man.
I'm not usually a fan of a book that flips back and forth from past to present but that format really worked for this story.
This book left me with a warm gooey feeling, I love it! Even though the wedding planning was super stressful the book is low angst, Erik is so chill that there is almost no drama.
I would love a follow up novella that explains why Annika is so evil and why she hates Daniel. I know Erik said he thought she had feelings for him but I want backstory.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2016
K.E. Belledonne does it again with a fabulous story. She weaves humor and romance together so that one page you are laughing and the next line your heart is breaking for one or both of the boys. I loved the juxtaposition in the first half of the book of Daniel and Erik's early relationship to their current relationship leading up to the wedding. The second half of the book was told mostly in linear time, but was no less intriguing. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop and read straight through my afternoon.
This is a story many of K.E.'s readers can relate to - having hearts broken many times before but finding that one that ignites a spark in you, both good and bad types of sparks. The fights and arguments between Daniel and Erik are realistic and heartbreaking, but you can also see how much the two fit together and love each other. One of the most poignant scenes was when Erik stood up for Daniel early on at a dinner with Daniel's family. Watching Erik support Daniel in a way that Daniel has never seen before was so much in the best possible way.
For those who are looking for a light-hearted story with characters that tug on your heartstrings and embed into your mind, pick up this book today.
This is a story many of K.E.'s readers can relate to - having hearts broken many times before but finding that one that ignites a spark in you, both good and bad types of sparks. The fights and arguments between Daniel and Erik are realistic and heartbreaking, but you can also see how much the two fit together and love each other. One of the most poignant scenes was when Erik stood up for Daniel early on at a dinner with Daniel's family. Watching Erik support Daniel in a way that Daniel has never seen before was so much in the best possible way.
For those who are looking for a light-hearted story with characters that tug on your heartstrings and embed into your mind, pick up this book today.
August 16, 2016
If you're planning a wedding soon, please read this book so you can make sure to avoid the typical bridezilla/groomzilla mistakes of thinking the wedding ceremony is more important than the marriage itself. This wonderful, almost bittersweet novel, is about two men who impulsively decide to get married but come to learn they have very different views on how they see their wedding day. Erik just wants something casual with close friends and family, while Daniel sees this as his chance to have the kind of ceremony his uber-critical family will approve. Enter Aurora, the wedding app nightmares were made of. Aurora is almost the third MC of this book and if that thing existed when I got married (thankfully years before smartphones), I'm pretty sure it would have terrified me!
This was a fun and touching read and I loved Daniel and Erik so much. Their relationship felt real and I was invested in them from the beginning. Definitely a must read for anyone who has planned a wedding or has been to a wedding or has watched Say Yes To The Dress or anyone who loves a great read :) 4 stars
This was a fun and touching read and I loved Daniel and Erik so much. Their relationship felt real and I was invested in them from the beginning. Definitely a must read for anyone who has planned a wedding or has been to a wedding or has watched Say Yes To The Dress or anyone who loves a great read :) 4 stars
August 18, 2016
I entered this book thinking that it would be a great take on a trope I usually favor when picking romcom movies, the wedding organization gone wrong but Love triumphs
It is that, and more, because I usually don't particularly care for the secondary characters.
K.E. Belledonne manages to make me care for all of them, in addition to the two lovebirds
This book is a fantastic read--kick off your shoes, slouch over the couch with a glass of something fresh and sparkly, and take a moment for yourself to squee and coo at this story !
It is that, and more, because I usually don't particularly care for the secondary characters.
K.E. Belledonne manages to make me care for all of them, in addition to the two lovebirds
This book is a fantastic read--kick off your shoes, slouch over the couch with a glass of something fresh and sparkly, and take a moment for yourself to squee and coo at this story !
April 18, 2019
What a fun read! I absolutely loved all the characters, and the ridiculous Aurora app was especially funny. A real gem of a book; I highly recommend it!
April 1, 2020
2.75 stars
April 1, 2024
Well….Daniel just kept annoying me as the book went on. Only saving grace of this book was Erik 😭
December 14, 2016
Original review on Molly Lolly
Five stars!
This story is wonderful. It’s a little bit funny, a little bit quirky, so emotion filled and completely perfect. The tears and the laughs, sometimes together, had me not wanting to put the story down. All of the characters create this fun cast with their own personalities and added dynamic to the story. Even the app, Aurora, is a character in itself because of how much she, it, effected the story. The ending though. I absolutely adored the ending and how these two proved to each other they were in the relationship for the long haul.
I absolutely loved Daniel. He was sweet but a little but broken because his view on relationships and what love means wasn’t exactly conducive of a lasting love. But his love for Erik was so all encompassing I swooned at these two right from the start. They truly were perfect for each other. Watching Daniel fall apart was so hard but I felt like the story wouldn’t have worked any other way. It needed to happen and progress exactly the way Daniel and Erik needed it to.
Erik was my hero. He loved Daniel unconditionally and was just what Daniel needed to help Daniel rearrange his view of himself and love. Erik was constantly supportive even if he may not have been as obvious about it. Erik was someone I just want to meet and hang out with. He was such a well written character he came alive on the page.
The rest of the cast of characters in this story really added to Erik and Daniel’s relationship. They didn’t overwhelm the story but were there enough to realize their purpose. I’m curious about Annika. It seems there’s more there based on what Daniel hints at. I kind of want her to get a story so I can find out. I would love to see more Erik and Daniel. These two are so in love and so happy together I can’t help but want more from them.
Five stars!
This story is wonderful. It’s a little bit funny, a little bit quirky, so emotion filled and completely perfect. The tears and the laughs, sometimes together, had me not wanting to put the story down. All of the characters create this fun cast with their own personalities and added dynamic to the story. Even the app, Aurora, is a character in itself because of how much she, it, effected the story. The ending though. I absolutely adored the ending and how these two proved to each other they were in the relationship for the long haul.
I absolutely loved Daniel. He was sweet but a little but broken because his view on relationships and what love means wasn’t exactly conducive of a lasting love. But his love for Erik was so all encompassing I swooned at these two right from the start. They truly were perfect for each other. Watching Daniel fall apart was so hard but I felt like the story wouldn’t have worked any other way. It needed to happen and progress exactly the way Daniel and Erik needed it to.
Erik was my hero. He loved Daniel unconditionally and was just what Daniel needed to help Daniel rearrange his view of himself and love. Erik was constantly supportive even if he may not have been as obvious about it. Erik was someone I just want to meet and hang out with. He was such a well written character he came alive on the page.
The rest of the cast of characters in this story really added to Erik and Daniel’s relationship. They didn’t overwhelm the story but were there enough to realize their purpose. I’m curious about Annika. It seems there’s more there based on what Daniel hints at. I kind of want her to get a story so I can find out. I would love to see more Erik and Daniel. These two are so in love and so happy together I can’t help but want more from them.
July 26, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
3 stars
With a title like Daniel & Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist, I was expecting some fun or something fabulous, but that was not to be. What I did get was roughly 200 pages of Daniel and Erik planning their wedding via an app that provided a never ending checklist, while also getting flashbacks of how they met.
The guys have been dating for three years and we see how they first met and get caught up on a few dates and how their relationship progressed. It was all basic information. The characters have the appeal of young love where Daniel is said to be smitten. They are then said to be a lot of things, including being in love, but there was barely anything shown of that.
For a book billed as a romance, there was almost no romance and little emotion. One of the most “romantic” things these guys do is spend time together while they both have a stomach virus and comment that they wouldn’t have wanted to be that sick with anyone else. Because their relationship is seen in flashbacks, we only get little snippets of how they got together. Even within the flashbacks, there is little emotion and their proposal even mentioned tax breaks. Erik knew after a few minutes that Daniel was the one for him, but for as much as we were told this, I was just not feeling it with either of these guys. Then, once the flashback scene got to a certain point, we were once again returned to the present.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3 stars
With a title like Daniel & Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist, I was expecting some fun or something fabulous, but that was not to be. What I did get was roughly 200 pages of Daniel and Erik planning their wedding via an app that provided a never ending checklist, while also getting flashbacks of how they met.
The guys have been dating for three years and we see how they first met and get caught up on a few dates and how their relationship progressed. It was all basic information. The characters have the appeal of young love where Daniel is said to be smitten. They are then said to be a lot of things, including being in love, but there was barely anything shown of that.
For a book billed as a romance, there was almost no romance and little emotion. One of the most “romantic” things these guys do is spend time together while they both have a stomach virus and comment that they wouldn’t have wanted to be that sick with anyone else. Because their relationship is seen in flashbacks, we only get little snippets of how they got together. Even within the flashbacks, there is little emotion and their proposal even mentioned tax breaks. Erik knew after a few minutes that Daniel was the one for him, but for as much as we were told this, I was just not feeling it with either of these guys. Then, once the flashback scene got to a certain point, we were once again returned to the present.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
July 6, 2016
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***
Daniel is planning his wedding to Erik with the aid of Aurora, the wedding planner app from hell, and gets caught up in the stress of it all to the detriment of his relationship. Would they get their happily ever after?
I loved Erik, he was so level-headed, trying to be the voice of reason as Daniel turns into the ultimate groomzilla. And while I didn't hate Daniel, well, I got fed up with him quite a few times. They were cute together, though, and they managed to overcome (just barely) all the obstacles thrown their way.
The book was fun to read, especially the parts with Aurora and Daniel trying to follow up on her instructions to plan the perfect wedding. Even though I'm not overly fond of books in which we go back and forth in time, I liked that Ms. Belledonne showed us how Daniel and Erik met and fell in love with glimpses of the wedding planning. The second half of the book was a bit messier, though, as the timeline seemed to jump from six weeks had passed to three days after stage one without any warning, which was a tad confusing for me.
Anyway, if you're looking for an enjoyable, well-written book, with a low level of heat, a moderate level of angst and a high level of humor, this would be great for you!
Rating: 4 Stars!
Daniel is planning his wedding to Erik with the aid of Aurora, the wedding planner app from hell, and gets caught up in the stress of it all to the detriment of his relationship. Would they get their happily ever after?
I loved Erik, he was so level-headed, trying to be the voice of reason as Daniel turns into the ultimate groomzilla. And while I didn't hate Daniel, well, I got fed up with him quite a few times. They were cute together, though, and they managed to overcome (just barely) all the obstacles thrown their way.
The book was fun to read, especially the parts with Aurora and Daniel trying to follow up on her instructions to plan the perfect wedding. Even though I'm not overly fond of books in which we go back and forth in time, I liked that Ms. Belledonne showed us how Daniel and Erik met and fell in love with glimpses of the wedding planning. The second half of the book was a bit messier, though, as the timeline seemed to jump from six weeks had passed to three days after stage one without any warning, which was a tad confusing for me.
Anyway, if you're looking for an enjoyable, well-written book, with a low level of heat, a moderate level of angst and a high level of humor, this would be great for you!
Rating: 4 Stars!
July 6, 2016
This story plays out like all of the best Hollywood wedding blockbusters. You feel the heady rush, the excitement...they're getting married! Erik & Daniel have a true connection, an undeniable love for one another that deserves to be celebrated with the fairy tale wedding of their dreams. Everything is endlessly romantic until the flurry of activity and decision making that is wedding planning begins. Unfortunately what unfolds from there is one red flag or roadblock after another, and, in true wedding satire, everything that can go wrong will go wrong. K.E. Belledonne takes us on a wild ride to see if Erik & Daniel have what it takes to make it in the face of adversity.
Planning a wedding, building a house, raising children - three major things that, in my opinion, can make or break any relationship. How marriages/partnerships survive any or all of them is beyond me! I find that in Daniel & Erik's Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist, Belledonne does an epic job of creating a realistic account of the topsy, turvy turmoil of wedding planning. Her carefree, laid back delivery sets the perfect tone for this humorous adventure while perfectly executed twists and turns add just the right amount of complexity, emotion and uncertainty. If you're a reader that prefers less graphic intimacy with your romance, this story is sure to delight.
Planning a wedding, building a house, raising children - three major things that, in my opinion, can make or break any relationship. How marriages/partnerships survive any or all of them is beyond me! I find that in Daniel & Erik's Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist, Belledonne does an epic job of creating a realistic account of the topsy, turvy turmoil of wedding planning. Her carefree, laid back delivery sets the perfect tone for this humorous adventure while perfectly executed twists and turns add just the right amount of complexity, emotion and uncertainty. If you're a reader that prefers less graphic intimacy with your romance, this story is sure to delight.
September 2, 2016
Rating 3.5
Funny, not laugh-out-loud funny, but funny. The book slides back and forth between how their relationship got to the “let's get married” stage and everything that happened as they tried to plan a wedding. Even though it quickly became apparent that there is no such thing as a perfect wedding, Daniel kept striving for that elusive goal to the detriment of everything else in his life. With the help of an easy app (called Aurora) it should have been a breeze – everything it all laid out all you have to do is follow the checklist.
“The total number of checklist entries never goes down,” Daniel said frowning at his phone. It's late on a Friday in mid-November.
“What?” Erik looked up from his laptop. He was finishing his applications for summer dig grants.
“No matter how many things we check off Aurora's list, she always says there's seventy checklist entries left to complete.”
“Again, it is an it, not a she. At it could be there's a glitch in the counter.”
“It's just discouraging. It's like we're never going to get to the end of this checklist.” Daniel sighed.
From the first eye contact to the Daniel's John Hughes play, these guys belonged together. They had a rough road to get there, but they got there.
Funny, not laugh-out-loud funny, but funny. The book slides back and forth between how their relationship got to the “let's get married” stage and everything that happened as they tried to plan a wedding. Even though it quickly became apparent that there is no such thing as a perfect wedding, Daniel kept striving for that elusive goal to the detriment of everything else in his life. With the help of an easy app (called Aurora) it should have been a breeze – everything it all laid out all you have to do is follow the checklist.
“The total number of checklist entries never goes down,” Daniel said frowning at his phone. It's late on a Friday in mid-November.
“What?” Erik looked up from his laptop. He was finishing his applications for summer dig grants.
“No matter how many things we check off Aurora's list, she always says there's seventy checklist entries left to complete.”
“Again, it is an it, not a she. At it could be there's a glitch in the counter.”
“It's just discouraging. It's like we're never going to get to the end of this checklist.” Daniel sighed.
From the first eye contact to the Daniel's John Hughes play, these guys belonged together. They had a rough road to get there, but they got there.
Read
June 28, 2016This story was such a delight. It becomes very clear early in the book that Erik and Daniel are truly partners in life. They love each other, they care for each other. Daniel and Erik are such a sweet couple. But it’s not always good times in relationships and this book doesn’t shy away from the hard times. Everything just rings true to real life couple and as a reader, I truly appreciate that.
One of my favorite parts throughout the whole story is just how real the characters are. Daniel & Erik came to life on the page for me from their first meeting and leading up to their upcoming wedding. Their characters are funny, sweet, well-written and have a depth to them that I really enjoyed.
The book also provides a look into how stressful the path to wedding planning can be and how impactful social media is. Aurora, the wedding planner organization app in the story, is almost another character in the book. She is a constant reminder of what needs to be done and what will be happening. Wedding planning is a stressful time and can cause lots of arguments for couples. So, will Daniel & Erik be able to make it to the altar?
One of my favorite parts throughout the whole story is just how real the characters are. Daniel & Erik came to life on the page for me from their first meeting and leading up to their upcoming wedding. Their characters are funny, sweet, well-written and have a depth to them that I really enjoyed.
The book also provides a look into how stressful the path to wedding planning can be and how impactful social media is. Aurora, the wedding planner organization app in the story, is almost another character in the book. She is a constant reminder of what needs to be done and what will be happening. Wedding planning is a stressful time and can cause lots of arguments for couples. So, will Daniel & Erik be able to make it to the altar?
January 25, 2023
The two main characters, Daniel and Erik, weren’t just well written, they were friends of mine. I felt like I knew them. While reading this book, I was a fly on the wall watching two very good friends living their lives. The ups, the downs, the stupid mistakes, the rows, the love, the way they perfectly balanced out each others lives in a non glib way that still included all the staggeringly stupid arguments, and the faltering love that made them so ‘human’.
It’s not a long story, it didn’t take me long to read it, but I’m glad I did. There wasn’t a single character in this story that was out of place. And while Daniels past was alluded to, and his family history told in a perfectly balanced and blended family dinner, it never got in the way of our very real love story.
Oh, and that app would have driven me insane too!
It’s not a long story, it didn’t take me long to read it, but I’m glad I did. There wasn’t a single character in this story that was out of place. And while Daniels past was alluded to, and his family history told in a perfectly balanced and blended family dinner, it never got in the way of our very real love story.
Oh, and that app would have driven me insane too!
August 1, 2016
I enjoyed this story but didn't love it as others have. It was not the total absence of any sex (not even a striptease!) but the near zilcho romance in the story. No romantic dinners, flowers or bended knee proposal. Only tears, no tantrums and a much belated last minute flight to renew the relationship. I did like the realism of the wedding app and the strain depicted that wedding planning can put on one. But I didn't understand why Erik or Daniel didn't try to mend fences straight away. They both sulked off to their respective corners without a word to each other and moped while pretending everything was okay. Miraculously Daniel grew a pair and flew off unexpectedly to meet Erik and then somehow all was forgiven, the fence dismantled and we all lived happily ever after!!
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
Read
August 20, 2016In Review Queue
❥❥**´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`*Review Copy provided by Interlude Press in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
❥❥**´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`*Review Copy provided by Interlude Press in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
December 1, 2016
3.5* for a great amusing read! Did enjoy it and chuckled at a lot of places.
Half way through I played Marry/F**k/Kill : Eric/Daniel/Aurora!
Eric was definitely a keeper, I loved his steadfastness. Daniel was funny and annoying. His adherence to wild wedding plans was very amusing. Aurora was just manic and the with the more outrageous suggestions you can just imagine how events get a life of their own!
Daniel had his TSTKE (too stupid to keep erik) moments - but I definitely blame Aurora! Though I am glad he came to his senses and found Erik.
A fairly quick, easy, enjoyable, fun and funny read.
Half way through I played Marry/F**k/Kill : Eric/Daniel/Aurora!
Eric was definitely a keeper, I loved his steadfastness. Daniel was funny and annoying. His adherence to wild wedding plans was very amusing. Aurora was just manic and the with the more outrageous suggestions you can just imagine how events get a life of their own!
Daniel had his TSTKE (too stupid to keep erik) moments - but I definitely blame Aurora! Though I am glad he came to his senses and found Erik.
A fairly quick, easy, enjoyable, fun and funny read.
January 9, 2017
I really enjoyed this story :-) Wedding planning is horrible, I quite agree. I love being married, but I hated the whole wedding hassle. Though I must say, I never used anything as ridiculous and over the top and stress-inducing as that Aurora application. It gave me the creeps! (Though the suggestions in the "What's hot" section were absolutely hilarious :D)
I found myself wincing every time Daniel worked himself up into a frenzy over some idiotic detail, and I kept thinking, "Please lighten up and remember WHY you're having this wedding."
Thank heavens they worked it out in the end...
Very enjoyable, very relatable, lovely vibrant characters. This is a must-read!
I found myself wincing every time Daniel worked himself up into a frenzy over some idiotic detail, and I kept thinking, "Please lighten up and remember WHY you're having this wedding."
Thank heavens they worked it out in the end...
Very enjoyable, very relatable, lovely vibrant characters. This is a must-read!
June 29, 2016
Okay, I just LOVE this book. This is exactly the kind of story I've been so hungry for. For SO long. The perfect, sweet, adorable, wonderful gay rom-com. I'm in love!
It has everything I want from a nice romantic read: two likeable, interesting and relatable main characters, some obstacles in their way, and both of them being head over heels in love with each other. I enjoyed every minute of this book. I've been waiting for a perfect gay rom-com and here it is and IT'S SO GOOD!
I'm going to make everyone I know read this and I'll be re-reading it too, soon!
It has everything I want from a nice romantic read: two likeable, interesting and relatable main characters, some obstacles in their way, and both of them being head over heels in love with each other. I enjoyed every minute of this book. I've been waiting for a perfect gay rom-com and here it is and IT'S SO GOOD!
I'm going to make everyone I know read this and I'll be re-reading it too, soon!
September 15, 2016
2.5 stars
Cute characters but I wasn't engaged to the story. I found the wedding planning app and the whole situations not funny. The back and forth sliding between their meeting-relationship-planning the wedding was confusing.
Cute characters but I wasn't engaged to the story. I found the wedding planning app and the whole situations not funny. The back and forth sliding between their meeting-relationship-planning the wedding was confusing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews