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Bridesmaids Behaving Badly #3
Three Little Words
Gia Gallo is officially in bridesmaid hell. Stranded in New York with her best friend's wedding dress, Gia has six days to make it to Florida in time for the ceremony. And oh-so-charming best man Bennett Buchanan has taken the last available rental car. Looks like she's in for one long road trip with the sexiest - and most irritating - Southern gentleman she's ever met...
Bennett's pretty sure that if there was ever a woman to break his "no flings" rule, Gia would be it. Sure, she's stubborn. She's also funny, smart, and the attraction between them is getting hotter with every state line they cross. While Bennett doesn't do casual, Gia doesn't do "relationships." But if they break the rules, this unlikely pair might discover that their impromptu road trip could turn out to be the best ride of their lives.
Bennett's pretty sure that if there was ever a woman to break his "no flings" rule, Gia would be it. Sure, she's stubborn. She's also funny, smart, and the attraction between them is getting hotter with every state line they cross. While Bennett doesn't do casual, Gia doesn't do "relationships." But if they break the rules, this unlikely pair might discover that their impromptu road trip could turn out to be the best ride of their lives.
340 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 29, 2019
139 people are currently reading
2286 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Holiday
31 books1,812 followersJenny Holiday is a USA Today-bestselling and RITA®-nominated author whose books have been featured in The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post, and Buzzfeed. She grew up in Minnesota and started writing at age nine when her fourth-grade teacher gave her a notebook to fill with stories. When she's not working on her next book, she likes to hang out with her family, watch other people sing karaoke, and throw theme parties. Jenny lives in London, Ontario, Canada.
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January 26, 2019
My Rating:
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
Gia was Canadian, so admittedly, her impression of southern American culture was based on Duck Dynasty and the William Faulkner novels she’d read in her one year as a literature major, but this dude, with his drawl and his falsely pretty manners, sounded like he belonged in a rom-com romancing Reese Witherspoon.
A little smile played at the corner of her lips as she stared at his lap with unbroken concentration, like she was a Jedi master with the power to make men pop woodies with her mind.
Bennett was like a rare, complicated flower blooming in many phases.
What was it about Bennett? He could shift the entire tenor of a conversation with a single sentence. He could look at her like he was seeing inside her, like he was shining light on stuff that had been in the dark for as long as she could remember.
My Review:
I’m feeling a bit conflicted about this one. I have adored the series, enjoyed the premise, smirked at the clever levity and thermonuclear sex scenes, and found the storylines entertaining and engaging; but I struggled to fully appreciate the main character of Gia. To most people outside of her friendship circle, Gia was rather vile; she was difficult, arrogant, entitled, prickly, and mean. She was rude and prone to going postal with service personnel when her needs were not met – gah! Gia was the type of person I make a point to avoid and maybe, umm, even feel compelled to spill my coffee on as they walked by. Yeah, I know, but sometimes karma needs a little help, or maybe I’m just too impatient to wait for karma to catch up to obnoxious snobs like that…
However, I was totally enamored with the lovely Bennett, he was a true altruist and the opposite of the cranky and snarky Gia. Bad weather threw the mismatched couple together for a long road trip in a Mini Cooper convertible, which, to me, sounded like a lower level of hell. As with the earlier books, there were wedding and family dramas aplenty, sweet and adorable updates and continuing stories of the previously featured couples, smoking hot sensual scenes, witty banter, profoundly insightful observations and inner musings, captivating subplots, and clever humor. I am growing rueful and melancholy with the realization that this may well be the last of the series as all the bridesmaids have now completed nuptials… I can only remain hopeful that this clever scribe will invent a few more people in need of wedding attendants, as I am unwilling to let this fun and feisty group go just yet.
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
Gia was Canadian, so admittedly, her impression of southern American culture was based on Duck Dynasty and the William Faulkner novels she’d read in her one year as a literature major, but this dude, with his drawl and his falsely pretty manners, sounded like he belonged in a rom-com romancing Reese Witherspoon.
A little smile played at the corner of her lips as she stared at his lap with unbroken concentration, like she was a Jedi master with the power to make men pop woodies with her mind.
Bennett was like a rare, complicated flower blooming in many phases.
What was it about Bennett? He could shift the entire tenor of a conversation with a single sentence. He could look at her like he was seeing inside her, like he was shining light on stuff that had been in the dark for as long as she could remember.
My Review:
I’m feeling a bit conflicted about this one. I have adored the series, enjoyed the premise, smirked at the clever levity and thermonuclear sex scenes, and found the storylines entertaining and engaging; but I struggled to fully appreciate the main character of Gia. To most people outside of her friendship circle, Gia was rather vile; she was difficult, arrogant, entitled, prickly, and mean. She was rude and prone to going postal with service personnel when her needs were not met – gah! Gia was the type of person I make a point to avoid and maybe, umm, even feel compelled to spill my coffee on as they walked by. Yeah, I know, but sometimes karma needs a little help, or maybe I’m just too impatient to wait for karma to catch up to obnoxious snobs like that…
However, I was totally enamored with the lovely Bennett, he was a true altruist and the opposite of the cranky and snarky Gia. Bad weather threw the mismatched couple together for a long road trip in a Mini Cooper convertible, which, to me, sounded like a lower level of hell. As with the earlier books, there were wedding and family dramas aplenty, sweet and adorable updates and continuing stories of the previously featured couples, smoking hot sensual scenes, witty banter, profoundly insightful observations and inner musings, captivating subplots, and clever humor. I am growing rueful and melancholy with the realization that this may well be the last of the series as all the bridesmaids have now completed nuptials… I can only remain hopeful that this clever scribe will invent a few more people in need of wedding attendants, as I am unwilling to let this fun and feisty group go just yet.
January 29, 2019
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Three Little Words is the third and final installment of Jenny Holiday's Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series. This book focuses on Gia and Bennett, and their road trip from hell. It's a little sad to let this series go but I have to say, I really think it ended on a high note. Gia and Bennett were really fun to read about and I loved there was a bit of role reversal in who wanted a fling more. I feel like it's becoming a trend where romance heroes are the ones rooting for a relationship while the heroines want something a little less permanent. It's definitely a trend I can get on board with so I'm glad that Ms. Holiday included that in this story.
Gia was actually a very intriguing character to read about and the one that had my attention the most. She could easily come off as rude and stuck up, but once we got to know her more we saw the loving side to her. There were some heavier issues touched upon in this story too, mainly Gia and her eating habits, and I really liked how they were handled. They weren't over dramatized, but they also weren't just mentioned and then shoved under the rug.
The romance was beautifully done as well. If you follow the timeline then it's definitely an insta-love type of since it took place over only a short period of time. But there was so much depth to the characters that allowed us to slowly get to know them and see their connection grow that it didn't feel too fast at all. Overall, I found both of them very enjoyable to read about and I loved getting to see their crazy trip and how it turned into something super sweet.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Three Little Words is the third and final installment of Jenny Holiday's Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series. This book focuses on Gia and Bennett, and their road trip from hell. It's a little sad to let this series go but I have to say, I really think it ended on a high note. Gia and Bennett were really fun to read about and I loved there was a bit of role reversal in who wanted a fling more. I feel like it's becoming a trend where romance heroes are the ones rooting for a relationship while the heroines want something a little less permanent. It's definitely a trend I can get on board with so I'm glad that Ms. Holiday included that in this story.
Gia was actually a very intriguing character to read about and the one that had my attention the most. She could easily come off as rude and stuck up, but once we got to know her more we saw the loving side to her. There were some heavier issues touched upon in this story too, mainly Gia and her eating habits, and I really liked how they were handled. They weren't over dramatized, but they also weren't just mentioned and then shoved under the rug.
The romance was beautifully done as well. If you follow the timeline then it's definitely an insta-love type of since it took place over only a short period of time. But there was so much depth to the characters that allowed us to slowly get to know them and see their connection grow that it didn't feel too fast at all. Overall, I found both of them very enjoyable to read about and I loved getting to see their crazy trip and how it turned into something super sweet.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2019
A sweet love story that will make you smile swoon and crave southern cooking!
He doesn’t do hook ups, she doesn’t do relationships. Love this a classic trope turned on its head. This is the third book in the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone. The books in this series are full of fun, friendship, sizzle, steam, romance, and love! I love strong female friendships in books and these three girls have one of the best I have read. A group of girls you would love to go out with, tell your secrets too, the type of girls who would bring you ice cream at two in the morning. We all need a 2 AM ice cream friend!
Gia is heading to Wendy’s wedding in Florida, caught up in a snowstorm in New York she is forced to take a road trip with Bennett all the way to Florida. These two do not exactly get off on the right foot Bennett thinks that Gia is a bit of a diva, and Gia thinks Bennett is nothing but a player. BUT soon Gia finds out that Bennett is not looking for a good time he’s looking for a long time... relationship that is. As the two of them begin to get to know each other better they begin to question what they really want. SO what are those three little words? I love you? Or... leave me alone?
Gia was an interesting character a bit blunt, a bit bitchy, a bit standoffish, but as the story progresses you really get to know her and to like her. Bennett on the other hand will instantly make you swoon a good looking nice guy who can cook... sold! The chemistry between these two was off the chart HOT and once things got cooking it was definitely steamy! A satisfying ending to a wonderful series!
An entertaining romance perfect for those who like sweet love stories filled with fabulous characters with some sizzle and steam! Recommend!
*** many thanks to Forever for my copy of this book ***
He doesn’t do hook ups, she doesn’t do relationships. Love this a classic trope turned on its head. This is the third book in the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone. The books in this series are full of fun, friendship, sizzle, steam, romance, and love! I love strong female friendships in books and these three girls have one of the best I have read. A group of girls you would love to go out with, tell your secrets too, the type of girls who would bring you ice cream at two in the morning. We all need a 2 AM ice cream friend!
Gia is heading to Wendy’s wedding in Florida, caught up in a snowstorm in New York she is forced to take a road trip with Bennett all the way to Florida. These two do not exactly get off on the right foot Bennett thinks that Gia is a bit of a diva, and Gia thinks Bennett is nothing but a player. BUT soon Gia finds out that Bennett is not looking for a good time he’s looking for a long time... relationship that is. As the two of them begin to get to know each other better they begin to question what they really want. SO what are those three little words? I love you? Or... leave me alone?
Gia was an interesting character a bit blunt, a bit bitchy, a bit standoffish, but as the story progresses you really get to know her and to like her. Bennett on the other hand will instantly make you swoon a good looking nice guy who can cook... sold! The chemistry between these two was off the chart HOT and once things got cooking it was definitely steamy! A satisfying ending to a wonderful series!
An entertaining romance perfect for those who like sweet love stories filled with fabulous characters with some sizzle and steam! Recommend!
*** many thanks to Forever for my copy of this book ***
March 20, 2019
This is third in a series and the friend-group is pretty tight-knit and present. Actually, for much of the book the couple is on their own and away from friends, but the latter section is almost all friend-group adjacent. At any rate, I recommend reading these in order.
While I've found Gia interesting as a side-character, I had qualms about her taking a lead. She has an overt "One and done. Two and through." policy on "relationships" and I just knew that'd be a negative motivation* with monster stamina. And it turns out that I was right. Pretty much all the conflict in this story is between Gia's and Bennett's sexual/relationship expectations. Which might have been an interesting dynamic if Gia's had made any sense. I mean, yeah, those early experiences can be scarring, but her "defining moment" was over a decade ago and she has lots of examples of good and lasting relationships right there in her friend group.
But the more frustrating aspect of it was that she has a couple explicit examples of arranging "trials" for her wanna-be boyfriends (that they all failed). So I spent the last half of this novel going "why the crap are you hesitating to arrange one of these stupid things for Bennett?!?" It isn't like he wouldn't "pass". He is, frankly, awesome and exactly the kind of guy she should be with. And the truth of the matter is that he passes a handful of just such trials that came up naturally in their interactions anyway. So really, Gia's hesitation is pure author manipulation so that the conflict can drag out.
That Bennett guy, though? Man I liked him. Yeah his crusader thing was a bit of a stretch but the caring and capable guy who does his best for the people around him is my jam. I kept with this story for him, basically. And no small part of that was his support for and appreciation of Gia as her non-model self. I loved how he was able to highlight her strengths in ways that she could see and the things that she took for granted about herself (her smart and creative way of looking at problems) was shown to be both unique and valuable.
Still, for all that Bennett was simply awesome and for the first half of the book being simply outstanding, the conflict draw-out and Gia's idiotic motivations keep this at a mere three stars. I can't help feeling like it could have been so much more if Holiday had been able to come up with more than the obvious relationship conflict.
A note about Steamy: There are enough explicit sex scenes to be the middle of my steam tolerance but it has been a couple weeks since I finished the book and I forget how many. I did like their dynamic in their intimate moments, so at least there's that.
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
While I've found Gia interesting as a side-character, I had qualms about her taking a lead. She has an overt "One and done. Two and through." policy on "relationships" and I just knew that'd be a negative motivation* with monster stamina. And it turns out that I was right. Pretty much all the conflict in this story is between Gia's and Bennett's sexual/relationship expectations. Which might have been an interesting dynamic if Gia's had made any sense. I mean, yeah, those early experiences can be scarring, but her "defining moment" was over a decade ago and she has lots of examples of good and lasting relationships right there in her friend group.
But the more frustrating aspect of it was that she has a couple explicit examples of arranging "trials" for her wanna-be boyfriends (that they all failed). So I spent the last half of this novel going "why the crap are you hesitating to arrange one of these stupid things for Bennett?!?" It isn't like he wouldn't "pass". He is, frankly, awesome and exactly the kind of guy she should be with. And the truth of the matter is that he passes a handful of just such trials that came up naturally in their interactions anyway. So really, Gia's hesitation is pure author manipulation so that the conflict can drag out.
That Bennett guy, though? Man I liked him. Yeah his crusader thing was a bit of a stretch but the caring and capable guy who does his best for the people around him is my jam. I kept with this story for him, basically. And no small part of that was his support for and appreciation of Gia as her non-model self. I loved how he was able to highlight her strengths in ways that she could see and the things that she took for granted about herself (her smart and creative way of looking at problems) was shown to be both unique and valuable.
Still, for all that Bennett was simply awesome and for the first half of the book being simply outstanding, the conflict draw-out and Gia's idiotic motivations keep this at a mere three stars. I can't help feeling like it could have been so much more if Holiday had been able to come up with more than the obvious relationship conflict.
A note about Steamy: There are enough explicit sex scenes to be the middle of my steam tolerance but it has been a couple weeks since I finished the book and I forget how many. I did like their dynamic in their intimate moments, so at least there's that.
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
December 30, 2018
4.5/5
Loved, loved, loved this book! This series has been nothing but pure fun for me. Not only have they got deliciously swoony romances, but the books feature one of the most amazing groups of fictional girlfriends. With Three Little Words being the last book in the series, I was quite sad to dive into it, but Jenny Holiday made it such a treat to devour this story. If you're ever in the mood for fun contemporary romances, the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series should be at the top of your lists.
Gia has always piqued an interest in me since the very beginning of this series. I've never read a book about a model so I was very intrigued by her lifestyle. While the rest of the books gave us a snippet of what her life was like, in Three Little Words we get more of a close-up look. It was fascinating, especially because we get to see the serious anxiety that Gia goes through as she was nearing the upper-end of a model's age. A lot of the book revolved around her fear of the future, her self-worth, and how she slowly figures out a potential new career path. Gia's complicated relationship with food and her body image were also at the center of Three Little Words, a topic that the author tackled with sensitivity and care. There were a few times when I wanted to cry because I may not be a model, but as women, we are so hard on ourselves and Gia's thoughts resonated with me on a profound level. Besides that, I adored her sweet and loyal personality. She was so devoted to her friends and their happiness - it totally warmed my heart to see the lengths she would go for them.
Then there was Bennett, the hero of the book and stealer of my heart. All of the men in this series have been swoony beyond words, but this guy was just my favorite. He was a chef (#bemine) with such an exciting passion for not only cooking but also for feeding people who may not have the means to. Bennett was kind, insightful and honest. I just loved him so much. Much of his issues revolved around the tension between him and his family. Despite it all, he hadn't let his complicated relationships become a hurdle in his life. I also have to mention how refreshing it was to have a hero here who was looking for commitment and who uncannily declined any invitations to hook-ups. When Bennett and Gia meet, they don't start off on the right foot, but slowly a bond grows between the two and let me tell you, the sparks were just out of this world. Their attraction to each other, the banter and the deep conversations they had only served to grow them as individuals and as a couple as they went on this road trip to get to Wendy's wedding. Of course, it was also a complete delight when the girls were reunited. I love love love how supportive these women are of each other.
Three Little Words was just the perfect way to wrap up the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series. It made me smile, swoon and even shed a tear. I couldn't have asked for a better story for Gia!
Loved, loved, loved this book! This series has been nothing but pure fun for me. Not only have they got deliciously swoony romances, but the books feature one of the most amazing groups of fictional girlfriends. With Three Little Words being the last book in the series, I was quite sad to dive into it, but Jenny Holiday made it such a treat to devour this story. If you're ever in the mood for fun contemporary romances, the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series should be at the top of your lists.
Gia has always piqued an interest in me since the very beginning of this series. I've never read a book about a model so I was very intrigued by her lifestyle. While the rest of the books gave us a snippet of what her life was like, in Three Little Words we get more of a close-up look. It was fascinating, especially because we get to see the serious anxiety that Gia goes through as she was nearing the upper-end of a model's age. A lot of the book revolved around her fear of the future, her self-worth, and how she slowly figures out a potential new career path. Gia's complicated relationship with food and her body image were also at the center of Three Little Words, a topic that the author tackled with sensitivity and care. There were a few times when I wanted to cry because I may not be a model, but as women, we are so hard on ourselves and Gia's thoughts resonated with me on a profound level. Besides that, I adored her sweet and loyal personality. She was so devoted to her friends and their happiness - it totally warmed my heart to see the lengths she would go for them.
Then there was Bennett, the hero of the book and stealer of my heart. All of the men in this series have been swoony beyond words, but this guy was just my favorite. He was a chef (#bemine) with such an exciting passion for not only cooking but also for feeding people who may not have the means to. Bennett was kind, insightful and honest. I just loved him so much. Much of his issues revolved around the tension between him and his family. Despite it all, he hadn't let his complicated relationships become a hurdle in his life. I also have to mention how refreshing it was to have a hero here who was looking for commitment and who uncannily declined any invitations to hook-ups. When Bennett and Gia meet, they don't start off on the right foot, but slowly a bond grows between the two and let me tell you, the sparks were just out of this world. Their attraction to each other, the banter and the deep conversations they had only served to grow them as individuals and as a couple as they went on this road trip to get to Wendy's wedding. Of course, it was also a complete delight when the girls were reunited. I love love love how supportive these women are of each other.
Three Little Words was just the perfect way to wrap up the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series. It made me smile, swoon and even shed a tear. I couldn't have asked for a better story for Gia!
February 1, 2019
Three Little Words by Jenny Holiday is the third novel in her romantic comedy series, Bridesmaids Behaving Badly. It’s centered around a group of female friends and their weddings, and the whole series has been a joy to read, this one included!
Gia Gallo is turning into a ‘bridesmaid-zilla’. She’s desperate to get her friend Wendy (heroine of It Takes Two) her wedding dress for the ceremony in Florida by Saturday – and with six days to go, NYC is on lockdown from a winter storm. As it turns out, best man Bennett Buchanan, holder of the all important wedding rings is in the same boat. Initially meeting at the airport for their now cancelled flight and left with few options, they end up on a road trip to beat the storm and get their precious cargo to their friends on time.
In such close quarters, it’s no surprise that conversations take a more intimate turn, and this only serves to deepen the attraction they have to each other. But they are very different people. Bennett had a tragic awakening to his privileged life that left him with a higher sense of purpose. Running his own Cajun restaurant, he has a goal to give back to the community that he is working towards, one day at a time. Gia is a model and aware that the clock is ticking on her career, with no idea what she will do when she’s replaced by the younger, thinner set. The lurking fear of that day is driving her to make risky eating choices. Bennett has a ‘no sex outside of relationships’ rule he’s reluctant to cross, and Gia is all about casual sex with no commitment. Can these opposites find common ground and make it to the wedding on time, with a chance at their own happy ever after?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: https://harlequinjunkie.com/review-th...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Gia Gallo is turning into a ‘bridesmaid-zilla’. She’s desperate to get her friend Wendy (heroine of It Takes Two) her wedding dress for the ceremony in Florida by Saturday – and with six days to go, NYC is on lockdown from a winter storm. As it turns out, best man Bennett Buchanan, holder of the all important wedding rings is in the same boat. Initially meeting at the airport for their now cancelled flight and left with few options, they end up on a road trip to beat the storm and get their precious cargo to their friends on time.
In such close quarters, it’s no surprise that conversations take a more intimate turn, and this only serves to deepen the attraction they have to each other. But they are very different people. Bennett had a tragic awakening to his privileged life that left him with a higher sense of purpose. Running his own Cajun restaurant, he has a goal to give back to the community that he is working towards, one day at a time. Gia is a model and aware that the clock is ticking on her career, with no idea what she will do when she’s replaced by the younger, thinner set. The lurking fear of that day is driving her to make risky eating choices. Bennett has a ‘no sex outside of relationships’ rule he’s reluctant to cross, and Gia is all about casual sex with no commitment. Can these opposites find common ground and make it to the wedding on time, with a chance at their own happy ever after?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: https://harlequinjunkie.com/review-th...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
January 21, 2019
ALL THE THINGS! This book has all the things I love. It’s a deliciously, sexy, swoony, smokin hot chemistry laden, hilariously snarky book! Woo... that's a lot of adjectives. ((smiles))
Check out the blurb for all the in-depth details, but stay here for the down and dirty. Get the book. Don’t read too many reviews, you don't want spoilers. Just know that you are in for a great ride, pun intended, with Gia and Bennett. One of the best situational romance comedies I’ve read in a while.
Go. Get it. Read it. Love it. Laugh.
~Tanja
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July 20, 2019
Wowowwowowow OK 100% exceeded all of my expectations. I think of the 4 characters, I was least excited about Gia’s story. Excited – but just not as excited. I mean it’s a little hard to relate to a model. However, I found her so funny, loving, and surprisingly relatable. Her story is emotional, sweet, and I love it.
Here are some of my thoughts:
• This story touches on some important topics like body image, eating disorder, trust, self-esteem, feeling lost and how to find the courage to change your life, broken family, moving on from guilt, addiction, etc. I think everything is done well. I love how the story this plays out with these 2 semi-strangers going on a road trip to their mutual friend’s wedding. They initially dislike each other, but soon enough, they are having deep conversations, getting to know one another, and revealing things they have never told anyone else before. Only seeing a week of them knowing each other is enough for me to see how strong this bond is. This relationship is incredibly well-developed. I also love how they help each other face personal problems. They do not force each other but they give a gentle nudge, support, and the choice to do it or not. It is not about “saving” the other or forcing opinions down one’s throat, but truly helping. They are nonjudgmental and just want the best for the other person. It is a relationship filled with such respect and care. Their helping each other become better people reminds me of Jane & Cameron’s book, which is one of my favorite books ever. I did not think this book would even come close to it, but this is honestly so damn good!
• Gia is fun-loving, bossy, loyal and she seriously grew on me. I also adore Bennett because he is sweet times a million and I love how passionate he is about being a chef, giving back to the community, and becoming a better person – overcoming who he was in the past.
• I also love seeing all her friends happily married and wanting Gia to be happy too. This book truly comes full circles.
5 stars I love Gia. I love Bennett. I love their relationship and the roadtrip/secrets-sharing plot. And all the friendships. This series in general has been one of the most well-rounded romance series I have ever read and I love how it starts and ends so strongly.
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
Here are some of my thoughts:
• This story touches on some important topics like body image, eating disorder, trust, self-esteem, feeling lost and how to find the courage to change your life, broken family, moving on from guilt, addiction, etc. I think everything is done well. I love how the story this plays out with these 2 semi-strangers going on a road trip to their mutual friend’s wedding. They initially dislike each other, but soon enough, they are having deep conversations, getting to know one another, and revealing things they have never told anyone else before. Only seeing a week of them knowing each other is enough for me to see how strong this bond is. This relationship is incredibly well-developed. I also love how they help each other face personal problems. They do not force each other but they give a gentle nudge, support, and the choice to do it or not. It is not about “saving” the other or forcing opinions down one’s throat, but truly helping. They are nonjudgmental and just want the best for the other person. It is a relationship filled with such respect and care. Their helping each other become better people reminds me of Jane & Cameron’s book, which is one of my favorite books ever. I did not think this book would even come close to it, but this is honestly so damn good!
• Gia is fun-loving, bossy, loyal and she seriously grew on me. I also adore Bennett because he is sweet times a million and I love how passionate he is about being a chef, giving back to the community, and becoming a better person – overcoming who he was in the past.
• I also love seeing all her friends happily married and wanting Gia to be happy too. This book truly comes full circles.
5 stars I love Gia. I love Bennett. I love their relationship and the roadtrip/secrets-sharing plot. And all the friendships. This series in general has been one of the most well-rounded romance series I have ever read and I love how it starts and ends so strongly.
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
February 1, 2019
I think I have been hesitant to write about this book because I can't possibly formulate the appropriate words to tell you how incredibly good this book is. It was a fantastic close to a fantastic series.
In previous books Gia didn't seem like she would be my favorite. Because I really love Jane. And adored Wendy. But Gia, oh man, Gia blew me away. She's lacking roots. She's struggling with her body. Struggled with who she is and where she fits it. She is a loyal friend. She is determined to get to Wendy's destination wedding.
Enter Bennett, our hero. He is a restaurant owner/chef. Friends, he sees Gia. He sees all of Gia. All the pieces she wants to hide. They are “trapped” together as they travel to Wendy’s wedding. I LOVE forced proximity.
Gia doesn’t do commitment, Bennett doesn’t do casual. But we know how this goes. They are perfectly matched. The trip forces them to open up to each other. I loved every moment of it. Gia has some shit to deal with, so does Bennett. They help each other but they aren’t magically cured of their shit. This is one of my favorite plot devices ever.
But I think the absolute best thing about this story was Gia’s chosen family. Bennett joined the ranks, but before him there was Jane, Wendy, and Elise. The parts of the story that focused on them really hit me in my feels and had me crying. For me, Holiday has become an author that I believe will give me stories about women who don’t need men in their lives, but their lives are enhanced by them. These women will love the other women in their loves fiercely, even if they try to make it hard. I love seeing positive female friendships in fiction. I think we need more of it. I am sad to leave these women behind, but I look forward to what Holiday writes next.
Here is one quote that made me extremely teary.
“But mind yourself there,” Wendy said. “She’s not your girl.” “Right!” Elise said. “She’s our girl.”
In previous books Gia didn't seem like she would be my favorite. Because I really love Jane. And adored Wendy. But Gia, oh man, Gia blew me away. She's lacking roots. She's struggling with her body. Struggled with who she is and where she fits it. She is a loyal friend. She is determined to get to Wendy's destination wedding.
Enter Bennett, our hero. He is a restaurant owner/chef. Friends, he sees Gia. He sees all of Gia. All the pieces she wants to hide. They are “trapped” together as they travel to Wendy’s wedding. I LOVE forced proximity.
Gia doesn’t do commitment, Bennett doesn’t do casual. But we know how this goes. They are perfectly matched. The trip forces them to open up to each other. I loved every moment of it. Gia has some shit to deal with, so does Bennett. They help each other but they aren’t magically cured of their shit. This is one of my favorite plot devices ever.
But I think the absolute best thing about this story was Gia’s chosen family. Bennett joined the ranks, but before him there was Jane, Wendy, and Elise. The parts of the story that focused on them really hit me in my feels and had me crying. For me, Holiday has become an author that I believe will give me stories about women who don’t need men in their lives, but their lives are enhanced by them. These women will love the other women in their loves fiercely, even if they try to make it hard. I love seeing positive female friendships in fiction. I think we need more of it. I am sad to leave these women behind, but I look forward to what Holiday writes next.
Here is one quote that made me extremely teary.
“But mind yourself there,” Wendy said. “She’s not your girl.” “Right!” Elise said. “She’s our girl.”
March 7, 2024
I began this book on the bus, going to work, while there was a blizzard outside, so it fit perfectly for the first meeting between Gia and Bennett, bridesmaid and best man for their friends's wedding, stranded at New York's airport because of a snowstorm ;p
Begin a road trip toward Florida for the wedding, with a Southern Chef and a Canadian Model. He doesn't do casual, she doesn't do relationship. He's not the same careless man he used to be and he's trying to atone for his past, she's trying to deal with troubles related to her job. Together, they'll help each other find answers to the things they want to change or were missing in their lives.
Road trip is one of my favorite trope. But that's because of the author's writing style that this book was so good. I wasn't sure what I would think about Gia's story because she wasn't my favorite heroine in the series when we met the three girls but there's more to the character than a blunt woman who just sleep around. I like the fact that even if Gia and Bennett misjudge each other at the beginning, they still have an open mind about the other. I liked their authenticity and their honesty and they're both instinctive. The restaurant idea was a great one too.
Begin a road trip toward Florida for the wedding, with a Southern Chef and a Canadian Model. He doesn't do casual, she doesn't do relationship. He's not the same careless man he used to be and he's trying to atone for his past, she's trying to deal with troubles related to her job. Together, they'll help each other find answers to the things they want to change or were missing in their lives.
Road trip is one of my favorite trope. But that's because of the author's writing style that this book was so good. I wasn't sure what I would think about Gia's story because she wasn't my favorite heroine in the series when we met the three girls but there's more to the character than a blunt woman who just sleep around. I like the fact that even if Gia and Bennett misjudge each other at the beginning, they still have an open mind about the other. I liked their authenticity and their honesty and they're both instinctive. The restaurant idea was a great one too.
January 21, 2019
It is always with great hesitation, that I finish a series. Not only am I sad to say that final farewell to characters I have grown to love, but I also worry that the ending won't satisfy me. Rest assured, Holiday gave this group of fabulous women a fantastic send-off!
I love when authors save the character, who seems the least likely to settle down, for the final book. This character's story is usually very emotional, and I would say Gia's fits the bill.
She had her one-and-done, two-and-through rules, which had been working just fine for her, but as her friends started settling down and modeling was losing its allure, she began wanting something more for herself. Little did she know that "something" would come in the form of a handsome southern chef.
Gia and Bennett were a fantastic coupling. First of all, I loved each of them separately.
Gia was really complex and complicated. Her philosophy on love was born out of past failures with men and her family, as well as her need to protect her heart. She was turning 30 and found herself at a crossroads in her life - too old to model, but that's all she knew. I was so happy fate brought Bennett into her life, because I loved how she was able to find a passion and a talent she didn't even realize she had with his help.
And, Bennett! A reformed bad boy, who had hit bottom and had to start over from scratch. He worked his way up to having a successful restaurant in NYC, but aspired to take care of people. *swoon* I actually adored everything about his restaurant and his plans for it. I also loved the way he and Gia bonded over ideas for his restaurant. These were the times we saw Gia come to life, and I knew I wanted them to make Bennett's dream come to fruition together.
A great hero plus a great heroine gave me a couple I could not help but ship. As expected, there was chemistry galore between the two. He was hot. She was hot. They were hot together. But, it wasn't all just steam and heat, it was the way they took the time to get to know and understand each other. They encouraged one another and saw things in each other that other people didn't. They just belonged together.
The destination of Bennett and Gia's road trip may have been the wedding, but that physical journey resulted in quite a personal journey for both. Along the way, via the games they played and the truths they shared, Gia and Bennett found some closure on their pasts, as well as, a clearer view of their futures. It was very gratifying to see all these things happen for them, and I was really, really pleased with the outcome for both of these characters.
Other things I loved in this book:
• Roadtrip! 🚗
• Food, glorious food. 🍕🍳🥧
• A wedding 👰🏻
• An epic female friendship 💖
• A bromantic intervention 👨❤️👨
• A grand gesture 😲
• A stupendous jump-ahead epilogue 😃
It's always sad to say goodbye to a great series, but I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet this wonderful "family", and see all of them find their HEA.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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I love when authors save the character, who seems the least likely to settle down, for the final book. This character's story is usually very emotional, and I would say Gia's fits the bill.
She had her one-and-done, two-and-through rules, which had been working just fine for her, but as her friends started settling down and modeling was losing its allure, she began wanting something more for herself. Little did she know that "something" would come in the form of a handsome southern chef.
Gia and Bennett were a fantastic coupling. First of all, I loved each of them separately.
Gia was really complex and complicated. Her philosophy on love was born out of past failures with men and her family, as well as her need to protect her heart. She was turning 30 and found herself at a crossroads in her life - too old to model, but that's all she knew. I was so happy fate brought Bennett into her life, because I loved how she was able to find a passion and a talent she didn't even realize she had with his help.
And, Bennett! A reformed bad boy, who had hit bottom and had to start over from scratch. He worked his way up to having a successful restaurant in NYC, but aspired to take care of people. *swoon* I actually adored everything about his restaurant and his plans for it. I also loved the way he and Gia bonded over ideas for his restaurant. These were the times we saw Gia come to life, and I knew I wanted them to make Bennett's dream come to fruition together.
A great hero plus a great heroine gave me a couple I could not help but ship. As expected, there was chemistry galore between the two. He was hot. She was hot. They were hot together. But, it wasn't all just steam and heat, it was the way they took the time to get to know and understand each other. They encouraged one another and saw things in each other that other people didn't. They just belonged together.
The destination of Bennett and Gia's road trip may have been the wedding, but that physical journey resulted in quite a personal journey for both. Along the way, via the games they played and the truths they shared, Gia and Bennett found some closure on their pasts, as well as, a clearer view of their futures. It was very gratifying to see all these things happen for them, and I was really, really pleased with the outcome for both of these characters.
Other things I loved in this book:
• Roadtrip! 🚗
• Food, glorious food. 🍕🍳🥧
• A wedding 👰🏻
• An epic female friendship 💖
• A bromantic intervention 👨❤️👨
• A grand gesture 😲
• A stupendous jump-ahead epilogue 😃
It's always sad to say goodbye to a great series, but I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet this wonderful "family", and see all of them find their HEA.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
January 31, 2019
Gia and Bennett are trying to make it to Noah and Wendy’s wedding. They are snowed in at the airport and their first interaction is rocky. They decide to make the best of the situation. As the story progresses they get to know each other and realize they judge each other without really knowing all the facts. We do find out some stuff about each character that took me by surprise.
As much as I liked Gia and Bennett, I really didn’t feel a connection. They only spent a few days together after meeting for the first time at the airport and they are in love. Nope. Not going to work for me, I need more build up between a couple.
As a fan of the series it was nice to see the other couples and there was a nice wrap up at the end. Even though this wasn’t my favorite book in the series, I still love the characters. They are a wonderful tribe of women who love each other hard. They are there for each other through good times and bad. I love the bond these women had with each other. I’m sad to see this series end.
*NetGalley Review*
As much as I liked Gia and Bennett, I really didn’t feel a connection. They only spent a few days together after meeting for the first time at the airport and they are in love. Nope. Not going to work for me, I need more build up between a couple.
As a fan of the series it was nice to see the other couples and there was a nice wrap up at the end. Even though this wasn’t my favorite book in the series, I still love the characters. They are a wonderful tribe of women who love each other hard. They are there for each other through good times and bad. I love the bond these women had with each other. I’m sad to see this series end.
*NetGalley Review*
January 22, 2019
This is such a fun series! I couldn't wait to get my hands on Gia's story and it did not disappoint! Though this is book 3 in the series, it can be read as a standalone. Previous characters do appear, however, and I think it would be best appreciated after reading the previous books.
I loved Bennett! *swoon* He was such a refreshing hero! He had some very heavy baggage from his past and even though he went to the extreme to atone, I admired his drive to become a better individual. There isn't some adorable meet cute with Gia, but I appreciated that over time, the masks fell away to a degree and they truly saw the other for who they are. Their chemistry was fantastic and their scenes together were both sweet and smoking hot! The forced proximity trope is tricky for me, but I felt like the instalust turned love was handled really well and believable given their 2 personalities and histories. Yes, some things move at warp speed, but it was still a really enjoyable ride. I loved that both Bennett and Gia knew that ultimately they had to "save" themselves, but that they could recognize that help from those who love you goes a long way.
Catching up with the other characters in the series was a fun treat (Elise, Jane, and Wendy are a hoot!) and I don't think the epilogue could have been more perfect! It was sweet and heartfelt and a wonderful way to give readers a glimpse into the future of these beloved characters. It definitely left me with a smile on my face!
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*
I loved Bennett! *swoon* He was such a refreshing hero! He had some very heavy baggage from his past and even though he went to the extreme to atone, I admired his drive to become a better individual. There isn't some adorable meet cute with Gia, but I appreciated that over time, the masks fell away to a degree and they truly saw the other for who they are. Their chemistry was fantastic and their scenes together were both sweet and smoking hot! The forced proximity trope is tricky for me, but I felt like the instalust turned love was handled really well and believable given their 2 personalities and histories. Yes, some things move at warp speed, but it was still a really enjoyable ride. I loved that both Bennett and Gia knew that ultimately they had to "save" themselves, but that they could recognize that help from those who love you goes a long way.
Catching up with the other characters in the series was a fun treat (Elise, Jane, and Wendy are a hoot!) and I don't think the epilogue could have been more perfect! It was sweet and heartfelt and a wonderful way to give readers a glimpse into the future of these beloved characters. It definitely left me with a smile on my face!
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*
January 30, 2019
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I was anticipating this book because this series always delivers a fun read. I've enjoyed some more than others but I still look forward to reading them. This one seemed to have a premise that would be perfect for me. The hero is a chef and owns a restaurant in NYC. The heroine is a model. They are both attending the wedding of their friends in Florida and due to a storm their flight is cancelled and they are forced to rent a car and drive from NY to Florida. I mean, this sounded like a perfect plot for what I like! Sadly, I think it fell short somewhere along the execution.
At first, I was all over it. But then quickly I started to see things I didn't like mixed in with some I liked. Like how the hero would come across quite judgy at times and it would throw me off completely my reading mojo. And then as I was expecting to care for the heroine because she is dealing with some personal issues as well, I just never did connect with her and didn't care for her predicament. And that made me feel bad because she deals with the start of an eating disorder and I wanted to empathetic but I just didn't care for her in general one way or another.
Then there's the romance. I will be the first to admit that I struggle with insta love in general. And granted, you may say this isn't insta love because they start off as enemies. But in the span of seven days (driving to Florida and the wedding) these two make some HUGE life changing decisions that I just couldn't wrap my head around. These may be things that ring true for others, but for me, I just couldn't see it. Add to that the fact that I found the big reconciliation moment to be extremely selfish on their part on how it takes over someone else's big event. I just didn't care for any of that!
There are still some things about this story that were nice and kept me from DNF'ing the book. But in the end, it wasn't enough to make me love the book.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
July 1, 2019
This was such a cute book!!! Gia was such a fun character and I loved the dynamic that she had with Bennett. He was just too sweet!!! this was a great installation in the series and I can’t wait to read the novelettes. If you like contemporary romance novels, this series is a great one to pick up!!!
April 30, 2021
So this is one where my break between books hurt me because my first re-introduction to Gia is her yelling at the airplane workers for something out of their control. NOT COOL.
In this book's favor, it made me like the road trip aspect of it, which I usually don't. (My family drove cross county many times as a kid. I might just be over it.) I like Gia and Bennett's connection. I liked Gia having an eye for business.
It was too fast, which okay, I guess I should've expected that, but somehow I was still surprised by
I think I had more sympathy for Gia when it came to the conflict than my friends did, but it also felt like . . . both characters took it to this extreme place?
Owned physical book 2/2 for the month
Overall owned book 4/5 for the month
In this book's favor, it made me like the road trip aspect of it, which I usually don't. (My family drove cross county many times as a kid. I might just be over it.) I like Gia and Bennett's connection. I liked Gia having an eye for business.
It was too fast, which okay, I guess I should've expected that, but somehow I was still surprised by
I think I had more sympathy for Gia when it came to the conflict than my friends did, but it also felt like . . . both characters took it to this extreme place?
Owned physical book 2/2 for the month
Overall owned book 4/5 for the month
January 28, 2019
Three Little Words by Jenny Holiday is book Three in the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly Series. This is the story of Gia Gallo and Bennett Buchanan. I have read the previous books and that did add to my enjoyment of their story. Gia is headed to a wedding but ends up getting stuck along with Bennett. The two are now having to spend time together where they start learning more about the other. Both having different outlooks on relationship but the more they get to know one another the more their thoughts on relationships change. I have really enjoyed this series and look for more books from this author!
January 25, 2019
I zipped right through these books and I'm sad that the reading adventure is over. Gia's book was just as awesome as I was expecting after finishing the other books in this series and I was not disappointed. Bennett was a fabulous hero and I just adored seeing these two come together in love. I know it's only January but already, this is my favorite girl squad. These four ladies (Jane, Wendy, Elise, and Gia) were amazing together and I love how their love for each other was strong in each and every single book in this series. It was the perfect way to end a fabulous series. So good!
May 16, 2019
This book wasn't for me.
December 23, 2018
I loved the idea of this synopsis and couldn’t wait to get to the story — and even better, maybe find a new to me author.
I really liked Gia and Bennett. I loved both of their personalities and how they had similar backgrounds. I especially loved the juxtaposition of her being a model and him being a chef. Their chemistry was good and while I did like how their relationship progressed, I wanted more banter.
Plot wise, it was a pretty quick pace. Even though the action of them getting to Florida was repetitive, it never felt that way. I found myself looking forward to the shenanigans. My main complaint is that there were a lot of other characters from the previous books and I just couldn’t keep them straight.
Overall, it was a fun a quick read. I enjoyed the more serious topics not overshadowing the entire story and that it was able to remain light. I will definitely be checking into other of Jenny’s books.
FYI: there is talk of eating disorders throughout the book.
**Huge thanks to Forever for providing the arc free of charge**
I really liked Gia and Bennett. I loved both of their personalities and how they had similar backgrounds. I especially loved the juxtaposition of her being a model and him being a chef. Their chemistry was good and while I did like how their relationship progressed, I wanted more banter.
Plot wise, it was a pretty quick pace. Even though the action of them getting to Florida was repetitive, it never felt that way. I found myself looking forward to the shenanigans. My main complaint is that there were a lot of other characters from the previous books and I just couldn’t keep them straight.
Overall, it was a fun a quick read. I enjoyed the more serious topics not overshadowing the entire story and that it was able to remain light. I will definitely be checking into other of Jenny’s books.
FYI: there is talk of eating disorders throughout the book.
**Huge thanks to Forever for providing the arc free of charge**
February 25, 2022
Content Notes:
So much good book noise! I was a little hesitant because I didn’t like Elise’s Christmas novella and liked (but not loved) ONE AND ONLY. But this book was so delightful. I loved the strength of the female friendship - by far my favorite part of the series. The food descriptions made me so hungry (seriously, do not read this book with an empty stomach). I have a special spot for road trip romances, and this book scratched that itch so well. The only book I haven’t read is Wendy’s story but I need to get on that since Wendy is my favorite person in the friend group.
Also: I really wished that Gia had blue hair in the cover because she has blue hair for the majority of the book!
So much good book noise! I was a little hesitant because I didn’t like Elise’s Christmas novella and liked (but not loved) ONE AND ONLY. But this book was so delightful. I loved the strength of the female friendship - by far my favorite part of the series. The food descriptions made me so hungry (seriously, do not read this book with an empty stomach). I have a special spot for road trip romances, and this book scratched that itch so well. The only book I haven’t read is Wendy’s story but I need to get on that since Wendy is my favorite person in the friend group.
Also: I really wished that Gia had blue hair in the cover because she has blue hair for the majority of the book!
February 12, 2019
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
Three Little Words
Bridesmaids Behaving Badly
By Jenny Holiday
ISBN: 9781455542468
Author’s Website: jennyholiday(.)com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Note: Some spoilers re: storyline
Summary:
Gia Gallo is officially in bridesmaid hell. Stranded in New York with her best friend’s wedding dress, Gia has six days to make it to Florida in time for the ceremony. And oh-so-charming best man Bennett Buchanan has taken the last available rental car. Looks like she’s in for one long road trip with the sexiest – and most irritating – Southern gentleman she’s ever met…
Bennett’s pretty sure that if there was ever a woman to break his “no flings” rule, Gia would be it. Sure, she’s stubborn. She’s also funny, smart, and the attraction between them is getting hotter with every state line they cross. While Bennett doesn’t do casual, Gia doesn’t do “relationships.” But if they break the rules, this unlikely pair might discover that their impromptu road trip could turn out to be the best ride of their lives. (Goodreads)
Review:
Three Little Words, while the third in the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series, it is actually the 5th because there is a .5 and a 2.5 novella in the series. With that out of the way… Three Little Words is the second book written by Jenny Holiday that I have read. I must say, I am very impressed with the writing of Jenny Holiday. Just the right amount of romance, “heat” and everyday sort of challenges – oh and did I say HEAT!
Gia Gallo is a bridesmaid for one of her bestie’s Wendy. While at the airport in New York, waiting to board the plane to Tampa, Gia gets the bad news that the flight was cancelled due to bad weather. Not good as Gia is on a mission:
“Listen to me,” the bad-tempered beauty said to the gate agent as she held up a garment bag. “This is a wedding dress. It needs to get to Florida now.”
“This is my friend Wendy’s wedding dress. Actually, it’s her dead mother’s wedding dress. And Wendy? She hasn’t had the easiest time of it. So I have made it my personal mission to make sure her wedding goes off without a hitch. This dress will make it to Florida if I have to walk it there myself.”
So Gia, the firecracker of bridesmaids meets Bennett (a groomsman for the wedding who is transporting the wedding rings down to Florida). What ensues is a journey…a multifaceted journey I might add. Being grounded until the next day, they hatch a plan to make it part way flying, but then get grounded again due to weather. So…forget flying… there new plan is to rent a car and drive since they have to get the wedding dress and rings to Florida as soon as possible.
Gia is a woman who does not do relationships. In fact, she has a “one-and-done, two-and-through rule. Bennett is a man who only does relationships. So right off the bat one can surmise the tension between the two.
I really enjoyed how during the journey they really did open up to each other and, be it kismet or whatever, they each knew instinctively what the other needed to overcome obstacles in their personal paths. As one can surmise, what is a road trip without some hot, steamy sex? Well there was that for sure…. which at first was surprising since Bennett values intimacy in a “relationship”, he is not into one or two night stands. But he broke down. And the justifications that Gia gave for going beyond her “two” times intimacy limit were hilarious, especially the morning scene where Gia is being the instigator:
“…What happened to the two-times rule?” he asked, helping her get free of the tangled sheets.
She plopped onto her back and turned her head to look at him. He was adorably disheveled. And stubbly. And delicious. “Well,” she said, casting about for a loophole, “I’m counting the first time as a half, because you didn’t come. You didn’t even take any clothes off, so…”
“So that means you don’t get to come if we go at it again?” He furrowed his brow. “I don’t think I can be down with that.”
Needless to say, there are lots of steamy scenes in the book. And sweet romantic scenes as well.
The storylines dealing with Gia’s baggage with respect to eating was very well done. It is tough being a model on the verge of aging out of her profession – lots of pressure to be perfect. So when Bennett watches Gia’s eating patterns – his solutions are very respectful.
Bennett is certainly not without baggage. He is estranged from his family. His restaurant is not the “pay-what-you-can” establishment that he wanted by this time in his life. Gia listens and provides subtle and small nudges to help Bennett realize he can have what he wants.
The evolution of these two characters during the road trip was very well done, with just the right amount of humor, sensitivity and good ole storytelling.
When the duo finally meets up with the remaining wedding party members in Florida, we see Gia retreating and Bennett floundering helplessly because Gia is retreating. What to do??? Some heart stopping moments, but you shall see when you read the book for yourself.
Three Little Words is an easy, enjoyable read. I entered this series at book 2.5 – Merrily Ever After and had no difficulty picking up the characters and how they fit in together. However, having enjoyed both book 2.5 and 3 – I am hoping to go back and read books 1 and 2 of Jenny Holiday’s Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Three Little Words
Bridesmaids Behaving Badly
By Jenny Holiday
ISBN: 9781455542468
Author’s Website: jennyholiday(.)com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Note: Some spoilers re: storyline
Summary:
Gia Gallo is officially in bridesmaid hell. Stranded in New York with her best friend’s wedding dress, Gia has six days to make it to Florida in time for the ceremony. And oh-so-charming best man Bennett Buchanan has taken the last available rental car. Looks like she’s in for one long road trip with the sexiest – and most irritating – Southern gentleman she’s ever met…
Bennett’s pretty sure that if there was ever a woman to break his “no flings” rule, Gia would be it. Sure, she’s stubborn. She’s also funny, smart, and the attraction between them is getting hotter with every state line they cross. While Bennett doesn’t do casual, Gia doesn’t do “relationships.” But if they break the rules, this unlikely pair might discover that their impromptu road trip could turn out to be the best ride of their lives. (Goodreads)
Review:
Three Little Words, while the third in the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series, it is actually the 5th because there is a .5 and a 2.5 novella in the series. With that out of the way… Three Little Words is the second book written by Jenny Holiday that I have read. I must say, I am very impressed with the writing of Jenny Holiday. Just the right amount of romance, “heat” and everyday sort of challenges – oh and did I say HEAT!
Gia Gallo is a bridesmaid for one of her bestie’s Wendy. While at the airport in New York, waiting to board the plane to Tampa, Gia gets the bad news that the flight was cancelled due to bad weather. Not good as Gia is on a mission:
“Listen to me,” the bad-tempered beauty said to the gate agent as she held up a garment bag. “This is a wedding dress. It needs to get to Florida now.”
“This is my friend Wendy’s wedding dress. Actually, it’s her dead mother’s wedding dress. And Wendy? She hasn’t had the easiest time of it. So I have made it my personal mission to make sure her wedding goes off without a hitch. This dress will make it to Florida if I have to walk it there myself.”
So Gia, the firecracker of bridesmaids meets Bennett (a groomsman for the wedding who is transporting the wedding rings down to Florida). What ensues is a journey…a multifaceted journey I might add. Being grounded until the next day, they hatch a plan to make it part way flying, but then get grounded again due to weather. So…forget flying… there new plan is to rent a car and drive since they have to get the wedding dress and rings to Florida as soon as possible.
Gia is a woman who does not do relationships. In fact, she has a “one-and-done, two-and-through rule. Bennett is a man who only does relationships. So right off the bat one can surmise the tension between the two.
I really enjoyed how during the journey they really did open up to each other and, be it kismet or whatever, they each knew instinctively what the other needed to overcome obstacles in their personal paths. As one can surmise, what is a road trip without some hot, steamy sex? Well there was that for sure…. which at first was surprising since Bennett values intimacy in a “relationship”, he is not into one or two night stands. But he broke down. And the justifications that Gia gave for going beyond her “two” times intimacy limit were hilarious, especially the morning scene where Gia is being the instigator:
“…What happened to the two-times rule?” he asked, helping her get free of the tangled sheets.
She plopped onto her back and turned her head to look at him. He was adorably disheveled. And stubbly. And delicious. “Well,” she said, casting about for a loophole, “I’m counting the first time as a half, because you didn’t come. You didn’t even take any clothes off, so…”
“So that means you don’t get to come if we go at it again?” He furrowed his brow. “I don’t think I can be down with that.”
Needless to say, there are lots of steamy scenes in the book. And sweet romantic scenes as well.
The storylines dealing with Gia’s baggage with respect to eating was very well done. It is tough being a model on the verge of aging out of her profession – lots of pressure to be perfect. So when Bennett watches Gia’s eating patterns – his solutions are very respectful.
Bennett is certainly not without baggage. He is estranged from his family. His restaurant is not the “pay-what-you-can” establishment that he wanted by this time in his life. Gia listens and provides subtle and small nudges to help Bennett realize he can have what he wants.
The evolution of these two characters during the road trip was very well done, with just the right amount of humor, sensitivity and good ole storytelling.
When the duo finally meets up with the remaining wedding party members in Florida, we see Gia retreating and Bennett floundering helplessly because Gia is retreating. What to do??? Some heart stopping moments, but you shall see when you read the book for yourself.
Three Little Words is an easy, enjoyable read. I entered this series at book 2.5 – Merrily Ever After and had no difficulty picking up the characters and how they fit in together. However, having enjoyed both book 2.5 and 3 – I am hoping to go back and read books 1 and 2 of Jenny Holiday’s Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
February 18, 2019
A great ending to the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series. At first I was not a big fan of Gia. In fact, I would say that she was the first of the bridesmaids in this series who was actually behaving badly. So many things about her rubbed me the wrong way. But as I read I started to examine my feelings a little deeper. When I thought about the things about Gia that bugged me, I noticed that I have read a ton of books where the male leads have the same thoughts and actions, and I always give them a pass ... knowing that there was more to their cold/skittish/non-committal personalities than it seems. I know that love will help these male leads discover/uncover the goodness underneath. Why couldn't I do the same with a female lead? I really pondered that a lot as I read, and I worked to hold back my judgment of Gia a bit. I'm glad I did. I wouldn't say that Gia ended up as my favorite heroine of this series, but I did learn to love her and enjoy her HEA ending.
Gia hates commitment. Bennett demands it. That isn't the setup for an easy relationship. This isn't easy. Well, it is ... as long as Bennett and Gia just don't think about it or try to label it. After a bumpy beginning, Gia and Bennett just work together. There is an ease to their relationship that they don't tend to find elsewhere. I appreciated the growth in each of these characters, even if it takes place at a breakneck speed over the course of about a week. Considering the harsh way that Gia is introduced to Bennett in this story, I would recommend that they not trust one week of interaction when planning their forevers, but it felt right as this book flowed. The big declaration of love toward the end of the book was probably heading into eye-rolling territory, but it also felt right in the context of the story and the series overall. Bennett was delightful. Almost perfect in every way, even with his baggage. He was exactly the right person to handle all of Gia's baggage. And I left this story desperate to try some Cajun boudins. And Gia grew on me as well. I especially appreciated her when she let her guard down around Bennett and her friends. She's just proof that everyone has a story, so we shouldn't be so quick to judge others.
This series is light and fluffy. It is full of sweet moments and happily ever afters. There is nothing groundbreaking about the books. But I have enjoyed their sweetness and their HEAs. I may come back to them someday when I'm in the mood for something light and heart-warming. Four stars for this one. I really liked it.
Gia hates commitment. Bennett demands it. That isn't the setup for an easy relationship. This isn't easy. Well, it is ... as long as Bennett and Gia just don't think about it or try to label it. After a bumpy beginning, Gia and Bennett just work together. There is an ease to their relationship that they don't tend to find elsewhere. I appreciated the growth in each of these characters, even if it takes place at a breakneck speed over the course of about a week. Considering the harsh way that Gia is introduced to Bennett in this story, I would recommend that they not trust one week of interaction when planning their forevers, but it felt right as this book flowed. The big declaration of love toward the end of the book was probably heading into eye-rolling territory, but it also felt right in the context of the story and the series overall. Bennett was delightful. Almost perfect in every way, even with his baggage. He was exactly the right person to handle all of Gia's baggage. And I left this story desperate to try some Cajun boudins. And Gia grew on me as well. I especially appreciated her when she let her guard down around Bennett and her friends. She's just proof that everyone has a story, so we shouldn't be so quick to judge others.
This series is light and fluffy. It is full of sweet moments and happily ever afters. There is nothing groundbreaking about the books. But I have enjoyed their sweetness and their HEAs. I may come back to them someday when I'm in the mood for something light and heart-warming. Four stars for this one. I really liked it.
January 24, 2020
Thank you Forever Romance for my gifted copy of Three Little Words!
Three Little Words by Jenny Holiday was the first physical book I finished this year, and it immediately made my 2020 favorites list. I LOVED this book so, so much! Three Little Words is the final book in Holiday’s Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series, I read and loved One and Only about a year ago but I need to go back and read the second book and novella. That being said, I think Three Little Words works as a stand-alone, but it will make you want to read the rest of the books immediately!
I picked this up on a whim because I was craving some forced proximity, and what better way to force two people together than a multi state ROAD TRIP?? Gia has been stranded in New York after her flight to Florida is canceled due to a snowstorm. Not only is she going for her best friends wedding, but she has her wedding dress. The only option to make it in time is to get in a tiny car with the sexy Southern-gentleman best man, Bennett, and drive.
I went into this expecting a cute road trip romance, but there are some really heavy topics that are discussed. It added so much depth and made me absolutely love their characters. Both Gia and Bennett have some messy backgrounds that they work through during the trip. I usually don’t buy people falling in love over such a short period, about a week or so total, but for them it completely worked. There’s definitely some content warnings for this book, Bennett discusses his past addictions and Gia displays disordered eating throughout most of the book.
After reading, Gia and Bennett quickly made my list of favorite couples ever. I looooved them! The chemistry between the two was really well done. This has open door steam that’s well worth waiting out the forced proximity sexual tension for.
Three Little Words was a five star read for me and I can’t recommend it enough!
Three Little Words by Jenny Holiday was the first physical book I finished this year, and it immediately made my 2020 favorites list. I LOVED this book so, so much! Three Little Words is the final book in Holiday’s Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series, I read and loved One and Only about a year ago but I need to go back and read the second book and novella. That being said, I think Three Little Words works as a stand-alone, but it will make you want to read the rest of the books immediately!
I picked this up on a whim because I was craving some forced proximity, and what better way to force two people together than a multi state ROAD TRIP?? Gia has been stranded in New York after her flight to Florida is canceled due to a snowstorm. Not only is she going for her best friends wedding, but she has her wedding dress. The only option to make it in time is to get in a tiny car with the sexy Southern-gentleman best man, Bennett, and drive.
I went into this expecting a cute road trip romance, but there are some really heavy topics that are discussed. It added so much depth and made me absolutely love their characters. Both Gia and Bennett have some messy backgrounds that they work through during the trip. I usually don’t buy people falling in love over such a short period, about a week or so total, but for them it completely worked. There’s definitely some content warnings for this book, Bennett discusses his past addictions and Gia displays disordered eating throughout most of the book.
After reading, Gia and Bennett quickly made my list of favorite couples ever. I looooved them! The chemistry between the two was really well done. This has open door steam that’s well worth waiting out the forced proximity sexual tension for.
Three Little Words was a five star read for me and I can’t recommend it enough!
August 10, 2020
I finished It Takes Two (the book before this one in the series) and immediately dove into this one! AND THIS ONE WAS EVEN BETTER. While It Takes Two was the perfect little sweet and sexy romance, this one was more creative, with more tension, and more interesting subplots. Model Gia and chef Bennett are forced to roadtrip to Florida for Wendy's wedding when a snowstorm cancels all the flights. Will forced proximity bring these two closer together? (Yes, obviously.) At one point the novel points out that there's forced proximity and I laughed out loud--who doesn't love a book that can acknowledge its trope? I just loved Bennett and Gia and thought they had such interesting lives. I think, like many romance books, the word "love" comes up WAY TOO FAST for people who just met (what is with this), but I have chosen to suspend belief and enjoy the book for what it is: a solid romance novel. I can't wait to finish the series (slash go back and read the first one)!
Trigger warning re eating disorder.
Trigger warning re eating disorder.
November 27, 2018
I have been dying to read Bennett's story since the moment Wendy and Noah walked into his restaurant in It Takes Two. I'm pretty sure I finished that book and immediately went hunting for the blurb for the next book in the series (this book!) and let out a very loud whoop of joy when I saw the leading man would, in fact, be the hot chef with the Cajun restaurant and just dripping with Southern charm. YES. All the yes. It was also really wonderful to get to know more about Gia, who I feel like was more of a mystery than the other women in the Fab Four that makes up the group of friends this series centers around (likely because her job causes her to travel all over the world so she's not always there supporting the main character in the first few books except when she can jet in or via video chat.
I *love* how real and complicated and multidimensional both Gia and Bennett are, and how just totally messed up in completely different ways they are and yet how they just *click*. Feeling like characters are real actual people that I'd want to be friends with, people I'm rooting for and watching struggle and learn and grow, is a major factor in whether or not I connect with a book, and this entire series is just filled with people that I feel like I want to be best friends with. None of them are perfect, and they are all perfect in their imperfections. Gia and Bennett especially are the very embodiment of what it means to love someone not in spite of their flaws, but to love them more because of them. Gia is this amazing problem-solver and she's so wrapped up in the people who only see her for her (admittedly gorgeous) surface that she can't see how *glorious* she is under the surface, and it's like she has problems with her self-worth and then feels bad because she feels like she doesn't deserve to think she has problems, and AHHHHH I want to punch her and hug her at the same time. Gia is struggling with some really major issues with her career, her body, her self-worth, and Bennett is also struggling with his past, his family, his own sense of responsibility and ethics... In some ways they're very much opposites, but in other ways they're so similar, because they're both so determined to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders all on their own.
Despite dealing with some really serious issues, this book is also so *fun*. As Bennett observes a few times, when Gia is in she is ALL IN, and she's hilarious. Bennett isn't half bad himself, and hijinks definitely ensue. Definitely read this if you like a good contemporary romance with some opposites attract tension along with some stranded together, road trip action as these two try to make it to the church on time!
This is the third (and final) book in the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series. While it can technically be read as a standalone, the relationship between Gia and the three other women who are the leads in the other books (2 full length novels and 2 novellas) are so close knit and interwoven, you really get the most effect if you read the series in order and get to know all the characters. I loved the glimpses into Wendy, Jane, and Elise's Happy Ever Afters I got in this book that I know I wouldn't have appreciated nearly so much if I hadn't read the other books in the series first.
I *love* how real and complicated and multidimensional both Gia and Bennett are, and how just totally messed up in completely different ways they are and yet how they just *click*. Feeling like characters are real actual people that I'd want to be friends with, people I'm rooting for and watching struggle and learn and grow, is a major factor in whether or not I connect with a book, and this entire series is just filled with people that I feel like I want to be best friends with. None of them are perfect, and they are all perfect in their imperfections. Gia and Bennett especially are the very embodiment of what it means to love someone not in spite of their flaws, but to love them more because of them. Gia is this amazing problem-solver and she's so wrapped up in the people who only see her for her (admittedly gorgeous) surface that she can't see how *glorious* she is under the surface, and it's like she has problems with her self-worth and then feels bad because she feels like she doesn't deserve to think she has problems, and AHHHHH I want to punch her and hug her at the same time. Gia is struggling with some really major issues with her career, her body, her self-worth, and Bennett is also struggling with his past, his family, his own sense of responsibility and ethics... In some ways they're very much opposites, but in other ways they're so similar, because they're both so determined to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders all on their own.
Despite dealing with some really serious issues, this book is also so *fun*. As Bennett observes a few times, when Gia is in she is ALL IN, and she's hilarious. Bennett isn't half bad himself, and hijinks definitely ensue. Definitely read this if you like a good contemporary romance with some opposites attract tension along with some stranded together, road trip action as these two try to make it to the church on time!
This is the third (and final) book in the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series. While it can technically be read as a standalone, the relationship between Gia and the three other women who are the leads in the other books (2 full length novels and 2 novellas) are so close knit and interwoven, you really get the most effect if you read the series in order and get to know all the characters. I loved the glimpses into Wendy, Jane, and Elise's Happy Ever Afters I got in this book that I know I wouldn't have appreciated nearly so much if I hadn't read the other books in the series first.
January 12, 2019
Content warning for discussion of addiction and an eating disorder.
Bennett Buchanan has a bad impression of model Gia Gallo from the moment he meets her at the airport, where they are both stranded after a snow storm makes it impossible to fly out of NYC to make it to their best friends' wedding in Florida. She's crabby, she's causing a fuss, but she also tells Bennett she's hungry.
The Southern gentleman in Bennett won't allow him to leave a lady in a lurch, so he offers to take her to his restaurant for dinner and if her reaction to his food is any indication, maybe Gia is more than her beautiful exterior after all.
Gia is immediately attracted to Bennett and considers adding him to her "one and done, two and through" list. But, Bennett rejects her advance, embarrassing Gia who is coming to realize she has bigger problems to worry about. Namely, her 30th birthday, her growing fear she has a "problem" with food, and whether or not she has anything to offer the world but a pretty face.
But a decision to drive to Florida forces these two together, making both of them question the strict rules they've learned to manage their lives and feelings.
AH. There's nothing I love more than a good roadtrip romance, and this hits all of the high points for me with the added bonus of being a perfect end to an excellent series. Gia and Bennett are FIRE, and I loved how deftly Jenny Holiday handled their various issues. The reasons for Gia and Bennett being afraid to be together are realistic, and seeing Gia's best friends gather to give her strength just gave me so many feels. So good.
Get this one preordered stat.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!
Bennett Buchanan has a bad impression of model Gia Gallo from the moment he meets her at the airport, where they are both stranded after a snow storm makes it impossible to fly out of NYC to make it to their best friends' wedding in Florida. She's crabby, she's causing a fuss, but she also tells Bennett she's hungry.
The Southern gentleman in Bennett won't allow him to leave a lady in a lurch, so he offers to take her to his restaurant for dinner and if her reaction to his food is any indication, maybe Gia is more than her beautiful exterior after all.
Gia is immediately attracted to Bennett and considers adding him to her "one and done, two and through" list. But, Bennett rejects her advance, embarrassing Gia who is coming to realize she has bigger problems to worry about. Namely, her 30th birthday, her growing fear she has a "problem" with food, and whether or not she has anything to offer the world but a pretty face.
But a decision to drive to Florida forces these two together, making both of them question the strict rules they've learned to manage their lives and feelings.
AH. There's nothing I love more than a good roadtrip romance, and this hits all of the high points for me with the added bonus of being a perfect end to an excellent series. Gia and Bennett are FIRE, and I loved how deftly Jenny Holiday handled their various issues. The reasons for Gia and Bennett being afraid to be together are realistic, and seeing Gia's best friends gather to give her strength just gave me so many feels. So good.
Get this one preordered stat.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!
Want to read
December 4, 2018Yayy
February 7, 2019
Honestly, folks, I’m scared to take a reading-breath, I’ve had SUCH a run of great books since New Year’s and Holiday’s Three Little Words gets on that list too. Not that I’m complaining, but as an introvert and pessimist, I do wonder: when will the reading ball drop?
So, Holiday’s #3 of Bridesmaids Behaving Badly: I wasn’t super-keen going in because, while I enjoyed #2, it didn’t rock my world. I liked it well enough and I especially liked Holiday’s smooth, easy-as-pie prose. There were also intriguing little moments with Gia Gallo, one of the quarto of girlfriends that make up Holiday’s series and this is Gia’s story and the intriguing Cajun chef in whose restaurant heroine Wendy and hero Noah dine in It Takes Two. Gia is gorgeous, a model, and a mess when it comes to food. She’s got a problem with it. In Three Little Words, we learn that, at days-away from 30, her body isn’t doing the skinny-model thing it used to and Gia’s having trouble coming to terms. Groomed from girlhood to compete in the pageant circuit, Gia doesn’t know what else she can be, what else she can do. She puts her existential crisis on hiatus at the novel’s start, however, because she‘s on her way to deliver her friend’s, Wendy’s, wedding dress to her Pink Palace Florida wedding. With a fitting scheduled, Gia has to get there ASAP.
When the novel opens in NYC, Gia’s arguing with an airport official as he tries to explain that a major snowstorm has halted flights. Hero Bennett Buchanan, the groom’s best friend, on his way to Florida with the rings, witnesses and internally scoffs at Gia’s entitled hissy-fit. Initial impressions aren’t good on either part, but New York City snowstorms are the mother of Gia and Bennett’s reluctant travel alliance. In the novel’s course, they spend time at Bennett’s restaurant, Boudin, the night in his loft, on a train to Baltimore, where the storm follows and deters them once more, and into a Mini-Cooper which they drive all the way into the arms of the wedding party. In between their inauspicious hardly-meet-cute and the Floridian Pink Palace, they forge a reluctant friendship, surrender to their physical attraction, and fall in love. But the course of true love and weather-fraught road romance never did run smooth …
Holiday has crafted the perfect romance: with the unifying structural principle of the shared journey. As a result, Holiday paces the give-and-take, the reluctance-and-eagerness dance of the romance in as engaging a manner as a romance can be. Moreover, she crafts two characters whose goodness, vulnerability, and weaknesses offer enough opposities-attract friction to keep it interesting and carefully-dropped instances of shining-through compatibility to keep things hopeful: tense, hopeful, and invested, that’s what the best of the genre offers and Holiday has achieved it. She infuses Gia and Bennett’s exchanges with wit and banter, with honesty and an opening-up of themselves to the other, with tenderness and pain; their physical exchanges are beautifully crass and raw, but honest, organic to who they are as individuals and what they’re coming to mean to the other. And, rarer in romance than it should be, she shows them as the helpmeets they can be to each other when they achieve their HEA.
The struggle is real because Holiday layers setting, narrative ARC, and distinct personalities with an opposites-attract icing that works to create conflict. Gia is a no-strings gal and Bennett is an all-out strings guy. This is the novel’s surface: commitment-adherent and commitment-phobe, the stuff rom-coms are made of. I think the novel is more interesting than that. That Gia and Bennett will be together is not that difficult to work out: they’ve got the “feelz”, it’ll happen. There’s a delightful blow-out fight, but the reader can tell it’s only a matter of time. What I really enjoyed about the novel is how two people at existential cross-purposes fall in love. Since his misspent youth, Bennett has been on a mission to live differently, to do better, to give rather than take and destroy. His personal survival is a victory, hard-won, well-deserved. Gia, on the other hand, feels she is purposeless. Modelling, what she’s always done, is what she knows, but it’s not a purpose she can get behind anymore. How Bennett mitigates his missionary zeal, achieves reconciliation, with Gia’s love and help, and how Gia, with Bennett’s love and help, finds a way to reevaluate her relationship with food from enemy to sustenance and to be in the world with her own defined purpose, is what makes the novel great. With Miss Austen, we agree that Holiday’s Three Little Words is evidence that there is “no charm equal to tenderness of heart,” Emma.
Jenny Holiday’s Three Little Words is published by Forever. It was released on January 29th and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-ARC from Forever, via Netgalley.
So, Holiday’s #3 of Bridesmaids Behaving Badly: I wasn’t super-keen going in because, while I enjoyed #2, it didn’t rock my world. I liked it well enough and I especially liked Holiday’s smooth, easy-as-pie prose. There were also intriguing little moments with Gia Gallo, one of the quarto of girlfriends that make up Holiday’s series and this is Gia’s story and the intriguing Cajun chef in whose restaurant heroine Wendy and hero Noah dine in It Takes Two. Gia is gorgeous, a model, and a mess when it comes to food. She’s got a problem with it. In Three Little Words, we learn that, at days-away from 30, her body isn’t doing the skinny-model thing it used to and Gia’s having trouble coming to terms. Groomed from girlhood to compete in the pageant circuit, Gia doesn’t know what else she can be, what else she can do. She puts her existential crisis on hiatus at the novel’s start, however, because she‘s on her way to deliver her friend’s, Wendy’s, wedding dress to her Pink Palace Florida wedding. With a fitting scheduled, Gia has to get there ASAP.
When the novel opens in NYC, Gia’s arguing with an airport official as he tries to explain that a major snowstorm has halted flights. Hero Bennett Buchanan, the groom’s best friend, on his way to Florida with the rings, witnesses and internally scoffs at Gia’s entitled hissy-fit. Initial impressions aren’t good on either part, but New York City snowstorms are the mother of Gia and Bennett’s reluctant travel alliance. In the novel’s course, they spend time at Bennett’s restaurant, Boudin, the night in his loft, on a train to Baltimore, where the storm follows and deters them once more, and into a Mini-Cooper which they drive all the way into the arms of the wedding party. In between their inauspicious hardly-meet-cute and the Floridian Pink Palace, they forge a reluctant friendship, surrender to their physical attraction, and fall in love. But the course of true love and weather-fraught road romance never did run smooth …
Holiday has crafted the perfect romance: with the unifying structural principle of the shared journey. As a result, Holiday paces the give-and-take, the reluctance-and-eagerness dance of the romance in as engaging a manner as a romance can be. Moreover, she crafts two characters whose goodness, vulnerability, and weaknesses offer enough opposities-attract friction to keep it interesting and carefully-dropped instances of shining-through compatibility to keep things hopeful: tense, hopeful, and invested, that’s what the best of the genre offers and Holiday has achieved it. She infuses Gia and Bennett’s exchanges with wit and banter, with honesty and an opening-up of themselves to the other, with tenderness and pain; their physical exchanges are beautifully crass and raw, but honest, organic to who they are as individuals and what they’re coming to mean to the other. And, rarer in romance than it should be, she shows them as the helpmeets they can be to each other when they achieve their HEA.
The struggle is real because Holiday layers setting, narrative ARC, and distinct personalities with an opposites-attract icing that works to create conflict. Gia is a no-strings gal and Bennett is an all-out strings guy. This is the novel’s surface: commitment-adherent and commitment-phobe, the stuff rom-coms are made of. I think the novel is more interesting than that. That Gia and Bennett will be together is not that difficult to work out: they’ve got the “feelz”, it’ll happen. There’s a delightful blow-out fight, but the reader can tell it’s only a matter of time. What I really enjoyed about the novel is how two people at existential cross-purposes fall in love. Since his misspent youth, Bennett has been on a mission to live differently, to do better, to give rather than take and destroy. His personal survival is a victory, hard-won, well-deserved. Gia, on the other hand, feels she is purposeless. Modelling, what she’s always done, is what she knows, but it’s not a purpose she can get behind anymore. How Bennett mitigates his missionary zeal, achieves reconciliation, with Gia’s love and help, and how Gia, with Bennett’s love and help, finds a way to reevaluate her relationship with food from enemy to sustenance and to be in the world with her own defined purpose, is what makes the novel great. With Miss Austen, we agree that Holiday’s Three Little Words is evidence that there is “no charm equal to tenderness of heart,” Emma.
Jenny Holiday’s Three Little Words is published by Forever. It was released on January 29th and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-ARC from Forever, via Netgalley.
March 21, 2019
AudioBook Review
Stars: Overall 3 Narration 3 Story 2.5
Having gone back and forth with this series, and particularly the characters and clichés, this installment was no different and as it focused on Gia – she of the outrageous temper tantrums, less than charitable thoughts about others and a general sense of spoiled rotten without real depth – it proved to be more and less difficult than I thought. For – Gia is, underneath the model beauty and quite frankly, crap, attitude – a woman full of insecurities and contradictions: worried about her remaining viability in the modeling industry, questionable relationships with friends AND food, and very little outside her world of pretty faces to make a real impression BUT her friends. So, while I despised Gia and found her desperately in need of a social media blackout and a bit of receiving the same mistreatment she inflicts on others, Holiday did manage to show (and explore) her insecurities and issues with a dexterity that surprised me. But, as this series is focused on members of a tight-knit friend group all getting married in various places, under different circumstances. And, as this wedding is in Florida – Gia’s got to get there – from New York – and there’s a problem that keeps her from flying.
Bennett is a southern boy – now working as a chef in the big city and also needing to be in Miami at the same wedding. When flying became questionable, he was quick on his feet and rented the last vehicle – planning to drive. A strop from Gia, his own innate manners and a bit of fascination with the overly tall two year old, and a wedding they are both attending and …… they go together. Here where I hoped for some clever banter and a bit of self-examination (from Gia) or even a muting of her abrasive personality – and I got……..quick decisions, cliched assumptions and a bit of ‘life changing’ moments mixed with an insta-love that never actually felt as if the connection went deeper than proximity. Bennett is wonderful and a character well-capable of being anyone’s ideal book boyfriend – and why he chose Gia – and put up with her mistreatment was beyond me. Again, Holiday hit on a concept that could be marvelous and clever – and the lack of characterization and race to a happy conclusion let us down.
Narration for this book is provided by Angéle Masters and it is her facility with tone variations that keep the characters straight and recognizable – even as the actual plot and story arc didn’t manage to provide a ‘need to listen’ story. She did take appropriate care with the revelation of Gia’s many issues, and while Holiday did an admirable job of both highlighting and creating empathy for Gia and her issues, the quick decisions and connection that never actually felt plausible with the underdeveloped characters left it flat. Still, I found this more intriguing than the last, simply as flashes of Holiday’s ability to create compelling and layered characters showed itself in moments, although unfortunately not consistently enough.
I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Hachette Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Stars: Overall 3 Narration 3 Story 2.5
Having gone back and forth with this series, and particularly the characters and clichés, this installment was no different and as it focused on Gia – she of the outrageous temper tantrums, less than charitable thoughts about others and a general sense of spoiled rotten without real depth – it proved to be more and less difficult than I thought. For – Gia is, underneath the model beauty and quite frankly, crap, attitude – a woman full of insecurities and contradictions: worried about her remaining viability in the modeling industry, questionable relationships with friends AND food, and very little outside her world of pretty faces to make a real impression BUT her friends. So, while I despised Gia and found her desperately in need of a social media blackout and a bit of receiving the same mistreatment she inflicts on others, Holiday did manage to show (and explore) her insecurities and issues with a dexterity that surprised me. But, as this series is focused on members of a tight-knit friend group all getting married in various places, under different circumstances. And, as this wedding is in Florida – Gia’s got to get there – from New York – and there’s a problem that keeps her from flying.
Bennett is a southern boy – now working as a chef in the big city and also needing to be in Miami at the same wedding. When flying became questionable, he was quick on his feet and rented the last vehicle – planning to drive. A strop from Gia, his own innate manners and a bit of fascination with the overly tall two year old, and a wedding they are both attending and …… they go together. Here where I hoped for some clever banter and a bit of self-examination (from Gia) or even a muting of her abrasive personality – and I got……..quick decisions, cliched assumptions and a bit of ‘life changing’ moments mixed with an insta-love that never actually felt as if the connection went deeper than proximity. Bennett is wonderful and a character well-capable of being anyone’s ideal book boyfriend – and why he chose Gia – and put up with her mistreatment was beyond me. Again, Holiday hit on a concept that could be marvelous and clever – and the lack of characterization and race to a happy conclusion let us down.
Narration for this book is provided by Angéle Masters and it is her facility with tone variations that keep the characters straight and recognizable – even as the actual plot and story arc didn’t manage to provide a ‘need to listen’ story. She did take appropriate care with the revelation of Gia’s many issues, and while Holiday did an admirable job of both highlighting and creating empathy for Gia and her issues, the quick decisions and connection that never actually felt plausible with the underdeveloped characters left it flat. Still, I found this more intriguing than the last, simply as flashes of Holiday’s ability to create compelling and layered characters showed itself in moments, although unfortunately not consistently enough.
I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Hachette Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
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