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The Week Before the Wedding
Families about to be one big family after the wedding don't see eye to eye.
Hardcover
First published May 7, 2013
46 people are currently reading
1790 people want to read
About the author
Beth Kendrick
26 books772 followers This is the part where I’m supposed to brag about all my illustrious accomplishments, but honestly, I’d rather talk about my dogs and brag about some of the things I haven’t done:
I’ve never been to prison*, court-ordered rehab*, or splashed across the cover of a salacious weekly gossip tabloid with my ladybits on display**.
I’m a Leo, a middle child, and a formidable Trivial Pursuit opponent. I read everything I can get my hands on, from the classics to comic books. I don’t drink coffee because, frankly, I’m high strung enough without adding caffeine into the mix. Here is the true story of how I became a novelist:
So I had just started seeing this guy, and on our second or third date, he invited me to be his guest at a family wedding. Being young and free and a bit commitment-shy, I was about to decline until he casually mentioned that the bride was a successful romance novelist. Well, the second I heard that, I had to go. Being a writer had always been my dream job, and I’d never met anyone who’d actually beaten the odds and made the leap into big-time publishing. So I RSVP-ed, sidled up to the bar at the reception, waited until the bride and all her author friends uncorked the good champagne, and then peppered them with endless questions about writing, editing, and landing an agent. They were so funny and encouraging and generous with their time and advice. (And drunk!) Next thing you know, I had joined a critique group and was knee-deep in the manuscript that would eventually become MY FAVORITE MISTAKE. The open bar at that wedding changed my life forever.
Oh, and the guy who invited me to the wedding? I ended up marrying him. All together: awww…
I live in Arizona in a very cute fixer-upper that my husband and I bought in a burst of can-do, pioneering confidence. We thought it would be fun to embark on a series of do-it-yourself renovations. Yeah. I know. Turns out, replacing baseboard that’s been painted over 15 times since 1958 is not as easy as those Home Depot commercials would lead you to believe. Also, freshly-installed lawn drip systems and “helpful” dogs are a bad mix.
Friday and RoxieSpeaking of dogs, here we have the indefatigable canine lawn maintenance crew: Roxie and Friday. Both were rescued from the pound when they were puppies. I think they’re Rhodesian Ridgeback mixes. (Probably. Maybe? Anything’s possible.) Roxie is the brains of the operation and Friday is…well, he’s very sweet. And so indolent he could be mistaken for a piece of furniture, which I consider a very desirable trait in a family dog.
I absolutely love hearing from readers, so please feel free to email me, with the caveat that I am often on deadline/on the road/on the ragged edge of sanity, so it may be awhile before you get a reply. Just know that it’s not you; it’s me!
Have fun exploring the site, and if you have any questions about my new book, my backlist, or finding an agent…I’ll be right over there at the bar.
*Yet.
**That I know of.
I’ve never been to prison*, court-ordered rehab*, or splashed across the cover of a salacious weekly gossip tabloid with my ladybits on display**.
I’m a Leo, a middle child, and a formidable Trivial Pursuit opponent. I read everything I can get my hands on, from the classics to comic books. I don’t drink coffee because, frankly, I’m high strung enough without adding caffeine into the mix. Here is the true story of how I became a novelist:
So I had just started seeing this guy, and on our second or third date, he invited me to be his guest at a family wedding. Being young and free and a bit commitment-shy, I was about to decline until he casually mentioned that the bride was a successful romance novelist. Well, the second I heard that, I had to go. Being a writer had always been my dream job, and I’d never met anyone who’d actually beaten the odds and made the leap into big-time publishing. So I RSVP-ed, sidled up to the bar at the reception, waited until the bride and all her author friends uncorked the good champagne, and then peppered them with endless questions about writing, editing, and landing an agent. They were so funny and encouraging and generous with their time and advice. (And drunk!) Next thing you know, I had joined a critique group and was knee-deep in the manuscript that would eventually become MY FAVORITE MISTAKE. The open bar at that wedding changed my life forever.
Oh, and the guy who invited me to the wedding? I ended up marrying him. All together: awww…
I live in Arizona in a very cute fixer-upper that my husband and I bought in a burst of can-do, pioneering confidence. We thought it would be fun to embark on a series of do-it-yourself renovations. Yeah. I know. Turns out, replacing baseboard that’s been painted over 15 times since 1958 is not as easy as those Home Depot commercials would lead you to believe. Also, freshly-installed lawn drip systems and “helpful” dogs are a bad mix.
Friday and RoxieSpeaking of dogs, here we have the indefatigable canine lawn maintenance crew: Roxie and Friday. Both were rescued from the pound when they were puppies. I think they’re Rhodesian Ridgeback mixes. (Probably. Maybe? Anything’s possible.) Roxie is the brains of the operation and Friday is…well, he’s very sweet. And so indolent he could be mistaken for a piece of furniture, which I consider a very desirable trait in a family dog.
I absolutely love hearing from readers, so please feel free to email me, with the caveat that I am often on deadline/on the road/on the ragged edge of sanity, so it may be awhile before you get a reply. Just know that it’s not you; it’s me!
Have fun exploring the site, and if you have any questions about my new book, my backlist, or finding an agent…I’ll be right over there at the bar.
*Yet.
**That I know of.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
October 13, 2016
This has been one of the most romantic books I've read in a while. And I hate love triangles and borderline emotional cheating. Absolutely hate them. But the author did not make anyone into a caricature. Both men were legitimately nice fellows.
The first marriage's break down was no ones fault. No character acted overly sexualized with anyone else, so that you almost felt like everything was taking place on a higher plane, so there wasn't even that "eww" factor of a woman sleeping with one man while tempted to shenanigans by another.
I honestly don't know how the author maintained that balance. Amazing talent is needed to walk that tightrope with a 'ready to be disapproving at the premise' reader .
I loved Emily's stepsister and the mother was appropriate comic relief. Everything unfolded beautifully and it was so very well paced and expounded on. The sugar and cookie scenario was my favorite, and so super sweet of him, especially as it worked against his interests. And the bride's inner conflict was conveyed so clearly that you almost felt her stress and uncertainty.
Particularly well done was the way the cracks in the various relationships, both in the 'ideal' family and the book's primary relationship, were unfurled to the reader. Not sure I liked what I had read from this writer (The Bake-off? perhaps) before but she is a new favorite from here on out. After a slow start, by the time I got to the middle I definitely couldn't put it down.
The first marriage's break down was no ones fault. No character acted overly sexualized with anyone else, so that you almost felt like everything was taking place on a higher plane, so there wasn't even that "eww" factor of a woman sleeping with one man while tempted to shenanigans by another.
I honestly don't know how the author maintained that balance. Amazing talent is needed to walk that tightrope with a 'ready to be disapproving at the premise' reader .
I loved Emily's stepsister and the mother was appropriate comic relief. Everything unfolded beautifully and it was so very well paced and expounded on. The sugar and cookie scenario was my favorite, and so super sweet of him, especially as it worked against his interests. And the bride's inner conflict was conveyed so clearly that you almost felt her stress and uncertainty.
Particularly well done was the way the cracks in the various relationships, both in the 'ideal' family and the book's primary relationship, were unfurled to the reader. Not sure I liked what I had read from this writer (The Bake-off? perhaps) before but she is a new favorite from here on out. After a slow start, by the time I got to the middle I definitely couldn't put it down.
May 19, 2013
The best way to describe this book, Sweet Home Alabama (the movie).
This is the first book I've read by this author. I picked it up because of the cover. Really wasn't sure what to expect. The reviews were all over the place.
You've got a heroine, Emily, trying to be something she not. A Lady. You've got two heroes- a workaholic surgeon, Grant, and a bad boy, ex-husband, film producer, Ryan, who shows up at her wedding ten years after they divorced. They both claim to be in love with her.
The secondary characters are a riot. Especially, Emily's mother and ex-step sister/ best friend. Mix it all together in a small Vermont town, and you're in for an adventure.
Although I gave it 5 stars, it's more like 4 1/2. Great story line. Good book flow. The author kept us guessing who Emily would chose right up to the end. But, even with two potential hero's, the romance - or chemistry - was a little on the lite side.
Still a great book. If you enjoyed Sweet Home Alabama, you'll enjoy this book.
Aside: I would give this book a PG13 rating. There is some - not much - language that might be offense to some people.
This is the first book I've read by this author. I picked it up because of the cover. Really wasn't sure what to expect. The reviews were all over the place.
You've got a heroine, Emily, trying to be something she not. A Lady. You've got two heroes- a workaholic surgeon, Grant, and a bad boy, ex-husband, film producer, Ryan, who shows up at her wedding ten years after they divorced. They both claim to be in love with her.
The secondary characters are a riot. Especially, Emily's mother and ex-step sister/ best friend. Mix it all together in a small Vermont town, and you're in for an adventure.
Although I gave it 5 stars, it's more like 4 1/2. Great story line. Good book flow. The author kept us guessing who Emily would chose right up to the end. But, even with two potential hero's, the romance - or chemistry - was a little on the lite side.
Still a great book. If you enjoyed Sweet Home Alabama, you'll enjoy this book.
Aside: I would give this book a PG13 rating. There is some - not much - language that might be offense to some people.
October 2, 2016
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If a reader thinks that having her fifty-something year-old mother instigating a conga line dance with shirtless beefcakes through her formal bridal tea is behavior that should elicit a reaction of only mild indulgence, then they will probably enjoy this book. If the maid of honor hocking a loogie and sabotaging the pre-wedding diet is your idea of outrageous humor, then this is indeed a book that is deserving of your money. But I am glad I did not have to pay for it because it was not the book for me. I can see how some people would think this book is very funny and some of it was…slightly. However, I could not get past the sophomoric humor and the black and white choices that created the backbone of this novel.
Emily McKellips is a reformation project ten years in the making. When she was just out of college, she impulsively married Ryan Lassister who she thought was the love of her life. Dirty dishes and smelly socks quickly intruded on their marital bliss and Emily left Ryan, never looking back. Now ten years later with a carefully coordinated life designed to bring order out of chaos, Emily is about to marry transplant surgeon Grant Cardin. Tradition has become something Emily craves like a lifeline after a childhood filled with multiple stepfathers and a mother who refuses to grow up. So having her wedding at the Cardins’ yearly resort in Valentine, Vermont seems the perfect way to begin her idyllic life.
Ryan Lassiter never understood why Emily left him and he never got over his ex-wife and true love. So when he finds out she is about to remarry, he turns up at the resort claiming to be looking over a potential filming site for one of his horror movies. It seems in the intervening years Ryan has become a famous horror movie mogul. From the moment he and Emily reconnect Ryan not only tries to ingratiate himself back into Emily’s life, but also into the lives of everyone in the wedding party – including the groom.
Grant Cardin is a transplant surgeon and gentleman extraordinaire. He is handsome, rich, kind, solicitous, compassionate, good in bed…you get the picture. He is perfect. Or at least we have this impression for most of the book. Then a patient who has been waiting for a transplant (lungs I think, but does it matter?) has an organ waiting for him and Grant has to leave the resort. This leaves space for Ryan, Emily’s stepsister and best friend Summer and Caroline (another wife of a transplant surgeon) to begin placing doubts in Emily’s mind.
I really did not care at all for Summer who was Emily’s primary foil. She and Emily have been best friends since Georgia (Emily’s mother) married Summer’s father. She was just too immature for my tastes. The major conflict in this book was whether Emily should be staid and stodgy or wild and carefree. For most of the book there was no middle ground alternative given: drink jello shots or wear sweater sets. Georgia, Emily’s mother is about as much of a caricature as one can get. She is the quintessential cougar who is always on the lookout for a hunky man whose behavior has made girlfriends her own age impossible to attain. We see a little depth added to her character late in the book, but it was much too late.
When I began this review and started thinking about all of the characters, I realized that I did not like any of them. Emily had absolutely no backbone. Ryan was supposed to be the white knight who rescues her, but all I felt about him was …meh. Grant was almost like a potted plant that needed watering so it was placed over in the corner, out of the way. Bev (the future mother-in-law) and her sisters were annoying. The most fun I had reading this book was when I reached page 336 and it was finally over. It took me over two weeks to get through this book. I read 10 other books between chapters and re-reading chapters and placing it in front of me on a regular basis so I would MAKE myself finish. This book has an average rating of 4.5 stars at Amazon, so obviously some people really liked it. I was just not one of those people.
If a reader thinks that having her fifty-something year-old mother instigating a conga line dance with shirtless beefcakes through her formal bridal tea is behavior that should elicit a reaction of only mild indulgence, then they will probably enjoy this book. If the maid of honor hocking a loogie and sabotaging the pre-wedding diet is your idea of outrageous humor, then this is indeed a book that is deserving of your money. But I am glad I did not have to pay for it because it was not the book for me. I can see how some people would think this book is very funny and some of it was…slightly. However, I could not get past the sophomoric humor and the black and white choices that created the backbone of this novel.
Emily McKellips is a reformation project ten years in the making. When she was just out of college, she impulsively married Ryan Lassister who she thought was the love of her life. Dirty dishes and smelly socks quickly intruded on their marital bliss and Emily left Ryan, never looking back. Now ten years later with a carefully coordinated life designed to bring order out of chaos, Emily is about to marry transplant surgeon Grant Cardin. Tradition has become something Emily craves like a lifeline after a childhood filled with multiple stepfathers and a mother who refuses to grow up. So having her wedding at the Cardins’ yearly resort in Valentine, Vermont seems the perfect way to begin her idyllic life.
Ryan Lassiter never understood why Emily left him and he never got over his ex-wife and true love. So when he finds out she is about to remarry, he turns up at the resort claiming to be looking over a potential filming site for one of his horror movies. It seems in the intervening years Ryan has become a famous horror movie mogul. From the moment he and Emily reconnect Ryan not only tries to ingratiate himself back into Emily’s life, but also into the lives of everyone in the wedding party – including the groom.
Grant Cardin is a transplant surgeon and gentleman extraordinaire. He is handsome, rich, kind, solicitous, compassionate, good in bed…you get the picture. He is perfect. Or at least we have this impression for most of the book. Then a patient who has been waiting for a transplant (lungs I think, but does it matter?) has an organ waiting for him and Grant has to leave the resort. This leaves space for Ryan, Emily’s stepsister and best friend Summer and Caroline (another wife of a transplant surgeon) to begin placing doubts in Emily’s mind.
I really did not care at all for Summer who was Emily’s primary foil. She and Emily have been best friends since Georgia (Emily’s mother) married Summer’s father. She was just too immature for my tastes. The major conflict in this book was whether Emily should be staid and stodgy or wild and carefree. For most of the book there was no middle ground alternative given: drink jello shots or wear sweater sets. Georgia, Emily’s mother is about as much of a caricature as one can get. She is the quintessential cougar who is always on the lookout for a hunky man whose behavior has made girlfriends her own age impossible to attain. We see a little depth added to her character late in the book, but it was much too late.
When I began this review and started thinking about all of the characters, I realized that I did not like any of them. Emily had absolutely no backbone. Ryan was supposed to be the white knight who rescues her, but all I felt about him was …meh. Grant was almost like a potted plant that needed watering so it was placed over in the corner, out of the way. Bev (the future mother-in-law) and her sisters were annoying. The most fun I had reading this book was when I reached page 336 and it was finally over. It took me over two weeks to get through this book. I read 10 other books between chapters and re-reading chapters and placing it in front of me on a regular basis so I would MAKE myself finish. This book has an average rating of 4.5 stars at Amazon, so obviously some people really liked it. I was just not one of those people.
July 17, 2013
There is a cliché about romantic comedies. A woman gets engaged and just before she gets married, she meets Mr. Perfect. The fiancée that the woman knows for years suddenly become a jerk and she runs off with the new guy.
I got the fear that would happen here.
Beth Kendrick is a very funny author. Her books are enjoyable and amusing. It’s easy to want the characters to be real and someone you could meet. In this book, she has that. The families are funny, Summer could’ve been annoying, but she had heart. Emily’s mother could’ve been a cliché, but she’s masking pain. Bev seems like a poorly drawn out character but she’s tougher and deeper than you think.
Emily thought she was marrying into a cliché to avoid her own troubled clichés but these characters become fully developed and people you want happy endings for.
It made me nervous. How will the fiancée become a jerk? I don’t want him to be. Somehow Beth Kendrick avoids that trope in a clever way where the fiancée is more likeable. Emily isn’t mean or shallow for her struggle between boyfriends. Somehow except for two mean spinsters, no one comes off as mean spirited or shallow. That took some real storytelling skills to pull off.
This is one of Beth Kendrick’s best works ranking up with Nearlyweds.
I got the fear that would happen here.
Beth Kendrick is a very funny author. Her books are enjoyable and amusing. It’s easy to want the characters to be real and someone you could meet. In this book, she has that. The families are funny, Summer could’ve been annoying, but she had heart. Emily’s mother could’ve been a cliché, but she’s masking pain. Bev seems like a poorly drawn out character but she’s tougher and deeper than you think.
Emily thought she was marrying into a cliché to avoid her own troubled clichés but these characters become fully developed and people you want happy endings for.
It made me nervous. How will the fiancée become a jerk? I don’t want him to be. Somehow Beth Kendrick avoids that trope in a clever way where the fiancée is more likeable. Emily isn’t mean or shallow for her struggle between boyfriends. Somehow except for two mean spinsters, no one comes off as mean spirited or shallow. That took some real storytelling skills to pull off.
This is one of Beth Kendrick’s best works ranking up with Nearlyweds.
May 12, 2013
3.5 Stars
In THE WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING our heroine, Emily, is grappling with what she needs to make her happy. Prior to coming to Valentine, Vermont for her destination wedding, she thought that was her fiance Grant. But when her ex-husband Ryan appears at the resort and she gets a birds eye view on the previously thought perfect family she was going to marry into, Emily has to finally admit that maybe everything she thought she wanted isn't exactly the best fit.
I liked Emily. She changed everything about her life when her first marriage disintegrated. She thought if she let go of that free spirited girl, she wouldn't have her heart broken like it was when she and Ryan split. She needed stability in her life and wanted someone who was going to give her that stability and not make her life (and emotions) a roller coaster. She found someone who met all her criteria, but she wasn't really happy despite giving that outward appearance. She denied it for a long time, but that week before her wedding really opened her eyes to who she'd turned into.
The cast of secondary characters really make this story. They make you laugh and have you wishing you were at the resort so you could take part in whatever trouble they were getting into. Between Emily's mother, best friend and Grant's family (those aunts were vicious) I couldn't wait to see what they would get into next.
Beth Kendrick once again creates characters and a story that feel like they could happen to your best friend or even yourself. This was a book I didn't want to put down, but when I did get to the end I was left with a smile on my face.
In THE WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING our heroine, Emily, is grappling with what she needs to make her happy. Prior to coming to Valentine, Vermont for her destination wedding, she thought that was her fiance Grant. But when her ex-husband Ryan appears at the resort and she gets a birds eye view on the previously thought perfect family she was going to marry into, Emily has to finally admit that maybe everything she thought she wanted isn't exactly the best fit.
I liked Emily. She changed everything about her life when her first marriage disintegrated. She thought if she let go of that free spirited girl, she wouldn't have her heart broken like it was when she and Ryan split. She needed stability in her life and wanted someone who was going to give her that stability and not make her life (and emotions) a roller coaster. She found someone who met all her criteria, but she wasn't really happy despite giving that outward appearance. She denied it for a long time, but that week before her wedding really opened her eyes to who she'd turned into.
The cast of secondary characters really make this story. They make you laugh and have you wishing you were at the resort so you could take part in whatever trouble they were getting into. Between Emily's mother, best friend and Grant's family (those aunts were vicious) I couldn't wait to see what they would get into next.
Beth Kendrick once again creates characters and a story that feel like they could happen to your best friend or even yourself. This was a book I didn't want to put down, but when I did get to the end I was left with a smile on my face.
May 10, 2013
I received a copy of The Week Before the Wedding by Beth Kendrick in exchange for an honest review.
There were many details that made me fall in love with The Week Before the Wedding. I highly enjoyed that Emily had a bit of a wild-child past, how crazy her mom was, and of course – that I was reading a wedding book! (Mine is now LESS than four months away!) What I liked the most is that throughout the book, I had no idea how Emily was going to end up – or who she would end up with. On one hand, I truly thought she would stay with Grant, her fiancé, because she did seem to love him and their wedding was, well, a week away. They had chemistry, stability, and a happy life together. On the other hand, I thought for sure Emily was going to throw caution to the wind and wind up with Ryan. I mean, his name was tattooed on her ring finger! But they also had chemistry, a past, and an odd respect for one another. So who did she end up with? I can’t tell you that! But I can tell you this book has a lot of heart, some seriously comical moments with the mothers, and is a very enjoyable read!
There were many details that made me fall in love with The Week Before the Wedding. I highly enjoyed that Emily had a bit of a wild-child past, how crazy her mom was, and of course – that I was reading a wedding book! (Mine is now LESS than four months away!) What I liked the most is that throughout the book, I had no idea how Emily was going to end up – or who she would end up with. On one hand, I truly thought she would stay with Grant, her fiancé, because she did seem to love him and their wedding was, well, a week away. They had chemistry, stability, and a happy life together. On the other hand, I thought for sure Emily was going to throw caution to the wind and wind up with Ryan. I mean, his name was tattooed on her ring finger! But they also had chemistry, a past, and an odd respect for one another. So who did she end up with? I can’t tell you that! But I can tell you this book has a lot of heart, some seriously comical moments with the mothers, and is a very enjoyable read!
September 23, 2018
This is the story of Emily McKellips who is getting married in seven days. As the days countdown she is having panic attacks. The man she is marrying is calm not even upset when her ex husband shows up or her mother does something outlandish. His mother is so proper and Emily is trying so hard to be good and proper but is that really her. The book was a quick easy read.
September 2, 2018
This was so sweet and precious and I love the ending so much!! Definitely need to check out more by this author!
February 13, 2024
Fun read !
October 19, 2021
This was a cute fun if somewhat predictable read.
May 31, 2013
From the perspective of someone who is getting married within the coming year, this book was outrageously funny, sweet, and completely unputdownable! I have always reading stories about weddings, and especially by authors who can write them so well. Weddings are a beautiful time in a couple’s life and are nothing short of chaotic, fast-paced, and very stressful. But when it is all said and done I think every mostly every bride felt special and loved on her big day. Emily McKellips is about to walk down the aisle for the second time, but this time she is older and wiser. With only a week before the wedding she and her fiancé, Grant, head up to Valentine, Vermont to prepare for the wedding when Emily runs into the last person on Earth she wants to see in the days before her wedding…her ex-husband!
The relationship between Emily and her ex-husband, Ryan was something that I was curious about from the very start. She had his name tattooed on her left ring finger, and she would often have flashbacks from their time in college together. I instantly liked Ryan even though he was snarky and very sarcastic. I knew that Emily, deep down, still had feelings for him as well, and Kendrick does a nice job of changing Emily’s character whenever she is around Ryan just enough to let readers know just what Emily REALLY feels. They are two characters that you might not necessarily pick to be together, but after you read about them you will see what attracted them to one another in the first place.
The whole idea of a wedding sends chills up my spine. My favorite movie as a little girl was The Wedding Planner. I used to dream of being a wedding planner myself, so you can imagine the nostalgia that washed over me when I received this book. The wedding details are sweet and charming and I loved the setting. Valentine, Vermont. Well I mean who wouldn’t want to get married there? And of course with all weddings there comes a bit of family feuding, and I loved when Emily’s mother, Georgia, and Grant’s mother, Bev, were in the same room together arguing over wedding details. This book was crazy, cute, and super easy to read! And guess what? You’re invited to the wedding!
***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at NAL Trade in exchange for my honest review***
The relationship between Emily and her ex-husband, Ryan was something that I was curious about from the very start. She had his name tattooed on her left ring finger, and she would often have flashbacks from their time in college together. I instantly liked Ryan even though he was snarky and very sarcastic. I knew that Emily, deep down, still had feelings for him as well, and Kendrick does a nice job of changing Emily’s character whenever she is around Ryan just enough to let readers know just what Emily REALLY feels. They are two characters that you might not necessarily pick to be together, but after you read about them you will see what attracted them to one another in the first place.
The whole idea of a wedding sends chills up my spine. My favorite movie as a little girl was The Wedding Planner. I used to dream of being a wedding planner myself, so you can imagine the nostalgia that washed over me when I received this book. The wedding details are sweet and charming and I loved the setting. Valentine, Vermont. Well I mean who wouldn’t want to get married there? And of course with all weddings there comes a bit of family feuding, and I loved when Emily’s mother, Georgia, and Grant’s mother, Bev, were in the same room together arguing over wedding details. This book was crazy, cute, and super easy to read! And guess what? You’re invited to the wedding!
***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at NAL Trade in exchange for my honest review***
May 13, 2013
The Week before the Wedding is a wonderful version of the classic romance theme of reuniting with a long ago love. Emily is planning her second wedding to Dr. Grant- the Ken doll of Doctors. He is perfect in so many ways; he’s nice, handsome, caring and most important to Emily, he’s the picture of stability. This is important because her first husband Ryan was the picture of irresponsibility. He was a horror film buff and slob and their marriage only lasted five months before Emily left him. Determined to never be in a situation like that again, Emily has gotten an MBA and turned her life into a model of doing the correct thing. She has never looked back and is shocked when Ryan turns up at the location where her wedding will be. He is now a successful Hollywood producer and still is somewhat of a free spirit.
Ryan is determined to win Emily back and he gets help from her family members. Her sister Summer has one of the best lines in the book when she talks about his having matured into a successful single man. She says “He’s like a unicorn. We may never see another one in our lifetime”
What I liked about this book was the idea that Emily was so focused on making everything perfect that she didn’t really see what her life had become. She cut her past out of her life and just moved on but never really dealt with her feelings or allowed herself to revisit her choices. Ryan has moved on but he has worked through what went wrong with the marriage and how he contributed to the problem. Their romance is the one that they weren’t ready to have when they were so young and idealistic.
The secondary characters are great in this book especially the mothers. Emily’s mother is a much married flamboyant woman and Grant’s mother is a buttoned up proper matron. Their road to friendship has a rocky start but is really humorous. A pair of evil sisters adds to the bonding between mother-in-laws.
The ending is not a surprise but it is also not a given throughout most of the book. Ms. Kendrick does a good job of keeping the reader wondering what will happen. The ending is satisfying on all levels.
Ryan is determined to win Emily back and he gets help from her family members. Her sister Summer has one of the best lines in the book when she talks about his having matured into a successful single man. She says “He’s like a unicorn. We may never see another one in our lifetime”
What I liked about this book was the idea that Emily was so focused on making everything perfect that she didn’t really see what her life had become. She cut her past out of her life and just moved on but never really dealt with her feelings or allowed herself to revisit her choices. Ryan has moved on but he has worked through what went wrong with the marriage and how he contributed to the problem. Their romance is the one that they weren’t ready to have when they were so young and idealistic.
The secondary characters are great in this book especially the mothers. Emily’s mother is a much married flamboyant woman and Grant’s mother is a buttoned up proper matron. Their road to friendship has a rocky start but is really humorous. A pair of evil sisters adds to the bonding between mother-in-laws.
The ending is not a surprise but it is also not a given throughout most of the book. Ms. Kendrick does a good job of keeping the reader wondering what will happen. The ending is satisfying on all levels.
September 2, 2013
Emily is finally living the picture-perfect life she has always wanted. She is a successful financial planner with a stock portfolio and financial security. Her doting fiancé is a transplant surgeon with a family straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. And the two of them are tying the knot at a romantic Lodge in Vermont before jetting off to Bora Bora on their honeymoon. Just when Emily is sure things are about to get better, her past whirls onto the scene like a tornado. Her irresponsible, womanizing mother and best friend/former stepsister cannot stop poking holes in Emily’s responsible image. They seem determined to remind her that she used to be a lot less stressed out, a lot less uptight and a whole lot more fun. Then Ryan Lassiter arrives on the scene, which forces Emily to explain the presence of her super hot ex-husband to her future in-laws. Worse, Ryan has evolved into a successful filmmaker without losing a drop of the drive and zest for life that has made Emily fall for him in college. She soon realizes that you can run from your past, but you cannot hide who you really are. Although on the surface this story seems like a storyline we have all read and enjoyed before, it has some surprising extras that make it well worth picking up. Ms. Kendrick does a spectacular job of bringing Emily to life in all of her flawed, over-achieving, emotional baggage toting glory. Readers will identify with her dysfunctional upbringing in a very real way. Snappy dialog, loveable characters and a world-class canine—what’s not to love? Kaitlin Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More - See more at: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Book...
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June 10, 2013I finished reading this more than a month ago and every time I sit down to write a review of it, I get stymied by the old saying, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” It’s not that there’s anything overtly bad about The Week Before the Wedding, it’s just that there’s nothing particularly good about it. I found the characters to be cliched and boring; the plot was predictable; and although it’s billed as being a comedy, it wasn’t really that funny.
For me, The Week Before the Wedding started off boring and only got vaguely interesting at Chapter 16. I also didn’t believe that Emily was the wild child that she was purported to be, and so all of her moaning about not wanting to go back to her wild ways rang false to me. Part of the problem could have been that I started reading this on the heels of another book with a very similar plot that had been executed much better. Had I not read this other book right before this one, I may have enjoyed this more, but I still think that this is not one of Beth Kendrick’s better efforts. Which is unfortunate, because, with the exception of her first one or two books, I’ve read and enjoyed all of her work. Fans may enjoy this but those who are unfamiliar with her work may want to start with a better book of hers.
For me, The Week Before the Wedding started off boring and only got vaguely interesting at Chapter 16. I also didn’t believe that Emily was the wild child that she was purported to be, and so all of her moaning about not wanting to go back to her wild ways rang false to me. Part of the problem could have been that I started reading this on the heels of another book with a very similar plot that had been executed much better. Had I not read this other book right before this one, I may have enjoyed this more, but I still think that this is not one of Beth Kendrick’s better efforts. Which is unfortunate, because, with the exception of her first one or two books, I’ve read and enjoyed all of her work. Fans may enjoy this but those who are unfamiliar with her work may want to start with a better book of hers.
October 23, 2013
Emily and Ryan had a whirlwind romance when they met at a wild college party and they married right after graduation. They were both impulsive risk-takers, fun-loving, and passionately in love...until 5 months after the marriage and Emily had had it. Tired of waiting for Ryan to make it in the world of films, tired of being the main bread-winner, tired of living in a dingy apartment of cheap second-hand furniture, tired of Ryan's lack of house-keeping skills; Emily walked out for good.
Now ten years later Emily has her successful career in business and a wonderful husband-to-be who is a successful (but busy) surgeon. Everyone is gathered together in Valentine, Vermont for the week of the wedding and Emily is looking forward to the union and the chance to be part of a stable, close and loving family. (Emily's own mother is a four-time married wild woman in her 50's and as flighty as they come.) Everything is calm and serene until lo and behold, Ryan shows up as a successful film producer supposedly doing some scouting for a future film. The calm and serenity begins to go downhill.
The book had no surprises but the events leading to the predictable ending were fun and the characters were just quirky enough to be loveable. If you like light, quick reads with a few laughs thrown in, you will like this one.
Now ten years later Emily has her successful career in business and a wonderful husband-to-be who is a successful (but busy) surgeon. Everyone is gathered together in Valentine, Vermont for the week of the wedding and Emily is looking forward to the union and the chance to be part of a stable, close and loving family. (Emily's own mother is a four-time married wild woman in her 50's and as flighty as they come.) Everything is calm and serene until lo and behold, Ryan shows up as a successful film producer supposedly doing some scouting for a future film. The calm and serenity begins to go downhill.
The book had no surprises but the events leading to the predictable ending were fun and the characters were just quirky enough to be loveable. If you like light, quick reads with a few laughs thrown in, you will like this one.
December 29, 2016
A light beach type read, a love triangle, I enjoyed the book, it was a pretty quick read for me and I will read others by Beth Kendrick.
Beth Kendrick sweeps you off your feet with a captivating tale of how even the best-laid plans can falter at the altar.
After enduring a chaotic childhood, Emily McKellips yearns for a drama-free life, complete with a white picket fence. Her dreams are about to come true: She has a stellar career, a gorgeous house, and a fiancé any woman would die for. But as friends and family arrive in picturesque Valentine, Vermont, for her wedding, an uninvited guest shows up.
Ryan is Emily’s first husband from a disastrous starter marriage. They wed on a whim, only to discover that combustible chemistry couldn’t ensure a happily ever after. But Ryan is no longer the headstrong boy she left behind. He’s now a successful film producer who just happens to be scouting a resort in Valentine with his adorable retriever in tow.
As the bridesmaids revolt and the mothers of the bride and groom do battle, Emily is surprised to discover new sides of both her ex and her fiancé. She thought she had life and love all figured out, but the next seven days might change her mind—and her heart
June 19, 2013
I always find it a treat when a new Beth Kendrick novel comes out. The Week Before the Wedding lived up to my expectations of a hilarious yet sweet novel. As the title says, the book takes place during the week before Emily McKellips’ wedding to her dreamy surgeon fiancé Grant at a resort in Vermont. Unbeknownst to her, Emily’s best friend and ex-step sister, Summer, has tipped off Emily’s first husband, Ryan, to the upcoming nuptials. Emily had walked out on Ryan after a tumultuous five months of marriage ten years ago feeling they’d been too young and immature in their haste to get married. Ryan isn’t ready to give up on them yet and keeps popping up in amusing places while Grant has to rush off to save some lives on the operating table.
Kendrick handles the flashback scenes deftly as well as the revelations of Emily’s drama-filled childhood and her need to rebel against it and become a “lady.” I wouldn’t say the ending is much of a surprise, but the road there is paved with spectacularly written secondary characters including Summer, Emily’s femme fatale mother, and Grant’s straitlaced mother. A quick, engaging read!
Kendrick handles the flashback scenes deftly as well as the revelations of Emily’s drama-filled childhood and her need to rebel against it and become a “lady.” I wouldn’t say the ending is much of a surprise, but the road there is paved with spectacularly written secondary characters including Summer, Emily’s femme fatale mother, and Grant’s straitlaced mother. A quick, engaging read!
August 17, 2013
I enjoyed the book, but I gave it only three stars, as it was a bit predictable, in some respects. It is a typical Chick Lit book. But, there is a lesson. We can't always remake ourselves into an idea of what is the perfect life or lifestyle. Perhaps what we, think we want, is not really what we need or want. And, sometimes, what we need and want is right in front of us. Also, given time, things age well, like fine wine.
Emily's youth had been a bit crazy and chaotic. She believes she has found the perfect husband in dashing, good looking, surgeon, Grant. As the wedding approaches and both families and friends begin to gather for the wedding in Vermont, Emily's past comes crashing back into her life, in the form of Ryan, her first husband.
What Emily learns during the week is that things are not always, as they seem.
A very good summer/beach read.
Emily's youth had been a bit crazy and chaotic. She believes she has found the perfect husband in dashing, good looking, surgeon, Grant. As the wedding approaches and both families and friends begin to gather for the wedding in Vermont, Emily's past comes crashing back into her life, in the form of Ryan, her first husband.
What Emily learns during the week is that things are not always, as they seem.
A very good summer/beach read.
May 19, 2015
this is a random grab from the audiobook section because all the ones on my list were checked out. WE'LL SEE. (she said ominously)
post-read: meh. this book had everything i hate about romance novels (silly one-dimensional characters included for comic relief, cheesy humor, cliche after cliche after cliche) without any of the actual steam or chemistry. on the bright side, i have something to recommend if someone asks for a "clean" adult romance.
also this reminded me a lot of 'sweet home alabama.'
post-read: meh. this book had everything i hate about romance novels (silly one-dimensional characters included for comic relief, cheesy humor, cliche after cliche after cliche) without any of the actual steam or chemistry. on the bright side, i have something to recommend if someone asks for a "clean" adult romance.
also this reminded me a lot of 'sweet home alabama.'
August 26, 2013
This is chick lit at its best. Emily is in her 30's and has matured into a responsible and focused adult, working in a high-powered job in finance and engaged to a surgeon. She has convinced herself that she is nothing like the carefree girl in her early 20's who fell madly in love with and married the handsome bad boy she met in college. A colorful cast of characters make this laugh-out loud funny and thoroughly enjoyable.
August 14, 2016
I enjoyed listening to this book. The narrator, Nicole Poole did a great job. I liked Emily but she could get on my nerves at times. She changed herself for the life she thought she should lead instead of being true to herself. The supporting cast was great. They added a lot to the story. I liked both Grant and Ryan. They were both great guys in different ways. I was happy with the way it ended.
April 27, 2014
Brilliant! The pages of this book just turned themselves and I was lost in the story. I adored all of the characters and the setting seemed so vibrant and real. Based on this book, Beth Kendrick is now an automatic buy for me. Highly recommended if you enjoy either romance or women's fiction as this is the ultimate and seamless blend of both genres.
June 3, 2015
I listened to Beth speak at The Poisoned Pen and got this book there. When I started it, it captivated me. I spent as many minutes as I could read in a day and raced through this in two. The characters are intriguing and leave you wanting to learn more about them. This book will take you away to Valentine, Vermont and you'll feel as if you went on vacation too.
June 3, 2013
Not really my style, don't know why I bothered. On that note: predictable, boring and unrealistic. No humor or drama, beautiful girl, two rich, handsome love interests. Oh my, what is a girl to do?! Yawn.
June 21, 2013
A comfortable read, but completely predictable. Nervous bride, perfect fiancé, embarrassing mother, gorgeous ex. Gee, guess what happens next?
June 30, 2013
Cute second chance romance - review to follow
June 6, 2022
Quick easy read! Some of the characters were a little bit fluff, but overall a good read.
February 18, 2023
Beth Kendrick's novel, "The Week Before the Wedding" was a fun, humorous, quick read. There are no bad guys in this one, but the heroine, Emily, is torn between two good men, just a week before she is to walk down the aisle and marry a surgeon named Grant. Grant is devoted to her, but also to his practice, and thinks nothing of leaving Emily alone with family and friends a day or two before the wedding, even with events planned for that same time. He is always going to put the lives of his patients, most waiting for life saving transplants, ahead of his own pleasure and even ahead of Emily's needs. His mother, Bev, is cut from the mold of Donna Reed, and Emily thinks her life would be better if her own mother, Georgia, were not so flighty and wild. She longs for a "normal" and "stable" family, and thinks that is what Grant will provide. Be careful what you wish for, as the saying goes.
Emily had been married preciously, for a very short time, and when quite young. She had met adorable Ryan at college, and fell instantly I love with him, and vis versa. They had each other's names tattooed on their ring fingers, in place of wearing wedding rings. The marriage, however, was short lived, since Ryan did not take "adulting" very seriously when they were 22, and Emily began to want a husband who would earn money, not make frivolous decisions (such as bringing home a puppy one day without any discussion about it) and who would be driven to do something with his life. In a moment of anger, Emily left him, and never looked back. Fast forward to a small town in Vermont, where Emily and Grant are about to be married, and who shows up? Yes, indeed, you guessed correctly! Ryan! Emily cannot believe he is there, in the same hotel as all her wedding guests, especially since she has had no contact with him since their divorce. Ryan has grown up and is no longer wild, though his charm has not in any way abated. He has become a very successful film scout, and he has never stopped loving Emily.
The two men who want Emily are very different. With Grant, Emily is comfortable and feels safe. When she spends some time with Ryan, she really comes alive, and a bit of her youthfulness brings a spark to her eyes, but she knows Grant is the one she is, or should marry. Meanwhile, she is on a bridal gown diet, being convinced to wear her future mother-in-law's gown, also worn by Grant's grandmother, even though Bev and Bev's mother were far smaller people than Emily, and wore the dress in the days of girdles. As the big day approaches, and Emily has her final fitting, she feels as if she cannot breathe in the dress, and certainly should not consume the indulgent treats Ryan or Emily's best friend, Summer, provide. The dress just may burst at the seams at some point.
The author did not create one good and one awful man. Emily's choice was not an easy one. Will she choose that never lost spark and huge chemistry she would have if married to Ryan, or will she choose Grant, with his steady demeanor and stable family? All of it is well written and difficult to stop reading (or listening, in this case, as I used the audiobook version). Unlike some chick lit, this one is not cheesy, and not 100% predictable. I loved the ending, yet hated for the book to end.
Emily had been married preciously, for a very short time, and when quite young. She had met adorable Ryan at college, and fell instantly I love with him, and vis versa. They had each other's names tattooed on their ring fingers, in place of wearing wedding rings. The marriage, however, was short lived, since Ryan did not take "adulting" very seriously when they were 22, and Emily began to want a husband who would earn money, not make frivolous decisions (such as bringing home a puppy one day without any discussion about it) and who would be driven to do something with his life. In a moment of anger, Emily left him, and never looked back. Fast forward to a small town in Vermont, where Emily and Grant are about to be married, and who shows up? Yes, indeed, you guessed correctly! Ryan! Emily cannot believe he is there, in the same hotel as all her wedding guests, especially since she has had no contact with him since their divorce. Ryan has grown up and is no longer wild, though his charm has not in any way abated. He has become a very successful film scout, and he has never stopped loving Emily.
The two men who want Emily are very different. With Grant, Emily is comfortable and feels safe. When she spends some time with Ryan, she really comes alive, and a bit of her youthfulness brings a spark to her eyes, but she knows Grant is the one she is, or should marry. Meanwhile, she is on a bridal gown diet, being convinced to wear her future mother-in-law's gown, also worn by Grant's grandmother, even though Bev and Bev's mother were far smaller people than Emily, and wore the dress in the days of girdles. As the big day approaches, and Emily has her final fitting, she feels as if she cannot breathe in the dress, and certainly should not consume the indulgent treats Ryan or Emily's best friend, Summer, provide. The dress just may burst at the seams at some point.
The author did not create one good and one awful man. Emily's choice was not an easy one. Will she choose that never lost spark and huge chemistry she would have if married to Ryan, or will she choose Grant, with his steady demeanor and stable family? All of it is well written and difficult to stop reading (or listening, in this case, as I used the audiobook version). Unlike some chick lit, this one is not cheesy, and not 100% predictable. I loved the ending, yet hated for the book to end.
December 11, 2018
I started this with high hopes after reading other reviews. It sounded adorable, silly and just perfect for a long hike with my dog. I started listening and soon realized I had made a big mistake. Each and every person in this book is the exact reason I prefer animals to most humans. They are at the very least loyal, loving and honest. There is not a decent human being amongst the entire cast of characters. They are terrible, awful, immature heinous manipulative selfish people. Just because your intentions are good does not give anyone the authority to be destroy what someone believes they want. And if you don't agree with their choices there are much better ways to go about things. The main character has so little spine it is shocking she can stand upright. This is not her wedding in any way, shape or form. And she is allowing it believing everyone will like her better if she does. No one actually knows her. Her mother uses her daughters wedding as an all you can eat buffet in Vegas. She can be who she wants to be, but how about a little respect for what her daughter wants even if she doesn't agree with it. It never enters her mind that all of her actions are why her daughter wants a more stable life. A mother should at the very least support her child on what is supposed to be a happy time. Her step-sister/best friend is a petulant 2 year old who is manipulative and has so whiny I could not find any reason anyone would want to be her friend. She cannot or chooses to not see beyond what she wants. The bachelor party tantrum was enough to make me turn off the book. How she holds an actual responsible job is shocking. Also, this book used every old stereotype about flight attendants and it is repugnant. The ex-husband may have grown up, but is still an opportunistic selfish jerk. Some things never change. Grant, the almost husband deserves to be left. All sweetness and love and yet is already putting her at the back of the line before the wedding. Now, I appreciate that lifestyle of a medical professional, but he is an idiot and deserved to be left. Plus, he sweet little nickname is so condescending I can't believe she lets him get away with it. He is dripping with “Im so much more important than everyone else because I am a doctor” it is surprising there is oxygen left in the room. His mother is okay, but she created that monster and totally infantilizes him and he loves it. Ugh. The aunts, they are the original mean girls. I don't know any women who treat their sisters like that. They are just mean old (not because of age, but spirit) biddies. Basically, I wasted time listening to this audiobook.
May 21, 2019
Emily was married before it was a short starter marriage which was done on a whim. So after a short try Emily left and divorced Ryan. Now Emily is in Valentine, Vermont a week before her and her fiancé Grant's wedding they are finishing last minute things for their wedding at the end of the week. When one night Emily things she see her ex Ryan, it turns out he is now a film producer scouting a location for his next project. When Ryan sees Emily he lets her know he never forgot her nor will he give up trying to get her back. Now Emily has a week to figure out if Grant is the man she wants to spend her life with or does she still have feelings for Ryan. Her bridesmaids and the two moms are no help. I enjoyed the book but it was predictable.
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