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The Guy at the Wedding
It's the story of the night Jake and Helen (the main characters in Happiness for Beginners) first met.
The first time Jake ever sees Helen, he's crashing her wedding with her little brother, Duncan—and Jake glimpses her for the first time as the boys burst into her dressing room without knocking just as Helen is adjusting the garter under her wedding dress.
Jake imprints on her right then—and he's doomed to be in love from then on. Even though she's ten years older and, um, in the process of marrying someone else—that first night they meet throws them together in ways that Jake will never forget.
The first time Jake ever sees Helen, he's crashing her wedding with her little brother, Duncan—and Jake glimpses her for the first time as the boys burst into her dressing room without knocking just as Helen is adjusting the garter under her wedding dress.
Jake imprints on her right then—and he's doomed to be in love from then on. Even though she's ten years older and, um, in the process of marrying someone else—that first night they meet throws them together in ways that Jake will never forget.
ebook
First published July 20, 2021
21 people are currently reading
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About the author
Katherine Center
22 books31k followershttps://katherinecenter.com/about/
https://www.instagram.com/katherinece...
BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and her summer 2024 book, The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books: bittersweet romantic comedies about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The Netflix movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners—starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes—just hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband was a surprise Netflix sensation in 2020, hitting number one and landing in their top 25 movies for the year. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists—at Audible, BookBub, and Book of the Month, as well as Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and Amazon's yearly Top 100 books. Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “my perfect 10 of a book,” and Jodi Picoult says of Things You Save in a Fire, “Just read it, and thank me later.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two almost-grown teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
https://www.instagram.com/katherinece...
BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and her summer 2024 book, The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books: bittersweet romantic comedies about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The Netflix movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners—starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes—just hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband was a surprise Netflix sensation in 2020, hitting number one and landing in their top 25 movies for the year. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists—at Audible, BookBub, and Book of the Month, as well as Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and Amazon's yearly Top 100 books. Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “my perfect 10 of a book,” and Jodi Picoult says of Things You Save in a Fire, “Just read it, and thank me later.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two almost-grown teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
April 4, 2024
I found this in audio format on Audiable when I was looking for a new listen. Always loving what I’ve read from Katherine Center I decided to give it a go. This charming and lively short story was just the vibe I was looking for. Thanks to a little digging on Google I found out it is actually the bridge story between What You Wish For and Happiness For Beginners (neither of which I have read - Yet!) This short story meets characters Helen and Jake and their introduction under very unique circumstance and later how fate comes back around again to finish its plan. Adorably fun and beautifully crafted this is well worth a read or a listen.
July 16, 2022
A sweet short story. Perfect for cleaning my palate after too many thrillers!
August 24, 2021
This was just the perfect little novella for Happiness For Beginner's fans. It was wonderful to get more details about the start of Jake and Helen's unique love story. I absolutely love this couple and I had a huge smile on my face listening to this. The novella is broken down into Duncan, Jake, and Helen's POV's and it was so fun and interesting to see the same event from all of their eyes. There were plenty of laughs, as well as sweet and tender moments (Jake really is so thoughtful and amazing) and that ending couldn't have been more perfect. Jake and Helen fans should not miss The Guy at the Wedding. It's available for free as an audiobook (read by the author) or can be found in the paperback edition of What You Wish For.
CW: mentions & discussion of death of parent, alcohol
CW: mentions & discussion of death of parent, alcohol
January 29, 2022
5 Stars
I loved Duncan in Happiness for Beginners, even when his scenes were small and few. So, I was giddy over getting more scenes with him pre-What You Wish For. I mean I loved Helen and Jake in HFB, too, but Duncan simply stole every scene he appeared in, in his goofy, oblivious kind of way. I then absolutely fell in love with him in What You Wish For. In The Guy at The Wedding, he again dominated the scenes he was in.
Since this is Jake and Helen's story, I'll just say that KC was generous in giving us readers another new glimpse of this couple. It was cute, fun, and sweetly romantic.
January 16, 2023
5 Stars for The Guy at the Wedding (audiobook) by Kathleen Center read by the author.
I love these extra chapters that Kathleen Center makes available. I found her through another one of her short stories and now I’m hooked.
I love these extra chapters that Kathleen Center makes available. I found her through another one of her short stories and now I’m hooked.
January 13, 2022
Helen and Jake ❤️ just when you think you couldn’t love their story anymore.
5 never forget stars!
5 never forget stars!
December 12, 2022
You can listen to this novella for FREE: https://play.google.com/store/audiobo...
Listening Length: 0hours 47minutes.
September 13, 2022
i’m still sobbing. like, full sobbing and wishing i could read happiness for beginners all over again for the first time.
this was so beautiful, so well written, so perfect.
the pool parallels! the way Jake remembers everything! the way Duncan is the best friend ever! the way Helen took care of Jake that night! the made up stories! grandma GiGi! Pickle the Wonder Dog !!!!!
everything fits so perfectly now. oh my god i don’t even know what to say, i’m honestly still crying while writing this.
Katherine Center managed to write something so simple and yet so delicate and precious.
it’s that kind of story that makes you keep wondering what else happened and here is the answer !!!!
while reading Jake’s pov the only thing i could actually function to think was “this is him. i know it’s him! because it really seems like him!”
this was utterly beautiful. i will never forget this story and how much happiness for beginners means to me. <3
this was so beautiful, so well written, so perfect.
the pool parallels! the way Jake remembers everything! the way Duncan is the best friend ever! the way Helen took care of Jake that night! the made up stories! grandma GiGi! Pickle the Wonder Dog !!!!!
everything fits so perfectly now. oh my god i don’t even know what to say, i’m honestly still crying while writing this.
Katherine Center managed to write something so simple and yet so delicate and precious.
it’s that kind of story that makes you keep wondering what else happened and here is the answer !!!!
while reading Jake’s pov the only thing i could actually function to think was “this is him. i know it’s him! because it really seems like him!”
this was utterly beautiful. i will never forget this story and how much happiness for beginners means to me. <3
October 4, 2021
Such a sweet and fun little addition to Jake and Helen’s story!
June 5, 2024
This is so cute! I needed something short to listen to at 2 am while battling insomnia. My eyes were too tired to read and I didn't want to start a long audiobook. At just over an hour this was perfect! It took my mind off of the frustration of not sleeping.
This is such a cute story, too. We don't have much backstory on the characters but I think that is because they are featured in one of KC's novels. That will be my next KC read.
So far Katherine Center is a solid 5 star author for me with the exception of The Rom-Commers coming in at infinity stars!
This is such a cute story, too. We don't have much backstory on the characters but I think that is because they are featured in one of KC's novels. That will be my next KC read.
So far Katherine Center is a solid 5 star author for me with the exception of The Rom-Commers coming in at infinity stars!
July 22, 2021
I’m not one to usually listen to audiobooks - I like the feel (and smell and look) of a book in my hands. BUT …. when I saw that Katherine Center did an audio book “The Guy at the Wedding” I needed to listen!
One of my absolute favourite books is Happiness for Beginners and since this audiobook (guy at the wedding) is about the same people; it was a given and it did not disappoint! I had all the same feelings listening to it as I did reading Happiness for Beginners - I laughed, I cried …. I cried a lot! And not just some tears, full on tight throat, sobbing crying … and not because it’s sad, because it is such a heartfelt and honest story!
One of my absolute favourite books is Happiness for Beginners and since this audiobook (guy at the wedding) is about the same people; it was a given and it did not disappoint! I had all the same feelings listening to it as I did reading Happiness for Beginners - I laughed, I cried …. I cried a lot! And not just some tears, full on tight throat, sobbing crying … and not because it’s sad, because it is such a heartfelt and honest story!
December 24, 2023
This was a quick backstory to Helen and Jake when Jake was Duncan's guest at his sister's wedding. The story is told in multiple POV and read by the author who did a great job. Having read Happiness for Beginners, this was a fun way to get to know their history.
December 10, 2021
HFB is one of my most favorite books. I adored so much listening to this little novella prequel.
August 22, 2022
Perfect short story about Jake and Helen’s first meeting before (and a bit after) Happiness for Beginners.
August 25, 2023
Super cute short story!
September 11, 2023
So good! Thank you Katherine Center!
March 15, 2024
мила та місцями дуже смішна історія
March 28, 2024
jake i want to eat you right up. these two are my FAVORITE
March 20, 2025
So glad I finally found her short stories on Apple Books! Loved these additions to her works!
May 1, 2025
Such a sweet novella!
August 5, 2025
“Everybody’s high maintenance if you’re paying attention”
Love the bonus content! Be sure you read Happiness for Beginners first!
Love the bonus content! Be sure you read Happiness for Beginners first!
October 5, 2024
Nice addition to the main book, Happiness for Beginners. You can read it for free on the author's website.
August 6, 2024
*4 Stars
This short story introduces 2 different books and makes you curious and eager to jump into the two books and gives the right kind of suspense.
The characters introduced are lovable and interesting and I can't wait to jump into the books this is tied to.
This short story introduces 2 different books and makes you curious and eager to jump into the two books and gives the right kind of suspense.
The characters introduced are lovable and interesting and I can't wait to jump into the books this is tied to.
June 7, 2024
This was a sweet concept. I just wish we saw them fall in love instead of being told, but I guess it is a shirt story anyway. I really hope to finally read a proper book Catherine Center this year!
March 19, 2025
Shit, this was cute. Makes me excited to read Happiness for Beginners ❤️❤️❤️
November 10, 2023
Too short to even be considered a book! It was more like a chapter.
August 23, 2025
4.5🌟 Even though I’ve seen the movie I probably should’ve waited until after reading “Happiness for Beginners” but oh well 🤷🏼♀️ still an enjoyable short story
February 22, 2025
This short story was read by Katherine Center at the end of the audiobook for What You Wish For. I really enjoyed it. It introduces characters from Happiness For Beginners and it made me want to read that book right away. I do feel like it contained spoilers for that book, so I would recommend only listening to this after you’ve read that.
January 24, 2024
Everyone knows I’m the biggest “Happiness for Beginners” fan so this story was just what I wanted! It was short and sweet and gave me more insight to Helen and Jake!
March 10, 2023
Jake and Helennnnn!
And PICKLE THE DOG!
Love the back story. Love their first encounter. Makes me love them as a couple even more. I really enjoyed their story in Happiness for Beginners, even though I didn’t love the actual book itself. But this makes me like it even more.
Jake is dreamy (even though he’s 22 LOL).
I love that Helen didn’t remember their pool constellation encounter from her first wedding to Mike. Jake re-did it for their wedding together and it was so sweet!
I love that KC has given us little glimpses of her previous characters here and there, even after their story ends; whether it’s through bonus chapters, short stories, making guest appearances in other books.
Icing on the cake 😍
And PICKLE THE DOG!
Love the back story. Love their first encounter. Makes me love them as a couple even more. I really enjoyed their story in Happiness for Beginners, even though I didn’t love the actual book itself. But this makes me like it even more.
Jake is dreamy (even though he’s 22 LOL).
I love that Helen didn’t remember their pool constellation encounter from her first wedding to Mike. Jake re-did it for their wedding together and it was so sweet!
I love that KC has given us little glimpses of her previous characters here and there, even after their story ends; whether it’s through bonus chapters, short stories, making guest appearances in other books.
Icing on the cake 😍
Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews