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The Weekend Before the Wedding
Mamma Mia meets Bridesmaids in a laugh-out-loud, life affirming comedy
One weekend, one bride-to-be, what could possibly go wrong…
All Shelley wanted on her hen weekend was to enjoy three days of sun, sea and sangria. But instead of being surrounded by the A-team of her closest friends, she somehow ends up with a Golden Girls-meets-the-Spice Girls B-list that includes her mother, a rebellious teenager, and a best mate ‘on the verge’.
The squabbling starts at the airport, and on arrival in Spain, Shelley barely has time to unpack her suitcase before getting an unwanted text ̶ one that throws her wedding into doubt.
Shelley has got a BIG decision to make, but her unruly medley of nearest and dearest seem determined to confuse matters with their own problems.
Have they got what it takes to get her through the most important weekend of her life?
One weekend, one bride-to-be, what could possibly go wrong…
All Shelley wanted on her hen weekend was to enjoy three days of sun, sea and sangria. But instead of being surrounded by the A-team of her closest friends, she somehow ends up with a Golden Girls-meets-the-Spice Girls B-list that includes her mother, a rebellious teenager, and a best mate ‘on the verge’.
The squabbling starts at the airport, and on arrival in Spain, Shelley barely has time to unpack her suitcase before getting an unwanted text ̶ one that throws her wedding into doubt.
Shelley has got a BIG decision to make, but her unruly medley of nearest and dearest seem determined to confuse matters with their own problems.
Have they got what it takes to get her through the most important weekend of her life?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 29, 2022
29 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
July 28, 2022
3.5 rounded up
In the present day, Shelley regards yourself in the mirror in all her bridal glory, after all it’s only taken her 20 years to make her mind up! She met him at someone else’s wedding at the age of 38. Backtrack to May 1999 to Priory Hall in Hampshire where it really is like something out of “Four weddings… “we’ll forget about the funeral bit. Where is Hugh? Better still, in Shelley’s opinion where’s James Fleet? She nearly wimps out of going, after all she’s been to so many. To her shock, she is not lurking and peeking from the back table with the also-rans, she is near the top. There has to be a mistake, surely? But wait, who is that rather Hugh’ish chap lurching to the table and the bread rolls? That would be Colin the grooms cousin and the rest is, well, the book!
The entertaining novel is principally from Shelley‘s point of view and is mostly set twenty years ago around her hen do in Majorca. It’s a make you smile lighthearted read with really likeable characters which makes such a pleasant change. Shelley is a really nice person, she’s honest, caring and darn good friend but I’m sorry to say she’s not the standout character, that would be Aunty Nancy! What a character, I thought my aunts had personality but she is utterly fabulously larger than life. The dynamics are great such as between Shelley and her mum Peggy who doesn’t hold back and between Shelley‘s cousin Rosalind and her teenage daughter Chloe.
There are some really amusing situations at this very untypical hen-do though there is an appearance by the ‘Spice Girls’, there’s some karaoke and a foam party. Oh and some cocktails or three.
It’s fun escapist reading, it may be a tad predictable but none the worse for that. Pack this book along with your bikini/swimsuit and take it to the beach, it’s a perfect in the sun novel which matches perfectly with the great cover!!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
In the present day, Shelley regards yourself in the mirror in all her bridal glory, after all it’s only taken her 20 years to make her mind up! She met him at someone else’s wedding at the age of 38. Backtrack to May 1999 to Priory Hall in Hampshire where it really is like something out of “Four weddings… “we’ll forget about the funeral bit. Where is Hugh? Better still, in Shelley’s opinion where’s James Fleet? She nearly wimps out of going, after all she’s been to so many. To her shock, she is not lurking and peeking from the back table with the also-rans, she is near the top. There has to be a mistake, surely? But wait, who is that rather Hugh’ish chap lurching to the table and the bread rolls? That would be Colin the grooms cousin and the rest is, well, the book!
The entertaining novel is principally from Shelley‘s point of view and is mostly set twenty years ago around her hen do in Majorca. It’s a make you smile lighthearted read with really likeable characters which makes such a pleasant change. Shelley is a really nice person, she’s honest, caring and darn good friend but I’m sorry to say she’s not the standout character, that would be Aunty Nancy! What a character, I thought my aunts had personality but she is utterly fabulously larger than life. The dynamics are great such as between Shelley and her mum Peggy who doesn’t hold back and between Shelley‘s cousin Rosalind and her teenage daughter Chloe.
There are some really amusing situations at this very untypical hen-do though there is an appearance by the ‘Spice Girls’, there’s some karaoke and a foam party. Oh and some cocktails or three.
It’s fun escapist reading, it may be a tad predictable but none the worse for that. Pack this book along with your bikini/swimsuit and take it to the beach, it’s a perfect in the sun novel which matches perfectly with the great cover!!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
October 6, 2022
It was truly enjoyable to read this. I adored how these women joined them for the highs and lows of the hen party despite having quite different personalities.
The hen weekend that occurred twenty years ago and the wedding that occurred today make up the two sections of this story. However, the core of this novel takes place when Shelley, her closest friend, and some of her family travel to Spain for her hen do, twenty years earlier.
This is an extremely funny and clever book to read. The characters are incredibly entertaining and completely plausible. You notice how each one of them has changed as you follow their antics. It also demonstrates how each character develops into a better version of themselves.
Since this isn't just a book about romance and a wedding, I found the narrative changes, the pace, and the storyline to be quite intriguing and brilliantly done. There is a lot more involved.
Even if the plot is predictable in certain spots, Tracy Bloom's work is nonetheless entertaining to read.
This is lighthearted and entertaining. You can count on this book to make you laugh.
The hen weekend that occurred twenty years ago and the wedding that occurred today make up the two sections of this story. However, the core of this novel takes place when Shelley, her closest friend, and some of her family travel to Spain for her hen do, twenty years earlier.
This is an extremely funny and clever book to read. The characters are incredibly entertaining and completely plausible. You notice how each one of them has changed as you follow their antics. It also demonstrates how each character develops into a better version of themselves.
Since this isn't just a book about romance and a wedding, I found the narrative changes, the pace, and the storyline to be quite intriguing and brilliantly done. There is a lot more involved.
Even if the plot is predictable in certain spots, Tracy Bloom's work is nonetheless entertaining to read.
This is lighthearted and entertaining. You can count on this book to make you laugh.
May 8, 2023
Tracy Bloom has written some really FUNNY books and this one is the perfect addition to her repertoire! Admittedly, I did find some aspects of this book confusing (like how OLD Shelly was when she finally married) but I laughed out loud a lot and got completely lost in the pages. If you’re into chicklit/women’s fiction novels that are truly perfect escapes, then this is a book that should be added to your TBR. It’s wedding themed, has an older cast of characters (late 30’s), and whisks readers off to a beautiful setting!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 27, 2022
All Shelley wanted on her hen weekend was to enjoy three days sun, sea and sangria. But instead of being surrounded by the A-team of her closest friends, she somehow ends up with a Golden Girls - meets - the = Spice Girls B-list that includes her mother, a rebellious teenager, and a best mate 'on the verge'. The squabbling starts at the airport, and on arrival in Spain, Shelley barely has time to unpack her suitcase before getting an unwanted text - one that throws her wedding into doubt.
This story is told in two parts - the hen weekend that took place twenty years ago, and the wedding that took place which takes place in the present day. On her wedding day, Shelly spends some time reminiscing about her hen party. Although it's a little predictable, the fact that it has great characters and some laugh out loud moments, more than makes up for it. It also shows the importance of friends and family. This is quite an addictive and easy book to read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #TracyBloom for my ARC of #TheWeekendBeforeTheWedding in exchange for an honest review.
This story is told in two parts - the hen weekend that took place twenty years ago, and the wedding that took place which takes place in the present day. On her wedding day, Shelly spends some time reminiscing about her hen party. Although it's a little predictable, the fact that it has great characters and some laugh out loud moments, more than makes up for it. It also shows the importance of friends and family. This is quite an addictive and easy book to read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #TracyBloom for my ARC of #TheWeekendBeforeTheWedding in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2022
The majority of this story is set twenty years prior when Shelley, her best friend and certain members of her family go to Spain for her hen do. Being tall like Shelley, I related to to her straight away. It actually had me laughing as it reminded me how on nights out, I was the same as Shelley where the good looking guy would go for my friend and then you got left with their mate who was much smaller and trying to make small talk. Thank goodness my dating days are well and truly behind me 😀
This really was such a fun read. As great as family can be sometimes, you can always guarantee some squabbles and falling out and Shelley’s family is no different. I think what made it funnier is due to the age differences, as there is a big range of ages within the party, most have different ideas of what they want to do on this weekend. Some want early nights and doing some sightseeing where as others want to go drinking and partying all night. I certainly won’t be able to get this group of women out of my head every time a Spice Girls song comes on that’s for sure!
The Weekend Before the Wedding was a highly entertaining, laugh out loud read that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. It’s a story about the ties and bonds between family and also of rediscovering yourself. I loved this group of women who were all different personality wise and joining them for the highs and lows of the hen party. A light hearted, uplifting read that is a must for your holiday reading list!
My thanks to Random Things Tours for the invite to be part of the blog tour. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
This really was such a fun read. As great as family can be sometimes, you can always guarantee some squabbles and falling out and Shelley’s family is no different. I think what made it funnier is due to the age differences, as there is a big range of ages within the party, most have different ideas of what they want to do on this weekend. Some want early nights and doing some sightseeing where as others want to go drinking and partying all night. I certainly won’t be able to get this group of women out of my head every time a Spice Girls song comes on that’s for sure!
The Weekend Before the Wedding was a highly entertaining, laugh out loud read that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. It’s a story about the ties and bonds between family and also of rediscovering yourself. I loved this group of women who were all different personality wise and joining them for the highs and lows of the hen party. A light hearted, uplifting read that is a must for your holiday reading list!
My thanks to Random Things Tours for the invite to be part of the blog tour. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
September 11, 2022
Shelley will shortly be marrying a man she met at someone else's wedding 20 years ago when she was 38yo. Back in May 1999, she was at the Priory Hall in Hampshire at the wedding of Claire, a teaching assistant and Hugo William Gifford. Shelley is a teacher and she meets the groom's cousin and an usher there, lurking amongst the fizzy wine and bread rolls.
What a rollercoaster of a hen weekend in Majorca! With funny, sad and unsettling moments and a superb, shining throng of characters each with their own issues, I raced through The Weekend Before the Wedding and did not foresee the end. Great and joyous, light-hearted escapism.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HarperCollins via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
What a rollercoaster of a hen weekend in Majorca! With funny, sad and unsettling moments and a superb, shining throng of characters each with their own issues, I raced through The Weekend Before the Wedding and did not foresee the end. Great and joyous, light-hearted escapism.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HarperCollins via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
July 28, 2022
I have always enjoyed Tracy Bloom's books, so was thrilled to be able to read this soon-to-be-released new book of hers.
Shelley is getting ready for her wedding. A wedding that happens around twenty years after that fated weekend, that was meant to be her Hen weekend, to mark the occasion of her going from singledom to wife.
The Weekend Before the Wedding is a story about several women, not just Shelley, the main focus, obviously, but also about her mother and aunt, her cousin Rosalind and daughter, and Shelley's best friend.
They all end up on this hen weekend. Not quite the guest list Shelley was hoping for, but the antics and fallouts over those few days impact more than just Shelley's impending nuptials.
A good read, with some giggles and also some touching moments.
Many thanks to NetGalley and, Harper Collins UK, Harper Collins Fiction for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Shelley is getting ready for her wedding. A wedding that happens around twenty years after that fated weekend, that was meant to be her Hen weekend, to mark the occasion of her going from singledom to wife.
The Weekend Before the Wedding is a story about several women, not just Shelley, the main focus, obviously, but also about her mother and aunt, her cousin Rosalind and daughter, and Shelley's best friend.
They all end up on this hen weekend. Not quite the guest list Shelley was hoping for, but the antics and fallouts over those few days impact more than just Shelley's impending nuptials.
A good read, with some giggles and also some touching moments.
Many thanks to NetGalley and, Harper Collins UK, Harper Collins Fiction for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2022
A funny light hearted read based around Shelley’s hen party from 20 years previously and her now imminent wedding!
Shelley hasn’t been the most fortunate in love to date, so seizes the opportunity to marry a good looking rich suitor before she gets left on the shelf!
The hen weekend comprises an eclectic mix of Shelley her best friend, mother,cousin and cousins teenage daughter!such a multigenerational gathering! A real mix of characters and personalities based at her Aunts villa in Spain ! The hen weekend doesn’t exactly follow traditional themes especially when there is suspicion that her fiancée may be cheating on her, so the hen party decide to take matters into their own hands and investigate, with varying success and many consequences!
Shelley has something difficult decisions to make re her fiancée but ably helped by her friends and family, all who have issues of their own especially Nancy who has been carrying a secret!
A good holiday read!
Thank you netgalley for this early read!
Shelley hasn’t been the most fortunate in love to date, so seizes the opportunity to marry a good looking rich suitor before she gets left on the shelf!
The hen weekend comprises an eclectic mix of Shelley her best friend, mother,cousin and cousins teenage daughter!such a multigenerational gathering! A real mix of characters and personalities based at her Aunts villa in Spain ! The hen weekend doesn’t exactly follow traditional themes especially when there is suspicion that her fiancée may be cheating on her, so the hen party decide to take matters into their own hands and investigate, with varying success and many consequences!
Shelley has something difficult decisions to make re her fiancée but ably helped by her friends and family, all who have issues of their own especially Nancy who has been carrying a secret!
A good holiday read!
Thank you netgalley for this early read!
January 22, 2025
I loved this book. Again, it’s not a typical chick lit book about 20 somethings, but about people older and sometimes wiser. I did guess the ending quite soon in but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of what happened. Like a lot of people, I loved Aunty Nancy particularly. I found Becca very annoying, she being intent on drowning her sorrows in a bid to forget she’s the world’s worst mother. And Chloe was a nightmare child, but it all worked out well in the end for everyone.
Really 9780008579449 eaudiobook
Really 9780008579449 eaudiobook
July 27, 2022
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this absolutely brilliant book
oh my word a book about a family going on a hen party somewhere in spain.... this is the most funniest poignant book anyone could read
there are many ups and downs on this adventure that the ladies have. there are plenty of one liners that make you laugh out loud and there are times when its nice to reflect
this one keeps you reading and engaged with each character and you begin to realise that they sound like your own family and maybe the hen party from hell will still be laughed at for years to come....
highly recommend this book to everyone, the author keeps you engaged at all times
oh my word a book about a family going on a hen party somewhere in spain.... this is the most funniest poignant book anyone could read
there are many ups and downs on this adventure that the ladies have. there are plenty of one liners that make you laugh out loud and there are times when its nice to reflect
this one keeps you reading and engaged with each character and you begin to realise that they sound like your own family and maybe the hen party from hell will still be laughed at for years to come....
highly recommend this book to everyone, the author keeps you engaged at all times
July 29, 2022
Shelley is getting married. As she prepares for the ceremony she reflects back twenty years to when her wedding should have first taken place. Her mind drifts back to her hen weekend in Spain. She recalls the motley crew, her mother, her cousin and her daughter and her best friend who accompanied her to her aunt's Spanish villa and all that happened.
This is an entertaining read full of laughter and wit. It's about the choices Shelley makes, her relationships with those close to her and how they alter. The characters are really amusing and totally believable. As you follow their escapades you see them all change in some way. This is a perfect, light, summer read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is an entertaining read full of laughter and wit. It's about the choices Shelley makes, her relationships with those close to her and how they alter. The characters are really amusing and totally believable. As you follow their escapades you see them all change in some way. This is a perfect, light, summer read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2022
The entertaining novel is principally from Shelley‘s point of view and is mainly set twenty years ago around her hen do in Majorca. It’s a make-you-smile lighthearted read with really likeable characters.
There are some really amusing situations at this very untypical hen-do though there is an appearance by the ‘Spice Girls, there’s some karaoke, a foam party and an arrest!
It’s fun escapist reading. Pack this book along with your bikini/swimsuit and take it to the beach, it’s perfect in the sun novel. Some hearty chuckles and laugh-out-loud moments
This is a novel about being true to yourself, making the best of your life and not relying on other people to make you happy. . I guessed the ending but that didn’t spoil it. The perfect antidote for the blues.
There are some really amusing situations at this very untypical hen-do though there is an appearance by the ‘Spice Girls, there’s some karaoke, a foam party and an arrest!
It’s fun escapist reading. Pack this book along with your bikini/swimsuit and take it to the beach, it’s perfect in the sun novel. Some hearty chuckles and laugh-out-loud moments
This is a novel about being true to yourself, making the best of your life and not relying on other people to make you happy. . I guessed the ending but that didn’t spoil it. The perfect antidote for the blues.
August 24, 2022
Audiobook
September 30, 2025
me encantó, una lectura muy fácil de leer, no me aburrió en ningún momento; es narrado en 3era persona por lo que el narrador te va da feedback de cada personaje, lo que hizo más amena la lectura, lo recomiendo 💛
July 31, 2022
Actual rating 4.5 stars
Perfect poolside reading. That’s what I think of The Weekend Before The Wedding. And I mean that as a compliment. Inside the gorgeous cover you’ll find some wonderful characters all celebrating Shelley’s marriage which has been twenty years in the making! Moments away from taking her vows Shelley is reminiscing about the day in May 1999 when she met her future husband, both of them guests at a wedding being held at Priory Hall, Hampshire. Still single at 38, Shelley is convinced she’ll never be a bride herself when Colin literally stumbles his way into her life, the pair chatting nineteen to the dozen as they consume their bodyweight in bread rolls! The mainstay of this hilarious and heartwarming novel is Shelley’s hen weekend, a few days spent soaking up the Spanish sun as well as hangover inducing amounts of alcohol. It’s an eventful weekend to say the least, memorable for all the wrong reasons! I’m sure the majority of those reading this will have images of the film Four Weddings flashing through their minds which may then quickly morph into images from the tv show Benidorm. What a combination! At least those were the vibes I was getting! The storyline sparkles with silliness, fizzes with mischief and bubbles over with loveliness. All in all it is a glorious giggle!
The storyline may be cheesy and predictable but who cares when you’re in the company of such fabulous characters?? Tracy Bloom triumphs with this cast who shine so bright that in my opinion they tend to overshadow Shelley who just wants to please everyone as well as get down that aisle pronto before the groom has a change of heart.The group dynamic is absolutely delightful as young and old bicker over what constitutes typical hen weekend entertainment. When you can visualise each individual character then you know the author has done a stellar job in breathing life into these figments of her imagination. The oh so sensible Peggy, Shelley’s mum, is the complete opposite of her older sister Nancy who with her mobility scooter (almost a character in its own right) is simply PRICELESS! Despite her age, this geriatric gal just wants to have fun and by golly she steals the show hands down. No contest. I bloomin loved this woman. But I also enjoyed the dynamic between Shelley’s cousin Rosalind and her 18 year old daughter Chloe who are forever at loggerheads whilst the bride to be’s best friend Becca is intent on drowning her sorrows in a bid to forget she’s the world’s worst mother. A real mish mash of personalities but somehow they fit together perfectly, providing Shelley with a weird but wonderful family of loyal supporters.
The dialogue between the hens is full of good hearted banter, a few cruel and nasty jibes, some words of wisdom and a copious amount of love. There are, naturally, several stand out scenes that are off the scale hilarious. You’ll be left with visions of the Spice Girls as you’ve never seen them before!! There’s a great deal of singing, a whole lot of cocktail drinking, a fair bit of gyrating and a modicum of meddling and manipulation, not to mention a run in with the law. It’s always the quiet ones you need to watch but I blame the booze for that particular incident!
I loved every minute of this book. It’s just so joyful. This novel is pure sunshine. It made me smile, it made me laugh, it made me happy and it left me with a warm contented glow. As someone who hasn’t been abroad for a number of years it even made me want to go on holiday! For great summer escapist reading The Weekend Before The Wedding is hard to beat. Highly recommend.
My thanks as always to the publisher HarperCollins and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
Perfect poolside reading. That’s what I think of The Weekend Before The Wedding. And I mean that as a compliment. Inside the gorgeous cover you’ll find some wonderful characters all celebrating Shelley’s marriage which has been twenty years in the making! Moments away from taking her vows Shelley is reminiscing about the day in May 1999 when she met her future husband, both of them guests at a wedding being held at Priory Hall, Hampshire. Still single at 38, Shelley is convinced she’ll never be a bride herself when Colin literally stumbles his way into her life, the pair chatting nineteen to the dozen as they consume their bodyweight in bread rolls! The mainstay of this hilarious and heartwarming novel is Shelley’s hen weekend, a few days spent soaking up the Spanish sun as well as hangover inducing amounts of alcohol. It’s an eventful weekend to say the least, memorable for all the wrong reasons! I’m sure the majority of those reading this will have images of the film Four Weddings flashing through their minds which may then quickly morph into images from the tv show Benidorm. What a combination! At least those were the vibes I was getting! The storyline sparkles with silliness, fizzes with mischief and bubbles over with loveliness. All in all it is a glorious giggle!
The storyline may be cheesy and predictable but who cares when you’re in the company of such fabulous characters?? Tracy Bloom triumphs with this cast who shine so bright that in my opinion they tend to overshadow Shelley who just wants to please everyone as well as get down that aisle pronto before the groom has a change of heart.The group dynamic is absolutely delightful as young and old bicker over what constitutes typical hen weekend entertainment. When you can visualise each individual character then you know the author has done a stellar job in breathing life into these figments of her imagination. The oh so sensible Peggy, Shelley’s mum, is the complete opposite of her older sister Nancy who with her mobility scooter (almost a character in its own right) is simply PRICELESS! Despite her age, this geriatric gal just wants to have fun and by golly she steals the show hands down. No contest. I bloomin loved this woman. But I also enjoyed the dynamic between Shelley’s cousin Rosalind and her 18 year old daughter Chloe who are forever at loggerheads whilst the bride to be’s best friend Becca is intent on drowning her sorrows in a bid to forget she’s the world’s worst mother. A real mish mash of personalities but somehow they fit together perfectly, providing Shelley with a weird but wonderful family of loyal supporters.
The dialogue between the hens is full of good hearted banter, a few cruel and nasty jibes, some words of wisdom and a copious amount of love. There are, naturally, several stand out scenes that are off the scale hilarious. You’ll be left with visions of the Spice Girls as you’ve never seen them before!! There’s a great deal of singing, a whole lot of cocktail drinking, a fair bit of gyrating and a modicum of meddling and manipulation, not to mention a run in with the law. It’s always the quiet ones you need to watch but I blame the booze for that particular incident!
I loved every minute of this book. It’s just so joyful. This novel is pure sunshine. It made me smile, it made me laugh, it made me happy and it left me with a warm contented glow. As someone who hasn’t been abroad for a number of years it even made me want to go on holiday! For great summer escapist reading The Weekend Before The Wedding is hard to beat. Highly recommend.
My thanks as always to the publisher HarperCollins and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2022
This is a humorous, lighthearted book which also includes some poignant moments which makes for an enjoyable read.
Shelley is getting married and whilst preparing for the wedding with her family she reminisces about her hen party which was held 20 years earlier but is she marrying the same person?
The hen party takes place in Spain at her aunt’s villla and the guests are a motley assortment of family members and her best friend Becca.
All have their own issues- Becca is happy to get away from her baby twins for the weekend; Peggy, Shelly’s mother, is still mourning her late husband who died many years earlier; Cousin Rosalind and her teenage daughter Chloe do not get on and are constantly bickering and Aunt Nancy just wants everyone to have a good time.
Shelley met Colin at a colleague’s wedding and he seems extremely eligible- wealthy, handsome and kind. When he proposes on the millennium eve she says yes and then the wedding preparations begin.
The final weekend before the marriage is reserved for the Hen party and Colin suggests that her family meet his in Spain too as they have a business meeting to attend nearby.
However things do not get off to a good start. The women all have their own agendas and Shelley is just an afterthought throughout much of the weekend. When she receives a strange text she begins to have doubts about her future plans and egged on by her family she tries to get to the bottom of what is happening.
I loved all the characters in this book, particularly Shelley who has had a difficult life with a mother who seems to be so mired in grief that she has little time for her daughter. There is one particular scene when the group go out on the town in fancy dress which had me laughing out loud! Becca is a caring friend but she has her own problems trying to be a good mother to her babies and her feelings of inadequacy pervade her life, even on holiday in Spain.
The main questions of the novel are who is the bridegroom in the present day and why did he wedding get called off 20 years previously?
This was an enjoyable and fun read which also managed to examine some major life issues such as grief, motherhood and family relationships.
I skipped through it in the course of day and it definitely gave me a feel good factor when I got to the end.
I’ve not read any other books by Tracy Bloom but I shall definitely look out for them in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for my advance copy.
Shelley is getting married and whilst preparing for the wedding with her family she reminisces about her hen party which was held 20 years earlier but is she marrying the same person?
The hen party takes place in Spain at her aunt’s villla and the guests are a motley assortment of family members and her best friend Becca.
All have their own issues- Becca is happy to get away from her baby twins for the weekend; Peggy, Shelly’s mother, is still mourning her late husband who died many years earlier; Cousin Rosalind and her teenage daughter Chloe do not get on and are constantly bickering and Aunt Nancy just wants everyone to have a good time.
Shelley met Colin at a colleague’s wedding and he seems extremely eligible- wealthy, handsome and kind. When he proposes on the millennium eve she says yes and then the wedding preparations begin.
The final weekend before the marriage is reserved for the Hen party and Colin suggests that her family meet his in Spain too as they have a business meeting to attend nearby.
However things do not get off to a good start. The women all have their own agendas and Shelley is just an afterthought throughout much of the weekend. When she receives a strange text she begins to have doubts about her future plans and egged on by her family she tries to get to the bottom of what is happening.
I loved all the characters in this book, particularly Shelley who has had a difficult life with a mother who seems to be so mired in grief that she has little time for her daughter. There is one particular scene when the group go out on the town in fancy dress which had me laughing out loud! Becca is a caring friend but she has her own problems trying to be a good mother to her babies and her feelings of inadequacy pervade her life, even on holiday in Spain.
The main questions of the novel are who is the bridegroom in the present day and why did he wedding get called off 20 years previously?
This was an enjoyable and fun read which also managed to examine some major life issues such as grief, motherhood and family relationships.
I skipped through it in the course of day and it definitely gave me a feel good factor when I got to the end.
I’ve not read any other books by Tracy Bloom but I shall definitely look out for them in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for my advance copy.
August 2, 2022
“Her long awaited wedding day. ‘And who are you wearing?’ she said into her bouquet, as if she were being interviewed on the red carpet. ‘Today I’m wearing “happy”,’ she replied to the mirror. ‘It’s my favourite designer.’”
My thanks to HarperCollins Fiction for an invitation via NetGalley to read ‘The Weekend Before the Wedding’ by Tracy Bloom.
While I only read the occasional romantic comedy, Tracy Bloom is an author that I find is always on point and her latest continued the trend.
A few mentions of ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ in the opening chapters set the mood for this entertaining novel. It featured an ensemble cast of characters, plenty of comic situations, posh locations, and even a Hugh Grant-like suitor.
It opens in the present day as Shelley is looking at herself in her bridal gown and wonders if she would be feeling so happy if she had got married when she was first supposed to have, nearly twenty years ago. Flashback to 1999 when she attends the wedding of a friend and meets Colin, described as ‘good looking in a fashionable floppy-haired, Hugh Grant kind of way’.
A year later and Shelley is about to embark on a three day hen weekend in Spain. As most of her friends have politely declined, she ends up with a B-list described by the publishers as ‘Golden Girls-meets-the-Spice Girls’.
Aside from her best friend, Becca, there is her mum, Peggy, her cousin, Rosalind, who has her rebellious teenage daughter, Chloe, in tow. They have been invited by her eccentric Aunt Nancy to stay at her villa in Majorca. So something of a family hen party.
Things are chaotic from the start and the antics, especially of Peggy and Nancy, the older members of the group, were laugh out loud funny. Then Shelley receives an anonymous text that casts doubt on her wedding. No spoilers!
‘The Weekend Before the Wedding’ was entertaining and a perfect light summer read with plenty of nostalgia for the heady days of the new millennium.
My thanks to HarperCollins Fiction for an invitation via NetGalley to read ‘The Weekend Before the Wedding’ by Tracy Bloom.
While I only read the occasional romantic comedy, Tracy Bloom is an author that I find is always on point and her latest continued the trend.
A few mentions of ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ in the opening chapters set the mood for this entertaining novel. It featured an ensemble cast of characters, plenty of comic situations, posh locations, and even a Hugh Grant-like suitor.
It opens in the present day as Shelley is looking at herself in her bridal gown and wonders if she would be feeling so happy if she had got married when she was first supposed to have, nearly twenty years ago. Flashback to 1999 when she attends the wedding of a friend and meets Colin, described as ‘good looking in a fashionable floppy-haired, Hugh Grant kind of way’.
A year later and Shelley is about to embark on a three day hen weekend in Spain. As most of her friends have politely declined, she ends up with a B-list described by the publishers as ‘Golden Girls-meets-the-Spice Girls’.
Aside from her best friend, Becca, there is her mum, Peggy, her cousin, Rosalind, who has her rebellious teenage daughter, Chloe, in tow. They have been invited by her eccentric Aunt Nancy to stay at her villa in Majorca. So something of a family hen party.
Things are chaotic from the start and the antics, especially of Peggy and Nancy, the older members of the group, were laugh out loud funny. Then Shelley receives an anonymous text that casts doubt on her wedding. No spoilers!
‘The Weekend Before the Wedding’ was entertaining and a perfect light summer read with plenty of nostalgia for the heady days of the new millennium.
August 2, 2022
I loved this book, I thought it was hilarious and it reminded me of Benidorm, the TV comedy but with mainly women characters. A bit like Benidorm, it’s the family dynamics that makes this book so funny, a multi-generational group of women who are related as well, come together for a hen weekend in Spain, staying at Shelley’s auntie Nancy’s Spanish villa.
The story starts out in the present, getting ready for a wedding that should have happened 20 years ago. And it’s thinking about that fateful hen party that takes the reader back to that time to tell the story of why it all went so horribly wrong.
Shelley is marrying Colin who she met at a wedding. One of the many weddings Shelley has attended over the years, and this time it’s her turn. But Shelley can’t help having doubts. Colin comes from a well off family and Shelley worries sometimes that maybe she’s not good enough.
So the hen party consists of Nancy, auntie of Shelley and sister to Shelley’s mum Peggy. Peggy and Nancy have become somewhat estranged over the years and the antagonism Peggy feels towards her sister plays out most of the way through the weekend. There’s Nancy’s daughter Rosalind, cousin of Shelley and mum to teenage daughter Chloe. There is friction again between both Rosalind and her mum and Rosalind and her daughter. Caught in the middle of it all and just wanting a good time and a break away from her twin babies is Shelley’s best friend Becca. Becca just wants them all to have a good time, especially Shelley since it’s her hen-do.
It’s a funny book, full of hen party type situations, misunderstandings, rows and general conflicts. I thought it was very realistic, when you put a bunch of women together who don’t necessarily see eye to eye on what a good time actually is, it’s a recipe for disaster and I thought it was a wonderful observation by the author of family friction and what happens when people don’t talk to each other. Brilliant, a definite 5 star read I thought.
The story starts out in the present, getting ready for a wedding that should have happened 20 years ago. And it’s thinking about that fateful hen party that takes the reader back to that time to tell the story of why it all went so horribly wrong.
Shelley is marrying Colin who she met at a wedding. One of the many weddings Shelley has attended over the years, and this time it’s her turn. But Shelley can’t help having doubts. Colin comes from a well off family and Shelley worries sometimes that maybe she’s not good enough.
So the hen party consists of Nancy, auntie of Shelley and sister to Shelley’s mum Peggy. Peggy and Nancy have become somewhat estranged over the years and the antagonism Peggy feels towards her sister plays out most of the way through the weekend. There’s Nancy’s daughter Rosalind, cousin of Shelley and mum to teenage daughter Chloe. There is friction again between both Rosalind and her mum and Rosalind and her daughter. Caught in the middle of it all and just wanting a good time and a break away from her twin babies is Shelley’s best friend Becca. Becca just wants them all to have a good time, especially Shelley since it’s her hen-do.
It’s a funny book, full of hen party type situations, misunderstandings, rows and general conflicts. I thought it was very realistic, when you put a bunch of women together who don’t necessarily see eye to eye on what a good time actually is, it’s a recipe for disaster and I thought it was a wonderful observation by the author of family friction and what happens when people don’t talk to each other. Brilliant, a definite 5 star read I thought.
August 16, 2022
When we meet Shelley she is getting ready to get married and she is recalling her very eventful hen weekend in Spain. Her ‘Hens’ weren’t who she thought would attend and consisted of her mother Peggy (who invited herself along), her best friend Becca, Rosalind her cousin, Rosalind’s 18 year old daughter Chloe and of course her Aunt Nancy (her mother’s sister) and their host in Spain. This is a hen weekend that will change each of their lives and that they will never forget.
I could tell from the outset that this was going to be a hen weekend that none of the characters would forget because things just started going wrong even at the airport before they’d even left the country. I don’t think it’s the hen weekend that Shelley was expecting or even hoping for and had she been given the chance I think she would have abandoned ship early on.
The narrative switches between past and present where in the past we see what happened during the hen weekend and in the present we see Shelley getting ready for her wedding. The storyline for me was very intriguing because this isn’t just a book about romance and about a wedding. It’s about so much more. It’s about relationships. Relationships between partners, relationships between friends, relationships between sisters, relationships between mother and daughter and how communication is the key point to making those relationships successful.
One thing that I noticed from the beginning was that Shelly is quite insecure and she refers to this herself further on in the book. It shows when she talks about how she can’t believe she’s found someone as handsome, charming and rich as her fiancée and she doesn’t seem to think that she’s worthy of him. At the same time she’s also got quite a strange relationship with Peggy especially as Peggy has a habit of making little digs or comments to Shelley which even if they are inadvertent it plays a big part in Shelley feeling insecure. Becca is using the hen weekend to let loose and break free because after she got married and had her twin sons she lost her identity and is using the holiday as a chance to seize it back. Rosalind and Chloe’s relationship is under quite a lot of strain. Rosalind wants what’s best for her daughter Chloe but Chloe sees her mother’s actions as dictatorial so she rebels against everything her mother says. Peggy and Nancy became estranged after the death of their sister when they were young. This tore them apart and created distance between them because when Nancy ran away from the situation Peggy was left to carry the burden alone.
The ending was very cleverly written. I was really pleased with the ending because it ended the way I wanted and there was closure for all of the characters!
I could tell from the outset that this was going to be a hen weekend that none of the characters would forget because things just started going wrong even at the airport before they’d even left the country. I don’t think it’s the hen weekend that Shelley was expecting or even hoping for and had she been given the chance I think she would have abandoned ship early on.
The narrative switches between past and present where in the past we see what happened during the hen weekend and in the present we see Shelley getting ready for her wedding. The storyline for me was very intriguing because this isn’t just a book about romance and about a wedding. It’s about so much more. It’s about relationships. Relationships between partners, relationships between friends, relationships between sisters, relationships between mother and daughter and how communication is the key point to making those relationships successful.
One thing that I noticed from the beginning was that Shelly is quite insecure and she refers to this herself further on in the book. It shows when she talks about how she can’t believe she’s found someone as handsome, charming and rich as her fiancée and she doesn’t seem to think that she’s worthy of him. At the same time she’s also got quite a strange relationship with Peggy especially as Peggy has a habit of making little digs or comments to Shelley which even if they are inadvertent it plays a big part in Shelley feeling insecure. Becca is using the hen weekend to let loose and break free because after she got married and had her twin sons she lost her identity and is using the holiday as a chance to seize it back. Rosalind and Chloe’s relationship is under quite a lot of strain. Rosalind wants what’s best for her daughter Chloe but Chloe sees her mother’s actions as dictatorial so she rebels against everything her mother says. Peggy and Nancy became estranged after the death of their sister when they were young. This tore them apart and created distance between them because when Nancy ran away from the situation Peggy was left to carry the burden alone.
The ending was very cleverly written. I was really pleased with the ending because it ended the way I wanted and there was closure for all of the characters!
August 21, 2022
The big day had arrived and all is as mad as it should be in the lead up to the ceremony the brides getting ready running late and well a few tears repairs to the make up. That kind of stuff.
But this has been one of the longest build ups ever one major well no I wont spoil it! So 18 year ago at the original hen party things were not as carefree as you'd want for a hen weekend in Spain. The groom was in Spain as on the final evening he was to meet Shelleys extended family. So there is Becca the best Friend obviously her Mum? And Mums sister they are staying at her place, Shelleys cousin with her daughter. Yep mixed aged and well families lets just say you can choose your friends. So there is a lot of humour that's fun to witness in the fictional world but would be a nightmare to have lived through.
There are some wacky characters like a lot of families have the teenager is lots of fun her. Mum and Shelleys Mum well they do their best but you're going to be glad they aren't yours, if you're is similar I'm sorry. It's a great read lots of fun laughout loud moments and an escape to someone else's pain. Shelley the heroine is fantastic you will feel for her, shes escaped her twin boys left with her husband. For the weekend,. The back stories are great and lead to even more fun. So 5 stars for helping me escape life for a while, and have a laugh.
But this has been one of the longest build ups ever one major well no I wont spoil it! So 18 year ago at the original hen party things were not as carefree as you'd want for a hen weekend in Spain. The groom was in Spain as on the final evening he was to meet Shelleys extended family. So there is Becca the best Friend obviously her Mum? And Mums sister they are staying at her place, Shelleys cousin with her daughter. Yep mixed aged and well families lets just say you can choose your friends. So there is a lot of humour that's fun to witness in the fictional world but would be a nightmare to have lived through.
There are some wacky characters like a lot of families have the teenager is lots of fun her. Mum and Shelleys Mum well they do their best but you're going to be glad they aren't yours, if you're is similar I'm sorry. It's a great read lots of fun laughout loud moments and an escape to someone else's pain. Shelley the heroine is fantastic you will feel for her, shes escaped her twin boys left with her husband. For the weekend,. The back stories are great and lead to even more fun. So 5 stars for helping me escape life for a while, and have a laugh.
August 8, 2022
Thank you to Anne Cater (and Tracy Fenton) from Random Things Tours and Harper Collins for the invitation to join the blog tour, and a digital copy of the book to read and review. I discovered Tracy Bloom’s books last year and you can read my previous review at https://mentoringmumof2bookreviews.ho...
I loved the way Tracy used humour to tackle important topics facing women in The Wife Who Got A Life last year, and I’m pleased that The Weekend Before The Wedding does so too.
Life is difficult for many of us at the moment with worries about pandemics, wars and being able to afford to heat our homes over the winter. I’m not suggesting that this book can solve those issues, but it can definitely take you away from the harsh reality of life to meet Shelley.
Shelley is getting married at the start of the book, approximately twenty years since her hen do – so what happened on the hen do? As the story evolves, we learn more about Shelley, her best friend, her mum, her aunt, her cousin and her cousin’s teenage daughter. They have a wide mix of age, experience and tastes. The hen do weekend involves lots of miscommunication, misunderstandings, alcohol and karaoke. But then the women start to open up to each other about life challenges – can they help each other out?
Thrown into the mix is a text to Shelley advising her that maybe her husband to be isn’t the man she thought. I thoroughly enjoyed my virtual visit to Spain and wish I could have been sat reading this by a pool in Spain, sipping a cocktail (although I would probably have received dirty looks for disturbing the peace when laughing out loud during the story). I’m happy to recommend this fabulous book by Tracy Bloom for readers looking to escape from everyday life with a book to make them smile/laugh and occasionally groan/cry.
I loved the way Tracy used humour to tackle important topics facing women in The Wife Who Got A Life last year, and I’m pleased that The Weekend Before The Wedding does so too.
Life is difficult for many of us at the moment with worries about pandemics, wars and being able to afford to heat our homes over the winter. I’m not suggesting that this book can solve those issues, but it can definitely take you away from the harsh reality of life to meet Shelley.
Shelley is getting married at the start of the book, approximately twenty years since her hen do – so what happened on the hen do? As the story evolves, we learn more about Shelley, her best friend, her mum, her aunt, her cousin and her cousin’s teenage daughter. They have a wide mix of age, experience and tastes. The hen do weekend involves lots of miscommunication, misunderstandings, alcohol and karaoke. But then the women start to open up to each other about life challenges – can they help each other out?
Thrown into the mix is a text to Shelley advising her that maybe her husband to be isn’t the man she thought. I thoroughly enjoyed my virtual visit to Spain and wish I could have been sat reading this by a pool in Spain, sipping a cocktail (although I would probably have received dirty looks for disturbing the peace when laughing out loud during the story). I’m happy to recommend this fabulous book by Tracy Bloom for readers looking to escape from everyday life with a book to make them smile/laugh and occasionally groan/cry.
August 24, 2022
The Weekend Before The Wedding by Tracy Bloom
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
One weekend, one bride-to-be, what could possibly go wrong…
All Shelley wanted on her hen weekend was to enjoy three days of sun, sea and sangria. But instead of being surrounded by the A-team of her closest friends, she somehow ends up with a Golden Girls-meets-the-Spice Girls B-list that includes her mother, a rebellious teenager, and a best mate ‘on the verge’.
The squabbling starts at the airport, and on arrival in Spain, Shelley barely has time to unpack her suitcase before getting an unwanted text - one that throws her wedding into doubt.
Shelley has got a BIG decision to make, but her unruly medley of nearest and dearest seem determined to confuse matters with their own problems.
My Opinion
I wasn't sure what to expect when I went into this book. This is an entertaining read when the girls get themselves into some highly amusing situations. In places the story is predictable, but all of it adds to the fun read that Tracy Bloom has created. With a lovely cover, this will make for a great summer read.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
One weekend, one bride-to-be, what could possibly go wrong…
All Shelley wanted on her hen weekend was to enjoy three days of sun, sea and sangria. But instead of being surrounded by the A-team of her closest friends, she somehow ends up with a Golden Girls-meets-the-Spice Girls B-list that includes her mother, a rebellious teenager, and a best mate ‘on the verge’.
The squabbling starts at the airport, and on arrival in Spain, Shelley barely has time to unpack her suitcase before getting an unwanted text - one that throws her wedding into doubt.
Shelley has got a BIG decision to make, but her unruly medley of nearest and dearest seem determined to confuse matters with their own problems.
My Opinion
I wasn't sure what to expect when I went into this book. This is an entertaining read when the girls get themselves into some highly amusing situations. In places the story is predictable, but all of it adds to the fun read that Tracy Bloom has created. With a lovely cover, this will make for a great summer read.
Rating 4/5
August 6, 2023
It's not often that a hen weekend occurs 20 years before the actual wedding but in Shelley's case that is how it turns out.
We meet Shelley first in the present day, not long before her wedding ceremony is at long last due to start.
From there we are treated to reminisces of Shelley's younger years, leading up to and including the hen weekend to Mallorca, which i think changed the course of everyone's lives.
It's not the most regular bunch of hens, from an 18 year old "third cousin", to her aunty Nancy who she doesn't know that well, but how has agreed to host various family members for the weekend.
It's not the regular groups you getting going to Palma or Magaluf, that's for sure. But that just adds to the hilarity of some of the images conjured up
For me reading this by a pool in Mallorca, getting to the bit where the ladies are dressed as the Spice Girls, and then hearing "Spice Up Your Life" being played poolside, made the book even more immersive for me.
This was funny, it was touching in places, it was life changing but above all this is one incredibly fun read that I adored.
Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
We meet Shelley first in the present day, not long before her wedding ceremony is at long last due to start.
From there we are treated to reminisces of Shelley's younger years, leading up to and including the hen weekend to Mallorca, which i think changed the course of everyone's lives.
It's not the most regular bunch of hens, from an 18 year old "third cousin", to her aunty Nancy who she doesn't know that well, but how has agreed to host various family members for the weekend.
It's not the regular groups you getting going to Palma or Magaluf, that's for sure. But that just adds to the hilarity of some of the images conjured up
For me reading this by a pool in Mallorca, getting to the bit where the ladies are dressed as the Spice Girls, and then hearing "Spice Up Your Life" being played poolside, made the book even more immersive for me.
This was funny, it was touching in places, it was life changing but above all this is one incredibly fun read that I adored.
Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
March 9, 2023
This was a very enjoyable read, and a new author to me ( #2 of 23 for 23 )
An amusing light hearted read.
When we first meet Shelley, she is about to get married, twenty years after her hen party.
The hen party is actually the core part of this story, Shelley and a mix of family and her best friend, are spending three days in Spain, hoping for sun, sea and sangria, but with her mum, a rebellious teenager and her best mate ' on the verge ' it really could go any which way, and it inevitably does.
Mid way through proceedings an unwanted text message throws the wedding into doubt, and Shelley has to make a big decision, and it's up to her unruly bunch of hens, to help her get through the most important weekend of her life.
This book isn't just about a hen weekend in the sun though, each character changes throughout the weekend, as they slowly realise where they are currently in their lives, as they work out what they actually want out of life, or don't want as the case may be, and it was lovely watching each character grow.
All in all a great read and I would certainly read more from this author.
An amusing light hearted read.
When we first meet Shelley, she is about to get married, twenty years after her hen party.
The hen party is actually the core part of this story, Shelley and a mix of family and her best friend, are spending three days in Spain, hoping for sun, sea and sangria, but with her mum, a rebellious teenager and her best mate ' on the verge ' it really could go any which way, and it inevitably does.
Mid way through proceedings an unwanted text message throws the wedding into doubt, and Shelley has to make a big decision, and it's up to her unruly bunch of hens, to help her get through the most important weekend of her life.
This book isn't just about a hen weekend in the sun though, each character changes throughout the weekend, as they slowly realise where they are currently in their lives, as they work out what they actually want out of life, or don't want as the case may be, and it was lovely watching each character grow.
All in all a great read and I would certainly read more from this author.
July 3, 2022
I'm slightly disappointed with this new release from Tracy Bloom, it didn't feel like this author's book at all. I missed quirky and strong heroine, bad language and hilarious situations. Here I've got meh- characters, predictable situations, story crossing all the book - important things off the list, mediocre dialogues and only few hilarious situations. There was not this wow - effect that I was expecting, it didn't snatched me and I kept reading because I was all the time hoping SOMETHING BIG is going to happen.
Shelley was not a strong enough leading character, she has disappeared among the other characters, and there were so many of them, with their own sub - plots, that it was really impossible to see the main plot that was, I think, the wedding? All the things were leading to the wedding? The characters were too stereotyped for my liking and well, I did guess the twist very early on.
It's a real pity. I love Tracy Bloom and her books but this one didn't work for me. I missed this Bloom's hallmark - hilarious and sarcastic humour.
Shelley was not a strong enough leading character, she has disappeared among the other characters, and there were so many of them, with their own sub - plots, that it was really impossible to see the main plot that was, I think, the wedding? All the things were leading to the wedding? The characters were too stereotyped for my liking and well, I did guess the twist very early on.
It's a real pity. I love Tracy Bloom and her books but this one didn't work for me. I missed this Bloom's hallmark - hilarious and sarcastic humour.
August 25, 2022
*Audiobook***
When I chose this book I was thinking that it is a romance (based on the cover) and I was surprised how little romance there is (which is a good thing (after I finished I learned it was not a romance at all lol).
So this book tells a story of "old spinster" woman in her late 30s who lost her hope in finding husband and starting family. And one day on friend's wedding she meets man in her age, wealthy and handsome and they decide to date as there is nothing better to do and they felt pressure of having "someone".
The plot jumps between the date of the wedding of main character and the date she met mentioned guy and what led to the wedding. Basically 90% of the book take place in Spain where Shelley, her mom, her friend, her aunt and her"3rd cousin" were invited by sister of her mother. Not an ideal companionship for a hen party.
But this book is not about love, or maybe not mainly about it. It is a story of familyhood, bonds, loyalty and friendship.
Lovely book to read on the beach or during long rainy autumn days. It is warm and heartening but not very memorable or special, hence 4 stars.
PS. Standing ovation for Kristin Atherton who read the audiobook!
When I chose this book I was thinking that it is a romance (based on the cover) and I was surprised how little romance there is (which is a good thing (after I finished I learned it was not a romance at all lol).
So this book tells a story of "old spinster" woman in her late 30s who lost her hope in finding husband and starting family. And one day on friend's wedding she meets man in her age, wealthy and handsome and they decide to date as there is nothing better to do and they felt pressure of having "someone".
The plot jumps between the date of the wedding of main character and the date she met mentioned guy and what led to the wedding. Basically 90% of the book take place in Spain where Shelley, her mom, her friend, her aunt and her"3rd cousin" were invited by sister of her mother. Not an ideal companionship for a hen party.
But this book is not about love, or maybe not mainly about it. It is a story of familyhood, bonds, loyalty and friendship.
Lovely book to read on the beach or during long rainy autumn days. It is warm and heartening but not very memorable or special, hence 4 stars.
PS. Standing ovation for Kristin Atherton who read the audiobook!
July 28, 2022
Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for the ARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.
Don't read in public, you'll be laughing too much.
When given the chance to read Tracy Bloom's latest novel I jumped at the offer, her books are often thought provoking and filled with her sarcastic sense of humour.
The book opens as Shelley is dressing for her wedding while her mind wanders to her hen party in Spain nearly 20 years ago. She had planned to celebrate with her chosen friends, instead, after accepting the offer of her Aunt's villa in Mallorca, her companions became one overly stressed best friend and four relatives of wildly different ages and temperaments, each seeking entertainment that would suit themselves, 'tho no-one else. Before boarding the plane they start to argue, ending up barely talking to each other. Disasters follow.
Fast paced and hugely entertaining
Don't read in public, you'll be laughing too much.
When given the chance to read Tracy Bloom's latest novel I jumped at the offer, her books are often thought provoking and filled with her sarcastic sense of humour.
The book opens as Shelley is dressing for her wedding while her mind wanders to her hen party in Spain nearly 20 years ago. She had planned to celebrate with her chosen friends, instead, after accepting the offer of her Aunt's villa in Mallorca, her companions became one overly stressed best friend and four relatives of wildly different ages and temperaments, each seeking entertainment that would suit themselves, 'tho no-one else. Before boarding the plane they start to argue, ending up barely talking to each other. Disasters follow.
Fast paced and hugely entertaining
July 30, 2022
Shelley is getting ready for her wedding, and her thoughts take her back to her hen night - 20years earlier. She had hoped for her friends to be with her, but, at 39, she was the only one unmarried and childless. She ends up taking her mother, cousin, cousins daughter and her best friend with her to her aunt Nancy’s villa in Majorca. Not exactly the recipe for a typical hen weekend. Add to that, she thinks she’s punching above her weight being engaged to the very wealthy Colin.
This is a really nice, gentle read, about being true to yourself, making the best of your life and not relying on other people to make you happy. There are some lovely little moments (the Spice Girls I loved), some hearty chuckles and some laugh out louds. I guessed the ending but that didn’t spoil it. The perfect antidote for the blues.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This is a really nice, gentle read, about being true to yourself, making the best of your life and not relying on other people to make you happy. There are some lovely little moments (the Spice Girls I loved), some hearty chuckles and some laugh out louds. I guessed the ending but that didn’t spoil it. The perfect antidote for the blues.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 26, 2022
On Shelleys wedding day she spends time reminiscing on her hen weekend 20 years ago. She was hoping to spend the weekend in Spain with her closest friends instead she spent it with her mother, aunt, cousin, a rebellious teenager and a best friend whose close to a breakdown. When inevitable arguments ensue and an unwanted text is sent to her regarding her fiance she has big decisions to make. Will she make the right one?
This was very entertaining as are all of Tracy blooms books. Poor Shelley having to spend her hen weekend with the people she least wants to. But it makes it a very fun read. It also shows how each character changes and grows and becomes a better person. I'm so glad Shelley ended up marrying who she did. This kept me turning the pages and I didn't want it to end. I adore all of Tracy blooms work and I highly recommend.
This was very entertaining as are all of Tracy blooms books. Poor Shelley having to spend her hen weekend with the people she least wants to. But it makes it a very fun read. It also shows how each character changes and grows and becomes a better person. I'm so glad Shelley ended up marrying who she did. This kept me turning the pages and I didn't want it to end. I adore all of Tracy blooms work and I highly recommend.
May 29, 2022
Such a lovely book.
I loved how it was written in the past and present tense. It had me hooked upto the end such a great concept for a book. It was great to have such great female roles in the book. This book was ultimately about strength, family and female friendships.
Shelly is fed up of going to weddings. She attends and isn’t even given the luxury of bringing a plus one. She reluctantly attends the wedding of her teaching assistant.
She’s lumped on a table with Colin and they spar and hot it off. He’s the first man she is just herself and has no airs and graces around.
Her hen weekend is arranged in Spain and Colin and his family agree to meet her family and her to know each other.
Foam parties, spice girl karaoke and a mobility scooter ensure a riotous weekend is had.
This was a funny book.
Thankyou netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I loved how it was written in the past and present tense. It had me hooked upto the end such a great concept for a book. It was great to have such great female roles in the book. This book was ultimately about strength, family and female friendships.
Shelly is fed up of going to weddings. She attends and isn’t even given the luxury of bringing a plus one. She reluctantly attends the wedding of her teaching assistant.
She’s lumped on a table with Colin and they spar and hot it off. He’s the first man she is just herself and has no airs and graces around.
Her hen weekend is arranged in Spain and Colin and his family agree to meet her family and her to know each other.
Foam parties, spice girl karaoke and a mobility scooter ensure a riotous weekend is had.
This was a funny book.
Thankyou netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
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