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My Big Fake Wedding
The date is set. The guy is not.
When Bea Corbin enters a lottery to win her perfect wedding, she never imagines that her name will be picked right after she’s been cheated on, and unceremoniously dumped, by her ex-boyfriend. But when the event planner calls with the good news, Bea doesn’t say any of that. She panics and says yes.
Going against the advice of her oldest friend Oliver, Bea announces her marriage to her friends and family, and begins her hunt for a husband. Just because Oliver is an old-fashioned romantic doesn’t mean that Bea’s colour-coded binder filled with ways to find a fiancé won’t work.
As luck would have it, Bea soon has the most awkward, tequila-fuelled first kiss of all time with her gorgeous office crush, Andrew. But as Bea and Andrew’s relationship gets more serious at the exact moment her ex-boyfriend reappears declaring his undying love, things become more complicated than she could have imagined. Bea feels more lost than ever, especially because Oliver is no longer taking her calls, or answering her texts…
As the ceremony draws nearer, Bea discovers that the only thing more complicated than finding a husband on a deadline is finding the right one.
This hilarious, feel-good romance is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis, Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners, and Emily Henry’s Beach Read.
When Bea Corbin enters a lottery to win her perfect wedding, she never imagines that her name will be picked right after she’s been cheated on, and unceremoniously dumped, by her ex-boyfriend. But when the event planner calls with the good news, Bea doesn’t say any of that. She panics and says yes.
Going against the advice of her oldest friend Oliver, Bea announces her marriage to her friends and family, and begins her hunt for a husband. Just because Oliver is an old-fashioned romantic doesn’t mean that Bea’s colour-coded binder filled with ways to find a fiancé won’t work.
As luck would have it, Bea soon has the most awkward, tequila-fuelled first kiss of all time with her gorgeous office crush, Andrew. But as Bea and Andrew’s relationship gets more serious at the exact moment her ex-boyfriend reappears declaring his undying love, things become more complicated than she could have imagined. Bea feels more lost than ever, especially because Oliver is no longer taking her calls, or answering her texts…
As the ceremony draws nearer, Bea discovers that the only thing more complicated than finding a husband on a deadline is finding the right one.
This hilarious, feel-good romance is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis, Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners, and Emily Henry’s Beach Read.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2022
156 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Hatch
2 books22 followersJessica Hatch writes hilarious, heartfelt romantic comedies for the girls who grew up rooting for the main character's best friend. Her first novel, My Big Fake Wedding, debuted at #1 in Humorous American Fiction, and her second novel, How to Keep a Husband for Ten Days, is widely anticipated by an international readership.
She loves to develop quirky, high-concept scenarios and then drop her characters into them, escape room–style, to see what happens next. Her work spotlights characters and locales the reader can fall in love with, and aims to explore real-world issues that women and nonbinary people face.
(She also enjoys loafing around, largely ignoring her characters and binge-watching Netflix instead.)
Say hello at www.JessicaHatch.com and/or stay in touch via www.LeftRight.Substack.com.
She loves to develop quirky, high-concept scenarios and then drop her characters into them, escape room–style, to see what happens next. Her work spotlights characters and locales the reader can fall in love with, and aims to explore real-world issues that women and nonbinary people face.
(She also enjoys loafing around, largely ignoring her characters and binge-watching Netflix instead.)
Say hello at www.JessicaHatch.com and/or stay in touch via www.LeftRight.Substack.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
August 20, 2022
Bea Corbin was happily in a relationship when she enters to win a dream wedding. She never dreamed that her ex-boyfriend would end things. As life went on and she picks up the pieces, she gets a call that shocks her! She has one the dream wedding!! But she isn't getting married, and she isn't in a relationship, but she freaks out and fails to mention that to the wedding planner. Oops!
So now Bea has a dream wedding with no groom...What's a girl to do? Bea sets out to find a husband even against the advice of her best friend, Oliver. She finds someone- Andrew - now she must convince him!
While reading this, I saw it playing out as a rom-com movie in my mind. Bea is an interesting character. She has a wedding on her mind and drowns out all around her in her pursuit. She is a hard pill to swallow at times and yet, she grew on me. She wants something so badly that she can't see the forest for the trees. I thought the author did a very good job showing Bea's motivation and quest to have her dream wedding. As the wedding gets closer, things get more interesting and more dramatic.
It's all about the journey in romance books and as Hatch takes Bea on a romance journey, she also takes her on a journey where she evolves and grows by the end.
Thank you to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
So now Bea has a dream wedding with no groom...What's a girl to do? Bea sets out to find a husband even against the advice of her best friend, Oliver. She finds someone- Andrew - now she must convince him!
While reading this, I saw it playing out as a rom-com movie in my mind. Bea is an interesting character. She has a wedding on her mind and drowns out all around her in her pursuit. She is a hard pill to swallow at times and yet, she grew on me. She wants something so badly that she can't see the forest for the trees. I thought the author did a very good job showing Bea's motivation and quest to have her dream wedding. As the wedding gets closer, things get more interesting and more dramatic.
It's all about the journey in romance books and as Hatch takes Bea on a romance journey, she also takes her on a journey where she evolves and grows by the end.
Thank you to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
December 30, 2022
3.45⭐ rounded up.
Featuring ~ single 3rd person POV, fake dating~ish, no steamage
Bea received a call saying she has won a raffle for the wedding package she signed up for months ago when she was with Ray (what a tool he is). A $50,000 wedding package for only $2,000 ~ what a deal! The only problem is that she doesn't even have a boyfriend, but she can't help herself from accepting the June 22nd date. Now she only has 8 months to find someone to marry. Her best friends, Oliver and Lucy, think she's crazy.
She sets her sights on her co-worker, Andrew, to pursue. After he gets over the shock of her plan, he's on board. I never really felt they had a connection. Yeah, it seemed like they got along well enough, but I just wasn't feeling them together at all. I wasn't invested in the work project of the story either.
For most of the book Bea was kinda self absorbed and wasn't a very good friend sometimes. Although this makes her an unlikable character, it also makes her relatable as I'm sure we all worry about ourselves over others from time to time. I was happy with the wedding at the end. I did like how each chapter ended in a to do list too.
I am rounding up my rating because I know that the author put in a lot of effort to give us a somewhat original plot and not the usual fake dating trope. I, also, appreciate that she wrote a letter to the reader thanking us for taking the time to read it and explaining why she wrote it.
Narrated by Stephanie Cannon for 9 hours and 13 minutes, easy to follow at 2x. She did an alright job. Not overly in love with her male voices though.
Side note ~ what kind of food truck that uses peanut oil does not have signage to say so in this day and age?
I was fortunate enough to receive a kindle copy and the audiobook to review. I started out reading it, then switched to audio, then back again and ultimately my favorite was probably the e-book.
*Thanks to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio, Jessica Hatch and NetGalley for the ARC and advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ single 3rd person POV, fake dating~ish, no steamage
Bea received a call saying she has won a raffle for the wedding package she signed up for months ago when she was with Ray (what a tool he is). A $50,000 wedding package for only $2,000 ~ what a deal! The only problem is that she doesn't even have a boyfriend, but she can't help herself from accepting the June 22nd date. Now she only has 8 months to find someone to marry. Her best friends, Oliver and Lucy, think she's crazy.
She sets her sights on her co-worker, Andrew, to pursue. After he gets over the shock of her plan, he's on board. I never really felt they had a connection. Yeah, it seemed like they got along well enough, but I just wasn't feeling them together at all. I wasn't invested in the work project of the story either.
For most of the book Bea was kinda self absorbed and wasn't a very good friend sometimes. Although this makes her an unlikable character, it also makes her relatable as I'm sure we all worry about ourselves over others from time to time. I was happy with the wedding at the end. I did like how each chapter ended in a to do list too.
I am rounding up my rating because I know that the author put in a lot of effort to give us a somewhat original plot and not the usual fake dating trope. I, also, appreciate that she wrote a letter to the reader thanking us for taking the time to read it and explaining why she wrote it.
Narrated by Stephanie Cannon for 9 hours and 13 minutes, easy to follow at 2x. She did an alright job. Not overly in love with her male voices though.
Side note ~ what kind of food truck that uses peanut oil does not have signage to say so in this day and age?
I was fortunate enough to receive a kindle copy and the audiobook to review. I started out reading it, then switched to audio, then back again and ultimately my favorite was probably the e-book.
*Thanks to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio, Jessica Hatch and NetGalley for the ARC and advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
August 29, 2022
I've been sitting here for a solid 10 minutes trying to figure out how to put into words what I experienced while reading this book. I've read a lot of books in my day, good and bad. I've read books about dragons that marry humans, priest who have scandalous affairs with women they met during confession, and even one about a girl who falls for her step uncle and step cousins. But this book was by far the most ridiculous and cringy book I have ever read. (I also hate the word cringy but I couldn't think of any other word that summed up how I felt).
Now I hate to give bad reviews because I know the author put a lot of time and heart into this book, but I received the free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review so here goes nothing.
Bea, is driving to work one day when she finds out that she won a dream wedding contest she had applied for a year ago. The problem is the boyfriend she was with at the time she applied cheated on her and they are no longer dating. Bea decides to accept the dream wedding anyway and has 8 months to find a new fiancé.
Now if you're like me the premises of this book doesn't sound to bad right? Well unfortunately it was all downhill from there. Bea is one of the most unlikeable characters I have ever read. She is self centered and whiney and makes one horrible decision after another. And honestly I didn't really like any of the characters in the book.
Now I could have overlooked the bad dialogue and characters, but the scenes didn't really make sense either. I consider myself a remotely intelligent person..I have 2 bachelor degrees and am working on my doctorate, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the point of the company, GUM, they worked for was. They kept talking about this event that really seemed to have no purpose and there were so many scenes that were contradictory to previous scenes. It was too much really.
I haven't even gotten into Andrew yet, who is the man from Bea's office she decides she wants as her fiancé. He literally spends like 20 chapters being the perfect man to suddenly decide in one paragraph it was all too much for him and leaves....like why did I just read all that?
I also automatically deduct stars anytime a whole grown ass adult "sticks their tongue out" at someone or "blows a raspberry". And both of these events happened in this novel. I should have DNF'd it but I felt like I kept waiting for it to get better and sadly it never did. Also the use of the word "Shyeah", I thought at first it was a typo but then it appeared again..as in "Shyeah, I will." Why?
Now I hate to give bad reviews because I know the author put a lot of time and heart into this book, but I received the free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review so here goes nothing.
Bea, is driving to work one day when she finds out that she won a dream wedding contest she had applied for a year ago. The problem is the boyfriend she was with at the time she applied cheated on her and they are no longer dating. Bea decides to accept the dream wedding anyway and has 8 months to find a new fiancé.
Now if you're like me the premises of this book doesn't sound to bad right? Well unfortunately it was all downhill from there. Bea is one of the most unlikeable characters I have ever read. She is self centered and whiney and makes one horrible decision after another. And honestly I didn't really like any of the characters in the book.
Now I could have overlooked the bad dialogue and characters, but the scenes didn't really make sense either. I consider myself a remotely intelligent person..I have 2 bachelor degrees and am working on my doctorate, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the point of the company, GUM, they worked for was. They kept talking about this event that really seemed to have no purpose and there were so many scenes that were contradictory to previous scenes. It was too much really.
I haven't even gotten into Andrew yet, who is the man from Bea's office she decides she wants as her fiancé. He literally spends like 20 chapters being the perfect man to suddenly decide in one paragraph it was all too much for him and leaves....like why did I just read all that?
I also automatically deduct stars anytime a whole grown ass adult "sticks their tongue out" at someone or "blows a raspberry". And both of these events happened in this novel. I should have DNF'd it but I felt like I kept waiting for it to get better and sadly it never did. Also the use of the word "Shyeah", I thought at first it was a typo but then it appeared again..as in "Shyeah, I will." Why?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2022
I was really excited about this book because the premises is so original. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried I could not make myself like the main character. At all! She is very self-centered and too easily overwhelmed. I feel like the author does not understand what a busy work schedule looks like either.
There are so many ways this book could have redeemed itself. The bones are there, it just needs some structure love… And a few major changes of course. 😂
There are so many things I want to say, but they all involve spoilers. I will post a full review on Goodreads where I can block it out if you don’t want any surprises. If you just want the general basics of why this book is three stars, here ya go:
The main character is self-centered and has little to know redeeming qualities. Certain events that happen within the story should’ve happened in different places in the timeline and in a different manner. Would’ve made it more convincing. The ending is extremely flat.
Spoilers….
Please explain to me why I would enjoy reading a romance where the entire book centers around a completely different relationship? We know from the beginning Beatrice (Bae) is not going to marry Andrew…. We also know that it is absolutely going to be Oliver. However, there is absolutely zero inclusion of all of her from the standpoint except for one moment in the beginning of the book. Furthermore she doesn’t leave Andrew for Oliver, Andrew leaves her and Oliver is basically a rebound. Again I say, no redeeming qualities about this character!
I shall end my rant now.
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC! All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.
There are so many ways this book could have redeemed itself. The bones are there, it just needs some structure love… And a few major changes of course. 😂
There are so many things I want to say, but they all involve spoilers. I will post a full review on Goodreads where I can block it out if you don’t want any surprises. If you just want the general basics of why this book is three stars, here ya go:
The main character is self-centered and has little to know redeeming qualities. Certain events that happen within the story should’ve happened in different places in the timeline and in a different manner. Would’ve made it more convincing. The ending is extremely flat.
Spoilers….
Please explain to me why I would enjoy reading a romance where the entire book centers around a completely different relationship? We know from the beginning Beatrice (Bae) is not going to marry Andrew…. We also know that it is absolutely going to be Oliver. However, there is absolutely zero inclusion of all of her from the standpoint except for one moment in the beginning of the book. Furthermore she doesn’t leave Andrew for Oliver, Andrew leaves her and Oliver is basically a rebound. Again I say, no redeeming qualities about this character!
I shall end my rant now.
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC! All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2024
My Big Fake Wedding was a fun story, one with humor, great banter, and romance. Bea Corbin was in a relationship when she entered a lottery to win her perfect wedding. It is months later and they are no longer together, but when she gets the call that she has won the wedding, she panics and accepts the prize putting a $2000.00 payment on her card for the $50,000 wedding. Now, she just has to find someone to marry her in a relatively short time. When she announces her wedding date to her BFF, Oliver, he doesn't think it is a good idea, but supports her in her quest. She is hoping to get Andrew's attention, a co-worker that she is attracted to, and when they have a drunken kiss, they start dating and get to know each other. Andrew agrees to marry Bea and things look like they are going to work out, or are they?
There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this story, but also a lot that I had issues with. First was that Bea doesn't have a lot of self-confidence in her private life. She is a smart, attractive woman, but becomes who she thinks Andrew wants in order to get him interested in her. She is so centered on finding a fiancé for this wedding that she becomes completely self-centered and not a very good friend. What I enjoyed were the funny moments when she lets herself go and be herself. Andrew was an interesting character. There were times I liked him and saw him really making an effort in their relationship, but I also felt that he was only going forward half-heartedly. I enjoyed the banter between herself and her friends, and I also liked her personal growth. There is some predictability, and I had figured out how it would end, but I thought it was an okay read. Stephanie Cannon narrated the audiobook and did a nice job with the story. I did find her male voices a bit hard to accept, but overall, it was an enjoyable listen.
There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this story, but also a lot that I had issues with. First was that Bea doesn't have a lot of self-confidence in her private life. She is a smart, attractive woman, but becomes who she thinks Andrew wants in order to get him interested in her. She is so centered on finding a fiancé for this wedding that she becomes completely self-centered and not a very good friend. What I enjoyed were the funny moments when she lets herself go and be herself. Andrew was an interesting character. There were times I liked him and saw him really making an effort in their relationship, but I also felt that he was only going forward half-heartedly. I enjoyed the banter between herself and her friends, and I also liked her personal growth. There is some predictability, and I had figured out how it would end, but I thought it was an okay read. Stephanie Cannon narrated the audiobook and did a nice job with the story. I did find her male voices a bit hard to accept, but overall, it was an enjoyable listen.
August 14, 2022
My Big Fake Wedding
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 8/18/22
Author: Jessica Hatch
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 322
Goodreads Rating: 2.73
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: When Bea Corbin enters a lottery to win her perfect wedding, she never imagines that her name will be picked right after she’s been cheated on, and unceremoniously dumped, by her ex-boyfriend. She panics and says yes. As Bea and Andrew’s relationship gets more serious at the exact moment her ex-boyfriend reappears declaring his undying love, things become more complicated than she could have imagined. Bea feels more lost than ever, especially because her best friend, Oliver, is no longer taking her calls, or answering her texts… As the ceremony draws nearer, Bea discovers that the only thing more complicated than finding a husband on a deadline is finding the right one.
My Thoughts: Two things attracted me to this book: the cover and the premise. I love fake dating tropes but fake marriage was one that I had not seen, especially in this light. Bea is selfish, self centered, makes terrible choices, and has hardly any likable qualities that a character would possess. Maybe this is on purpose, but if you cannot fall in love with the heroine, then that complicates things. The relationship just felt too forced and lacked the chemistry you typically see in fake dating tropes. The author’s writing style was cute, creative, and unique, which I did like the writing. I could not tell you what Bea’s company that she worked for actually did, it was kind of evasive. I did not care for the ending, it left me with wanting more. This was not a bad book or a DNF for me, it was a good book and the structure was amazing. I know we will see amazing things in the future from this author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 8/18/22
Author: Jessica Hatch
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 322
Goodreads Rating: 2.73
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: When Bea Corbin enters a lottery to win her perfect wedding, she never imagines that her name will be picked right after she’s been cheated on, and unceremoniously dumped, by her ex-boyfriend. She panics and says yes. As Bea and Andrew’s relationship gets more serious at the exact moment her ex-boyfriend reappears declaring his undying love, things become more complicated than she could have imagined. Bea feels more lost than ever, especially because her best friend, Oliver, is no longer taking her calls, or answering her texts… As the ceremony draws nearer, Bea discovers that the only thing more complicated than finding a husband on a deadline is finding the right one.
My Thoughts: Two things attracted me to this book: the cover and the premise. I love fake dating tropes but fake marriage was one that I had not seen, especially in this light. Bea is selfish, self centered, makes terrible choices, and has hardly any likable qualities that a character would possess. Maybe this is on purpose, but if you cannot fall in love with the heroine, then that complicates things. The relationship just felt too forced and lacked the chemistry you typically see in fake dating tropes. The author’s writing style was cute, creative, and unique, which I did like the writing. I could not tell you what Bea’s company that she worked for actually did, it was kind of evasive. I did not care for the ending, it left me with wanting more. This was not a bad book or a DNF for me, it was a good book and the structure was amazing. I know we will see amazing things in the future from this author.
July 25, 2022
I really wanted to like this book but somehow I didn‘t like it at all. The concept of the story itself was okay, but the execution wasn‘t good. I almost dnf‘ed it but knew I had to review this book so I finished it. It‘s okay, but wasn‘t for me.
August 22, 2022
June 22, 2019 is Beatrice Corbin’s wedding day! However, she doesn’t have a groom! And she signed up to win a contest back in 2017, a lottery that she entered as a lark, she now has the opportunity to get married in the most sought after the wedding venue in Richmond, Virginia. She as eight months to find a husband. Per usual for Beatrice, she creates a to-do list - which is a weekly thing for her - and the fifth thing on that latest list is FIND A HUSBAND.
Raymond, Beatrice’s ex. Andrew, a very attractive co-worker. Oliver, one of Beatrice's best friends. Will one of these men work towards her getting married on the locked-in date? Could a manufactured relationship lead to true love? That is the path that Beatrice challenges, because she believes nothing should be wasted. Not money. Not opportunities. Having put a non-refundable $2,000 deposit down for a $50,000 wedding means that she plans on wasting nothing. June 22nd will happen. She will walk down that aisle, preferably with her forever man.
Does Bea have enough of a connection with any of her three choices or will she find a perfect stranger, date, get engaged and marry in less than a year? While Bea travels this rather unusual road, her friendships come into play. Her other best friend Lucy has her own woes, but Bea is more than caught up in her own personal drama. Then there is Oliver, who is at a difficult turning point in his life. Will Bea be able to see past her own issues to continue be the strong friend they both need?
As this is a romantic comedy, we know as readers that someone will be catching feelings. This fun journey takes a slow stroll along the path for love, and left this reader more than happy with Bea's final choice. Something else that was very enjoyable in this story is Bea made a daily to-do lists. These daily to-do lists ended each chapter and they were lots of fun to read.
Friendship and the bonds of love were wonderful backdrops to a story that gave the reader insight as to the true feelings being formed. I loved how it took Beatrice time to find her way, because, in her words, "instead of when we had five kids and a house in Ohio".
My Big Fake Wedding is a fun, light read, perfect for the beach, and more than enjoyable as the path of love came with some surprises, while ending with a warm conclusion.
Lastly, the letter from Jessica Hatch at the end of the book tells readers of the reason for such a book, with an unusual plot, an awkward protagonist, a desire to fulfill a wish, and to give readers a very pleasant happily ever after.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video Review - https://youtu.be/EQhdX0-Pyck
Raymond, Beatrice’s ex. Andrew, a very attractive co-worker. Oliver, one of Beatrice's best friends. Will one of these men work towards her getting married on the locked-in date? Could a manufactured relationship lead to true love? That is the path that Beatrice challenges, because she believes nothing should be wasted. Not money. Not opportunities. Having put a non-refundable $2,000 deposit down for a $50,000 wedding means that she plans on wasting nothing. June 22nd will happen. She will walk down that aisle, preferably with her forever man.
Does Bea have enough of a connection with any of her three choices or will she find a perfect stranger, date, get engaged and marry in less than a year? While Bea travels this rather unusual road, her friendships come into play. Her other best friend Lucy has her own woes, but Bea is more than caught up in her own personal drama. Then there is Oliver, who is at a difficult turning point in his life. Will Bea be able to see past her own issues to continue be the strong friend they both need?
As this is a romantic comedy, we know as readers that someone will be catching feelings. This fun journey takes a slow stroll along the path for love, and left this reader more than happy with Bea's final choice. Something else that was very enjoyable in this story is Bea made a daily to-do lists. These daily to-do lists ended each chapter and they were lots of fun to read.
Friendship and the bonds of love were wonderful backdrops to a story that gave the reader insight as to the true feelings being formed. I loved how it took Beatrice time to find her way, because, in her words, "instead of when we had five kids and a house in Ohio".
My Big Fake Wedding is a fun, light read, perfect for the beach, and more than enjoyable as the path of love came with some surprises, while ending with a warm conclusion.
Lastly, the letter from Jessica Hatch at the end of the book tells readers of the reason for such a book, with an unusual plot, an awkward protagonist, a desire to fulfill a wish, and to give readers a very pleasant happily ever after.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video Review - https://youtu.be/EQhdX0-Pyck
August 17, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'My Big Fake Wedding' by Jessica Hatch.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Jessica Hatch, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 18th August 2022.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching unique cover and intriguing as well as hilarious sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'This absolutely hilarious and totally feel-good romance is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis, Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners, and Emily Henry’s Beach Read. ' I am a fan of 'The Honeymooners' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 26 chapters. The chapters are a mixture of length ranging from medium and some long in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Virginia, USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in third person perspective with the protagonists being Beatrice Corbin. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book was quite fast paced, different and fun. I devoured it in one reading and was completely absorbed throughout!! This is the first book that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but for the first time I listened to the whole book and I was impresse! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Stephanie Cannon who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Stephanie did a brilliant job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Jessica but also to listening to more books narrated by Stephanie. I found myself laughing one moment while feeling quite emotional the next. I adore the fact that although there are quite sad moments and emotional times that within minutes Jessica has you laughing until you are in tears again. There were a couple of points that I did find frustrating such as the peanut allergy scene, I'm not sure if this realistically would have happened due to health and safety regulations. I also wasn't a huge fan of Bea but I will go more into that later. I also did not understand the point of Bea's company if I'm completely honest. I must admit I found a certain event to be quite predictable.However, I do love the fact that there is a very unique moment in this book which sadly I can't go into as I don't want to spoil it for future readers but I definitely agree with what Jessica states in the letter from her at the end. I also absolutely LOVED the 'To Do' lists at the end of each of the chapters. These were also a unique addition to the book that gave that extra sprinkle of fun to the storyline!
This is probably a first for me but I really could not click with Bea, the main protagonist, at all yet I continued to read and even finish the book!!! I found Bea very self-centred and selfish and I don't understand how Lucy, Charlie and Oliver put up with her as a friend!!! I also wasn't a huge fan of Andrew who I found to be false and also selfish. However, I absolutely LOVED Lucy, Charlie and Oliver who were all great friends to Bea who, I think, took them all for granted. The only thing that I found quite nasty about these three (well one) was something Lucy had said to Bea which was mean but at the same time I think she had been pushed to breaking point by Bea at this point. I may not have liked the main character which is a first for me BUT as I have always said, if you liked every character in a book it wouldn't be very interesting!! You need complex and different personalities, some of which may clash with a reader to make a book come alive!
A MASSIVE WELL DONE to Jessica on a romcom with a twist!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your future books.
Overall a unique, refreshing and sweet romcom with a lovely twist.
Genres covered in this book include Fiction, Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Humourous Literary Fiction, Romance Literary Fiction, Rural Life Humour, Love, Sex & Marriage Humour and Women's Humourous Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Ali Hazelwood’s 'The Love Hypothesis' , Christina Lauren’s 'The Unhoneymooners' Emily Henry’s 'Beach Read' and anyone looking for a unique uplifting, fun and refreshing romcom.
348 pages/9 hours 13 minutes
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
This book is £18.29 to purchase as Audiobook or 1 credit or £7.99 if you have Audible Premium Plus.
Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#MyBigFakeWedding #Bookouture #JessicaHatch #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
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Review for 'My Big Fake Wedding' by Jessica Hatch.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Jessica Hatch, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 18th August 2022.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching unique cover and intriguing as well as hilarious sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'This absolutely hilarious and totally feel-good romance is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis, Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners, and Emily Henry’s Beach Read. ' I am a fan of 'The Honeymooners' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 26 chapters. The chapters are a mixture of length ranging from medium and some long in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Virginia, USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in third person perspective with the protagonists being Beatrice Corbin. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book was quite fast paced, different and fun. I devoured it in one reading and was completely absorbed throughout!! This is the first book that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but for the first time I listened to the whole book and I was impresse! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Stephanie Cannon who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Stephanie did a brilliant job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Jessica but also to listening to more books narrated by Stephanie. I found myself laughing one moment while feeling quite emotional the next. I adore the fact that although there are quite sad moments and emotional times that within minutes Jessica has you laughing until you are in tears again. There were a couple of points that I did find frustrating such as the peanut allergy scene, I'm not sure if this realistically would have happened due to health and safety regulations. I also wasn't a huge fan of Bea but I will go more into that later. I also did not understand the point of Bea's company if I'm completely honest. I must admit I found a certain event to be quite predictable.However, I do love the fact that there is a very unique moment in this book which sadly I can't go into as I don't want to spoil it for future readers but I definitely agree with what Jessica states in the letter from her at the end. I also absolutely LOVED the 'To Do' lists at the end of each of the chapters. These were also a unique addition to the book that gave that extra sprinkle of fun to the storyline!
This is probably a first for me but I really could not click with Bea, the main protagonist, at all yet I continued to read and even finish the book!!! I found Bea very self-centred and selfish and I don't understand how Lucy, Charlie and Oliver put up with her as a friend!!! I also wasn't a huge fan of Andrew who I found to be false and also selfish. However, I absolutely LOVED Lucy, Charlie and Oliver who were all great friends to Bea who, I think, took them all for granted. The only thing that I found quite nasty about these three (well one) was something Lucy had said to Bea which was mean but at the same time I think she had been pushed to breaking point by Bea at this point. I may not have liked the main character which is a first for me BUT as I have always said, if you liked every character in a book it wouldn't be very interesting!! You need complex and different personalities, some of which may clash with a reader to make a book come alive!
A MASSIVE WELL DONE to Jessica on a romcom with a twist!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your future books.
Overall a unique, refreshing and sweet romcom with a lovely twist.
Genres covered in this book include Fiction, Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Humourous Literary Fiction, Romance Literary Fiction, Rural Life Humour, Love, Sex & Marriage Humour and Women's Humourous Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Ali Hazelwood’s 'The Love Hypothesis' , Christina Lauren’s 'The Unhoneymooners' Emily Henry’s 'Beach Read' and anyone looking for a unique uplifting, fun and refreshing romcom.
348 pages/9 hours 13 minutes
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
This book is £18.29 to purchase as Audiobook or 1 credit or £7.99 if you have Audible Premium Plus.
Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#MyBigFakeWedding #Bookouture #JessicaHatch #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@MyBigFakeWedding @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @JessicaHatch
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August 31, 2022
Bea Corbin wins a wedding in a competition, but she has recently been dumped by her boyfriend, so she has to find a new boyfriend who she can marry. Her best friend Oliver is always by her side, but then she meets Andrew, who she has a relationship with. And her ex also comes back into the picture. But who will she end up with?
I enjoyed this book, and the narrator had a great voice. It was easy to listen to, and I liked most of the characters. Oliver was my favourite character.
If you are looking for a fun, easy summer read, then this is the perfect book for you to escape from your daily life with.
Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for this book.
I enjoyed this book, and the narrator had a great voice. It was easy to listen to, and I liked most of the characters. Oliver was my favourite character.
If you are looking for a fun, easy summer read, then this is the perfect book for you to escape from your daily life with.
Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for this book.
July 15, 2022
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review *
Honestly, this could have been an interesting premise but the execution was not great.
Bea as a character -initially comes across as so selfish and inconsiderate of her friends, honestly the texbook narcissist and while she did show some growth she’s not a particularly likeable character overall.
All of the relationships in this book felt so forced, and I didn’t really feel the chemistry.
In the end, the whole plot just seems pointless, and I feel like the whole ending could have been achieved very differently.
Also, Oliver just seems like a doormat and I don't really understand his behaviour, and all the friendships and relationships seem sort of toxic.
Honestly, this could have been an interesting premise but the execution was not great.
Bea as a character -initially comes across as so selfish and inconsiderate of her friends, honestly the texbook narcissist and while she did show some growth she’s not a particularly likeable character overall.
All of the relationships in this book felt so forced, and I didn’t really feel the chemistry.
In the end, the whole plot just seems pointless, and I feel like the whole ending could have been achieved very differently.
Also, Oliver just seems like a doormat and I don't really understand his behaviour, and all the friendships and relationships seem sort of toxic.
September 5, 2022
thank you netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book!
2.5 stars!
based on that title alone, i was SO excited and thought "oh, marriage of convinience is one of my favorite tropes!" and BOOM it WASN'T. it was the farthest thing from a fake dating scenario i could think of.
i hate the fact that i didn't like this, because the author's note was relatable, but oh god did the main character infuriate me at times. everyone in this book acted like 12 year old, not full grown adults. like make it stOP. and besides, i knew from the very first moment who she would end up with, and they dragged it on SO MUCH.
i didn't laugh, i didn't swoon, i was mostly bored and frustrated and just like ugh i need to finish this arc. i really wish i had liked this, but i just didn't. THE ONLY THING I ACTUALLY LIKED WAS HER CAT, HE CARRIED THE BOOK ON HIS BACK!
2.5 stars!
based on that title alone, i was SO excited and thought "oh, marriage of convinience is one of my favorite tropes!" and BOOM it WASN'T. it was the farthest thing from a fake dating scenario i could think of.
i hate the fact that i didn't like this, because the author's note was relatable, but oh god did the main character infuriate me at times. everyone in this book acted like 12 year old, not full grown adults. like make it stOP. and besides, i knew from the very first moment who she would end up with, and they dragged it on SO MUCH.
i didn't laugh, i didn't swoon, i was mostly bored and frustrated and just like ugh i need to finish this arc. i really wish i had liked this, but i just didn't. THE ONLY THING I ACTUALLY LIKED WAS HER CAT, HE CARRIED THE BOOK ON HIS BACK!
August 18, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My big fake wedding
By Jessica Hatch
Bea wins a lottery for a free wedding the only catch is she's single...
The opening sequence had me feeling like I was watching a romcom like the main character refers to.
Beatrice Corbin doesn't do things in half measure and goes full force into everything she does, often coming across as self absorbed, but I think she shows signs of being mildly neurodivergent, she grows as a character and shows her friends she cares by giving when she herself has very little and by doing acts of service ( so maybe her love languages are those two)
Bea's first date anxiety had me having flash backs of some of my first dates *cringe* .
All in all I liked this book a lot, it felt familiar like a RomCom movie, sweet and funny with some cringe worthy moments and a very sweet ending. I look forward to seeing what else @jessicanhatch will write in the future.
Thank you @netgalley l and @bookouture for the arc copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
My big fake wedding
By Jessica Hatch
Bea wins a lottery for a free wedding the only catch is she's single...
The opening sequence had me feeling like I was watching a romcom like the main character refers to.
Beatrice Corbin doesn't do things in half measure and goes full force into everything she does, often coming across as self absorbed, but I think she shows signs of being mildly neurodivergent, she grows as a character and shows her friends she cares by giving when she herself has very little and by doing acts of service ( so maybe her love languages are those two)
Bea's first date anxiety had me having flash backs of some of my first dates *cringe* .
All in all I liked this book a lot, it felt familiar like a RomCom movie, sweet and funny with some cringe worthy moments and a very sweet ending. I look forward to seeing what else @jessicanhatch will write in the future.
Thank you @netgalley l and @bookouture for the arc copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
September 8, 2022
Oh man... I tried, I honestly really did. The only thing I HATE more than dnf-ing a book is giving it a low rating or bad review.
But this story... did not work for me. It had great premise and potential, but in my opinion, it didn't follow through.
Main problem? The heroine. What her friend said was pretty accurate:
"Oh, is there another problem going on in Beatrice Corbin’s world?” she demanded. “Oh, boohoo! Poor baby! Everything’s about you, and everything’s going wrong, isn’t it? And you won’t talk to anyone about it unless it can be a five-minute dramatic monologue.”
Second problem: (and I feel this is very personal, so don't judge the book by it -and I'm sorry) I work in the wedding industry (it's why I picked it up to begin with). I do love stories and wedding planning for a living, 12 hrs per day, 6 days per week. So it frustrated me to no end that EVERYTHING HERE RELATED TO THE WEDDING WAS GOING ALL WRONG! *deep breaths* I just couldn't relate to the idea.
The heroine's fixation with the perfect day, making it like some work project she had to check things off a list for.. No. If it was supposed to be funny, it didn't hit the mark for me. :(
"She looked up at her new fiancé: handsome, confident, stable, with earning potential. He was a real catch. She decided, then and there, that she couldn’t have planned for better than him. When he grinned down at her, she returned the smile with relief and joy."
And the middle didn't bring some revelations or growth, it just dragged pointlessly.
The ending was good though, so yay for that! Bonus points for the best friend getting their HEAs, nice touch on how things came full circle.
So let's edit, rewrite some parts, get rid of Andrew sooner (there really was no point in prolonging that 'perfect couple' phase, it was awkward), shake the heroine a bit sooner, and all is well. Oliver is a sweetie pie tho. I would marry him too.
Best quotes:
There’s this sense, nowadays, that everything has to be focused, planned, like a stupid Pinterest mood board, when really it’s not that way at all.” She leaned her arm on the back of her chair. “Now that I’ve learned that, I’m ready to get on with the hot mess of living.
But maybe that was why life was such a hot mess. People worked toward goals; they achieved them; they looked for new ones to replace them. People abandoned goals, found lesser ones that were easier to achieve, but they still poured one out for the ones they’d lost. It was okay to lose. Expected, even. Getting used to failure was part of the human condition, and Bea was determined to get better at it."
Rounding it up to the 3 stars because the writing is good and engaging, there's some life lessons in there and redeemable parts at the end...
*I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest opinion. Thank you (and sorry again lol I wish I loved it more)
But this story... did not work for me. It had great premise and potential, but in my opinion, it didn't follow through.
Main problem? The heroine. What her friend said was pretty accurate:
"Oh, is there another problem going on in Beatrice Corbin’s world?” she demanded. “Oh, boohoo! Poor baby! Everything’s about you, and everything’s going wrong, isn’t it? And you won’t talk to anyone about it unless it can be a five-minute dramatic monologue.”
Second problem: (and I feel this is very personal, so don't judge the book by it -and I'm sorry) I work in the wedding industry (it's why I picked it up to begin with). I do love stories and wedding planning for a living, 12 hrs per day, 6 days per week. So it frustrated me to no end that EVERYTHING HERE RELATED TO THE WEDDING WAS GOING ALL WRONG! *deep breaths* I just couldn't relate to the idea.
The heroine's fixation with the perfect day, making it like some work project she had to check things off a list for.. No. If it was supposed to be funny, it didn't hit the mark for me. :(
"She looked up at her new fiancé: handsome, confident, stable, with earning potential. He was a real catch. She decided, then and there, that she couldn’t have planned for better than him. When he grinned down at her, she returned the smile with relief and joy."
And the middle didn't bring some revelations or growth, it just dragged pointlessly.
The ending was good though, so yay for that! Bonus points for the best friend getting their HEAs, nice touch on how things came full circle.
So let's edit, rewrite some parts, get rid of Andrew sooner (there really was no point in prolonging that 'perfect couple' phase, it was awkward), shake the heroine a bit sooner, and all is well. Oliver is a sweetie pie tho. I would marry him too.
Best quotes:
There’s this sense, nowadays, that everything has to be focused, planned, like a stupid Pinterest mood board, when really it’s not that way at all.” She leaned her arm on the back of her chair. “Now that I’ve learned that, I’m ready to get on with the hot mess of living.
But maybe that was why life was such a hot mess. People worked toward goals; they achieved them; they looked for new ones to replace them. People abandoned goals, found lesser ones that were easier to achieve, but they still poured one out for the ones they’d lost. It was okay to lose. Expected, even. Getting used to failure was part of the human condition, and Bea was determined to get better at it."
Rounding it up to the 3 stars because the writing is good and engaging, there's some life lessons in there and redeemable parts at the end...
*I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest opinion. Thank you (and sorry again lol I wish I loved it more)
September 11, 2022
1.5☆
There was nothing redeemable about this. But, as my rating system goes, I don't want to burn this book so it's not a 1 star.
Plot
The moment I hit page 30, I knew I wasn't goint to enjoy this. But I gave it a chance. Then I was halfway and still in pain. But since it's an ARC, I pushed through (at what cost). The premise sounded fun: a woman who's recently single wins a wedding contest and needs a husband. Sadly, it was everything but fun. I would've much prefered if she fake-dated/married Oliver. I feel like there was no point in this entire book.
The entire book is predictable, which is not good. I knew from the beginning where the book was going and how it was going to end, nothing excited me or made me interested in the outcome of the book.
Also, at the end of each chapter, there were to-do lists and they were not for me, I kept just skimming them.
Characters
I did not care for a single one. I barely know what they look like, except Oliver has a beard, Ray is blonde and Lucy has red hair. So, throughout the book, I've been imagining blobs with hair. None of them have any personality nor feel like real people. If unseasoned chicken and stale bread had a baby, that would be the cast of this book. They're the epitome of bland. Also, Bea is the most insufferable person: selfish, whiney, and makes so many dumb decisions.
Romance
My toothbrush and toothpaste have more chemistry than the romances in this book.
Bea and Andrew had no romance: no tension, their relationship didn't feel genuine for a second. If you google what a red flag looks like, I promise Andrew's blob face is what you'll get.
"You aren't my usual type"
The fact that Bea knew this was problematic and her friend agreed... should have run. The first and only nice thing Andrew did for Bea was that he convinced her mom to go to the fitting. Everything else he did was a phat no. Tip of the day: listen to your gut (unlike Bea).
Bea and Oliver equally had no chemistry, except for the fake-fiancé scene where they kiss.
References
GOD, this book was filled with mostly unnecessary references. Sure, she likes movies that's why there are so many references and the wedding-related references also are ok, but this was just too much. Here are a few (a FEW) of the ones that I wrote down.
Movies/TV: Ingmar Bergman, Netflix, The Bachelorette, The Exorcist, Eraserhead, The Candyman, Gilmore Girls, Die Hard, The Nutcracker, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Titanic, Daria, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, American Pie, Jeopardy!, Princess Bride, Nancy Drew, 60 Minutes, Say Yes to the Dress, Honey Boo Boo, Mortal Kombat, The Shinning
Apps: Match.com, Eharmony, Tinder, OkCupid, Facebook, Etsy, Twitter, Instagram, Buzzfeed, Pinterest, Uber, Zoom, Facetime, Duolingo
Brands: Bed Bath & Beyond, IKEA, Target, Vera Wang, Cheetohs, Cheez-Its, Sharpie, Monopoly, Risk, Red Bull, Tiffany, Nerf, Mustang, Prius, Lululemon, Ralph Lauren, iPhone, iPad, Keurig
Music: Journey - Don't Stop Believing, Michael Bublé, N*Sync, Louis Armstrong, Boyz II Men, Biggie Smalls, Frank Sinatra
Overall, I really did not enjoy this and would not recommend it.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
There was nothing redeemable about this. But, as my rating system goes, I don't want to burn this book so it's not a 1 star.
Plot
The moment I hit page 30, I knew I wasn't goint to enjoy this. But I gave it a chance. Then I was halfway and still in pain. But since it's an ARC, I pushed through (at what cost). The premise sounded fun: a woman who's recently single wins a wedding contest and needs a husband. Sadly, it was everything but fun. I would've much prefered if she fake-dated/married Oliver. I feel like there was no point in this entire book.
The entire book is predictable, which is not good. I knew from the beginning where the book was going and how it was going to end, nothing excited me or made me interested in the outcome of the book.
Also, at the end of each chapter, there were to-do lists and they were not for me, I kept just skimming them.
Characters
I did not care for a single one. I barely know what they look like, except Oliver has a beard, Ray is blonde and Lucy has red hair. So, throughout the book, I've been imagining blobs with hair. None of them have any personality nor feel like real people. If unseasoned chicken and stale bread had a baby, that would be the cast of this book. They're the epitome of bland. Also, Bea is the most insufferable person: selfish, whiney, and makes so many dumb decisions.
Romance
My toothbrush and toothpaste have more chemistry than the romances in this book.
Bea and Andrew had no romance: no tension, their relationship didn't feel genuine for a second. If you google what a red flag looks like, I promise Andrew's blob face is what you'll get.
"You aren't my usual type"
The fact that Bea knew this was problematic and her friend agreed... should have run. The first and only nice thing Andrew did for Bea was that he convinced her mom to go to the fitting. Everything else he did was a phat no. Tip of the day: listen to your gut (unlike Bea).
Bea and Oliver equally had no chemistry, except for the fake-fiancé scene where they kiss.
References
GOD, this book was filled with mostly unnecessary references. Sure, she likes movies that's why there are so many references and the wedding-related references also are ok, but this was just too much. Here are a few (a FEW) of the ones that I wrote down.
Movies/TV: Ingmar Bergman, Netflix, The Bachelorette, The Exorcist, Eraserhead, The Candyman, Gilmore Girls, Die Hard, The Nutcracker, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Titanic, Daria, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, American Pie, Jeopardy!, Princess Bride, Nancy Drew, 60 Minutes, Say Yes to the Dress, Honey Boo Boo, Mortal Kombat, The Shinning
Apps: Match.com, Eharmony, Tinder, OkCupid, Facebook, Etsy, Twitter, Instagram, Buzzfeed, Pinterest, Uber, Zoom, Facetime, Duolingo
Brands: Bed Bath & Beyond, IKEA, Target, Vera Wang, Cheetohs, Cheez-Its, Sharpie, Monopoly, Risk, Red Bull, Tiffany, Nerf, Mustang, Prius, Lululemon, Ralph Lauren, iPhone, iPad, Keurig
Music: Journey - Don't Stop Believing, Michael Bublé, N*Sync, Louis Armstrong, Boyz II Men, Biggie Smalls, Frank Sinatra
Overall, I really did not enjoy this and would not recommend it.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc of My Big Fake Wedding by Jessica Hatch.
I really liked the idea of this book; having to find a fake boyfriend to marry after winning a competition. But the main character was just so unlikeable! Any time someone else had a problem she would ignore it and talk about herself or find some way to relate it to her own problems. For example, when her friend is worried her girlfriend might never propose, our main girl basically says ‘look at where I was a year ago; my relationship just ended and now I’m getting married! so you still have hope,’ as if that was supposed to make her friend feel better. She is so disrespectful and rude to her best friend’s girlfriend for absolutely no reason, just because she’s annoyed in the moment.
Also, I still have no clue what her job is. A lot of the book is spent at work and every day they’re planning this big event but I don’t know why or what for.
It was obvious what the plot twist was going to be right from the start, too.
I rated this 3⭐️ because I liked the basic plot but it definitely wasn’t a new favourite of mine. I hate writing negative reviews but, especially because this is an arc, I wanted to give my honest thoughts and opinions.
I really liked the idea of this book; having to find a fake boyfriend to marry after winning a competition. But the main character was just so unlikeable! Any time someone else had a problem she would ignore it and talk about herself or find some way to relate it to her own problems. For example, when her friend is worried her girlfriend might never propose, our main girl basically says ‘look at where I was a year ago; my relationship just ended and now I’m getting married! so you still have hope,’ as if that was supposed to make her friend feel better. She is so disrespectful and rude to her best friend’s girlfriend for absolutely no reason, just because she’s annoyed in the moment.
Also, I still have no clue what her job is. A lot of the book is spent at work and every day they’re planning this big event but I don’t know why or what for.
It was obvious what the plot twist was going to be right from the start, too.
I rated this 3⭐️ because I liked the basic plot but it definitely wasn’t a new favourite of mine. I hate writing negative reviews but, especially because this is an arc, I wanted to give my honest thoughts and opinions.
August 13, 2022
1 stars not good for me all
I really wanted to like this bok , sounded fun and interesting in the description but once you started to read the book it was dull, slow, bland and count really get it to it. Or at least I couldn't
If this book wasn't a review ARC I honestly would have made it a DNF
Bea and most of the characters were first off not very likeable I didn't feel a connection with them. the characters needed more description and personalities.
the plot aka premise was strange and not very believable
the whole long book (300+ pages) lacked feelings, there was no chemistry.
I can say that there was 1 thing that I did like in the book and it was the 'To Do' list at the end of each chapter, that was fun.
I got this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley, even though I was not a fan of it and am still thankful that I got to read and review it. The opinions and thoughts above are my own, honest and voluntary.
I really wanted to like this bok , sounded fun and interesting in the description but once you started to read the book it was dull, slow, bland and count really get it to it. Or at least I couldn't
If this book wasn't a review ARC I honestly would have made it a DNF
Bea and most of the characters were first off not very likeable I didn't feel a connection with them. the characters needed more description and personalities.
the plot aka premise was strange and not very believable
the whole long book (300+ pages) lacked feelings, there was no chemistry.
I can say that there was 1 thing that I did like in the book and it was the 'To Do' list at the end of each chapter, that was fun.
I got this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley, even though I was not a fan of it and am still thankful that I got to read and review it. The opinions and thoughts above are my own, honest and voluntary.
August 17, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'My Big Fake Wedding' by Jessica Hatch.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Jessica Hatch, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 18th August 2022.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching unique cover and intriguing as well as hilarious sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'This absolutely hilarious and totally feel-good romance is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis, Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners, and Emily Henry’s Beach Read. ' I am a fan of 'The Honeymooners' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 26 chapters. The chapters are a mixture of length ranging from medium and some long in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Virginia, USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in third person perspective with the protagonists being Beatrice Corbin. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book was quite fast paced, different and fun. I devoured it in one reading and was completely absorbed throughout!! This is the first book that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but for the first time I listened to the whole book and I was impresse! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Stephanie Cannon who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Stephanie did a brilliant job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Jessica but also to listening to more books narrated by Stephanie. I found myself laughing one moment while feeling quite emotional the next. I adore the fact that although there are quite sad moments and emotional times that within minutes Jessica has you laughing until you are in tears again. There were a couple of points that I did find frustrating such as the peanut allergy scene, I'm not sure if this realistically would have happened due to health and safety regulations. I also wasn't a huge fan of Bea but I will go more into that later. I also did not understand the point of Bea's company if I'm completely honest. I must admit I found a certain event to be quite predictable.However, I do love the fact that there is a very unique moment in this book which sadly I can't go into as I don't want to spoil it for future readers but I definitely agree with what Jessica states in the letter from her at the end. I also absolutely LOVED the 'To Do' lists at the end of each of the chapters. These were also a unique addition to the book that gave that extra sprinkle of fun to the storyline!
This is probably a first for me but I really could not click with Bea, the main protagonist, at all yet I continued to read and even finish the book!!! I found Bea very self-centred and selfish and I don't understand how Lucy, Charlie and Oliver put up with her as a friend!!! I also wasn't a huge fan of Andrew who I found to be false and also selfish. However, I absolutely LOVED Lucy, Charlie and Oliver who were all great friends to Bea who, I think, took them all for granted. The only thing that I found quite nasty about these three (well one) was something Lucy had said to Bea which was mean but at the same time I think she had been pushed to breaking point by Bea at this point. I may not have liked the main character which is a first for me BUT as I have always said, if you liked every character in a book it wouldn't be very interesting!! You need complex and different personalities, some of which may clash with a reader to make a book come alive!
A MASSIVE WELL DONE to Jessica on a romcom with a twist!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your future books.
Overall a unique, refreshing and sweet romcom with a lovely twist.
Genres covered in this book include Fiction, Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Humourous Literary Fiction, Romance Literary Fiction, Rural Life Humour, Love, Sex & Marriage Humour and Women's Humourous Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Ali Hazelwood’s 'The Love Hypothesis' , Christina Lauren’s 'The Unhoneymooners' Emily Henry’s 'Beach Read' and anyone looking for a unique uplifting, fun and refreshing romcom.
348 pages/9 hours 13 minutes
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
This book is £18.29 to purchase as Audiobook or 1 credit or £7.99 if you have Audible Premium Plus.
Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#MyBigFakeWedding #Bookouture #JessicaHatch #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@MyBigFakeWedding @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @JessicaHatch
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Review for 'My Big Fake Wedding' by Jessica Hatch.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Jessica Hatch, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 18th August 2022.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching unique cover and intriguing as well as hilarious sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'This absolutely hilarious and totally feel-good romance is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis, Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners, and Emily Henry’s Beach Read. ' I am a fan of 'The Honeymooners' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 26 chapters. The chapters are a mixture of length ranging from medium and some long in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Virginia, USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in third person perspective with the protagonists being Beatrice Corbin. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book was quite fast paced, different and fun. I devoured it in one reading and was completely absorbed throughout!! This is the first book that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but for the first time I listened to the whole book and I was impresse! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Stephanie Cannon who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Stephanie did a brilliant job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Jessica but also to listening to more books narrated by Stephanie. I found myself laughing one moment while feeling quite emotional the next. I adore the fact that although there are quite sad moments and emotional times that within minutes Jessica has you laughing until you are in tears again. There were a couple of points that I did find frustrating such as the peanut allergy scene, I'm not sure if this realistically would have happened due to health and safety regulations. I also wasn't a huge fan of Bea but I will go more into that later. I also did not understand the point of Bea's company if I'm completely honest. I must admit I found a certain event to be quite predictable.However, I do love the fact that there is a very unique moment in this book which sadly I can't go into as I don't want to spoil it for future readers but I definitely agree with what Jessica states in the letter from her at the end. I also absolutely LOVED the 'To Do' lists at the end of each of the chapters. These were also a unique addition to the book that gave that extra sprinkle of fun to the storyline!
This is probably a first for me but I really could not click with Bea, the main protagonist, at all yet I continued to read and even finish the book!!! I found Bea very self-centred and selfish and I don't understand how Lucy, Charlie and Oliver put up with her as a friend!!! I also wasn't a huge fan of Andrew who I found to be false and also selfish. However, I absolutely LOVED Lucy, Charlie and Oliver who were all great friends to Bea who, I think, took them all for granted. The only thing that I found quite nasty about these three (well one) was something Lucy had said to Bea which was mean but at the same time I think she had been pushed to breaking point by Bea at this point. I may not have liked the main character which is a first for me BUT as I have always said, if you liked every character in a book it wouldn't be very interesting!! You need complex and different personalities, some of which may clash with a reader to make a book come alive!
A MASSIVE WELL DONE to Jessica on a romcom with a twist!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your future books.
Overall a unique, refreshing and sweet romcom with a lovely twist.
Genres covered in this book include Fiction, Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Humourous Literary Fiction, Romance Literary Fiction, Rural Life Humour, Love, Sex & Marriage Humour and Women's Humourous Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Ali Hazelwood’s 'The Love Hypothesis' , Christina Lauren’s 'The Unhoneymooners' Emily Henry’s 'Beach Read' and anyone looking for a unique uplifting, fun and refreshing romcom.
348 pages/9 hours 13 minutes
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
This book is £18.29 to purchase as Audiobook or 1 credit or £7.99 if you have Audible Premium Plus.
Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#MyBigFakeWedding #Bookouture #JessicaHatch #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@MyBigFakeWedding @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @JessicaHatch
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
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https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
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August 3, 2022
A female character winning a free wedding and having to find a fiancé in less than 8 months? The kind of book I thought it was for me. And it had a lot of potential but in reality, I don’t think wasn’t the one.
Beatrice’s calm after accepting the date and the place of her own wedding when she doesn’t have a fiancée —nor a boyfriend for that matter, is strange. At least, for me. She’s described as a determined person (what she wants, she gets), but I believe panicking (a bit) would have been a great and powerful start. She eventually panics, but I think the author could have explored that.
Furthermore, she’s very selfish, and she doesn’t learn. Which, honestly, it’s not something I search in a protagonist.
All the relationships felt very forced to me. And, overall, I feel that everything in this story needs a bit of work. I think the execution for this story is terrible.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Beatrice’s calm after accepting the date and the place of her own wedding when she doesn’t have a fiancée —nor a boyfriend for that matter, is strange. At least, for me. She’s described as a determined person (what she wants, she gets), but I believe panicking (a bit) would have been a great and powerful start. She eventually panics, but I think the author could have explored that.
Furthermore, she’s very selfish, and she doesn’t learn. Which, honestly, it’s not something I search in a protagonist.
All the relationships felt very forced to me. And, overall, I feel that everything in this story needs a bit of work. I think the execution for this story is terrible.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2022
You are in a happy relationship for quite a few years. In your opinion this can only go one way: towards wedding bells.
Of course you want it to take place at your dream venue. Guess what! They are offering a chance to get married there at very low cost. Only one thing for you to do: enter your name and cross everything you have. You will them to pick you and make your day. And they did…
There are a lot of dance moves you can do alone. It takes two to tango though and there lies a small problem. Venue: check. Bride: check. Groom: ???
Bea has 8 months to find her husband-to-be. Is this possible? Let’s see if she can.
Would you follow in Bea’s steps or would you leave it be? Is it possible to have a crush on someone and being convinced they are the right one? Does it take more time for you to get to know the other person before you take the plunge?
It seems like, if you want it enough, you can achieve anything? Or is it a Fata Morgana you cling on to?
True love… Sometimes you cannot find it where you are looking and you don’t look where you can find it.
Friends… They should stand by you, no matter what. But, on the other hand, you should do the same. If you are not in a good mood, you are allowed to vent. They will listen, but you have to find it in your heart to put your own sorrows aside and give them your undivided attention too. It’s not always easy, but that’s the way it works. If not, you might throw away something very precious. You will regret it and if you leave it too long, you might never get it back.
Talk all you want, but be prepared to listen as well.
A fun story. 4 stars
Thank you
Of course you want it to take place at your dream venue. Guess what! They are offering a chance to get married there at very low cost. Only one thing for you to do: enter your name and cross everything you have. You will them to pick you and make your day. And they did…
There are a lot of dance moves you can do alone. It takes two to tango though and there lies a small problem. Venue: check. Bride: check. Groom: ???
Bea has 8 months to find her husband-to-be. Is this possible? Let’s see if she can.
Would you follow in Bea’s steps or would you leave it be? Is it possible to have a crush on someone and being convinced they are the right one? Does it take more time for you to get to know the other person before you take the plunge?
It seems like, if you want it enough, you can achieve anything? Or is it a Fata Morgana you cling on to?
True love… Sometimes you cannot find it where you are looking and you don’t look where you can find it.
Friends… They should stand by you, no matter what. But, on the other hand, you should do the same. If you are not in a good mood, you are allowed to vent. They will listen, but you have to find it in your heart to put your own sorrows aside and give them your undivided attention too. It’s not always easy, but that’s the way it works. If not, you might throw away something very precious. You will regret it and if you leave it too long, you might never get it back.
Talk all you want, but be prepared to listen as well.
A fun story. 4 stars
Thank you
October 15, 2022
As usual, thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Well, this wasn't great :(
I really tried to look past the insanity the plot was based on – a woman who wins a wedding party and decides she will find a groom so she can keep it – and go along with it. But sadly, even so it wasn't a nice experience.
Well, this wasn't great :(
I really tried to look past the insanity the plot was based on – a woman who wins a wedding party and decides she will find a groom so she can keep it – and go along with it. But sadly, even so it wasn't a nice experience.
March 5, 2025
1.5 stars
*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review,all opinions are my own *
A Disappointing and Predictable Read
I took a long time to finish this book simply because it was boring and uninteresting. I couldn’t connect with the characters at all, and unfortunately, it wasn’t a good reading experience for me. It’s not necessarily a bad book, but it just didn’t work for me—I found it dull and tedious.
From the start, I could already tell how the story was going to end. The main romance plot felt like a complete waste of time because it was so predictable. I kept hoping the author would do something different, take a risk, or at least not follow the most obvious path—but unfortunately, she did. This made the reading experience frustrating and, at times, outright annoying.
By the time I reached the ending, I was extremely frustrated and irritated. The only reason I actually finished the book was that, despite everything, it was a quick read. Whenever I sat down to read, I got through a good chunk of it, but that didn’t make it enjoyable.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone. The story felt shallow, uninteresting, and filled with characters I didn’t care about. If I could go back, I wouldn’t have wasted my time reading it.
*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review,all opinions are my own *
A Disappointing and Predictable Read
I took a long time to finish this book simply because it was boring and uninteresting. I couldn’t connect with the characters at all, and unfortunately, it wasn’t a good reading experience for me. It’s not necessarily a bad book, but it just didn’t work for me—I found it dull and tedious.
From the start, I could already tell how the story was going to end. The main romance plot felt like a complete waste of time because it was so predictable. I kept hoping the author would do something different, take a risk, or at least not follow the most obvious path—but unfortunately, she did. This made the reading experience frustrating and, at times, outright annoying.
By the time I reached the ending, I was extremely frustrated and irritated. The only reason I actually finished the book was that, despite everything, it was a quick read. Whenever I sat down to read, I got through a good chunk of it, but that didn’t make it enjoyable.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone. The story felt shallow, uninteresting, and filled with characters I didn’t care about. If I could go back, I wouldn’t have wasted my time reading it.
September 6, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this e-Arc. This is an honest review.
2,45 ⭐️ Beatrice is a woman who has been left by her boyfriend of seven years, who she wanted to marry and had applied to win a wedding for them. The man had other plans so Bea found herself with a wedding and no one to marry.
The book could have been interesting at first, I thought I was going to like it, but then I had problems with reading this.
I disliked the characters, they’re all so selfish you can’t stand them. One of them was a walking red-flag from the start. Even though he was making me change my mind as the story went on, in the end I realised I had been right with my first thought.
The love story was very confusing. I feel like the real love story took place only in the last 50 pages or less and still not developed at all.
In the end I didn’t like this book and I hoped it was going to continue with the vibe it had at the start.
2,45 ⭐️ Beatrice is a woman who has been left by her boyfriend of seven years, who she wanted to marry and had applied to win a wedding for them. The man had other plans so Bea found herself with a wedding and no one to marry.
The book could have been interesting at first, I thought I was going to like it, but then I had problems with reading this.
I disliked the characters, they’re all so selfish you can’t stand them. One of them was a walking red-flag from the start. Even though he was making me change my mind as the story went on, in the end I realised I had been right with my first thought.
The love story was very confusing. I feel like the real love story took place only in the last 50 pages or less and still not developed at all.
In the end I didn’t like this book and I hoped it was going to continue with the vibe it had at the start.
little-miss-dnf
August 5, 2022Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I am DNFing this ARC at the 60% mark. I found it hard to care about most of the characters, especially the main character. I found her to be insufferable. I don't mind insufferable if the character is interesting, but she is not. She is selfish, and it is no wonder she has to use a scheme to get married. I also had a hard time with the main love interest. You know she won't end up with him, but the person you know she will end up with is barely on the page.
I liked the idea of this book, but the execution just didn't work for me.
Unfortunately, I am DNFing this ARC at the 60% mark. I found it hard to care about most of the characters, especially the main character. I found her to be insufferable. I don't mind insufferable if the character is interesting, but she is not. She is selfish, and it is no wonder she has to use a scheme to get married. I also had a hard time with the main love interest. You know she won't end up with him, but the person you know she will end up with is barely on the page.
I liked the idea of this book, but the execution just didn't work for me.
August 8, 2022
This was enjoyable enough but the relationship was not developed at all. I obviously knew she was going to end up with charlie but the writing to get to that point was terrible. They did not spend enough time together for that the be believable. Also andrew is such a piece of trash.
I received an arc through netgalley.
I received an arc through netgalley.
September 6, 2022
2.5 stars
Honestly good but it felt a bit too tedious and dragged out???
I liked the idea and the plot but it could've been written better.
Appreciate the hustle though, even if it's pretty bland and I've immediately forgotten what all I read in it.
*** I received this as an ARC from NetGalley ***
Honestly good but it felt a bit too tedious and dragged out???
I liked the idea and the plot but it could've been written better.
Appreciate the hustle though, even if it's pretty bland and I've immediately forgotten what all I read in it.
*** I received this as an ARC from NetGalley ***
August 13, 2022
thank you netgalley for providing an audiobook arc in exchange of an honest review
Unfortunately this book didn’t meet my expectations
I expected it to be a cute romcom but I found myself losing interest halfway into the book
Unfortunately this book didn’t meet my expectations
I expected it to be a cute romcom but I found myself losing interest halfway into the book
August 21, 2022
DNF at 23%
WELP, at least the cover looks pretty cute and the premise sounds interesting? But he writing, pacing and execution? NOPE.
WELP, at least the cover looks pretty cute and the premise sounds interesting? But he writing, pacing and execution? NOPE.
November 19, 2022
A contemporary romance that had so much potential but left me a bit disappointed!
This story introduces Bea who wins a lottery. The prize? Her dream wedding, paid for! The problem? The long term partner she was with when she first entered, has since cheated on her and dumped her. Does she turn it down? No, she panics and accepts. Now all she needs is a groom!
What I liked:
- I actually enjoyed the writing style itself very much. I was able to read this in one sitting!
- The added ‘To Do Lists’ at the end of each chapter. That was a fun element to add, I enjoyed them!
- The cover! I think it was the main reason I requested this book!
What didn’t work for me:
- I could tell quite quickly that the guy for Bea was going to be her best friend of many years, Oliver. Despite that we spend 90% of the book reading about Bea’s lack lustre engagement with her co-worker, Andrew. This would be fine if Oliver still featured consistently. He doesn’t. I would’ve expected more tension filled moments and pining, especially from him. After all, wasn’t the girl he loved marrying another? When he does appear on page, it’s in group settings not giving me the one on one angst I wanted. I distinctly remember thinking, on more then one occasion, ‘when is Oliver going to appear again?’
- The ending. We finally, at 90 something percent, see Bea get together with Oliver. But did we get a declaration of undying love? No. We got an ‘I like you’ and ‘let’s take it slow.’ Basically a barely described kiss followed up with a boring, practical conversation. I wanted to FEEL passion at that point. This guy was THE one?! It’s a romcom! I wanted, ‘I’ve been in love with you from the moment I met you. It killed me that you were going to marry someone else.’ Perhaps the ending was meant to seem more steady and realistic but I felt nothing but let down. It was a flat ending that had me thinking, ‘is that it?’ Felt very anti-climactic!
- The fact it was a closed door romance. Bea had good sexual chemistry with Andrew (supposedly). I needed to feel and read her chemistry with Oliver being even better so it didn’t help that this book was a closed door romance. I do not like closed door scenes in adult romance but you can still pull it off if the kissing and other frantic moments that lead up to sex are described well. This book seriously lacked good descriptive scenes of such intimacy. By the end of the book I was totally blue balled (for lack of a better term 😅) and so dissatisfied by Bea and Oliver’s ending. Even in fade to black/closed door romances the reader should feel the passion.
- Bea’s job. I couldn’t really explain to you what it is she does and for what purpose. Every time she was at work, I zoned out a bit.
- Her friendship with Lucy. Both of them at different times were profoundly selfish and treated each other badly. It was not especially enjoyable to read.
- Character descriptions. I also struggled with picturing the characters in my head. Each character has only extremely basic descriptions of appearance. The main character had brown hair and hazel eyes (I think?) but I don’t recall her appearance being further described?
- The premise. I found it pretty unbelievable that a woman would just accept a prize of a big wedding and start planning said wedding, without a groom. Not only that, she expected her parents and friends to all go along with it. The idea was fun and definitely romcom worthy but the execution didn’t quite work for me.
This was a binge-able read but the ending left me so disappointed, I really would have liked MORE from Oliver and Bea!
*Thank-you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e copy of this book in exchange for a review. I finished this book in entirety. My review has honest opinions that are solely my own.*
This story introduces Bea who wins a lottery. The prize? Her dream wedding, paid for! The problem? The long term partner she was with when she first entered, has since cheated on her and dumped her. Does she turn it down? No, she panics and accepts. Now all she needs is a groom!
What I liked:
- I actually enjoyed the writing style itself very much. I was able to read this in one sitting!
- The added ‘To Do Lists’ at the end of each chapter. That was a fun element to add, I enjoyed them!
- The cover! I think it was the main reason I requested this book!
What didn’t work for me:
- I could tell quite quickly that the guy for Bea was going to be her best friend of many years, Oliver. Despite that we spend 90% of the book reading about Bea’s lack lustre engagement with her co-worker, Andrew. This would be fine if Oliver still featured consistently. He doesn’t. I would’ve expected more tension filled moments and pining, especially from him. After all, wasn’t the girl he loved marrying another? When he does appear on page, it’s in group settings not giving me the one on one angst I wanted. I distinctly remember thinking, on more then one occasion, ‘when is Oliver going to appear again?’
- The ending. We finally, at 90 something percent, see Bea get together with Oliver. But did we get a declaration of undying love? No. We got an ‘I like you’ and ‘let’s take it slow.’ Basically a barely described kiss followed up with a boring, practical conversation. I wanted to FEEL passion at that point. This guy was THE one?! It’s a romcom! I wanted, ‘I’ve been in love with you from the moment I met you. It killed me that you were going to marry someone else.’ Perhaps the ending was meant to seem more steady and realistic but I felt nothing but let down. It was a flat ending that had me thinking, ‘is that it?’ Felt very anti-climactic!
- The fact it was a closed door romance. Bea had good sexual chemistry with Andrew (supposedly). I needed to feel and read her chemistry with Oliver being even better so it didn’t help that this book was a closed door romance. I do not like closed door scenes in adult romance but you can still pull it off if the kissing and other frantic moments that lead up to sex are described well. This book seriously lacked good descriptive scenes of such intimacy. By the end of the book I was totally blue balled (for lack of a better term 😅) and so dissatisfied by Bea and Oliver’s ending. Even in fade to black/closed door romances the reader should feel the passion.
- Bea’s job. I couldn’t really explain to you what it is she does and for what purpose. Every time she was at work, I zoned out a bit.
- Her friendship with Lucy. Both of them at different times were profoundly selfish and treated each other badly. It was not especially enjoyable to read.
- Character descriptions. I also struggled with picturing the characters in my head. Each character has only extremely basic descriptions of appearance. The main character had brown hair and hazel eyes (I think?) but I don’t recall her appearance being further described?
- The premise. I found it pretty unbelievable that a woman would just accept a prize of a big wedding and start planning said wedding, without a groom. Not only that, she expected her parents and friends to all go along with it. The idea was fun and definitely romcom worthy but the execution didn’t quite work for me.
This was a binge-able read but the ending left me so disappointed, I really would have liked MORE from Oliver and Bea!
*Thank-you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e copy of this book in exchange for a review. I finished this book in entirety. My review has honest opinions that are solely my own.*
August 18, 2022
**I received this ARC from NetGalley & Bookouture in exchange for an honest review**
oh. my. gosh. i got this book THIS MORNING and i literally just finished it 20 minutes ago. it was so cute!!! i’m such a sucker for a good romance, especially one that had me giggling like this one did.
i am literally in love with this book, like, omg. i was laughing half the time, and sometimes i was crying, but it was such an enjoyable read. all of these characters i was absolutely rooting for (well, almost all of them — but i won’t give anything away!!) and they just felt so…. *real.* i also loved the anxiety rep in the MC, and how she was a little quirky and “too much” — felt like I saw myself in her a little bit.
i highly recommend this book!! can’t wait to see what Jessica Hatch does next.
oh. my. gosh. i got this book THIS MORNING and i literally just finished it 20 minutes ago. it was so cute!!! i’m such a sucker for a good romance, especially one that had me giggling like this one did.
i am literally in love with this book, like, omg. i was laughing half the time, and sometimes i was crying, but it was such an enjoyable read. all of these characters i was absolutely rooting for (well, almost all of them — but i won’t give anything away!!) and they just felt so…. *real.* i also loved the anxiety rep in the MC, and how she was a little quirky and “too much” — felt like I saw myself in her a little bit.
i highly recommend this book!! can’t wait to see what Jessica Hatch does next.
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