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kdenharder's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
samigordineer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.75
It took me a few days after finishing this book to be able to sit down and write a review for it. I had an emotional reaction to this book that I hadn’t anticipated.
Ray Bruno and Kip Hayes are very different characters. Ray is an internet journalist/former trashy website blogger and Kip is a doctor. Between the differences in professional life and age, some issues arise. Ray is very comfortable in who he is and his sexuality, but Kip isn’t always comfortable sharing his relationship with the world.
There are a lot more heavy themes in this book than I expected. I went into this thinking it would be a fun beach read! At times it was, but other times it really made you slow down and be introspective. I related to Kip a lot more than I anticipated. I expected to relate to Ray because I too am a millennial. But I’m also someone who took a long time to become comfortable with their sexuality. I am not out to my mailman. I am not even out to my family (formally). Being bisexual has its perks. My current partner is a man, so I don’t have to deal with the staring and whispering anymore. I can still feel the anxiety that I felt when going out with another woman. The curious eyes that were suddenly on us when they figured out we weren't just two friends out for dinner. I would recommend going into this with a solid headspace if these are things you can relate to.
The narrator for the audiobook were fantastic! He did a great job of bringing the characters to life and keeping you engrossed in the story. There were a lot of great conversations we got to experience the characters have. At times I wanted to shake Ray for being stupid, but I’m very glad I continued to listen.
Overall, I had a great time with this book! I am so thankful that I was able to listen to this before it released. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC!
Ray Bruno and Kip Hayes are very different characters. Ray is an internet journalist/former trashy website blogger and Kip is a doctor. Between the differences in professional life and age, some issues arise. Ray is very comfortable in who he is and his sexuality, but Kip isn’t always comfortable sharing his relationship with the world.
There are a lot more heavy themes in this book than I expected. I went into this thinking it would be a fun beach read! At times it was, but other times it really made you slow down and be introspective. I related to Kip a lot more than I anticipated. I expected to relate to Ray because I too am a millennial. But I’m also someone who took a long time to become comfortable with their sexuality. I am not out to my mailman. I am not even out to my family (formally). Being bisexual has its perks. My current partner is a man, so I don’t have to deal with the staring and whispering anymore. I can still feel the anxiety that I felt when going out with another woman. The curious eyes that were suddenly on us when they figured out we weren't just two friends out for dinner. I would recommend going into this with a solid headspace if these are things you can relate to.
The narrator for the audiobook were fantastic! He did a great job of bringing the characters to life and keeping you engrossed in the story. There were a lot of great conversations we got to experience the characters have. At times I wanted to shake Ray for being stupid, but I’m very glad I continued to listen.
Overall, I had a great time with this book! I am so thankful that I was able to listen to this before it released. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC!
booklvrlili's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cag168's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc.
This was such a fun book. I don't how many people do early moon in real life but honestly, way better way to destress before a big day, and think it should be a thing. I love how when you only look at the surface level at Ray and Kip. They shouldn't work. The story isn't the whole opposite attract. They have much more depth than that. This story explores more of what a relationship is, and how easy to forget a person is so much more than what they show. I loved this book and will be checking out other books by this author.
This was such a fun book. I don't how many people do early moon in real life but honestly, way better way to destress before a big day, and think it should be a thing. I love how when you only look at the surface level at Ray and Kip. They shouldn't work. The story isn't the whole opposite attract. They have much more depth than that. This story explores more of what a relationship is, and how easy to forget a person is so much more than what they show. I loved this book and will be checking out other books by this author.
pinkcowlandreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sevireene's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kristenraeham's review
2.0
I finished this one only because I wanted to know what happened. But I spent the entire book grumpy about reading it. Both MCs were infuriating in their inability to communicate. And I get it, maybe it's the fact I haven't dated in a long time, but like these two have been together for like 5/6 years and are getting married, and they have these very basic aspects of their relationship they haven't worked through?! It just felt unbelievable to me.
loserlew's review against another edition
3.5
First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
Nearlywed was a bittersweet and hopeful love story about Ray and Kip as they prepare to get married. Set at a New England resort in the town Ray grew up, the couple face fears and have hard conversations about their future.
I thought at first that I wasn’t really going to like this book. It was advertised as a rom com and I really wouldn’t classify it as such. Compare anything to People We Meet on Vacation and I’m going to have high standards!! Neither of the main characters were particularly likable at first and I’m going to be honest: it’s really hard for me to read books with unlikable characters. However! The journey they went on separately and together ended up being hopeful and beautiful which pulled the rating up for me. I actually ended up enjoying this one a lot!
3.5 ⭐️
niffler_for_words's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
“And isn’t that the real beauty of allowing yourself to be seen?”
Ray and Kip’s story was a very interesting read. If I found the beginning of Nearly Wed very funny, the rest of the story gave me a lot to think about.
In appearance both characters couldn’t be more opposite. Kip is a brilliant and discreet doctor, 10 years older than Ray, his oversharing click-bait-writer insecure fiancé. Yet, as the story unfolds, we get to know them and learn that under the appearances, they could have more similarities than we thought.
However, these very fleshy characters aren’t even the most interesting in the novel. I adored the themes developed. How does it mean –and feel– to be openly yourself when you grew up in a society who didn’t even acknowledge your existence? What makes you valid? How do you deal with the buried shame and fears? Do you have to publicly show every single part of yourself? Who are we? Are we what we show, say, tell, hide, to others? Or are we how people perceive and shape us via their expectations? An answer to the stereotypes? If the main subject of the book is the adorable gay couple, all these questions made an echo to my neurodiverse mind about unmasking.
The reflection about marriage and how relationships stretch, change, and buried problems can surge again around the D-Day was another very interesting point.
If the HEA is guaranteed (it’s a romance!!), I loved that not every problem and character’s inner conflict were. Working on who we are, and to accept ourselves deeply is a life-long work, afterall.
Thank you NetGalley, Nicolas DiDomizio and Sourcebook Casablanca for this ARC. My opinions are my own.