Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
"An adventurous palate is the key to a deeper understanding of people.”
In the romantic backdrop of Italy's Lake Como, a destination wedding becomes the stage for the reunion of three best friends—Ava, Madison, and Chelsea. United by a pact to gather for each other's weddings despite life's divergent paths, the trio faces the shadows of a past marked by secrets and choices that tore them apart.
Ava, on the brink of marrying her beloved amidst the splendor of Lake Como, grapples with haunting mistakes that linger in the recesses of her mind. Madison, a successful influencer in the fashion world, finds herself threatened by a scandal that jeopardizes all she holds dear. Chelsea, possessing the perfect family she's always desired, realizes that her professional aspirations have slipped away.
Returning to the stunning shores of Lake Como, the women retrace the steps of their life-altering college trip to Italy. As Madison confronts a former college sweetheart, a pivotal figure from her past, the trio navigates the challenges of healing old wounds and forging a new path forward. In this novel by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst, the scenic beauty of Lake Como becomes the canvas for a tale of love, friendship, and the redemption of bonds once thought broken.
Venturing into the realm of contemporary drama, a genre not typically gracing my reading repertoire, I took a leap of faith with this book, drawn by the allure of Italy and the charm of Lake Como. Having visited the picturesque destination myself, the prospect of revisiting it through the lens of this story was irresistible. As I delved into the narrative, I appreciated the departure from my usual thriller obsession. The book successfully blended drama with an engaging storyline, offering a refreshing break from my literary routine.
Among the trio of friends, Chelsea emerged as my favorite character. Despite being the least spotlighted among the three, her grounded and mediating nature resonated with me. I envisioned her as someone I'd genuinely want as a friend, bringing reason and balance to the group dynamic.
Madison, however, proved to be a more perplexing character. The initial portrayal of a shy, quirky girl undergoing a seemingly drastic transformation into a media sensation left me somewhat puzzled. The shift in personality didn't feel entirely organic, even with the encouragement of her friends to embrace confidence.
On the flip side, Ava, unfortunately, became my least favorite character. Her traits and actions left me questioning who could genuinely like someone with her disposition. The nuances of her character failed to resonate with me, and her choices left me perplexed.
In the end, the book achieved its purpose—the story was a fast read that kept me interested for what it was.
"An adventurous palate is the key to a deeper understanding of people.”
In the romantic backdrop of Italy's Lake Como, a destination wedding becomes the stage for the reunion of three best friends—Ava, Madison, and Chelsea. United by a pact to gather for each other's weddings despite life's divergent paths, the trio faces the shadows of a past marked by secrets and choices that tore them apart.
Ava, on the brink of marrying her beloved amidst the splendor of Lake Como, grapples with haunting mistakes that linger in the recesses of her mind. Madison, a successful influencer in the fashion world, finds herself threatened by a scandal that jeopardizes all she holds dear. Chelsea, possessing the perfect family she's always desired, realizes that her professional aspirations have slipped away.
Returning to the stunning shores of Lake Como, the women retrace the steps of their life-altering college trip to Italy. As Madison confronts a former college sweetheart, a pivotal figure from her past, the trio navigates the challenges of healing old wounds and forging a new path forward. In this novel by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst, the scenic beauty of Lake Como becomes the canvas for a tale of love, friendship, and the redemption of bonds once thought broken.
Venturing into the realm of contemporary drama, a genre not typically gracing my reading repertoire, I took a leap of faith with this book, drawn by the allure of Italy and the charm of Lake Como. Having visited the picturesque destination myself, the prospect of revisiting it through the lens of this story was irresistible. As I delved into the narrative, I appreciated the departure from my usual thriller obsession. The book successfully blended drama with an engaging storyline, offering a refreshing break from my literary routine.
Among the trio of friends, Chelsea emerged as my favorite character. Despite being the least spotlighted among the three, her grounded and mediating nature resonated with me. I envisioned her as someone I'd genuinely want as a friend, bringing reason and balance to the group dynamic.
Madison, however, proved to be a more perplexing character. The initial portrayal of a shy, quirky girl undergoing a seemingly drastic transformation into a media sensation left me somewhat puzzled. The shift in personality didn't feel entirely organic, even with the encouragement of her friends to embrace confidence.
On the flip side, Ava, unfortunately, became my least favorite character. Her traits and actions left me questioning who could genuinely like someone with her disposition. The nuances of her character failed to resonate with me, and her choices left me perplexed.
In the end, the book achieved its purpose—the story was a fast read that kept me interested for what it was.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Oh no. These characters are incredibly toxic and not interesting enough to engage me; the only one I wanted to know more about is Chelsea, and she is barely in the book. Also, the cheating and pregnancy bits are...rough.
Oh no. These characters are incredibly toxic and not interesting enough to engage me; the only one I wanted to know more about is Chelsea, and she is barely in the book. Also, the cheating and pregnancy bits are...rough.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Pregnancy, Abandonment
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Did not go as I expected - big twist in the middle! Really enjoyed this, though.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
A heartfelt story of friendship, love, and second chances, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Italy’s beautiful Lake Como. The novel follows best friends Ava, Maddie, and Chelsea as they reunite for Ava’s lavish wedding. When they were younger, they made a pact to attend each other’s weddings despite their diverging lives, and now they each carry unresolved struggles—Ava with past mistakes, Maddie with a career-threatening scandal, and Chelsea with sacrificed dreams. As they reunite at the site of their memorable college trip to Lake Como, old secrets resurface and truths come to light. You will feel and see the complexities of friendship and love. Highly recommended for fans of romance and stories about personal growth.
This hit all the feels. I don’t know that I would process things the same way, but I can see why everything ended up the way it did.
I did get teary once but it wasn’t overly emotional to me. I think it tapped into my fury and devastation more than sadness/heartbreak.
Overall a good read and I loved the complexity and pace of the book.
I did get teary once but it wasn’t overly emotional to me. I think it tapped into my fury and devastation more than sadness/heartbreak.
Overall a good read and I loved the complexity and pace of the book.
Synopsis in a sentence (or two):
Maddie, Ava, and Chelsea meet in college and become immediate friends. Their bond appears unbreakable until it shatters.
Pacing/Storyline:
It’s rare for me to say I’d like to see a book turn into a movie, and for the record, the book IS always better. Yet, A Wedding in Lake Como would make a beautiful movie. In a way, this story had elements of an updated Beaches. It’s a slow-burn drama about three friends detailing the transformation of their relationship as they mature through their college years and twenties. I’m not typically a lover of slow-burn dramas, but this story kept me invested. It kept lingering in the back of my mind, urging me to pick it back up every time I put it down.
Midway through the novel, the story detours from the honeymoon friendship stage to describe the reason for the friendship’s demise. That drama catapults the story into a faster-paced unraveling. Told from dual timelines, Jennifer Probst writes with beautiful detail. I loved how she laced together the depth of the setting with layered, very flawed characters. Her words read like a painting. I will be looking for more from her.
Characters:
Watching the evolution of Maddie and eventually seeing Ava’s transformation made this a four-star book for me, and I debated higher. Madison, the MC, and her two friends, Ava and Chelsea, were both authentic and toxic simultaneously. The hesitancy I felt with the characters initially was the way they came off as so very self-involved. Midway through the novel, it becomes clear that this portrayal was deliberate, and thankfully, their conceited personalities don’t stick around through the entire storyline. Ultimately, it’s a compelling story about friendship, forgiveness, and the journey to find peace.
Recommended to readers who love:
Maddie, Ava, and Chelsea meet in college and become immediate friends. Their bond appears unbreakable until it shatters.
Pacing/Storyline:
It’s rare for me to say I’d like to see a book turn into a movie, and for the record, the book IS always better. Yet, A Wedding in Lake Como would make a beautiful movie. In a way, this story had elements of an updated Beaches. It’s a slow-burn drama about three friends detailing the transformation of their relationship as they mature through their college years and twenties. I’m not typically a lover of slow-burn dramas, but this story kept me invested. It kept lingering in the back of my mind, urging me to pick it back up every time I put it down.
Midway through the novel, the story detours from the honeymoon friendship stage to describe the reason for the friendship’s demise. That drama catapults the story into a faster-paced unraveling. Told from dual timelines, Jennifer Probst writes with beautiful detail. I loved how she laced together the depth of the setting with layered, very flawed characters. Her words read like a painting. I will be looking for more from her.
Characters:
Watching the evolution of Maddie and eventually seeing Ava’s transformation made this a four-star book for me, and I debated higher. Madison, the MC, and her two friends, Ava and Chelsea, were both authentic and toxic simultaneously. The hesitancy I felt with the characters initially was the way they came off as so very self-involved. Midway through the novel, it becomes clear that this portrayal was deliberate, and thankfully, their conceited personalities don’t stick around through the entire storyline. Ultimately, it’s a compelling story about friendship, forgiveness, and the journey to find peace.
Recommended to readers who love:
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is not what is promised in the description in my opinion. The description makes it sound like a book about friends reuniting in Italy 5 years after a fall out. I assumed we’d hear more about Maddie’s career and Chelsea’s life, I assumed it wouldn’t take 90% of the book before Maddie sees Riggs again. And more than anything I assumed I’d be rooting for everyone to make up. That is not what happened for me.
Most of this book takes place in the past. Maddie and Ava’s friendship is absolutely toxic. Maddie has a strange obsession with Ava and that feeling is mutual. Ava tries to completely control Maddie’s life while giving off the impression that she is being supportive and loving. And Maddie has a real need for love because of her relationship with her parents.
The only person I liked in this book was Chelsea and the end of her story felt too sudden and lacking in details.
And the change in Ava’s life was pretty drastic.
This is the third book in this series, I had actually pre-ordered the fourth book and have since canceled it.
I’m bummed. I probably should have just dnf’d this book rather than sticking with it and giving it a bad rating. But it’s getting the rating I think it deserves based on my own enjoyment of the story. I don’t feel like this book fit the book description at all and I don’t like how casually the toxic friendship wad written off by the end.
Most of this book takes place in the past. Maddie and Ava’s friendship is absolutely toxic. Maddie has a strange obsession with Ava and that feeling is mutual. Ava tries to completely control Maddie’s life while giving off the impression that she is being supportive and loving. And Maddie has a real need for love because of her relationship with her parents.
The only person I liked in this book was Chelsea and the end of her story felt too sudden and lacking in details.
And the change in Ava’s life was pretty drastic.
This is the third book in this series, I had actually pre-ordered the fourth book and have since canceled it.
I’m bummed. I probably should have just dnf’d this book rather than sticking with it and giving it a bad rating. But it’s getting the rating I think it deserves based on my own enjoyment of the story. I don’t feel like this book fit the book description at all and I don’t like how casually the toxic friendship wad written off by the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
Minor: Infidelity
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes