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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a book that it is WAY, WAY more about the love of friends than it is about romantic love. It was funny, and sad, and about recovering from different levels of heartbreak. It was beautifully written, and there were a hundred tiny choices that felt true. I both actually laughed out loud and cried actual tears. I've read a few books lately that were mostly "meh" and this felt like a slump-buster.
I stayed up way longer than I should have to finish this, I just liked it so much. I love a good girl book - this is closer to chick lit than pure romance imo - and Willa is unbelievably sympathetic in a way I didn't expect! I love that even at the end of this she's barely restarted her life, she's just in a far better place for it, surrounded with the right kind of people. I think the real strength of this book though is the way Rea captures that best friend heartbreak - the loss of memories and good things and a future with this person you truly believe you'll spend the rest of your life with - books don't usually spend time with that.
I also don't usually love books that have lying built into the premise but again - super sympathetic, and almost understandable? Like I wouldn't do this but I deeply get why they did? You know.
My only complaint besides that is that I think these characters all skew younger to me than they say they do. These are 24, 25 year-olds to me mentally, not 30. But that's a weirdly specific thing to hone in on.
I also don't usually love books that have lying built into the premise but again - super sympathetic, and almost understandable? Like I wouldn't do this but I deeply get why they did? You know.
My only complaint besides that is that I think these characters all skew younger to me than they say they do. These are 24, 25 year-olds to me mentally, not 30. But that's a weirdly specific thing to hone in on.
I went between 4 and 5 stars on this, and honestly, the themes and stories around friendship is what tipped it to 5 ⭐ for me. Yes, the romance was cute (who wouldn't love a hot pediatrician?), but the friendships ... That's the real story. The pain of losing a best friend and the history, love, and support that encompasses and the joy of new friends and accepting people for their eccentricities, flaws, and secrets. Chef's kiss. Also, really appreciate that the romance built at a normal pace. I've read several books recently where they go from first kiss to being completely and utterly devoted within a blink of an eye. I appreciated that this was a slow build with anxieties and hesitancies and the awkwardness of getting to know someone.
This was SO good! A lot more about the power of friendship than a romance. Felt a lot like a movie and the book flew by.
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
I loved the story. It was a cute romcom. All the characters were so likeable and having their own problems, but al needed each other.
I really loved this romcom set in Columbus, Ohio. The love story was secondary to the female friendships in this book which I loved!
Charming, romantic, funny story. Not a single misstep.
Charming, romantic, funny story. Not a single misstep.
What a debut by Kerry Rea! This book was one of my reading highlights on 2021. The real romance of The Wedding Ringer is really friendship - letting go of bad ones, but also not letting those bad experiences miss out on new ones. I loved the relationship between Willa and Maisie, it was well developed, with Maisie’s kindness slowly tearing away with walls Willa had after discovering her ex-fiancé and best friend cheating on her.
This book, funnily enough shares the same premise as Katy Birchall’s The Secret Bridesmaid - both books about secret paid bridesmaid, and both have friendship between bridesmaid and bride as the real romance but both executed in a different, but compelling way.
Rea turns the ‘grumpy/sunshine’ trope on its head by making the female lead character Willa the grump, but instead of it only being the love interest as the sunshine, it’s also the friendship interest. I’m really over grumpy being always the male, while sunshine is always the female and it’s written so one dimensionally. Not in this book, Willa and Maisie are complex, three dimensional characters whose life experiences have shaped their outlook.
This book is touching, poignant and utterly delightful.
This book, funnily enough shares the same premise as Katy Birchall’s The Secret Bridesmaid - both books about secret paid bridesmaid, and both have friendship between bridesmaid and bride as the real romance but both executed in a different, but compelling way.
Rea turns the ‘grumpy/sunshine’ trope on its head by making the female lead character Willa the grump, but instead of it only being the love interest as the sunshine, it’s also the friendship interest. I’m really over grumpy being always the male, while sunshine is always the female and it’s written so one dimensionally. Not in this book, Willa and Maisie are complex, three dimensional characters whose life experiences have shaped their outlook.
This book is touching, poignant and utterly delightful.
A delightful romantic comedy about finding friendship and love in the most unlikely places! I'm really picky about rom-coms--I want a likeable heroine and witty writing. This novel has it in spades!