A review by bookobsessedmommy
Nearlywed by Nicolas DiDomizio

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

A real life meet cute brought Kip and Ray together 6 years ago, and even though they couldn't be more different on paper, somehow they make things work. They decide to eschew bachelor parties to go on an "early-moon" together instead, but what was supposed to be a romantic pre-wedding get away brings on a reckoning that could derail their happy ever after. The story is told entirely from Ray's POV, and the inside of his head can be a neurotic mess at times. I love dual POV in romance, but only hearing one side provides more tension in this case. Ray and Kip (and the side characters) got on my nerves regularly, but a lot of the discussions about fear and figuring out what you actually want (not what people told you to want) felt real and honest. There is a bit of miscommunication in here, but not the contrived kind that drives me batty. It can be really easy in relationships, especially as time goes on, to stop having meaningful conversations and assume you know all you need to know about the other person, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Watching this couple run into issues they had been ignoring and choose to examine their feelings and motivations was inspiring. I got this as an audio-arc, but I absolutely need my own copy.