Bad Luck Bridesmaid

Bad Luck Bridesmaid: A Novel | Alison Rose Greenberg

so-so

As I‘m engaged and getting married next year, I was excited to read a fun wedding themed rom-com! This was mostly enjoyable, but the main character, Zoey, really annoyed me. She has a perfect man (Greenberg truly didn‘t give him any flaws), but she doesn‘t want to marry him because she has commitment issues thanks to none of her friends tying the knot at weddings where she was a bridesmaid. A fun idea, but I did not love the final direction.

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kimmypete1

Bad Luck Bridesmaid: A Novel | Alison Rose Greenberg

bailed

I did something I rarely do and looked up a spoiler, and man am I glad I did. I‘ll put a few spoilery thoughts in the comments, but this is not the cute romcom the cover promises.

#DoubleSpin @TheAromaofBooks

kimmypete1 The first ⅓ of the book was told in the past and it was kind of weird. I got very invested in Rylan and was hoping for a second chance romance but then he has a date for the wedding and there is another guy entering the book and it just gave me a feeling, hence the spoiler checking. I appreciate Zoey staying true to herself, but for it to end with no Rylan and her kissing this other guy? Not here for it. 2y

wanderinglynn Well that‘s disappointing. And this book is sending mixed messages. The cover and most of the synopsis scream rom-com. If it‘s not a rom-com, then the publisher could have done a better job marketing it—a less rom-com cover, and maybe a synopsis that highlights what this book really is about if not really romance. 2y

kimmypete1 @wanderinglynn I would say it‘s womens fiction, focus on self discovery and being you, there is a romance in the beginning but it‘s not carried through. :( 2y

TheAromaofBooks @kimmypete1 @wanderinglynn - Books masquerading as romcoms make me so frustrated! I just can't understand why the publisher/author/whoever does this stuff thinks that tricking people into reading a story that doesn't actually match their mood or expectations is a good idea?! Multiple times I've read a book that I actually would have liked if I hadn't been expecting something fun & fluffy when I picked it up. 2y

16 likes4 comments

kimmypete1

Bad Luck Bridesmaid: A Novel | Alison Rose Greenberg

Halfway through and I‘m worried that Bad Luck Bridesmaid is going to take a different turn. It‘s killing me not to know and it‘s very possible I could finish this book today because that‘s how bad I need to know.

MidnightBookGirl Ummmmm, I have questions. That sounds like a very short dress... did she loose her leggings? What's the damp log? So confused.
2y

kimmypete1 @MidnightBookGirl she is wearing a short dress (to empress 🙄) while they are at a falconry to learn how to catch/release a falcon on your arm. It did not go well. 2y

16 likes2 comments

DGRachel

Bad Luck Bridesmaid: A Novel | Alison Rose Greenberg

so-so

This was presented to me as a rom-com by St. Martin‘s. It is not. It‘s general fiction with sex on the page. As such, it breaks the implied HEA contract that romance novels have and I would not have accepted the invitation to read it on NetGalley had I known that. I was enjoying this book right up to the end, which completely destroyed the story for me.

robinb

ItsAngel ELI5….what‘s HEA contract? 2y

AbigailJaneBlog @ItsAngel Happily Ever After, I think 💕 2y

DGRachel @ItsAngel Yes, it‘s Happily Ever After. True romance novels are supposed to have either a HEA or a HFN, which is Happy For Now, but the contract between author and reader in a romance novel is that our couple is together at the end and happily in love. 2y

See All 7 Comments

ItsAngel Thanks @AbigailJaneBlog and @DGRachel ….should‘ve know that. Duh. Haha 2y

robinb Good review, Rachel. I think I felt so wronged in other places, I wasn‘t even thinking about the HEA issue. But it‘s true. So much time invested and no acceptable pay-off. That ending for me sealed the deal and made me feel vindicated for (at least some) of my vitriol. 😂😂😂 Thanks for the tag. 2y

DGRachel @robinb I‘m still mad about the ending. I saw reviews that mentioned a “great twist” at the end, so halfway through I was thinking she‘d end up with Ezra, which kind of made me roll my eyes, but then the actual ending was just worse. 2y

robinb Yep. And I wasn‘t rooting for Rylan OR Ezra…or Zoey for that matter. 😂😂 2y

62 likes7 comments

TorieStorieS

Bad Luck Bridesmaid: A Novel | Alison Rose Greenberg

pick

Romance isn‘t really my go-to genre-& this one is definitely steamier than the ones I tend to pick up. But I ended up overall liking it - though there were some moments when I admit to being tempted to not finish it all! I am glad that I stuck with it though- I didn‘t always like the titular Bad Luck Bridesmaid, Zoey, but she grew on me in the end (though her aversions didn‘t always make sense to me). There are funny parts here-& emotional ones!

46 likes

robinb

Bad Luck Bridesmaid: A Novel | Alison Rose Greenberg

pan

Just no.
While this appears to be a fluffy, light-hearted rom-com, it is not. Zoey is a 31 yo who is a curse because she has been a bridesmaid in 3 weddings that never happened. Okaaay…not sure why she thought she was even considered as a curse as she had absolutely nothing to do with the aborted weddings. She falls in love with Rylan (a god of a man), and they date for two years before he pops the question. She says no…even though he is her ⬇️

robinb soulmate, and she‘ll love him “Forever”. They break up only to meet back up 3 months later at her bff‘s wedding (yes, she‘s a bridesmaid, and he‘s the bff‘s cousin). He has a new girlfriend. Will they get back together? Will Rylan agree to be strung along Forever while Zoey remains free to come and go and “be herself”? Do I care? ⬇️ 2y

robinb I honestly have not disliked a book this much in a long time…the characters, the plot, the zero growth of said characters. Zoey is the most selfish character I think I‘ve ever read. Annoying and immature characters, foul language and a 180-degree turn at the end that made no sense…just no. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1/5⭐️ ⬇️ (edited) 2y

robinb Bitter much??! 😂😂 Sorry for the rant, my friends. 2y

See All 22 Comments

CarolynM I love a good rant😆 Sounds like you had justification 2y

Reggie Lolol sometimes these books happen. You kinda even make me want to read it. 2y

squirrelbrain lol! That sounds awful! 2y

TheAromaofBooks Sometimes a book rant is what you need to cleanse yourself of said book!! 2y

Susanita Entertaining review! I literally 🤣🤣 2y

LiteraryinLawrence Hey, that‘s what Litsy is for! 😋 2y

robinb @CarolynM in looking back over this, I must love one too. 😬 2y

robinb @Reggie 😂 That‘s the guilt thing about giving such negative reviews. You know that there‘s someone out there (no doubt multiple someones) who will enjoy it. If you do jump in, please let me know what you think. 2y

robinb @squirrelbrain @TheAromaofBooks @LiteraryinLawrence Exactly!!! So happy to have a safe place like Litsy to be totally honest and not have to defend my opinion. ❤️ 2y

Megabooks Epic pan! Love it! Sometimes a book just doesn‘t work. 2y

robinb @Megabooks 😆😆👍 2y

ScientistSam Love the review 😁 2y

robinb 👍@ScientistSam 😂 2y

TorieStorieS I actually agree with everything you said- but in the end, I actually enjoyed reading it. Hated the characters, thought the romance seemed invested in the wrong people and found Zoey implausible- but I did laugh and it kept my interest till the end (though I almost DNF‘ed a few times in the first half!) 2y

robinb @TorieStorieS I‘m glad you ended up enjoying it. 👍 I always feel bad when I go off on a book, but in the end it‘s ultimately a matter of different strokes for different folks. 😊 2y

DGRachel I am reading this now, trying to finally read a NetGalley book before the publication date, and then I saw your review. Would it be wrong of me to tell NetGalley I‘m not leaving feedback because a friend went on a 1000+ word rant about how much she hated the book so now I don‘t want to waste my time?🤣🤣 (edited) 2y

robinb @DGRachel Thanks for providing my laugh-out-loud for today, sweet friend!!! 😂 😂 😂 Please don't let my review interfere with your (possible) reading pleasure. I do not want to be the reason that you miss what could have been your favorite book of 2022! 😳 And unfortunately, NetGalley has witnessed my rant...I'm sure they'd rather not hear about it again. LOL 2y

DGRachel 🤣🤣 I‘m at the 37% mark and while I‘ve enjoyed it so far, now that she‘s about to see the ex with a new girlfriend and her BFF‘s wedding, I‘m honestly dreading it. I hate angst and this feels like the angstyest of angsty situations. I‘ll keep going for now but my expectations have been appropriately adjusted. 😉 2y

robinb @DGRachel I‘m glad that you‘re enjoying it. 😊 Maybe I was just having a bad few days there. 😂😂😂 Keep me informed with any updates. 👍 2y

54 likes22 comments

Well-ReadNeck

Bad Luck Bridesmaid: A Novel | Alison Rose Greenberg

pick

Enjoyable and quick read. Would have been just a so so for me, but the end and reframing that happens there was so satisfying that it‘s a full on pic. #ARC

41 likes1 stack add

Alfoster

Bad Luck Bridesmaid: A Novel | Alison Rose Greenberg

pick

This is a sweet rom-com about a young woman who has the bad luck to be a bridesmaid 3 times when the bride chickens out! So when she falls in love herself she worries she is her own bad-luck charm. Very funny and poignant!

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