Bad Luck Bridesmaid by Alison Rose Greenberg
I read and listened to Bad Luck Bridesmaid and I am thankful that my friend told me that this is a women’s fiction novel and now a romance. I truly believe knowing that helped me go into this story with eyes and my mind open and in the end I really enjoyed this tale of a woman who believes she brings bad luck to her friends who are brides every time they ask her to be a bridesmaid. Because when they do, they never seem to make it down the aisle.
Zoey is unconventional and she doesn’t want to fall in love but she does when she’s introduced to her best friend’s cousin, Rylan. However, Zoey has sworn off marriage for herself and is reluctant to commit forever to any one person, which poses a problem in her relationship with Rylan.
I appreciated that Zoey kept true to herself and it’s a fault of many real life relationships where people ignore certain parts of themselves in order to conform to what life or their partner’s needs are, which can lead to heartbreak. This message is a realistic one and I liked how different it was to other novels I’ve read.
This was a well written book and the pace was steady so that I was kept engaged the entire time. I was always wondering what would happen next and although it’s the ending that I would have loved, it was good enough that it made sense. The narration was also great and I really enjoyed listening to this story.
The narration was great, which also enhanced the story for me.
As long as you know that this isn’t a romcom, I think you’ll like this book as much as I did.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener's copy and to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader's copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Book Description
It’s official: Zoey Marks is the cursed bridesmaid that no engagement can survive. Ten years, three empire waist dresses, and ZERO brides have walked down the aisle.
After strike three, Zoey is left wondering if her own ambivalence towards marriage has rubbed off on those she loves. And when her building distrust of matrimony culminates in turning down a proposal from her perfect All-American boyfriend, Rylan Harper III, she and Rylan are both left heartbroken, leaving Zoey to wonder: what is it exactly about tying the knot that makes her want to run in the opposite direction?
Enter Hannah Green: Zoey’s best friend, who announces that she’s marrying a guy she just met (cue eye roll). At a castle. In gorgeous, romantic Ireland, where Rylan will be in attendance, and Zoey will be a bridesmaid. It’ll be fine.
Okay, the woman definition of fine (NOT FINE).
Determined to turn her luck around, Zoey accepts her role and vows to get Hannah down the aisle—all the while praying her best friend’s wedded bliss will allow her to embrace marriage and get Rylan back.
But as the weekend goes on, Zoey is plagued with more questions than answers. Can you be a free spirit, yet still want a certain future? Can you have love and be loved on your terms? And how DO you wrangle a bossy falcon into doing your bidding?