The Lucky Escape by Laura Jane Williams

I was lucky enough to get this as an ARC from Netgalley and Avon books in exchange for an honest review .

I really enjoyed this one more than I thought I would! It really reminded me of the Sex and the City movie, but the ending was better.

Annie gets left at the altar. After the wedding her ex-in-laws-to-be (?) offer to pay for her to still go on the honeymoon because they were so appalled by what their son did to her. As she’s contemplating going , she runs into a friend from summer camp, Patrick. They reconnect and he convinces her to go on the free honeymoon and he goes along with her.

What I liked most about this story is that not only is it a romance story about falling in love after loss, but it is also a story about self love! Annie learns about herself and how to become truly happy in a romantic relationship, in her family relationships and with her career. My only complaint is that the beginning felt very slow and took a long time for me to get into it and some parts were a bit cheesy. 3.75/5⭐️

A really enjoyable read,first book read by this author and was just a perfect book to enjoy in the sun/ heat we have had,loved the characters Annie and Patrick and the main setting of Australia, well writren,believable and engaging

What a lovely beach read!! Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for a chance to read an ARC of this. I loved the premise of this book and it didn’t disappoint! There were times the miscommunication put me off, but overall I really enjoyed it.

Another wonderful read by Laura Jane Williams. I wouldn't be surprised if her books are made into movies before long. I love the humour in her writing. I laughed out loud several times and cringed so much when Annie sent the text meant for Kezza to Patrick. The characters had such depth to them and I really related to Annie. I finished this book feeling so happy and with the knowledge that it's not too late to change your life. A must read this summer.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟 💫 3.5/5 stars

The Lucky Escape is a fun, character-driven story of Annie, who gets stood up at the alter by her seemingly perfect fiancé and ends up going on their honeymoon with an old friend. The book follows Annie as she rediscovers herself and decides how she wants to move forward.

This is a fun summer read that I enjoyed reading by the pool. Although I wanted a little bit more romance, I loved watching Annie grow and change. The cover makes it seem like this is an escapist read, but there are a few darker themes and emotional moments throughout. The side characters are great and I particularly liked Annie’s sister and their sisterly bond.

Overall, The Lucky Escape is a sweet story full of heart and self discovery.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Full review to be posted closer to U.S. release date.

This was a fun summery read, but I didn't love it as much as I wanted too. I thought this was going to be such a cute romance where the main character gets together with her old friend after she gets stood up at the altar, but it was definitely more of a self discovery book. I didn't connect much with any of the characters and felt that the pacing got very slow.

This has such potential and I did enjoy reading it, I just think it could have been amazing. The dialogue and some of the plot was so over the top that it made me not get really into the story. I think some will love this book if you like the type of writing style and plot line the author took.

Annie is left at the altar, and after a chance meeting with an old friend, she decides to go with him on her honeymoon.

I liked the honeymoon part, but after that I felt that the book dragged on for too long. I think it would have been a better idea to stop the book just after the honeymoon, and maybe make a second book with the story after.

I feel some of the things that happened in the book were too implausible; however, I liked the end.

** I was given an ARC which I have read and reviewed voluntarily. All opinions are my own. **

Some parts of this story I enjoyed but really I struggled to empathise with the lead characters and it really dragged in places.

Also to the tooing and froing and weird behaviour changes were tiring after a while

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for an early copy of this book in returm for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book but no more than that. The characters didn't really speak to me, the best relationship I thought was between Annie and her younger sister, which is unfortunate when they weren't the main focus of the book.

Four Stars; The perfect summer read for fans of The Unhoneymooners.
When Annie is jilted on her wedding day, it feels like her life is over, but actually, it's just the beginning of the rest of her life. Just days after the wedding that never was, Annie runs into Patrick Hummingbird, a boy she hasn't seen in twenty years, and they instantly connect. When everyone insists she go on her lavish honeymoon to Australia, refusing to go alone, Annie invites Patrick. As Annie’s friends reveal later, “everyone but the two of you knew you'd end up in bed together.”

The book is split into three parts: The wedding and aftermath, The Honeymoon, and Return Home. It was a quick read, and the honeymoon was really fun and sexy.

The book is told from Annie’s point of view entirely, and so you get her unfiltered stream of consciousness. She is deeply insecure, having moulded her personality to the way her mother and the girls in high school thought she should be, and then always tampering with her emotions and being chipped away at by her boyfriend-turn fiancé of 10 years. She also suffers from disordered eating, and self-loathing and Patrick sees all of this and proclaims, “You made a Lucky Escape.”

Overall this is a book about loss, grief, courage and putting yourself first.

Jilted on the day of her wedding to long-term beau Alexander, Annie is hurt, lost, confused and heartbroken.

After a chance meeting with childhood friend Patrick Annie makes a vow to say yes to every opportunity that comes her way so when the opportunity arises to go on her all expenses paid honeymoon to Australia with Patrick taking the spare ticket she throws caution to the wind. Could this be the escape she needs?

I enjoyed this story but it made me very jealous of all of the sights and sounds Annie and Patrick saw on their travels in Australia. I was rooting for the characters and ended up reading the book really quickly as I couldn't wait to find out what happened to them.

One thing I really like about Laura Jane Williams' writing is her depiction of women as real people with flaws and insecurities, it really makes you gel with the characters and really get behind them.

I enjoyed reading this book and this is the type of book that you take away on holiday or in my case the garden to read

with thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book in exchange for this review

dnf @10%

I hate dnf'ing books that I'm supposed to review for netgalley, but i am trying to read more books that I actually enjoy and want to read. this just doesn't fit that. the main charracter was so insufferable, and the story was just overall boring.

I really enjoyed my first dip in to Laura Jane William's novels, bringing to life an easy read and vibrant characters. Its the perfect read for this time of year, for those lucky enough to get abroad this year, on a staycation or even just a long bank holiday weekend in the garden with a gin in hand!

Annie was a great character and i found her very relatable but also a surprising character - without giving spoilers, I'm glad she learn to stand her ground. And Patrick.... ugh we all need a patrick.

I couldnt give it it the full five stars, as for me... as I felt the ending was not quite finished, i kind of needed more about how life went on for Annie and Patrick.

I would definitely recommend this to any romance reader and i cant wait to pick up the rest of Laura's work! I also now have unrealistic expectations for my honeymoon which the fiance will be thrilled about, thanks for that.

I loved this book. When I saw that it was a "take my new friend on my honeymoon after being jilted" book, I assumed that it wouldn't contain much beyond the honeymoon. I also assumed it might be a little unrealistic- falling in love after a week away together. This honeymoon was 3 weeks long and gifted by her former in-laws (who were more like fairy godparents- giving her an over the top vacation). It really added a lot for me as a reader that they had no worries for 3 weeks and the reason was explained. This book also extended beyond the honeymoon timeline and allowed for the characters to continue their story. In the end, the HEA felt true to the characters and the story.

Annie is someone who has lived her life by being in the shadows, doing everything that is expected of a person who is in her thirties. But on her wedding day, she gets left at the altar by her fiance and she deals with the aftermath of her life turning upside down. She bumps into her friend from drama camp about 10 years ago and the sparks fly instantly, she soon decides to go on the honeymoon anyway with this new guy friend, Patrick. The trope this book follows is of estranged friends to lovers.

The juicy bits are explored when the couple is in Australia. They work on their relationship as well as themselves as individuals and find that they complement each other very well. TW: death of a spouse. The book does explore grief and loss through Patrick. The book has excellent female friendships and does a very good job in the portrayal of sibling relationships but at times I found that the chapters were unnecessarily long and prolonged. some of them I was skimming through because of how predictable it was. So this will definitely be a 3/5 star book for me. thank you NetGalley and Avon books for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you want to feel love radiate off the pages you read- this is the book for you! Adorably captivating, this book is a story not only about mending a broken heart, but learning what it means to feel ones self again! From the moment Annie's heart breaks to her healing by reconnecting with an old friend- you feel the emotions stem from each page you turn. Patrick is an old camp friend Annie met in high school, and after she is left at the altar, he becomes the medicine to heal herself. Annie has always fought herself on her means to be happy- always listening to the negativity of her mother, being bullied at school. and finally giving all of herself to a man not worthy of her love. Patrick knew her before she became a shelled up version of herself- and watching Annie grow into the person she is meant to be is inspiring and heartwarming. I whole heartedly recommend this book not only for the romance novel lover, but for those who feel like they have lost themselves!

It’s a cute story, with a likable heroine and a sweet hero, though it does drag in some places.

So we have Annie, stood up at the altar. And her old friend (from waaay back) Patrick who she bumped into about a month (?) after the incident. They reconnect, and in one reconnect moment, decide to take up her ex’s parents’ offer to go on the honeymoon still, to Australia. Together.

Annie is always better with Patrick around. It took a while to lead up to Patrick and after the trip, her alone, without Patrick...well I kinda skipped past those parts. It was taking a bit too long for her to realize and actualize her HEA.

But their Australian honeymoon were the best parts for me. I really am missing traveling. Haven’t been to Australia and Annie and Patrick had a great time there. I took notes on what they did. 😂 So that’s one nice takeaway from this.

Oh and I listened to the audiobook more than I read the ebook. And forgot to tag a nice quote from the book. Read along it while they were in Australia. But went back solely to the audiobook. I liked it better that way. Liked the narrator, she did good.

Thank you Harper Collins UK Audio, Avon and NetGalley for the arc and the audiobook. It can be a beach read.

This is the third book of Laura’s that I’ve read now and unfortunately I have the same comment on every one. The pace is very slow moving and the writing style is very flowery, leading to quite long books with a plot that could have been carried out in a far shorter number of pages.

The premise of this storyline was good and I liked the characters quite a lot to be honest but I’m really not a fan of “woke” books, whereby it feels like everything is a bit exaggerated to ensure everyone knows the book is set in present day. Overall I liked it more than our stop but probably wouldn’t read any more now.

The Lucky Escape had a good storyline and for the most part I liked the characters. It did drag a little for me and I was hoping for more depth. It’s a fun short read. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review after reading this arc.