3.5 stars

This is a friends to lovers romances. It is from the perspective of Annie, who happens to reconnect with an old friend, Patrick, from Drama camp after years apart. Annie invites Patrick on a free trip with her after the person she was going to go with literally left her at the altar with no explanation. As their friendship is renewed and begins to grow stronger, it slowly begins to develop into something more, with some hilarious results!
This book is definitely more of a serious romance. Both characters are dealing with heartbreak, where they reveal to each other their pain, experience new adventures together and learn more about themselves. The setting in Australia was fun and atmospheric. The writing was good, it was a little jumpy at times. I enjoyed the humor when it was there, the couple's message was hilarious! I did have some problems with the main characters. Annie was naïve and childish for a woman in her thirties. There was a lag in the story about ⅔ of the way through and it took me a bit to get through it. I had a hard time getting motivated to pick it back up again, but once I did I flew the rest of the way through. Overall, I liked this story. It showed two people really helping each other grow in several ways and to also have fun and enjoy life.
Trigger warnings: death of a spouse.
I received this advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

Classic rom-com perfect for a beach read. Lately I have been reading a wider range of books and I sort of left rom-com behind for a while. It was okay, but nothing more.

As soon as I heard that Laura Jane Williams was coming out with a new book I knew I had to read it because I've loved her previous books One Stop and The Love Square. The Lucky Escape did not let me down and I fully enjoyed this story and the characters!

Annie was such an amazing character and I loved watching her character develop throughout the book. Her relationship with her younger sister was so sweet and I absolutely loved Frankie! Patrick is also such an adorable character and I liked learning more of his story as the book went on.

This is definitely the perfect summer read. The Lucky Escape is a feel good, light-hearted rom-com which for a good percentage of the book transports you to Australia! Williams descriptions left a vivid picture of the sunny continent and had me desperate to visit!

Overall an amazing book by the wonderful Laura Jane Williams! I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you so much to Avon books for this copy of The Lucky Escape in exchange for a honest review. Ad-Gifted

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Annie and Alexander were meant to be in love and getting married, at least that’s what or Annie thought. After all, they’d been together most of their adult lives, so why not take the next step. But on the day, Annie’s gobsmacked when he doesn't show.

Now, she doesn’t know what to do next, meant to going to Australia for her honeymoon, obviously she can’t go alone. After staying in bed for days, debating whether to go back to work or not, meshing colleagues asking questions. Is stating in bed for 3 weeks an option?

An old friend, Patrick, tells her to go on her honeymoon. A shame to waste a trip to Australia. Maybe he can go with her too.

Will the trip be the opportunity for her to get her self-esteem back? Will things change on this trip between them?

There are some complicated relationships in "The Lucky Escape", not least that of Annie and her mother. In fact Annie gets on better with her future mother-in-law, so does this explain why such an extravagant honeymoon has been organised? This is never explained although it is mentioned that Annie's future in-laws are not that well off - must be a relative term. Is Patrick too good to be true? He's certainly very different to fiance Alexander. Discover what happens on the non-honeymoon and afterwards. This is a very readable holiday romance.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

The Lucky Escape makes a great beach read or vacation companion. It is a light and quick read that is part rom-com part women's fiction. I really enjoyed the quirks of Annie's personality and the honeymoon concept reminded me of Ross and Rachel from Friends. Cute read!

I was so excited to receive my FIRST EVER arc this month. Just in time for beach reading season, The Lucky Escape is set to be released on June 10!

I loved this little story of new beginnings and finding love and meaning in your life. After Annie is left at the altar by her fiance, she begins to rethink all of the choices she’s made to get her there. She’s always tried to make the “right” choices - the responsible choices - and lived her life trying to make those around her comfortable. Watching her begin to stand up for herself was so fun.

Some things I loved about this book:
💖 the romance - From the moment Patrick was introduced, I was ready for the two to be madly in love!
💖 theatre kids - Annie and Patrick met at a summer theatre camp ages ago. I’m a theatre kid (adult), and even the mere mention of anything theatrical will make me instantly like anyone. I would joyfully read a prequel about the camp!
💖 fabulous vacation - Annie’s trip to Australia sounded heavenly. I cannot wait until the end of the pandemic times and the return of some fun vacations for me! If you like living vicariously through characters, you’re going to love the trip!
💖 the silly moments - I was dyyyying during the sauna scene! I missed the levity during the last bit of the book, although I appreciated the character arc.

Exactly what it says in the title, a lucky escape who's romantic life takes a bitter twist, without spoiling it, its heartbreaking, fun, entertaining and romantic. A brilliant summer read for when the sun comes out.

Good. This book had me gripped from the very first page so much that it only took me an afternoon to read it as I wanted to know how Annie's journey turned out. Lovely romantic story which may make you cry in places.

I absolutely loved this book, such a fun read. I could not put this book down and read it over one weekend. I read The Love Square by Laura Jane Williams last year and quickly fell for her writing style so I was excited to read another book by the author. The writing in this one was just as good and captured my attention straight away, and I felt had an even better cast of characters. I loved the protagonist Annie and was rooting for her throughout the book. Patrick was also the perfect love interest and Annie’s friend and sister were excellent additions to the story.

The book was the perfect balance between a fun summer read while dealing with some more serious topics, including grief and toxic relationships. I really enjoyed reading Annie’s journey as she discovered what she really wanted in life. Also, the romance was so good! I was so invested in Annie and Patrick’s relationship.

Overall, this was such an enjoyable read that I’d highly recommend! I think it’s being released at the perfect time of year, too. The Australian setting was dreamy and the descriptions in the honeymoon scenes felt like total escapism. Another fabulous book from Laura Jane Williams.

A feel-good, lighthearted romantic comedy that immediately puts you in a holiday mood. Jilted bride Annie shares her prepaid honeymoon in a luxury resort with almost forgotten childhood friend Patrick. They both use this chance to eventually leave their rather unlucky pasts behind.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher Avon for letting me read an ARC

This book was a light read, perfect for the beach. However, I had trouble with this book. I wanted more. I’ve read a few “left at the altar” books and this one was not my favorite. I was so excited for the “honeymoon” in Australia, but I didn’t feel transported to Australia. Those scenes could have taken place anywhere. This was just an okay read for me.

Great read. Full of warmth and self discovery with a witty joyful vibe. Really enjoyable and relatable. A good illustration of life after apparent ruin. Some fantastic travel narrative thrown in for good measure. I found reading this necessary escapism in book form.

Thank you Netgalley

The Lucky Escape by Laura Jane William was the perfect vacation read. After being left at the alter by her college sweetheart, Annie decides to go on her honeymoon alone. Naturally, an unexpected romance ensues. The Lucky Escape is the perfect rom-com, packed with spunky Judy Greer reminiscent best friends, dashing leads, and the tropics.

After being stuck home in quarantine lockdown, this read quenches the thirst of wanderlust. Set in London and Australia, this enjoyable rom com is slow to get started, opening on a jilting. Because it happens so early, its hard to feel the full force of it Sex and City movie style, but makes for a good rock bottom to start with. But once it gets going and into the trip to Australia, the slow burn romance of friends to lovers is super satisfying. The male lead in particular is really well done – he has a “manic dream girl” energy that’s refreshing for a male instead of the stereotypical female lead. Well worth getting stuck into, look forward to Laura Jane Williams’ next read.

This book was a great way to begin the warmer summer months, with one part escapism, and two parts romantic tension. In the most unfortunate of ways, Annie gets dumped by her fiancé Alexander on her wedding day. Fortunately, a wonderful (ex?) mother-in-law encourages Annie to take her honeymoon trip to Australia as a way to find herself, or just get over Alexander. What could make this trip better? Throw in a cute acquaintance with a laissez-faire attitude from middle-school camp, and you have the makings of a fun, “will they”/“won’t they” friends to lovers romance. The trip itself was my favorite part of the book. Annie does a little soul seeking in the chapters after, which although might have been necessary for character growth, were more for story conclusion than reading enjoyment. I loved Patrick as a character; he was fresh snd honest and we need more male protagonists like this as potential love interests. I would definitely read another book by Laura Jane Williams. Thank you to Avon and Net Galley for my free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Annie has been left at the Alter and is heartbroken. A chance encounter which an old friend Patrick reminds her of who she used to be and Annie make a vow to say yes to very opportunity coming her way. That's how she finds her self on her honeymoon which Patrick is most decidedly not her husband. But are sparks flying between the two of them?

I really enjoyed this book it was warm, sweet and was defiently escapismism in this currently very wet spring here in the UK. Annie and Patrick have really good chemistry which I felt sprang off the page and made you invested in the characters.

This book is set up in three parts before the honeymoon, the honeymoon and after the honeymoon and if I'm honest I would have loved more of the honeymoon and less of the before and after. The before was important to set up the book but I felt that it meant that it had a slow start and the book really picked up when Annie and Patrick arrived in Austrialia. It was the after the honeymoon that I really felt was a bit lackluster. I felt annoyed by the lack of communication mainly on Annie's part.

I am happy with the happy ending and really felt that Annie and Patrick deserved and compliemented each other well. Overall, an enjoyable book that was a definitely a good book if you want to escape so cold rainy weather for some warm sunny climates.

Thanks Netgalley and Avon Books UK for sharing this digital ARC with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

Chick-lit at its finest. I really enjoyed this heart warming novel from Laura Jane Williams (also loved Our Stop). Funny and sweet with a happy ending! Thank you for the ARC. 4 stars.

I have been a fan of Laura Jane Williams, the woman, for a long time through her Instagram account and I am equally a fan of Laura Jane Williams, the author, since her debut fiction novel. I also followed her previous non fiction work too. She has really cemented her place as one of my favourite female writers of feel-good fiction with each novel, and I actually think The Lucky Escape is her best yet.

Written during a global pandemic (no small feat, trying to have an imagination while stuck inside four walls 24 hours a day), this is escapist fiction at its very best. It had me reminiscing about my own trip to Australia pre-pandemic, as well as drinks or brunch with friends and talking to strangers. I am so glad there were no mentions of the pandemic in this. It filled me with so much joy to read Annie’s story and I flew through it in just a couple of sittings.

An absolute pleasure to read. I’ll never stop recommending Laura for people who want a pick-me-up and a perfect romance with smart, independent women at its core. LOVE!

Hmm . . . An okay read. I just didn't find it believable at times. It starts off with a great hook - bride (Annie) getting jilted on her wedding day. But when she met Patrick again and he was her friend all of a sudden after 20 odd years apart, I was rolling my eyes. Conveniently, Patrick goes on honeymoon with Annie (paid for by her would-be in-laws). What happened between them wasn't a surprise. When they return home the story tails off. I found Annie irritating throughout, but she was definitely giving out mixed signals towards the end. You couldn't blame her really, after having been jilted. I wish she'd had a break from men for a bit, it would have been more believable. And there should have been more of a showdown with her ex. A light read. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.