Well, “bless my beautiful hide,” I loved this book! As someone who enjoyed Seven Brides for Seven Brothers growing up and even played the part of Ruth in a local production of it when I was in high school, I was excited to read a modern adaptation of the beloved musical. The author does a fabulous job of paying faithful tribute to the musical while creating a unique modern version of the story.

Set in a small town in Montana, Camille “Millie” Kelly is in a sticky situation where she’s at risk of losing her apartment, and her laptop is broken. When her sister gives her Aiden’s phone number (the brother of the guy she’s been dating) as someone who can work miracles with her laptop, Millie decides to give him a call. What follows is a whirlwind courtship that ends up with Millie and Aiden getting married just a few weeks later. Aiden neglects to tell her that he has six younger brothers that live with him and none of them are in any hurry to move out on their own. It’s a funny, touching, and at times heart-rending story.

While the musical is sometimes silly and lighthearted, this book has some added depth. This is a Christian romance and the characters deal with issues of faith, a parent who is dismissive and unsupportive, and learning how to live with complete strangers. The two main characters also have to work through issues of trust, communication, separation through work, and building a marriage when they barely know each other.

One of my favorite quotes was: “Marriage was more than just living side by side; it was about overcoming difficulties, keeping promises, and striving harder to be what the other person needed. A good marriage wasn’t a matter of chance but a summation of everything both spouses put into it.”

Like the musical, there are six other women for six other brothers. These couples are quite the combo. The brothers are very much like the brothers in the musical complete with dirty laundry scattered throughout the house, dirty dishes strewn about, and no clue how to really deal with women. With Millie trying to matchmake, there are plenty of misunderstandings, jealousies, and crazy situations as she tries to marry off the brothers to her friends.

My only criticism is that I felt like the romances between the brothers and Millie’s friends were rushed. I realize the author was staying faithful to the original story, but I feel like she could turn many of these romances into sequel novels taking one or two of the brothers’ stories at a time and really fleshing them out.

This is a fun, enjoyable, quick read that true musical fans of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers will love. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are my own.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is one of my all time favorite movies and the reason why I read this book! As a retelling of the beloved classic, the author did an amazing job in bringing the story into modern day!

The characters, though many, were written in such a way that they were relatable to the readers. Camilla and Aiden were the perfect main characters for such a story. They were likeable, real and their relationship kept me hooked till the very end.

Just like the movie, the book also has 12 additional characters: 6 brothers and 6 female friends who I quickly fell in love with. They are all written so well that I could easily name them, tell you why I love them and why they are my favorite. Plus, there are some fun connections between them and the movie that just makes my heart oh so happy! I loved those details!

This book was perfect and once I started, I was hooked and easily finished it in a day! Whether you have seen the movie, or not, this book is the perfect romcom. It has everything that makes a good book: clean romance, well-written and loveable characters, and a sweet epilogue!

A darling re telling of one of my favorite movies. I was worried at first how it would be with such a large chart of characters but Walker pulled it off! I quickly fell in love with all seven brothers and their potential matches. It was sweet, silly, and just the kind of lighthearted love story I was looking for. Now I’ve got to go watch the movie! Thanks to Netgalley and Covenant Communications for sending me a copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was such a fun book. I had never read a retelling of the story before and I was very interested. Add to the fact that I have heard glowing things about Brides & Brothers.
While this story was quite unrealistic, I found myself grinning throughout the books and trying not to laugh at some of the situations Camille landed up in.
The one thing that really bugged me was the brothers. They are nearly all in their 20s and couldn't do their laundry. It seemed like Camille was in over her head trying to clean up their messes all day every day.
I really wish that Aiden came around sooner. It seemed like he was hardly in the book at all, and I really couldn't see their love.
All this to say that this was a fun book sure to make you laugh.

3.5 Stars
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.

Review will be posted to retail sites upon release.

This retelling of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was a fun book to read! I have seen the original movie, but it has been awhile; that didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book though! I usually love retellings because I like to see elements that I’m familiar with that are part of the story in a different way, but this time I loved that it was a retelling because it made for a good story.

Camille and Aiden fall in love quickly, but that really works in this story! Both of them were in a position where they both wanted to get married, and it was sweet to see them fall in love with each other. I think Anneka R. Walker handled the miscommunications well, and I was glad to see when they worked through things together.

This book has a large cast of characters, but they were all so much fun to read about! I loved Camille’s friends and sister, and Aiden’s brothers made me laugh so many times. Because the story is inspired by Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and focuses on multiple couples, there is a lot of blossoming romance in this book, and I was here for all of it! Anneka balanced all of their page time expertly, and each relationship was unique and kept my interest.

This was my first book by this author, but I am eager to read more by her now!

4.5/5 stars!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was expecting so much more!! It was okay, I did like the family and the dynamics. I just couldn't connect with the couple, it felt forced to me. I don't particularly like a clean romance, but since I knew that going in that didn't affect my enjoyment of the book.

This was a very cute modern reimagining of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, including brawling, quarreling, and country dancing, even a snow-in (not quite an avalanche). The book had a lot of heart. and Camille, the main character, was well-developed and sympathetic. I read the whole thing in one day and thought it was delightful.
Thank you NetGalley and Covenant for the advanced copy!

If you are a contemporary romance fan, you will enjoy this book. It has a ton of cute moments that will make you say "awww" throughout.

Oh my goodness, let me just tell you right now. This book was amazing. I loved every moment. Even the moments I was bawling my eyes out. I fell in love with all the characters. There were swoony moments, there were hilarious moments, and there were heart-breaking moments. But all of these moments together are what made this book absolutely fantastic.

Loved the characters. Loved the plot. And of course, loved the concept. It was such a cool idea of modernising a classic film.

At times it was a little hard to keep track of all 14 characters, but Anneka does such a great job at writing them, that you aren't confused for long.

3.5 ⭐️

If you like retellings and books based off movies, then Brides & Brothers is the book for you! Overall I thought B&B was cute, full of witty dialogue that had me giggling, and the perfect amount of cliche. The pacing felt a bit rushed when it came to some of the relationships, but wasn’t too bad! I really enjoyed this!

This book was such fun! I know the storyline of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers so well. I grew up watching the movie and singing along to all the songs. I knew I needed to read this retelling of the story and see how they modernize it. I loved it and thought it was very cleverly done. Very entertaining and funny with a bit of romance.

Soooo I was super super excited to read this book. The blurb alone had me laughing in anticipation. While the story was enjoyable, I really loved the mission that Camille took on, it wasn’t my favorites. It wasn’t *bad*, but Im a fan of the original story, so I felt like it could have had a little more work put into it.

Interesting plot. The Dialogue of each characters were funny and sometimes witty. I like the interactions and the relationship dynamic between the girls and the brothers. But I did not like how fast-paced the story is. How the problem between the hero & heroine was resolved so fast and the issue of the heroine with the mom. There’s also a bunch of cliche moments, which were sometimes cringe-y but quite fitting because it has that hallmark movie vibe to it.

Overall, if you’re looking for a light read then this book is for you.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a very difficult story to adapt for the modern era. While I still believe it works best in an historical setting, Anneka Walker’s version stays true to the original while adding fun modern twists. Although Brides & Brothers will likely be most enjoyed by readers who are fans of the original movie or musical, readers of contemporary romance will find parts to appreciate as well.

One of the hardest things to pull off in a retelling of this particular story is giving readers seven believable romantic relationships to root for. I sometimes wondered if this might work better as a series of novellas, but one novel keeps the story truer to the original. Still, some relationships were more intriguing and satisfying than others, which is truly unavoidable and isn’t so much a critique but an observation. That being said, I never liked Aiden’s character (which makes some sense, since I don’t really like his counterpart in the musical). I definitely wanted more of an update to the Milly character (Camille in this novel), but this novel kept the characters in traditional gender roles, which I found frustrating. It also placed more of an emphasis on religion than I usually care for in the books I read, but it never quite reached the level of preachy.

Walker’s adaptation of a beloved classic is enjoyable, but frustrating at times due to the rushed nature of the relationships and lack of character development. It did get me itching to watch the movie and listen to the soundtrack again, and I really liked seeing all the connections to the story I’ve loved since childhood. 3/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is, hands down, one of my favorite musicals. I love how the names all seem to flow off of the tongue: Adam, Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel, Ephraim, Frankincense, and Gideon. Sure, the songs and dance routines are a bit on the cheesy side, but the underlying story of finding love despite the circumstances is one that I find myself cheering for over and over as I watch - and re-watch - this classic musical.

Brides and Brothers doesn't disappoint the SB4SB fan. While the names are different and the story is set in more modern times, it's easy to see the comparisons to the movie. That being said, I'm not usually a reader of "fan fiction" because I enjoy the original more than I probably should. Anneka Walker does a good job of bring the comparisons in without taking over the original story, with more modern problems and solutions in her retelling.

This was an easy read that kept me engaged through the end. Brides & Brothers was close enough to the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers story that I love, that I knew ahead of time how the story would end, but there were enough twists and turns that I did guess and wonder if it really would be as I assumed.

Pros: Easy read, humorous, the characters are captivating.

Cons: This book follows the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers similarly enough that it's more brain candy than anything else. If you're looking for plot twists, to this tale, you're reading the wrong book. Two of the characters decide that they want revenge on their wanna-be boyfriends, who rescue them from a potentially dangerous situation using their fists - those who are familiar with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers will recognize this "fight scene" from the movie.

Overall: 3.5 stars. It's a book that my early teen girls would enjoy; clean and easy to read. The romance is simple and clean, the problems addressed in each relationship are easily resolved (mostly) without conflict.

You can find this book on sale beginning September 1, 2021; ask for it at your local Deseret Bookstore to see if they will be carrying it!

I thoroughly enjoyed this funny and sweet story! It is a retelling of the musical 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, and after reading the synopsis of THAT online, I knew better than to take this book too realistically. It’s altogether delightful when you just cruise along for the ride! I laughed and teared up, and just had the best time. The characters can be caricature-y at times, but I expected that. I loved the undercurrents that spoke of the importance of relationships and valuing the people involved in them. Inspiring and funny, you should add this to your to-read list!

Brides & Brothers is a modern day retelling of the classic musical Seven brides for seven brothers. Camille and Aiden have a chance meeting when Camille needs her computer fixed and Aiden helps her out. Aiden asks Camille to dinner and their whirlwind relationship begins and they soon realize they’ve already met when they were much younger making their quick marriage proposal seem not so hasty.

Any marriage is a learning curve and Camille and Aiden’s is a steep one especially with 6 other people living in their house and Aiden’s busy work schedule. To pass the time, Camille decides to play matchmaker with her friends and her new brothers-in-law. As she plays matchmaker, Camille struggles with her marriage and how to communicate her feelings with her husband. Several miscommunications between the couple and potential couples lead to some unpleasantness. Can they learn to communicate with each other or not?

This modern day retelling is a clean, slow burning romance for anyone who’s a fan of the musical. I enjoyed the alternating POVs throughout the story between Camille and Aiden. Some parts of the story had a lot of excess tidbits that didn’t necessarily help move the plot along that could have been left out. Certainly an enjoyable read.

#Brides&Brothers #Netgalley

A retelling of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.. A fun idea but ...
The relationship between the two main characters, Camille and Adien, felt like he hired her as a housekeeper, instead of a wife and equal partner. I get that, that happened in the original version, but it felt harsh in this modern retelling. There were so many characters to keep track of too.

As a lifelong fan of the film, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, I knew a new book inspired by the movie was a no-brainer to pick up. With 7 alphabetical sons from Aiden to Grant, that meant there was 7 accompanying ladies to follow suit, matching letter optional. From the beginning, it was easy to see the author's fondness for the source material. Walker included cowboy Halloween costumes, Camille's nickname to honor the original heroine, and the overall cozy vibe of the novel matched the film. This book was sweet as sassafras, but the sugar could be a wee cloying at times.

It was lovely to read a faith-based romance considering how important my faith is to me. This meant that the characters were kinder, softer, and generally forgiving to one another. With a house full of bustling young men, Camille often acted as a mother hen rather than the young newlywed in her own home. She got stuck with kitchen duty, laundry, cleaning, and all the chores of the farmhouse which she took in stride. I found that rather unrealistic where I would have personally pushed harder and faster for all the brothers to beat feet out of my new nuptial bliss. Perhaps it's the Midwestern way or a willingness to please on Camille's part, but I didn't support her actions in that regard.

My other issue lies within the core of the story and pure numerology. With seven brothers and seven potential wives, that means the reader has to juggle fourteen characters throughout the book. I give props to the author for creating a love tetradecagon, but it made my brain throb trying to picture all the characters in the house at the same time. It's not the author's fault there was practically a soccer team's worth of people to organize, but her attempt was valiant despite the minor headache.

Brides & Brothers was a very sweet homage to one of my favorite films. I still know all the songs and I continue to believe that the best way to assemble a barn is through a dance sequence. I can say the author blessed this hide beautifully and gave this story a lovely reimagining. The mental gymnastics of the character list and Camille's "chillaxed" reception of her new family's hurricane household were my main complaints. This was a lovely entry for my first Net Galley review and I look forward to working with this site for many books to come. I'm pleased to have been "Goin' Courtin'" with the Peterson brothers, but I'll happily stick with one-man deals for now.

This book!!! I thought the premise was interesting, as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is such a quirky musical with an ... interesting premise. 😂 So a modern retelling just sounded like so much fun!
•
First off, having a cast of fourteen distinct characters might deter some people, but Anneka NAILED IT. I was never once confused by who was who, or who liked who. All the Peterson boys were swoon worthy but not without faults. The girls of 206 were fun and fresh and although the story was told through big brother Aiden’s and his girl Camille’s POV, you got to see hints of the romance with all the brothers.
•
Parts could come off as a little cliche or cringe, but overall, I devoured this book. #bingeread for sure! I’d recommend this sweet story to anyone looking for a fun, light read that still has a powerful message about sticking to relationships (especially marriage) through the ups and downs life throws.
•
Five stars 🌟
Ages 16 & up
*I was given an arc of this book from NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions given our my own*