Zoey Marks has never thought of herself as the type for a forever love, and when her third time being a bridesmaid for a friend results in a third time that the wedding doesn’t happened, Zoey worries that she is rubbing off on the brides, dubbing herself Bad Luck Bridesmaid. When her otherwise perfect boyfriend of 2 years proposes the day after the third failed wedding, Zoey turns him down, and both she and Rylan are heartbroken. When Zoey’s best friend Hannah announces that she is getting engaged and wants Zoey to be her bridesmaid at a destination wedding in Ireland (where Rylan will be in attendance, no less), Zoey decides that if she can do everything in her power to get Hannah down the aisle, Zoey herself will then embrace marriage and be able to get Rylan back.

As several other reviewers have noted, you need to go into this book knowing that it’s not a standard romcom with a HEA. Unfortunately, I have trouble getting into books when I don’t like the main character, and I was just not a fan of Zoey or Rylan either one. It did have its funny moments and its sweet moments, but overall, the book was just OK for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book.

So first off this is not a romance or anything under romance. This is chick-lit or women's fiction. So going in with that you might get a different view but its a bit of all over. Its more of growing of women int the story- friends- trying to decided if she should get married and all that. I keep hoping it would get better but the last bit was all over the place.

I think they tried to do a bit of an HEA at the end but umm, no.
The narrator did a good job

This is a 2.5 but maybe if the publisher did it in the right category it would be different

This is not a rom-com! So that's the first thing you should know. The illustrated cover makes it look like one, but it is actually chick-lit. There is good banter and some steamy scenes, but this book is more about Zoey's growth and journey as a 31-year-old who doesn't know if marriage is for her, and we get to really see how she grows and is true-to-herself in this book.
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I felt like this could have gone several different ways, and I was able to guess correctly how this one ends. It's not your typical HEA, so just go into this book knowing that. I did get emotional at parts and I did 😭.
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Thank you @smpromance for the ARC, and to @netgalley for the eARC and audiobook ARC! I ended up listening to this on audiobook, and thought that the narrator (Sarah Naughton) did a great job!

2.5 rounded up to 3 stars

Bad Luck Bridesmaid is a humorous and unconventional debut romcom with a witty and very unconventional heroine.

What appealed to you the most in this story?

I really enjoyed the parts dealing with friendships and mother-daughter relationships.

How did you feel about Zoey’s character?

Okay…I really really wanted to like her, but she was just so darn unlikeable throughout the story, and I couldn’t connect or relate with her at all. Personally, I did not like the way she would hurt people while determined to live life her own way. She really was downright cruel to an absolutely wonderful guy. I also could not get on board with her being so successful with her career while making multiple bad decisions in her own personal life.

If you have issues with the f-word, please note that it is used frequently in this story.

How was the romance?

The leading man was just so amazing and wonderful, but Zoey was just horrible.

How was the pace?

This was a steady paced story. I did get a bit bored with Zoey spending the majority of the story trying to figure out how she ultimately feels about marriage after declaring that she will stay single for her lifetime.

Do you recommend this book?

I know there are readers out there who will truly enjoy this book. However, I just could not connect with the plot or mean and selfish main character.

Thank you to St. Martins and NetGalley for a gifted e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks so much to the author, Netgalley, and St. Martin's Griffin for the gifted advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. { partner } All opinions are entirely my own. All of my reviews can also be found on Instagram @Tackling_TBR and on my blog at tacklingtbr.home.blog

TW: infertility

I would like to start off by saying that I did not dislike this book. I tend to rate books 4 and 5 stars more often than not (I know it makes me not a great book blogger and kind of predictable and I'm working on it, but it's not my fault that I know what I like and that that's what I read) so this being a 3 star read for me may come across as having disliked it, which is not the case. What I think the issue was here for me was in how this book was advertised.

Let me explain. Look at the cover, and read the description, and if you're like me you're expecting a second chance romance of epic rom-com proportions. I was expecting something along the lines of Made of Honor, with a last minute effort to win back the person you love leading to zany mishaps as she trips down the aisle, and eventually a declaration of love and running off into the sunset.

What I got instead with this book was a young woman's story of self discovery, and self acceptance, and self love. Which I love! She's a career focused woman who has never thought that marriage was for her, and she's going on this quest of sorts to see if she can turn that idea around or if she's been right all along, and she's doing it all with a few really kick ass female friends by her side.

I think that if I knew a little bit better what to expect from this book when I went in, I would have really loved it and had a 4 or 5 star rating. The characters were really strong and interesting to read, and I love the journey that she went on throughout this book. But I personally would have read this book at a different time, if I knew then what I know now. I'm such a mood reader that I tend to pick up different types of books when I know that I'm in need of something along those lines - I'll pick up a fun contemporary romance when I'm stressed or emotional and need something on the lighter side to pull me through a tough week, and I'll pick up a more serious chick-lit like this when I'm in a bit clearer of a headspace and can really soak up everything that it is telling me and teaching me. Simply put, I picked this book up at the wrong time for me.

All of that to say, I will probably revisit this one down the road now that I know better what to expect, and it could become my favorite read for that time. Just not for this one.

Overall I would recommend this book to folks who enjoy both contemporary romance and chick-lit, because it does have some aspects of both. Rylan, the male lead, is HOT, and there are some incredibly steamy scenes in this one. Just be prepared for both genres, and a total rollercoaster of emotions, and I think you'll be just fine! I think the perfect way to read this book would be with your feet up and a beautiful view, glass of wine optional.

This had the perfect blend of comedy and seriousness to it. But to me it was about Zoey's self realization. I thought that she showed growth throughout the whole story.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for access to the ARC for this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Judging from others who have reviewed this novel, I think I may be in the minority in my feelings. But, in my opinion, it's important to show all sides.

There was a lot to like about this book - a main character who bucks societal norms, works to get where she wants to be in the world without sacrificing herself for it, and maintains close friendships with others.

But, maybe it's because romance isn't my typical "go to" genre, but I had a hard time liking Zoey. On paper, she seems great, but her approach to people and the way she talked to people really got to me after a while. I was mired down in the first 40% of the book because it felt like I was watching someone self destruct and take down everyone around her at the same time and not exactly feel bad about it. Around the halfway mark things picked up for me, which given the plot at that point in the book was a little surprising. It was nice to show a situation where someone's happy ever after doesn't come true in the way they expect or want it to and they thrive anyway.

All in all, a solid read but not for me.

This was a DNF for me, unfortunately.

The story was kind of a train wreck and all over the place, and the characters were really unlikable.

This fun book is a quick and enjoyable read. A perfect book for the winter blahs Those who love weddings will want to read this book.

Zoey Marks: “Complicated women. We sure are fucking magical.”

Zoey Marks is a mess. She has been a bridesmaid multiple times and turned down a proposal. When her best friends gets engaged and asks Zoey to be a bridesmaid, she accepts and decides that she's done with her constant bad luck. Zoey plans on going to the wedding in Ireland then getting her ex back. Because it is absolutely what she wants and needs...right?

While Zoey seemed disastrous at times, many times, you couldn't help but feel her internal pain and struggles. Her development throughout the story wasn't pretty or how one would think it should be-she was messy and real- which is refreshing. Bad Luck Bridesmaid is humorous, witty and at times spicy, but it is not your typical romance. I feel readers would classify it more towards women's fiction.

I truly enjoyed this debut novel and will be listening to Taylor Swift for the rest of the morning.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

This book was okay. I thought I would love it but I found myself wondering. I struggled to read this book because I couldn’t focus on the story. I think I might try to read this book again. We will see.

Bad Luck Bridesmaid was a great read. I ended the book feeling an array of emotions, bittersweet, happy, and empowered.

Zoey Marks has come to the realization that she MAY be dooming her friends and their happily-ever-afters. She's been in three weddings. Actually she's been in three almost-weddings, because all three of her friends never made it to "I do." Is she what the broken engagements have in common? She's never been sure of marriage and forever.

That's pretty obvious when you start reading about the man who broke her heart. The author lays out the relationship so cleverly. You're reading about this lovely relationship. This man and woman who see and love each other and support each other. A relationship with friendship and laughter and passion. And all the while there is a since of impending doom, a black rain cloud that hangs above the plot the whole time. This great emotive writing had me all sorts of confused as the story progressed.

We follow Zoey broken-hearted to Ireland and the wedding of her best friend, Hannah. Of course, Hannah's cousin is Rylan, the man who single-handedly pulverized Zoey's heart. But she's come here determined. He may have brought a date, but Zoey's going to prove to him that she CAN do forever. That not yet doesn't mean not ever. She CAN change for him and she WILL during this trip.

I didn't see where this book was ultimately headed and I really enjoyed the journey as well as the destination. Alison Rose Greenberg has really captured a woman who is okay with being herself, who isn't conforming to what society expects of us and deems "normal." And her main character isn't apologizing for it either. Zoey Marks was an empowering character full of intelligence and wit. This isn't your typical beach read romance, but it's a great one nonetheless!

Bad Luck Bridesmaids is a mix of things I like and things I really didn’t enjoy. I think the main drawback for me is Zoey. Though I admire her strength of character and unwillingness to settle for anything less than what she has always wanted for her future, she also comes across as deeply cynical and judgment of her friends and their life choices. In some instances, she is downright mean in her assessments of people. She’s her own worst enemy and continually creates way more strife for herself than is necessary. Ultimately, I can respect that she stays true to herself and makes some pretty tough choices, but her likeability was a big fat zero for me.

The first half of the book is dedicated to Zoey and Rylan’s relationship, and I enjoyed being along for the ride as their relationship grew. Found myself incredibly frustrated in the middle, and then bounced back for the wedding portion of the story. It’s during the wedding part of the book that we meet Ezra, the grumpy groomsman who is determined to break up the marriage. The interactions between Zoey and Ezra were some of my favorites.

All in all, this was a book that was easy to fall into and made me want to keep reading. The writing was solid and I found myself laughing out loud more than I anticipated. I also enjoyed how the story ended – which I wasn’t sure I would up until the very last moment. I’d be interested to see what comes next from Greenberg. Bad Luck Bridesmaid would have been a hit for me if I hasn’t disliked Zoey so much.

Bad Luck Bridesmaid by Alison Rose Greenberg is a romance about Zoey, the so-called "bad luck bridesmaid." Zoey is rather self-absorbed and believes that it is her own bad luck that has caused an end to every wedding that she's been a part of. She believes this so strongly that she turns down her "perfect" boyfriend's proposal because she thinks she will bring bad luck to her own wedding. While this book was an easy read, Zoey was extremely frustrating, and the ending left a lot to be desired. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

💜Match Your Scarf & Book Review💜

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the eARC of Bad Luck Bridesmaid. I tried really hard to finish this one by pub date, January 11th, but real life had other plans. 🥴

@missbeckagee also tagged me in the #matchyourscarf challenge and so…not to sound like a broken record here…I grabbed a matching scarf I crocheted from my @etsy shop: @crystalclearetsy to picture with this cover. Yep, I crochet not only hats, but scarves too!

As for Bad Luck Bridesmaid, this book was written extremely well and I really enjoyed the author’s writing style. The premise is that a woman, Zoey, who has been a bridesmaid to 3 different brides and NONE of them have managed to make it down the aisle. Zoey decides she must be a bad luck charm.

Without going into further details about the plot and how it plays out, I’ll be honest. Zoey annoyed the crap out of me. Now, this is coming from a woman who has been married to her husband for 11 years, but I cannot relate to Zoey’s fear of commitment and how she constantly sabotages herself relationship-wise.

With that being said, I did really like the moral of the novel. Something along the lines of loving yourself exactly the way you are and not considering yourself broken simply because you don’t want what 90% of people might want. And it’s ok to be a complicated woman.

I really liked the writing style and the moral, but Zoey I just wanted to strangle. 🤣

For those of you planning to read Bad Luck Bridesmaid by Alison Rose Greenberg, I highly recommend going into this book without any preconceived notions. And especially don’t try to pigeonhole it into a specific genre. I say this because I’ve seen reviews where readers try to figure out what type of book it *should* be based on the blurb or cover or whatever the case may be. My advice is to sit back and enjoy the roller coaster of a narrative, which will take readers on an unexpected, unpredictable, but ultimately fulfilling journey. 
 
In short, Bad Luck Bridesmaid is about a woman named Zoey whose three turns as a bridesmaid has resulted in zero walks down the aisle. Convinced she’s cursed, Zoey shies away from commitment, to the detriment of her relationship. But when her best friend gets engaged, Zoey is determined to ensure her fourth time as bridesmaid culminates in wedded bliss. Unfortunately for Zoey, the arrival of her ex-boyfriend, and a scheming best man are just a couple obstacles she faces along the way.  
 
Bad Luck Bridesmaid could potentially be described as two books in one. It seemed as if there’s an entire narrative that unfolded, which I expected to end a certain way, yet when I glanced down, I realized I was only halfway through the book! Not only was Zoey’s story far from over when I had assumed it was going in a certain direction, but she’s such a wild card that it became impossible to predict her next word or action or how they’d impact the next sentence, the next page, or the next chapter.  

The narrative is complicated. It’s messy. It’s raw. It’s imperfect. The same could be said for the characters, especially Zoey. She’s confident, successful, and sticks with her convictions, even when it means making sacrifices. But she’s also human. She makes mistakes. She experiences jealousy, indecision, hope, happiness, heartache, and a whole range of complex emotions. Zoey has dreams and desires that may not align with what society expects, which is something she comes to terms with over the course of the narrative.  
 
The hopeless romantic in me may have had certain expectations about Zoey’s romance storyline, but my more pragmatic side cheered as Zoey navigated the twists and turns of life and love. Bad Luck Bridesmaid is ultimately a journey of self-discovery, and I enjoyed every step of the way. It’s an eventful, drama-filled, emotionally turbulent, and incredibly entertaining story, and I recommend going in with an open mind and heart.  
 
Having listened to the audiobook, I also have to mention the spot-on narration by Sarah Naughton. As the narrator, she fully embodies Zoey, voicing the book’s protagonist with cool, sardonic aplomb. I typically listen at the highest speed, but I slowed down to fully appreciate her calm, matter-of-fact delivery, even in the midst of chaos. The audiobook was such a pleasure to listen to, and I was grateful to have had that experience.  

*audiobook review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

“𝘐’𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦” I absolutely adored the writing style and the brilliant message [author: Alison Rose Greenberg] effortlessly breathed throughout the book.

“When you know, you know” When a complicated woman by her own definition, presumes she is anti-love/commitment due to her passed failed attempts as being a bridesmaid. She finds herself head over heals in love with a man. There is mid level steam action happening throughout. After a year into their glorious courtship, he asks her to marry him…will she get her happily ever after?

The ending is one you will be surprised with, but will have you cheering in delight!

Do not miss! I listened to the audio and the narrator was phenomenal!
Thanks @netgalley @smpromance for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

a hilarious rom-com I enjoyed every page!
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an earc of Bad Luck Bridesmaid in exchange for an honest review.

Before I write my review, I wanted to give my disclaimer-this book is not a romance novel but instead should be marketed as women's literature. I think if I'd thought of it as a romance, it would be have been a 3.5 star review for me.
Zoey is like a force of nature. She's impossible to tame and she sets high goals for herself in her career. Where she falters is in her personal life. She doesn't want commitment at all. Then she meets Rylan. Rylan is perfect for her and has her contemplating marriage. At around the same time, she is bridesmaid for a third failing time. Three friends of hers have not gone down the aisle after asking her to be a bridesmaid.
Zoey's best friend Hannah gets engaged and asks Zoey to be her bridesmaid. Will Hannah make it down the aisle? Will Zoey make it down the aisle?
About 50% of the way through this story, I didn't understand Zoey's inhibitions and motivations. I let go of the impression that this was a romance novel and it became more about a woman's complicated journey. This and the ending (not giving it any spoilers) made it a 5 star for me. Karen the falcon was my favorite character-those scenes with her were hysterical.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Thank you SMP Romance and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I saw reviews noting that this is not a rom com and I think that was really helpful and helped me to enjoy Zoey's story. I think it was really interesting to see her journey and her relationship with Rylan develop. I'm not sure I really understood her fear of weddings not happening because she was a bridesmaid and how much it hit. I think it's good to read stories about women who don't necessarily want the big wedding and the typical happy ever after. I really wished Rylan could have loved her and accepted her as she was. I am hopeful she will find someone to love her and spend time by her side.