I was a huge consumer of chick lit romances in the 1990s, but as I’ve grown older and more jaded, even romances featuring independent women with close friends (i.e., not needing to be rescued by a man) don’t hold much appeal.

But this is not a typical romance. Zoey is a successful entrepreneur and when her BFF, Hannah, wants her to meet her hot AF cousin, Rylan, Zoey isn’t much interested. But to her surprise, she falls hard for Rylan.

When he proposes to her immediately after she returns from the third wedding in which she was supposed to be a bridesmaid but the bride got cold feet, Zoey is not ready to commit. Rylan gives her an ultimatum and they break up.

Just a few months later, Zoey goes to Ireland to be Hannah’s bridesmaid. She is determined to break her record, even if the groom’s evil brother is equally determined to stop the wedding and even if she is so consumed with love, lust, and jealousy for Rylan she can barely focus.

This book is heartbreaking, but also laugh out loud funny. Zoey will be the heroine of many readers who never felt like they fit in, but she forges her own path. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year (2021). #BadLuckBridesmaid #NetGalley

I actually really loved this! If I sound surprised, it's only because it was so different from what I expected. Rather than being frothy and light, it felt substantial and sharp and thoughtful. It was still fun, though! I loved the characters and totally related to the MC. I laughed out loud several times. And I LOVED that I truly had no idea how it was going to end. It did work out how I hoped it would, but I could see it going a couple of different ways, and the uncertainty kept me totally hooked all the way through the last page. I look forward to reading more from this author!

This is not your typical romance or rom-com book. The Main Character, Zoey Marks, is not looking for forever, in fact, she believes she is bad luck when it comes to love. Three times a bridesmaid and never a bride, Zoey is living for her career and the success her very own business is achieving. That is until she meets Rylan, her best friend, Hannah's, cousin. Zoey falls hard for Rylan, but can she give him forever?

This book's Main Character is a free spirit and not your typical MC in a romance book who wants the big wedding, the fireworks, the FOREVER. Zoey loves with all of her heart, but she needs her independence at the same time. While I personally couldn't relate to Zoey and the decisions she made during the course of the book, everything made sense for her and the author stayed true to the essence of Zoey Marks.

This debut novel by Alison Rose Greenberg was a quick read for me. I read it in just 2 days! While I did read it quickly, I only gave it 3 stars for a few reasons.

Zoey was personally relatable, as I found myself in a similar mindset when I was younger. Always feeling like an outsider and not sure of marriage was the end goal. She starts to question that once meeting Rylan, who could possibly be her “forever”. When things go south, rather fast, Zoey is determined to prove to herself and Rylan that she can be his “forever”. I enjoyed reading about her and Hannah’s friendship, her goals as a career woman, and her reflections on her mom and upbringing.

Things started to fall flat for me when Zoey travels to Ireland for Hannah’s upcoming wedding. It felt very repetitive at times, constantly referring to how different Hannah and Zoey were in their upbringings and adult lives. The “will they, won’t they” between Zoey and Rylan became annoying at times too.

While the ending was not as I expected, I think it did leave the opportunity for a sequel, which I would read. Overall, I enjoyed this quick romance novel and would recommend it to others.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was pleasantly surprised by Bad Luck Bridesmaid and Zoey’s journey. I went into Bad Luck Bridesmaid thinking it would be the typical rom com wedding story but it was anything but that. It was full of heart, love, heartache and truths. Zoey’s journey into love and being comfortable with her truths is something everyone has gone through and sometimes the end results are not what you want or expect. My heart hurt for Zoey and Rylan but I understand their journey sometimes the mountains are just too much.

Bad Luck Bridesmaid is a quick and easy read for anyone looking for not just a love story about romantic love but a story about loving oneself and their truths.


Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Even having read the synopsis, I thought this would be your typical romcom with the typical happy ever after. While you do get your HEA, nothing about this is typical.

I remember once when I was talking to my kids about how words hurt, I used an example I'd seen online to explain it to them. I scrunched up a piece of paper and explained that that is someone's feelings when you say mean things. Then I asked them to smooth it out, and explained that even when you say sorry, the feelings have still been hurt and can't be totally fixed or forgotten, like the paper that can't be restored to its original perfection. Well, reading this book, the paper was my heart. This story well and truly took my heart and crushed it chapter by chapter, just when it started to unfold, the author stomped on it again a few more times just to be sure. By then end it was smoothed out again but still crumpled and damaged. Despite the emotional turmoil I experienced at the hands of Greenberg, I could not put this down and finished it in just over a day.

There were a couple laugh out loud moments which helped to fight off the constant lump in my throat. I loved that Zoey was confident, and willing to stand up for herself and those she loves, and I adored her friendship with Hannah.

What I didn't enjoy while reading this was the constant use of the word complicated. Zoey is complicated, Zoey wishes she was uncomplicated, Hannah is complicated. It was used again and again. Also, early on you learn that Zoey's views on the world and relationships are different to most, and again you are reminded of this constantly.

That being said, I highly recommend this to those that enjoy romance and am so grateful to @smpromance for my gifted copy.

Zoey was such a great character even though she blamed herself for ‘failing’ as a bridesmaid three times with the brides choosing not to get married. She figured she was bad luck and didn’t have a good view of how the potential brides and grooms would turn out if they had married. Later in the story, she comes to realize that these ‘failings’ weren’t her fault and how lives had changed for the better.

Zoey was definitely a bit different than most women and while she was quirky and entertaining, she did not have a good view of marriage. I understood some of her feelings as who knows if you will be with someone forever? How do you make a commitment when so many relationships fail? Is marriage really necessary or should you just take one day at a time? Then she met Rylan and they both quickly fell in love and she finally understood what others felt. Their relationship was just magical and full of happiness. When Rylan proposes, she just cannot make herself accept and they are both heartbroken. When her best friend Hannah announces she’s getting married after only knowing a man a short time period, Zoey is concerned but believes she will do anything to get Hannah down the aisle and break her bad luck streak. Unfortunately, Hannah and Rylan are cousins so he and Zoey have to see each other in Ireland where the wedding will take place.

I almost cried at the longing Zoey had for Rylan and he had tried to move on but still loved her. This part of the book was quite emotional but also aggravating as I just wanted everyone to have a happy ending.

But, then came ‘Karen’. I laughed till I cried and every time I thought of her, I laughed again. The time in Ireland is funny, sad, poignant, and entertaining. This becomes more of a women’s fiction type of story and hidden truths become known from many of the characters.

I wasn’t sure how to feel about the ending. Relationships don’t always have what some would call a happily every after, just happy-ish for now. Zoey knows what is best for her even though there are hardships with her choices, and she should have been upfront with Rylan about her feelings about marriage.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing me the opportunity to read this new work and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Greenberg’s stories.

The blurb of this book sounded good, so when I received it through NetGalley, I was excited to dive in….

It’s an emotional roller coaster that I did not think this story would be. It’s a back and forth of past weddings that did not happen and future maybes that are too complicated to rationally work through by Zoey. She’s stuck in her thinking that she can’t do forever.

She wasn’t set out to fall in love with Rylan and stay in a relationship this long. So when he asks the question, she turns him down. She’s miserable for three months, he moves on.
So when they see each other at her best friends (his cousins) wedding in Ireland (him with his new girlfriend), she’s devastated. His look is pure indifference and she second guesses everything.

It’s back to back and forth of what-ifs to maybe-nots. Zoeys thinking infuriated me sometimes. I just wanted to know Rylans POV for comparison, to see where the heck he stood.

The ending was not the ending I hoped for. This book was more of a finding herself at the age of 31 than love story. It is a love story, but it breaks.

DNF at 20%

Unfortunately, this book is not for me. The writing style is not what I would have expected based on the description and the cover. It reads so much like a memoir that I actually had to double check that it was not. I also had a super hard time liking the main character Zoey at all. It's so obvious that she think she's the "cool girl" and is better than everyone else that I cringed more than once at her thoughts. I wanted a cute rom-com, and this is not what I'm getting. That's probably on me, but I could not get into this book.

I didn't like the writing style of this book. It was very tell instead of show. I also wasn't a big fan of the main character.

This book is listed as a romance and I believe that to be untrue. The focus is mostly on the FMC emotional growth and not on her romantic journey to happily ever after. There was not enough for me to even believe in a HFN.

The main character Zoey is a MESS. She’s at a good place in her career, she’s always avoided long term relationships because she didn’t want to give up too much of herself. Over the course of three years she’s a bridesmaid in three weddings that don’t actually happen. The brides fail to get married for various reasons. Zoey thinks her skepticism about marriage is the reason. Zoey needs to read the four agreements and learn not everything is about her.

After failed wedding #2 and 3, Zoey meets Rylan. Both characters are middle/upper middle class comfortable and the character acknowledges this. Honestly I found them both unlikeable. But not completely so because I did finish this book to see what happens. Zoey and rylan have a near perfect relationship. Until he wants to get married. Then Zoey freaks out. Breakup sadness begins and a lot of references to Red by Taylor Swift (OG edition).

Zoey’s best friend Hannah gets engaged and asks Zoey to be her bridesmaid. This is where the story really picks up. Rylan will also be at the destination wedding. Will Zoey believe in love enough to support her best friend and be able to commit to a future with Rylan??

This is where the story gets super messy. Spoilers

Rylan brings another woman to the wedding. He is a complete dick to Zoey. Like unnecessarily cruel. But they have sex more than once.
Hannah’s soon to be BIL is also a dick. But in the way that could be fun. He’s jaded about love. He also is in to Zoey. Plot twist.
Hannah has issues with infertility and it comes up.
Zoey keeps pining for rylan even after he is terrible to her. It was infuriating. Zoey and Hannah struggle to have an honest conversation. After I finished reading the book I struggled to remember if they had a conversation that didn’t revolve around a man.

TL:Dr: Long review short, this book is not a romance. The people are messy and at times unlikeable and far too much Emphasis in men.

Zoey Marks is certain she's bad luck when it comes to being a bridesmaid. She's zero for three in seeing her friends successfully down the aisle, and the only thing those friends have in common is her. Convinced that she's the common denominator Zoey freezes when the love of her life Rylan proposes. How can she get married when she's clearly bad luck? Enter her best friend Hannah Green announcing her engagement. Zoey is determined that this is her chance to fix the curse and have her own happily ever after with Rylan.

I wholeheartedly adore this book. The writing is excellent, it's witty and has fantastic flow, and the falcon scene with Karen had me cackling. I didn't expect so many feelings while reading this, I had actual tears at the end. The ending may not be what some people hope for, it isn't a traditional hea, but I thought it couldn't be more perfect. Bad Luck Bridesmaid is more about Zoey coming to terms with who she is and what she wants, accepting herself and her unconventional choices. She didn't settle for someone who couldn't love all of her the way she loved all of him and in my opinion, he maybe didn't completely trust her. She didn't compromise out of fear or shrink herself to fit someone who didn't understand her. I love that Zoey represents women who want a partner but aren't interested in or don't feel that they need marriage. If you need every little thing tied up in a nice bow, this is maybe not the book for you. But I can guarantee it's a funny and warm and fuzzy and slightly heartbreaking journey that will leave you grinning. I will 1000% be looking and waiting for Alison Rose Greenberg's next book.

This book was okay. I am not sure if it was just me but I felt like when I was reading it that it was like someone talking really fast and giving a ton of information. I am not sure if that makes sense.

I liked the characters and the concepts. I think it is more women's fiction than romance. But it just didn't flow well for me and I feel like that is where the disconnect is. But I think a lot of people are going to really enjoy this book.

Ugh....... I really, REALLY wanted to love this. It was just, eh. Average. I think Zoey could be cool, but I found her to bit too whiny, predictable, pessimistic (yes, I know, that's the point), and I cuss a LOT, but I realized through this book that I do not enjoy reading a ton of cuss words.
I enjoyed the discussion of the sacrament of marriage and her struggle with it, but I do not recommend this to someone in a relationship or getting ready to be in a wedding. I, coincidentally, was getting ready to be a bridesmaid in my brother and now sister in law's wedding, and found myself rolling my eyes.
I think this would have been way better without those circumstances, and definitely an average read. I would recommend it, but just not my style! I think it was funny enough and a breath of fresh air in terms of a concept, so for that, a solid 3 stars.

I was able to read "Bad Luck Bridesmaid" by Alison Rose Greenberg as an early edition through NetGalley. The main character, Zoey, believes she is the bad luck bridesmaid because every time she is to be a bridesmaid something happens and the wedding doesn't occur. She has a fear of long term relationships and is very happy to have no commitments. But this causes some issues when she falls for a man. I really enjoyed this book.. It was a nice, light book to read over the busy, hectic holidays.

Very conflicted about this one. Definitely not at all conflicted about the end; I hated the ending.

The author gives us two characters with great chemistry, and ruins it with lack of communication. I wish this trope would die a painful death. If our MCs communicated, this story goes much different.

Also, I’m not clear as to why all the drama has to happen in Ireland. Nothing in the story tells us we’re there OTHER than the text telling us the wedding is in Ireland. It was very random.

TL;DR: it felt like the author had a destination in mind and didn’t allow for any pit stops on the way to the end. A lot of information was missing, and a lot of internal monologue neglects the other person in the relationship.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

When Zoey watches 3 of her best friends not go through with their weddings, she begins to believe that she is bad luck for love. And if she can’t witness those she cares about most get married and find love, how is Zoey able to either?

When Zoey is asked to be the single bridesmaid for her best friend Hannah’s wedding, how can she say no, but also how can she spread the bad luck either? Then Zoey remembers her recent ex will be at the wedding, too, and he is bringing a new date.

Bad Luck Bridesmaid is a novel that delves into friendship, love, and the secrets that we keep from those we love. I was so surprised to see the way the book ended, yet I also appreciated the decisions made by the characters!

Full of excitement, regret, and unrequited love, Bad Luck Bridesmaid is an awesome novel for any ex to lover AND enemy to lover trope fan!

To avoid any disappointment, I think it's important to know this isn't a traditional romance. Filled with complicated characters and messy situations, this story felt so raw and compelling. I sobbed through the last few chapters. They were tears for both a heartbreaking journey but also an uplifting conclusion. I loved this book.

After witnessing numerous failed weddings, Zoey has claimed herself the Bad Luck Bridesmaid. Until meeting Rylan, her independent and wild spirit had no plans for love, preferring to live her life alone. The first 30% or so is written like a fast-track prologue, moving through friendship details, bridesmaid woes, and eventually her relationship with Rylan. I was hesitant at first, but it really came all together when the story transitions to present day, Zoey once again a bridesmaid for a wedding in Ireland. And she's determined this one will succeed ...

Exploring the expectations of marriage and settling down, I appreciate the message in this story. And while I say it's not a traditional romance, the relationship between Zoey and Rylan ignited every single emotion I had. It was quite steamy, too! This book truly surprised me in the best way.

(Review will be posted to Instagram @kerosene.lit closer to release day)

Zoey Marks feels like every wedding she is in is cursed. This is because for 3 weddings, none of brides went through with the union. Zoey isn't sure how she feels about love and marriage until she meets Rylan. Rylan is everything she wants and more but when he proposes, Zoey is terrified.
Then Hannah, Zoey's best friend tells Zoey she is getting married. Zoey is happy for her friend but scared to be in the wedding and jinx that happy day. Plus, Rylan will be in attendance. Zoey really needs this wedding to take place because she thinks it will give her the guts she need to get Rylan back and accept his proposal.
For me, this was a great story of a character coming into herself. A journey of her self-discovery. It took a little while but I understood her story and even her fears, There were some funny scenes as well. There were a lot of times I questioned if Zoey really knew her mind and what she wanted. She had a lot of angst and to see her finally work through them and look at things from another perspective was satisfying.
Some might not like the ending, but I got it. For the woman Zoey was, she made the right decision. My favorite story was actually Hannah's. Her storyline warmed my heart. I found myself rooting for her to find her courage and her truth.
I would definitely read more from this author.
Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I read 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 appreciated how different it was to other novels.

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.

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 St. Martin’s Press for the arc. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.