Bad Luck Bridesmaid by Alison Rose Greenberg is a relatable and fun rom com that kept me laughing and cheering from beginning to end. It was a quick read and I could not put the book down. Would recommend for anyone looking for a flirty, entertaining, quick read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review!

This felt like the snarky offspring of early 2000s era Jane Green or Sophie Kinsella and I found that to be incredibly enjoyable. Zoey can be abrasive, but she is passionately and resolutely herself, even as she's making some intense decisions about her future and feeling incredible responsibility about her (internal) reputation as the "bad luck bridesmaid." She lives her life really fully in all aspects, so reading about everything from her career to her relationships feels fast paced. With twin great settings- New York City and rural Ireland- there is a lot to enjoy in this book.
I think readers should know that while there is a lot of romance in this book, it's more "coming into one's own" than strictly romance.

I adore books about weddings, so I’m always quick to jump on any rom com with the words “wedding” or “bridesmaid” in the title. My boyfriend thinks I’m trying to drop hints, but honestly I just love the romance of weddings. I think it makes for an amazing story setting, and it’s one of my favorite sub-genres to read about.

To be honest, around 75% I wasn’t sure if I would end up liking this one. The beginning felt like it rushed through Zoey’s background as the Bad Luck Bridesmaid instead of going into depth about funny wedding stories. I felt like I didn’t really know Zoey that well, since we just got the quickest overview of who she was. I also wasn’t feeling the choices Zoey was making in regards to her relationship.
The last few chapters brought it all back for me, though. Zoey exhibited such growth throughout the book and really was able to come into her own and be proud of who she was. She made the choice that was best for her, instead of what was easy in the moment. I was really proud of who she became by the end of the book, and that made the iffy middle portion worth it.

I love some good character growth in a novel, and Bad Luck Bridesmaid certainly fits the bill.

Zoey has been a bridemaid three times. Except…none of the couples ever made it to the altar.She has officially decided she is back luck, and sworn off love. Until she meets Rylan and falls head over heels. Only one problem, he gets down on one knee, and she can’t say yes. She just doesn’t believe in marriage. Then her best friend, and Rylans cousin announces she is engaged and has only one bridesmaid….Zoey. Can Zoey get Hannah fully married to prove to herself that she can say yes to Rylan and cure her broken heart?

I thought this was a sweet and fun romantic comedy. I totally felt for Zoey and how hard she was on herself, but also wanted to tell the girl to hit up a therapists office! Her relation ship with Rylan was just so perfect, and most girls would be dying for him to propose! I think I resonated with this one a lot because of my last relationship. I feel like we had a lot of similar conversations, and I can tell you from Rylan’s perspective it is infuriating to deal with. Hence the ex part! Anyway, I found this one to be very enjoyable!

Nothing about this book went the way I expected it to based on the synopsis and cover. Which is not a bad thing mind you, just took so reconfiguring of my expectations early on in the book! If you're looking for the typical rom com, HEA, tropey romance - look away (but come back when you're in a women's lit kind of mood). Bad Luck Bridesmaid is really a tale of independence, putting yourself first, and understand that it's okay if your goals in life are different than the "normal".

Zoey doesn't believe in relationships or marriage, or spending more time on a guy than your career. Especially after she was a bridesmaid in not one, not two, but three weddings where the bride didn't walk down the aisle. But when she meets Rylan, her best friend's cousin - she starts to throw the playbook out the window and settle into coupledom. But inevitably, he proposes and she... says no. So when Hannah gets quickly engaged and wants to have her wedding in Ireland with her close family - how can Zoey say no? Even if it means spending the wedding week with Raylan and his new girlfriend...

Like I said, not at all your typical rom com. The beginning of this book spends a lot of time detailing Zoey's like to present - the relationships, careers, and the three wedding she "ruined" in her mind. Stick with it, it gets to the present day eventually. But this book really is a wild ride, and it feels like so much happened in a relatively average length novel. By the end, you're thinking: how did we get here? But the themes of independence and acceptance of yourself are very empowering. And even if the end didn't go exactly how I normally like - I respect the bold choice of going on the path less travelled.

I encourage you to ride the rollercoaster that is this book if you enjoy unconventional relationships or the less than common plot lines.

**Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review**

I did not enjoy the main character of this one - all her angst and sadness was created by her own decisions and I did not feel a connection with her. The description of her feelings was a little overdone. The story dragged a bit for me and I found myself skim reading the story.

Zoey Marks is cursed… every time she is a bridesmaid the bride never makes it down the aisle. When her best friend gets engaged she is determined to do what it takes to break the curse.

When I started this book I was a bit tentative about the story. I was afraid it was going to be a cheesy romance book that’s been told a thousand times. But as the story continued I found myself laughing out loud and at times wiping away tears at the delightful book. This is such a better book then I was expecting, filled with a wonderful story about being true to yourself, the bonds of friendship, and love. The relationship between a Hannah and Zoey was one of my favorites and really showcased the bonds of best friends.

Thank you to the author for writing such an amazing story and Netgalley and The publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy.

This was a cute fun book. I loved the character ARC of the main character, Zoey. A great breather of a book that brought sunshine, happiness, and laughter!

When someone wants you to change who you are in order to be with them, it’s just not the right fit. Zoey Marks takes a wild ride into adulthood and romance to find herself, and she was right there the whole time. This is an in your face, sarcastic, hysterical and sweet journey into self discovery that I enjoyed immensely. I found myself laughing at some point in nearly every chapter as the plot hooked me and I had to see what happened next. Do yourself a favor and enjoy this book!

I give this book 3 ⭐️. Not because it was bad but because it’s not the kind of story I like. The writing was good, the characters were well developed but Zoey just annoyed me. I wanted to shake her on more then one occasion. And a few other stars as well. I have certain expectations for these kind of stories and they weren’t met. Reading is therapy for me and so when it doesn’t go the way I want it to then it seems like a waste of time. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good book it’s just not for me. I wish I could give more details about what I didn’t like but it would tell too much of the story. It’s open door and has more language than I like. Just a precaution.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

I think this was well written and captivating, and I appreciate the story and power behind said story, but I feel this was marketed strangely. It looks like it's going to be a rom-com and it is much more about self-discovery. That all being said, although I felt it was descriptive, I didn't feel I got a good sense as to why Zoey has the convictions she does. The end, while I got it, was ultimately unsatisfying, especially given the quick switch. I much rather would've had her ending solely focused on Hannah. I'd be interested to see what this author writes next.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know why this reminded me of 27 dresses. Maybe it was the whole always the bridesmaid and never the bride. But this was a fun rom com that helped me escape reality for a little bit. Its a cute quick read!

Wow!

Well done, Alison Rose Greenberg!

I judged this book by its cover. Figured it would be another romance. It is so much more. It made me laugh out loud (OMG the falconry scene!), cry, and best of all, it kept me guessing. I kept rooting for one resolution, then another, then back to the first. It was like being at a tennis match, back and forth, back and forth.

This book made me rethink society's definition of "happily ever after." And, also how bad luck can be good luck if you change the way you look at it.

This was one of those books that I didn't want to end and yet I plowed through to see how it was resolved, Book hangover, commence, This is a book that will stay on my mind for a while.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

I really liked this book. There were moments where I felt things were not going to end in a way that I would have liked and that get unnatural. But I’m really glad that the characters were well developed and the plot well constructed. Overall a good read.

Zoey Marks is the quirky heroine places with a bad lucky charm, or so she thinks.. Her issue? Any wedding she’s been in… the bride has not made it down the aisle. Sworn to never having a happily ever after, Zoey is content living her single life in NYC. Not even Rylan, Zoey’s ultra hip posh boyfriend, may change her mind about happily ever afters. Until one day, that changes everything…..

Bad Luck Bridesmaid is a finding herself debut by Alison Rose Greenberg. Alison writes lovable, quirky, punch their face characters whom you come to love and hate. The story has a plot that is memorable but somewhat messy. The first fourth of the story is lacking but picks up after the ever after bad luck. Greenberg’s writing is for those of romantic comedies and Sophie Kinsella.

Welp, I'm slightly torn on this one. I liked it but also felt this could've used some polishing. Some of that polish could be in the formatting. For instance, because I read an e-galley from NetGalley, I felt the back and forth on present-day vs past flashbacks could've used some formatting to aid the transitions. I also felt this could've used a stronger editor who would've helped stick the end landing of what I think is the key takeaway, "friendship". Any other HEA extra could've been labeled a Bonus/Epilogue.

There are not many books that speak to my Soul, but this is one that definitely did. So I want to Thank the author for this book. And, I hope that it will speak to other women as well.
For all the women out there who have thought about the Forever-with-The-One, but it didn’t feel right, those who have been told “There’s something wrong with you.” because you don’t want to marry another person, those who would rather have a relationship with someone, but not need, or want, to have rings and a license, and those that have been told “You’re so complicated!”, You are Not the Problem! Women that are like any of the above descriptions are Special, in that we are not ones who want, need, or appreciate, having labels put upon us.
The last three lines of the book literally stole my breath, and made my heart pound and swell. We are Special because we are a Force of Nature!
I was given a copy of this book for an honest opinion, and this is my unbiased opinion.

This romance novel was just not for me. I think a lot of it was that the summary misled me and I wished I was reading that novel. Nothing really happens for the first third of the novel; we get a lot of information about Zoey's life and lack of success as a bridesmaid. A LOT of information. Eventually, we meet a man that becomes her boyfriend—eventually, she turns down his proposal. This is not a spoiler, as it's said in the summary. Going in I thought that this turned down proposal would be either the VERY beginning or off page! Not 100+ pages in. It takes almost the whole book for them to even get to Ireland. Once they get to Ireland I liked the plot a bit more, but started to dislike Zoey a LOT. I wish this book started (and was fully set) in Ireland (like a week long? It would've been fun!), and I wish it focused more on Zoey and the new guy (can we call him that?) instead of her ex boyfriend whom I never liked. There was also cheating in this book and some of the people involved in said cheating were outraged that another character implied they cheated... Like?

I also liked Hannah so much and kind of wish the book was about her and Graham instead.

ETA: you know what really turned me off from this book? the author decided to name her main character—a character who has sex scenes—after her seven-year-old daughter. that was super weird to me! she thanks her children in the beginning, then you read a whole book with the main character making stupid decisions and being generally not a great person, then she thanks her daughter again in the acknowledgments. i couldn't get past this and it honest affected my reading of the novel; it was very uncomfortable. was there not any other name in the history of the world to use?

I may be in the minority regarding this one, but it just fell flat and felt icky to me. I didn't like the characters. I didn't enjoy the pacing. I had no vested interest and kept hoping it would appeal to me more, but it missed the mark a little further with every page.

I think I was hoping for more of a rom com feel and this just wasn't it. (Although points should be awarded for one particular scene that did have me laughing a bit.) This is totally my own personal opinion and judging by other reviews I just might not have been in the right mindframe.

This was a good story, but I felt a little let down. I thought this was going to more about her journey through being a bad luck bridesmaid, like more rom-com, but this was really a solid women's fiction story. I enjoyed the journey for the MC, but I was expecting a bit more.