I went into this a bit apprehensive. It sounded great. Then I made the mistake of reading a few of the other reviews that were lower. Well I am glad to say I did not side with those. This book had a ton of feels. I laughed and I cried. This is a story about Zoey and her quest to NOT get married. But lets be truthful this is a story about Zoey......loving and accepting herself and knowing being conventional is just fine. Rylan was a good man for her until he wanted more from her than she could give him and if he truly knew her he would have totally understood that. Her and Ezra's antics amused me for the wedding portions.

Overall Hannah and Zoey were the real couple of this and girl friendships are the best. I really enjoyed this book.

This is another book that, recently, has surprised me. It's funny, but also insightful. It's the kind of book you read on a Friday evening with a half-pint of Ben & Jerry's and a blanket. I really enjoyed Bad Luck Bridesmaid and look forward to Greenberg's future titles.

Notable quotes:
"Nothing was more pathetic than grown women taking measuring sticks to each other's skins."

"I knew that deep down this wasn't a result of us growing apart. We had simply grown up. Our problems were bigger, harder to fix, and harder to admit out loud. Holding pain, guilt, and shame as close to our chests as possible meant they were ours. Releasing our pain into the world, sharing it with the people who matter the most-that's when pain gets legs. That's when pain becomes a reality, an inescapable truth. When a Truth Monster walks among us, we're forced to face it, to fight it. In conclusion: denial was a beautiful place to live."

I was excited to start this. I expected a different ending. I started out really liking Zoey. I was rooting for Rylan. They both disappointed me. She was ridiculous and selfish. Rylan deserved better.

Zoey Marks is a complicated independent woman. For a smart intelligent woman, she believes that she is a bad luck bridesmaid when the brides end up not walking down the aisle. She meets Rylan and up having a great relationship with him. Everything goes to hell when Zoey doesn't accept Rylan's proposal. She has to to Ireland for her friend/Rylan's cousins wedding and face her marriage fears and bad luck bridesmaid fears.

Bad Luck Bridesmaid was an average read. I had a problem with the pacing. First 30% of the books is just about Zoey & the weddings that didn't happen. Relationship with Rylan jumps through time which was weird. Last 60% of the books drags through in enormous detail about what happens during the wedding weekend.

Overall I would rate the book 3 stars.

Bad Luck Bridesmaid proves itself to be a clever, heartfelt contemporary romance despite being off-kilter at times. It is a novel that feels incredibly modern, not in the least because of its topical Taylor Swift references (and I agree, Allison Rose Greenberg, that Taylor Swift's Red album is the perfect soundtrack to cry to) and its frank discussion of marriage. As someone who does want to get married some day, this book made me reflect more seriously on that future aspiration and what it truly means.

The protagonist, Zoey, is a genuine heroine for whom readers will root . . . for at least 70% of her decisions. Indeed, while she is complex in a believable way, Greenberg glosses over some of her poorer decisions in the latter half of the novel in a "sweep-the-evidence-under-the-rug" way. Moreover, Zoey's character feels deeply underdeveloped at times—Zoey frequently refers to the lingering sense that "she does not fit in" throughout the novel, yet it's unclear precisely why she feels that way. Zoey's primary love interest, Rylan, is equally frustrating; in the end, I didn't really enjoy reading about these two characters, nor did I truly want to.

The writing is both beautiful and confusing. The premise of the story is executed shakily, with the pacing in the first third of the novel pinballing between slow and fast; the main conflict does not arise until about 100 pages in. And while the frequent pop culture references are charming, the sheer frequency of them stifles true discussion of Zoey's character as well as her inner monologue. I also wasn't expecting the second half of the novel to be so similar to One Night Only by Catherine Walsh (which I reviewed here) and couldn't help feeling a little jaded as I read it (which is no fault of Greenberg's). But aside from these few issues, I felt a true connection to Greenberg's writing. There are multiple lines I highlighted—beautiful, hilarious, and all-around clever lines—that I plan to go back to later. Ultimately, Bad Luck Bridesmaid is a solid, if a little hit-or-miss novel that strengthens the emerging millennial confessional fiction sub-genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I will post this review promptly to my book blog and to my Goodreads.

A story of self awakening and discovery combined with romance and heartache makes an excellent combination.

Screenwriter Alison Rose Greenberg spins a tale about a woman who has grown up embracing the unknown and the uncharted future ahead of her. It has served her well as she faced frequent moves as a child always starting over and sticking out from her peers (plus she is the epitome of ‘free spirit’). Written in first person, Zoey Marks takes us quickly through her past experiences as a bridesmaid for 3 failed weddings, and while she is not truly responsible for them falling apart, she feels like she might be the curse. In walks swoon-worthy, cousin of her best friend, slightly older Rylan. And damn. He is swoony. He sees her. He adores her. She is swept off her feet. There is just one, slight hang up between them.
Greenberg doesn’t bow to the expectations of a capital “R” Romance, so don’t be fooled by the illustrated, cute cover. This book is full of romance, not only for Zoey, but for her supporting characters, too. There are a few steamy scenes. But there is also hurt and sadness, and worst of all…heartbreak.
I have a feeling this book will be all over my insta-feed with polarizing views. I sit somehow in the middle. I appreciate that Greenberg took a less predictable path, but she kind of broke my heart at the end of it all. The ‘coda’ on the end just seemed a little harsh in the light of day for me. I see what it is pointing at, but I probably could have done without it, and had more respect for the MC at the end.

Thanks so much for the ARC via NetGalley!

This story took many twists and turns. Although I cannot relate to Zoeys fears, I can appreciate the storyline and view of Rylan. There were some really funny parts and I did not see the ending coming . Well done! We

3.25 stars rounded down
tysm to st. martin’s press and netgalley for this early copy. y’all have been feeding me SO well lately <3

the plot of this book had me hooked from when i first read it. i loved the idea of a bridesmaid “cursing” the brides to never walk down the aisle. throw in the a possible second-chance romance and i was intrigued. we follow zoey to her best friend’s wedding, where she’s a bridesmaid and has to run into her ex. although there is some romance, this is primarily a women’s fiction book and follows zoey through her journey of self-discovery, which i love.

- this was a really nice and easy read. the chapters were really fast-paced and the book kept its pace well.

i really liked how fleshed out the characters were, especially zoey. since this book is in first person POV, we got to know zoey at such a personal level. we learned about her beliefs and everything that shapes her to be the person she is today. as someone who values characters over plot, i did appreciate it (even though i wasn’t that attached to zoey as a main character)

the book also delves into topics about love and people’s perception of relationships. these topics are often pushed aside in fiction and i’m so happy to see it be spotlighted in a book like this.

- the writing style wasn’t my cup of tea. i found it to be droning and repetitive. it’s a well-written book, it’s just not my first choice of POV and style. i did struggle a bit the first few chapters, especially because of the heavy info dump of zoey’s past. i got used to it towards the middle but i wasn’t as engaged as i would be when reading. it really lessened my overall enjoyment of the book, hence the three star rating.

i do wish this book was marketed more as women’s fiction and not romance. while i love women’s fiction and i loved how this particular book slotted itself into the genre, i was drawn to it because it came across as a romance due to the blurb and cover. i came in expecting a romcom and instead got a women’s fiction book. nothing wrong with that, i just wish it was a little more clear marketing-wise.

i would recommend this to people who are into this genre or just need a good book to read for some self-discovery! if you think you would enjoy this, go for it!

Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a quick read about Zoey, who believes she is a cursed Bridesmaid since none of her brides have made it down the aisle. For reasons that are thoroughly explained, yet not convincing, she doesn't believe in marriage or long term commitments. When she finally meets "Mr. Right", she starts to question her stance on these issues.

There are many funny moments and a lot of self discovery for the protagonist. It's certainly a cute "escape" type of read, although I found parts of it to be repetitive. I had trouble subscribing to Zoey's belief that she really doesn't have issues worth being addressed by a professional. The "it's not me, it's you" and "I'm just fine the way I am, accept it or leave it" attitude left me thinking she has some much needed therapy in her future. Without giving away any spoilers, the ending really left me questioning everything I had read up until that point.

Bad Luck Bridesmaid starts off a little rough. A lengthy explanation of the details about the narrator’s past experiences as a bridesmaid and setting up the premise. But, it’s just not that deep and such a deep dive was unnecessary. But, once the action actually gets started, this is a lovely, charming romance.

Whew. This book has a LOT going on. In a lot of ways, it is a bit of a mess. It starts off with Zoey, our main character, and we get the background from the title of the book. So it starts a bit slow with the reader figuring it out. Then the book turns into more of a romance with Zoey meeting Rylan. We kind of get their falling for each other and then the book delves into Zoeys friendship with Hannah, and Hannah’s family, and Hannahs upcoming nuptials. So we are kind of all over the place, yeah? So zoey falls in love with rylan, who is seemingly perfect and then he proposes. Zoey doesn’t say yes because she isn’t sure she wants to get married. Ever. She is heartbroken. Rylan is heartbroken. Also rylan is Hannah’s cousin. So now Hannah is getting married. In Ireland. Yay, because scenery. Rylan shows up with a date. Hannah’s fiancé has a brother who we are supposed to hate but has major chemistry with Zoey. Rylan cheats on his girlfriend with Zoey. Hannah almost doesn’t get married, all of the sudden the premise of the book is friendship between Zoey and Hannah. Rylan still wants to get married but zoey wants to just be together without marriage. They part and five minutes later she’s kissing the grooms brother. The end. I Wanted to like it. But it just has to figure itself out. Are we reading romance or women’s fiction? Because I thought it was a romance but then it didn’t feel that way. Also I felt bad for Rylan and honestly would have liked if the author explored more Chemistry with the groom’s brother instead. All opinions are my own and thank you to netgalley for the ARC.

Recommended: YES
For people who aren't sure love necessitates marriage, for folks who are working on figuring out what's important to them (and how to be honest about it), for a romance that handles some issues much bigger than just trying to get with the love interest

Thoughts:
ALRIGHT. I thought this would be a standard fair romcom. The premise of the bridesmaid whose brides never get married, which then makes her nervous about being in her best friend's wedding, sounds lighthearted and quirky and overall pretty gentle right? WELL THAT'S NOT THIS BOOK.

Here's how it differs. First, there's a whole third of the book dedicated to the main character's own relationship and life, all the things that shape her and her ideas of love, relationships, and marriage. Next, the lighthearted premise of the Bad Luck Bridesmaid has many more layers and impact than simply being a woman who's nervous in a silly way. Next, there are truly heavy questions included, like: IS love enough? do spouses need to know everything about each other before they get married? SHOULD they? is it okay to keep some things a secret? how do you truly commit yourself to FOREVER?

Personal side note: some of these are questions I'm currently asking myself now, so this all hit a little extra hard for me. Definitely affected my experience of the book, but I still think it was overall very well done.

I loved the deep dive into really painful and not-much-talked-about emotions and aspects of a relationship. The idea that at a certain age or amount of time together, people are just supposed to get married isn't one that I've ever seen a romance novel dissect and examine closely. If two people love each other, do they really have to get married? Can they just stay together and choose to stay together every day and see what happens? Looking at that feeling of being trapped brought an interesting angle to the usual sentiment of "commitment issues."

There were a few tropes, for sure: accidentally naked in front of The Guy, being trapped together, and a few other fun surprises. They were fun little tastes of familiar in a very raw story. And the ending? Loved it. Plans and expectations went out the window because I don't think I predicted a single element of this story, which I so look forward to. In this book, nobody is perfect.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review.

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another sweet, entertaining but just a little disappointed reading journey left me trapped in limbo: I’m going back and forth between three and four stars!

I think three might be enough because I was expecting to read romance story after seeing marvelous cover and hints at the blurb but this is more women’s fiction/ chic lit about a young woman’s self realization and discovery about herself and what she should expect about love. And I also didn’t enjoy how her story concluded. This is kind of her happy ending but it was not the ending I hoped for her!

I also thought to give four stars because the cursed bridesmaid who brings bad luck to the brides she’s shepherding was interesting idea and at some parts reading a women’s fiction with romance vibes didn’t bother me at all as long as it has brilliant characterization and smart dialogues.

At some parts Zoey Marks was adorable, quirky, entertaining heroine but I think her attitude around Rylan who was so close to the definition of perfect boyfriend pissed me off.

The beginning of the book was a little elaborated: as wedding ceremonies begin to fail Zoey started to think of there was something wrong with her because she may be the reason why their marriages fail before beginning. She may be the one who is bringing bad luck to her friends who hoped to reach their HEAs.

When her longtime boyfriend Rylan proposes her, she rejects him and before she nurses her heartbreak, her BFF Hannah Green choses her as bridesmaid: can you believe she’s marrying a man she recently met and he’s related with Rylan ( dear cousin) !

Zoey crossed her fingers: maybe third time wasn’t a charm but at the fourth, she can beat her worst luck by attending the wedding she has to face her ex lover who is going his plus one! And he’s not her only concern. During the wedding so many unexpected things can make her rethink again about love, happiness and destiny.

Overall: I finally decided to give 3.25 stars! This doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy this book! Even though main character’s indecisive attitudes and wrong choices, the way of ending things were a little disappointed for me, it was still above the average: feel good, entertaining, enjoyable reading experience for me! I think if the ending was different, I would give four stars without thinking.

I’m still curious to try other books of the author.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

. I give this a one-star for branding and marketing, 4 stars for writing.

I am absolutely begging publishers to stop trying to confuse romance and women's fiction readers Even though it wasn't what I wanted or expected going in, I have to appreciate the craft on display here within the book.

2.5 stars = ok. First off Bad Luck Bridesmaid is Women's Fiction and not Romance, even though it is a little hard to tell from the blurb. If I had remembered that when I picked up the book I may have not been quite as disappointed with the ending. Even for what it was supposed to be I had still had issues but then again since I was waiting for the romance to hit and there is tons of exposition about the three failed attempts by the leading lady Zoey to shepherd her friends down the aisle that meant that I felt that it was taking forever to get the story started. However, all of that was actually the story and the romance was just the spanner in the works of the Zoe's unconventional free spirited life. And then there was the fourth wedding, the one that Zoey is determined will break her bad luck streak. Romance or WF, I also had issues with the whole bit leading up to the wedding - I am not comfortable with cheating or with vilifying third parties who are unknowingly drawn into other people's drama. . And then there was the ending, I was very unhappy with Zoey's kiss at the end of the story, I thought it minimized Zoey's whole proceeding struggle and made her love seem shallow instead of it just being a victim of her need to be free to choose..

On the plus side, while I still don't understand Zoey's self revelations, I thought that the leading lady's realization about her forever person was good.

ARC via NetGalley courtesy of the publisher release date Jan 11, 2022

3.5 stars!

3.5 stars!

Bad Luck Bridesmaid is a well written and thoroughly enjoyable story, but it is NOT a romance, especially if you define romance as ending with a happy ever after or even a happy for now. I will admit to being taken in by the cover and the synopsis because they both look and read rom-com. The story does have some very comedic moments, but also packs an emotional wallop as well, bringing angst which I dearly love.

Bad Luck Bridesmaid really reminds me of the British chick lit I devoured in the early aughts, but with sex on page, which I'll take. The characters are likable and relatable. My reading experience was great, until around 80% when things got murky and clearer simultaneously. I wasn't sure what I was rooting for, but the ending that happened wasn't it.

I really wish there was an epilogue, or something. Maybe Alison Rose Greenberg will revisit Zoey and Rylan at some point. Greenberg's message that comes from Zoey's journey in this book is an important one, however much I may wish the ending of the delivery may have differed. Greenberg's debut is intriguing and I look forward to reading more from her.

Zoey Marks is quirky, smart, super successful, in her 30s, who has never been into relationships but has broken her own rules and fallen for an amazing guy. She’s also freaking out. After being a bridesmaid in 3 weddings where the wedding part never actually happens has her worried she’s cursed, worried her BFF is going to be runaway bride number 4. Just to complicate things more her own relationship is a mess.

I’ve seen people call this rom-com. To me it’s more chick-lit (which I ❤️). There are a couple of small things that don’t quite work for me but I’m not into spoilers. I love the complex, developed characters that make them feel like real people and the strong friendships between women. I think the ending is great - again no spoilers ;). I look forward to the author’s next book.

THIS WAS SO FUN! I definitely had to turn my brain off as the MC's job was full of inconsistencies that I couldn't help but notice, but I'm not reading romance novels for anything too deep, you know? This was charming and extremely readable, I really recommend it.