The Wedding Season is a charming, witty, and heartwarming rom-com that had me hooked from the first chapter! After being dumped right before her wedding, Freya suddenly finds herself with a calendar full of weddings to attend—solo. With the help of her hilarious and supportive friends, she sets out on a summer of self-discovery, unexpected adventures, and maybe even a second chance at love.
Katy Birchall nails the humor and emotion in equal measure. Freya is relatable, awkward in the best way, and full of heart. I laughed out loud multiple times and loved the friendship dynamics just as much as the romance.
This is the perfect read for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Beth O’Leary—fun, feel-good, and full of heart.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Katy Birchall’s The Wedding Season is an emotional yet uplifting story that goes beyond a typical romcom. After being left at the altar, Freya embarks on a journey of self-discovery rather than just seeking love again. While the premise starts off deeply emotional, it transforms into an inspiring and empowering narrative about finding happiness within oneself. The friendships, especially between Freya, Ruby, and Leo, were a standout, offering the kind of support and loyalty we all hope for in tough times.

Though the book has romantic elements, it leans more toward women's fiction, focusing on Freya’s personal growth rather than an immediate love story. The slow-burn romance is a nice touch, but the heart of the novel lies in its message of resilience and self-empowerment. While it wasn’t quite the lighthearted romcom the cover might suggest, it delivers a realistic, heartfelt, and ultimately feel-good story.

For those who enjoy character-driven stories with depth, The Wedding Season is a wonderful read. A huge thank you to Katy Birchall, St. Martin's Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy!

Love a story with a great cast of characters!! This was a fun rom-com!!! A great feel-good story and such a light and fun book!

This was such a good, light, feel good story. I absolutely loved Freya's friends and how they came up with challenges for her to do at each wedding she was at.

I absolutely laughed out loud at several points. This was my first Katy Birchall read and definitely will not be the last.

Thanks you to St. Martin's Press and Katy Birchall for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. 🩷

The premise if this is so cute, and I really wanted to enjoy it. Unfortunately, it just fell so flat. Maybe I'm too mature for this one, or maybe I'm not the target audience, but goodness the characters just felt childish and not anyone I could connect with. It made finishing this quite hard. Unfortunately this just isn't for me.

This was fun but ultimately not a favorite of mine. I think the main character felt too immature.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC — much appreciated!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4 STARS

This heartfelt novel explores the power of friendship and self-discovery in the wake of heartbreak. After being dumped right before her wedding, the Freya refuses to wallow in misery and instead leans on her two best friends, who come up with a pretty funny idea. Birchall does something I loved...she shares Freya's journey of healing and rediscovering her worth, without resorting to cliché tropes of bitterness. - It was refreshing and quite funny at times.

I absolutely loved this book! The story follows Freya Scott, who is devastated when her fiancé Matthew breaks up with her just hours before their wedding. Instead of wallowing, her amazing friends Ruby and Leo devise a hilarious "Wedding Season Survival Plan" with outrageous challenges for each of the seven weddings she must attend.
The book's strength is definitely in its characters. Freya's relationships with her friends, her father, and her brother were incredibly heartwarming. Her best friends Ruby and Leo are total friendship goals - the kind of supportive friends everyone wishes they had.
While the book starts a bit slow, it becomes absolutely hilarious the further you get into it. The challenges Freya takes on - from getting stuck in a church bathroom to making out with a barman at a French chateau - are both funny and liberating.
I found myself completely invested in Freya's journey.

I absolutely adored this book! this was my first Katy Birchall book and it definitely won't be my last! Definitely a light, feel good story. I absolutely adored Freya and her support system rallying around her. Not super heavy on the romance, which I actually appreciated given the storyline.

I fully enjoy Ms. Birchall writing and the flow, world building, and characters within this story made it a enjoyable ride.

The struggle that Freya goes through when she is left days before her wedding, and then the self discovery of having to work through everything while having the wedding season to remember of being in a record number of weddings. I feel that I could connect Freya in many different ways throughout the story and her struggles with figuring out who is she.

I'm 2 years late in this review. I'm kicking myself for not reading it way sooner. Such a super fun book. All the character (except, maybe one), I feel like I could be friends with. Great romcom!

Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for such a fun book!

After enjoying The Secret Bridesmaid I was pretty excited for this book. Unfortunately, it was a DNF for me. I couldn’t handle the secondhand embarrassment, and the female main character was too delusional for me.

2.5 out of 5. I have to say I was close to DNF this book, but I'm glad i kept with it, because I enjoyed the ending, it made the ride somewhat worth it. But did I enjoy the ride? not that much. There were some redeeming factors, I enjoyed her friends, and the checklist to get her through Wedding season was a cute addition. However, Freya as a Character I was just not aligning with. I know it is a romance, but when the only motivation in life for a character is her romance, and she basically thinks life is going to end if she's 30 and single, then the book becomes annoying.

This romcom was definitely not for me, unfortunately to say. This was the new author and a new genre at the time for me

A fun sweet read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.

A fun, lighthearted read set in the UK with that particular brand of humor that I love. After insane heartbreak Freya is tasked with picking herself up over the course of a serious of ridiculous tasks during a year of weddings. Fairly predictable but still fun and I am so happy that Freya was shown to be strong enough to not put up with a gas-lighting ex and to learn from the entire experience that heartbreak is not the end of life.

The opening of "Where are the peacocks" was brilliant and I was so excited to read this. It starts with a bang, as Matthew breaks up with Freya in a broom closet the day before their wedding. He heads back to their shared flat after 12 years together, and he moves out. Freya goes home a week later (after spending it wallowing with walnuts from her dad) and sees he has taken the beloved house plant, so Freya goes to Matthew's parents' house to find him and get the house plant back. When he comes out to the porch, she actually KICKS him and drives off. This is not okay, and I stopped reading. The book really reads as immature and childish. Rather than accepting Matthew wants to break up and trying to build a life, she talks about how he's going to see the error of his ways and want to get back together. She's awful and selfish, and it's no wonder he ended things.

3-4 stars for target.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

This story was extremely cute and refreshing. Watching Freya come into herself as a person after Matthew with her friends by letting loose was so much fun. Would definitely recommend!

3.5 Stars

This was such a charming read filled with quirky characters. I felt like this was more of a book about Freya’s journey and dealing with heartbreak after her fiancé breaks up with her one day prior to the wedding than a romance read. It was a feel-good story of Freya navigating her new status as single during “wedding season” along with her two best friends. I adored Freya’s relationship with her friends and there were some laugh out loud moments. There also was a sprinkle of romance. If you’re looking for a sweet book that will put a smile on your face, check this on out!

In "The Wedding Season," Katy Birchall crafts a journey through eight weddings, each serving as a milestone in our heroine Freya's path from being jilted at the first wedding to finding healing by the last. Supported by her loyal friends, Ruby and Leo, Freya navigates through the chaos of wedding ceremonies and receptions, armed with a list of outrageous challenges designed to distract her from her pain. While the romantic aspect of the story is charming, Birchall deftly explores deeper themes of self-discovery and resilience, adding depth to the narrative. Readers will find themselves rooting for Freya as she navigates the ups and downs of love and life, ultimately discovering that the road to happiness is full of unexpected twists and turns.

Overall, "The Wedding Season" is a delightful romp through love, laughter, and self-discovery. With its engaging plot, lovable characters, and witty prose, this novel is sure to leave readers with a smile on their faces and a warm feeling in their hearts. Whether you're a fan of romantic comedies or simply in need of a feel-good read, Katy Birchall's latest offering is not to be missed.

Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.