It’s the summer of weddings, and Freya Scott is ready. And that’s good, because it’s her wedding to Matthew that’s first on the calendar. It seems that all of her friends have found someone and are settling into married life around the same time, so her summer is packed with weddings. But hers is first, and as she’s finishing the preparations the day before the big day, Matthew shows up, needing desperately to talk to her. When he can’t find a moment’s peace, he pulls her into the cupboard under the stairs to say what he has to say.

He can’t marry Freya.

It takes a minute for Freya to understand the words he says and then another to believe him. But she finally comprehends that this man she was about to marry has ended their 12-year relationship the day before the wedding. In the cupboard at her father’s house with the vacuum cleaner and broom and who-knows-how-many spiders.

Freya sends her friends away, and the caterers and florist and peacocks, and she spends the weekend in bed. She spends another week at her dad’s house, working remotely, before she heads back to London and the flat she had shared with Matthew.

It’s her best friends Ruby and Leo, whose upcoming wedding closes out the year’s season, who come up with an idea to help Freya through all those wedding that loom in front of her. They set up a series of challenges that she will have to accomplish, one per wedding, with the final challenge to be decided. She’ll have to relieve someone of his cuff links, get a kiss, run naked down a hotel hallway, make a speech, and for the next wedding in her calendar, she will have to be the last one standing on the dance floor.

Freya immediately refuses, not being a great dancer, but Ruby insists. And that night, Freya has to choose whether to try to be the last one on the floor or not, deciding if she wants to be the pitiful woman who got dumped in the closet or if she wants to be someone trying to move forward. She decides to go for it, and as she bows to Ruby and Leo from the dance floor at the end of the night, Freya realizes that she had a good time. Nobody cared about her dancing skills, and her having a task to accomplish distracted her from the heartbreak of being at her friend’s wedding.

As the summer goes by, filled with hen dos (bachelorette parties, to Americans) and wedding after wedding, Freya finds herself fulfilling one task after another. She is still grieving, but she is also putting one foot in front of the other. She finds that she likes gardening. She binge watches The Great British Bake-Off. She focuses on work. She gets into a debate about whisky with a fellow wedding guest and dared him to a tasting. If she wins, she gets his cuff links. And despite his working for a brewery and sporting a beard, Freya won the tasting and that wedding’s challenge easily.

Freya often finds herself thinking back over her relationship with Matthew. She had been happy and ready to make that lifelong commitment to him, but was he really ready for that himself? Was he truly in love? Had he been happy?

Freya keeps moving forward, meeting her wedding challenges with courage and discovering new hobbies herself. She finds herself opening up to the idea of talking to her mother, who had left when she was young. She finds herself opening up, but when Matthew calls her wanting to talk, she finds herself wondering if he was going to try to repair things and get back together. If he does, should she give the relationship another try? Or should she just keep moving forward?

The Wedding Season is an utterly charming rom com that brings readers back to the best British romance movies of the ‘90s. These characters are interesting and three-dimensional, smart and motivated. The friendships are genuine, and Freya’s relationships with her father and brother (despite his misstep with the peacocks) is very sweet. While this is billed as a rom com, it’s also the story of a woman finding her way back from devastating heartbreak and learning to live again. Katy Birchall’s new novel is heart-warming and moving, and just everything you want from a book that has eight weddings in it.

I adored The Wedding Season. I was worried that the weddings would get repetitive, but they really didn’t. They each have their own venue and their own personality to keep them from getting dull. I loved Freya’s friends for coming up with the challenge ideas for the weddings, and her father and brother are amazing. But Freya herself is the one who steals this story. It’s her courage in light of the weddings and the challenges, her determination to keep moving forward, and her maturity in diving deeply into her emotions and communicating them clearly that gives The Wedding Season its true north. Anyone who has faced heartbreak will find a hero in Freya and find inspiration in her and her winning wedding speech (here’s to feet!).

Egalleys for The Wedding Season were provided by St. Martin’s Griffin through NetGalley, with many thanks.

#TheWeddingSeason:⁣
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“It’s faith, darling. Sometimes it’s healthy to have some of that.” ⁣
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Honestly, I’m cackling. This was such a fun and cheeky book. I’m so glad I picked this up and really enjoyed every minute. I love Freya because this would be our friend group if someone was left. (I’d karate kick someone in the balls at least until I was 24.. maybe 26 TBH. Let’s be honest, I’d do it today for the right reasons)⁣
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Freya really has the greatest friends. They were honest, yet still caring and gentle with her feelings. I also liked how realistic Freya’s actions were. She was just dumped on the day before her actual wedding. A kick in the sack and chowing down on cheese is normal. So is listening to Total Eclipse of the Heart on repeat. I loved The Wedding Survival Guide. I thought it was a nice enough push from her friends, but still acknowledging she can’t just bounce back to how she would have been. I do feel like Freya grew as a person in the best way as the book goes on, and I felt like I was going to be protective of anyone that tried to rush her. Her speech at Rachel’s wedding was so sweet. ❤️⁣
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Daphne Kouma was AMAZING on audio! Seriously recommend audio if you’re going to check this one out (you should) There’s a lot of internal dialogue from Freya, and Daphne hit the mark. The cringe, the embarrassment, the exasperation, and the sadness, all perfectly done. This is one where I love the book, and the audio really amplifies the book to really love it. ⁣
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I think what I love best about the two Katy Birchall books I have read is that they both focus heavily on having a really great friend group/support system. The restaurant scene was EVERYTHING and I’m cackling thinking about it. I adored this book as much as The Secret Bridesmaid, and am sure Katy Birchall is an autobuy. Thank you so much @macmillan.audio and @smpromance for the gifted copy. The Wedding Season is out now! ⁣
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QOTD: Let’s get married! What cake are you having at your wedding reception?

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for sending me a copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

When I went into this book, I think I was expecting a romance, and it doesn't really feel like that's what I got. I have to say that I was a little bored for probably the first half of it. It felt like all Freya was doing was moping about Matthew and nothing was really happening. There was a lot of reminiscing and worrying and not a lot going on. I do think that book picked up in the second half with the actual wedding tasks, but the book was still slow for me.

The best part of the book was Freya's friends, and I honestly wish there'd been a lot more of them in it. I found myself really annoyed that most of Freya's thoughts were about a man I didn't even care for, and I wish we could have seen more with Jamie instead. Their relationship did evolve really sweetly, and I really enjoyed the time that we did get to see them together. I wish there'd been a lot more of them together because those were the parts where I really enjoyed the book.

If you like books where characters go on mental and emotional journeys, learn things about themselves and life, then I'd say that you'll definitely enjoy this book!

Katy Birchall is the queen of making me laugh out loud. I had to apologize to my students for guffawing in the middle of quiet reading time. The wine scene! When Freya and Jamie were in Dublin and he mispronounced them Campanile (sounds like something that would happen to me!). The naked hallway run! Hilarious!

I loved all of the characters in this book, but most especially Leo and Ruby, who supported Freya no matter what. Freya's growth was incredible and I could see some of my own personal experiences intertwined with hers, which made me love the book even more. I even loved when her dad delivered all the walnuts to boost her mood- adorable moment that my own dad might do!

This was a fantastic breakup-but-there's-hope-for-love rom-com that was full of laughter and heartfelt moments. Cheers to feet and cheers to this book!

"When someone's meant something to you, no matter how it ends, you can't simply erase them.
They always leave something behind that becomes part of who you are."

Freya is looking forward to this year's wedding season. It is starting off with her very own wedding, and ending with her two best friends getting married...with a few weddings in between. Things don't go as planned though, the day before her wedding her fiance breaks up with her and calls it off. To get through the next few months and to try and get over her fiance Freya and her friends come up with wedding tasks. Each wedding she must do something completely out of the norm for her. Will doing these tasks help Freya??

I must say I really enjoyed this book. I laughed. A lot. I cried. I got so mad for Freya my heart broke for her. I thought the book was wonderfully done. I loved most of the characters. I thought Freya was great and her friends were just as amazing. Her closest girlfriends were so loyal and caring...ready to throw down if they needed to. Leo was such a great character as well. He was so protective, and funny. 

But Jamie stole my heart. He seemed like a breath of fresh air. He was funny but also so carefree. He was also so kind. I even loved his grumpy moments and his eye rolls. Who doesn't love a bearded man with tattoos?

I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read this book. I can't wait to read more by this author. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review!

I Did Not Connect To This Storyline At All..
It Came Across As A High School Romance, Especially How Everyone Communicated With Each Other. I Was Expecting More Of The Ins And Outs Of Enjoying Different Weddings And The Planning Of Them., Not A Beach Read To Say The Least. This Novel Was Way Too Long, And Kinda Got Off Subject With The Issues With The Mom.. .

Freya’s life changes suddenly when her boyfriend of twelve years dumps her in a broom closet the day before their wedding. To make matters worse, Freya has 8 weddings to attend this summer which will in evidently only be a reminder of this traumatic event. However, her friends come up with a list of Wedding Season challenges to push Freya out of her comfort zone and help her forget about her sadness. I adored Freya’s journey of finding herself and really enjoyed how she goes through stages in her sadness and we actually get to see her ups and downs. I really enjoyed Katy Birchall’s writing style, it was super witty and I found myself laughing out loud throughout the story. The standout for me in this story was the friendships. Freya’s friends are always there for her and helped her heal. I would say that this book definitely crosses the line to what I would call “women’s fiction with a side of rom-com”. Overall, this was super fun and an easy read that I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

🥂The Wedding Season by Katy Birchall🥂

It’s the day before Freya’s wedding, she’s busy shooing peacocks from the yard (as one does), checking last minute details, when her fiancé breaks up with her in a broom closet. After twelve years together Matthew decides they are just too different, her planning nature to ridged for his unstructured style. To help her get though wedding season her best friends make a list of challenges Freya must complete at each of the seven upcoming weddings. Slowly through each one Freya realizes she may be the things Matthew said, but that’s not ALL she is.
I loved this delightful rom-com. Freya’s self discovery, watching her realize that she didn’t have to see herself through Matthew’s lens was so satisfying. I really enjoyed seeing her relationship with her friends, how solid and supportive that was. The banter between them is laugh out loud funny! I appreciated where the story seemed to be going with her mother but that dragged the story down a bit for me.
I think this is an absolutely perfect summer read, great for poolside, beach, or any sunny spot! Readers of romance and those looking for a happily ever after will be very pleased.
I received a gifted copy from St Martin’s Press via Netgalley.

I loved last year’s The Secret Bridesmaid so I jumped at reading The Wedding Season.

💍Freya is dumped by her fiancé the day before their wedding. Poor Freya must now try to heal and face a summer full of family and friends’ weddings aka The Wedding Season.
💍Her best friends decide to help distract her at each wedding by giving her a task to complete- things like being the last one on the dance floor, taking an unexpected date, getting a man’s cuff links, etc. When their plan helps Freya challenge her status quo, she realizes that life is about taking small chances that can lead to great happiness.

💍This was a fun book full of amazing friends for Freya. I just felt so awful for her at the beginning of the book. But I loved that the author focused on Freya’s growth and self love.
I definitely recommend it!

I loved this Katy Birchall book! She had me hooked after The Secret Bridesmaid.
The premise of this book is excellent and so much fun. After Freya’s fiancé dumps her the day before her wedding, her friends give her challenges to complete at the other weddings she’s attending that wedding season.
I love the idea of the Freya’s challenges and they’re really creative. She grows a lot during that journey, and it’s nice to follow along.
The characters are funny and so relatable. I really liked Freya’s friends, they’re quirky and they really care about her. In the end, Freya learns a lot about herself and is open to a new romance.
This book made me laugh and I couldn’t put it down. 4.5 stars.

Blurb:
Four Weddings and a Funeral meets The Wedding Party in Katy Birchall's The Wedding Season: when a recently jilted bride is forced to attend seven weddings in one summer, her friends devise a series of challenges as distraction.

Freya Scott is getting married. Her wedding to Matthew, her long-term boyfriend, is the first of eight in her calendar this year, and as someone who prides herself on being meticulously organized, Freya is intent on making it the perfect day to remember.

But when Matthew calls things off hours before they walk down the aisle, Freya’s entire life plan goes up in smoke. Humiliated and heartbroken, the last thing she wants is to attend a summer of other peoples’ nuptials on her own.

Fortunately, her friends have an idea: together they devise a series of outrageous challenges for Freya to complete at each event, designed to distract her from Matthew and what might have been. From getting stuck in an old church bathroom and needing to be rescued by the vicar to making out with a barman at a French chateau, Freya realizes that despite herself, she might just be having fun.

By the time the final wedding arrives, she will discover that the road to a happy ending sometimes has unexpected detours, that “I do” is only the beginning––and that perhaps her own love story isn’t over just yet

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

This book was so cute and charming! It was my first time reading Katy Birchall, but I’m definitely bumping her other book The Secret Bridesmaid up my TBR list. The writing was engaging and the main character was developed beautifully - I loved seeing her growth over the course of the book.

YES. This book was so good! Honestly going into this I thought it would be more of a rom-com book and even though it’s not it was absolutely a delightful read. (Don’t worry if you were thinking this was one there’s still definitely a little bit in there for you.) What I loved the most about this book is how at times it was a comical story, but also more importantly one about personal growth. I think sometimes in romance books there isn’t enough light shed on post break ups and what it takes to adjust to the new reality you are in. I think the author did an absolutely fantastic in doing that. Birchall had such fun and relatable characters which just added the cherry on top for the story. She really knew how to make it a relatable one.
Overall it was such a fun, comedic, and adorable book to read. I look forward to reading more books from this author.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.

I really wanted to love this book but 30% of the way through I decided to not finish. I really wasnt invested in our MC and I found it was hard to really connect with lot of the slang/language used being from the USA. Maybe one day I will pick this book back up but it just wasnt for me

When Matthew leaves Freya the day before their wedding, she is devastated but tries to hide it all behind a calm front. Not only has she been left at the altar, but she has seven weddings to go to amongst her group of friends that summer. Her fabulous friends see right through her calm demeanor and, after determining that she still wants to go to all these weddings, give her a set of tasks to complete during each event.. By the end of the "wedding season," she has learned a lot about herself and her relationships.

I feel bad being so entertained by a "left at the altar" situation, but this was uproariously funny at times. There were also moments of heartbreak, anger and loss.

The relationship between Freya and her mother is so heartwrenching, as this is not the first time she's been abandoned. Freya's journey through her two abandonments, both past and present, is compelling. Her supporting cast of friends are the type of people I'd like to have in my life when others let me down. It's a rollicking recovery journey that you will not want to miss.

I received a free copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

I liked the concept of this book, but I just couldn't get into it. There were a few funny parts, but nothing too crazy. I love Ruby and Leo! It took way too long for anything to really happen in this book.

What a fun book to bring in Spring!

This fun and light romantic comedy is just what someone needs to lift their mood.

MC Freya, is dumped the day before her wedding and has to deal with the fallout of the cancelled ceremony. As Freya moves through the motions of life (and invites to other weddings) after the break up, she learns many things about herself through a series of challenges put forth by her friends. I absolutely loved the comedy throughout and would definitely recommend this adorable novel to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this eARC in return for my honest opinion! 4.5 ⭐️ for this one!

The Wedding Season is a hilarious, heartwarming story you will fall in love with! The humor in this story was excellent and I adored the friendships. The relationships Freya had with her friends and family is what made this story so special and the tasks her friends gave her to accomplish at each wedding were wonderful. This was a clean slow-burn romance. I’m actually really glad they were not part of the story and made the angst and buildup even better. Overall, this was an absolutely lovely story about forgiveness, personal growth, friendships, and love.

This book follows Freya through a summer of weddings after being dumped the day before her own wedding. In order to distract her, her best friends make a series of challenges for her to complete at each subsequent wedding.

Hilarity ensues as she completes the fun and crazy challenges at each wedding and she meets some fun and "special" people along the way.

I loved following along with Freya in her grief and acceptance and watching how realistically everything was handled. She definitely was a likeable and relatable main character which is big for me.

I could imagine this playing out as a movie the whole time and would love to see this played out on the big screen. Do yourself a favor and add this to your summer TBR!

Thank you so much to St Martin's Press for the E-ARC. This book is out now!

I tried, I really did, but I ultimately had to DNF this book. I realized I was checking my % remaining stats on my Kindle after every chapter and couldn't believe there was still SO MUCH BOOK to get through.

I just didn't connect with the main character. On top of that, the fact that there were eight weddings and corresponding "fun" challenges to slog through seemed excessive - maybe if I had been more interested in the female lead, I wouldn't have minded quite so much, but I really struggled to connect with her. I felt like I didn't know much about her beyond the plot - her fiance left her the day before their wedding, but aside from his explanation, I didn't really know why, and I didn't feel like we got enough insight into the characters to empathize with them. Maybe this comes later, but I got halfway through and still felt like I didn't have any connection to the characters, so I just had to give up.

THE WEDDING SEASON - KATY BIRCHALL
4⭐
PLOT - Freya gets dumped a day before her wedding by her king term boyfriend.. she is heartbroken and humiliated.
Freya who was the 1st to get married in the season now needs to attend the other 7 weddings by herself.
But her friends give her a series do outrageous challenges to do at each wedding and oddly Freya starts having fun!!
MY THOUGHTS -
I enjoyed Freyas journey...falling in love again isn't as important as falling in love with oneself and having fun...and this is what this book highlights !!
Along with this Freya has the bestest friends in the world in Ruby and Leo... seriously great friends...some of the best moments of the book are with the trio!!.
There is romance in Freyas life but am glad it wasnt the highlight and it works for the story!!

Thank you St Martin's press and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review