I was super excited to revive a copy of The Wedding Season by Katy Birchall, because The Secret Bridesmaid was a 6/5 stars for me!

The Wedding Season is a little slower to start, but goodness, the story is amazing. I really enjoyed the little Easter egg character appearances.

Freya’s journey from jilted bride crying in a broom closet to a woman happy with herself is beautiful.

Highly recommend!

The Wedding Season delightfully captures the process of finding oneself after a breakup. While Freya navigates a spring and summer full of weddings, she grapples with her identity, and the loss of the future she had imagined for herself. Her journey is full of heart and goofy moments with friends and family, making new connections and remembering old ones. The weddings spread across Europe perfectly enhance this true comfort read.

I enjoyed this book in the end, but it did start off very slow. It took 12 chapters to meet the romantic interest and spent way too long on background. I almost gave up on this book because of this but the last half really was fantastic. Some of the characters were a bit useless as they didn't really add to the story. Overall I did like this book.

I really wanted to love this one. The Secret Bridemaid was one of my favorite reads of 2021, so when I was approved for The Wedding Season I was truly delighted. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to The Secret Bridemaid.

I'll start with what I liked. The book was very wholesome. It was kind of like reading a hallmark movie. The novel was also pretty funny! I did find myself laughing at a couple different occasions.

As far as what I didn't like, it mainly revolves around the book being far too long. I found myself wishing for it to end. There were many scenes that seemed unnecessary that I believe could have been cut out. The fluff scenes between weddings were too much for me.

I was also not super tied to any of the characters. There were far too many weddings and people to keep track of, I even had a hard time liking Freya.

I was able to finish the novel. However, I was very disappointed with it in comparison to The Secret Bridemaid.

I absolutely loved The Wedding Season! It is such a fun read! To get over being dumped just before her wedding (and get through her friends' Wedding Season), Freya's friends dream up a list of wild activities to complete at each wedding. I loved all of the characters (well, except the groom!) and the story was just plain fun!

I absolutely loved this book! Just like Freya, I have issues going outside of my comfort zone but seeing how she flourished in this book, maybe I will have my friends come up with a list of things for me to do! I really enjoyed her journey of self discovery and how she didn't need a man to make her happy so the romance with Jamie is just an added bonus in my book!

Although it got off to a slow start, I ultimately enjoyed this book! It was my first book from Katy Birchall but I will definitely look forward to more. I found myself growing to like the main character a lot more throughout the book, but found her annoying enough at the beginning to slow down my reading experience. Overall though, an enjoyable and quick read for some growth, good friends, and romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of The Wedding Seasons in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Dumped the day before her wedding, Freya has to muddle through the rest of the wedding season while trying to heal from her heartbreak.

I could say so much about this book, but what I will say is this; I loved every single second of it. It's a fun rom-com read that will leave you emotionally satisfied at the end. Seriously, Freya was an amazing character as were her circle of friends that were there for her the entire way. Her family, yes, even her mother, were delightful reads and I'm glad that we got to see those relationships blossom on the page. And Matthew, the ex, was a great character to hate throughout the book.

I honestly cannot say enough good things about this book, and would recommend it over and over again.

I didn't know what to expect going into this story because Katy Birchall is a new author to me, but The Wedding Season was a delightful and charming read.

Freya is devastated after her fiancé dumps her the day before their wedding; Her wedding which was supposed to mark the beginning of the wedding season - eight summers weddings among her friends that summer. Her world has imploded and she's doing all she can to keep it together.

Thankfully, Freya has wonderful friends who surround her with love and support and when they come up with the Wedding Season Survival Guide - a list of challenges to help Freya get through the wedding season - Freya slowly starts to realize that she can in fact find happiness in life again.

Along the way Freya meets the adorable Jamie, for whom I was rooting the entire story, but The Wedding Season was more about Freya finding herself after the ultimate heartbreak.

I loved everything about The Wedding Season, Freya, Jamie, the amazing friendships, and familial bonds. I cannot wait to read more from Katy Birchall.

I loved this story so much. The Wedding Season was so emotional, warming, refreshing and funny. Freya's character was very relatable and you just can't get enough of her, she's such a lovable character.
Matthew's character was also so well written, you really would not be able to not hate him!!!
This book was a delight, and a nice break from my usual reads. I will definitely buy a print version as soon as it comes out.
Thank you NetGalley for sending this to me!

After being dumped the day before her wedding by her years-long boyfriend, Freya Scott is absolutely crushed and confused. To make matters worse, the wedding season is just kicking off, filling her schedule with months of events dedicated to celebrating love. To help her survive the upcoming weddings, Freya's amazing, supportive, and loyal friends come up with a series of challenges she must perform at each of the upcoming weddings. And to Freya's surprise, she enjoys the celebrations and discovers that a happy life is often filled with unexpected detours.

While The Wedding Season is a low-steam and slow-burn romance, it is equally centered on self-growth and the power of friendships. This book was heartwarming, gush-worthy, and delightfully funny. I loved cheering Freya on from the sidelines, and was overjoyed with the way her encouraging and protective always had her back. The Wedding Season was an absolute hit: 4 stars!

I was given a free e-copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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. (Goodreads synopsis)

I have not read anything by Katy Birchall before, but this was absolutely amazing!

No one likes the idea of being jilted at the altar, whether it is the bride or the groom. So, this novel was clearly going to be emotional. However, I found that it was also uplifting. There were moments of crying, but I also laughed at the endless humor, both intentional and embarrassing bits. The reader starts by rooting for Freya to either get over Matthew or take revenge on him. Then slowly it feels like they may get back together. Finally, you begin to feel that you don’t care either way as long as Freya finds some happiness with herself. I admired the way the author layered Freya’s personality. Obviously, she was in pain, but she refused to let it make her bitter to her friends’ happiness, and she continued to be there for them as well.

This novel has a bit of romance (come on, it’s called the Wedding Season, duh!), but that is not the main focus. The whole plot is about Freya and how she begins to heal. Not just heal from the cruelty of Matthew, but also in her own familial relationships as well. The wedding tasks were cute and easy, but they required her to step out of her comfort zone and let her inhibitions fly. It’s a lesson we all need to learn, especially during today’s crises. Her friends make me so jealous, because they don’t ignore the situation, but they also don’t allow her to wallow. They set almost everything at Freya’s pace, and I think that is exactly what a supportive network should be. I also like that the many brides didn’t try to dissuade her from coming to their weddings. There was no pettiness present throughout this novel, which was refreshing.

As a separate note, Freya has a conversation with someone about having a fear of finding a spider in a water glass when you go to take a sip. I have had this happen to me and it was terrifying! Personally, I found that this helped make scenes more relatable to real life, and feel less like a cliche rom-com. I’m sure other readers will find scenes that they also have experienced, and I think that also encourages the readers to find some newer, healthier coping strategies to life’s complications.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars. There are also some really good musical choices mentioned.

3.75*
Freya’s life took a head-whipping turn, from the happiest moments completing her last-minute preparations for her wedding, to shock and devastation when her fiancé Matthew calls off the wedding the day before the nuptials.

How will Freya recover? Will she recover? Will her heart ever mend enough for her to leave the house without breaking down?

It’s wedding season, and all… and I mean ALL of her friends have weddings planned this year. Freya is obligated to attend each one. But how?

Her besties come up with a creative plan to distract her during each wedding. She must perform an outrageous task during each wedding…each building in complexity. (And embarrassment) All to bring Freya out of her cocoon and find that life can be joyful once more. (Just what good friends are for!)

What I really enjoyed about this read: The heart-warming friendships Freya had, and how everyone rallied around her to help her heal. Her father and brother were amazing as well. And yes, I grew to love her mom too.

What I didn’t enjoy: For the first third of the book it was the overwhelming sadness and heartache Freya endured. Just difficult to read. ( Maybe ‘cause I’m such a softie 💞).

Overall, the spirit of the weddings and the healing of hearts through the strength and love of family and friends won me over.

This was a buddy read with Susanne that gave us lots to talk about. Love, loss, and of course friendship!

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press

Freya is getting married but her husbands breaks it up with her the day before the wedding. Her friends make her a list of tasks to do for each wedding she needs to attend and she finds herself meeting interesting men. By the end of the tasks ,Freya realizes that her love life may have a new chapter.

This book was amazing. I loved the connection between Jamie and Freya and the comedy made me laugh so hard that my jaw ached the next day. However, I gave it three stars only because I felt like some parts weren't clear like in the first few chapters they mentioned that she was part of the wedding season, I didn't really get that so I assumed that she was a wedding planner. Second, the introduction of the love interest felt a bit late and usually when the love interest appears makes the readers become more invested in the story since they are reading it for the romance. Third, Jamie and Freya, I wasn't lying when I said I loved the connection between the both of them but then it felt too fast that they were both getting together after a few times after meeting each other. I wished there were more scenes of both of them together so that we could see how they impact each other.

The Wedding Season follows Freya, who is a day away from being married when her fiancé calls off their engagement. I wasn't sure what to expect out of this story but I can confidently say I was pleasantly surprised with the way Katy Birchall wrote the story and how it ended. There were so many wonderful gems and moments of personal reflection and growth that I either related to or was highly inspired by. I think this book is a great read for someone who is trying to process a breakup (even for a platonic relationship), someone who wants to build comfort and enjoyment with being alone, or someone interested in a quick and sweet story about finding hope after a tough time.

I loved this heartwarming, realateable and often funny story. Freya is so easy to related too and cringe with. I loved it!

Sweet romance about a woman named Freya who literally gets dumped the day before her wedding. To add salt to the wound, she gets dumped by a man that she has been with for over 12 years. 12 YEARS!! Been with him since college and now she is left trying to figure it all out. With the help of her amazing friends, they created a list for her to help her through the wedding season without her ex. Crazy things such as running down the hall naked at one of the weddings. As she started doing these tasks, she starts to embrace life again. During that time she meets Jaime who came off rude but eventually started having feelings for one other. Freya discovers herself throughout the book and finds that she can find love again.
This is a wholesome romance read that I enjoyed.
The only thing I would say I didn't like is that it starts a little slow. After reading 25%-30% in, it really picks up on the story. I do wish the character Jaime was introduced a little sooner and made the story a little more interesting.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this title but I got a book I really enjoyed. Thankyou NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.

Freya is a day away from her wedding, dealing with final details, when her fiance pulls her into a closet to say he no longer wanted to marry her. . While dealing with her heartache, she realizes something else- she has several weddings to attend during the summer all of which would be a reminder of how hers didn't happen. To distract her, two of her friends (the bride and groom of the last wedding she is to attend) devise a series of challenges to keep her from getting too maudlin.

I really enjoyed Freya. And her friends were awesome- funny and supportive. The structure of the book around each wedding/bridal shower was pretty inspired as it moved time in such a way I could follow the timeline well. The challenges were fun, and each one taught her a little bit about herself, and more importantly helped her get over her breakup. There were so many laugh out loud moments. At the end Freya is complete and ready to try again, and I'm glad to have taken that journey with her.

I'm thankful for the chance to read this ARC as I likely wouldn't have picked up this book otherwise. Birchall had me laughing at the antics of Freya as she navigates the wedding season. I enjoyed how fun and relatable Freya is and the friendship dynamics seen throughout the novel. There were times it was cheesy but as a rom-com lover, I found it even more endearing. Any book that can make me laugh and feel the emotions of the characters often becomes a favorite. I really liked seeing Freya's growth as a character throughout the book. Birchall did a fabulous job with The Wedding Season.

Katy wrote this book so perfectly I couldn't wait for the next wedding! I wanted to know if she was going to go through with her list or not and who she might meet along the way - I was invested!