Rachel i can't tell you how much i enjoyed this book, You have a way with words that pulls me into the story and make me feel what they feel. A must read for sure and my fave read of 2022

Immediately reading the blurb my brain went "Life As We Know It". It's one of my favourite rom-coms that's packed full of romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity and loss and grief.

I knew if Rachel Van Dyken was taking her spin at a book in the same tropey genre as that movie it would be a masterpiece, and I was not wrong.

Books for me, will forever rein superior to television. Movies and TV has talented actors and scripts that bring stories to life and make you feel, but I truly believe nothing beats words on a paper and your imagination.

Rachel Van Dyken from the first book I devoured of her's has been a top author for me. I'll one click her until the end of life as she never stops growing and being amazing at story telling.

Just as I loved Life As We Know It, I loved The Godparent Trap. If anything it may have bumped above it because the way we follow Colby and Rip navigating the loss of their closest aquantices and then tackle taking care of two children was beautifully done.

We get to have laughs, tension and fall into the understanding of how everyone tackles grief and loss differently.

This book was beautiful and fun to read. It's everything I love from Rachel in a different setting.

This book was absolutely adorable and heartwarming. I knew from the first chapter that I was going to love seeing these two as they navigated this new forced proximity. I enjoyed how buttoned up Rip was and I enjoyed the chaos that was Colby. They couldn’t be more different in some aspects, and with how they dealt with the grief. The situation they’re in is really heartbreaking, and while Rip always seems like he has everything under control, he’s quite the controlled mess in the beginning. He really doesn’t know how to deal with his emotions and grief. Colby is such a caring person, even though she is definitely a hot mess. Let’s just say Monica and Brooks knew what they were doing by naming these two co-godparents. I also enjoyed the kids and their little antics, not to mention Stu and what he brought to the dynamics. This is just a pull at your heart strings romance, and I really enjoyed reading it!

Monica and Rip were just kids when they lost their parents. Monica was the older sister, and she took care of Rip as best she could, but he struggled. Where she learned to believe in life and its surprises and messiness, Rip tried his best to control everything he could so he wouldn’t get hurt like that again. It’s why his date with Monica’s best friend Colby went so badly, despite his attraction to her. But Colby was a hot mess, all chaos and irritation.

And now he’s stuck with her.

When Monica and her husband were killed in a car accident. their two young children were left to be raised by their godparents, Monica’s brother Rip and her best friend Colby.

To try to do the best by the kids, Rip and Colby move into the family house and try to keep things as normal as possible after the funeral. They still have their rooms and all their things. Ben will still go to his school. Viera is too young to go to school yet, but Colby and Rip will make things work. Colby is a travel and food blogger, so her schedule is more flexible. She offers to stay home with Colby first. That way Rip can go to his office, to the accounting firm he owns, and try to get back to work. But when he comes home and finds nothing but chaos in the house, no food in the refrigerator, slime all over, and processed fast food chicken nuggets the only thing Colby had come up with for dinner, he loses his cool. I mean, how hard could it be to take care of the house and one toddler all day?

The next week is his chance to find out. He trades with Colby, even offers her the use of his office for her to work on her blog posts. That’s how Colby meets his best friend Banks, who asks her out to make Rip jealous. And Rip finds out that being a stay-at-home parent is hard work too.

As the days and then weeks slip by, Colby and Rip try to be the best parents they can be while dealing with their own personal grief and their feelings for each other. But what are those feelings? Hatred? Anger? Frustration? Or was Monica right in trying to bring them together? Is it possible that Rip can look past his perfectionism? Can Colby become a responsible parent? Can they pull together to raise these two kids? And will they maybe be able to get out of their own way and find the love they both deserve?

The Godparent Trap is a romance with lots of tears and laughter both. The grief is offset by the love these two characters have for these children, but this is still a story with a lot of pain. The scenes with the kids add a lot of heart and humor, but author Rachel Van Dyken doesn’t ease up on the tragedy either. When Monica and Rip were younger, she had talked to him about her being a blue butterfly, and that theme of transformation tracks throughout the book in many ways.

I enjoyed this book, but I felt the impact of the grief too. This is a book you need to read with a box of tissues nearby and your favorite comfort food/drink/blanket. But I really loved the way these two very different people came together to make a family for the kids. The kids are very sweet, and it’s nice to see the moments of joy they all find. This is the story of a family, a real, chaotic, genuine family, and overall it’s just a lovely story of life and love in all its messy perfection.

Egalleys for The Godparent Trap were provided by Forever through NetGalley, with many thanks.

3 1/2
I’m a bit on the fence with the story and my feelings regarding it.

I think the prologue that is later a chapter in the book, made it seem like the woman had to walk on eggshells around the male or he would physically do something. I didn’t realize that this was Colby’s POV, I thought maybe it was the parents in this prologue. I don’t know it messed with my head a bit.

But then, we meet Colby and Rip who are BFF and brother to the mom who dies in the car with her husband and are the kids (3 and 5) guardians. The way they talk to each other made me dislike Rip. Colby had a hard time grieving and it showed the messiness of how some people go through it.

Colby had liked Rip since being a teenager and Rip didn’t like her back. Until it all happens…suddenly? I don’t know, it was a whirlwind of words and that epilogue was a bit cringy.

All in all, I think the writing style of the author is starting to make it hard for me to read books in one sitting. I’ve enjoyed almost all of her books though, so if you like enemies to lovers and love kids this books for you!

I loved the kids and the cat. The kids were adorable and funny. Rip could be so mean at times. I get he wasn’t dealing well with the situation and how he came into becoming a parent. He wasn’t exactly letting himself mourn and he took it out on Colby. I really wanted to smack him at times.
Colby has always had a thing for Rip. He sees her as a hot mess and not responsible. But Colby is doing her best with the situation she finds herself in. She’s mourning and dealing with two small children. Her reaction to the news and when she has to go down to the hospital is completely understandable. It’s all a shock to the system to loose loved ones all of a sudden and so tragically.
Rip could put his foot in his mouth so badly it was funny. It’s not until he is in Colby’s shoes with the kids that he understands just how hard things could be. I loved the kids and their swear jar. Just like kids they heard everything they weren’t supposed to and heard when Rip and Colby swore. They caught them almost every time.
I loved this book. It deals with a heavy subject of loss but the humor in it helps to lighten it all. There are some laugh out loud moments.
I highly recommend this book.

First this book was so adorable! Definitely some heavy topics with death, loss of parents, and car accidents to start off.

Rip and Colby are thrown together as the godparents of Ben and Viera after their parents pass away in a car accident. Rip and Colby move into the house to raise Ben and Viera together while juggling their dislike for one another and their own careers and opposite personalities. They have to learn how to parent while finding how to work together as a family, while dealing with the grief of losing their best friends and Rip's sister.

Very similar to the movie, Life as We Know It. I wish this story was so much longer. It was a very quick read. I loved the characters in this story. I also loved how the author did not play into the typical trope of two people getting together and then some person or issue separating them until they can get reunited. Great choice on that and unique to the genre. The characters each had distinct personalities and the ending was slightly surprising. The dynamics of Colby and Rip's relationship together, and with the children was beautifully crafted.

If you like romance, family, sarcasm, enemies to lovers, you will love this one!

THE REVIEW FOR THE BOOK: The Godparent Trap
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
AUTHOR: Rachel Van Dyken
TROPE: Contemporary romance, enemies to lovers, forced roommates
TYPE: Standalone
MY RATING: 4.5 Stars

This story follows Rip and Colby who are left with custody or Monica (Rip’s sister and Colby’s best friend) and Brooks’ two kids when they pass away. This story is very reminiscent of the movie ‘Life As We Know It’ except the roles are reversed. Colby is the free spirit and Rip is the rigid and rule follower. They are forced to live together and find a way to co-parent these children in the absence of their parents.

In my opinion, I think this book was way funnier than the movie ever was. There was so much banter back and forth. You could really feel that Rip and Colby did not get along with one another. I loved the fact that Rip was Monica’s brother because their connection and his loss hit so much harder.

If you’re in the mood for a fun romance read, you’ll enjoy this story.

The Godparent Trap had me feeling all kinds of ways. Rip was an uptight, grumpy accountant that loved his niece and nephew tremendously. Colby is a very laid back food blogger who loves her best friends kids fiercely. Colby and Rip have known each other for years, but for some reason her personality drives him crazy. The two of them were always arguing until they had to team together to take care of their godchildren. I laughed often at them learning to take care of a household and two young kids. Neither one of them quite knew what to do. I also cried a little at the parts that all of them deal with the loss of their loved ones. I had I hard time buying into the romance part of the story. I think I needed more time of them being nice to each other or something. However, I did enjoy this story. It felt very realistic for the most part.

Ce genre d'histoire est assez fréquent aux Etats-Unis, à la tv et dans les romans.

Après la mort de la soeur de Rip et de son mari, Rip et Colby doivent élever les deux enfants.

Colby est une globe trotteuse. Monica était sa meilleure amie et c'était sa seule famille. Son travail consiste à voyager et à ecrire des articles pour son blog. C'est un travail à temps plein qui la comble. MAis lorsqu'elle doit partager la garde avec Rip, elle remet en question tout son travail. D'ailleurs il remet en question son travail.
Rip a l'habitude de tout contrôler, de tout diriger, il ne connait pas les écarts. Et le travail de Colby n'est pas un travail.

Au 1er abord, je n'ai pas aimé Rip. Il est condescendant, il reproche beaucoup de choses à Colby, il lui reproche même de pleurer devant les enfants, de ne pas être assez forte devant eux. Comme elle n'a pas vraiment un travail, elle doit rester à la maison. Vous voyez le genre.
Car faire parti d'une entreprise, avoir un bureau, c'est un vrai travail.
Vive l'homme de Cro magnon.

Alors peut être vous me direz oui mais il gère son chagrin comme il peut. Il ne peut pas s'écrouler. Il a du élever sa soeur après la mort de leurs parents, maintenant elle est morte et il a perdu son meilleur ami. Ces enfants comptent sur lui, donc il doit faire front.
Or, ils doivent travailler en équipe, ils doivent penser à ses petits qui ont perdu leurs parents, qui essayent de remonter la pente. Oui, elle détend l'atmosphère. Mais c'est pour qu'ils soient heureux, qu'ils gardent le sourire.

Colby a toujours aimé Rip. Mais il la dénigrait, alors elle l'a détesté. Pourtant, ensemble, ils vont trouver le courage de communiquer, de dire ce qu'ils ont sur le coeur et lui, il va dépoussiérer son coeur et son esprit.

Comme vous l'aurez compris, un sujet difficile, mais grâce à l'humour dans certaines situations, Rachel nous permet de passer un bon moment et elle nous montre que c'est difficile de conjuguer travail et vie de famille

Rip and Colby have their lives, their best friends and two little people who love them as their godparents. Colby is best friends with Rip's sister and Rip is best friends with his sisters husband. A night being dotting godparents turns into a lifetime of parenting when their best friends are killed in car accident.

The abrupt change in lifestyle has them as odds with each other as they learn to navigate the new normal. These two love interests are complete opposites - one a neat freak and the other care free and messy. Together they learn to come to terms with their grief to be the best versions of themselves around the children. Be careful of cuddling to long...read the book to understand!

This novel grabs you from chapter one through the epilogue. These two characters are complex and all they want is for the children to feel loved with so much grief. Despite the heaviness, The Godparent Trap is a GREAT read filled with love, witty banter and some laughable moments with the children.

Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the complimentary copy to read and review.

One thing I had already learned was that you had to hold on to the moments— even the ones that drove you crazy. Because you never knew how long you had to enjoy them.


The Godparent Trap was an emotional powerhouse that was impossible to put down. I don't think I have ever laughed or cried so much while reading a book. This story easily reached into my heart and owned every part of me! It was heartwarming, beautiful, memorable and going on my favorites list!

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” Colby whispered, reading my mind as I tried to fight back the tears that were always threatening, along with the tight feeling in my throat that refused to go away.


Colby was a food blogger, who traveled around the world enjoying life! Rip was an accountant who liked knowing where his life was going. Both of their worlds came crashing down when Rip's sister and best friend, who were also Colby's best friends, passed away. Leaving Colby and Rip with custody of their two kids. The story started out in present day, and then in that next chapter we jumped three weeks into the past. I was instantly hooked. Colby and Rip tried their best to hold it together. But between their grief, becoming new parents and having a past between one another, they were in for a very bumpy road.

My ovaries did a little jump at how good he was with children. I mean, he could be Satan to me any day, but the way he loved those kids, it almost made me forget how horrible he was.
Almost.


I adored Colby right away! She loved her best friend's kids deeply and was passionate about her work. But my heart hurt so bad for her. Not only was she drowning in grief and learning how to function as a new parent, but she was definitely in over her head! With live chicken nuggets, burned toy dragons and disaster after disaster, I found myself laughing and crying right along with Colby! And through it all, there was Rip. To witness her hit all of the highs and lows. During those lows, my gosh he could be so harsh to Colby. Rip was way to rigid and Colby was exactly what he needed in his life!

“Hey, Rip,” I said.
“Yeah.” He was still staring down into the amber liquid.
“Do you hate me?”
He didn’t flinch. Didn’t smile. Just stared into his drink and whispered, “I wish I could.”


Oh Rip. He could be so anal, meticulous and put together, but there was also another side to him. One where his smile lit up the room and where he was intoxicating and seductive. And even when he made mistakes, I still loved him. Famous last words, never think it's easier to stay home and take care of the kids haha! Rip was also drowning in his pain, and the fact that we got this story in his POV too, it'll make you fall even harder for him! Especially when he learned how to extend olive branches and hear his thoughts about Colby, sigh. Even though him and Colby were polar opposites, there was most definitely something there.

I tried not to let air get caught in my throat, just like I tried not to read into any of it, which was basically impossible. But before I could say anything, he was carrying Viera upstairs. And while I wrangled a cat, cleaned up poop, and helped Ben put away groceries, my heart held out a little bit more hope that maybe...
Maybe we were going to be OK.


Within those first few chapters, I already had tears falling down my face and laughter floating out of me, I loved every moment! Know that while the tears didn't stay away for long, through it all there were so many moments of lightness. Such as their texts, but even more happiness could be found during their moments with the kids. I laughed so hard I was crying I don't even know how many times. I loved the bedtime stories! But there were also these beautiful chaotic moments between Rip and Colby, and through it all the tension between them left you begging for them to become more! The tension simmered between them. And when we came back around to that first moment in the book, I literally was screaming out loud! Because I just knew that when they got together it was going to be hot and seductive, and I was so right!

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “What do you guys talk about?”
He shrugged. “Dumb stuff like how Stu’s doing, Viera’s dolls, my spelling tests, the time you got kicked out of my jujitsu match—”
I shot a glare at Colby when she snorted behind her hand.
“Oh, and how I pray every night for you and Aunt Colby to get married so we can be a family again.”
Colby froze.


If you love Life as We Know It, you'll love this book! Let it be known that I have been obsessed with Josh Duhamel since he got his start on AMC forever and a day ago haha. And while that is one of my favorite movies, this book surpassed it! I feel soooo guilty saying this and I'm sorry Josh, but this book owned me! I had giddy laughter with Banks. The jealousy with both Colby and Rip was everything! Secrets came out that left me reading even faster. And the times that Rip and Colby learned to work together and looked like a true family was breathtaking and heartwarming. I didn't even get to talk about the kids but they were my favorite kids in a book EVER! The Godparent Trap was filled with happiness, heartache, struggles, sacrifice, love and I loved every minute of it! I can't recommend this book enough!

“You’ll pay for that,” he said under his breath.
“Promise?” I called over my shoulder.
His eyes burned into mine.
It was our perfect moment, the one that defined the rest of our lives, I felt it in my soul.


PS I was curious how many times I cried, because I take notes while reading, and it was 15! I laughed soooo many more times than that, but oh my gosh, see?! This book definitely owned me!

Colby and Rip are complete opposites that find themselves in a very tragic position. Not only do they both despise each other even though the tension is high between them they bicker nonstop. Colby is a chaotic mess while Rip is organized and strives for perfection in every aspect of his life, but now that they must come together in one of the most difficult of times how can they possibly cohabitate let alone coparent? Their story is one you immediately gravitate to because even though they don’t get along when they become the caregivers of Rip’s sister and Colby’s best friend’s children its beautiful crazy. The times when things were emotional you could feel it deep in your heart and the times when things were real, and you could relate as a parent you could not help but laugh. I loved their banter, I loved the tension, and I loved the love they have for the children, but most of all I loved how they both showed each other that what they had could be perfect for them. Rip isn’t always the easiest guy to relax and let go, but Colby shows him that sometimes it’s ok to let loose and while Colby may be a mess Rip realizes she is perfect in her own way. While this story was emotional and made you think about what would happen to your kids if something happened to you, it had its moments of laughter and steam. Overall, it was chaotic perfection.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
STEAM: 🔥🔥.5
TLDR; This is the movie Life as We Know It but with a relatable FMC and more spice.

Colby and Rip's lives have been turned upside down. When his sister and brother-in-law passed away in an accident, they were both left with the responsibility of raising the two young kids. Now the workaholic bachelor and whimsical travel journalist are being thrown into the deep end of parenting.

They would have to get along first, though, and that means getting past their completely opposite personalities. Rip likes organization, routines, and perfection, while Colby prefers being spontaneous and having fun.

I absolutely love that despite their different personalities, they are both driven by the love for their godchildren and the couple they lost. The arc for these two was really fun to watch. It started with two rather emotionally immature people who bickered like it was their life goal. The transition from that two people who respected each other's differences and quirks and realized that the faux-animosity they used to have was really unresolved attraction and tension.

There is an emotional shift from what I would consider Act 1 to Act 2 of the book. The first half deals with knowing who the main characters are, how they got to their situation, and how they deal with being instant parents. The second half is a lot heavier as the grief and loss they've tried to sweep under the rug finally implodes from being internalized and ignored for so long. I appreciate this a lot as this was something that I felt was missing from the movie, and Rachel Van Dyken did a great job of telling a fantastic story around this emotionally heavy issue.

I would be remiss if I didn't give props to Rip's co-worker Banks who steals the show every time he is present. We all need a chatty sidekick who has our back.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Rachel Van Dyken, Forever Publishing, Netgalley, and Valentine PR and Literary Management for providing an ARC. **

DNF @ 15%.

I was really excited about this one. I loved the concept and the set up and I thought it had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, I absolutely cannot stand Rip. I love banter and I can tolerate a lot in romance novels but he crossed the line several times in the first few chapters alone. Between telling her she doesn't have a real job, that she needs to be less like herself and that she is "causing a scene" when crying inside their home days after losing her best friends, he is by far one of the rudest, cruelest book boyfriends I've ever read. He acts like she is less-than for not intuitively knowing how to care for children/run a home in spite of never having had these responsibility and being thrust into this life after an incredibly traumatic experience. I honestly don't think he can come back from some of the things he said to her.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I had not read any other books by this author, but the summary sounded interesting so I decided to give it a try. What a wonderful heart wrenching (at times) and hilarious story. Colby Summers’ best friends Monica and Brooks are killed in an accident leaving behind their two young children Viera and Ben. Colby along with Monica’s brother, Rip Edison, are co-guardians for the children. To say they are different people is an understatement. Colby may not know how to cook or take care of children, but she truly loves the children. She is trying, but can never seem to meet Rip’s standards. Rip is an accountant and extremely organized, but he has never been left alone to care for two active children. Colby holds her own against Rip and the situations and dialog between the two are “laugh out loud” funny. Will they finally realize that they not only care deeply for the children, but also for each other? Absolutely, delightful! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken
4/5⭐️

This arc was such a fun romcom that still pulled at my heartstrings.

After the death of Colby’s best friend and Rip’s sister, they’re both left taking care of her two kids. Colby is a foodie influencer and Rip has a boring job and a big old stick up his butt.

What Its Got:
🧸 Found Family
🧸 Frenemies to lovers
🧸 Funny one-liners
🧸 Chaotic children

@katebrownreads and @reedfish reminded me that the plot of this book is similar to the 2000s romcom Life As We Know It with Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel, except with the roles reversed 😂

Overall, this was a quick and easy read! My only complaint is that Rip said some pretty awful sh*t to Colby in the beginning of the book. Not Miles Archer bad, but still not good, and I feel like he didn’t apologize enough and that his words were kind of just forgotten.

Thank you to @netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review! The godparent trap comes out tomorrow, July 19th 💛✨

3.5 stars, rounded up. I'll be honest, I liked this one so much more than I thought I would. It is incredibly sad and hard to read at points, but it's also a fast paced and frequently humorous read (while the book doesn't wallow in grief perhaps as much as I think real life would in this situation). The found family story and the romance combine into a really tender, sweet story. Watching Colby and Rip as they both fall in love and find themselves as parental figures is bittersweet.

I don't know why but this kind of storyline always gets me. I find it really intriguing, entertaining and fun to read. Add to that grumpy/sunshine trope? Heck yes! I only read Colby and Rip's story in one sitting. These two have amazing chemistry and witty banter. I flew through the pages. As much as this is a sweet rom-com, it is full of emotions too. Especially with them navigating their new life. I absolutely enjoyed their story.

“You make me want to colour outside the lines”

She’s sunshine. He’s grumpy. She’s chaos. He’s order.

What happens when your best friend and sister die unexpectedly and you suddenly find yourself with a live-in co-parent and two kids under 6? Oh, and your new co-parent is the woman you’ve been in love with secretly for years but she thinks you hate her?

For Rip and Colby you have to navigate your own grief on top of two children who don’t really know how to process all of this. And you also have to rely on the person that drives you crazier than anyone else.

This book made me weep and laugh - sometimes at the same time. It was a really lovely story about navigating grief, raising babes and learning how to live with a new normal. And also falling in love.

Thank you so much to Forever, Valentine PR and NetGalley for this advanced copy. I read this book voluntarily.