I still marvel at how versatile Rachel Van Dyken can so seamlessly pivot styles and genres- one minute delivering a bloody, angsty, trauma-fueled mafia story and the next a breezy rom-com full of swoony feelings and flirty banter. And the The Godparent Trap is most certainly the later- lower angst, mostly fun, and full of enemies to lovers banter.

Many are comparing this to the Katherine Heigl rom-com Life as We Know it- and certainly there is a similar architecture. Two grief stricken adults find themselves unexpected guardians to two precious kiddos, one structured and retrained the other more spontaneous and vivacious. In this case, our heroine Colby is the best friend and our hero Rip is the uncle, with Colby being the carefree, joyful, sunshine character and Rip being our broody and grumpy hero.

There is a lot to enjoy about this rom-com, which despite its subject matter and potential for real emotional tension is actually pretty airy and low-angst. Rip is no Josh Duhamel (but who is) and really took some time to grow on me. Grumps can be lovable and sometimes grumps can be more jerks- and Rip was definitely the latter for a lot of the book. He’s cruel and mean- which I actually am all for in an anti-hero, but in a rom-com, I wanted my banter to be a bit more well-intentioned versus picking on a character's very real insecurities or her grieving process. He felt more of a bully than a grump, and so I had a hard time loving, or even liking, him at first. But over time, we see that Rip is just not handling his own grief well- he’s bottling up a lot and clearly talking a lot out on Colby, because she’s the closest connection he has to take out all of his pain. But, it doesn’t make him very enchanting as a hero- at times he’s chauvinistic, others just painfully cruel. And given how lovable Colby was to me immediately, that did impact my perceptions of their chemistry and just being able to appreciate him as a character.

We do get some swoony and sweet moments as we get over the hump of enemyness- and as they start to open up more to each other. And ultimately, both are committed to taking care of these very cute kiddos. And, overall the story is a fast and quick read. I was worried the heaviness of loss and death would impact the tone and fun of the story- but it really does read as a light and fluffy, feel good story despite the tragic catalyst that brought these two together.

Colby is living her life to the fullest. She's a successful food blogger who gets to travel the world in search of the best cuisine.

Rip is a by-the-book kind of guy. He likes the stability of his job and the certainty that his structured life affords.

Colby's jet-setting life is put on pause when she gains co-custody of her best friends' two young children after a tragic accident. Her co-guardian? None other than Rip himself.

Now, Colby's setting down roots and Rip has to learn that, where kids are concerned, sometimes the plans go out the window.

Despite these two not seeing eye to eye on a lot of things they agree that the kids need them now more than ever, and maybe along the way, Rip and Colby might find their own way to happiness.

Rachel Van Dyken is a name I've heard plenty around the romance genre, but I've never read any of her books. I was really drawn into the premise of this story.

I loved how the story dealt in its own way with loss and grief. Showing that just because we’ve lost someone doesn’t mean we’re stuck without happiness even though it can definitely seem that way. And on the flip side of that, just when you think you’ve moved beyond grief, something will come along that recalls a memory and you’re right back there again.

I love feeling the heartbreak along with the elation of finding love and happiness. I thought it was a beautiful mix that was perfectly balanced. The journey of seeing both Colby and Rip move out of their comfort zones and embrace the curveball their lives have been thrown was wonderful. Seeing their opposites-attract love story was just what I needed at this moment.

While dealing with some heavy topics, there was a lightness to the story that kept things from getting too sad and depressing, but the possibility was there on a surface level that in a moment a word or thought could bring these characters back to their sadness and I think that's what just really made this honest connection for me while reading. It didn't feel forced, it felt real.

Overall, I enjoyed this one immensely and cannot wait to see what is next from Rachel Van Dyken.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve seen a lot of posts comparing this to the Kathrine Heigl movie “Life As We Know It” but the similarities really are very minimal. Don’t let it stop you from picking up this perfect grumpy-sunshine contemporary romance.

Colby and Rip’s relationship has always been a little rocky since their horrible first date a couple years ago. But when Rip’s sister, Colby’s best friend dies, they find themselves living in the same house raising two kids while trying to manage their grief, careers and disdain for each other.

This standalone pops off right away with loads of sexual tension as these two navigate the intimacy of grief and healing. Rip is your straight arrow type-A finance guy (who just so happens to be ripped, pun intended). He is immediately turned off by the idea of sharing custody of his niece and nephew with the spontaneous and slightly flighty Colby, whom he must constantly deny his attraction to. As the new blended family unit settles into a new normal, they can no longer deny how well they fit together and how much they’ve yearned for the life they now have together.
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A special thank you to @netgalley and @grandcentralpub for getting this bad boy in my hands before it’s release. When I say I devoured it, I mean I DEVOURED IT. This love story made me push through COVID so I could read that beautiful epilogue.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports. Colby's living her best life. As a flood blogger she gets to fulfill her dreams of exploring the globe. But, her world comes crashing down when a tragic accident leaver her co-guardian of her best friend's two adorable children. Not only does she need to put down roots-fast-but she'll be sharing custody with the one man she can't stand sharing a continent with, let alone a house. Accountant-extraordinaire Rip values rules and plans. But when he loses his sister and his best friend and becomes an insta-guardian all in one night, Rip sees his organized life imploding. What he really doesn't need is his sister's irresponsible, flighty-albeit kind and gorgeous-best friend making it worse. Rip doesn't trust Colby to take their new responsibilities seriously, while Colby can't believe rip thinks children will thrive under his rigid control. Yet soon Rip and Coby discover they need each other more than they hate each other. Could it be possible that following their hearts is just what their new little family needs? You just know your going to love a book that has two childhood nemeses having to take on things they never though they would and learn to live the life they never expected to have. Not because they wanted it this way but because one day tragedy strikes and Colby finds herself having to leave the life of traveling around the continent blogging about food and settling down because her best friend is gone and left behind two beautiful children for their Godmother to care for. You never expect these things to actually have to take place when you agree to be someone's Godmother but they do and now she has to prepare herself because the Godfather is her biggest nemesis in life and her best friends brother Rip. He is bossy and controlling and thrives on orders and everything just so with no surprises ever. To say they are polar opposites would be a understatement. Rip is the actual blood relative to the kids and man he is the most organized human being I think there is in the fictional world ever. He's one of the biggest stuck up control freaks I think i have ever read about. And you can imagine that kind of person to Colby's easy going food blog loving entertaining self. They certainly have some whitty banter between them and it was amazing to watch them come together for the kids. These two have some entertaining and heartbreaking moments especially because they both suffered a great loss and live changing no make that life altering events that follow. I really loved these two apart and together. I loved the banter and the tension between them. It at times will make you blush really. This was a great little story that I devoured and loved every second of .

If you loved the movie, life as we know it, you will love this book!

It is funny, witty, passionate and emotional. Rachel Van Dyken gave me all the feels and once I started this book I couldn't put it down. This book has the perfect balance of humour and reality. I loved it

I couldn’t wait to get this book on my kindle. An enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine romance that dealt with grief seemed right up my alley. Then it ended up being a little different than I expected.

Colby and Rip move in together with two young children after their parents, one being Rip’s sister and also Colby’s best friend, are killed in a tragic accident. They are both handling their grief in different ways while also trying to be strong guardians and become a real family for the little girls. Navigating this new normal is not easy for anyone.

Rip is a complete and total douchebag. I could not, and still can not, understand why Colby even liked him a little bit. Their relationship needed a lot more back story other than one bad date for me to ever be ok with them together. I also needed a lot more groveling because he is actually a horrible person, but I’m not sure if it would ever be enough. I did love Colby. She was smart and vivacious. She was not afraid to be herself and she loved life. The children were adorable, plus Banks was a hilarious addition to their lives. I do feel like there should have been a little more to this story since it felt a little rushed. Overall, the good outweighs the not so good in this entertaining, fast paced romantic comedy.

🥂

The Godparent Trap is Rachel Van Dyken's newest rom-com! This is an opposites attract, sister's best friend story. Rip and Colby are complete opposites and have been in each other's lives for years. They don't get along at all. But after a tragic accident, they are now raising Rip's sister's kids. He lost his sister and she lost her best friend. They have to learn how to co-parent and live together. It's not going well at first. Colby is a hot mess. She's all over the place and up to this point has been a travel blogger. Rip is all about structure, rules and math. They never realized how hard raising two kids under five was. At first all the responsibility falls on her, but when the tables turn, Rip realizes how hard it actually is. Along the way, they lean on each other, talk, fight and realize they have always cared for each other. Now they are actually a family. Rip realizes life's too short so he needs to get his girl. Colby lets down her guard so she can let Rip in. It was an emotional, fun and sexy story that had me crying, laughing and totally relating!

A gender-swapping nod to the movie Life As We Know It, The Godparent Trap is all about seeing and seizing the opportunity for love that’s right in front of you if you’re willing to let go of your fears and the need to control everything around you. Like the movie, two frenemies and polar opposites, Rip and Colby, are forced to co-parent after their best friends (and, in this case, Rip’s younger sister) are killed in a car accident.

Initially, Rip, a Type A accountant, is a real misogynistic jerk, being unintentionally cruel to Colby, a travel blogger, by pointing out her insecurities and threatening her with full custody if she doesn’t start acting responsibly. He demands that she be realistic (e.g., by not telling the kids that their parents are angels looking over them) and keep the house and herself neat and clean. In his mind, following rules keeps people safe. Conversely, Colby wears her heart on her sleeve, openly grieving and caring less about keeping everything in order and more about being present and tuned into the emotional needs of the children. It’s only with the help of an interfering friend/co-worker and some divine intervention that Rip finally begins to acknowledge that his anger is masking his fear, that life and love are inherently messy, and that, by ceding control, he’ll find comfort and joy.

Although the story is endearing (especially the interactions with 3-year-old Viera and 5-year-old Ben), the character development is lacking and the pacing is a bit scattered. The book begins with a prologue (or glimpse of the future) that is repeated word-for-word where it fits chronologically in the narrative and the transitions between scenes are choppy. Despite this, it’s a worthwhile read for those who like enemies-to-lovers romance and some emotional heaviness as well.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Forever Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Told in dual points of view, The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken is an enemies to lovers, best friend's brother novel. Colby and Rip can't stand each other. But when tragedy strikes they have to not only learn to work together, but live together to take care of the two people they love most in the world.
I thought this book was so cute. It's an easy read and one that you don't want to put down. Looking forward to reading more from the author. I definitely recommend reading this book, you won't be disappointed.
Thank you to Rachel Van Dyken, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have never laughed and cried so much in a long time. There was so much to relate to in this book. Rip and Colby were the godparents to Ben and Viera. But became the actual guardians after Monica and Brooks were killed in a car accident. They now have to share custody and a house with the children. Rip, an accountant, who likes order and Colby, a travel and food blogger, who is in constant chaos. Colby becomes the 'stay at home mom' while Rip goes to his job and as any parent knows when there are young children, chaos ensues. As they try to deal with their own grief, helping the children, and dancing around the attraction to each other, throw in a best friend and you have laughs and tears. It's also about being a family even when you're not related by blood. I really love this book.

I wanted to love this but just didn't. I love Life as We Know It. Grief as the romantic uniting force is tough to pull off and this fell flat for me. I love a grumpy, tough to love MMC but he was just plain mean and didn't really redeem himself ever.

The Godparent Trap tells the story of two enemies who must live together in order to raise their godchildren when tragedy strikes.

This was a fun and quick read, the story reminded me so much of one of my favorite movies “Life As We Know It”.

This book was absolutely precious. Colby and Rip are left to care the two children after tragedy takes their loved ones from them unexpectedly. Colby and Rip are about as opposite as any two people could be - Colby being an adventurous food blogger who travelled the world and Rip being a bit of a stuck-up accountant. Throughout the novel, Colby and Rip have to find a way to make their new life work for them while also figuring out what it means to be a family.

This was such a beautiful and heartbreaking story, so be prepared for a whirlwind of emotions. It had me laughing one minute and crying the next.

Read if you like:
✔️Romantic Comedy
✔️Enemies to Lovers
✔️Sunshine/Grump
✔️Forced Proximity
✔️Dual POV

Rip and Colby have been attracted to each other for years, but while rip is a buttoned down perfectionist, Colby is messy, fly by the seat of her pants. When Rip’s sister and Colby‘s best friend die tragically in a car accident the two are brought together to raise the children that were left behind.

This book was a great example of finding love in the most unexpected situations. It is heartfelt, it is touching, It brings tears, and laughter. And amongst all those emotions it is also a gorgeous love story.

Thank you to forever publishing for providing me an arc of this book.

Rip and Colby take over parenting responsibilities for Ben and Viera when their parents pass away unexpectedly. This results in two adults with zero parenting skills thrown into life as a family of 4. Sprinkle in complete opposite personalities (grump vs sunshine, organized vs free spirit) and an awkward first date experience (did he try to kiss her? did she run away?) hanging over their heads and you end up with a roller coaster of life. Rachel did a great job mixing in grief with humor with love all through out this story. Such a sweet read with a great dual person writing style.
Hands down favorite part was finding out that hugs equate to how babies are made...watch out for those hugs!

Actual rating is 3.5 Stars. Colby is a popular food blogger, who is enjoying traveling around the world trying different foods. Rip is an accountant and a guy who likes things organized and wants the perfect life. When Colby finds out her best friend, Monica, and her husband, Brooks, died in a horrible accident Colby ends up thrust into the role of raising her best friend's two kids. The only problem is she has to share custody of the kids with Rip, who is Monica's brother and Brook's best friend.

Colby and Rip can't stand each other, but will have to learn how to get along while raising two kids. It was interesting to see how Rip changes from the beginning of this book to the end. I felt the end was a little rushed, but wrapped up all of the storylines nicely. This book will definitely remind some people of the movie Life As We Know It as the premise is very similar, however, Rachel puts her own spin on the godparent roles and the storyline. Honestly, I really enjoyed how Rachel balanced some of the heavier themes in this book with some fun and light moments with the children.

Such a great book! A bit sad, a lot funny, and so wonderful! RVD has me loving this side of her writing, cannot wait for more.

This is a story of opposites clashing only to find the attraction later on. Definitely a nice story that I really liked. A heartbreaking situation forces two people to that come together and truly see each other. I enjoyed the banter and liked reading the different mindsets of both main characters. It’s a fun read that tells a sweet tale and reveals a cute love story. I’d definitely recommend others check it out.

CW: death

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

I wish I liked this more. I really do not like the trope of extreme grief bringing 2 people together because I often struggle to see it done well. This was one of those times.

I could go on a long tangent about what I disliked but really most of it lands on the male lead. I detested him and felt his character growth was not enough for me to wish him a HEA by the end of the book. He i.e. Rip lost his sister and brother in law, and so was forced to take care of their kids along with Colby (the FL who was Rip's sister's best friend). The thing here is Rip is unbelievably mean - not snarky, but MEAN to Colby so many times that I just couldn't root for them. Gosh the things he said! And some even before the accident that changed their lives. And then after the accident? They were both grieving, I can't buy being the "gruff" kind for some of his utterances. So yeah, no.

My best character was Banks and even his epilogue somewhat annoyed me. LOL.

I will still read more works from the author as some parts were funny but the book ultimately did not work for me.

A huge thanks to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Godparent Trap is an exquisite blend of emotions and witty banter that will have you crying from sadness on one page, only to end up with tears brought on by laughter on the next.

RVD delivered an emotional tale that many who have suffered a loss will be able to connect with. So many of the thoughts and emotions that Colby and Rip felt, albeit due to very different circumstances, are ones I have had when thinking of losing my parents. an undeniable talent as she so flawlessly allows you to see your own thoughts and fears playing out in a fictional world that offers you a chance to know you aren’t alone.

Colby was fun-loving and sassy, had more of a "just go with it" attitude, and although at times a bit of a mess, all of these things made her easy to connect with. I’ve been winging it since I hit adulthood, so I completely adored her. She was kind and loving, always seeming to know what the kids needed in order to feel safe as their world had just been turned upside down.

Rip was the opposite of Colby in every way, and while I could definitely relate to Colby, it was Rip that I had a much deeper connection with. I get that. Losing your parents, living in a world where your only person is your sister, I get that. I’ve been living that for the majority of my life. The obsessive need for control, never wanting to allow yourself to feel at peace, as though that very thing will trigger more loss. He was a bit of a jerk, but it was clear a lot of it stemmed from the underlying love he and Colby shared. He went from growly jerk to "ovary exploding swoon."

Rip and Colby’s chemistry was palpable from the start. It seemed as though everyone in their lives could see what the two of them had been unable to. The very things that made them complete opposites were also the very things that made them perfect for one another. The bickering between them fanned the flames of attraction between them; every sneer, every muttered curse, mixed with stolen glances and longing looks. All of this made for an enthralling enemies to lovers tension-filled slowburn.

I’m not even sure how to express the emotions this story and these characters evoked. It was an incredibly unique experience. I found that while I could relate to Colby and Rip, I found that these kids who suffered a heartbreaking loss, a loss that I too have suffered, made it so that every single character in this fictional world displayed the many sides of my own grief.

Don’t think that because of those things that The Godparent Trap is all heavy emotions and sadness. I can assure you that’s not the case. There was an equal amount of clever banter and laugh out loud escapades that balanced the light and heavy in a way that doesn’t allot for one sense to overwhelm the reader.

The Godparent Trap is an all-consuming combination of intoxicating chemistry, a swoony hero, and a perfectly imperfect heroine, teeming with emotion, clever banter, and steam. A quintessential opposites attract story with tons of heart.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the banter back and forth between Colby and Rip. These two don’t really like each other and are thrown together to help raise Rip’s sister’s children. There was a tragic accident and now these two have to come together to raise the two small children. She is more carefree and he like things perfect. Together they have to figure it out for the children and make it work for the children. In the meantime they find themselves falling in love with each other. ARC was provided by Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.