You had me at The Unhoneymooners meets Life Too Short!!! Two of my favs mashed into one book? You bet I'm reading it! This book was so much and cute and I can't wait to get my physical copy!

The Godparent trap follows the brief story of Colby and Rip who suddenly find themselves as co-guardians of two young children after their best friends (and Kip's sister) die in a tragic accident. Moving in together to care for the kids kindles a fire which hand been suppressed over the years they had know each other. If you are looking for a quick-paced Hallmark movie happy ending in the face of adversity rom-com, then this book will suit your needs and generate a few laughs along the way. I myself found it a little too fast considering the emotional rollercoaster the characters would have been facing and a bit lacking in depth of character development.

Thank you to Forever and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

When this book had a content warning for bullying, I didn’t think it meant the “hero” would bully the heroine. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

My toxic trait is watching a movie and wishing I could read the story as a book instead. This is true of most movies, but I first realized this about myself after watching Life As We Know It last year. Loved the concept of two enemies having to parent their mutual friend's baby after a tragic car accident, but it wasn't nearly as funny, romantic, or deep as I wanted it to be.

THE GODPARENT TRAP is described as Life As We Know It meets The Unhoneymooners, but it's actually just Life As We Know It in book form.

And it's everything I wished the movie was.

The hate-to-love was the exact right amount of hate and then love. The characters actually grieve, including the kids. Speaking of, there are two kids instead of the one, and the kids are three and five, so they contribute to the story and also have their own grief process. The banter is top-notch and the romance is both sweet and steamy—opposites attract perfection.

We also get flashbacks to develop Colby and Monica's friendship prior to the accident. Sometimes flashbacks hurt more than help a story, but I loved them here. It made the grief and loss more palpable and I sobbed. The movie gave me no connections to the parents at all, and if you know me at all, emotional attachment is my kryptonite. Rip and Monica are siblings, so we have another relationship to explore and another trope executed well (best friend's brother).

TW: death of best friend/sibling/parents, grief, car accident (detailed, on-page), burn injuries, vomiting

Okay enough comparing to the movie. We follow dual POVs, which is another favorite of mine, and I enjoyed both Rip (why are we naming male characters the weirdest things? Chest, Rake, what's next, Apple?) and Colby's POVs. The kids are both cute and realistic, because yes, those are mutually exclusive. Kids are cute from afar, but then you get up close and suddenly you have three different infections, stained clothing, a migraine, something stuck in your hair, and a trip to the ER.

We have a delightful side character with a name suspiciously like the dead father's (Brooks and Banks? Really?) who is basically the Charles Boyle to Rip's Jake Peralta, though Rip is nothing like Jake. Banks is much needed comic relief and someone I scarily saw myself in. An inability to shut up when working around friends? Throw away the mirror.

Weird names aside, I also couldn't give this book a full 5 stars—THOUGH I WANTED TO—because part of the ending felt unrealistic. The epilogue made up for it a bit, but I was reading with my face like this: 😐

A few flaws aside, I can see myself rereading this one. I know Van Dyken writes mafia romance mainly, but if one of her contemporary romances piques my interest, I will happily pick it up. She mastered the tropes used. The found family was the exact degree needed to melt your heart. 🫶🏼

Thank you to Valentine PR and Grand Central Publishing for the early copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was torn when trying to decide the rating for my review. I liked Rip & Colby’s story but it was really close to the romantic comedy Life As We Know It.

Rip & Colby had terrific banter and chemistry. I enjoyed watching them trying to navigate their new world and taking care of children. I overall liked these characters & their story.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

Nothing warms my Gritty-loving, defiant Philadelphian heart then a toddler whose limited grasp on grammar leaves her saying “youse,” so obviously The Godparent Trap was already off to a great start with just that adorable child.

The plot is familiar – two people who are at odds are left raising children together after an unspeakable tragedy. Rip loses his sister, Colby her best friend, and the kids both parents in one fell swoop, and these four people are left to try and figure out how to keep living and pick up the pieces. What I really appreciated about this version of that story was that neither of the new parent figures went through the struggle of not wanting to be responsible for the kids at all. Rip and Colby made a lot of mistakes, but they both threw themselves into trying to make life as easy and good and happy as possible for these heartbroken kids, and I think that’s what made this book so endearing.

The plot hits a lot of rom-com’s greatest hits: a fake date with someone else to make him jealous, his reaction when he sees her all dressed up, pining but thinking the other person doesn’t care because of a misunderstanding. And it’s all so much fun. I really liked these characters, and I liked watching them learn how to be together. I was genuinely happy for them – and the kids – when they got their happy ending.

Speaking of the kids, I was pleasantly surprised with how real they felt. A lot of times kids in fiction read too old and wise or are treated like babies when they’re not. These kids were, thankfully, pretty accurate, and their heartbreak was real and compelling. They added to the novel rather than detracting from it.

I will say that I thought Rip was a little TOO mean to Colby in the beginning, even once I knew the reason why. But it was fairly in line with the rest of his personality, so it didn’t ruin the book for me, and I was still rooting for him to get over himself and get the girl.

The Godparent Trap is a little of all the things.

It's emotional enough to hold my heart, but not so much that it crushes me.
It's funny with cute kids and lots of mistakes and hijinks
The hero is dreamy and so super grumpy
The side characters are the best.

I fell into this book in the evening and stayed up way past my bedtime binge reading this story of two people who are the Godparents to their best friends' kids. When they unexpectedly get custody of the kids, they must walk through grief and shift the focus of their life to raising their new family. Close proximity and more bring tension and heat to this story. He's so grumpy you have to love him and she's just enough of a mess that you cheer her on the entire book.

This lands at 4.5 for me!

Oh, my heart! If you're even the tiniest bit spiritual this book will touch your heart.
I cried, I laughed, and I cheered on Colby as she thawed out the stone cold Rip. Their back and forth barbs before the peace treaty was highly entertaining.


Colby and Rip are thrust together after her best friend and also Rip's sister and her husband die in a fatal car crash.
They've been awarded guardianship of their two children and now live together for the children.

Colby is a force of nature and exactly what Rip needs in his life while they navigate loss and parenting after loss.

Rip is a Cinnamon Roll hero and I seriously had a huge grin on my face when he started opening up and showing his sweet side.

Loved the spiritual nod to this rom-com and the butterfly references.

Thanks to NetGalley, Forever(Grand Central) Publishing, and Rachel Van Dyken for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was not sure what to think going into this book. It did pique my interest, but I didn’t know if the premise would grab me. I was wrong! It was one of the best books I have read in a while. I have had some books when it seemed to take me forever to get halfway. This just pulled me in and it was done before I knew it. I read it in one day.
I wasn’t completely on board with Rip in the beginning but his story and all the responsibilities he has had all explain themselves. It was nice to not dislike him in the end. I really liked Colby. Yes, she is a hot mess, but she realizes that she has room for growth and tries hard to do it. They do make a good team. As the saying goes, opposites attract.
I thought the kids were adorable. I am usually not a fan of romances with kids, but I loved the addition and how the kids were a large part of Rip and Colby finally really seeing each other.
I don’t like giving things away but be warned that there is family loss in this book. It was so well written that even though the characters were only slightly shown, the loss was hard and the flashbacks brought a little tear to my eye.
Would totally recommend this book!

When travel food blogger Colby and stick-in-the-mud accountant Rip unexpectedly become guardians of their best friends' kids after a tragic accident, the two learn to work together and about each other after years of getting on each others' nerves. With completely different parenting philosophies, a distrust for each other, and a lack of understanding, it's a recipe for disaster... or romance? Because underlying it all is the undeniable attraction between the two that their friends must have seen.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The sad moments really hit and I liked the characters together--I binged the book in one sitting. But Rip's dated attitude and lack of understanding regarding what everything Colby was doing at home was hard to swallow. While I knew his comeuppance and awakening was coming, I still hated that he seemed so blind to how much work Colby was doing taking care of the children while he was at work.

Thanks for Forever for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 8/10

From tragedy, hope and love can prosper. Colby and Rip have always been at odds. For Rip, Colby invaded his family unit which was only him and his sister, Monica, after their parents died. Colby always has a smile and lives life fiercely which scares Rip. But deep down, he appreciates the freedom she has that he can’t seem to find. Colby has always had a crush on Rip but he’s always hated her. But the one thing they both agree on is that stepping up and being parents to Monica and Brooks kids is non-negotiable. Yes, is living in the same house a challenge since Rip likes a well-ordered life and Colby keeps everything free and open yet they need to find a way since Ben and Veira are the priority as they help the kids grieve and move forward without their parents. This story for me was very raw and honest. I felt like I could have friends in the same situation with all the craziness that could happen when someone that wasn’t planning to be a parent is suddenly in that situation. Both of them had their own issues to overcome with how they lived their lives and how to adapt to being an immediate family. I love how they weren’t afraid to face their differences and find common ground to provide a safe and stable environment for the kids. Truly a beautiful read that I enjoyed. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

Opposites attract ✔️
Grumpy sunshine ✔️
Forced proximity ✔️
Best friend’s brother ✔️

If you liked the movie Life As We Know It, then you will love The Godparent Trap. Colby is a chaotic mess according to Rip and Rip is a ridged stick in the mud according to Colby. Brought together to raise their best friend and sister’s children after an accident took their lives, Colby and Rip must figure out a way to co exist and grow as a new found family.

Colby and Rip are great together, they compliment each other and fill in the missing pieces the other needs. There’s no denying their attraction to each other and the perfectly messy family they create.

This is a great easy read that handles a rather difficult and sad topic with heart, understanding and a whole lotta mess.

Thank you @readforeverpub and @rachvd for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

A dramedy of sorts where opposites attract when suddenly thrown together in the worst of circumstances.

When Colby and Rip are suddenly found the primary caregivers of a three and five year old this slow burn love story is both sweet and an in your face look at parenthood that made me laugh out loud when it brought back memories regarding my own children.

This book doesn't linger in the sadness that brought Colby and Rip together, which I appreciated for the lightness of this book, so please don't take that as a callus statement, but this book is just lighter overall. Colby and Rip find themselves in an extreme living condition while facing grief, but even more so they are facing the rearing of two small children which is something neither one of them have ever done.

These two individuals have never been parents and I have to commend them that they both jumped right into the fire without preparation. Raising two small children that are both at an age that still require lots of care and upkeep is no tiny task. Not to mention that both Rip and Colby are opposite in just about every way when it comes to their own personalities, which made their living situation quite humorous and wrought with tension. This book should be parenting 101 for all new parents on what not to do in the very beginning since the romance part and falling in love seems easy until you begin adding in tiny overloads who take over your life and living space. I jest...sort of.

The Godparent Trap is sweetly adorable and has that slow building chemistry for all the right reasons which made this book feel like a family movie, especially one that I would watch again and again.

While very Katherine Hiegl move like, I really enjoyed this one. Rip (also not sure Rip or R.I.P was a funny choice or not for the guy's name). I felt this was short, but sweet read and I loved being on this journey of grief, love, and parenting with Rip and Colby. Banks was hysterical and a much needed comedic relief. I loved that he called Rip out for his condescending attitude toward Colby being essentially a SAHM. He needed to be called out and I was so happy Banks did it early on in the book. The fake dating was fun to get Rip jealous and i loved being in his head. The texts were a fun touch as well throughout the book!

The Godparent Trap is the first book I’ve read by this author and I absolutely loved it! It was cute and left me with a smile on my face and a happy heart! Was it a little bit cheesy? Sure, but are most romances? I loved the banter between Rip and Colby…it helped ease the sadness of them losing their best friends/sister. I shed a few tears but also laughed out loud while reading this book. Rip was a grouchy, by the book jerk but it was all fueled by fear and grief. Colby was energetic, fun, hilarious and a hot mess! They were complete opposites and perfect for each other. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for something to lift your spirits!

Rating: 3.5/5
Content Warnings: car accident (0ff-page)
Steam: 3/5
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Sudden Roomies, Grumpy/Sunshine, Single Parent

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. the Godparent Trap will be released on July 19th.

Well, this was adorable, heartwarming and quick read. Was it exactly like that movie Life As We Know It? Pretty similar and I was here for it.

Things I Loved: The burn box, omg I could not stop laughing. Great banter and tension. Loved the tiny humans. I loved them figuring out a new normal and learning how to co-parent. Banks was a great character add.

Things I Didn't Care For: Rip in the beginning was boarding on a level of mean that could cross a line. There was an opportunity for depth in this story that didn't happen, it was a surface level story. Heather added some drama we didn't need. The ending was pretty abrupt.

The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken was a rollercoaster of a book when it came to the emotions the characters went through. I’m a sucker for the Grumpy/Sunshine trope in books and that’s exactly what this was. There’s nothing worse than having to mourn the loss of loved ones while being tasked with the most important last wish the parents had for their children. The two characters went through heartbreak, frustration, and just a pure emotional rollercoaster. It was a quick and easy read that I think most people would enjoy picking up.

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever, Grand Central Publishing for early access to the ARC.

Ugh, I am so conflicted with this book.

I mean, the first 1/3 of the book was a case of what in the misogynistic BS is this Rip guy. Heck no I say to you sir.

He did get better the last half of the book, but his words and actions tainted him for me for the rest of the story - sorry RVD.

I liked Colby from the start. Both Colby and Rip are thrown into an unthinkable situation, but the way they dealt with it at the start told me a lot about their characters. One all sunshine and grieving out in the open, one a grump holding it all in, and pushing his way on to her (he really was very douchey to her).

I liked that he did change his ways (and if he hadn't I really was considering DNFing because of him)

The light of this story was the children they became guardians of. They light up the page every time they are on it, even as they are going through the worst time of their little lives.

I wanted to love this story, but unfortunately this was a very rare RVD miss for me.

2 out of 5 stars

thank you netgalley for the digital review copy.

unfortunately i didn’t vibe with this book. like at all.

the premise was good, however there were multiple things that made me at points not want to continue and even at one point want to dnf. i pushed through (why did i do that?) and there were seldom redeeming qualities. first of all, the intro was confusing—why was it necessary to jump around in time like that? it could have been completely discarded and would not have taken away anything from the story. second of all, the two main characters had no chemistry whatsoever and i found the author had to tell us about their feelings rather than show it. at some points, as well, there were contradicting sentences, and though i’m aware of the hate to love trope, yoyoing back and forth between feelings with no purpose, no explanation, and no chemistry or depth of character made me even more confused. and last but not least, rip. he was just… not a nice human. colby deserved better than someone who belittled and berated her for the way she was grieving and mocking her for not being able to function properly.

just not a great read overall. not sure if it’s just me but regardless, didn’t love it.

Wow! Super cute story laced with sadness, love, crazy kids and an adorable love/hate relationship. I laughed out loud and said “aww” a ton. Get a copy as soon as it comes out! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC