me thinking about what to write here, having just finished the book:

“ok, don’t mention the movie Life As We Know It. Everyone else has. Move on. Find different things to discuss”

“I’m not gonna do it girl”……

It’s basically Life As We Know It.

I did it.

But seriously, it’s so reminiscent of the movie that it’s hard not to say it. And for me, this is a really good thing. The found family trope teaming up with enemies to lovers is FIRE. Do we still say that?! Unsure elder millennial here.
Anyways, I laughed, I chortled, I ignored my kid, I couldn’t put it down, I stayed up way WAY too late, and I cried. I hate crying when I’m reading romance (Sorry Colleen Hoover fans). Here though, I was moved by the story, it wasn’t shoved down my throat. You know what you’re getting ahead of time based on the synopsis, but it’s the small moments between the romantic bits that get under the skin and in your heart. LOVED this book!

The Godparent Trap ruined me in the best of ways!! I read this book in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down!

I laughed I cried but RVD had me feeling like I was right there in the midst of it all with Colby and Rip!

Have you ever read a book where you wanted to jump into the pages and just hug the characters so bad that you scream? No just me!!! Well this book had me doing just that! This story was emotional and raw and I wanted to just gather them all into one bear hug! But just as badly as she breaks us RVD really pulled through and wrote and ending that had me crying all the happy tears!

I don’t know why I love stories like this! I loved the movie Life As We Know It and I’ve read another book with a similar premise but RVD pulls some twists and packs some punches that makes this story all it’s own and has it stand out!!

If you love emotionally charged books filled with angst and a detonation of desire, when things finally take off, then this book is a must read summer romance!!

Looking for a heartfelt romcom to read this summer? the Godparent Trap is IT. The premise of this book may be an (almost) exact replica of the 2010 romcom Life As We Know It, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the book at all (it was definitely better than the movie). This book has a second chance, enemies-to-lovers romance that will have you rooting for them as parents as well as a couple. It was swoony and light even as it dealt with the difficulty of loved ones’ deaths and having to start a new life unexpectedly. My only complaints were regarding Rip—honestly, he was let off too easily. I don’t care that their first date had an awkward ending. That absolutely did not excuse his behavior and I would’ve liked to see a little more begging for forgiveness from him. One other thing (and yes, I’m aware how pathetic this sounds)—Rip is described within the first three pages as having jet black hair…but he has brown hair on the cover. Love the cover, just not a fan of discrepancies. All in all, highly recommend!

This was just so cute!! It gave me the same vibes as a movie called life as we know it. If you like that movie, then definitely check this one out.

A very quick read, and much like the Katherine Heigl movie from a few years ago. I did appreciate that the author spent time working through the characters' emotions and struggles in a realistic way. It's a hard topic, but was done well.

This book releases July 19th and it was a rollercoaster of emotions and ratings for me. Rip and Colby are thrown into being parents when their world is turned upside down after the sudden loss of Monica, Rip’s sister and Colby’s best friend, and her husband, Brooks. Rip is a structured, clean, no nonsense businessman. Colby is a messy, chaotic, fun-loving food blogger with a huge following on the internet.

This is an opposites attract / grumpyxsunshine / enemies to lovers book and it felt a little fast for me. Rip is so mean and so critical and condescending of Colby in the beginning that I didn’t feel he was worthy of her love or forgiveness. She handed it to him so easily without having to work for it and it just felt off to me. It was also one of those “girl falls first, but boy falls harder” type of tropes.

The author covers really heavy subjects, but the story still felt light and easy to read. The dialogue was witty and cute, the banter was so good, and the pining was off the charts.

Overall, this did end up being a cute little romance. Other reviewers said it was similar to the plot of the movie “Life As We Know It”, so if you liked that; you’ll love this!

Thanks to Forever & Netgalley for a copy of this arc!

The Godparent Trap is pretty much the movie Life as We Knot It but in a book. Colby and Rip become an instant family with two kids when their best friends, who happen to be his sister and husband, pass away suddenly. Colby and Rip had one terrible date a while back and have never really gotten over it…but now they’re living under the same roof…

Rip is an accountant and described as a pretty by-the-book, organized and “everything has its place” kind of guy. Colby is his complete opposite, spirited, emotional and messy, he often described the travel blogger as a “hot mess”.

This was a pretty straight forward read, both dealing with grief in their own way while trying to balance becoming guardians of the two young children under 5. I had a hard time with Rip’s character, he is the kind of guy (at the beginning of the story) who puts down Colby because he thinks she has it “so easy” staying home with the kids while he has to go to work every day and can’t understand why the house is a mess, dinner isn’t made, groceries aren’t purchased, Colby is still unshowered in stained clothes, and the kids are a handful when he gets home. Once he had to stay home with them he finally got it but it was irking to read before that. There is also some side stories with his work friend Banks and a “mean girl” Heather who was mean to Colby in highschool and of course has her sights set on Rip. It was a predictable, quick read and an okay time, but I just never really felt the chemistry or passion between these 2.

2.5 stars. Thank you to the publisher (Forever) for an e-ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own. The Godparent Trap has a publish date of July 19, 2022.

3.75✨

So, do you know that movie called "Life as we know it"? Well, this book is exactly the same. Like it's so similar i was imagining the movie scenes while i read it. It's not a bad thing but it just felt really familiar, so my reading experience was expected as I liked that movie.

The characters were nice, nothing i haven't read before but i liked Rip's development. He was an absolute asshole at the beginning of the book and i wanted to punch him so bad multiple times but at the end he got better. The banter was also good and i liked the incorporation of the kids, they didn't feel like adults which I appreciated. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed and i honestly would've been good without the epilogue as I didn't like a relationship that formed... Banks deserves someone better... Someone like me 🧘🏻‍♀️

Overall it was a good book and i enjoyed it. It was fast paced as I read it in one day and i had to study for a test lmao... (Let's ignore that, I didn't do well)
I recommend this book as a fun read but that still touches the theme of grief. You should pick it up when it releases!!

*Thanks to netgalley for an arc in exchange of an honest review*

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Godparent Trap follows Colby and Rip, bitter enemies after a previous bad date, who are suddenly thrust into the world of parenthood after the death of Rip's sister (Colby's best friend) and her husband.

First, great title and cover, definitely a good hook for readers. Once you actually open the book, its greatest accomplishment is the navigation of grief and parenthood, and the nuance it takes in Van Dyken's portrayal of both the main characters. For each, the ways in which grief compounds with their insecurities as new parents manifest to allow them to exist on the page as flawed and deeply human people-- they are messy and so is life! With that being said, for the entire first act of the book Rip is a massive dick to Colby. And while I think that grief and insecurity certainly explain his behavior and illustrate how this can result in someone lashing out, there should have been a few more scenes/showings of him taking ownership of the way he treated her in order to fully recover his position as hero. I also found it interesting that there were no mentions of therapy at all in the book...not just because in my opinion these characters definitely should be in therapy, but even just from a plot perspective as it would have helped to have them in a room with someone sorting out their past and present issues.

Overall, this is a quick read that digs a little deeper into the messy parts of life than a typical rom-com. I would recommend it to people who like Helena Hunting and Jayci Lee books.

3/5 ⭐

I thought this was a sweet, quick read. The language and writing was simple and easy to read. The story flowed well. The characters were flawed but enjoyable to read about. I loved seeing them navigate new parenthood together while also grappling their feelings for one another. I think the navigation through grief was raw and true, though honestly it felt as if the kids didn't experience as much as what I'd expect in a real life situation. I do have to say that the storyline was quite predictable, but that didn't take away the joy of reading it.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Well thanks for making me cry like a baby in the middle of the car dealership getting my oil changed as I finished this one!

Woooof all of the emotions. I read this in less than 24 hours and I was so invested in the relationships, the emotion, all of it. The processing of loss, the emotions and amazement that children bring into your life, love and friendship, the sad moments, the heartwarming moments…. Read this. You just have to read this. I can’t get over all of the emotions this book put me through, just beautifully done!

4.75/5 Stars

Wow this book was such a wonderful read! It was heartbreakingly beautiful. I laughed, I cried & it gave me so many warm fuzzies.

I loved the main characters & how they were complete opposites. The chaos was beautiful and while some of the topics were heavy, I thought the author handled them with respect.

I 100% recommend this book if you were a fan of Life As We Know It or Raising Helen. It honestly was such a lovely read. The finding family aspect of it was truly beautiful, I couldn’t put this one down!

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

TW: death of a parent/sibling/friend, car accident, grief

3.75 stars

The Godparent Trap follows Colby and Rip who are left the co-guardians of their bestfriend/sister’s children after a tragic accident. Colby and Rip have always been at odds with one another and are complete opposites. Forced to work together, they learn that there’s a very thin line between love and hate…

Before we even talk about my thoughts, I’d like to acknowledge the covert. I love it. I think the bright colours are very eye-catching and it definitely improved my mood before even reading the book.

That being said, I thought this book was a cute read that handled important topics such as grief/loss really well. I liked how the characters were perfectly flawed and their banter was very enjoyable to read. I am a sucker for opposites attract and this book delivered on that.

I think that I would have like more of explanation on why Rip said that Colby was the worst date he’s ever been on. That part wasn’t explained much and left me a little confused. I also just wanted more from Rip. He said some hurtful things to Colby and some more groveling would have been amazing to read about.

Overall, I’d recommend this book if you would like a cute read that will take you on a slight rollercoaster of emotions.

Release Date: July 19, 2022

More info:
POV? Dual (Colby & Rip), First Person
Cheating? No
Spice? Little bit of descriptive spice
OW/OM drama? Slight but is not reciprocated by MMC
HEA? Yes

List of possible triggers:
- death
- grief/loss


Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars
2 🔥🔥

CW: major grief, on page death, car accident, past death of parents, orphaned children

Super quick read with an interesting premise (I love unexpected guardian(s)) but the execution was really off. I’m bummed because the writing/editing let down what could be a really great story. There is one chapter that is literally word for word the exact same as the prologue. The timeline is also really strange - this all happens in the immediate weeks after the parents die and it’s hard not to feel whiplash between their grief, their budding relationship, a one-dimensional villain, a really annoying friend, and the constant ping ponging between Rip’s work and their house, the only two locations in this book.

This is just petty, but this buttoned up organized man is not a Rip. The name choice seemed particularly strange considering death (RIP…) is such a huge plot point?

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

✨The Godparent Trap✨
By Rachel Van Dyken
Pub Date- July 19, 2022

“A trap that’s not really a trap but a dream. One I’ve wanted to be stuck in my entire life.” - Rip

🍐 Colby and Rip are the godparents to two small children, Ben and Viera. An unthinkable loss occurs with the deaths of Ben and Viera’s parents, Monica and Brooks. This forces Colby and Rip to move in with each other to co-parent the children. There is a long history between the two, including one disastrous first date. The story follows along as they must find a way to put their differences aside, grieve the loss, build the family, and maybe find love in the end.

Pros:
🍐 Quick, fun heartwarming read
🍐 Dual POV- Rip and Colby
🍐 So many romance troupes covered including enemies to lovers and best friend’s brother.
🍐 The children are adorable!!
🍐 The struggles of parenting are covered in a realistic and relatable way!
🍐 Heavy topics(including death) are approached with humor and grace.
🍐 Rip’s best friend and the banter he brings!
🍐 Stu, the diaper wearing cat

Cons:
🍐 Rip is downright mean to Colby and although it made for some great banter, it just seemed to much at times. I wanted to like him more.
🍐 The last 15% of the book felt rushed and confusing. Lots of “what the heck is going on here” thoughts.

✨Overall, it was a cute story with lots of heartwarming moments that made me laugh and cry. If you were a fan of the movie Life As We Know It, then you’ll love The Godparent Trap.

Thanks @netgalley, @readforeverpub, and @rachvd for an advanced eArc.

This is a story about getting set up... except for coparenting instead of a date.

I've read a couple books recently that operate on the humor created by a woman being a mess.. and don't get me wrong, life is messy and messy things are often objectively funny; however, someone's distress as a bunch line just doesn't feel hilarious to me.. But I could've gotten past that, if Rip wasn't such an unequivocal asshole. Sure he was eventually kind to her, but why would you want to be with someone who is only kind to you once he's determined you have value to him as a potential paramour? There were cute parts, and it was a super quick read- so some pros! But overall this fell flat for me.

Thank you so muhc netgalley & grandcenteral publishing for the earc!

This was a fast paced read! I finished it in two days. I loved the dynamic with Rip, Colby, and the two kids. It showed a realistic version of parenthood and the chaos that comes with it.

The pacing seemed a bit off. Some plot lines should have been expanded to build on the emotions of what the characters were going through. I think the characters’ romance felt a bit rushed.

Overall, a quick and easy romance!

✨ARC Review ✨
***
Thank you to Rachel Van Dyken and Netgalley for the ARC to review.
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Y'all, I absolutely without a doubt adored/ loved this book! It was absolute perfection. The writing was phenomenal. The characters were amazing. The storyline was so interesting. And the topics were perfectly portrayed. This story had me smiling, laughing, and crying. I felt the characters pain, I felt their love, and I felt their chaos. Colby was amazing, she was strong, she was brave, sweet, and so loving. Rip was the perfect book boyfriend. He was grumpy, sexy, sweet, and so caring. I have no words to describe how amazing this book was. It is probably my new favorite from her (sorry Sanchez, Rip just stoled your spot😊). I highly highly recommend this one.
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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3.5/5 stars

Read this in one sitting because I couldn't sleep!! I really enjoyed this one even though the premise is SAD and both main characters are processing grief. It's a really quick read and this distracted me from my inability to sleep so that's always nice.

I loved the chaotic kids and how Colby and Rip would do anything for these kids.

Colby and Rip don't like each other and I didn't really see the moment when their emotions switched. It just seemed to happen? I get that they had come moments where they realized they judged the other, but it just seemed to be told to us and not shown.

I also did not love all the God talk and whatnot, but I could easily ignore it.

TW: death of a loved one, grief

The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken was such a great read! It was adorable, heartfelt, emotional, and also had me laughing out loud. This enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy was just on point. Rachel Van Dyken gets it right with palpable grief, adorable children, and so much love. Romance aside, The Godparent Trap is infused with so much familial love it will have you bursting with it.

If you love books that bring every range of emotion then this book is for you! Readers that enjoy angst, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, grumpy vs. sunshine, forced proximity, and books with kids, read The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken!