Another fantastic read by Meghan Quinn. Not her typical rom com but just as good if not better than her other books. More of a serious romance with the help of Jaz, a slash tire friend, to add humor.
Sawyer was trying to hide from what had just happened in his life and escaping to Canoodle California was the perfect place to be. This small town was a perfect place to get lost in. Fallon was living here trying to bring back the cabins her grandfather originally built and also be a caretaker for her grandfather who was suffering from Alzheimer's.
Their relationship started slow. At first, he was just renting one of the cabins but before too long he started making needed repairs to the cabins and grounds around the property. The more time he spent here the more he felt he belonged there and the more his feelings developed for Fallon.
I loved how he approached their relationship. He didn’t rush it. He wanted to show Fallon he was worthy of her. He wanted to let he make sure this is what she wanted. As Sully said sometimes the best things in life are worth waiting for. We have to go through things that may not make us happy in order to achieve the happiness we are destined to have.
Their first date might have been a disaster but in the end, they found their way together and found their happily ever after.

The Runaway Groomsman is everything i have come to expect from Meghan Quinn the Queen of romantic comedy, its full of fun, it’s emotional yet entertaining and it has characters you will fall in love with. If you love small town romance you will want to meet the residents of Canoodle…….
Hollywood screenwriter Sawyer Castle was meant to be a groomsman for his ex but ends up running for the hills after making a swift exit in the middle of the ceremony. Arriving in the small town Canoodle he finds a cabin to avoid the paparazzi and hide out for a while…..
Fallon owns the cabin and is currently renovating the place and that means these two are going to spend a lot of time together. Sawyer and Fallon have meet before but be cant remember that blind date so will Fallon remind him or will she let him work it out for himself……
This is the perfect read, it’s full of witty banter, it has adorable characters and the secondary characters all have a part to play, its entertaining and at times emotional and it has just the right amount of drama. A captivating slow burn read that drew me in from the first few pages and didn’t let me go until I had read the final line.

ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley

𝘙𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘯 begins with the best man of America's favourite couple's wedding running out of the church, Cindrella style, double flipping the showbiz wedding. He escapes to Canoodle, an idyllic small town, where he finds solace in the woody cabins owned by a grumpy but loving grandpa with Alzheimer's, who is cared for by his granddaughter - Fallon.
As Sawyer tries to forget the drama he created by emersing himself into the renovating the cabins, he also tries to not be swept away by his feelings for Fallon, considering she's taken and oh he once went on a disastrous blind date with her for which she still holds a grudge.

- ~ -

This was, in all honesty, a very average read.

My main issue was that Fallon's character was quite lackluster. Yes we get to know throughout the story that she's selfless but honestly her only traits seemed to be that she cared for her grandfather and the cabins, which I can well appreciate but I need more than that for a character arc.

Also she had a boyfriend for more than 40% of the plot and after that debacle was taken care of she immediately jumped into another relationship which just didn't sit right with me.

Sawyer, on the other hand, had a fairly well rounded character development. He was sweet and genuine and added humour to the plot. His caring attitude towards Sully from day 1 when he didn't even know the man were what I liked best.

Other than that, the story did have some decent secondary characters. The most interesting of them being a cat as the mayor and Jaz, the terror inducing, violent best friend.

- ~ -

3.54 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘦 & 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 & 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

“ Because as I sit across from her at this table, her beautiful blue eyes glittering back at me, a hint of a smile playing at her lips, all I can think about is how I desperately wish I could reach across the diameter of this circular table and take her hand in mine. A simple act. Holding her hand. It’s not much. But to me, it would mean so much more. “

Ahhh this book is so good! I loved this sweet small town romance! Sawyer need to get away from Hollywood and all the craziness in his life. After ditching his ex girlfriend and his ex best friend’s wedding, he drives all over until he ends up in the small town Canoodle. He decides there will be the place where he’ll lie low for a little while. He does not expect to end up falling in love with the girl he once went on a date with. Fallon disliked Sawyer when she went on their horrible blind date. All he did was pay attention to his phone but at least she got a free meal. I really liked reading how the two of them slowly get to know one another and realized the great things about each other. My heart swooned at how Sawyer would act with Fallon’s grandfather who has Alzheimer’s. He becomes his friend. I loved how Sawyer fixed up Fallon’s family’s cabin business. And she had know idea it was happening!!! I loved how the whole time Sawyer is pining for Fallon. This was one of the first books that I’ve read from Megan Quinn that didn’t have so many steamy scenes in it. If I recall I think only one or two sex scenes in this book and they happen close to the end. This is more of a slow burn and I’m here for it! I loved how we really get to see the characters connect and for them to grow.

Read if you like:
Dual POVs
Forced proximity
Hero pining for heroine
Cinnamon roll hero
Grumpy grandpa
Hilarious best friend
Small town romance
Open door romance
Slow burn

The buildup of the story was well done and the characters were so fun to read. It was very endearing to see how Sawyer got to know everyone and I love how natural it all felt. It made Sawyer an extremely sweet and lovable character. As for Fallon, she is not only hard-working and funny, but she cares immensely for the people around her (especially Sully) and it was interesting to see how Fallon and Sawyer developed their relationship from platonic friends to something more. Their chemistry was great and I was very invested in their story. Even though it was a slow burn, I liked being able to see what Sawyer and Fallon were doing individually, and it only made me root for them more when they finally admitted their feelings for each other. Admittedly though, I wasn't a huge fan of Peter and found him to be unnecessary.

Runaway Groomsman was filled with humor and fun, flirty bantering and I had such an enjoyable experience reading it. It was predictable at times, and I'm not a fan of the miscommunication trope that happens, but I don't think it took away from the experience of the story. Overall, I totally recommend this book if you're looking for a quick and fun rom-com!

4.5⭐

Runaway Groomsman is a joyous romp. That captures you from the very first page and hits you with all the feels.

As successful Hollywood screenwriter Sawyer Castle finds himself best man at his cheating ex-girlfriend Annalisa's lavish wedding to his ex-best friend Simon.

Who happen to be Hollywood's next golden couple.

Which is why Sawyer is having to suck it up and pretend he doesn't care he's having to witness these two back stabbers tie the knot.

But just as the vows begin Sawyer finally snaps and promptly flees the church in spectacular fashion. Only to land in Canoodle, California. A small mountain town full of charming and in some cases sarcastic characters and a cat who happens to be mayor.

And here he finds a home and a chance to hide out from the fallout of his viral exit. And that home happens to be with former ER nurse Fallon Long. Who is back in Canoodle to tend to her grandfather Sully. Whose sadly suffering with Alzheimer's and has a love story with his deceased wife Joan that mirrors the one Sawyer ultimately finds with Fallon.

And what a charming love story it is. As Runaway Groomsman is packed with angst, emotion, humour, heat, friendship and sweetness, and with tremendous pacing and memorable characters. This was a beautifully written and extremely delightful read. That I would happily recommend to others.

**I was kindly provided with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

3.5 ⭐️

When a book starts with your ex-girlfriend cheating on you with your best friend and you’re made to be the best man in their wedding for contractual reasons, you know you’re in for a doozy of a book - with some emotional baggage, some mental anguish, and hopefully a cute happily ever after.

Somewhat outside of MQ’s norm of regular romcoms, we get this contemporary romance. Sawyer escapes from that disaster of a wedding, only to stop in Canoodle, CA, at a bar named the Beggar’s Hole. This small town is super punny and right up my ally!

Sawyer ends up staying at the Cove that Fallon runs for her Alzheimer ridden grandfather, Sully. Canoodle is the perfect place for Sawyer to step away from the bad press associated with the disaster wedding and find himself again.

While finding himself, he grows close to Sully, as well as Fallon. Can’t seem to win over Jaz but not sure anyone can tame that one!

I enjoyed the characters, and found myself wondering what was going to happen next with them, however it just didn’t give me my normal MQ zing that I usually get.

I still say take the drive on into this runaway tale that gives you a nice perfectly wrapped bow of a happily ever after. You’ll be happy you did.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

I've read other books by Meghan Quinn and enjoyed them and anticipated that it would be the same with this one. I was wrong because this was way too slow, so slow that I became bored. Nothing really happened and I had no interest to continue.

I will definitely read other books by her but this was a miss for me.

I read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book was a lot longer and 'fuller' than I expected. You really got to know each character, and their experiences and what made them tick. I loved that Fallon and Sawyer got to know each other as well before anything romantic got in the way. Jaz was hilarious, and I liked the friendship between her and Fallon.
Was a fun, typical small town romance that had everything you needed.
4.5 stars

This was my first Meghan Quinn book. I loved the first chapter & had lots of laughs with the best man flipping off the bride & groom! However, everything after this fell flat. Sawyer was the most likeable character in the book, but I liked his friendship with Sully more than I liked his relationship with Fallon. I didn’t feel any chemistry between Sawyer & Falllon, and I thought she was bland. I have found that the characters that sacrifice everything about themselves for someone else are usually the dullest character in the book, and I was right again. The character I have the most issues with is Jaz. She goes beyond being protective of her best friend and is just a raging bitch any time she is on the page. Overall, this was a painful reading experience. There were some good parts, but these were far outweighed by everything else.

I LOVE Meghan and I’ve loved her previous romcoms I read by her. But this book was not it.

Sawyer the runaway groomsman and Fallon creator of Fallon’s Rock. Honestly it was not easy to enjoy their characters. I mean both of them were very hardworking and caring for others, but their relationship was such a slow burn and that didn’t help that over half of the book Fallon had a boyfriend, and the ‘thing’ between Fallon and Sawyer was not moving until that relationship ended and it was less enthusiastic and honestly boring.

Even after there was green light they relationship barely developed and honestly I couldn’t stand the ‘taking it slow’ part. The conflict was just not it, and I hated how Sawyer acted out that way literally out of nowhere.

Jaz character was more interesting and I’d rather read about her story with Sawyer’s brother, because there’s a lot fun we missed out.

Sully carries this book and I absolutely loved him. And I saw that Easter egg with Huxley Cane’s name👀.

I’m sad about this. But I’m sure I’ll read Meghan’s other books in the future. Thanks Netgalley for the review.

I LOVED this book! OK, this is the first time I've read Meghan Quinn and let me tell you this will not be my last. As soon as I finished this I per-ordered this book cause I will definitely be reading this one again.

*Slow Burn but so worth the spice when we get it
*Dual POV
*laugh out loud banter
*amazing side characters
*small town vibes
*all the FEELS

This book just has it all and I'm in love with this story! You have to read this story and this needs to be made into a movie I'm all about this book!

Runaway Groomsman is the story of Sawyer and Fallon who come across each other in a small town called Canoodle. Sawyer has just walked out of his ex best friend and ex girlfriend's wedding after flipping them both off at the alter and finds himself at a bar trying to drink his sorrows away. Little does he know that at said bar sits Fallon, who he went on a blind date with before and completely ignored.

I absolutely adored this book and struggled to put it down. It had me hooked right from the start and I loved everything about it. The main characters were brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed their slow burn romance and the chemistry they had. The secondary characters were all great too, although there were times when I found Jaz to be super intense. This book had me laughing out loud plenty of times and I found the ending to be the cutest. Five big fat stars for me!

Loved this! It’s been a while since I’ve read a Meghan Quinn book and I don’t know why I left it so long, they always get me laughing. I love the banter she writes, and Sawyer, Fallon, , Sully and Jaz are just the kings and queens of snark. The way we met Sawyer, flipping off his ex at her wedding to his best friend was highly comical and really pulled me in as I really wanted to know his back story and see his happy ending. Fallon’s story was heart breaking at times, but her love and devotion to Sully was admirable and so beautiful.
A brilliant read from start the finish and I certainly won’t leave it so long between Meghan Quinn books.

Rating: 3.75

Runaway Groomsman was an enjoyable small town romance book. While there were several elements I really enjoyed throughout the story, I was just expecting a bit more from the romance to be honest.

It is dual POVs of the main characters, Sawyer and Fallon. There’s a slight second chance and friends to lovers romance as well, which I really liked. I would recommend checking the content and trigger warnings before reading though.

The overall premise was pretty entertaining but definitely very predictable. There were also some amusing, heartfelt and angsty moments. However, I did struggle with the pacing of the story at times.

The romance between Sawyer and Fallon was just okay to be honest. While they did have a deep and emotional connection their romantic development was quite slow, as Sawyer was with someone else at first. There was also a bit of smut but it doesn’t occur until the end, which was fine.

I will say, I did like all the similarities of Fallon and Sawyer’s romance to Fallon’s grandparents, Sully and Joan’s romance. I also loved Sawyer’s screenwriter perspective and how that was incorporated throughout as well.

All the side characters and friendships throughout the story were also amazing, especially Sawyer and Sully’s. His understanding and compassion towards him was just beautiful to read.

However, the main issue I had with this book was the fact that Fallon had a boyfriend until 65% into the story. So that just made it a bit difficult for me to fully believe in Fallon’s feelings towards Sawyer and their overall romance, especially when Fallon’s boyfriend was actually quite nice.

The ending was a quite rushed as well and the conflict/miscommunication wasn’t my favorite to be honest. But the epilogue was really sweet and heartwarming. Overall, still just a charming read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a cute premise. After publicly running away from the wedding of his best friend and his ex, Sawyer hides out in a small town and gets to know Fallon, a woman who is the caretaker for her grandfather. She’s rehabilitating her grandfather’s rental cabins, and Sawyer pitches in to help. They grow close as they work side by side, and eventually more develops.

However, a personal pet peeve of mine is when one of the main characters has a significant other, but sometimes it’s doable if it adds good angst or pilot development. That wasn’t the case here. Fallon had a boyfriend for over 60% of the book, and it would be one thing if he was a jerk or something but he seemed like a decent guy Fallon was dragging along for no reason.

It was also entirely too long. There’s no reason this book needed to be 450 pages, there’s a lot of repetitive conversations between Fallon and Jaz (Fallon’s cringey, over the top, violent best friend) as well as some of the Sawyer and Sully stuff that made it feel bloated. It dragged in so many parts.

It’s instalove, low steam, and has unrealistic stilted dialogue.

It’s not quite as over the top as the author’s past year or two of releases, so fans of her earlier work may enjoy it.

I do enjoy a story that knows what it is and overtly celebrates its own genre. The Runaway Groomsman revels in being a romcom, highlights its own beats and without any bashfulness at all. And I am here for it!! Quinn gives us a perfect, swoony hero, totally dreamy, with aplomb. That he’s a romance screenwriter just takes him to the 110% . A lovely, easy going, second chance romance set in a small-town lakeside community, it is comfort reading to the core.

I was so excited to get approved for this! It was my first Meghan Quinn book and definitely won’t be my last! Loved it!

Runaway Groomsman started off well, but faltered in the final half of the novel.

Runaway Groomsman follows Sawyer as he’s a groomsman in his ex and best friend’s wedding. He can only take so much because he snaps and leaves the wedding mid-ceremony causing quite the drama. He finds himself in a small town staying in a rental cabin being managed and renovated by Fallon and her grandfather.

For those with triggers for cheating, Fallon is in a relationship at the beginning of the novel with Peter.

Sawyer is easily the best aspect of the novel. He’s an incredibly likable, sweet, and honest love interest. His past and the reason he’s in the small town was interesting and comedic.

Fallon’s dedication to her grandfather and the rental cabins is admirable, but a little one-dimensional.

I was enjoying how cute and truly beautiful the story was until around the 60% mark. When Sawyer and Fallon eventually admit they have feelings for each other it started to feel juvenile. There’s a moment when Sawyer and Fallon hold hands then Fallon tells her friend, Jaz, about it as if they had spent a salacious night together. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

Jaz was straight up annoying. She was over the top, judgemental, and plain rude at times. Every time she was on the page, I couldn’t wait for her to leave. If Jaz gets a companion sequel, I certainly won’t be reading it.

For those looking for a spice rating, Runaway Groomsman is a solid ⅕ on the spice scale.

Overall, Runaway Groomsman had the potential to be a standout romance but fell flat in its execution and quickly lost my attention.

When I started this book I thought I would probably give it 4*. As I continued on there were a few things that got on my nerves. Jaz was way too far over the top and her attitude stopped being funny and became annoying. Fallon seemed good at jumping to conclusions. Sully was fun and so was Sawyer. In the end it was a predictable romance, enjoyable enough to spend an afternoon reading but could have been better. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.