🎂The Stand-Up Groomsman 🎂
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Short synopsis: Vivian and Mel are different in every way, but decide to put their discrepancies aside when they become bridesmaid and groomsman for their best friends wedding.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this comedic play on a romance. Mel was annoying but in a cute, charming, funny way. Vivian was serious and had a lot of family issues to work through.

I especially liked Po Po and would love a chance to meet her in real life, singing Shania Twain.

I liked how Mel helped Vivian find some of her insecurities and push through them in a loving way.

I did not know going in this was part of a series, that being said I think it can totally stand on its own. I didn’t feel like I was missing a lot and could totally keep up with what was going on.

Thank you @prhaudio, @berkley, and @netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. Publication date was October 25, 2022 so this is out now!

Read if you love:
* Karaoke
* Family dynamics
* Spin offs with side characters
* Blind dates set up by Grandma
* Cake
* Opposites attract troupe

The Stand-Up Groomsman by Jackie Lau, book two in her Donut Stand Up series, follows Vivian and Melvin. Vivian was once a big fan of comedian Mel, until she met him. When they meet, it does not go well and they’ve vowed never to meet again. Unfortunately Vivian’s friend and roommate is now engaged to Mel’s best friend consequently as a bridesmaid and best man, they will need to spend quite a bit of time in each other’s company. From trying to get along for the sake of their friends to actually finding out they enjoy each other’s company, their relationship has a long ways to go.

This story also examines the family and career dynamics for both characters, the good and the bad, as well as their identities as both main characters are bisexual. We see this in Mel’s comedy sets as he portrays, and edits, his life for the public along with their day to day discussions with each other and the people in their lives. The book deals with the way people perceive and misperceive sexual identity. Eventually the two build a friendship, taking things to the next level; but it takes Vivian a long time to trust Mel and accept the love and comfort he offers. I thought both characters were so well developed and it was refreshing not to see a simple, easy romance. Each has work to do in their personal lives before they are ready for romance. I highly recommend The Stand-Up Groomsman to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

This was a fun and steamy opposites-attract contemporary romance. I liked the uniqueness of the story because Mel is a stand up comedian. I don’t think I have ever read a book where the main character was a stand up comedian.

I think Mel’s character would drive me crazy in real life, but he makes an interesting character to read about. Vivian was Mel’s complete opposite; a conservative introvert with a corporate job. My favorite character in the book was Mel’s grandmother who stole the show for me, she is hilarious!

I didn’t realize that this was the second book in a series, but this can definitely be read as a stand alone.

Read if you like your romances with plenty of steam, funny moments, and a couple that are complete opposites.

This is the first book I've read by Jackie Lau and I don't intend for it to be my last. The Stand-Up Groomsman took me a bit to get into. When Vivian's roommate gets engaged, of course she asks her to be a bridesmaid. However, her roommate is getting married to her favorite actor's co-star. With stars in her eyes, Vivian had met Mel previously, but the encounter left her disappointed by the man she felt considered her a sellout for not pursuing her art professionally, but rather as a hobby. Forced to interact again, the two put their differences aside and work together to help plan wedding activities for their dear friends. As they work together, the two can't help but see each other with fresh eyes. Could it be that they've had it all wrong? Or that things are often less finite and more like shades of gray?

Mel is a comedian, and I'll be the first to admit, standup isn't for me. I find it to be crude and often lewd. While many find humor in poking fun at stereotypes and sex jokes, I personally just can't. There is a talent to threading the needle and I can recognize that skill even while it misses the mark for me. I will plainly say this is a ME issue. So the stand-up portions in this book were a bit hard for me.

Outside of that, I did enjoy the book and I loved watching the caring thoughtful side of Mel emerging. I loved the exploration of traditional gender roles and breaking away from the norm. At one point Vivian wears a suit and the appreciation Mel expresses toward her for her style made me smile. I feel most badass in a blazer, so this moment stood out to me. Both characters see one another as humans and find attraction toward one another as people. There's such beauty in that aspect of the novel that stayed with me well after closing the book at the end.

I look forward to going back and reading other novels by Jackie Lau.

Finishing this book made me want to go back and read Donut Fall in Love. Mel and Vivian are both complex, intriguing characters and I want to see glimpses in them in the previous book. Mel especially with his charm, humor, and anxiety, is one of the most relatable heroes I’ve read in a long time. Vivian, it takes a little while to completely understand but the writing and the storyline means you want to put in the time to truly understand what makes her tick. She has a tough exterior and it’s like the heroine’s I’m used to reading but that’s what makes Jackie Lau’s books so unique. Her characters are glaringly realistic and her anxiety representation is so spot on that a times I makes me uncomfortable.

Vivian and Mel have both misjudged each other when they first met and it takes time for them to see beneath each other’s layers. There are times where Vivian’s prickly exterior drives away Mel’s caring nature but they find their way back to each other. They learn together that in a healthy relationship it is possible to compromise without one person giving up their dreams. Vivian had been burned by that in the past and Mel was scarred by short-lived relationship that never panned out. Jackie Lau always has a fascinating cast of side characters from Mel’s grandmother and her pink limo to Vivian’s family and the pressure to raise her younger siblings. Her side characters are just as complex and never one-dimensional. This book was exactly what I wanted from an author who is quickly rising to the top of my recommendations list!

Fun, sweet, sexy romance between two people who are seemingly opposite. Vivian and Mel drive each other bonkers, but somehow manage to find a deeper connection and great chemistry, and their flirting and banter make for a terrific read.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for access to this arc.

I was excited to start “The Stand-Up Groomsman” because Asian rep and bisexual characters. Jackie Lau books tend to either work well for me or they fall flat. This, unfortunately, is a fall flat book. I didn’t read the first book in the series “Donut Fall in Love” and don’t think that’s necessary to try this one. What made me finally DNF this were a few other things. The first meeting between Mel and Vivian was supposed to be a “Not Cute Meet” but Mel really didn’t impress me with how he kept on at Vivian about her job. Okay, he had a bad experience with a corporate job and tells Vivian that she should ditch hers to pursue her art. She pushes back and Mel just Won’t Let It Go. Let it go, Mel. It’s not your life.

Mel is the stand-up comic of the book title. We get to see Mel at work, in comedy clubs, several times. There are pages of description of him doing his act. It’s not that funny and reading endless pages trying to describe something that works visually and audibly isn’t entertaining to me. Then there are the secondary and tertiary characters who come off as little more than “character actors” in a sitcom. Yeah, I get that’s probably what they’re there for but the sheer number of them started to feel as if I were watching a bad TV show with a laugh track. This book is getting great reviews elsewhere but it didn’t work for me.

I found the book funny and sweet. The HEA is well earned. It includes a lot of fun details with the food of New York, the male protagonist's family and all the fan fic. I look forward to more from this author.

Vivian Liao's roommate is engaged to her favorite actor’s costar, bringing her face-to-face with Melvin Lee. While he's a charming actor and comedian, he finds her to be a snob and a sellout, wasting her life in the corporate world instead of being an artist. The two have to remain in each others' orbit to ensure the wedding is perfect. This makes them learn more about each other, so there might be another happily ever after in the future.

The Stand-Up Groomsman is a sequel of sorts to Donut Fall In Love, in the sense that the couple marrying is Ryan and Lindsay from that book. The supporting characters there are now the stars, and we get to see their chemistry grow. Of course, they try a long-distance relationship, and both of their anxieties and past failures in relationships cause them to second-guess what they grew into. Vivian was essentially a third parent to her younger siblings and similarly had to give up a lot in her prior relationships. Melvin retreats to humor as a coping skill when dealing with rejection, and doesn't fully commit to anyone so he won't be hurt. These are very real fears, and rear up frequently enough to be a problem. We do see them work through these issues, whether with friends, mentions of therapy or medication, or self-reflection, they realize that they work together.

A very fun romance novel to curl up with.

I loved Vivian and Mel! These two were real people with real problems that readers can easily identify with and respect. Both of them are bi and how their sexuality has caused problems for them personally is a bit part of the story and their discovery of who they are, separately, and as a couple. Vivian’s personality is very even. She seems to be more of a watcher of life than a person who is actively participating. Her relationship with her roommate Lindsay was her first step outside the box, and the fact that Lindsay’s fiance is a famous actor has made her deviate from her staid lifestyle. Meeting Mel is a good example of her trying something new. Of course, their first meeting was a disaster but she allows Mel to apologize and become her friend. Mel’s a stand-up comic so his personality is outrageous and funny- he wears bright loud clothing and seems to pursue the clown persona. He is actually very different than that bright shirt he is constantly wearing. He has dark thoughts and self doubts that keep him up at night worrying over his life and happiness. When he meets Vivian it’s like a bright light has shown through that darkness and despite trying, he can’t forget her.

As you can imagine, this book is a great mixture of fun and seriousness. It’s rare that the hero overshadows the heroine for me because as a female I’d normally identify more with a woman. His problems were so present though and I really felt his emotions a lot more than I did Vivian’s even though she was also working through some of her own issues. They were both great characters separately, he just shone more. Together though, they were passion, fire, and constant. I know constant isn’t normally a romantic description but it was something they both needed in the other. They were the yin to the others yang and made a perfect pairing. It made for a great romantic novel and I enjoyed it tremendously.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

If you like enemies to lovers trope or opposites attract type of love story, then The Stand-up Groomsman is for you. It’s a light-hearted romcom and is actually book 2 of Donut Fall in Love. I don’t think I missed anything by not reading the first book so it can be read as a standalone. The love story was just ok for me, but what stood out was the adequate and relevant representation of bisexuality and Asian culture, particularly, Chinese. Being bisexual is hard, add being a Chinese from a conservative family into the equation? Super double whammy!!!! Kudos to the author for not skirting around these issues, but plowed through them to open the eyes of the readers. I liked Vivian’s quiet and responsible nature and Mel’s funny and loud persona. I also related to Vivian’s childhood upbringing and super loved Mel’s boisterous family which reminded me of my own! The resolution of family issues was not immediate, and I appreciate that. I’d rather have realistic ending than a rushed happy ever after. Overall, this was a fun and nice novel. Thanks to @berkleyromance @penguinrandomhouseca @netgalley for my ARC. I enjoyed reading this one!💖

I can't put my finger on it but somehow this book entertained me without my normal requirements. I generally want to be the heroine and date the hero. I want to identify with them. I didn't at all and yet I was very pleased to follow Mel and Vivian's story.

Vivian is hard to get to know. She's got walls a medieval castle builder would envy. She's been treated badly by her parents but not in a typical or horrendous way. She's also had a bad breakup with someone who didn't see or want to see the real her.

Mel is so sweet. He's totally into Vivian and while she doesn't believe it, he has no desire to change her. Can she ever start believing him?

After a shaky start, these two find so much that they can share. Thankfully, circumstances, namely their friends' wedding, throw them together until they get past their first impressions.

Both Mel and Vivian are bi. The only thing this really added to the story was it set up Vivian's defensiveness and Mel's complete acceptance of her. And some of Mel's exes are men. Otherwise, the story was boy meets girl.

There were a slew of interesting characters. A lot of conflict, in large part due to the previously mentioned wall. Scene after scene of these two falling harder and learning about each other. Extra kudos to the author for all the jokes in the stand-up scenes!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC.

The Stand-Up Groomsman by Jackie Lau

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

➡️ Swipe for Goodreads synopsis

Happy pub day to The Stand-Up Groomsman, the sequel to Donut Fall in Love (4⭐️)! I really enjoyed this book and all of the characters. Vivian and Mel are perfect in their own ways and trying to navigate the world while keeping their boundaries. I loved how their relationship evolved. I was able to relate to their families and seeing the Asian and queer representation was amazing 👏🏻

I can’t wait to read more from @jackielaubooks!

Thank you @netgalley @berkleypub @berkleyromance for the digital ARC!

The Stand-Up Groomsman is the sequel to Donut Fall in Love and just as adorable and funny. It is the story of Vivian and Mel, the bridesmaid and groomsman in their mutual friends’ wedding (Lindsay, the baker and Ryan, the movie star with the abs from Donut Fall in Love) share an enemies to lovers trope and so much more. Mel and Vivian were so multi-dimensional and there was such great representation in this book with Asian American cultures and queer characters. The romcom nature was adorable, Mel’s standup comedy routine was a fun side story and Mel’s grandma (Po Po) was hilarious but there was also a very frank and raw look at mental health and toxic family dynamics that was so well done. And Vivian and Mel had insomnia - something I can relate to a bit too much. There was 🔥 but also mushy sweetness to balance it out.

Opposites Attract
+ Girl-Grump
+ Enemies to Lovers
= 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗-𝗨𝗣 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗡

Mel and Vivian start as enemies, after a disastrous first encounter, but reading these two finally come together was a freaking delight! I love an Opposites Attract when the reader just sees exactly how these two puzzle pieces need each other and actually fit together perfectly and 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗-𝗨𝗣 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗡 did it perfectly!

Vivian is the "grump" of this relationship and I loved her buttoned-up pant suits and laser focus. And this girl loves relationship boundaries and I love to see it! She is likable, even while a bit rigid. But Mel...MEL, people. He is heart-meltingly whimsical and warm and funny! I adored him and his wild karaoke singing. And if you love a dad-bod in your romance heroes, you will love Mel!

One of the best parts of 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗-𝗨𝗣 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗡 is an ending that is unexpected and unusual, but perfectly Mel and Vivian. So much of this love story is about compromise in relationships, and I love how it played out at the end of this book.

I took off one star from my rating, because the first half of this book was pretty slow for me. There are A LOT of pages dedicated just to Mel's stand-up routines and it really made the story drag, especially in the first half. I almost put this put down a few times but I'm glad I kept going (mostly based on my friends' glowing reviews of it here on Goodreads).

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗-𝗨𝗣 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗡 was a great book that is totally worth pushing through a sometimes slow beginning. Consider this your glowing review to help you if you also find the first half a bit slow. I ended up loving it!

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated R / 1-4 descriptive sex scenes, may have harsh language.
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: past parent abandonment
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 2/5 - A bit of drama, but still a pretty light read

4.5 Stars ⭐️ - Top Pick

Lau wins an award—she made me cry.

Let’s preface this review by saying very few books make me cry. I can probably count them on two hands. Beverley Kendall, our lovely Smittenbybooks.com blog runner is one of them. Jackie Lau also joins this prestigious group because her second entry in the Donut Fall In Love series spoke to me on a visceral level, especially our heroine Vivian Liao.

Vivian is an older child (like me), a career woman (like me) with a private hobby (like me) and is queer (like me). She’s so me it’s crazy and we still have very different backgrounds. But all of those like mes had me crying for Vivian repeatedly as this story evolved. At first on the inside and then on the outside. She’s this strong woman who’s used to fielding everything on her own and never expecting anyone to take care of her, ever.

Enter our hero, Melvin Lee. A stand-up comic that Vivian has always admired, but he’s a goofball, and from their first meeting in Donut Fall In Love, these two clash. It’s horrible and I didn’t know how Lau could ever repair what was already broken, but she did. Mel is the person Vivian needs the most. Someone who just wants to be with her any way he can with no expectations for change. Mel has his own battles to fight from being constantly doomed with short-term relationships and always searching for someone to belong to, a place to be himself where he isn’t ‘too much’. I cried for Mel too.

After I read this book I kept thinking how there was a high emotional draw for me and yet this wasn’t one of those fast-paced reads. It’s not witty one-liners or hooks, but just slice of life style romance that if you’ve read the first book in the series you can appreciate more. So, while this book can stand alone, I highly recommend reading Donut Fall In Love first for the whole experience.

This one blew me away, and while that’s highly subjective, based on my personal connection to the characters, I’d say this is one read I’ll be coming back to.

~ Landra

3.5 stars⭐

What did I appreciate about this book?

- The style: Jackie Lau has an ironical way of writing that is really enjoyable and allows the reader to keep reading with a fast pace. Pages flies, without you even notice it! And I assume it has been a real challenge using it, when at the same time she decided to have a main character that is a comedian. The monologues inserted in the book were not only entertaining, but also very interesting to read, because, as it should be, they contain - within them - valuable thoughts.
- The diversity: since Donut Fall in Love, one of the points that catches immediately the reader's eyes is the presence of Asian main characters and a really good LGBTQIA+ representation. I really cherish both of those choices, because I greately appreciate to have the chance to know more about other cultures even from small details, could they be habits, or different ways to call a parent. Even when there are jokes related to that, Jackie Lau is always respectful of those cultural roots. Then, the LGBTQIA+ representation: in this case too I have to admit I loved so much how those characters have been depicted, with a special mention to the bi ones, who often are just mentioned but don't have a proper space on the scene. Another praise to have chosen a "plus size" male character, surely not a common choice that remembers us that not only people with abs can be considered attractive.
- The characters: as in Donut Fall in Love, not all the characters have been greatly deepened, except the main ones. Nontheless, they are the light of the story (but I was SO happy to have lots of scenes with Lindsay and Ryan)! We can say that they're a sort of atypical figures and for this specific reason they're SO interesting to discover: Melvin a comedian that in real life is not keen to make jokes all the time, and Vivian that often seems indifferent to what (and who) is around here. The double point of view here is absolutely essential, and creates an entertaining change of perception of the same event. Furthermore, I've really loved both backgrounds, that explain a lot of their mutual misunderstandings and behaviour toward the other. Anyway, my favorite character is, of course, Po Po. I adore her!
- An enemies to lovers relationship: if you're a fan of a story that starts off with a wrong foot, this is the book for you! The tension and the attraction between them was so tangible you could feel it.

What would I have expected more from?

- Less rush. I think there are some moments within the book that should have more space and being developed better. The final release was absolutely enjoyable to read, but I found myself at the end with the feeling that something was missing.
- More insights related to certain themes. I would have appreciated to deepen some family relationships or to discover more about the character's feelings, which are present and presented to the readers, yes, but they miss the strenght to hit deeply. That doesn't permit to empatize with the protagonists at 100%.



And that's it! I really suggest you this series for the fresh elements within the story and a captivating style. For me it has been a really lovable surprise!

I’ve been a Jackie Lau fan for a very long time and I am so overjoyed to see her books get the star treatment they deserve! She always delivers with quirky but real characters who often have mental health issues, deep family relationships (either good or bad) and delicious food. This book is a delightful opposites-attract enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance!

They say you shouldn’t meet your heroes, and Vivian found that out the hard way. Mel was her favorite actor on a popular TV comedy, and when her roommate becomes involved with one of his costars she’s eager to finally meet him in person. He’s a complete jerk, denigrating her choice of career and basically ruining the night for her. After that meet-disaster, they want nothing to do with each other, except they’re forced together because their best friends are getting married. What starts out with mutual dislike and a desire to remain polite slowly turns into a friendship, despite Vivian living in Toronto and Mel in NYC. Giving in to the spark of attraction between them might be fun for a one-night-stand, because surely two such different people couldn’t make a relationship work. Right?

“You might think a grown man who barked like an angry, racist chihuahua onstage would feel normal sometimes, but you’d be wrong.”


It’s hard to imagine two more different people than Vivian and Mel. Mel thrives on attention and his signature style is brightly colored floral shirts. Vivian’s favorite color is gray and she prefers pantsuits. Mel’s career depends on him being a goofball in public while Vivian prefers to be composed and out of the spotlight. Mel, somewhat admiringly, calls Vivian an ice queen and on the surface she fits that stereotype. But it’s more that she has a certain way she wants to live her life due to family circumstances. Vivian basically raised her younger siblings while her parents worked constantly. So besides having no desire to have kids, she truly enjoys being on her own and being able to do whatever she wants.

With all their differences, they both have similar anxieties. Mel feels the need to perform for most people. After all, if he wasn’t funny all the time, would anyone still like him? For Vivian, her experience is that love is conditional on her being useful. If she’s not taking care of things for the other person, then why would they want her around? And after her last ex sneered at her when she started questioning her sexuality, she has no desire to be in a relationship – even with someone who’s publicly bisexual, someone who was a bit of an icon for her in fact.

“Maybe I tease you extra,” he said, “because I really like you. I wanna do things to you.”
“Things. Such as forcing me to admit that chocolate cake is the best?”


It should be no surprise then that Mel and Vivian’s relationship is very slow-burn, but it’s also very authentic. After that disastrous first meeting, they don’t have much contact with each other until the wedding forces them to. They start texting to arrange details of the bachelor/bacherlorette parties, which eventually turns into them texting more frequently. They miscommunicate, they figure it out, they learn and move on. I loved that Mel was the first to fall in love and he fell hard. It’s clear he pays attention and understands her, that he’s not trying to change her, but that’s practically incomprehensible for Vivian. Plus, there’s the issue that they live in separate countries.

“A hedgehog reminds you of me?”
“It’s spiky, with a soft underbelly and nice smile,” he said, “The one with the purple ribbon will be my representative in your home. You can snuggle him when you miss me.”
“You got us matching stuffed hedgehogs.”
“Why yes, I did.”


It’s not just all angst, though. While a lot of Mel’s on-stage jokes didn’t personally work for me, I loved his Po-po and his deadpan insect-loving sister. And Mel himself is such a ball of silly kindness. At one point, he buys matching hedgehog plushies for them and it was so adorable I practically turned into a heart-eye emoji. The way he brings a bit of whimsy to Vivian’s life while still respecting her boundaries made me melt.

Overall, easily 4.5 stars. Jackie Lau hits this one out of the park with her trademark humor, deft touch with mental illness and representation, and wonderful realistic characters.

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

“She could see her face in the mirror above her dresser. Her severe, angular features. An icy sort of beauty that wasn’t ever supposed to melt, or it would make a big, big mess.”

A bridesmaid and groomsman put their differences aside to get their friends down the aisle in this opposites-attract steamy romantic comedy.

I enjoyed Donut Fall In Love, so I couldn’t wait to read this. Unfortunately, for me, it fell flat.

I did enjoy that some of the chapters began with Mel’s comedy routine, so it was like watching a comedy show and reading a book simultaneously. But I was on the struggle bus with this one. I didn’t feel any chemistry between Mel and Vivian, thus I couldn’t really root for their budding relationship. I actually found myself skim reading a fair amount of this book.

And Vivian is a very unlikable character throughout. So much so that it was a turn off for me. Not every book is for every reader and I’m sorry to say that this one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkeley Publishing, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Stand-Up Groomsman is the second book in the Donut Fall in Love series by Jackie Lau is a witty rom-com. This fun, feel-good outing hits the spot. Insightful, clever, and honest, The Stand-Up Groomsman will draw you in and keep you there.