Member Reviews
The cover sold me on the book, but overall it couldn't keep my attention. The story seemed promising but fell flat. I didn't feel any chemistry From the characters and didn't really connect with Beatrice. I'm a little disappointed because the blurb seemed so promising
This book sounded like such a great premise but it really fell flat. Bea gets more unlikable as the book goes on. She treats her friends like crap and acts like she is the only one with problems. I have no idea what Bea’s job was even though it is talked about many times. Either way, she never seems to actually do any work, just palm it off on Lucy. It’s so slow going that I nearly gave up several times. There is zero chemistry between her and Andrew and the ending was predictable yet lacking in passion. It’s a shame because it could’ve been such a fun story
I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This was really disappointing as initially I expected rating this 5 stars after the first few chapters in but I dnf'd at 60%.
The plot was interesting and the writing was really good however the execution was not therefore I ultimately dnf''d. The plot was unrealistic but could have easily worked with a fake fiancé trope. Minor issue that confused me was when Bea was told she won a free wedding, she said she didn't have a fiancé to the person on the phone and they just ignored it? like what?
I liked the side characters of Lucy, Charlie and Oliver and initially I liked Bea but as the story goes on I started to dislike her as she became selfish and erratic which is very different from the polished individual who panics but can deal with it that was described at the beginning of the book.
I genuinely thought the book would be about Bea and Oliver playing fake fiancé with Andrew thrown in as an obstacle they have to overcome but nope the part of the book I read up to was Bea trying to get with Andrew. This might have worked if I felt any chemistry between them but I felt nothing, yes they were cute flirting banter as co-workers but as lovers there was no chemistry. He even says on their first date that she's not his type and then tries to look for the person who called him cute when Bea says some girl in the bathroom called him cute... like sweetheart that's a red flag. It shows he's just not into you and we are made to believe for a good chunk of the book he is.
I liked the to-do list at the end of each chapter which I found a cute unique aspect of the book.
Honestly with some rework on the storyline and consistency in the characters personality / traits this could be a really good book.
*Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
The premise of the book sounded great but man was it hard to get through. Bee was really hard to like as a main character. She just seemed so self centered. I found myself hoping they would both just dump her. So much of the book was spent on her relationship with Andrew.. and poor Oliver!
To me, the story felt a little overdone. I thought it was funny and cute but it wasn’t anything super impressive.
(2.5 stars)
This book was a very quick read for me, and while I did enjoy it, it didn’t live up to my expectations. I really loved the idea of reading a romance book without knowing who the main character will end up with and for the first third of the book I was really invested and liked it a lot. It felt a little like a 2000s movie romcom to me and I could picture it very well in my head. But the rest of the book sadly fell a little bit flat for me. Though I was really rooting for the guy Bea ended up with, it did not really feel like the two characters had a lot of tension or a good build up. It was very obvious to me that Bea was not going to end up with Andrew, but they stayed together for so long and that the ending felt really rushed.
Overall I would say that the idea of the book is very fun but the execution was just not it for me.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc.
WELP, at least the cover looks pretty cute and the premise sounds interesting? But he writing, pacing and execution? NOPE.
I love a sweet romance novel, and Jessica Hatch has proven that she can deliver a lighthearted love story with plenty of character growth. As a Richmond native, it was such a pleasure to feel truly immersed in Bea's world as several Richmond attractions got time in the spotlight. While she was flawed, I found her to be charming and relatable. I know women just like her. Sure, it was predicable at times, but I'm not always looking for a literary novel when reading a summer romance.
I'd definitely check this out if you're a fan of Emily Henry or Jasmine Guillory. I'm so excited to see more of her work :).
This was a vapid attempt at a rom-com that missed all the marks. The main character, Bea, is incredibly self absorbed and steamrolls her friends in pursuit of her drama. Her obsession with sunken costs catches up with her, and while in the past that might have meant not breaking an apartment lease she wasn't happy with or settling for lukewarm coffee in a cafe, now she finds herself out $2,000 because she was chosen as the winner of a steeply discounted wedding package she entered to win while still with her former boyfriend. Rather than do the sensible thing and decline the winnings, she forks over the 2K and decides to just find a husband in the remaining 8 months to the chosen wedding date instead. She sets her sights on office bro Andrew, head of sales and Cross Fit aficionado, instead of her long time friend Oliver, who is always supportive and there for her. The ending was predictable, and I found myself continuing to read just because I wanted to see how the inevitable implosion was going to be executed. Bea somewhat reluctantly redeems herself in the end by making things right for Lucy, her friend and coworker who lost her job due to Bea's self absorption, but she still comes across as being an unlikeable character. All of the character dynamics were actually quite toxic, but at least by the end Bea acknowledged that she needs to seek therapy for her issues.
Once you imagine this as a film and not as a book, it works much better. This would make a fabulous Netflix cheesy movie but unfortunately it doesn't work on the page.
The majority of the characters in this book, and especially the main character Bea, are awfully unlikeable. It made this book extremely difficult to engage with.
I got exactly what I wanted in the pages of My Big Fake Wedding. Great characters and a lot of fun. I managed to fly through it’s pages in a day which is no easy feat for a full time working mama with two young kids in the summer holidays! It was so much fun though and such an easy read.
I did struggle with Beatrice at times as her behaviour towards her friends at times left a bitter taste in the mouth. But that’s also what makes My Big Fake Wedding so great too, as a single event unleashes a whole lot of crazy that started to roll out of control. Something that you could see Bea realised at the time, but seemed powerless to stop. Her character so often being at odds with her behaviour. Though don’t we all behave a little irrational at times?
That’s what makes Bea such a good character though, as despite her faults she owns them and FINALLY grows up.
My Big Fake Wedding us a great easy summer read.
June 22, 2019 is Beatrice Corbin’s wedding day! However, she doesn’t have a groom! And she signed up to win a contest back in 2017, a lottery that she entered as a lark, she now has the opportunity to get married in the most sought after the wedding venue in Richmond, Virginia. She as eight months to find a husband. Per usual for Beatrice, she creates a to-do list - which is a weekly thing for her - and the fifth thing on that latest list is FIND A HUSBAND.
Raymond, Beatrice’s ex. Andrew, a very attractive co-worker. Oliver, one of Beatrice's best friends. Will one of these men work towards her getting married on the locked-in date? Could a manufactured relationship lead to true love? That is the path that Beatrice challenges, because she believes nothing should be wasted. Not money. Not opportunities. Having put a non-refundable $2,000 deposit down for a $50,000 wedding means that she plans on wasting nothing. June 22nd will happen. She will walk down that aisle, preferably with her forever man.
Does Bea have enough of a connection with any of her three choices or will she find a perfect stranger, date, get engaged and marry in less than a year? While Bea travels this rather unusual road, her friendships come into play. Her other best friend Lucy has her own woes, but Bea is more than caught up in her own personal drama. Then there is Oliver, who is at a difficult turning point in his life. Will Bea be able to see past her own issues to continue be the strong friend they both need?
As this is a romantic comedy, we know as readers that someone will be catching feelings. This fun journey takes a slow stroll along the path for love, and left this reader more than happy with Bea's final choice. Something else that was very enjoyable in this story is Bea made a daily to-do lists. These daily to-do lists ended each chapter and they were lots of fun to read.
Friendship and the bonds of love were wonderful backdrops to a story that gave the reader insight as to the true feelings being formed. I loved how it took Beatrice time to find her way, because, in her words, "instead of when we had five kids and a house in Ohio".
My Big Fake Wedding is a fun, light read, perfect for the beach, and more than enjoyable as the path of love came with some surprises, while ending with a warm conclusion.
Lastly, the letter from Jessica Hatch at the end of the book tells readers of the reason for such a book, with an unusual plot, an awkward protagonist, a desire to fulfill a wish, and to give readers a very pleasant happily ever after.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video Review - https://youtu.be/EQhdX0-Pyck
Loved this story and how much fun it was along the way. The will they, won't they stepped up a gear in this book!
Bea wins her dream wedding - the only problem being that there is now groom. As she thinks she finds one, is it who she really wants?
A fun read!
It worked for me once that i pictured it as a movie script and not so much as a book, because once i did, it was way more easy to read, the story is really promising, because she is getting a wedding as a winning prize but she has no boyfriend so, she cannot get married without a groom so she goes in search for a groom,
the story was good but the narration for me killed it in moments, still a good read.
Bea wins a lottery and her prize is a dream wedding - wow!
The only problem is she's split with her boyfriend now.
Before she realises it she's booked the date -
Now she needs to find a groom before it is too late.
Composing lists of what she should do,
Talking with friends should help, too.
She has eight months to find her husband-to-be
Shouldn't be hard should it? Read it to see!
With lists of lists reminding her what she should do
Will her dreams of her dream wedding really come true?
Get ready for self-centredness, betrayal and more
As possibilities she starts to explore.
Billed as a rom-com, I'm not so sure.
But maybe it'll prove to be a book you adore?
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.
Bea Corbin was happily in a relationship when she enters to win a dream wedding. She never dreamed that her ex-boyfriend would end things. As life went on and she picks up the pieces, she gets a call that shocks her! She has one the dream wedding!! But she isn't getting married, and she isn't in a relationship, but she freaks out and fails to mention that to the wedding planner. Oops!
So now Bea has a dream wedding with no groom...What's a girl to do? Bea sets out to find a husband even against the advice of her best friend, Oliver. She finds someone- Andrew - now she must convince him!
While reading this, I saw it playing out as a rom-com movie in my mind. Bea is an interesting character. She has a wedding on her mind and drowns out all around her in her pursuit. She is a hard pill to swallow at times and yet, she grew on me. She wants something so badly that she can't see the forest for the trees. I thought the author did a very good job showing Bea's motivation and quest to have her dream wedding. As the wedding gets closer, things get more interesting and more dramatic.
It's all about the journey in romance books and as Hatch takes Bea on a romance journey, she also takes her on a journey where she evolves and grows by the end.
Thank you to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
My big fake wedding by Jessica hatch
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to netgalley, bookouture and Jessica hatch for the opportunity to read this book.
I really wanted to like this but unfortunately it fell flat for me. Other the ending, the book tied up really well and had that been the tone of the whole thing I would have loved it. The only character I found likable throughout was Oliver which really made it difficult to connect with the plot. The premise was really interesting and I think for me I would have enjoyed it more if we had a different love interest for the course of the whole book as opposed to having different ones. It really limited the ability for the characters to build a genuine connection.
I found it really hard to focus when they were discussing work too, I'm actually unsure on what their jobs were. Had there been more mishaps caused by the wedding and work events having the same planner that could have been some great comedic relief.
BOOKWORMS REVIEW:
This is not my usual read but now and again I like to throw in a lighter read,and this was that. Bea Corbin,our main character has won a lottery she entered for her dream wedding worth $50K. The only catch...the date is in 9 months time...oh,and she doesn't have a prospective groom! Having been cheated on and dumped recently there's no man on the scene. But how could she turn down such a prize? Easy...she won't. She'll use her step by step binder to find said fiancé. With her bestie Oliver,Lucy and Charlie by her side things will get interesting,if a little crazy. An easy, fun read.
Although there were a few cute scenes later into this book, I unfortunately just could not get into it. The main character Bea was simply too self-centered and selfish that it made me unable to root for her. Even 25% into the book I was just frustrated by her decisions and the fact that she was not listening to the sound advice of her friends and family who obviously cared about her. I think that the premise of this novel was fun and the idea behind it could be very popular for many readers, I simply could not get past this fact while reading. It ended up reminding me a lot of Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella so if you like that, I think you would enjoy this book but unfortunately both books fell flat for me.