This was a really fun read! I am such a fan of Mia Sosa after this.

This story was a joy to read. The premise is fun, the characters are complicated and show real growth, the romance was heartwarming and exciting, and Solange’s family made me so happy. There was even a twist or two I didn’t see coming. Ultimately, I'm a sucker for fake dating and this did not disappoint!

“My instinct isn't to look at him and say 'mine, mine, mine.' All I can think is, 'Baby, I'm yours, yours, yours.'”

The Wedding Crasher follows Solange and Dean (Max's best friend from The Worst Best Man). When Solange overhears Dean's bride confess feelings for someone else on their big day, she crashes the wedding, not knowing it was a modern-day marriage of convenience.

Weeks later, when Dean realises he might not land his dream promotion because of his lack of significant other, he confesses to being in a relationship with Solange. Owing him a favour for ruining his wedding, Solange agrees to fake-date Dean. What could go wrong?

Here's what to expect:
- dual perspectives
- opposites attract. Dean is methodical and has his life meticulously planned out, while Solange is confident, charismatic and undecided about her future. I loved how she slowly loosened Dean up!
- fake dating
- forced proximity with an unexpected side of only one bed.
- strangers to friends to lovers. I loved how Dean and Solange's relationship went from strangers to friends to something more. Their friendship naturally blossomed, as they turned to each other for support, help and guidance.
- fun but chaotic extended Brazilian family, including cousins and meddling aunties. I love how Mia weaves Brazilian culture into this series.
- DC setting
- funny and memorable moments. Who will forget *that* scene while they drove her cousin to the hospital or the party 😏?
- pop culture references (When Harry Met Sally)
- amazing chemistry and a dash of spice 🔥
- great audiobook narration

I really wanted to love this book but I just didn't..
While the premise of The Wedding Crasher intrigued me, I
wasn't a fan of the writing and found myself cringing a lot of
the time.
I did really love Solange as a character and there were a few
moments that made me laugh. If it wasn't for these things, I
probably wouldn't have finished this one.
Overall, this isn't a book I would recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

When Solange Pereira is roped into helping her wedding planner cousin at a random couple’s big day, little did she realise that she would break up the wedding. When Solange overhears the bride to be, revealing her feelings to another man, Solange is uncertain as to what to do. When she bumps into Dean Chapman, the future groom, she realises that she has to speak up, for his sake. Little does she know that the marriage was never for love but to help Dean check off on his list, of jobs-to do: “start a family” and “make partner”. So when Dean realises that he needs a pretend girlfriend, he goes to Solange for help, who agrees through guilt. Yet as the couple spend time together, they realises that there is a connection between them.
I am still interested in the ‘fake dating’ premise, but I never quite understood marrying for convenience, so I found that Dean’s list, a difficult one to understand. Yet, as a character, I thought that he was upfront and honest. So the pairing with Solange, did prove to be entertaining, as she was a different personality, with her spirited nature, and given that she didn’t think twice before acting. There was plenty of funny moments, with some spicy romantic moments. I also enjoyed Solange’s relatives, which gave an added depth to the story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3 stars

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Australia for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I love the fake dating trope and picked this book up eager to read it. Whilst it started strong, I found that the events of this book grew outrageous, and I lost interest in the characters and storyline because of this shift.

The start of this book was wonderful. I loved Solange's personality from the get-go and how she approached the idea of forever-lasting commitment such as marriage by standing up and crashing Dean's wedding. The foundation of this story was great, and I found myself eagerly turning pages, appreciating both Dean and Solange's differences as they navigated their fake-dating situation.

The chemistry between the main characters was palpable from the early stages, and the romance is well-paced, leading to some decent spice. Even with the shift into intimacy, Dean and Solange remained consistent in their character trajectory which I appreciated. I believed in their connection and enjoyed watching it grow deeper.

The side characters, especially Brandon, Nia, and Kimberley, were a great addition to this world, and I appreciated the overall wit and easiness some side characters gave to The Wedding Crasher. I also liked the cultural aspects and family members from Solange's side. There aren't many romances that I've read with Brazilian characters, and I appreciated the injection of traditional food, family, and language throughout this book.

However, I really struggled to remain interested once things started turning outrageous. If it had been just one scene here and there, it wouldn't have ruined the flow of the pacing for me. I am guessing the author chose to add these elements to make this read funnier and something to remember it for outside of being one of the many fake dating trope romances out there this year, however, I found it too unbelievable. These events went back to back and hurt the pacing of the book for me. The main goal was to help Dean secure senior partnership at his law firm by fake dating. Suddenly, all these extra moments just felt a little too ridiculous and pulled away from the characters I had been coming to enjoy. I admit to skimming some of the pages just because I didn't enjoy it as much as the first half of the book.

If you love over-the-top romances, with dramatic family members and happenings, then this is the one for you. I sadly couldn't connect halfway through and am disappointed because I genuinely did like what Mia Sosa had set up in the beginning.