When Cass returns to Newport, RI, to heal from real wounds from a trip gone wrong, she steps right back into the family dynamic. This time, her sister's wedding is the occasion for the drama to commence. Mother of the bride and mother of the groom are snarky enemies. Sister is trying to hold it together while keeping big secrets. Brother is attempting to assert his independence and contribute to the family. Dad is obliviously supportive of everyone.

Newport RI shines as the backdrop of the novel. Immersive in the Newport society life, old and new money clashes with style.

Loved this one.

This was an enjoyable, frothy beach read for me. The main character, Cass, has returned to Newport for her sister's engagement party. A photojournalist, she has avoided home for years. A member of a once prominent Newport family that fell upon hard times in her childhood, they had to move to the guesthouse of the beloved family estate.

Lots of family drama, rich people backstabbing, and some amusing moments, I was sad to see it end.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for the ARC!

Cass Coventry is the daughter of a once powerful Newport Rhode Island family. She is a photographer who escaped from Newport and its pretentiousness after her family was relegated to the gate house of their own mansion. She has a past in Newport including an old love.
She returns for her sister's engagement party and then things start to go crazy. This is a family drama with the overtones of a very gossipy and judgmental society.
I very much enjoyed the characters and their interactions. Love quirky characters. Cass's parents and her siblings were fun to follow. The plot itself had many twists and surprises and i really powered through the book.
The setting was a big part of the story and most enjoyable, reminiscent of works from the turn of the century such as Edith Wharton.
The ending was satisfying! A great entry to the genres of Chick Lit and Romance with more interest and uniqueness than most.
Thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House for a preview to read and review. Expected publication date is 2/21/2023.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this Novel, in exchange for an honest review.

I could not finish this book. There were too many things that just bothered me with it. First the MC Cassie kept referring to her parents by their first name or mother/father depending on who she was talking to. I thought that was a bit weird. She also kept referring to a head injury that happened to her prior to joining her parents at their home for her sister’s engagement party but never alludes to as to why. Just freaking tell us!
I really wanted to stick this one out and finish it, but i didn’t want to waste any more time trying to understand this book.

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. I loved this story! It is loaded with dysfunctional families and supremely flawed characters. It is laugh-out-loud funny and, at the same time, poignant. I also love that it is set in Newport, RI - different and filled with historical info. I totally recommend this book to readers who enjoy a fun, vicarious thrill.

Advanced Book Review! Thank you @netgalley, @graydonhousebooks, @harlequinbooks and @htpbooks for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Give me a book about a wedding and I’ll be happy. Add in a fancy Gilded Age Estate and family dysfunction and I’m basically guaranteed to pick it up.
Lauren Edmondson’s Wedding of the Season is about “two modern-day society families and the summer wedding that has all of Newport talking…” The description grabbed me from the start, and the cover is stunning! Makes me want to take my book to sit outside to read by the water…and then I remember that it’s winter here.
I think the quote that best sums up this book is when Archer says to Cassie: “I know you love your work. I just wish you’d open your damn eyes and see meaning here, with us, too.” I think at the heart of this story, it’s really about finding home and connecting with your family and with those that have your history. Cassie’s relationship with her sister and brother, and even her parents, eccentric though they may be, and the lengths she will go to support and protect them was one of the best parts of the book. I also loved Cassie and Spencer together and it was clear they both felt like outsiders in Newport so it made perfect sense, and I liked that the romance wasn’t the focus of the story.
I will say that I wish there were more details (I’m a details person) throughout the book on certain things like what exactly happened to make Cassie leave Newport in the first place all those years ago, what exactly happened on her last trip as an overseas photographer, and more details on the circumstances that led to her family making a deal to give up their family estate. These things are alluded to throughout and closer to the end, some of these details start to fill in. Overall, I liked how it ended.
The book has kind of a Gossip Girl feeling to it, with an anonymous Instagram account spreading gossip about the society families. I can honestly say I wasn’t sure who was behind the account.
Lauren Edmondson also gives very detailed descriptions of the locations in the book and it makes me want to visit places like Newport to see these Gilded Age estates.

Wedding of the Season is a story about the wedding that will join two prominent Newport families and all of the pageantry and drama that always follows these types of weddings. Of course, there are secrets, and intrigue, but beyond that I just could not get into the story line. The characters lacked depth and sincerity. I struggled through the first few chapters, forced my way through the next few, but ultimately good not finish this book. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Cass Coventry left Newport when she was younger and now travels the world taking pictures. She comes back to her childhood home to celebrate her sister's engagement. She isn't happy being back and is only planning on staying a few days, but that changes.
While she is there, she learns more about the Coventry legacy, which leads to solving some mysteries. The book is written to bridge the past, the present and prepare for the future. The wedding of the season seems to be overshadowed by all that is happening, but it captured my attention, and I enjoyed how they came into the story one way, but as they learned things about the past, it changed them. It helped them discover who they are now and what they want to do moving on.
I received an ARC from Harlequin Trade Publishing-Graydon House through NetGalley.

I could not get into the story and found none of the characters likeable enough for me to continue reading after the first 50 pages. This one went into my did-not-finish pile.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to read another book by Lauren Edmondson. Having read her previous book I knew I enjoyed her writing. So I dove into this book with excitement.

When we first meet Cass she is less than happy to be back in her hometown of Newport. Though she loves her family and is happy for her sister being back meant facing the past something she isn't so sure she is ready to do. It's not long before Cass's weekend stay turns into much more.

As Cass spends the summer helping her sister plan her wedding she learns things aren't always what they seem. Her sister is keeping a secret, and so is her brother, and the things she thought she knew about her grandmother just may not be as she remembers. Add to that her growing feelings for a past boyfriend and the summer becomes more than Cass feels she can handle.

What I love about this book was the bond between the characters. It wasn't just a family contention but a bond of love, respect, friendship, and history that held them together. It was so touching watching the relationships grow and change.

Lauren does a fabulous job creating characters with depth and a story you want to devour. She also does a great job creating a beautiful setting for the story to take place. This book will take you on a journey with the characters. You will laugh, cry, and be in awe of them.

I highly recommend this book for your reading list and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to read Lauren Edmondson's Wedding of the Season. It was a fun escape and i enjoyed it immensely.

I enjoy reading books about families and family dysfunction. The more generations represented, the better. Nothing puts more pressure and scrutiny on a family than a wedding, especially if you’re rich. Watchful eyes and wagging tongues usually make for a great story with richly drawn characters told over spans of generations.

Unfortunately, this book is more the bridesmaid than the bride. And most of the characters are wearing those bridesmaids dresses we have all seen - filled with what looks like layers, but when you actually look underneath there’s nothing but layers and layers of tuile.

“Season” works two ways here. Yes, the story takes place from May to August which is basically a season. But there is also The Season - which means a whole other ballgame in Newport.

Protagonist Cass has come back to town for the wedding of her sister, Maggie. Maggie is marrying childhood sweetheart Jack, who just “happens” to be the son of the woman who bought The Land out from under her family. Romeo and Juliet they aren’t. While returning, Cass meets old flame Spencer, her first love. Spencer is now a chef with the best restaurant in town.

If you notice that I’m describing these characters in a matter-of-fact way, that’s done deliberately. These people don’t have depth at all. Cass is a photojournalist with an adrenaline chaser. Her last assignment caused her physical harm, but that is only mentioned in passing.

Yes, there is lots of family drama, but it’s far from what I expected. The problems these people have aren’t relatable to me. It’s a decent escapist read, but at times it borders on sexist. These aren’t really strong people- they are all just cotton candy.

Is it entertaining? It’s not poorly written at all, and I’m sure there is a huge market for this. Unfortunately, I just don’t think that’s me.

I will be withholding my review of this one till the HCP union has a fair contract. Thank you again for the arc and can't wait to publish the review in the future,

This was a fun book. I enjoyed the story and the characters, some of whom were pretty funny. Overall a good read and a fun book.

This was a snarky delight - a coming of age, rekindled second chance do over kind of a book. It would be great for book clubs. Well paced with a nice generational mix of characters.

WEDDING OF THE SEASON is a super fun read! Perfect for bookclubs.

I really enjoy the way Edmondson sets the scene and really brings the reader into the story. I felt as I though as I was in Newport with the characters.

The story itself is quite charming and entertaining, and I was curious to see how it would develop. The ending wraps up the narrative in a satisfying way. You can tell the author carefully plotted the novel from start to finish, which I really appreciated.

My only criticism is that the pacing drags in spots. I think the story could have been tightened and ended up a little shorter.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and I look forward to Edmondson's next novel!

Lauren Edmondson is such a talented writer. Really liked this book, a retelling of Sense & Sensibility, her follow up to Ladies of the House (which I loved!!).

This was a cute story. Not a favorite, felt it dragged a bit but I’m glad I read it. Could see it being a popular book club book and/or beach read.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.