This promised the Wedding Date meets The Birdcage -- I was so excited! The concept of this is A++ but I quickly soured on the book when James, the police officer protagonist, tells Lala the drag queen, "I'm a police officer, you can trust me." The dialogue felt a little basic and while I really wanted to see what shenanigans would follow, I DNF at approx 10% because of these issues. Thanks to Harlequin and netgalley for a copy of this book!

Fake relationship, forced proximity gay romance that goes well beyond the typical tropes to highlight the process of coming out on your own terms.

James is a Chicago-area cop who has spent the last 13 years of his life living as an out and proud gay man, except to his ultra-conservative, Christian family back in Montana. When his older sister announces her impending marriage, he is desperate to find a female beard rather than show up solo, having to fend off his mother’s matchmaking efforts. No one is more surprised than he when he enlists the help of drag queen Lala Traviata (aka Daniel) to play his fake girlfriend Daniella. During the week of pre-wedding events, Daniella saves the day more than once, all while the two of them are struggling to remain platonic while sharing a bed, investigating the creepy pastor who’s officiating the ceremony, fending off the scummy best man, and trying to avoid exposing James’s sexuality. The question is, is anyone being honest?

Although there’s plenty of lightheartedness and humor as well as kindness and caring between James, Daniel, and his sisters, there is also an exploration of the stages a gay man works through to fully come out, especially facing the fear and pain of rejection by those who are supposed to love him unconditionally. James’s overbearing mother, with her cross-stitched 10 commandments for how her children should behave hanging prominently on the wall, goes to extremes to force her concepts about what her grown kids need, going so far as to almost sabotage her daughter’s wedding. At times, it’s difficult to witness how misguided and blinded supposed good Christians can be, but author Grey does a great job of balancing the highs and lows of family expectations.

As a straight, older, agnostic white woman, I can’t speak on the authenticity of the portrayal, although I believe Andrew Grey is gay and knows what he writes. However, I can say that he has written a unique story that evokes a range of emotions and had me reading it in one sitting. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Carina Adores through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

DNF’d at only 20% through. I was interested to read a book about a gay relationship, one of the characters being a drag queen, but unfortunately right off the bat I could tell the writing wasn’t going to work for me. It felt extremely basic and almost juvenile in tone, confusing me because these are supposed to be grown adults but they were reading like teenagers. The initial premise is extremely unbelievable but I was willing to look past it to see how the deeper topics were discussed. Looking at other reviews, I think the simplistic writing style and lack of character/relationship development continues through the rest of the book and I was setting myself up for disappointment so I think I’ll just pass. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review, and I hope this book does find its audience.

Dragged to the Wedding takes the readers on a rollicking romantic adventure filled with humour, heart, and the unexpected twists that come with love and personal discovery. James Petika, a Chicago police officer who embraces his openly gay lifestyle, faces a familial dilemma when his sister's wedding in Missoula, Montana, looms on the horizon. The catch? James's family remains blissfully unaware of his sexual orientation, and he's determined to keep it that way. In dire need of a solution, James stumbles upon the vivacious drag queen Daniel Bonafonte, also known as Lala Traviata, a star in Chicago's drag scene.

Lala Traviata, is a fabulous drag queen: sassy, talented, and possessing a flair for throwing shade that could eclipse a solar eclipse. After a chance meeting and some liquid courage, Daniel agrees to step into James's world and become his undercover date for the wedding. The stage is set for a delightful comedy of errors, with Daniel taking on the role of James's girlfriend. As the wedding preparations unfold, Daniel's drag diva skills are put to the test. He must navigate the bride's ill-fitting wedding dress, a groom who's a dance floor hazard, and more drama than auditions for a gay men's chorus. Amidst the chaos, secrets unravel, and the chemistry between James and Daniel sparks into something more profound than they ever expected.

The writing is witty and engaging, with characters that leap off the page and hilarious situations that will have readers in stitches. The banter between James and Daniel is sharp and endearing, and their evolving relationship is a joy to witness. Dragged to the Wedding is not just a story of love but also of self-discovery and the courage to be true to oneself. The novel beautifully balances humour and heartfelt moments, offering readers an uplifting and entertaining journey.

It is a heartwarming and entertaining LGBTQ+ romance that showcases the power of love to break down barriers, even in the most unexpected circumstances. Andrew Grey's storytelling is a delightful celebration of authenticity, and readers will find themselves rooting for James and Daniel as they navigate the quirks of a wedding and the complexities of their own hearts.

This is set up as a fake date story but with a twist. It's not really believable, but it tries hard, and the characters are all treated with respect and kindness, so credit to the author for this attempt.

I tried so hard to get into this one, it promised all the tropes I love and had such a unique plot but lacked chemistry between the love interests, and many of the events that transpired felt contrived which made the whole thing hard to love. The underdeveloped supporting cast could have been overlooked if the romance was good, James and Daniel had an instant attraction to one another but captivation does not a romance make.

Dragged to the Wedding begins with James, a gay police officer who isn’t out to his family yet has to go back to his hometown for his sister’s wedding. His friend decides to introduce him to Lala aka Daniel who is a drag queen. The two agree that Daniel will pose as his girlfriend “Daniella” to get James’ family off his back.

Let’s stop right there because that premise sounds completely off-the-wall and it is but that’s what makes it fun. It’s all the deliciousness of fake dating with extra steps. These two do have a few close calls when they first get there but it’s clear Lala is a professional and wouldn’t let her performance suffer no matter what happened.

Amidst their fake dating, we’re also seeing James’ sister’s wedding essentially go up in flames because nothing goes right. She’s dealing with their mom trying to overtake everything, a bad wedding dress, and a pastor who isn’t what he seems. Frankly, it’s a lot for the bride to handle but James and Daniel step in to help and it’s so heartwarming.

Daniel quickly fits in with James’ family and that’s what I loved about this book. It felt like a warm hug at times yet there were some darker moments. Daniel and James are contemplating being together yet don’t know how the other feels. James is trying to confront his family about his sexuality and it’s hard to read at times. They have an idea of him that doesn’t exist.

Given this book’s shorter page count, I think it achieved everything and more. I do feel that a few things during the third act could have been broken up. There was a plotline with the pastor and of course, Daniel’s “reveal.” It just felt like a bit much yet I do think Dragged to the Wedding was fun and unlike any other romance I’ve read before. If you’re looking for a new queer read, I don’t think you can go wrong in picking this one up.

This book is perfectly fine insofar as the fake dating trope goes, and fans of that trope will likely enjoy this one. However, I didn't realize until I was reading this book that I felt strongly that there is a difference between passing as a gender and performing a gender. That Daniel, as a drag queen, sought to pass rather than perform felt uncomfortable to me. I wasn't expecting that discomfort. And since the blurb is honest in its description of the book, I fault myself rather than the book for that. At the same time, I'm glad this came up, as this is a topic I plan to think more on. So for that reason, reading this book was useful, if not necessarily enjoyable.

5/5 stars: Grey has been a longtime favorite author and this latest 2SLGBTQIA+ Contemporary Romance is a winner. Tackling the fake-dating trope, Grey brings plenty of heart and humor with a touch of mystery that will have you swooning. Grey's characters are incredibly complex and yet remain infinitely likable. Daniel is a gem and full of fabulous sass and James is a sweetheart. And get out your fans, the slow burn is oh so slow but when the OPS scene finally happens, it's deliciously spicy. While Grey tackles some serious topics with sensitivity and care, take care and check the CWs. A great read!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin), Carina Adores in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Just what I expected from the cover and the title. A fun, rom-com full of all the bits I needed to love it. It manages to be light and amusing, while still skirting close to some heavier topics. I'm intimately familiar with the drag community and I feel as though this book isn't "realistic" but let's face it - that doesn't really matter. The trope of "fake dating" begins this tale and it spins off into a comic romance that is thoroughly enjoyable!

Dragged to the Wedding has a premise that had me so excited, it sounded like a lot of fun! and it was!

It did take me a bit to get into the book. In just the first chapter there was an instance of fat-phobia which had me cautious, but luckily that was from a side-character and wasn't a theme that continues in the book, (the opposite, actually!). That instance had me in a critical mood, and I also noticed some continuity inconsistencies.

Once I really got into the story though, I was enjoying myself a lot! Loved the main characters, and the sisters were great to get to know as well :D I've always loved fake dating, and this was a lovely done version of it, with the drag being a nice twist to it!
I liked how this book dealt with a police officer main character, having the view of Daniel to open James' eyes was really welcome. (mild SPOILER ahead: especially after his 'you can trust me, I'm a police officer' remark. Not quite the good argument James probably thought it was.) But yes, the author dealt with that really well, as well as the whole issues around churches, as far as I can judge that.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Carina Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

3.75 stars.

"I suppose that living the life you want is worth not being able to see a few stars... Though it would be nice to have both."
"There are plenty of things I can't have. You get used to it."

Oh, James, there's so much more to life. Thankfully, there's Daniel.

You think you know how this story goes? Bet you don't.

This book is delightful. It's a hilarious romcom, with a deep heart. Serious, wrapped in glitter. And as real as it gets.

Dragged to the Wedding is such a fun take on one of my favorite romance tropes: fake dating! James hasn’t come out to his family, but when his sister gets married, his mom insists that James bring a date. Enter Daniella, a drag persona of Daniel, who agrees to be James’ date for the entire trip.
James, while out in his life in Chicago, is still very closeted at home in Montana, and has little experience with drag. It’s a great reminder that just because someone is part of the LGBTQIA+ community, they don’t automatically know everything about being queer and are always learning, too. I love Daniel’s reactions throughout as James learns and becomes more comfortable with himself and with Daniel.
At times, the writing can feel overdone, but the messages come through, and I was drawn in by Daniel, just as James was. Would love to read more from Andrew Grey!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the ARC!

I was immediately intrigued by this book because I love drag, I love fake-dating books and I love weddings. While I wasn't disappointed by the book - it was a confidently written and easy to read romcom with feelgood queer vibes throughout - I did want a little more tension between the two main characters (it was rather instalovey). That said, there was still plenty of tension in the book thanks to James' family being horrible homophobes for much of the book, although this is addressed and explored in a very sensitive manner, and indeed, redemption comes by the end of the story, which is punctuated by a truly adorable and happy epilogue. All this is to say that if homophobia and difficult/traumatic coming out stories are difficult for you, it may be best to skip this one. However, I can also see how reading it in this book would be therapeutic for some. Special mention to how tender and loving the seggs scene was and all without mentioning the word d*ck or c*ck once, which considering there were two involved is impressive!

It's the good old trope—James is in a jam because he fibbed to his folks about having a girlfriend when he's really gay and hiding it from his conservative family. His buddy, who was supposed to be his date to his sister's wedding, can't make it, so he goes all out and hires the fabulous drag queen, Lala Traviata, to play the perfect lady for his mom and the whole wedding crew.

Now, let's be real, it was hard to hold suspended disbelief to believe that Daniel (aka Lala) could pull off being a woman for days on end, while living with those people, but let's believe he was born with the perfect body to dress as a woman.

Anyway, Daniel is a blast of a character. And it's pretty cool how Andrew Grey makes the two main characters' voices stand out without diving too deep into stereotypes. It's just the right amount of spice.

Now, my one gripe with this book? The lovey-dovey stuff. While I get they fell for each other, I didn't quite see it happen. It's like I took a quick bathroom break and missed the best part of the movie. I get that the author didn't want to go all in on the romance – there's a bunch of heavy stuff about James' tough relationship with his mom, and that's interesting (sometimes a little painful), even with the light tone. But the lovebirds just click like magic. I live for those "Aha!" moments in romances, and I missed it this time.

Daniel is also a bit of a Mary Sue, if anyone is familiar with concept. He can solve anything and he doesn't even need superpowers for it. It irked me a little, but not enough. It's fine, as Daniel is so likeable, that you just wish you could find a Daniel to solve your life's problems. But MS alert for those readers who'll wrinkle their noses at such characters with no flaws.

(I was also wondering why they never mention the possibility of Daniel being a trans woman if someone ever finds out about him... I can't give details because it would be a spoiler, but the book has maybe one very quick and superficial mention to the possibility that is much more expected than someone fooling others to pretend they're a woman)

This book is a lighthearted book, even when it dives into some serious stuff. You can almost see it as a Hallmark movie while you're reading (even though it's not Christmas-themed, I could see it very clearly). It's not mind-blowing, but you'll be delighted for sure.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

James needs a date for his sister's wedding. A female date. Because his family don't know he's gay. Enter Daniella - beautiful, smart, charming ... And a drag queen.

This was a fun, fast story. I'd describe it as light and fluffy - there wasn't much substance there and the romance didn't blow me away. That said, it was plenty enjoyable and perfect for a lazy afternoon when you just want a guaranteed happily ever after!

It didn't take much for the masculine James to hide that he is gay from his family. He's a police officer and lives hundreds of miles away in Chicago. For years, he's been able to keep up the charade by casually mentioning a made-up girl he's dating on his phone calls with his mother, then conveniently breaking up with the fictitious girlfriend before his next visit home to Missoula. However, this time, it won't be so easy. His sister is getting married, and his overbearing mother insists he bring the girl he's dating to the wedding. Desperate to find a fake girlfriend for the event, James asks every female friend and acquaintance with no luck. Just when James thought it was hopeless, his friend Randy created a colorful solution that would forever change James's life.

Enter Daniel Bonafonte, better known as his glamorous alter ego, drag superstar LaLa Traviata. Daniel, a star of the Chicago drag scene, agrees to play the role of "Daniella," the no-nonsense, beautiful girlfriend of James.

Dragged To The Wedding is a hilarious and heartfelt rom-com that expertly uses a man disguised as a woman as one of its main characters without leaning into clunky transphobic scenarios or jokes that rely on femininity or lack thereof being the punchline. The book is a delicious will they won't they fake dating romance that follows all the usual tropes with a hell of a fabulous twist. Yes, there are some canned drag jokes and dubious plot points but it was a joy to read nonetheless.

Available 10/17/23

Disclosure : I received a netgalley ARC of this book in exchange for my review. My review is my honest opinion.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book. The review will appear on episode 27 of my podcast. This episode will drop on Monday, September 25. I will also post the review to Goodreads and it will be available on the episode page on podcast's website.

Review:

The minute I read the synopsis of this book on NetGalley, I had to request it. In a time when Drag Queens are villainized and the entire LGBTQIA+ community is continuously threatened, showing support and lifting up my community is as important as ever - and lord knows I love me some drag queens. In a nutshell, the story was cute, but overall, it felt a little familiar, and at times, I wondered who the book was written for.

The story revolves around James Petika, a police officer in Chicago who finds himself in need of a date for his sister's upcoming wedding. Desperate to keep his sexuality a secret from his conservative Montana family, James enlists the help of Daniel Bonafonte, also known as Lala Traviata, a local drag queen. Daniel poses as Daniella - James' new girlfriend. "Daniella" is easily accepted into the family - no one expects a thing - and manages to put out several fires that could easily bring the wedding to a screeching halt. As time goes on (and as one would expect) the more time James and Daniel spend together, the more real their feelings become for each other. The premise of the plot holds promise, but for me, the execution and overall story fell a little flat, mainly because there really weren't any surprises.

The characters all seem pretty cookie-cutter. James is the gay, butch police officer who - before Daniel - would never have found himself attracted to a drag queen. There wasn't a whole lot of depth to him.

Daniel, while enjoyable, eventually fell into the "I can fix everything" mold. While cute, it became repetitive. Is it really possible for one person to be so perfect and have a solution for everything? Again - I wanted some more depth here.

The other characters were also pretty basic and, dare I say, a little cliche, from James' overbearing mother to the clueless, small-town members of the community. Even the villain felt very familiar and didn't really bring anything new to the table. Everyone just felt a little stale.

The book also left me wondering who it was written for. There were sections where it felt like the reader was being taught about drag queens and/or the gay community. This might be beneficial to some, but for me, it felt unnecessary and took away from the overall story.

The romantic aspect of the book was fine, but didn't have me swooning, or worried that our couple might not end up together. Again, it was all pretty par for the course.

Despite these shortcomings, there are moments in Dragged to the Wedding that manage to entertain. There are several scenes that provide some lighthearted amusement. The comical situations the characters find themselves in during the wedding preparation offer brief moments of enjoyment.

I in no way mean to imply that this is a bad book; it just felt - to me - to be a little too on the nose. As I mentioned earlier, there were no real surprises. While it managed to provide brief amusement with its comical situations, it ultimately failed to leave a lasting impression on me. I felt like I'd met these characters before and knew exactly where the story was going. That said, if you're a fan of a by-the-book rom-com, then I would certainly recommend this one.

A fun romance read with fake dating and forced proximity and lots of dramatic wedding disasters that need fixing - enter Daniel (known to James’ family as Daniella) who works magic every time something goes wrong in the run up to the wedding to save the day. He’s a kind and quirky character with a big heart and a lot of bravery - how else could he agree to dress in drag for a full week and pretend to be in a relationship with a stranger. James is a quiet police officer living one life away from his family in Chicago and a completely different one when he returns home. Afraid of outing himself to his judgemental and religious mother, he needs a date to his sister’s wedding to keep his family happy. There was loads going on in this book, including an investigation on the side, so it definitely keeps you on your toes but it was lacking emotion for me. That’s not to say it didn’t deal with some emotional subjects, I just felt detached from it without emotive writing to really draw me in and I also felt no spark or chemistry between Daniel and James that I’d expect in a romance which was disappointing. It also didn’t seem like James had much of a personality in comparison to Daniel and I would have liked his character to be fleshed out a bit more.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

This book was a complete delight from beginning to end! James needs a date to his sister’s wedding. His family has no idea that he’s gay, so he makes a deal with drag queen Lala Triviata, also known as Daniel, to be his date. What follows is, of course, a comedy of errors, with Daniel and James saving the wedding from various problems and dancing around their growing attraction. There were so many laughs and some wonderful sweet moments. It was a wonderful read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for my honest review.