1.5 Stars

This book was an absolute miss for me. While the synopsis was intriguing, the execution left much to be desired.

Gemma, the FMC, was a frustrating lead and a doormat who allowed herself to be belittled and controlled by her family. My goodness she annoying the crap out of me. Her lack of assertiveness made it hard to root for her. Ben, the MMC. on the other hand, was barely likable. Their relationship lacked chemistry, and their interactions felt forced and uninspired.

Spoiler alert: There was cheating. Yes, kissing someone who isn’t your partner is cheating, no matter how it’s framed. This element was a dealbreaker for me and completely derailed whatever remaining investment I had in their romance.

The book had several tropes I typically enjoy, but they were mishandled, failing to make the story enjoyable. Once I saw it being marketed to fans of The Spanish Love Deception and The Love Hypothesis, I should have known it wasn’t for me. Lesson learned.

If you’re drawn to the tropes and don’t mind some questionable character decisions, you might enjoy this. But if you’re looking for well-developed characters and a believable romance, you may want to skip it.

Thanks to HarperCollinsUK for allowing me access to the ARC of this book via NetGalley!

4⭐ did I just consume this ARC in one day? Yes, yes I did. Overall I loved the story, and I think it could very well be a 5 star book, but the ARC that I read still had a little more polishing needed, especially some of the typos and sentence errors that left me trying to figure out what the author meant to write in some places. The other thing holding it back was that Ben's enemy phase was written too convincingly and so the journey from enemies to friends was a little hard to believe at first and wasn't entirely convincing right away. And the fact that it took 3 chapters before you realize it's set in Australia, not England, and then by the time you realize that you are being shunted over to Italy, was also a little rough.

But overall it was an excellent read and I look forward to reading more from this new-to-me author.

Thank you to NetGalley and ONE MORE CHAPTER for the ARC copy of The Wedding Date Disaster.

This was a cute, fast-paced read that I tore through in one day. It’s lighthearted and has a HEA at the end.

Things I liked about this story:

- The MMC was a total Golden Retriever and would do anything for the FMC
- I love a good workplace enemies-to-lovers trope with a dash of forced proximity
- A slow burn that doesn’t feel excruciatingly slow and unrewarding

Things I didn’t like about this story:
- It was labelled as a “spicy” story on Net Galley but there really isn’t any spice to this one - I literally waited until the second-to-last chapter and the spiciest moment was when he licks her nipple and then it “fades to black” — I feel like if you’re going to compare this to The Spanish Love Deception, there needs to be a lot more heat!
- Sometimes, things the characters said or did seemed so out of context - this is a short read (at less than 250 pages), so you could have spent more time developing their characters both individually and together (perhaps even some backstory about their relationship at work or a flashback to their first meeting that she forgot yet seemed vital to their relationship)

If you enjoyed The Hating Game, you’ll like this one. It’s less spicy but contains many of the same elements I mean, the FMC even got sick and he took care of her… total HG call back

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5 STARS! A swoon-worthy workplace romance set in Italy with emotional depth and laugh-out-loud moments!
I LOVE a good enemies-to-lovers romance, and The Wedding Date Disaster is equal parts heartwarming and entertaining! This book for me was The Hating Game banter vibes meets Leap Year plot sincerity!

🩷 Enemies-to-Lovers Tension: Gemma and Ben’s banter is equal parts witty and vicious, keeping the sparks flying.

🧡 Heartfelt Moments: As they navigate Gemma’s crazy family they share surprising moments of tenderness and compassion.

💛 Depth + Mental Health: Gemma is a CHRONIC people-pleaser who has to learn how to set boundaries while Ben’s policy was always 100% honesty even at the risk of being ultra abrasive and a bit of a jerk.

💚 Believable Character Development: I liked both characters, their flaws, and how they helped one another grow. Gemma learns that saying “no” does not in fact cause the world to crash and Ben learns to be more vulnerable and ultimately likable.

🩵 Subplot Goals: I adored Gemma’s dream of becoming an author, and as she navigates finding her voice, her desire to do that on the written page grows.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate R. Mathieson, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins, and One More Chapter for the ARC!!

Overall I enjoyed this book. It was a quick and lighthearted read.

I did have some issues with the main character, mostly wanting to tell her to get a backbone and stand up for herself just once. It was a little annoying seeing her get walked over all the time. The biggest issue I had with this book was the "turning point" moment for our two main characters. It was literally ripped from "The Hating Game" with almost no deviations. The only difference is one took place in the apartment bathroom and this one took place in Italy. I was really disappointed when this scene came, because all I could think about was how very, very closely related it was to the "Hating Game" instead of enjoying the scene for what it was.

Overall, the book is cute and sweet. It will make a great one day read!

On paper, this book was written for me and I really enjoyed a good amount of it, however the treatment Gemma accepts from her family felt somewhat unbelievable (coming from an immensely conflict averse person with a slightly toxic family), and the "twist" at the end felt very obvious from the beginning if you've already read The Hating Game (or any other rom com).
I also wasn't a huge fan of the fact that Gemma and Ben kiss, and have some other hugely inappropriate moments while Gemma still has a boyfriend - it would have been much better if they'd split up before, or right at the start of, the Italy trip.

However, I still enjoyed the writing and the general story, and would definitely read more by this author.

This is a light read -young professionals competing at work, relationship tension, a beautiful location.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

Thank you SO much to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the ARC of The Wedding Date Disaster! 🖤 This book was such a FUN and entertaining ride, even though there were a few moments when I just wanted to shake Gemma and tell her to get a backbone! 🤦‍♀️ It releases on January 30, 2025, and trust me, it’s 384 pages of enemies-to-lovers, fake dating goodness that you’ll definitely want to devour.

✨ Tropes & Themes ✨
✧ Enemies to Lovers 💘
✧ Fake Dating 🥰
✧ Destination Romance 💓
✧ Workplace Drama 💖
✧ Family Drama 👀
✧ Self-Awareness 💭
✧ Slow Burn 🔥
✧ Forced Proximity 💞
✧ Swoon-Worthy Hero 😍
✧ Hilarious Banter 😆

Let’s talk about Gemma… ugh, I really needed her to have a little more backbone, y’all! 😩 She let everyone walk all over her, and it was tough to watch. Her family? Horrible. Her boyfriend? Basically a ghost. And then there’s her work nemesis turned fake date... OH BOY. Ben started off as a total jerk (like, WHY was he so rude??), but by the end? I was all about him 💖. The way he stood up for Gemma when she wouldn’t stand up for herself? Swoon-worthy hero material right there! 😍

The chemistry between Gemma and Ben? Chef's kiss—sparks were flying, especially when they were fake dating in Italy 😘. The banter? On POINT. And let’s talk about the anticipation... That kiss? THE KISS. 🔥 Like, I could feel the heat through the pages! But as much as I adored the romance, I do wish the plot focused a bit more on... well, the plot. The whole “Gemma being treated like garbage” thing went on a little too long for my liking, and I was just like, “Girl, stand up for yourself already!” 💪

Still, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. By the end, I was so invested in their love story! And Italy as the backdrop? Yes, please! 😍 The slow burn had me dying—watching Gemma finally realize her worth and take charge was everything... but I wanted that earlier in the book!

If you love enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, family drama, and destination romance (plus adorable banter), this book is a MUST. Get ready for some emotional moments and prepare to fall for Ben hard. 💘

Bottom line: I had an absolute blast reading this, even with a few bumps along the way. A solid 4 stars for this fun, swoony rom-com! 💫

The book was a perfect holiday book, a complete page turner!
Loved the male character he was my favourite, the female character drove me absolutely mad!!!

It seems that the banter and teasing went one for a bit too long.

The wacky family - made me laugh so much

A lot of ladies including me can relate to the female character

Such a good read

This was a super cute quick read, it’s like a really great mix of The Hating Game meets The Paradise Problem, I love the growth Gemma has in this book, I really related to her. Thank you so much NetGalley, HarperCollins, and One More Chapter for the eARC!

The Wedding Date Disaster is the perfect romance read to sink into. The chemistry between Gemma and Ben is electric from the start, and the fake dating trope is executed to perfection. The tension builds and the moments of vulnerability between the two characters are pure magic. The wedding setting adds a charming backdrop for their blossoming romance, with enough family drama to keep things interesting. And that anticipatory kiss? Hands down one of the best I’ve ever read.

This story immediately captivated me through its gorgeous cover and the Italian setting. I adore anything and everything Italian, so when I saw this book was set there, was for a wedding and was heavy on the enemies to lovers, I ran!

This story follows our FMC Gemma and her absolute hatred for her work nemesis Ben. He has just gotten the promotion she was going for and she feels like she can't honestly take anything anymore. Until of course, she is invited to her step sister's wedding a long plane flight away. To make matters worse her boyfriend won’t be joining her for this wedding as her plus one. She needs a date asap to ensure the pain and judgment her family gives her, so she entrusts her friend to find her one.

Emma gets to the airport to find her date, however to her surprise and disappointment it is Ben. This storyline and energy reminded me of The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas, so it was quite fun seeing the Italian perspective of it. The character dynamics are quite fun and entertaining. Their banter and transition from mortal enemies to something more was quite the journey.

Tropes in this book;
• enemies to lovers
• fake dating
• close proximity
• work place romance
• spicy destination romance

Thank you Netgally for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a cute read! I really enjoyed it being set in the book world, with both main characters loving books! It was also a nice little way for me to relive my own adventures in Italy. The way the author describes the region and the little things about Italy really took me straight back to my own visit!

As for the story, the dynamics of the main character relationship took some getting used to. The main character has a pretty negative self image, which is not the type of character I typically read. Her internal dialogue is a bit chaotic, with her consistently talking down to herself. She eventually grows out of this, but because of it, she thinks the male main character is "out to get her" for a heavy majority of the book, which I thought was unfair. While yes, he does tease her, perhaps a little aggressively, I never felt like what we saw from him was pure malice, despite what the main character would make herself believe. We only see her side of the story through much of the book, but as their ruse continues, there are many points where the reader can tell she is not giving him enough credit and is just stuck in her own head and self sabotaging. These moments especially start happening once we are in scenes with her family and during her illness. He sees far more about her than she ever gives him credit for. All in all, the main character does come around and she has a lot of growth. She finally sees that she has someone in her corner and finds the backbone to stand up to her family for walking all over her. I was really glad to see her finally accept this after reading her negative internal dialogue all book.

The book itself is well written, and the banter between the characters is great, with Ben really having some zingers that made me smile. As mentioned before, the setting of Italy is magical, and I really enjoyed the sub story of the over the top wedding and crazy moments from the wedding weekend!

The Spanish Love Deception crossed with The Hating Game. I really enjoyed this one which included some of my favorite romance tropes; fake-dating, holiday romance, workplace romance and enemies to lovers. This book had it all, laugh-out-loud moments, emotional and heartfelt scenes, two main characters that you can't help but fall in love with and a fun and hilarious scenario. This author was new to me but someone I am looking forward to reading more from.

Review is up on Goodreads and will be posted on Amazon Australia on release day. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book.

I had the opportunity to read The Wedding Date Disaster by Kate Mathieson as an ARC, and it was an absolute delight from start to finish.

The story centers around Gemma and Ben (Adam), whose witty banter and undeniable chemistry steal the show. Gemma is wonderfully flawed, a relatable people pleaser struggling to find her voice, except when it comes to Ben. Their interactions are electric, full of tension and humor, making them an engaging and dynamic pair.

Ben’s character is equally compelling. While he drives Gemma up the wall, his actions throughout the wedding trip reveal a depth of care and passion that is impossible to ignore. Their evolving relationship feels authentic and heartfelt, with moments that made me laugh out loud and others that made me root for them with my whole heart.

Mathieson’s writing is sharp, filled with humor, warmth, and an appreciation for the nuances of relationships. The supporting cast adds layers to the story without overshadowing the central romance, and the wedding setting provides the perfect backdrop for this enemies to lovers tale.

By the end, I was thoroughly satisfied with the happy ending and left with a smile on my face. The Wedding Date Disaster is a must-read for fans of romantic comedies and heartfelt love stories.

**Not 100% sure of how I want to rate this one. Rounding up to 3 stars for now. Rating may change. **


The Wedding Date Disaster was a quick and easy read. Ben and Gemma's story was quite interesting; business colleagues who didn't really like one another yet end up fake dating at a wedding.

This story had a ton of potential with its Italian setting and overall interesting premise. However, some parts of the story felt rough and could have been fleshed out more. I thought Ben and Gemma made great enemies, and at moments, I could feel sparks, but I wanted more. More chemistry. More heat. More change of heart. If I'm being completely honest, I wasn't really sure of Ben's intentions half of the time because he just didn't feel genuine.

Also, I was confused about Gemma's boyfriend, Adam. What guy is going to be okay with his girlfriend going to a wedding with another guy? I know he was added for conflict purposes, but he felt like an unnecessary afterthought.

I also loathed how Gemma's family treated her. They bullied and walked all over her. They were just awful! I really wanted Gemma to grow a backbone and stand up for herself.

In the end, The Wedding Date Disaster left me with a mixed bag of emotions. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. It was just kind of mid for me.

Gemma is a book editor and general doormat. Her boyfriend declines to join her for her half-sister's over the top Italian wedding, at which she'll have a servant's role, so she brings a blind date/stand-in, who happens to be her work rival. General familial abuse ensues.

3.75⭐
Romantic, non-spicy.

The setting is nice, but I wanted even more. The side characters are well-developed in that I hate them all. This was an eARc, so I don't want to comment too much on the editing, but for a book about book editors, I really hope they fix the typos and tense inconsistencies before final print.

I liked this book. It didn't blow me away or reinvent anything, but it was solid and I enjoyed it. I wish we'd seen more of Ben and his story.

Thanks NetGalley, Harper Collins and Kate Mathieson for this eARC.

Nope. Just no. The FMC is one of the worst characters and I couldn't stand anyone else. The writing wasn't good and everything was just flat. I DNF'd at 37% because I just couldn't deal with this anymore.

This book totally missed the mark for me. The premise sounded promising but the story fell flat.

To begin with, the story was far-fetched. Gemma only realised that she was a doormat/people pleaser type person at around the 78% mark. It would have made more sense if she had broken up with Adam before she left for the wedding. There was zero chemistry between Gemma and Ben and I thought all the other characters were obnoxious and awful.

Fake Dating, Enemies to lovers and a destination wedding? That's right up my alley!
Gemmas sister is getting married in Italy and her boyfriend doesn't want to/can't go with her, so she ends up going with her office enemy Ben.

I'd say this book is for the ones who enjoyed The Spanish Love Deception and The Hating Game, as it's been giving me those vibes.
This book was a really quick read, it was funny, it was cute, it had lots of banter...it had a little bit of everything.
Gemmas family dynamic was a bit weird (you'll get it once you read it) and I could totally understand her insecurities, but I loved how she finally started standing up for herself near the end of the book, and with the help of her former nemesis as well. Ben was a great guy and I especially loved how he took care of her when she was sick and how he stood up for her and made her stand up for herself as well. <3
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. :)