I was attracted to this book by the blurb and the cover, but I was not able to get into this book. I tried three different times thinking it was my mood that held me back from engaging with the book but after finishing this I still feel that something stood between me and the story. Maybe it was the slow slow burn that just kept me from falling into this book.

Thank you giving me a chance to read, but this books want for me.

Charlie and Sarah really lacked any true chemistry to me so it was hard to be invested in their story. It had funny moments but I just couldn't get in to it as much as I thought I would. They seemed to have a great friendship vibe so it was hard to imagine them as more.

Review of Always the Bridesmaid by Laura Carter – ★★★☆☆

Always the Bridesmaid offers a light-hearted blend of humor and romance, with Charlie, the comedian, and Sarah, the focused bridesmaid, at its center. Their dynamic has potential, but I found their chemistry lacking, making it hard to fully invest in their journey.

While there are amusing moments and a charming premise, the emotional connection feels somewhat superficial, leading to a predictable outcome. It’s an enjoyable read for a casual escape, but it didn’t leave a lasting impact on me.

— TL;DR: A fun premise with some laughs, but the character depth and emotional connection could use more development.

Yeah ok I don’t actually know what to say about this! I’ve never read anything by Laura Carter and I can assure you after this I never will again!!
You’re never going to like all the characters in a book but Charlie and Sarah got on my nerves! Had no idea it was part of a series when requested but I would say it’s not a stand alone book.

I didn't realise that this book was part of a series when I requested it, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. An entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This book has such heart, at points I was really emotional reading Sarah's journey with her grief and finally embracing her life and what she allows herself to experience. Charlie's struggles with his childhood battles relatable and I found myself willing him on throughout. The friendship group was really strong, I mean an Elvis interlude during a wedding sounds like a party I want to attend too. Overall this book was a joy to read and I am so happy that I had the chance to read it.

I found this book really difficult to get into. I found it slapstick rather than funny and it just didn’t work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
This was a wonderful book and I'll be purchasing it for the library!

This book was a struggle to get through. I had no idea it was part of a series, and it didn’t work for me as a standalone.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

1.5 stars

I received a copy of this for my honest review

I thought this was a cute story. Its 4th in a series, and our FMC is flying to London for her friend's wedding. She's putting on a brave face, since she is noticing all her friends are couples up now, and as a widow she isn't ready to move on. Our MMC is a stand up comedian who's had a tough up bringing. When he picks her up at the airport as a favor to his friend, they find there is only one room left at the hotel they are staying at. They have gotten off on the wrong foot with each other - and keep stepping on it, until she realizes she wants to tell him about the things she is seeing, and he likes.her more.than he should. Will he head his friends warning or will she be able to move past her hurt?

another fun and brilliant story by Laura Carter. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters were so fun. want to read more now.

From the title I thought I would enjoy this book as it gave 27 dresses vibes however the writing was boring and basic and I didn't feel interested or invested in the characters.

Sounds like me. A very good and entertaining story with laughs and drama in just the right places. Recommended

This was cute, but not for me. I read a lot of fantasy, so I'm usually pretty good at picking up on context clues in terms of characters and worldbuilding, but I didn't realize this author's works were connected and I feel like reading the other books would have given me a lot more interest in the characters, but I didn't care enough about the story to do all that.

Always the Bridesmaid was a pleasant enough novel but it wasn’t really for me. The plot was quite predictable and I couldn’t really warm to any of the characters. I did want to finish it though so would give it three stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to review.

I didn't realize this was a part of a series, but after getting the arc, I decided to just go ahead and read it. Usually romance series function as standalones with minor references to others without it being integral to the plot. This series is different, in that you really need to know the other characters. The writing itself was okay.

An absolute gem! The writing is beautifully crafted, drawing you into a world that feels both familiar and wonderfully unique. I couldn't put it down! Highly recommend to anyone seeking a captivating read.

I started reading Always the Bridesmaid knowing nothing about it, only to discover it is the fourth book in the Brits in Manhattan series and I had not read any of the others. Usually this is not a problem, but here I felt at a distinct disadvantage. Part of the problem was the characters from the other books featured quite heavily, especially in the first half of the book, and not knowing their backstories just left me confused.
All the characters in this friendship group are gathered in England for Jess and Jake’s wedding, and have rented a large house in Surrey for the week of the celebrations. Due to unforeseen circumstances the main characters in this book, Sarah and Charlie, are forced to share a room despite having only just met when he picked her up from the airport. To say they do not get off to a good start would be the understatement of the year – I did not like either of them much, and was unsure whether I wanted to continue reading.
Sarah works as a legal secretary in Manhattan, and Charlie is a stand-up comedian in London. As we gradually learn more about them (perhaps this is why you need to have read the previous books), their behaviour is easier to understand. My opinion of Charlie improved a lot quicker than that of Sarah who I could not relate to. I enjoyed the second half of the story much more, as Sarah stays on in London after her friends have gone home with the intention of seeing the sights, and Charlie offers to be her guide. They start to get to know each other and the burgeoning attraction is much more believable. I especially liked the rom-com film references, but have to say that most of Charlie’s comedy routines did not make me laugh. I’m glad I persevered as I enjoyed Always the Bridesmaid, but will not be going back to read the others. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

Before hopping into the actual review I want to say two things. One, thank you for the ARC. And secondly, I can't rave enough about how cute this cover is! It's what immediately drew me into the book. This book is a dual-POV that follows Charlie & Sarah. I wish I had known this was part of a series, because this follows a HUGE friend group (all of which have found their HEA already), and it was difficult to follow along since this was my first time meeting so many of them. If you're someone who's read from the beginning I know you'd love all these glimpses of all these characters making a reappearance and seeing how they all are now. Now, Sara's best friend is getting married and is having their wedding in the UK. Since the death of her husband, Sarah has always found weddings difficult, but you wouldn't know that since she's too busy making her best friend's wedding perfect. And Sarah has no time for grumpy Charlie, who her friends are obviously trying to set you up with). Of course there's only one room rental available. Which leads to her spending a lot more time with Charlie and realizing there's a lot more to him than being the "funny" one in the group.
This one took me a little while to get into, but mainly because I joined in at the 4th book of the series. I fell in love with Charlie's character, and loved seeing his relationship with Sarah change throughout the story. This was a cute, quick read. 3.5⭐s

I loved this book. There were great moments of pure laughter and I couldn't put it down! This is a book once you start you won't stop til it's done! Absolutely stunning!
I just reviewed Always the Bridesmaid by Laura Carter. #AlwaystheBridesmaid #NetGalley
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