This was a hard dnf. I gave it months of returning to it but no dice. I really really tried. Not on the author it just was not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the e-book copy!

I was unaware this book was a part of a series when I requested it. I don't think it contributed to why I DNF'd this title as it was easy to pick up what was going on as time went on. I just found the characters a bit unlikeable and for me, I have to find at least one character likable for me to read a romance. If you like this series or author already, then still check this out but this made me not want to give this author another chance.

I didn't realize this was part of a series when I requested it, and I do think that impacted my reading experience a little bit. I was able to follow most of the story though. It was a quick and cute read.

Always the Bridesmaid by Laura Carter is a lighthearted romantic read with moments of charm and humour. The premise of a grumpy comedian, Charlie, and a no-nonsense organiser, Sarah, forced into close quarters during a pre-wedding holiday sets the stage for a classic opposites-attract storyline.

The book delivers on its humour, particularly through Charlie’s witty comebacks and awkward situations, and Sarah’s efforts to maintain control amidst chaos are relatable. Their growing chemistry is endearing, especially as their layers are peeled back to reveal vulnerabilities.

Always the Bridesmaid is a pleasant and easy read, perfect for fans of light, enemies-to-lovers romance. It may not leave a lasting impression, but it’s an enjoyable escape for an afternoon of laughs and lighthearted drama.

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.