I am so glad I gave another book in this series a chance because this one was really cute! I loved the back and forth between Sarah and Charlie. The dual POV was nice because it gave a chance for the reader to experience both of their feelings, and how they were changing as the story progressed. This one was more of a slow burn, but it was worth it in the end.

Sarah and Charlie meet because their friends are getting married, but when things don’t start off great the last thing, they want to do is spend any more time together. But soon they will have to get on and sparks will be flying.

I loved these two main characters, who had great chemistry from the start; although they couldn’t see it yet.
Carter gives us the fourth book within the Brits in Manhattan series, but if you haven’t read the rest of the series this still works as a stand-alone. But it’s great to hear about previous characters from the series which simply made this book even more enjoyable.

It's only fairly recently that I discovered Laura Carter and her amazing books. I have been a fan of hers ever since I had the good fortune to pick up the first book in the 'Brits In Manhattan' series which is called 'The Law Of Attraction'. Since then I have read and loved books two and three in the series. When I heard that Laura was due to release another book in the series, I knew that I had to read it as soon as I could. Well ladies and gents, the wait is over because the fourth book in the series is called 'Always The Bridesmaid' and it was released on 17th November 2023. It's another cracking addition to a cracking series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Always The Bridesmaid' but more about that in a bit.

The fact that I saw Laura's name on the cover of a book that I knew I hadn't yet read was enough to grab my attention and draw me in. Plus when I glimpsed the front cover, I was delighted to see a ginger haired man - ginger solidarity and all that. As soon as I started reading, I knew that I was in for a treat and that I would struggle to put the book to one side for any length of time. So it proved to be. Part of the reason why I enjoyed reading this story so much has to do with the main characters Charlie and Sarah. There's no denying that there is a certain chemistry between them and sparks fly in more ways than one. I kept everything crossed that both would find their 'happy ever after' ending. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I started chuckling away to myself from pretty early on in the story and I kept chuckling away to myself throughout the book. In that respect, this book certainly cheered me up. I became so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the characters that I didn't realise just how quickly the time was passing and how quickly I was getting through the book. I found 'Always The Bridesmaid' to be a lovely, fun, light hearted and uplifting story with a generous helping of romance.

'Always The Bridesmaid' is extremely well written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Laura Carter. Laura has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Laura's books often feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. I hope that makes sense. Laura's love for her characters shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. In fact the characters in this book ended up feeling more like friends than characters in a book. I love the way in which Laura makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That's how I felt anyway.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Always The Bridesmaid' and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Laura's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Another excellent and page-turning book by Laura. Lovely setting and characters that you can feel at home with.

I found this to be a really quick and easy read. I liked seeing the relationship between the two main characters evolve especially from Sarah’s pov. Charlie was a real favourite of mine and I liked the stand up aspect to him. I’m a sucker for pop culture references and there was loads in this one so that was a big positive for me.
I didn’t realise till I was reading that this is the 4th in a series and this did make it a little slower for me to understand who everyone was but it was still really enjoyable and I will definitely go back and read more about all these characters.

DNF @ 33%. I simply cannot finish "Always the Bridesmaid" by Laura Carter. I was intrigued by the main female character, Sarah, at first, because she is a widow who has not been with anyone since her husband died out of a fierce sense of loyalty to him. I was interested in finding out more about her, but quickly found her to be a grating people-pleaser who is incapable of being an adult. She was not my favorite character. Books about comedians are hard to execute properly, mostly because broad-scale humor is difficult to discern being that humor is subjective. The main male character, Charlie, is not funny. Not once, not ever, just literally the worst person. Making d1ck jokes while laughing at Sarah's expense while basically s3xually harassing her is not funny!!! Within the first sentence of being introduced to Charlie, he talks about his moobs getting sweaty and makes a misogynistic joke to an audience watching his comedy show about how what he said might not be great for the post-#MeToo era. YIKES. And I am, as the reader, supposed to be happy that Sarah will eventually be with this man? You're in danger, girl! Run! I love British books and a good ol' British sense of humor, but Charlie's brand of humor is less than desirable. In fact, it's cringe-worthy 7-year-old barf jokes bad. Imagine waiting 8 years to be with another man after your husband died....and the first man you choose is a chauvinistic pig who just happens to like your laugh. It's hard for me to root for two people to be together when they haven't a drop of chemistry with one another. It's a big NOPE from me. This is not the book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Carter, and Boldwood Books for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for my review.

Part of the Brits in Manhattan series, Always The Bridesmaid is book 4 in the series – but if you haven’t read the first three books, don’t worry, you can still read this as a standalone book – however, I would totally recommend reading the whole series, as I just know you will love all of the books in the series. Always The Bridesmaid focuses on main characters Charlie and Sarah, as their friends, Jake and Jess prepare to get married.

Neither of them seems to get off on the right foot, and things don’t get any better when they discover that they have to share a room together for the wedding. As Sarah and Charlie spend more time together (more than either of them ever really thought they would), we see the chemistry between the two of them develop.

Without giving anything away, can Sarah and Charlie see what everyone else can? Or will the 2 weeks they have to spend together for the wedding be the longest fortnight ever? Always The Bridesmaid is a fun and heartwarming read in the Brits in Manhattan series – and I would say not only add this one to your TBR pile, but add the other three books in the series too.

Overall I quite liked "Always The Bridesmaid" It was a great quick read and kept me entertained. I have been on a slow burn romance kick lately & this definitely hit. Thank you so much for the ARC.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

Always the Bridesmaid is very confusing for the first few chapters as it is a series, but if you push through the confusion.it is really a sweet book with romance and strong friendships.

I do with I had read the first two book in the series first to avoid the confusion, but I can read them now and be just as entertained.

When I started this book I didn’t realise it was part of a series! Luckily, you can read it as a standalone.

This book was so easy to pick and up get straight into. It felt fun and current, with characters you’d like as a group of friends. The main characters have had difficult/tragic pasts and bring something the other one needs. I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop with good banter and chemistry between characters. A lovely read if you’re looking for some romance!

I will definitely be dipping into the other books in this series to see how the other relationships began.

Sarah is so excited her friend Jake and the unexpected love of his life Becky are getting married Jake is Drew’s brother and Sarah‘s boss and he was also a college mate of her deceased husband Danny due to work issues unfortunately Sarah has to delay flying to London and so everyone arrived a couple of days before she dead this is why drew gets his buddy Charlie a comedian to pick her up from the airport. Charlie is double parked and nervous about driving and Sarah didn’t sleep on the plane so they are both not at their best and the longer they drive the worst Sarah‘s impression of Charlie is. It doesn’t help matters when they get to the house and despite Sarah was the one who organized the whole wedding and stay at this beautiful estate Jake invited a couple they met to be ushers at the wedding and they are left with the one room and two guest which are Sarah and Charlie. For Sarah who is an overboard people pleaser she pretends all is well she’ll share the room with this strange moody Charlie and this is why her friends think it’s no big deal to continuously throw them together with a trip to London to meet Joe Elvis this trip will be a tentative start to what eventually is the best romance ever. I could not get enough of this book and do believe that Charlie is one of the most realistic characters I have ever read in a book especially of fanciful romance. He is moody funny smart intelligent vulnerable strong… Everything someone would look for in a real partner and I love him so much! This book is not only funny it’s thoughtful and Albo there were some things I thought wouldn’t really happen in real life for the most part this is a grounded love story with a fanciful flavor I know it is a romcom but did I mention how much I love it! I want to thank boldwood books and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Picking this book up was like reconnecting with old friends! I’ve read two (now three) out of this four book series and loved all of them.

Laura Carter writes fab, easy to read romance novels and Always the Bridesmaid did not disappoint.

I love Sarah as a character and she really deserves happiness so I was routing for her from the beginning!

I can’t wait to read more by Laura!

I want to express my gratitude to Rachel's Random Resource and Boldwood Books for providing me with a copy of "Always the Bridesmaid," the fourth book in the "Brits in Manhattan" series by Laura Carter.

This is a heartwarming and humorous tale of two individuals who were not actively seeking love but found it nonetheless. Charlie, a bold British comedian, and Sarah, a sophisticated legal secretary from New York, cross paths when Sarah travels to London for a friend's wedding. The pair shares a memorable week together filled with bittersweet moments, laughter, and poignant events. "Always the Bridesmaid" is the fourth book from Laura Carter's "Brits in Manhattan" series, where Sarah and Charlie meet during Jake and Jess's wedding. They are forced to share a car ride, a room, and a last-minute trip for the groom, which leads to a friendship and romantic connection. Sarah, a widow, avoids relationships, while Charlie has abandonment issues from his childhood. He helps Sarah cross off her list of things to do in London, and they both develop feelings for each other. I thoroughly enjoyed the series and the love stories of all the characters. I discovered the series after reading an ARC of "Friends with Benefits," and I was hooked. I fell in a series and fell in love with them. I recommend these books if you're looking for fun, engaging, and entertaining romantic comedies. I would love to see a fifth book wrapping up everybody's love stories.

#alwaysthebridesmaid #britsinmanhattan #bookreview

I started this book and felt like i was just being thrown into the storyline with not much context. It felt a bit overwhelming and confusing. There are so many characters it made it difficult to follow. I looked into this series a little more and it seems that if you read the other books, you dont feel as lost here. So this definitely shouldnt be read or marketed as a standalone romance. The writing style wasn’t grabbing my attention and this book just didnt hit for me.

First thought: This book is like being on a weekend getaway with besties. The friends group in this book are GOALS, they are loyal, supportive and push you. I loved the chemistry between the characters, the witty banter and all the awkward moments. This book is truly a love letter to accepting who you are and letting go of the past.

Sarah loves her friends, she goes above and beyond to ensure their happiness. The next 2 weeks in England are no exception, she is the matron of honor for her best friend’s wedding and has planned every detail meticulously. Having lost her husband in an accident the next two weeks are going to be hard for her, but she has her friends by her side to help her through. The one thing she’s didn’t account for was Charlie.

Charlie is from London and he had a rough upbringing, being a child of the system left him with issues. But Charlie uses humor as his shield and has built a career as a standup comedian, making light of his past. His best friend is getting married and he was tasked with collecting Sarah from the airport and driving her out to the country. But that simple drive from London drove an instant wedge between them, and to make things worse the house they are staying at requires them to share a room!

Will these two move past their initial impressions of each other and see they are actually perfect for each other or will the next two weeks be the longest of their lives.

Tropes you’ll find:

* Forced Proximity
* Grumpy/Sunshine
* Different Worlds
* He Falls First
* Shared Friends
* Dual POV
* Emotional Baggage

Sarah and Charlie’s journey from enemies to friends to lovers is a delightful and heartwarming tale of two lonely souls finding each other at a wedding. In this captivating romantic comedy, author Laura Carter brings to life the story of Sarah, a wise and funny widow, and Charlie, a grumpy and graceless comedian.

Sarah, who lost her one true love in a tragic accident, has devoted herself to the people she loves. Her heart belongs to her late husband, and she never thought it could belong to anyone else until Charlie enters her life. Meanwhile, Charlie, who has struggled in the foster care system, finds it difficult to hope for what he doesn’t believe he can have, especially Sarah, who seems unattainable.

The connection between Sarah and Charlie is beautifully portrayed with sweet honesty and awkwardness. As they peel away each other’s masks, they discover the real person beneath. Sarah, a people pleaser, fears losing the ones she loves, while Charlie uses laughter and comedy as a shield against heartbreak.

Charlie’s genuine and sometimes bumbling nature is endearing. He is not the typical alpha hero billionaire who effortlessly wins the girl. Rather, he is relatable, unfiltered, and flawed, with a love for Marvel underwear and romantic comedies. He takes Sarah on an unforgettable guided tour of London, making her laugh and rediscover her old self.

Sarah, on the other hand, is beautiful, independent, and incredibly organized. She goes above and beyond to help others, and Charlie sees and appreciates her true nature. He sees beyond her façade and helps her let her guard down. Although Sarah initially behaves coldly toward Charlie, her kind heart guides her to apologize, leading to a unique and heartwarming relationship.

While this story is filled with laughter and joy, it also touches on the challenges of long-distance relationships. The desire for closure regarding how Sarah and Charlie will navigate the distance between London and New York may leave you longing for more.

Always the Bridesmaid is an enchanting romantic comedy that celebrates the connection between two individuals who are seemingly opposites. Prepare to laugh, cry, and cheer for Sarah and Charlie as they embark on their journey towards a happy ending. Laura Carter’s storytelling skillfully captures the essence of their adorable and deserving love story.

Thank you to Ms. Carter for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Always the Bridesmaid is a story about Charlie and Sarah. Charlie is a comedian battling his demons and Sarah is a widowed lawyer, also battling her issues about commitment since her husband's passing.
Charlie and Sarah start of as sort of enemies, annoying each other at every chance possible. They meet at her best friend's wedding (Jess and Jake from the previous book).
As the week of the wedding goes on (where they have to share a room), Sarah and Charlie become friends after a bit of forced proximity and also a bit of desire and later they become even more. After a few shared moments, Charlie pulls away and ghosts Sarah.

This is a story about overcoming fear and commitment issues, learning that trust and relying on another is not a bad thing, but rather it is a blessing to find a friend and a lover in the same person.

4/5 stars. Great story, but I feel like the point where their friendship turned into more was a bit fast and hasty and not shown enough.

Always the Bridesmaid by Laura Carter

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

A cheeky chappy comedian Charlie is most comfortable playing the funny man in front of boisterous crowds in London’s comedy clubs. But he’s about to be swapping his routine for wedding speeches. And his new acquaintance Sarah, thinks he is anything but amusing. The woman who’s got it covered Weddings are always a difficult time for widower Sarah, but you would never tell – she’s too focused on making the week of her best friends’ wedding as perfect as possible. She definitely has no time for the grumpy and surly Charlie, who it's clear her friends are trying to set her up with. And only one room left at the rental... When a drunken invitation adds more people to the pre-wedding holiday house than Sarah organized for, she finds herself spending A LOT more time with Charlie than she intended. If only they could both let their guards down, they might find they have more in common than they think.

My Opinion

This was the first book I had read by Laura Carter - with this being the fourth book in the series I did feel like I was missing some of the back story but I was able to follow it easily enough. I do actually have the first book for this series on my want to read list so I will be going back and reading that at some point.

Laura Carter has written a heart-warming tale, that was enjoyable to read. This book has some mixed reviews, but for me it was a lovely book to read on a miserable weekend.

Rating 4/5

I thought this book was okay, but it wasn't one that I would read again. It doesn't work too well as a standalone book without really knowing any of the characters. The writing was good, but I couldn't connect with Charlie at all and I think that was the biggest issue. He wasn't particularly funny, and I didn't like him which made it harder to enjoy the whole story. I would read another book by Laura Carter, but not one with these characters.

This story was enjoyable and cute but in a way it seems like Charlie and Sarah were forced together. Sarah wasn't entirely likeable at the start, neither was Charlie but they did grow on you and I'd say the last 25% of the book was probably the best. But I was definitely tempted to put it down out of anger/outrage at a certain chapter towards the end (no spoilers). Only because what happened was cruel and unnecessary.