This one was just okay for me. I hate books about cheating especially when a best friend stabs another in the back! And then the twist with the kid was a lot. But the setting was great!

This is an author that kind of goes in spurts, and I haven't seen anything new that caught my attention in a while until this. Definately more of a women's fiction vs a romance. Great beach/summer read. Nothing screams that this is the best book of the year but for sure an enjoyable book- somewhat predictable in areas and storyline but overall I enjoyed it. Good for when you need a middle of the line type of book- just an easy read that has good writing.

When one of the three best friends gets married it is the time to mend fences and figure out if the friendships that had gotten through college are worth continuing, especially after a horrible encounter. Jennifer Probst takes her readers on an emotional and sometimes heartbreaking tale of love, hurt and acceptance. The story volley back and forth between past and present and locks the reader in from the very first chapter. Some things are very hard to overcome but in the end it is the strength and determination that wil get them through the difficult times.

Wonderful Story of Friendship and Betrayal
Maddie, Ava and Chelsea meet in college and form a fast friendship. They think nothing will tear them apart even though they are from completely different backgrounds. Maddie was raised by uncaring parents who told her that she was unplanned. She's been trying to get their attention and love her whole life. Ava is a rich girl raised by her rich widowed father who is Italian. She's seeking people who won't leave her like she feels her mother left when she died. Chelsea seems to be from a "normal" upbringing and is almost a third wheel in the friendship. We hear the story from Maddie's point of view of "before" and "after". We later find out what the dividing line is and it's a betrayal. One Thanksgiving, Ava takes the two friends with her to Lake Como where her father has a villa. They spend some time exploring the area. Jennifer Probst has a way with describing the scenic areas so you feel like you are there experiencing it with the girls. While they are there they make a pact that no matter what has happened or where they are, they will be at each other's weddings. Chelsea is the first to get married. Maddie is on the cusp of making it big in her fashion world but Ava keeps trying to tell her that Riggs, Maddie's boyfriend is going to make her give up her dream for him. Maddie and Riggs have met and fallen in love fast and completely. They feel that nothing will come between them until it does. At the wedding, a betrayal happens that tears the friendship and Maddie and Riggs apart. Chelsea comes back from her honeymoon to find everything is not how it was left. As the years go by, Maddie makes it big and then has her online presence blown up by a viral rant. Chelsea has kept in contact with Ava even though she can't let Maddie know. Now Ava is getting married and sends an invitation to Maddie. Will Maddie accept and keep the pact? Will the friends work out their differences? There are still secrets to be brought to light. I like how the three had each other's backs. They were so young and immature when the betrayal happened and now they have several years of being apart and life experiences to bring to the situation at Ava's wedding in Lake Como. I wasn't sure that I liked the ending but I guess it leaves a way to figure out the ending I want. Hopefully, Jennifer Probst will write an epilogue that could explain all their lives in another few years. I received an early copy of the book to read and review from NetGalley. I'm leaving my honest review.

A Wedding in Lake Como by Jennifer Probst is the story of a complicated friendship between three women, Ava, Chelsea and Madison that began when they were freshmen in college. Told from the perspective of Madison, the story follows the girls before and after the event that caused a rupture. Some five years later Ava is getting married in Lake Como, and the friends had once promised no matter what they would attend each other’s weddings. Can they forgive enough to attend? Characters are well defined and their actions are not always likable. These imperfections make the novel very effective and immensely enjoyable. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

A rollercoaster of big emotions, centered around that one big friendship for life.

This book is not as much a romance as it focuses on female friendship and the coming of age, the maturity that comes with losing it and accepting the new cards that life handles you.

To be honest, this was more like 4.5 stars, even 4, to me because the subject was triggering before, but the level of situations and emotions this book shines a light one is even of a bigger magnitude. There is LIFE here, life matters, big life feelings, challenges and transformations.

But my 5 stars go to the incredible skills this authors has to not only be able to address this matters, but write them in such a beautiful, heartfelt, compassionate, endearing way. Some of us aren't even able to handle and feel their way to a life story like this, but to build it and write it so harmoniously and full of love, that is an extraordinary talent.

Do I recommend this book? Definitely, yes! While it may be too much for some, there is humanity here and this is truly the reason we have art, to speak to us about our own beautiful, complicated humanness.

I received a copy of this in order to share my view on it.

A Wedding in Lake Como revolves around three best friends but focuses mostly on the toxic relationship of two of the three friends, Ava and Maddie. Their friendship faces a major betrayal, and for five years, the relationship is beyond repair. Due to a pact they made at the beginning of their friendship, they are brought back together but only time will tell if trust can be restored. I enjoyed the growth of Ava and Maddie’s characters from the “before” to the “after” scenes. A Wedding in Lake Como tells such a strong story of platonic female love and sisterhood, and how it to may be just as toxic as other forms of love. I have mixed feeling about the ending of the book - I prefer clear cut answers and don’t like lingering questions but that didn’t overshadow my enjoyment of the book. I must give a warning if you read this book - you will want to visit Italy, and you will want to drink a glass (or two) of wine while reading.

"Since the moment we met, I'd sensed we were completing each other, but it was too scary to hope for; other than Ava and Chelsea, no one had ever cared about me."

Three best friends who met in college make a pact in their 20's that no matter where their love lives or careers take them, they would reunite for each of their weddings and remain friends forever.
Maddie is making a name for herself as a fashion influencer.
Chelsea has a husband and children, but feeling as her professional dreams have taken a back seat and wants to find her dreams again.
Ava is getting married, but the past has been haunting her. She made a choice 5 years back that destroyed the friendship of these three women.
Can having all three friends in the same place for Ava's wedding bring them back together or tear them further apart?
Love, friendship, second chances, growth, finding one's dreams, forgiveness. The absolute beautiful setting of Lake Como has me wanting to go see it with my own eyes.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted (free) ARC

This book could be about two hundred pages shorter, and you’d still get the whole story. It would be helpful if the past and present chapters were clearly defined with a label at the beginning of each, the vibes weren’t different enough for me to immediately know which time frame I was in.

A story of friendship, lost and attempting to be found again. We see the characters in various stages of their lives at different points. I didn’t find them particularly lovable, so I didn’t find myself ever becoming fully invested in the story. The thing about contemporary novels is you NEED to make me love the character(s) to commit to a typically less exciting read. Unfortunately this one was just not for me.

Like all Jennifer Probst's books, this one is a winner -- heartwarming, romantic, and filled with characters who have relatable struggles. Three college friends always pledged they'd reunite someday in Italy's Lake Como, and when one of the friends invites the other two to her Lake Como wedding, it seems meant to be -- but nothing is as simple as it seems, and there is a lot going on underneath the surface -- enough to keep readers guessing and turning the pages. I look forward to recommending this title.

Jennifer Probst always delivers. Her writing is always perfectly consistent and so are her storylines. A Wedding In Lake Como pulled me in with the first chapter. Great characters and a satisfying ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

There is nothing like a strong female friendship but when things go astray, it can feel like losing a piece of yourself. Maddie, Ava, and Chelsea made a pact to attend their weddings in college. After an estrangement, Maddie makes the decision to escape to Lake Como for Ava’s wedding, and revisit the past in hopes of finding healing in the future. A Wedding in Lake Como is a captivating read, told over the span of years that allows us to dig deep in the complex relationships between these three women. Sometimes a change of scenery can change our perspective and if anyone would like to send me to Lake Como for the opportunity, I am totally up for it! Such a beautiful and heartwarming read.

Review is on Goodreads and will be posted on Instagram in April.

Three best friends make a pact to reunite for each other’s weddings after their careers sent them in different directions. But when a bad decision is made, it rips the group apart until an opportunity presents itself. An upcoming wedding might just be the opportunity to heal old wounds.

Told in past and present tense, you not only get a good picture of the friendship between Ava, Madison, and Chelsea, but you also get to see where things went terribly wrong. These characters are in different places in their lives and only time will tell if old wounds can be healed.

A Wedding in Lake Como is so much more than a love story or romance. It's a story about friendship and loss. A story about growth and forgiveness. And well, you can't go wrong with Lake Como as your setting. All in all, a quick, yet enjoyable read.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was expecting a fluffy romance, which has its place, but this book was so much more than that. I connected with Maddie on such a deep level. Her childhood struggles, her ambition to live the life of her dreams, and her ultimate need to dig deep to find her most authentic self. The backdrop of Italy made me want to book a flight immediately. This book is like a cup of coffee on a cold Sunday morning… comforting and delicious.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel via Netgalley.
A destination wedding in Italy’s Lake Como brings three college friends back together to face the secrets of their past. More than half of this book is spent in the past recapping their college years of a toxic codependent friendship and Madison's romantic relationship with Riggs. It then skips forward six years to their eventual reunion in Italy. Large chunks of the book are also spent giving details description of clothing and scenery. This primarily a contemporary drama about friendship, though it also prominently features a romantic relationship.

Sometimes I enjoy reading books about the power of the bestie and the girl group. But sometimes it makes me a little jealous because I’ve never had that.

This new book tells a story of a journey through time as college women and growing up finding our way amid all of the struggles to find their path.

There are so many awesome pieces in here that it’s hard to pick out a favorite, but I absolutely fell in love with Riggs and Maddie. The perfect couple that grew so much through the book. And the author depicted the intricacy of their relationship beautifully.

But you could see the cracks and you knew where the cracks were coming from. The three female characters are an extremely supportive tight-knit group, but yet one has these threads of control, manipulation, and almost a menace-like attitude that she quickly hides.

This book is told in two different alternate times by Maddie. We get the highs and the lows and an ultimate betrayal that broke my heart. Honestly. But it’s cushioned with her healing and growing with an ending that also killed me. I feel gypped because I wanted so much more for that ending.

A Wedding in Lake Como is a trip in so many ways. It’s a trip through college; through finding yourself; through supporting friends; and through finding yourself and healing.

It’s also a trip through beautiful destinations that we get to experience from the writer’s artistic pen. It’s a story to remember but I really wish she would rewrite the ending! Or maybe give us an epilogue as another short story! There’s an idea!

This is an awesome story of finding your true self, finding your path, and true love. I love it!

I received an advanced copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.

"An adventurous palate is the key to a deeper understanding of people.”

In the romantic backdrop of Italy's Lake Como, a destination wedding becomes the stage for the reunion of three best friends—Ava, Madison, and Chelsea. United by a pact to gather for each other's weddings despite life's divergent paths, the trio faces the shadows of a past marked by secrets and choices that tore them apart.

Ava, on the brink of marrying her beloved amidst the splendor of Lake Como, grapples with haunting mistakes that linger in the recesses of her mind. Madison, a successful influencer in the fashion world, finds herself threatened by a scandal that jeopardizes all she holds dear. Chelsea, possessing the perfect family she's always desired, realizes that her professional aspirations have slipped away.

Returning to the stunning shores of Lake Como, the women retrace the steps of their life-altering college trip to Italy. As Madison confronts a former college sweetheart, a pivotal figure from her past, the trio navigates the challenges of healing old wounds and forging a new path forward. In this novel by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst, the scenic beauty of Lake Como becomes the canvas for a tale of love, friendship, and the redemption of bonds once thought broken.

Venturing into the realm of contemporary drama, a genre not typically gracing my reading repertoire, I took a leap of faith with this book, drawn by the allure of Italy and the charm of Lake Como. Having visited the picturesque destination myself, the prospect of revisiting it through the lens of this story was irresistible. As I delved into the narrative, I appreciated the departure from my usual thriller obsession. The book successfully blended drama with an engaging storyline, offering a refreshing break from my literary routine.

Among the trio of friends, Chelsea emerged as my favorite character. Despite being the least spotlighted among the three, her grounded and mediating nature resonated with me. I envisioned her as someone I'd genuinely want as a friend, bringing reason and balance to the group dynamic.

Madison, however, proved to be a more perplexing character. The initial portrayal of a shy, quirky girl undergoing a seemingly drastic transformation into a media sensation left me somewhat puzzled. The shift in personality didn't feel entirely organic, even with the encouragement of her friends to embrace confidence.

On the flip side, Ava, unfortunately, became my least favorite character. Her traits and actions left me questioning who could genuinely like someone with her disposition. The nuances of her character failed to resonate with me, and her choices left me perplexed.

In the end, the book achieved its purpose—the story was a fast read that kept me interested for what it was.

I love a Jennifer Probst books. I love a good wedding story and thus didn’t not disappoint. It was set in beautiful Lake Como. I love the three women’s stories and how they come together after distance over the years. I was also so invested to see how Madison’s love story played out. it was a beautiful book celebrating love and remake friendships and would be perfect for a book club or made for tv movie.

A Wedding In Lake Como
Tonight, I finished reading the second book of 2024 A Wedding In Lake Como by Jennifer Probst. Three best friends Maddison who everyone calls Maddie, Ava & Chelsea make a pact that no matter where their careers & love lives take them that they’d remain friends forever and attend each of their weddings. The three friends make this vow on their first trip to Italy. Ava is marrying the man of her dreams but is haunted by a choice she made that tore the friends up five years ago. Maddie is making a name for herself as a fashion influencer, but a scandal costs her & Chelsea has a great family and a wonderful husband but feels her professional dreams have taken a back seat. This novel has the themes of friendship, love, forgiveness and growing as people & finding your dreams not to mention the beautiful setting of Lake Como Italy.

Writing & Setting
The writing was excellent, and I liked that the story was from Maddie’s point of view. I could see the descriptions of Lake Como in my head as though I were there. I also liked the scenery of New York & Los Angeles too. I like how the novel ended it’s a more realistic ending.

Characters & Themes
Out of all the characters, my favorite one who did the most growth was Maddie. Maddie learns a lot about herself through the novel and I like how she and Ava had to realize that their friendship had become too codependent. Chelsea, I like her, but I felt her character was just there and if we didn’t have her in the story, you wouldn’t miss anything. The themes throughout the novel are forgiveness, friendship, going after your dreams & about social media not determining your worth.

Overall
Overall if you enjoy stories about important themes & the beautiful setting of Italy, I would recommend this book! A Wedding In Lake Como will be released on May 14th 2024! If you don’t have a physical copy or a Netgalley copy, I suggest preordering it now! Thank you, Jennifer, for writing a beautiful story! I look forward to our Behind The Book on this one and everything you write afterword!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

When I think of Jennifer Probst, I think of contemporary romance with some sizzling scenes. This didn't follow that typical pattern but I enjoyed it for what it was. It was a story of friendship, lost love, bad decisions, forgiveness and second chances.

The friendship between three young friends reuniting in Lake Como was the basis of the story and I love to read anything that is set in places where I'd like to travel, so this was pretty much an automatic Yes for me to grab when I saw it on the list. The friends come together to celebrate a wedding and potentially heal their broken relationship.

It's hard to go much further into the synopsis without adding any spoilers. It looks like this might be part of a series based on how the title is showing. I think I would be interested in reading another in this series.