Typical Vi Keeland book. I love these books. There are never huge surprises or unpredictable endings but that does give a certain comfort which I love.

The Invitation was so sweet, I literally had a moment where I thought to myself, why can't my husband have more romance in his bones. I had a smile on my face and tears in my eyes, and this is not a clique. I had a momentary meltdown with my book bestie about this super sweet read. It took me back to young love and early days. The perfect little escape for a winter rainy day where you can't leave the house anyway.

Stella is fun and spunky and I loved how she gave Hudson a run for his money, adding levity and fun to his workaholic life. Circumstances and fate bring them together time and again. Fortunately for us readers, they don't fight the inevitable. I really enjoy Stella's sass and Hudson's enjoyment of it throughout the story. You kind of want to hate him a little in the beginning but he rapidly grows on you.

Take 2 endearing characters, a super sniffer nose, a diary obsession and a perfume chemist in need of a white night and you have a fun story to pass the time. Looking for something light and sweet, this is the story you need to pick up.

this was my first vi keeland read and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!! the writing was wonderful, the dialogue was amazing and realistic and i could truly see the characters and their interactions in my head. HOLY MOLY did this book have some reveals. jaw was dropped at times but also this book had so much heart. my first time reading anything with a billionaire guy and it was so much fun. also his jealously moments… YES GAWD. I LIVE FOR THAT. also, his kid! are you kidding. i loved her. also the whole perfumist thing was so much fun. you’ve got me wanting to because one now, but i guess i don’t have the sense of smell for that.. 5 stars!! i will be reading something borrowed something you next and im betting it will be another 5.

*The Invitation* by Vi Keeland is a sizzling romance that expertly combines chemistry, wit, and emotional depth. The story follows the unexpected connection between the two main characters, whose initial meeting is both provocative and intriguing. Keeland’s writing is sharp and engaging, filled with playful banter and steamy moments, making it impossible to put down. While the romance unfolds with plenty of passion, the characters are also complex and relatable, with their own personal struggles adding depth to the narrative. *The Invitation* is a perfect read for fans of contemporary romance looking for an engaging, heartfelt escape.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️

And this is why I love Vi Keeland, I’ve had the opportunity to read some of their books before and they never disappoint. They are always so heartwarming so adorably sickening that even ice cream isn’t as sweet as the romances that they write.

This book just felt like the warm hug you need on a cold winters today. I snuggled up with this book, with my blanket and my hot chocolate and it couldn’t have put me in a better mood.

These stories, why I believe that that death defying love does exist, this wasn’t over the top, if a man read this and told me that it was taking away from his masculinity, I wouldn’t be able to believe him because genuinely this proved that you can love your person so profoundly and it will not take away from you as a person or society deems you to be as a person.

This book was so poetically written and it felt like the love story that everybody needs to read.

If you are a big fan of the romance genre, you need to check Vi Keelands work, because I never EVER have one single complaint about their work.

Such a wonderful story and I cannot wait to read another book by this author.

I loved The Invitation by Vi Keeland, binge reading in front of the fireplace in a few, short hours.

Stella receives an invitation to a wedding at a location she's dreamed about for years, The New York Public Library, but quickly realizes it wasn't meant for her. One not to break the rules, she agrees to tag along with her best friend Fisher as long as they have different identities and career paths. Little does she know, fate is coming to knock and show her her dream man, Hudson. After a mishap, he realizes that she isn't supposed to be at his sister's wedding. Thankfully, she leaves behind her cell phone. What starts off as a whoops soon turns into a working relationship as Stella agrees to have Hudson's company invest and help start up her perfume business. Working together in close proximity, they have a fated invitation to thank. But was fate really calling for them to be together or does it have other plans?

The Invitation was my first by Vi but trust me when I say I immediately started another of her backlist titles. The Invitation has the swoon, it has the banter, and it has two likable characters that I was rooting for from the first chapter. Stella was the businesswoman that I admire as she knew what she wanted and wasn't going to let someone stand in her way anymore. Her best friend, Fisher, wasn't too bad either! What really drew me in was Hudson's story, as I felt his emotions ESPECIALLY with that twist towards the end that I DID NOT expect! While there are some steamy scenes towards the later half of the book, the chemistry and banter officially sealed the deal for me as a comfort reread for another time.

Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group/Bramble and Vi Keeland for giving me this ebook free in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars!

I could not stop reading this book! I've been tired all day because I just had to get to the end, no matter how late it got.

This book starts with Stella crashing a wedding with her best friend, Fisher. While at the wedding, Stella starts chatting up a handsome groomsman (Hudson). He asks her to dance and sparks fly. When he asks her name, she gives the alias she used to get into the venue and he figures out that she wasn't an invited guest. In her rush to get out, Stella leaves her phone behind and Hudson grabs it. So, she has to see him again to retrieve her phone, starting off a series of events that will make you laugh, cry, squeal and kick your legs.

Stella is an entrepreneur struggling to get her business off the ground and wouldn't you know it, Hudson happens to be an executive at a venture capitalist firm. When they come to an agreement, she makes it very clear that she doesn't want to get involved romantically because they work together. Famous last words. He makes his interest known and I'll tell you, she resisted him a lot longer than I would have been able to. Loving father and brother, successful businessman, respectful, funny, kind, Hudson had it all.

While I figured the "twist" out pretty early, I still loved this story. There were so many elements that I enjoyed, especially the fact that Stella wasn't a typical FMC. She's a scientist with a unique hobby and has a broken engagement under her belt, causing her to have some trust issues with men. (Well, the broken engagement isn't unique in romance novels, but her hobby of reading old diaries sure is!) I only wish there was a little more spice.

I'll be adding more of Vi Keeland's books to my TBR!

DNF. Normally I enjoy Vi Keeland’s work; however, this book didn’t cut it for me. The biggest thing I struggled with was the plot. Besides the wedding crashing at the beginning, I found this book boring. The main characters didn’t shine like they usually do. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Stella and Hudson. I wanted more depth and tension! I also didn’t care for the single dad trope that came out of nowhere. I wish that tidbit was included in the blurb of the story. I didn’t feel invested in the characters or plot. This book felt very different compared to Keeland’s other works. Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble for the ARC.

Vi Keeland does it again! The Invitation was a thoroughly enjoyable romance, that kept me engaged until the end.
Sparks fly when Stella crashes a wedding, and meets Hudson, while using a fake identity. Once he realizes who she really is, Hudson is mistrustful, given her deception.
However, when they encounter each other again through work, Hudson is unable to deny his attraction and sets out to win her over. Unfortunately for him, due to the nature of their relationship (boss x employee) Stella is unwilling to take a chance at romance, as it could potentially put her company at risk.
Hudson is the complete package- billionaire financier, doting single girl dad, and protective big brother. I love a good "he falls first" story and this one did not disappoint!
Stella is a self sufficient, determined entrepreneur, She's been burned by family and her prior boyfriend, and is desperate to make it on her own, closed off to the idea of relationships, unwilling to risk further disappointment. Her strength only make Hudson want her more!

Tropes include single dad, workplace romance, and forced proximity.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the main characters! They had great chemistry and worked so well together. I loved how the book just flowed. My first by this author but will not be my last!!!

This book was cute and sweet. Not steamy and it lagged a bit for me, as I was a little bored. My biggest complaint is that it was predictable in a way that did not capture my attention. Stella and Hudson were fine, but I just didn’t love them. Thank you for the arc!

I read this one when it was released originally few years ago and loved it. Hudson and Stella hooked me from the very first page. The twist at the end was something I didn't see coming. Definitely a must read

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

*Beware of Spoilers*

Stella Bardot has hit a rough patch in her life. She quit her very well-paying job at Estée Lauder to launch her own business that she had been working on for years. However, she was forced to buy out her partner and ex-fiancé, which took most of the money she needed for launch. And, it has been impossible to get a loan now that she’s unemployed. To make matters worse, her roommate, Evelyn, left in the middle of the night and the check she left behind to cover her back rent bounced. So, when Stella accidentally opened a fancy wedding invitation to a wedding at her beloved New York Public Library that was actually addressed to Evelyn … It didn’t take a lot of convincing from her best friend, Fisher, to crash it. A fancy night out is the least that Evelyn owes her.

Fisher and Stella go to the fancy wedding, cover stories in-hand, fully ready to have a good time.

“You just sit tight and try not to blow our cover before we even get to see the beautiful bride.”

“Beautiful? You don’t even know what she looks like.”

“All brides look beautiful. That’s why they wear a veil—so you can’t see the ugly ones, and everything is magical on their special day.”

“That’s so romantic.”

However, when left alone, Stella runs into the very handsome groomsman, Hudson. They were having a great time until she claims to be Evelyn. Turns out he was Evelyn’s jerk boss and the jig was up. Hudson didn’t let it show though. He brought her up to the mic to share a personal story about her friendship with the bride, his sister Olivia, before her and Fisher fled. Hudson was impressed that she didn’t buckle under the pressure and played along, even giving an embarrassing fictional story before making her quick exit. She fled so quick that she left her phone behind. And, she had to go back to Hudson a few weeks later to retrieve it.

Stella ends up forming an unlikely friendship with Olivia, who wants to help Stella launch her business. However, it will require convincing Hudson to bring her on as an investment client. Can the girls persuade him? And, if so, can Stella and Hudson work together without wanting to murder each other?

I’ll be honest, as I usually am, the synopsis of this book didn’t really make me want to read this story. However, I have read other Vi Keeland books that I enjoyed, although they were co-written with Penelope Ward. I decided I had to give one of her solo books a chance.

I enjoyed the characters quite a bit. Hudson, Stella, Olivia, and Fisher were all really likable. They are people you’d want to be friends with in real life. Well once you got past Hudson’s grumpiness. Which honestly didn’t seem to last very long anyway. Fisher was probably my favorite though and I would love to see a book featuring him. He was an absolute hoot.

This book was a slow-burn kind of romance. It did take a while for things to really start happening. The first part felt more like a buddy friendship read with Stella and Fisher. Again, I really want that Fisher book. He could make some guy really happy. The first half of the book really was about Stella getting her business going, which was kind of dull at times. However, when things started happening with Stella and Hudson it was instant, like someone flipped a switch. Maybe a bit too instant for true believability.

Stella also had an unusual hobby. Reading used diaries she would buy from ebay. I had no idea this was a thing. It was obvious early on how it would all connect to Hudson though. I think it was supposed to be the big twist, but I saw it coming a mile away. Maybe if I hadn’t expected it, I’d have enjoyed this one even more.

This was a good book, don’t get me wrong. It just didn’t wow me. It was still a fun read with enjoyable characters.

Oh boy! Hudson and Stella are perfection!!! I felt the story was very unique. I couldn’t put the book down once I started ready. I felt like I was in the story! I always love VI Keeland's books and this is no different. You will really love this book and the incredible job she did in telling this story! 💙💜

The description for this sucked me in. I HAD to read it. I had Vi Keeland’s books on my list and yet to have picked one up. I’m so glad I got a chance to read “The invitation”. Keeland writes a story I just couldn’t put down. This slow burn with an awesome meet cute that later turns into Hudson and Stella becoming business partners, as the two try not to mix bussiness and pleasure kept me turning pages. Hudson is the book boyfriend we all day dream about. I’ve seen some people wish this book had more steam but I prefer romance over spice so I was all for this book.

I feel like I should mention I throughly enjoyed Vi Keenan’s books. But I’ll be honest I haven’t picked up a book from her I. A while because the romance genre has just been flooded with so many new authors. So when I saw this on NetGalley to read and review with its new re-release cover I had to go for it. And let me tell you Mrs Vi Keeland did not disappoint and boy have I been missing her writing.


The Invitation immediately hooked me and I devoured it in less than 24 hours. I loved Hudson & Stellas story. They were realistic and relatable. Even after I finished the book I still wanted more to their story. I think my only negative and why I didn’t give it 5 stars was I feel like we had some things missing and I really wish we could’ve had more resolution. Don’t want to say more than that cause I don’t want to make this a spoiler filled review.

All in all, I highly recommend this book and it’s definitely one of my favorites from Vi Keeland!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I was expecting a comedic romance with The Invitation but was pleasantly surprised to get a lot more.

First, the comedy is top notch here and some of the funny character dynamics and dialogue had me chortling. Second, the romance was hot but not an insta perfect setup which I appreciated. And finally, this book added a lot of heart through its exploration of why Stella, our main character, is hard to trust and through its heartbreaking and dramatic turns for Hudson and his daughter.

As far as the overall plot, Stella does in fact crash a wedding Hudson is a groomsman in (his sister’s, to be exact) but after the shenanigans there take place she is shocked to find herself befriending Hudson’s sister and possibly finding a lifeline of funding for her perfume business through the family’s investment firm. Given Stella has been burnt by her business and romance partner before she tries to deny the romantic turn her relationship with Hudson wants to take but he is way too caring (and hot) for her to be successful, surely.

The appeal to this book is all in the clever writing, from fascinating character quirks and subplots to the great interactions, I enjoyed my reading throughout.

I've enjoyed reading some of Vi Keeland's previous books and felt the same about this title. It was a fun, easy read. The main characters were likeable and their story was cute.

I read this when it was first published a few years ago, but I am so glad I read it again! This was spicy and fun. I loved both of the main characters and thought the premise of their meet cute was spectacular.

(4.5 rounded up to 5)

Thank you Tor and Netgalley for the ARC! (Look at you Tor, stepping into the contemporary romance game!)

It's been a while since I've read a Vi Keeland novel, but this one was so good that I ate it up in one sitting. I woke up, started it, and here I am in the afternoon writing the review.

At the beginning of this book, the MMC, Hudson, was so hateful I almost gave up on this story, but take my advice and keep reading, there's an explanation for this!

This was such a sweet, fluffy, cute, contemporary romance that hit all the right marks. It was a little spicy without being over the top. You got to see Stella's (the FMC) relationship with Olivia (won't spoil her relationship to the characters) blossom fully on page unlike some books who seem to forget women have friends or if they are, they're just a side note.

I feel like it's missing *something* but I'm not fully sure if it needed a little more drama or if it was something else. Either way, I definitely recommend this for someone looking for a contemporary romance. Vi Keeland writes her characters so well!