I received this book as an electronic arc, thanks to @netgalley! Right off the bat Hudson made me say douchebag out loud on my bus going to work 😂! He had the arrogance and what he did to Stella right off the bat at his sister’s wedding made me mad! Stella was trying to live her dream and just kept seeming to get bad news until an unexpected new friend came to the rescue! This story did have me drawn in from the start! I will say I predicted all the twist except for one. But it was definitely a cutesy book!

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing the E-ARC of this story in exchange for my honest review.

All the emotions!! Loved this one and highly recommend to any romance lover that likes a little steam with their love story :)

This novel delivers a tender and emotional love story that lingers in your heart long after you’ve turned the last page. The characters are crafted with incredible depth, each carrying their own burdens, dreams, and vulnerabilities that make their journey toward love all the more compelling.

The heroine is Stella. I read the blurb and I was concerned that Stella would be silly and flakey.
Stella is hardworking and creative. She acts on impulse to go to a wedding and reception that her former roommate was invited to. The bride is the hero's (Hudson) sister.
I love this meet cute. I was holding my breath to find out what would happen. Does Stella get away with it?
Stella has been trying to build up her business after her ex (cheating rat) stalls her plans.
In fact, Stella needs to launch her business idea, but needs new investors.
Stella and Hudson have a simmering chemistry, but they each are leery of getting involved with anyone new.
I loved this cute story. Hudson is a single dad who's very guarded and skeptical.
This is a relatively slow burn while Stella and Hudson get closer.
I love the writing. I thought that a couple of scene transitions were a little sudden. There were a few flash backs- 18 months or so. I thought they added to the story in present day. There area few coincidences that are fully explained.
I'm so glad that I read/listened to this and will definitely re-read it.
The ending and epilogue is very sweet and romantic. 4.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Bramble for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I always enjoy Vi Keeland's works, and this one was no different. Stella was an unique female character with ambitions and goals. I really enjoyed Hudson and Stella. With Hudson (I believe) working as a venture capitalist and Stella (an entrepreneur) attempting to launch a custom perfume company, this book is undoubtedly full with business. The book was a great read because of the humorous layer the supporting characters provided.

⭐️ 4/5 | 🌶️ 4/5
First Person, Double Narrative | MF Open Door Romance

This was my first book of Vi Keelands and I was not disappointed! Was it all a bit far fetched, coincidental, unrealistic? Like most romances, of course. But it was a fun, spicy read with lots of character growth. Also, her best friend is awesome. I thought her career choice and diary hobby were also unique and fun storylines!

The one thing that bothered me was her relationship with her parents, ESPECIALLY her sister. For such a big thing that majorly affected her life, I was surprised by how brushed over that situation was. And the almost non existent update on where her relationship/forgiveness stands with her sister. That was just bizarre.

My favorite quote: “I think life is a series of stepping stones that branch out in all different directions. We have no idea what path we’re supposed to follow, so we tend to walk a straight line and follow the biggest stones, because that’s the easiest thing to do. Coincidences are the smaller stones that lead you on a path that veers off. If you’re brave enough, you follow those stones, and you wind up exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

Many thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Bramble for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review! Although it was an electronic version, the hot pink sprayed edges on the new physical copies are fire! 🩷

I got a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

I have not had a book keep me up reading all night in a quite some time; this novel 100% kept me up all last night reading!

I SUPER resonate with Stella and her previous relationship, not with the who her partner cheated on her with, but the cheating and the suspicious behavior...and the gaslighting that it was all in my head when it was all FACTS! This was just a sweet, sexy story and I want my Hudson since I went through all the previous shenanigans that Stella did. I love their friendship, not just their love story. And, truly, Hudson just NOT giving up on Stella and the love that he had for her while he was waiting for her to figure it out was so endearing! Seriously, can someone send me a Hudson now?!?!? I loved this book and am super excited for another Vi Keeland book I have to read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book when I originally listened to it on audio, and again when I read the ebook version. Stella and Hudson had great chemistry, and the wedding scene at the beginning was hilarious. I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop and evolve throughout the book, and would definitely recommend this to others.

I loved every moment of this sweet, charming, and full of goodness story. Hudson and Stella won my heart almost instantly. I love how they meet and the quirkiness of it all. Their interactions after meeting are just perfect. I love her besty Fisher and Hudson’s sister Olivia for all she does for Stella. And don’t get me started on the cuteness overload of Charlie, Hudson’s little girl. Stella is great with her! This story is very low angst until about the last quarter then something happens that could change what they’ve been building together. Luckily their love is strong enough to make it through to the other side and what a wonderful place that is!

In typical vi Keeland fashion, I ATE THIS UP! I don’t know what this woman puts in her writing, whatever voodoo magic she works, but I love everything she writes!

Stella!

Stella crashes a fancy wedding.
Hudson, the hottie groomsdude takes a shine to the wedding crasher. But he figures out she's not her ex roommate and she makes a run for it, but like a modern day Cinderella, leaves her cell phone behind. Hudson tracks her down.

I liked how Hudson supported Stella, that was def a plus.
4.5

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor/Bramble, and Ms. Keeland for the opportunity to read an ARC of this (updated) title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I tend to like Vi Keeland's books and this was no exception. Stella was a unique female main character with ambitions, goals and, well, a bum roommate who left her holding the bag on rent. She also left behind an invitation to a wedding to Stella feels that her ex-roommate owes it to her, and crashes in her stead. Frankly with a wedding that size I really wasn't sure why that would be such a HUGE deal (yes, it's tacky, but criminal? the way Hudson seemed to feel it was?).

I liked Stella and Hudson a lot. There is definitely a lot of business in this book: Hudson is a venture capitalist (I think?) and Stella is an entrepreneur trying to start a custom perfume business. I didn't mind all the business talk although it did sort of push the romance to the back burner. If you are the instant-gratification type, be warned. There really was no "big misunderstanding" or "evil other woman" in this book, which I appreciated. It seemed very real-life (other than the billionaire aspect).

My only pet peeve is that it was YET ANOTHER book set in New York City, which I personally am tired of, but that's not the fault of the book in any way. If anything, it rose above its setting. I enjoyed this and will be ordering it for my location.

This author is quickly becoming a autobuy for me. They just know how to write romance in my opinion. Amazing!

5 Star Review The Invitation by Vi Keeland

I couldn’t wait to jump into The Invitation which is Hudson Rothschild and and Stella Bardot’s story.

This was a well written, entertaining and passionate story that ticked all the boxes for me.

From the first chapter Ms. Keeland wove a story that I couldn’t put down. There was so much passion, romance and witty banter that I had a hard time putting this down.

The secondary characters added such a fun layer to the story and made it a wonderful read. This is one book I cannot wait to listen to I audio when it releases.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.



The narration by Jason Clarke and Lexi Maynard brought the characters to life for me. Their voices were easy to listen too and they brought all the passion, drama, romance and humour to their performances.

You know a book is very special when it stays with you long after the final words have been read and The Invitation is really a very special read. It has characters you will fall hard and fast for, it has all the feels you would expect in a great read and a story that will captivate you from the first page to the last line and as I said I’m sure you will be thinking about Hudson and Stella long after you have finished this wonderful story.
I’m not going to write a review that full of spoilers because I believe this romance needs to be read with no preconceived ideas you need to pick this book up like me and reads it first hand with your own eyes. What I will say is this couple intrigued me and as I read each page I knew I couldn’t put this book down and that’s how come I was still up at 3am so be warned make sure you have time to finish what you start because believe me once you meet Hudson and Stella all else goes out the window.
This book touched me on so many levels, the chemistry is intense, the passion is steamy and the banter is witty. Another sure sign of a special read is when you can’t stop reading but you don’t want the book to end and that’s how I felt about The Invitation and I guess I do need to mention the most epic epilogue I have ever read.......

What a love story that started from Wedding Crash, Stella and Fisher were frickin hilarious. Crashing a wedding and almost got away with it. Stella and Hudson meet at the wedding she crashed. After some mishaps they finally connect later. . Hudson and Charlie (daughter) had such a great father daughter relationship. To not give away anymore and spoil it for others. It s a great story with some sadness but an HEA., You did again Vi..

This is my first read from Vi Keeland and I enjoyed this book! The Invitation gave me 2000s rom com movie vibes! This was a slow burn romance with a strong female and male lead. Stella and her friend decide to sneak into a lavish wedding, stealing her ex-roommate’s invitation. At the wedding, Stella pretends to be her ex roommate and ends up making conversation with the handsome gentleman, Hudson. Sparks are flying between them until Hudson realizes Stella is not who she says she is. Stella quickly leaves the wedding BUT forgets her phone and out of all the people at the wedding, Hudson has her phone. Stella is an amazing, independent character because she has worked extremely hard to get her small perfume business to thrive and grow. She values working independently but realizes that it is okay to get help and to trust others into watching your business grow. Hudson was rude in the beginning but he turned out to be such a green flag and helped Stella with her business. Being a businessman, Hudson worked alongside Stella instead of trying to take over which was major brownie points. His fruit puns had me cracking up! Hudson and Stella were patient with one another and respected each other’s boundaries. There was a plot twist at the end that I wished could’ve been brought up a little earlier in the book because it felt rushed to bring in and resolve it. Overall, I’d continue reading more books from Vi Keeland. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc for an honest review.

Full transparency, I have absolutely no idea how I am going to write a review for this book without spoilers. There’s a reason Vi stuck with the opening chapters as the book synopsis. This book keeps you guessing - you think you’ve got it figured out, brushing your shoulders off and preening about your detective skills, but nope. Vi knows you think you know what’s happening, and just when you’re settling in, she pulls the rug out from under you. When she drops that oh-so-wonderful bomb, you find yourself gasping out loud, and suddenly, someone nearby is looking at you like you’ve lost your mind! This book took me on the wildest emotional ride, leaving me giddy and happy by the end. I’ve always appreciated Vi’s ability to do just that - to make you laugh, cry, cheer, scream, gasp, and, ultimately, fall head over heels for the characters she creates. She has such a gift for crafting people you can’t help but love deeply and wholeheartedly, leaving you 100% invested in their story.

It was just supposed to be a little fun - a break from the norm and, yes, a touch of payback. Slip in, slip out. Stella still couldn’t believe she let her best friend Fisher talk her into crashing a wedding. But there she was, standing in the New York Public Library, posing as her former deadbeat roommate Evelyn. The plan? Stick together. But one cute waiter sent that idea right out the window. Before she knew it, Stella found herself alone at the bar. She never expected that a simple gin mix-up would lead her to Hudson - the most gorgeous man she had ever laid eyes on. From that moment on, there was flirting, dancing, and laughter, a magical night so surreal it could’ve been plucked straight out of a fairy tale. But unfortunately for this Cinderella, her magic didn’t fade at the stroke of midnight. No, it unraveled when the mention of her false last name caused Hudson to figure out she wasn’t who she claimed to be. Exposed - and thanks to Hudson, a little humiliated - she made a mad dash for the exit, grabbing her best friend in the process but unknowingly leaving her cellphone behind. Fate, of course, wasn’t done with her. Soon, Stella discovered that Hudson had her phone - and wanted her to come and get it. How did one misstep lead to such a glorious tumble? And the worst part? Her next encounter with Hudson had her realizing she wasn’t done falling.

I absolutely loved Stella. She’s the perfect balance - a stunning woman who doesn’t realize her beauty, incredibly smart yet humble and relatable. She’s kind, considerate, strong, independent, and resilient. Stella’s the kind of character you’d think you’d hate out of jealousy, but instead, you can only adore her because she’s just too sweet for words. And then there’s Hudson. Vi is, without question, the queen of swoon-worthy men. Hudson is every woman’s dream and every man’s nightmare. What I loved most, though, was discovering what a cheesy teddy bear he really was. Vi does a fantastic job bringing out the push-and-pull with his character. You love him, you loathe him, you downright despise him - and then, suddenly, you feel for him before falling for him all over again. By the end, you’re fiercely protective of him.

The way this book was written was absolutely brilliant. At first, when the story jumps back to Stella’s past, you’re left scratching your head, wondering why. The moment doesn’t seem significant. Stella has a random hobby - why do we need its origin story? But then, as the story unfolds, you realize how that one simple find becomes the foundation for some of the biggest moments in her life - both good and bad.

Vi kept the spice to just a few scenes, but man, did they light up the pages! The buildup, the flirting, and the innuendos made every single spicy moment worth the wait. I was a little surprised by how she split their first intimate moment - part of it was on-page, and the rest was off. For such a monumental and long-anticipated connection, I expected the entire scene to unfold on-page. But, as always, Vi more than made up for it later.

While the book toys with ideas of fate, destiny, and coincidence, the most tangible takeaway was about taking chances, taking risks, and trusting your instincts - for better or for worse. Sure, some readers might find the serendipitous moments a bit much, making the story feel overly unrealistic or implausible with all the fate, luck, and good fortune falling so perfectly into Stella’s lap. And honestly, I get it - unless this woman is carrying a pocket full of four-leaf clovers, no one’s luck is this extraordinary. But remember, this is fiction. While no one’s fortuity is ever this favorable in real life, try to embrace it for what it is - a trade-off for an incredible story.

With that being said, as much as I want to dive into the emotional turmoil this book caused me, I can’t. Normally, I don’t shy away from placing spoilers in a review, but not this time. Revealing the big twist would ruin the experience, and trust me, you don’t want that. All I can say is, have some tissues nearby and make sure you’re sitting down for the last quarter of the book.

Because Vi Keeland is an absolute genius, she gives us not one but TWO epilogues. Let me tell you, I think I’ve hit my yearly quota of “awws” thanks to those beautiful wrap-ups. I already loved this book to pieces, but those two endings? They were the cherry on top of an already perfect sundae.

I have to hand it to Vi, and as I mentioned before, I thought I had the big reveal figured out. As a reader, you catch on pretty quickly to what’s happening with the mysterious diary and the identities of the people involved. But when Vi throws her cards on the table and reveals her hand, I was floored. This book was a perfect cocktail of emotions, surprises, and swoon-worthy romance, and I loved every second of it. I know it was a re-release so whatever notes she took to heart to improve it this time around, well done.

I read this book upon its original release and also reread it upon receiving an ebook ARC (deluxe sprayed edges) for the re-release, for an honest review. I enjoyed the meet cute of Stella pretending to be her ex-roommate, crashing a wedding and falling for the groomsman, Hudson. The heroine has a quirky hobby where she likes to buy strangers’ diaries on e-Bay to read them. Hudson is a very sweet single dad.

Diaries always hold secrets, and this is not just romance, but a story of friendship and betrayal, .Though it was not a page turner for me, I can see why others would enjoy Hudson and Stella's story since they were fated to meet each other. There's an unexpected plot twist at the end that gets resolved well. The epilogues are romantic.

When Stella Bardot attends an exclusive wedding she never thought she’d meet a very handsome man name Hudson Rothschild at the bar there. One minor issue, that invitation...yeah, it wasn’t for her but her ex-roommate...oops. Will anyone figure out she is a wedding crasher? What will Hudson say when he learns who she really is? What a fun and entertaining romance. Can a perfumist and a business man find a common bond? Also, his daughter Charlie is a real hoot! This has a little fairytale retelling feel to a certain blonde, glass slipper wearing lady. A fun, feel good, single dad, slower paced romance with a major twist! Told in dual POV