LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Yall this one was so good. I got this as an arc and I was warring with finishing it right away or savoring it.

And the authors note for behind the book at the end?? Heather you have another auto buy fan in me!

Here’s what you need to know: Ada is heading to her sisters wedding in Ireland and every things seems to be going wrong. Until she meets the handsome stranger who seems to be having the same problems as her. Is he nice? Or just looking for a way to pass the time 👀. They discover truths about each other and themselves as they journey across Europe to try and make it to the wedding on time.

Random things I loved:
- how much Jack loves pizza
- the twilight reference 🤭
- the sewing kit?? 🫠
- a man who will break down a restroom door 😏
- the growth of the characters
- the full circle moment

Truly baffled that this is a debut! If you like rom-coms with fleshed out characters and great banter this one is for you!

2 open door scenes.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super cute read. I loved the emotional depth of each character. The chemistry was excellent.

Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen is a fun road trip novel set in England, Scotland, and Ireland. This enemies to lovers romance features Ada, whose younger sister has chosen Ireland for a destination wedding, and Jack, the best man in the wedding, as they travel to Belfast for the wedding. Readers who like a slow burn romance with some spice will enjoy this debut novel!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen!

✨ Review ✨ Weddings Dashers by Heather McBreen

Thanks to Berkley, PRHAudio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Ada’s trekking to Ireland for her little sister’s wedding but she’s broke, and a flight cancellation leaves her down and out. When she runs into Jack in a hotel, all her problems seem solved...or are they? Once they realize they're both headed to the same wedding, some fighting ensues until they realize their best way to get to Ireland is together.

Things to love:
⭕️ Big enemies to lovers vibes that results in lots of great banter
⭕️ Forced proximity via cross country road trip (under sort of duress?)
⭕️ Fall in love with sister’s fiancee’s bff that your sister hates - yes please.
⭕️ One bed and under a strict religious B&B owner's eyes (baby-making blanket, anyone?)
⭕️ Opposites attract in a way where both people grow

This was a little unevenly paced, but ultimately lots and lots of fun to read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: contemporary m/f romance
Setting: England, Ireland, etc. road trip
Pub Date: Jan 28. 2025

I had a blast with this one!!! I love a down on your luck heroine and MESSY characters and am a fiend for good banter and jack and ada have IT!!! the chemistry was off the charts and the ending was so full circle. this was a solid solid debut and I can’t wait to read more by this author!!

I need everyone to read this book it is SO so good!!!!!!

From the very beginning, I knew I was gonna love this book because the characters meet in the first couple chapters which I love!!! I love when you’re immediately sucked into a story and following the characters from the very beginning. I loved the continued forced proximity throughout the book and the main characters having to work together.

I loved the main characters 🥹 their banter was so good but they also had very distinct traits and journeys they were going on. We were following Ada for the most part in her pov, but we also learn a lot about Jack from Ada’s pov which I enjoyed! I loved the sister dynamics and there’s just something about a man named Jack!!!! I’ve never not loved a man named Jack 🙂‍↔️

I also absolutely loved the setting, the imagery, and the descriptions of the setting. I felt so immersed in the story and I also now want to travel to Europe even more to see these places! I loved that Ada and Jack made the most out of each place they ended up at.

I also cannot get enough of McBreen’s writing — I highlighted so many quotes!!!!! So so good!!

After finishing this book, I was so sad I had no more pages left and just wanted more of them doing nothing/mundane things just so I could read it!!! It was just absolutely perfect and I already can’t wait to reread it <3

Thank you @NetGalley and @Berkley for the ARC. This was such a cute Rom-Com. I enjoyed the setting of London and how their route keep changing to get to Ireland. Ada and Jack are trying to make it to the family wedding but wherever Ada is chaos comes. The tension between the two MCs is so fun. A must read for anyone who loves a Rom-Com.

4.5⭐️
2🔥

Quick Breakdown

Enemies to Lovers
Road Trip Romance
Travel Disasters
Forced Proximity
Only One Bed
Slow Burn
Single POV
Open Door - Mild to Moderate

Thank you @berkleyromance for the eARC & physical copy and @prhaudio for the gifted ALC in exchange for my honest opinion #berkleypartner

After her connecting flight for her sister’s wedding in Ireland is canceled, Ada meets a handsome stranger in a hotel bar who offers her a room for the night *insert eyebrow wiggle here* It’s then she discovers that her would be one night stand is none other than the womanizing best man she has yet to meet, Jack. Despite their obvious tension, the pair bicker & banter throughout their wacky roadtrip from London, through Scotland until they finally reach their final destination in Belfast.

I loved this book! I will forever be a fan of a romance surrounded by the misadventures of traveling, despite it low key giving me chest pain. It was fun, while still being

The MCs stole my heart. Ada & Jack were written in a real & messy way that made them feel all too believable. How this pair were so clearly filled with chemistry, but seemingly meeting at the wrong time in their lives for love. My heart broke for them only to be put back together again.

I couldn’t help but feel connected to Ada & her strength in learning to stand on her own once again after heartbreak. I found myself looking inward right along with her, loving the growth both her & Jack brought.

I primarily listened to Wedding Dashers & I highly recommend the audio. It’s narrated by Brittany Pressley so you can trust when I say you’re 100% going to love it!

The Wedding Dashers has a great premise: two strangers almost have a one-night stand after their flight gets cancelled, only for it to end in disaster. Instead of parting ways and putting it behind them, both Ada and Jack turn out to be important players in the wedding they're both traveling to, and they end up having to make the journey together.

This is a cute setup, and I wish it had worked for me. I think readers of romcoms looking for a lighthearted vacation read may still want to pick this one up. For me, I had a hard time getting into the relationship, which is a romance novel death knell for me. When they first meet, Ada comes across as hopelessly naive and immature, while Jack comes off as condescending and presumptuous. While this is not necessarily a dealbreaker if their character arcs develop well, I found the dialogue to be unrealistic and the characters read more like teenagers than adults, so I was never able to get behind them. I hope this works for other readers because I think it has a lot of potential. Thank you to Berkley for the arc!

Thank you Berkley for the free ARC for an honest review!!

I really wanted to compare this to holiday romance - similar-ish plot. But no, I needed to be fair to this book.

I really enjoy reading about people traveling. Especially to places I’ve been to because it’s a good reminder of my trips, and I can picture myself there. 🤍

Jack and Ada are your unlikely couple. She’s waiting on her ex to solidify their break up or get back together. Jack is a womanizer - just taking it easy.

However, when they’re stuck together on their way to her sister’s and his best friend’s wedding - they realize that maybe there’s something there.

I love that this was realistic? We didn’t just fly by the issues they had - they took steps to address the potential problems and work on themselves. I also loved the comedic relief in between all the deep topics.

I’m not sure if this is a debut? But I will be reading more from heather!

This was such a fun, easy read!! I loved the characters and the situations they were in made me laugh. Ada is immensely likable and her many emotions really made me feel for her. This book made me laugh and cry!

I really enjoyed this one, and I think it’s deserving of the hype it’s getting! I’m impressed that it’s a debut novel! Heather wrote with such depth, and I truly enjoyed & connected with both main characters on some level. I felt that what they were going through individually (and eventually as they grow close & contemplate a relationship together) was really relatable/real. I appreciated how the ending came together & the choices Heather made for Ada & Jack. I also loved the side characters in this book too. It was just such a fun, heartfelt adventure all around! Would definitely recommend! Thank you so much for the early digital copy of this one.

**There were a couple spicy scenes toward the end that I felt were easy enough to skip if you so choose.

4.25 stars overall

How is this Heather's debut??? It was SO good! I've really been enjoying romances set in the UK and this one is going to be another fave of the year! Ada and Jack's chemistry from their almost one night stand to traipsing around the UK to get to her sister's wedding location while bickering with each other was hilarious to witness. I love how Ada was such a romantic at heart and wanting true love whereas Jack was done with love and only had room in his heart for casual hookups yet he couldn't help but be drawn to Ada. The best part was when they kept their promise to each other ( no spoilers) and the epilogue was perfect for them. I loved their ending because it was so them. I can't wait to read future books by Heather. Many thanks to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Read If You Like:
- Romantic comedies with travel mishaps
- Enemies-to-lovers dynamics
- Humorous and heartfelt narratives
- Strong female protagonists
- Slow-burn romance

This debut romantic comedy follows Ada, a determined but anxious woman who faces a series of travel mishaps on her way to her sister's wedding in Ireland. After a series of delays and frustrations, Ada finds herself stranded in London, where she unexpectedly crosses paths with Jack, the wedding’s best man. With no other options, the two reluctantly team up to navigate their way to the wedding, leading to a series of comedic yet tender moments.

As they travel together, the initially tense and antagonistic relationship between Ada and Jack slowly shifts into a slow-burn romance, filled with witty banter, vulnerability, and personal growth. Both characters are well-developed, with their own baggage and desires that make their chemistry more meaningful. The pacing is excellent, with just the right balance of humor, tension, and moments of deeper reflection. The setting is vibrant, with the picturesque backdrop of Ireland and London adding an extra layer of charm to the story.

This novel is a perfect escape for readers looking for a heartwarming, lighthearted read with a bit of adventure. With its relatable characters, delightful humor, and a romance that develops naturally, it’s a great pick for fans of slow-burn romance and travel comedies.

Thank you Berkley for my gifted ARC!

Thank you for the free book @berkleyromance @netgalley @heathermcbreenwrites #berkleypartner #berkleybooks #berkleyinfluencer #berkleybookstagram !!

Sometimes a slow burn is too slow, and you’re like oh my god, can you please just touch already? And sometimes, a slow burn is deliciously diabolical, where you’re faked out into an anticipatory mess and you’re like OH MY GOD PLEASE WHEN? This book is the second kind of slow burn where the chemistry is just burning and they’ve denied themselves for maybe even good reasons but you’re like OH MY GOD IF YOU DON’T KISS I WILL DIE?? Maybe it’s like book edging, and maybe I’m a feral raccoon digging in the trash for my next anticipatory fix.

Ada is a tattoo artist whose first shop, Sleeve It To Me (zing), just went under. On top of that, her boyfriend of 8 years wants to go on a break (IYKYK) and she doesn’t want to. Her younger sister is getting married to a guy 10 years older who she’s known for only a few months, and it’s a destination wedding. Broke as a joke and not wanting to admit it, she’s got to get to Belfast for a castle and a huge wedding, and on top of all that, this whirlwind romance has made her relationship with her sister quite strained when she’s used to feeling close. After a series of abject disasters, including an incorrectly printed hotel voucher, she’s charmed by a hot stranger who buys her dinner.

Over dinner she tells the hot stranger her sob story, including how she’s not happy that she has to meet her sister’s fiancé’s sleazeball of a bff. You can see where I’m going with this — of course hot stranger IS the sleazeball bff Jack — and this is AFTER he propositions her for a one night stand.

However, they need each other (or at least Ada needs Jack) to get to Belfast. They have a four day adventure with enough sexual tension to explode a building, but it’s the kind of four days that you really get to know somebody as you’re chasing down trains and getting stuck in the rain, and locked in bathrooms by accident.

It’s really well done, both their whirlwind friendship and their mutual angst after bad relationships. It felt organic, and not rushed, despite it being four days. What about you?

**Many thanks to Berkley and Heather McBreen for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**

Ada has always been the one to look out for little sister Allison...even when her choices are...well, questionable to say the least. So when Allison decides to marry Collin, a man Ada hardly feels CERTAIN about, in a destination ceremony in Ireland, Ada is justifiably nervous. She's also been given a crucial and important task: deliver the precious, one-of-a-kind wedding veil in one piece. It's Ada's chance to mend fences, as she and Allison have been drifting apart ever since Allison's relationship started...so the heat is ON. With her tattoo parlor business debts holding her back, Ada cannot AFFORD (quite literally!) for anything to hold her up on the way to the wedding.

So naturally, this is when fate decides to intervene in the most inconvenient way: her connecting flight has been canceled, leaving Ada stuck in London...and feeling lonelier than ever. With very little extra cash to spare, she has NO idea how she will make it to Ireland on time to deliver the veil, attend the wedding, and put out any fires that pop up along the way. Feeling broken and hopeless, when a handsome stranger sidles up to her in a bar with gorgeous eyes and a kind smile, she takes the opportunity (and what she believes is anonymity) to spill the tea...and then some. She even brings Collin's playboy best man (whom she's never met) into the conversation...and still, this stranger seems ready to keep the evening going...and Ada nearly obliges. But when the former stranger reveals he is ALSO headed to a wedding...oh and by the way, he just so happens to have the same name as the aforementioned playboy, ALL of the pieces click together.

THIS is the man she should be avoiding, but if she wants to get to the wedding...well, she might as well call him Obi-Wan...because HE is her only hope.

With each determined to protect their loved one (and also fighting what seems to be a burgeoning attraction) the pair dash across Europe together as the days tick down and the wedding looms large. But as much as Ada is still nursing a broken heart after separation from her long-term boyfriend back at home and KNOWS about Jack's reputation as a 'love em and leave em' type, she can't help feeling those first night butterflies...and their shared bumps along the way seem to be bringing them closer, no matter how they try to keep their distance. But when the dust settles and the wedding bells finally ring, will all of the love swirling in the air give Ada and Jack the push they NEED to explore their feelings? Or will their complicated pasts, hesitation about the possibility of TRUE love, and their differences convince them that what happened in Ireland should STAY in Ireland?

It is always a bit of a gamble for me when it comes to romance debuts: aside from the cute cartoon-y cover and the promise of travel based hijinks, I had little to go on before starting this one. But since rom-coms that involve travel also tend to be my favorite (see: most of Emily Henry's catalogue, for starters) I had high hopes (and frankly high expectations) for the Little Rom-Com That Could...and you should absolutely make it a point to DASH off to read this one as soon as you can get your hands on it!

It's hard to say what the 'best' aspect of this book was, because in all honesty, there were SO MANY reasons to love it. First off, McBreen's mentions of so many giants in the rom-com movie landscape (everything from Legally Blonde to Sleepless in Seattle!) was one of the first clues I was going to be in line with her characters, enchanted by her MCs, and LOVING every moment of their banter together. From their meet-cute at the bar onward, not only did these two have instant CHEMISTRY rather than insta-LOVE, but these opening scenes alone were enough to set the stage without necessarily giving anything away in terms of the plot progression. From Ada's brilliant purple hair to her love for tattoos, she was far from a boring or predictable heroine...but also stayed away from the 'subversive' cliches also. We learned about Ada through the lens of her pain, both from her past relationship that left her stuck emotionally, but also through her feelings of failure after her business troubles, her isolation from her family, and the insecurity that kept her mired in these feelings. Not only did this give McBreen plenty of room for character development, it kept her entire personality from being wrapped up in "Ooh, the devastatingly hot guy...he's SO perfect despite his flaws" which is a trap too many female MCs fall into across the board...and Ada is anything but a simple character...which makes her all the more REAL.

And then there's Jack, her counterpart and potential amour...and trust me, if you thought SHE was complicated, ratchet that up a notch. Jack's got his own complicated backstory and family dynamics, not to mention his sort of 'playboy persona' to shake...and he isn't going to make it TOO easy to get to know him. But despite this, the emotional walls and mixed messaging felt so AUTHENTIC...and for every time he gave me pause, he would turn around and show Ada the real him in the next breath through his actions AND the information he does choose to share...and over time, you'll feel yourself giving him more grace too. As much as I wanted to hate him (and trust me, there are moments where he WILL frustrate you and you'll wonder if he will TRULY come through), he is a MATURE enough counterpart to handle most situations with Ada in a way that will have you rooting for him...and DYING to go to Italy to try the oh-so-perfect pizza place he recommends to Ada. (Seriously...I have never wanted Italian pizza MORE than in that moment!) .

But perhaps the best aspect of this book came when I least expected it...the VERY ending of the book. As much as there is such warmth and familiarity in a HEA, this story isn't necessarily THAT at all. Rather than feeling anxiety-inducing, however, this again grounds the narrative in the relatable, the RATIONAL, and the real. It becomes very clear that McBreen values journeys of personal growth above 'pretty people in hyper-realized situations hooking up and instantly deciding they are soulmates', and as a married woman in my thirties, I find such a deeper and more meaningful connection to her characters and the overall story because of this focus. Having such an investment in where these characters ended up as individuals AND as a couple is such a breath of fresh air...and frankly, it's the kind of romance writing that keeps me coming back for more! If this is only McBreen's DEBUT, I'm already purchasing my ticket for her next flight of drama, intrigue, and okay, a LITTLE bit of fancy!

And since I promise I won't spoil whether an eventual HEA comes to fruition or not, this quote by Mark Groves fits these two MCs like a glove: "It's in the space between the love we've lost and the love we hope to find that we meet ourselves."

4 stars

I loved this book! It was so fun and enjoyable. A great rom com filled with travel and forced proximity. A great meet cute .. mistaken identity, one bed .. all the tropes we love! solid emotional conversations as well. A great debut :)

This was such a fun read! It had so many of my favorite tropes and the setting mixed with the rocky road trip romance was perfection. The banter was hilarious and I could not stop laughing at times. Ada and Jack ran into so much trouble on their trip, which made for an exciting read. I loved both of their characters so much. They were each going through their own struggles and that made me love each of them more. Such a great story!

this was such a good debut!!! what a cute, sweet, banter-filled time 🤭 I loved the uniqueness of the plot with all the mishaps of traveling to a destination wedding, the fateful meet-cute, the longinggggg and quick glances, and how it all wrapped up so perfectly 🥰

this has right place, wrong time energy, an eldest sister fmc, an acts of service mmc, steamy tensionnn, a wedding set in ireland, traveling experiences, and really great writing! I adore jack and ada, their chemistry, character development, and how they brought sm warmth to the story 🥹 can’t wait to read more from this author 💜 if you want a bingeable, cozy, romance read, that takes you across the UK, pick up wedding dashers 🫶🏻