Not going to lie, this book and I started off on the wrong foot. I thought Ada was unsettled and immature. But as I kept reading, I realized it’s because she didn’t know who she was or what she wanted. She felt like me.

When you’re the eldest daughter in a family, you’re the decision maker, the one who looks out for others. Those two factors don’t leave much space or time for curiosity and the realization that you’re more than someone’s sister or daughter or partner. You’re more than a care taker. You’re an individual with needs, wants, dislikes, and you’re deserving of joy. And you see Ada’s growth as sometime in their late 20s; which is an accurate reality for many.

Heavier topic aside:
* The pacing of this book had my full attention. The pace was quick when warranted and slower with intention
* Jack x Smartwater (use your imagination)
* If you want slow burn, you’re going to get it here
* The humor is more slapstick-esque

If you’re looking for a fun, lighter vacation read for any season, pick this up when it comes out January 28, 2025! Big thank you to Berkely for this ARC!

This is an INSANE debut from Heather McBreen. If you enjoy banter in your romances (bonus points if you like millennial coded banter, I know I’m getting oddly specific here... work with me) this is going to be the book you RUN not walk to pick up first thing in 2025.

I can only describe the humor of this book to be slap-the-person-next-to-you level of funny. At one point my face was hurting from how hard I was smiling unknowingly. Oh and if you think this book is just going to have the fun vibes, I am here to tell you that this book unpacks eldest daughter syndrome like it’s one of those good cry therapy sessions. I didn’t expect the book to have such emotional moments, but the author does an amazing job weaving it through the main story without overburdening the reader.

The pacing in this was great and seeing the evolution of the relationship between Ada and Jack through the forced proximity of a very unlucky European road trip was the perfect fun balance to the raw, emotional moments. Say what you want about third act breakups, but the execution of this one was so great it made their whole relationship believable. Jack was A MATURE KING (he’s in his 30s and acts like it!) and I LOVED HIM.

The spice only adds to the relationship between the two and it was a good slowburn that made this thought-provoking book also deliciously spicy. I added my photo from Paris to this post which I thought Ada will appreciate!

After such a strong debut, I can’t wait to see what more the author has in store! Huge thanks to the author, Berkley, and NetGalley for this eARC!

So fun! This will be a great story to shake the winter gloom! Readers who love a romance with perspective and personal growth will be delighted by WEDDING DASHERS.

This was a fun read! The plot sucked me in and I couldn’t put it down! I enjoyed the chemistry between Ada and Jack and seeing how they progressed from enemies to friends to something more. I also liked how the story emphasized self growth and how not right now doesn’t mean never. While I would have loved to see some of the relationships with the side characters fleshed out a bit more, overall this was a cute read perfect for a rainy afternoon. Also that ending? Totally swoon worthy!

Heather McBreen's debut romance, Wedding Dashers, features two attractive but damaged protagonists who engaged me more as the story advanced. It's a high-concept plot, as Ada and Jack meet in a London airport after their flight to Ireland is cancelled. It takes them a little longer than it takes the reader to realize that both are heading for the same wedding--Ada as sister of the bride and maid of honor (and carrying her sister's treasured veil) and Jack as the groom's best friend and best man.

Ada is the first-person narrator as the two must overcome roadblock after roadblock to get to Belfast before the wedding (and hopefully before the bachelor and bachelorette parties), even though they are expected days earlier. You could call it a meet-cute, but each of the pair has issues to be worked out. We know that Ada and her boyfriend of 8 years are "on a break," and she is currently unemployed, but we don't find out until later what Jack is dealing with. And although there is clearly a mutual attraction, these issues are too pervasive to allow an unfettered romantic relationship.

I enjoyed getting to know Ada and Jack as the plot progressed, and it was the little details about each that won me over.

My thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

This was a good premise that was handled well for the most part. But, why did the female main character cry so much? I'm not sure if she went more than two chapters before crying. in the second half of the book. Enough, already. Also, the ARC had way more mistakes in it than a normal ARC. It totally took me out of the story more than once.

ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || WEDDING DASHERS [thank you to @berkleyromance and @netgalley for my #gifted copy!]

This is a message to everyone out there that if you never try, you’ll never succeed and when you try asking a publisher for a NetGalley widget for one of your most anticipated reads, the worst they can say is no.

And the most they can say is YES!

Besties, add this to your 2025 TBR right now if you love the Classic Mandy Moore film, “CHASING LIBERTY” and bantery romance!

Title: Wedding Dashers
Author: Heather McBreen
Genre: Romance
Format: Digital
Star Rating: ★★★★★

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:
Ada's little sister is getting married in Ireland, but with a year-long sisterly feud, a drained bank account, and a cancelled flight, Ada is stranded in London with no hope of making it on time. Venting to a charming fellow traveler at the bar seems harmless—until she realizes he's Jack, the notorious best man she's been dreading.

Now, Ada and Jack must endure a chaotic, obstacle-riddled journey to Belfast. But as they tackle flat tires, missed trains, and shared secrets, their unexpected chemistry has them wondering: is this connection a fleeting detour or the real destination?

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
This book was fun from start to finish! Starting with mistaken identity, and then a bit of miscommunication & misconceptions, followed by friendship and ultimately FEELINGS?! It was so good.

The banter was top notch. The spice was really well written (& I’m not a huge spice girl). And while this could have felt “insta-love”-y as the whole book essentially takes place over a long weekend, with everything else happening you understood why they were falling so fast.

The ending GOT ME. I don’t think I’ve ever actually loved & appreciated a third act breakup until now. When you read it, I think you’ll know what I mean. Just go preorder it now, and thank me later.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Chasing Liberty
Almost One Night Stands
Forced Proximity
Nora Ephron
Serendipty (the movie)
Open Door Romance
Mistaken Identity

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 4.60
# of Pages: 400
Pub Date: January 28, 2025

✈️Wedding Dashers by @heathermcbreenwrites

One word: obsessed. Guys, this book was FUN and FUNNY! I was laughing out loud so many times. Poor Ada and Jack run into so many issues and mishaps trying to get to Ada’s sisters wedding to Jack’s bff. I really love travel books so much. As someone who hasn’t traveled much, it’s intriguing to me and this book made me feel like I was there and traveling to all these new places with them. The ending wasn’t what I expected but in the best way possible. I can’t say why because it’ll spoil the book, but what happened was necessary and very grown up. Their communication was very adult and honest and I LOVE THAT in romance books. Jack was a dreamy hero, from busting down doors to doing super domestic tasks, he was always there to save the day. He is a CAPABLE man. We love a capable man.

This is a good one, friends! I highly recommend adding to your tbr and checking this one out when it releases! It’s sexy and swoony and beautifully written and just perfect.

Thank you to @Netgalley and @berkleyromance @berkleypub for the arc!
Pub date: 1/28/2025

Ahh this was a really good and fun romcom. I loved most of the aspects of it especially the dash for the bridesmaid and groomsman to get to the wedding in Scotland on time. The fmc is rushing to get to her sister’s wedding on time since she has the veil. The fmc meets every obstacle possible with cancelled flights, missed trains etc. she meets the mmc after he sees her stranded and they get dinner and almost have a one night stand. She learns that he’s her sister’s fiancé best friend and they make a pact to get to the wedding on time together.

Both mc’s were clearly attracted to each other but the fmc has a boyfriend and even though they are on a break she still hopes to get back with him. The mmc is not into long term relationships and they both become closer and question their previous relationships and beliefs. I loved how fast paced the book was and both characters were cute as friends and when they finally got together. This is a slow burn and it’s steamy when they finally get together. Thanks to Berkley for this arc for an honest review.

I liked the progression of this title. I liked the care they took in their mental health and the role it played in the story.

Thanks, @netgalley @berkleyromance and @heathermcbreenwrites for the chance to read Wedding Dashers early. It releases on January 28, 2025.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, and I was thrilled to get a chance to read an ARC. Heather's debut combines Leap Year's road trip romance with Anastasia's bickering-as-flirting vibes. You won't want to miss this fun, heart-warming debut. I gulped it down in less than 24 hours!

Ada's little sister is getting married in Northern Ireland in a few days, and when her flight's canceled, she's stranded in London. Luckily, a handsome stranger offers to buy her dinner, and they almost have a one-night stand. Turns out, he's the infamous best man, and they have no choice but to team up to try to make it before their favorite people say, "I do."
There's simmering attraction is just an inconvenient part of their road trip. Surely they can keep their feelings in check...

Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Tropes: wedding, road trip, travel, mistaken identity, bad reputation

I loved everything about this book, from the premise, to the setting, to the writing.

The tension inducing banter left me screaming. The atmospheric writing totally sucked me in. It felt like such an effortless read. We all know that that’s not the easiest thing to do, but Heather totally killed it.

Between trains, planes, and old beat-up cars, one-bed stopovers, and all the intimacy forced proximity brings, this made one helluva journey for these two—in more ways than one—and I enjoyed every second of it.

I laughed so hard. I was kicking and squealing and texting people trying to convince them to read this book, and it’s not even out yet. I cried!!

This was so good. Thank you so much for the ARC!

The way I ATE this up!! I could not put it down. Jack and Ada had me in a chokehold like no other.

Ada is on her way to her little sister’s destination wedding to a man she barely knows when she gets stranded in London. She’s just been turned away from a crummy hotel when she runs into Jack, her soon-to-be brother in law’s best man. The two make a mad dash to Ireland for the wedding, and everything that could go wrong, does go wrong.

One bed, forced proximity, witty banter, European setting, and roadtrip vibes all contribute to making this a super fun rom com!! Not only is it funny, but it is absolutely tear jerking 🥲 I was so invested in Jack and Ada that I was in literal TEARS by the last page.

Thank you Heather McBreen for this masterpiece, and thank you NetGalley and Berkley Romance for the eARC!!

“I think it takes a lot of courage to not only walk away from a relationship that’s not serving you, but to still believe that real love is out there, and to be vulnerable enough to keep looking for it”

Ada and Jack are hilarious and The Wedding Dashers made me laugh. A genuine good laugh while I had slight second hand travel anxiety. Don’t judge me! It’s a real thing. When Ada and Jack discover their in the same wedding party and stranded in London, they come together and go on a winding journey to get to Belfast the destination of the wedding.

The Wedding Dasher is filled with sweeping scenery, and a damn good debate on love, commitment, and marriage. Both Ada and Jack present good arguments throughout their travels across London, to Scotland and finally arriving in Belfast, for Ada’s sister’s upcoming wedding.

This is a side tangent, but the realization that Ada has regarding how she lets relationships become her identity is so good and it’s rare for an author to actually verbalize this. I’ve seen this in romance recently and I always get so sad when heroines that don’t go after a dream in the name of a relationship. I want to jump into the book and shake the heroine and say seize the opportunity, if he truly love you he’ll let you live a dream and be there when you return. Heather stomps on this trope and corrects it beautifully. The fact that Ada ends up going to Paris and invests in herself again is ‘chef’s kiss’ exquisite.

On the other hand, I never anticipated Jack to be a well of knowledge and advice for Ada. So many memorable and sage pieces of advice are delivered by his character.

What I loved the most about this book? This felt grounded. It’s not an easy and immediate happily ever after. Ada and Jack put in work on themselves, and when they do come together in the end as a reader you can appreciate it. Very happy to give this 4.5 stars! The cloud of Carter and Lexi hovered too long for my liking LOL.

Thank you so much Berkley Romance and NetGalley for providing an ARC. Definitely add the Wedding Dashers to your 2025 TBR list, out January 28th 2025.

I finished this book in two days! It’s full of adventure, romance, and a journey of self realization and growth. I had the best time getting to know Ada and Jack. They were such believable and real characters, both having their own issues and trying to navigate a new chapter of their lives. With something new around every corner, this book just kept giving and giving.

The writing itself was stunning. There were so many quotes that stuck with me even after I was done with the book. From beautiful descriptions to hilarious thoughts, the words were woven together so well.

If you are a fan of early 2000s rom-coms, enemies to lovers, and travel, then this is the book for you! A beautiful, funny, and adventure packed debut novel by Heather McBreen. I can’t wait to see what this author comes out with next!

I can't believe this is a debut!!! Seriously, how was this so good? You will soon tire of me talking about this book because I won't be able to stop. It's one of the best romances I have read in some time. Fans of Jessica Joyce will love this one.

Wedding Dashers is a beautiful blend of banter, shenanigans, humor, emotion, past trauma, and mental health advocacy. I loved Ada and Jack. I felt their chemistry from the first moment they were on the page together. They were funny, sweet, and sexy. Both characters were well-developed, with depth and fleshed-out backstories. I love that they spoke to each other like adults.

The side characters were great and added to the story. I loved Ada and her sister, Allison.

The plot was fun and gave me Planes, Trains, and Automobiles vibes. It was a clever plot device to force the characters into forced interaction and fun mischief.

I highly recommend you pick this up when it releases in January 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I need everyone to please please please put this book on your TBRs, get it pre-ordered, add to Goodreads, whatever you need to do to read it when it comes out in January. I had the best time with this debut from Heather McBreen. The pacing in this was perfect, the characters were deep and nuanced, the banter was perfect, it was funny and there were hijinks and I could not put it down (and, if it’s any indication, I was SICK sick sick in bed when I read this and I still refused to rest just so I could read more - make good choices, I always say).

Ada (sidenote: I will read any book with Ada as a main character, in case anyone is wondering) and Jack have a meet cute when they’re both stranded in London overnight. That meet-cute turns into a case of mistaken identity that turns into dislike to lovers that turns into forced proximity, and travel mishaps, and only one bed, and tension, and overcoming relationship trauma and a whole bunch of cute moments over pizza.

I’m going to post a full review closer to pub date but I needed to have this on the feed now because I can’t stop thinking about them! Heather - what a DEBUT!

27-year-old Ada has had some bad luck recently, she lost her job and boyfriend, lives on her parents' couch and now her flight to Ireland has been postponed to the next morning. She should be in Ireland for her sister's wedding. Plus the hotel voucher she got from the airline is expired. As she tries to figure out what to do next, a handsome man Jack offers to get her a drink. Over drinks, she complains about her sister's rushed wedding and the womanizing best man. Jack is also going to a wedding and complains about the judgmental bridge and how their marriage won't last. After mixed signals lead to an awkward encounter, they both realize their flights have been canceled and they're attending the same wedding. Jack is the womanizing best man Ada's sister has complained about! Ada and Jack spend the next few days traveling to Ireland by train, ferry, and car. As they get to know each other, they start to have feelings for each other but neither is at a good point in their life for a new relationship. What will happen between Ada and Jack?

Wedding Dashers combines all of my favorite elements to create a truly fantastic romantic comedy. Heather McBreen packs each page with laugh out loud moments, beautiful prose, and tight banter which opens the reader's heart to the characters' pining, angst, and personal growth. Jack and Ada have electric chemistry that crackles on the surface over a deep well of emotion, and their HEA is as well won and triumphant as it is delightful and so. much. fun. I loved traveling across Europe with them, getting lost with them, and falling in love with them. Only Wedding Dashers can make getting a flat tire such a delight! Readers of Jessica Joyce, Christina Lauren, and Sarah Adler, take note: This is your new fave.

What an interesting and entertaining book! Refreshing honesty between the main characters and so much packed into a few days. A terrific debut novel! Characters were complex, always divulging new information as their time together continued. So many funny and sometimes embarrassing moments made Ada and Jack more appealing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen.