This book starts in the thick of it!!! Which was kind of hard for me to really be invested but I loved the journey that Emma went through. I loved the tension with Will and couldn't wait to see the happily-ever-after.

This book is absolutely hilarious in the sarcastic barbs and observations that Emma has with Jackie, Alan, Debbie and Imani. It is quite a paradox that Emma is obsessed with getting married as evidenced by the fact of her proclamation of love as a young child to a boy that gave Valentine's to everyone including the hamster, that she has a series of disastrous relationships as a marriage therapist. She is left by who she thought was the love of her life, Ryan, with no signs that it was about to happen. The date was set and she was committed to finding the man who would be with her at the alter on that particular day. Who it would be us anyone's guess including herself. She met a great guy in Will but the reason for her dating and eventually marrying in a very short period of time was a strong turnoff for him. She did fund a man who would marry her that apparently was the trifecta of rich, gorgeous and kind. The downfall was that she wondered what they would even say to each other in the future. He was comfortable with silence whereas she certainly was not. Will knew and understood her. I would read a sequel of this book as I laughed during its entirety.

Emma is a relationship therapist so when her fiancé breaks up with her seemingly out of the blue, she is shocked. Not only is she worried about her professional reputation and her book deal, she is worried about what people will think (and about all of the non-refundable deposits her family made for the wedding!). But what if there was a way to save face? Emma embarks on a quest to find a new groom before her wedding day…

I enjoyed this! It was fun, unusual, and hilarious. Emma’s inner monologue, including her anxious thoughts, was endearing. Her sister provides comic relief as well. Even though I didn’t agree with her methods, I was rooting for her to get the wedding of her dreams.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Emma's chaotic quest to find a groom just six months before her wedding is a wild mix of humor and heart. As a couples therapist, her journey turns into a hilarious and poignant exploration of what love really means. The tension between her connection with Will and her easygoing relationship with Matt brings an engaging complexity to the story. Emma's struggles with expectations, her identity, and the pressure to conform make this a relatable and entertaining ride. It’s a refreshing take on modern love, filled with laugh-out-loud moments and genuine reflections that keep you hooked.

The premise sounded cute. The actuality was a bit different. I felt like the wiser family member wanting to say “Don’t do this.” I think that loss of ability to release how bad of an idea the MC had affected my enjoyment of the book. It’s me, not you, dear author?

The good: we’ve all had unexpected disappointment and betrayal (all? Most? Maybe I should speak only for myself). I could relate to our MC and her loss, her mortification that things didn’t happen the way they should have happened. And wow, I deeply understood parental involvement in this story. Breakups hurt.

If I could change one thing… no - two things, I would have 1) make more emphasis on the relationship choice (shouldn’t a therapist know this?) that work. Discover the wrong one faster so there is time to work through things and reach the HEA. And 2) less “talking heads” on the pages. There were so much dialogue dialogue dialogue that I repeatedly had to backtrack and count down to see who was talking.

Overall, I think this book is readworthy. I rate this 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Save the Date was so good! I felt like maybe I’d read something similar to this before and really enjoyed it, but upon actually reading this I can’t think of what that book may have been, and frankly this one was so much fun that it may have just knocked that whisper of memory out of my head. We get a lot of laughs in this story, which was certainly appreciated as following a woman trying to salvage her wedding (and book, and career) by finding a stand in for ex fiancé would be no fun if it took itself too seriously.

Emma is a relationship therapist and the jilted fiancée in Save the Date. She brought a lot of humor to the story, though perhaps it’s me personally but her stage 5 clinger references (in the past) combined with her sensory and anxiety issues had me a little taken aback that she seemed so grounded. Emma embarks on several dates to try to find ‘the one’ so that she can save face all around, and I do wish that had continued because the dates had me laughing. When she finds a guy she clicks with, Will, and reveals her plan he is understandably turned off and doesn’t want to continue dating with an end goal of marriage in just a few months. Emma manages to stumble into the next perfect guy but stays close to Will, and from there we get a funny and sweet second half of the book that (thank goodness) taught Emma some lessons I was hoping she’d learn.

If you’d like a gem of a rom-com, this one is a sure thing!

This story is a delightful mix of humor, heart, and self-discovery. The writing captures Emma’s inner conflict beautifully, balancing her professional expertise with the very personal, messy reality of her love life. It’s witty, charming, and packed with moments of vulnerability that make Emma’s journey all the more enjoyable. As the wedding day approaches, you can’t help but root for her to choose what feels right, rather than just sticking to the plan. Absolutely captivating from start to finish!