Member Reviews

Save the Date by Allison Raskin is coming soon. This was a fun read. Romcom readers will enjoy this one. Don't skip it.

Was this review helpful?

I'm about 38% into this book and I'm calling time of death. This was awful. The MC is SO unlikable. I get the new neurodivergent/mental health representation in novels, but I was exhausted reading about this girl's anxiety and sensitive skin and weird dating rules. That's all she had to her! None of this read rom-com, or even women's lit. I made it to her weird peeing after sex inner dialogue before I quit (yes, ladies have to pee after sex, but for the love of all that's unholy, why do I need to read this gal's weird neuroses??). There is somehow too much description of things that don't matter, and not enough of the things that do. Like characters.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book is so sweet, while also vulnerable. The plot is fun and different, while the main character is so relatable with SO many thoughts I've had as someone with anxiety. You could tell that Allison is a couples therapist and really put her heart into this book. Sometimes books spend too much time on the sadness at the beginning, but this one had the right amount. The different vibes of all of the relationships were spot on and had me making my own notes and opinions on them. The humor and quick witted comments also had me smiling throughout the book. I literally could not put this book down. Allison, more romance novels please!

Was this review helpful?

What a great book showing how Emma is going after the life she really wants. After her fiance breaks it off, Emma is determined to still get married on the date they had picked; she just needs to find someone to marry. Can she do it in six months? She meets Will through Hinge and they hit it off, but he is not willing to get married. Emma then meets Matt and they hit it off. Recently divorced, he is willing to marry Emma. Emma and Will do podcasts together, and she finds their chemistry better than what she has with Matt. Emma realizes she and Matt have never said I love you even after he proposes. When Emma is interviewed on a TV show it makes her wonder if she’s making a mistake. Who does Emma end up with?
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This story follows Emma, who was set to marry her fiancé Ryan, only for him to suddenly leave, leaving her heartbroken and completely blindsided. The first half of the book didn’t grab me as much as I had hoped—it felt a bit slow and I found myself wishing for more depth in the character development. However, as the story progressed, I really started to connect with Emma’s journey of self-discovery and healing. The ending, though, was fantastic! It brought everything together in such a heartwarming and satisfying way. As someone who’s always a sucker for rom-coms, this one definitely delivered with plenty of humor, heartfelt moments, and a romance that left me smiling. It may have taken a little while to get there, but it was worth it in the end.

Was this review helpful?

Save the date follows Emma, a marriage and family therapist who is unexpectedly dumped by her fiancé 6 months before the wedding. Following the end of her relationship, she embarks on a quest to still get married as planned with someone new and document it for her following on social media. The main character wrestles with many big emotions, makes some questionable decisions, and battles with anxiety through it all, but overall, is able to take a terrible situation and turn it into something better. This was a very unique storyline with many cute elements, but also some cringey moments/elements. I thought it was interesting that this was loosely based off of the author’s real life and experiences. Thank you to Allison Raskin, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was a cute read! I'll admit, I had a hard time getting into it at first. I really look for that engaging character and/or hook of a story, but it was a little tough for me having the opening be the break up, and our main character (understandably) moping. After a little while things picked up, and I did find this to be an enjoyable read!

Was this review helpful?

I'm in my romance era and enjoyed this book so much!! I loved Emma's character so much and had a hard time putting this one down. While endings of romance books are pretty predictable, it was so fun to follow her back and forth banter with Will and her crazy journey with Matt! While the pacing and writing style of this one was quick and witty making it a short read, I wish there was more of a buildup and development to the ending. The pacing of the rest of the story was great, but then the ending just felt very rushed and abrupt; I liked how feel-good everything was, but I wanted more!! This is my first book by Raskin and she'll certainly be on my radar from here on out. Thanks so much for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

This really pains me because I tried really hard to get into this book but I had to DNF this one around halfway through. I had a really hard time liking any of the characters and understanding any of Emma’s motivations. I also found that I just didn’t care about the ending of this book. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read!!

Was this review helpful?

When Emma's fiancé breaks their engagement 6 months before their wedding, she sets out to find a new groom and prove her belief that a "good enough" relationship is all it takes for a marriage to work. She doesn't believe in soul mates or "The One" and is more focused on finding someone compatible who is ready for marriage and willing to put in the work - that can't be that hard, right?

This fun story had some serious moments, touching on topics like self-esteem, anxiety, and infidelity. While I guessed what was going to happen pretty early on, Allison Raskin still managed to surprise me with the ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I really loved this book - the book follows Emma whose fiance unexpectedly leaves her 6 months before their wedding and how she goes to disprove a lot of stereotypes surrounding love. The book discusses many things including "the one", relationships starting and ending, and the various circumstances when they can end. The book is witty and the chemistry is oh so fiery. No spoilers here but at about 50% of the book I got very invested in Emma's future and couldn't put the book down. There were a lot of unconventional decisions being made but it really made me think about my own relationships and the people around me. Also I love the Jewish representation!

All opinions are my own and thank you to Netgalley for an Advanced Reader Copy

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book! While it started off quite slow, it eventually picked up, and once it did, I couldn’t put it down. The characters were incredibly likable and relatable, making it easy to get invested in their journey. The romance was sweet and enjoyable, making this a great, easy read for anyone looking for a feel-good love story. If you're in the mood for a light and engaging romance, this book is definitely worth picking up!

Was this review helpful?

Emma is a couples therapist, engaged to be married...and then suddenly dumped months before her wedding. She has a moment of reckoning, because her entire career and persona are wrapped around her success with relationships; but also, because she is heartbroken. Always someone with intelligence, Emma decides on simply replacing her fiancé with another man, and then she can keep her wedding and still come off as someone who knows relationships - thus, she embarks on Save My Date. She finds herself attracted to distinct men: Will, who has charisma and charm, yet doesn't want to be a replacement; and Matt, a divorcee who just wants to settle down. Now, she just needs to decide what path to go down, because each of these men will bring her somewhere different - one will keep her steady with her plans, but the other will open her up to something new.

I loved that the author based this book on some of her own experiences - you can clearly tell in the depth of the writing. This was just a great story in general, and I loved that the author was able to take something terrible and transform it into something better. Also, I really loved this cover - it drew me in immediately and captured the idea of the book really well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was a cute read. Emma is a therapist who is dumped by her fiancé 6 months before their wedding. As she struggles to cope with her breakup, she decides to keep her wedding and just find a new groom. This was an original storyline with a nice ending.
I think there were multiple areas where the story could've been expanded and I didn't quite feel the connection between Emma & Will. Overall I liked the story but I did finish it feeling like something was missing.

Was this review helpful?

I just love to read stories about weddings. This title was especially entertaining because it incorporates writing, which is a passion of mine. I was hooked from the first few pages. Loved it! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Loved it ! Devoured it in one day ! I think having such a reflective main character was great ! I would love to see more of the connection between the two MCs

Was this review helpful?

This is an ARC Review. I want to thank Allison Raskin and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day! This book provided such nostalgia for me as a therapist who moved through the dating world. I have such a soft spot this is loosely based on the authors true story as after your heart being smashed…you are inclined to make questionable decisions. With Emma she made a NUMBER of questionable decisions but there was growth throughout the book which I loved. Granted she could only go up from where she started but that’s besides the point. Her choices in men were top notch h but I was always #TeamWill.

“And finally, to anyone who has ever had their beard smashed on without a second thought. Keep going. It’s worth it.”

Was this review helpful?

This book was a DNF for me. The premise of this book sounded promising but it did not deliver. I didn’t like the main character and me liking the main character is a big part of what makes me like a book.

Was this review helpful?

I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review. Thank you to the author and NetGalley.

This was such a light, easy read with a very cute ending. I did struggle to get into book until about 30%. The FMC annoyed me with some of her choices, but they were justified toward the ending when she talked about her fears regarding her book publishing, podcast, and therapy practice.

Would recommend this book if you're looking for a sweet romance story.

Was this review helpful?

I feel pretty strongly that there's a Hallmark movie with Vanessa Marcil that follows this plotline pretty much on point, but it was still fun! (Who am I kidding, I love Hallmark movies) I'm glad my worry about Jackie's marriage didn't come to fruition and everything else I expected to happen, did.

Was this review helpful?