Thank you very much to Just Read Tours and NetGalley for providing with with a copy of A Gardin Wedding by Rosey Lee! It is always an honor to read advance copies of authors' work and I appreciate the opportunity!

I want to preface this by saying that it's possible that I would have enjoyed this book more of I had read the first book in the series prior to reading this one. There were lots of references back to the first book and I'm sure certain plot points would have been more meaningful with the context of the previous book. For that reason, if you do read this book, I recommend reading it AFTER the first book. Some series can be read out of order; although you can read this book as a standalone, I definitely felt like I was missing some information at some parts of this book.

That being said, A Gardin Wedding fell really flat to me. For starters, the character development lacked depth. Again, it's possible that the characters were more fully developed in the first book and maybe Ms. Lee felt that she didn't need to spend as much time fleshing them out this time around. Even so, I think it's important that each character, especially the main characters, feels real to the reader. I struggled to see the characters beyond the basic text. It's clear that the other characters see Martha as hot-headed and intrusive, but actually seeing inside her head as the reader, she comes off as very analytical and thoughtful. Even though a major theme of the book is that she's working on this part of herself, as the reader, we never actually see her struggle - we're told that she's struggling, but it's never portrayed in a way that adequately conveys the turmoil that must go along with such a personal journey.

Additionally, the chemistry between Martha and Oji is practically non-existent. I thought it was so bizarre how little they seem to know each other at the beginning of the novel, and while they apparently get to know each other and work out their communication issues through therapy, those surely pivotal sessions and conversations are never shown to us. It makes their pathway from being on the verge of breaking up to getting married after all seem very sudden.

Pacing in general was another flaw. Time progresses with each chapter, and the time jumps were both inconsistent and resulted in major chunks of the story being left out. This isn't just limited to the progression of Martha and Oji's relationship; many of the obstacles that the characters face progress or are solved in the space of these gaps between chapters and we're just told of them after the fact in the next chapter.

I love that Rosey Lee wanted to write a romance story with more depth to it. This story tackles tough issues like in-law struggles, dementia, and the challenges that come with merging lives as a couple. Unfortunately, I do think A Gardin Wedding is need of some more thorough editing to help bring some vibrancy to the story. One of the most common pieces of writing advice I've seen is "show, don't tell," and I think applying that concept to this manuscript would solve a lot of its flaws. While the story might have been more meaningful had I read the first in the series, there are some deeper problems here beyond me just not understanding the full context that can only be solved by further edits.

Unfortunately, I have no memory of reading this, except for the fact I know that I restarted it multiple times. It just didn't stick with me.

Overall: 4

We back with the Edin sisters and get an update on where everyone is. Although they've made strides, somethings never change. They are still trying to hide the truth from each other instead of leaning on each other for the love and support they need. We continue the miscommunications, lies and secrets among the women and their men. Will Martha and Oji make it down the aisle? Another great romance written by Rosey Lee.

I had mixed feelings about the book due to it being based on the most unlikable chracter of the firstbook. The story follows Martha, a woman who’s often her own worst enemy, as she navigates her relationship with Oji Greenwald and her own personal growth. Martha’s character is tough to like at first. She’s insecure, manipulative, and often makes choices that are frustrating to witness. There were moments when I struggled to empathize with her, and I found the pace of the story slow at times.
That said, I’m glad I stuck with it because toward the end, Martha does show some growth. She starts to confront her flaws and begins making more thoughtful decisions, which made her more relatable and, dare I say, likable. Her journey wasn’t easy, and while the pace was slower than I would’ve liked, I appreciated how the author took time to develop her character. If you’re willing to push through the slower moments, you’ll find that Martha’s evolution is a rewarding aspect of the book.

Thanks to Netgalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah | WaterBrook for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

“A Gardin Wedding” by Rosey Lee is a captivating family drama with equal parts heart, humor, and reflection. Martha Gardin is a complex and flawed protagonist whose journey feels relatable and real. Her struggle to balance her professional success, family expectations, and personal growth is engaging, making her character both frustrating and endearing.

The dynamics between Martha and Oji Greenwald add depth to the story, especially as the challenges with Oji’s mother, Eve, escalate. The tension between family loyalty and personal boundaries is portrayed with nuance, and the resolution feels satisfying, if not entirely predictable.

Lee’s writing shines in her portrayal of relationships and the messiness of human emotions. The Gardin family’s interactions are vibrant and entertaining, making them easy to root for (or against, at times!). However, a few plot points feel slightly rushed, and I would have loved more development around the Greenwald family’s perspective.

Overall, “A Gardin Wedding” is a delightful read that tackles love, redemption, and personal growth with wit and warmth. It is perfect for fans of family-centric dramas with a touch of romance.

A Garden Wedding by Rosey Lee is a thoughtful exploration of family, self-discovery, and navigating relationships. Martha, a successful doctor, is growing in her ability to connect with her family, but she finds herself struggling to balance her relationship with her boyfriend, Oji Greenwald, and his parents. Thanks to the honesty and support from her own family, Martha embarks on a journey of self-reflection as she works to understand what she truly wants in life and love.

This was my first book by Rosey Lee, and I really enjoyed the way the characters and their relationships felt so real. The book handles the difficult truths about life and relationships in an authentic and relatable manner. While I didn’t read The Gardens of Edin first, I now wish I had, as I feel like I would have appreciated the characters even more. I recommend A Garden Wedding to readers who enjoy honest romances with strong women and a focus on the importance of family.

This was a great book! The story was very well written and the plot was very interesting and fun to read! I would highly recommend.

This was a strong follow-up from Gardins of Edin, it had that element that I wanted and enjoyed from the world. Rosey Lee has a great concept and it was written perfectly, it had that character development that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this.

A Gardin Wedding by Rosey Lee.
A Gardins of Edin Novel.
I loved the cover of this book. It was the reason that I signed up. This was a good read. I liked the story. A little slow in places. I did like Martha and Oji. I liked the writing style. This is a new author for me. This was a feel good easy read for me. I read this in two sittings. I did like the ending. I would recommend.

A story of family and learning about your self. Martha is a successful doctor she is becoming better at relationships with her family but is finding it a challenge to navigate her relationships with her boyfriend, Oji Greenwald, and his parents. With the honesty and support of her family she continues the journey to learn more about herself and figure out what she wants out of life. The characters and their relationships seemed real and I like the way the hard truths about life and relationships were handled. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy their romances to be honest and full of strong women and family.

This book is just okay. The synopsis made me very intrigued,, but it was hard to read through. It was dull and dense, hard to finish. I think the idea of the book was there but the execution was lacking

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!