I thought this book was great and a bit quirky. I know the book tries to make Emma seem like she has some sort of anxiety, but to me her fears seem natural and she pushes through so it isn’t like they prevent her from living her life. Thus, I would say she has rational concerns but manages them in a healthy way. I don’t think all personal nuances have to be labeled or called anxiety. That said, her goal to find a replacement groom is certainly different but her journey is entertaining. This is a solid 3.5 star book. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the arc.

Omg I love Emma. I will admit i thought she was a little crazy for wanting to keep her wedding date and replace the groom after her fiance leaves her out of the blue but it was definitely interesting. I love her journey of self acceptance and taking a chance. She was a little to relatable but in a good way

4.5 starts and the audiobook was amazing

What a crazy concept for a book! I thought it was wonderful. Imagine planning your wedding to your fiance and then that person dumps you. How completely bananas to try to find a guy to get married on the same exact day and just fill in as your husband. I just can't see anyone being okay with this, but delightfully how this book goes, I totally understand it. I am so down with this and want the absolute best for the main character. It's a great romance and I will definitely recommend it to others looking for a different kind of romance book.

It may just be me, I may just be in a mood, but after many attempts I finally trudged through this book. I had high expectations for it and it was just not what I hoped it would be. The narrator was great and I will look for other books they read.

This was a DNF for me. Just not my cup of tea. I wanted to love it as it was inspired by real life events of the author.

I didn’t love the obsession with finding a replacement groom and was just turned off by other elements.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the advanced copy for review.

Loooved the cover though. Would have purchased solely for that!

This book both did and didn’t play out as I expected. In this novel, Emma is unexpectedly dumped by her fiancé, and instead of wallowing in grief, she decides to try to thwart Western relationship expectations by keeping her wedding date (and those deposits) and—instead of canceling—finding a new groom.

Because the character’s YouTube presence was mentioned prominently in the book blurb, I was falsely under the impression that the #SaveMyDate journey Emma takes would involve an online, reality show dating aspect, but that was not accurate. She just dates until she runs into a guy ok with the fast marriage idea. (There is much more to the story than that.) So, the process was less silly fun than I expected.

However, that aside, this story was indeed still fun. There were quite a few of literal laugh out loud moments. The banter between Emma and her (obvious) love interest is sweet and sassy, and there are minor characters that stand out and delight. Is this predictable by about half way through? Yes. Am I bothered by that from a romcom? Not at all. There is also an absolutely delicious ex confrontation that left me cheering and clapping.

Because the main character is a therapist, there is a heavy influence of mental health discussion that may be tedious to some people but positive to others.

All in all, this is an easy and positive read. The closed door romance gives just enough butterflies without being off putting for those who don’t like spice. While this isn’t a favorite, I would have mainly positive things to say for anyone interested—especially someone who values mental health awareness and a witty FMC.

The author narrates the audiobook, and I thought that might be annoying, but she does a good job! The only critique I would have for her is that the two male leads sound quite similar. Other than that, I enjoyed her narration.

Thank you to Harlequin Publishing/Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for this advance copy.

3 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for the audio version of this book. When Emma’s fiancé Ryan suddenly leaves her, she decides to conduct an experiment to see if she can find a new husband and continue with her original wedding date. Based on the authors own life this was a cute but emotional journey.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarlequinAudio for an advance listening copy of #SaveTheDate. I loved this book. 4 stars.

DNF at 30%

I really disliked Emma’s character. I hated how she could be so judgmental of others, and yet, she could be so dense when it was convenient for her. When she went crawling back to her disgusting ex I think that really solidified my feelings of the book, but seeing as how this is an ARC I figured I should at least give it a fair shot. That didn’t work out very well…

I appreciate Harlequin Trade Publishing and Harlequin Audio for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I requested this audiobook because the cover looked really cute and the description seemed like a funny romance that I would enjoy. Overall it was just okay though. There was potential, but I wanted more from Emma & Will. We got the meet cute & happy ending, but everything in between was just kinda meh. Not much happened, it was just Emma thinking about things and assuming other people’s thoughts/feelings. Most of the book was just in Emma’s head, I felt.

This book sounded really cute, but just fell flat for me. I thought the idea behind replacing the room was a little ridiculous but did laugh at different points throughout the story. I do feel like she was just trying to find someone willing to go along with her scheme, not someone she was actually interested in. I just wasn't a fan of Emma.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc/alc.

I wanted to like this book and I had high hopes for it. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I kind of thought the plot was a little ridiculous too. I did think that the author/narrator had a good voice, I would consider reading more by Allison Raskin in the future even though I didn't love this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for providing an advanced copy of this audio book for my review. It is reflective on what is a relationship with some raw genuine emotions from not just the main characters but the supporting ones also. Premise of trying to find a replacement groom after being dumped six months from wedding date has a bachelorette type feel as her whole family was game for it. Narrator does a good job with the emotional elements and keeps you rooting for the all the characters. . It’s a quick and enjoyable read.

I was drawn to this book due to unique premise of our main character trying to find a replacement husband after her fiance leaves her months before the wedding. Our main character, Emma, is a therapist and I loved the scenes where she was with clients, talking on her YouTube channel, or even in assessing her parents marriage. These parts of the book really shined for me.

Where this book fell flat for me was Emma’s hunt to find a husband. Instead of finding a guy to spend the rest of her life with, it felt like a desperate attempt to find anyone who would agree. We spent a lot of time bouncing from guy to guy without spending any time to develop the male love interests or have our character sit with why it wasn’t a match. I think because this book was in third person we unfortunately missed out on this necessary introspection.

The romance in this book is unconvincing and I struggled with Emma’s morals. She gets engaged, while wasn’t convinced she should say yes in the first place, and then almost cheats on him with the other guy she was seeing. Our final love interest also just leaves his girlfriend for Emma once she breaks off her engagement. It just felt like everyone was sloppy in this book and instead of being an empowering take on marriage it ended up being a desperate attempt to find absolutely anyone to marry her because she couldn’t grapple with being alone.

If you do plan to pick this one up, I recommend the Audio! I had a better time listening to it vs. reading.

Emma was dumped by Ryan, who offered only a vague explanation for the breakup. Despite spending countless hours deliberating over trivial decisions, like whether to keep or return a pair of socks. Ryan was surprisingly decisive when it came to ending their relationship.

As a couples’ counselor, with a book deal on the line about finding your perfect match and a social media presence idealizing the “perfect relationship,” Emma failed to see the warning signs.

Knowing she had a lot to lose, especially with her wedding day just months away, Emma decides to be honest with her audience. She confesses the truth about being dumped and launches a YouTube channel called “Save the Date.” The concept? She’ll switch her groom but keep the wedding date. After all, as long as she and her new groom are compatible and share the same goal, to stay married, she figures everything will work out. Many cultures and religions have arranged marriages that last, so why not try something similar? Now, she just has to find a new groom.

I loved the two men Emma meets along the way. The first, Matt, is introduced to her by her brother-in-law during a work Zoom call, where he casually mentions Emma’s situation and Matt says, “he’ll marry Emma.” The second, Will, she meets through the dating app Hinge. Emma hits it off with both men. Each of them is extremely attractive but she feels more drawn to one, who seems like he could be a long-term partner, while the other, is so incredibly attractive they wind up having a night passion.

This is my first time reading this author, and the story truly transported me, offering both laughs and moments of reflection. It made me think about what truly makes a good partner and how much compromise is necessary in a relationship. The pacing is excellent, and the narrator's delivery keeps you hooked from start to finish. I couldn't stop listening!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for providing an advanced e-audio copy for my honest review.

this book was very fun and i liked the way it was written. my biggest complaint is the “everyone clapped” confrontation with the ex - that was a little too cringy. otherwise i did like the wrap up and was glad to see it deviated from the 100% expected path. definitely 3.5 stars - but netgalley only allows whole

Book Review:
SAVE THE DATE
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Allison Raskin
Publisher: Canary Street Press @canarystreetpress
@_mira_books_ @harpercollins
Thank you @netgalley for my ARC

“I’m not perfect. I know I’m not cool or chill or low
maintenance. But that doesn’t mean I am unlovable.”

This line captures the heart of Save the Date, a
rom-com that is as funny as it is emotionally raw.
Based on Allison Raskin’s real-life experience, the
novel follows Emma Moskowitz, a couples therapist
and online creator, whose fiancé unexpectedly leaves
her six months before their wedding. Instead of
canceling, she embarks on Operation: Save My
Date—a public search for a new groom by her original
wedding day.

At first, Emma’s plan seems ridiculous, but
underneath, it reflects the fear of being left behind.
This book isn’t just about love—it’s about self-worth,
societal pressure, and embracing life’s unexpected
turns. The chemistry between Emma and Will, a
charismatic podcast producer, adds depth, while Matt,
a kind divorcee, presents a safe alternative. Through it
all, Emma must decide what she truly wants.

Raskin blends humor with real emotional stakes,
making Emma’s journey both entertaining and
relatable. The novel tackles modern relationships,
online scrutiny, and the messy process of healing with
authenticity. While some side characters, like Emma’s
sister Jackie, are frustrating, they add to the story’s
realism.

Save the Date is more than a rom-com—it’s a heartfelt,
thought-provoking exploration of love and
self-discovery. If you’ve ever felt lost or pressured to
follow a timeline that isn’t yours, this book is a
must-read.

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