The Godparent Trap

This book was absolutely precious. If you've ever seen the move "Life As We Know It" with Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel, then you know exactly what this storyline is. Colby and Rip are left to care for the two children of Rip's sister/Colby's best friend Monica and her husband, Rip's best friend, Brooks. Colby and Rip are about as opposite as any two people could be - Colby being an adventurous food blogger who travelled the world and Rip being a bit of a stuck-up accountant. Throughout the novel, Colby and Rip have to find a way to make their new life work for them while also figuring out what it means to be a family.

Add this to the list of lovely advanced reader copies I've been reading from NetGalley recently!

I absolutely loved this book. I could NOT put it down. I loved having chapters in Colby and Rip's separate perspectives. I found that I felt connected to both of the characters because of that. I also LOVED the kids. I work with children and seeing how the kids interacted with Colby and Rip and with each other reminded me so much of my work that I found myself laughing out loud wholeheartedly on more than one occasion.

The relationship between Colby and Rip was complicated and full of unresolved feelings and miscommunications. I found that I wasn't frustrated with their miscommunications because they were about things that would genuinely happen in real life, rather than the mundane and silly types of miscommunications that can be found in a lot of rom-coms. I think that the unfolding of their relationship happened in the best way possible - through the mutual love of the kids and the best friends that they lost. Through the love they felt for the kids and the dedication they both had to caring for them, they found love and respect for each other. I think it was actually really quite beautiful.

Banks was SUCH a joyful side character. His scheming to get Colby and Rip together was so kind and lighthearted that I couldn't help but absolutely adore him. And his mug collection?! I need it.

Overall, this book gave me a lot of joy. So much, in fact, that I was sad to finish it and not be able to read more about these characters. I felt like I watched them grow up in a way, and I really enjoyed that.

I absolutely loved this book! It was super cute, and romantic. It was the perfect romcom! I can’t wait to add it to my collection!

This book was an emotional rollercoaster that I would gladly ride over and over again. I laughed, cried sad and happy tears, and smiled so hard my cheeks started to hurt. It's the perfect romance novel that included so many important themes. It had it's own unique twists to it that kept me guessing every step of the way.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the ARC of this book!

This book had me in an absolute chokehold. I read it in one sitting which I haven't done in a while. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and everything in between.

This book was told from dual pov and I was so happy it was! I got to see everything happening in Rip and Colby's minds and it was so great. I was able to understand Colby's mess, why Rip was so emotionally detached, and I was able to see their days at the office vs with the kids. The dual pov really elevated this book.

Also, this book was very well balanced. I felt like the pacing was perfect for this plot as Colby and Rip tried to find their footing raising two young kids and figured out how they felt about each other. Also, this book deals with the death of two loved ones so the themes of healing and remembrance were prominent. Van Dyken did a fabulous job of balancing out the darker, grief-filled moments of Colby and Rip's lives with the fun and funny moments with the kids.

I loved the characters in this book. God bless Banks and his shenanigans. He's the only reason the story ended where it did. And Ben and Viera were so perfect. Van Dyken did a great job of capturing the joy and stress of raising a five and three-year-old. And seeing Colby and Rip interact with them melted my heart.

Also, this semi slow-burn romance was it! I wanted to shake Rip to get him to wake up and see what was in front of him. Luckily, Banks did that for me. And when I tell you, seeing this beautiful family come together made me cry so hard. Colby and Rip were just so perfect together and I loved their relationship.

Overall, I would read this book 10x over. The reality, the romance, and the healing were immaculately written and I couldn't have asked for more from this book. This opposites-attract is one you can't miss!

I absolutely loved this book! It reminded me of the movie, Life As You Know It. It really took me through all the emotions from happiness, laughter, sadness, love, heartbreak. I absolutely loved it!!

I loved the enemies to lovers trope and loved that it was two POV's. This book really had me rooting for the main characters and I'm so glad how it ended. I really enjoyed the side characters too!

All in all - this is a super cute book that is worth re-reading again!

Do not let the cute title and cover fool you. This book definitely packs an emotional punch.

Rip and Colby have a lot of history together and when unfortunate circumstances force time to act as team, there is a lot to unpack. This is your warning that Rip is an alphahole in the beginning of this book, but he definitely redeems himself IMO.

I really enjoyed the romance between Rip and Colby, and all of the interaction with the kids, felt very real. Being a SAHM I definitely related to that aspect of the book and was happy to it is portrayed. Also the loss it deals with is very raw and real which is something else I can relate too and felt it was well done.

Overall I really enjoyed this one!

Melli’s Book Breakdown
🤍enemies to lovers
🤍Best Friend’s Brother
🤍Grumpy/sunshine
🤍J/P Hero
🤍Slow Burn
🤍little spicy 🌶🌶

Thank you netgalley and forever publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a beautiful and heartbreaking story, so be prepared for a whirlwind of emotions. It had me laughing one minute and crying the next.

Colby and Rip were living their best lives, away from one another. Being a food blogger and an accountant, they didn't have much in common. Neither did they get along well. Until a tragedy forces them into becoming co-parents to their godchildren. Colby thinks Rip is too uptight, and Rip thinks Colby is irresponsible, but with the two people they love the most involved, they try and find balance and find love along the way.

If you've ever watched the movie "Life as we know it," and enjoyed it, you'd love this book too, as they have the same theme. I even pictured Colby and Rip as Katherine and Josh. The character development in this book was done very well. It was really beautiful watching these people learn and grow. The banter was fun to read and there were as many comedic moments as there were emotional. The kids were so cute, the side characters were entertaining, and the book was a lovely quick read.

ARC was kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken follows Colby Summers and Rip Edison who are left as co-gaurdians of their best friend/sister's two kids after a tragic accident. Before I start my review, let me say that if you enjoyed the film Life As We Know It, you'll enjoy this book as well because it's premise, while slightly different from the movie's, bears striking similarities.

I haven't given a book 5 stars in a while, so you can tell I really enjoyed this one. The enemies to lovers, sunshine meets grump trope—were skillfully handled and woven into the narrative.

What do a grumpy tax accountant and a well-known travel food blogger have in common? Unless you count the fact that they detest one another, nothing at all. But now that they are parents to a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old, Colby and Rip, whose name I’m not so keen on (I may adore this book, but it doesn't mean I have to love the MMC's name), must live under the same roof. Due to their conflicted and unresolved emotions, which we see from the perspectives of both MCs, the relationship between Colby and Rip felt incredibly realistic. I believe that the love of the children played a crucial role in the unfolding of their relationship, which was the best way possible.

Overall, despite the heavy topics surrounding the book for the plot, it was a super cute and filled with lots of heartfelt bits. This was my first read by the author, but it won't definitely be my last.

One of my favorite movie is “Life as We Know It”, I laughed and swoon so hard over it, so when I read the blurb from this Rachel’s book, I was super excited. And the wait definitely paid off, it was everything I wanted and so much more. The Godparent Trap has definitely a place in my heart and I didn’t want to end it.

Colby and Rip never agreed to anything, they were totally opposites in everything (or so we thought!), their jobs, their way of life, while she was full of live and freedom food blogger, he was the broody and grumpy accountant. But after one fatal day where Monica, Rip’s sister and Colby’s bff, and her husband dies, they were left with to two adorable kids to care and love.

Having their lives upside down, now they’d have to live together while managing a life they never thought they would have, even more together. At first my heart broke in a million pieces, but after plenty of laughs over the kids antics, and Rip and Colby fallout and their banter, my heart was mended.

It was obvious to me they were meant to each other, but as I fell in love with Colby instantly, it took so long to actually like Rip. He was a pain and especially in the beginning I wanted to kick him where it hurts. As the story progressed, I finally could see what everyone saw. Their hearts were so pure and they really deserve the world.

There were some steamy scenes and plenty of surprises… I enjoyed the dynamics of the couple and especially with the kids. I flew by the story and it was a great one that just made me happy. I highly recommend.