Book Review: Bad Luck Bridesmaid by Alison Rose Greenburg
Bad Luck Bridesmaid by Alison Rose Greenburg
Well, this was just amazing and an absolute delight! Filled with snark and so many feels and emotions and all the complications that come with just being a human. I LOVED IT. It is not your average rom-com - in fact, it’s probably more like contemporary fiction WITH romance - and I'm so happy it’s being adapted for screen! So, let’s review!! Bad Luck Bridesmaid is coming in January 2022.
“Love, no matter how great, was not always enough.”
About The Book
Bad Luck Bridesmaid is a tale of finding yourself, embracing who you are, and just you loving you all the more for it. After all, being human is COMPLICATED. Of course, there’s a beautiful yet heartbreaking love story and witty, snarky banter and intense steam and all that goodness, but this book is also about the love story you have with yourself and never giving up on who you are.
DISCLAIMER: If you NEED a HEA with your romances or prefer those, this may not be for you!
Book Details
Title: Bad Luck Bridesmaid
Author: Alison Rose Greenburg
Publication Date: January 11, 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Chick-Lit/Rom-Com
Purchase a copy: Amazon | Amazon Kindle | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
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Synopsis
It’s official: Zoey Marks is the cursed bridesmaid that no engagement can survive. Ten years, three empire waist dresses, and ZERO brides have walked down the aisle.
After strike three, Zoey is left wondering if her own ambivalence towards marriage has rubbed off on those she loves. And when her building distrust of matrimony culminates in turning down a proposal from her perfect All-American boyfriend, Rylan Harper III, she and Rylan are both left heartbroken, leaving Zoey to wonder: what is it exactly about tying the knot that makes her want to run in the opposite direction?
Enter Hannah Green: Zoey’s best friend, who announces that she’s marrying a guy she just met (cue eye roll). At a castle. In gorgeous, romantic Ireland, where Rylan will be in attendance, and Zoey will be a bridesmaid. It’ll be fine.
Okay, the woman definition of fine (NOT FINE).
Determined to turn her luck around, Zoey accepts her role and vows to get Hannah down the aisle—all the while praying her best friend’s wedded bliss will allow her to embrace marriage and get Rylan back.
But as the weekend goes on, Zoey is plagued with more questions than answers. Can you be a free spirit, yet still want a certain future? Can you have love and be loved on your terms? And how DO you wrangle a bossy falcon into doing your bidding?
“Complicated women. We sure are fucking magical.”
The Story
spoiler-free
Zoey is officially a bad luck bridesmaid: 10 years, 3 bridesmaid dresses, and 0 brides have walked down the aisle. Have her complicated feelings towards marriage rubbed off on her friends and almost brides-to-be? Still reeling from some of these revelations, Zoey accepts a blind date by her matchmaking best friend, Hannah, where she meets and falls madly in love with Rylan, Hannah's cousin. But alas, some things don't always work out, especially when the guy you love asks you to marry him... wait... what? And when Hannah gets engaged to a guy she basically just met and asks Zoey to be a bridesmaid, Zoey must face not only Rylan but her internal struggles with marriage and the trajectory of her life. And will she win Rylan back?!
The Characters
Zoey, Ms. Bad Luck Bridesmaid herself, she’s a complicated, determined, strong-willed, absolutely amazing human who’s not without her faults, but truly shines with and through them. She’s also HILARIOUS.
Rylan, a beautiful and honestly amazing man, also not with his faults, especially when it comes to Zoey, but is love enough for the two of them?
Hannah, Zoey’s BFF and ride or die… and also soon-to-be bride to Graham who she basically just met. Obviously, Zoey has mixed feelings about this and is also going to be her bridesmaid, naturally.
Ezra, mysterious and grumpy and hunky Irishman. That’s all I’m going to say.
There’s also a slew of family members and other friends we briefly meet, but these are the main ones to look out for!
Steamometer
🔥 - STEAMYYYY GOODNESS
There is definitely steam, but it’s light while also being incredibly intense.
For those who are unfamiliar with my Steamometer, check it out below (it’s ever-evolving lol)!
❤️ NICE AND SWEET
💃🏼 SASSY SPICE
🔥 STEAMYYYY GOODNESS
🥵 MY OVARIES ARE BURSTING
🌋 my whole body is on fire and I’m melting
🖤 SMUTASTIC
Content Warnings
Just a few possible ones that stood out to me.
infertility
family drama
cheating
breakups
relationship turmoil
Overall Thoughts
Can we get more, Alison!?! Pleeease!!! 😭😭😭 This was such a charming, hilarious, and intelligent story. There are fierce female friendships and some extravagantly crazy LOL moments, but there's also screaming in the face of societal norms and pressures and loving yourself for who you are no matter what others think and how society might tell us to be. I related to Zoey on SO MANY LEVELS. And oh my, THE STRESS. My stomach was in knots during the whole middle of this journey 😂 But it was PHENOMENAL. I seriously cannot wait to see it on screen!!! Check out those details here! And I definitely want the next chapter in Zoey’s life… ASAP!
“There’s a term for a complicated woman who embraces the parts of herself that others might not understand. A force of nature. That’s me, forever.”
About The Author
About Alison Rose Greenburg:
Alison Rose Greenberg is a screenwriter who lives in Atlanta, but is quick to say she was born in New York City. While attending The University of Southern California, Alison took her first screenwriting class and fell head over heels. A journey from screenwriting led to marketing jobs, before coming full-circle back to her first love. Alison speaks fluent rom-com, lives for 90’s WB dramas, cries to Taylor Swift, and is a proud single mom to her two incredible kids and one poorly-trained dog. Bad Luck Bridesmaid is her first novel.
Author Page | Instagram | Goodreads | Twitter
*Pic and bio Courtesy of MacMillan Publishing
Bad Luck Bridesmaid will be out on January 11, 2022!
Thank you so much St. Martin's Press for the advanced review copy. One of my favorites of the year!
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I’m Leah. Cozy connoisseur and bountiful book buyer. I have a minor obsession with getting lost in the pages of a good book, guzzling coffee, and thriving at home. Yoga pants, wine, and essential oils are also my jam. I'm truly just a homebody at heart with a knack for content creation, flatlays & cozy shots. This is my creative space.
I love this feeling when I’m reading a book. Nothing compares! This sense of being completely immersed and lost inside the pages of the story — like you could live there endlessly, never get enough of the plot and characters and yearn to get more of the story once you’re finished. Here are the last 3 books that made me forget I was reading.