Anyone who’s ever been involved in planning a wedding, whether it’s their own, or a friend or family member’s, knows that the final product (everything and everyone looking beautiful, smiles all around, hugs and kisses etc. etc.) certainly doesn’t tell the full story! Not by a long shot!
Bridesmaids is the story of Rachel’s journey from engagement … to marriage, told from the POV of her best friend Jane. It involves the re-emergence of 3 of their old high-school friends, and a brand new set of problems, secrets, complexities, issues, and did I mention secrets … and complexities? So if Jane thought that navigating their teenage friendships was difficult, this is going to take it all to a whole new level!
To add some extra excitement into the mix (like she needs it), Rach’s announcement of her engagement didn’t exactly come at the best time. Jane was recently dumped by her own fiance … on her hen night!! She’s had to move out of their apartment and is now in a flat-share with Freddie – the school geek, who isn’t actually such a geek any more and she’s working for an absolute witch of a boss. To say that her self-esteem has taken a bit of a knock would be a slight understatement.
Stoneley’s writing is light and oh, so very funny. She’s wry and witty and clever in all the right places and describes every situation with such humour that even some of the scenes that really aren’t so amusing are softened with just the right tone, and the perfect timing. You can almost picture it all on screen in front of you. This would translate so well onto film, and I’d definitely go and see it.
I could really identify with the characters here and I think every reader will be able to do the same. Rachel’s a bit of a Bridezilla, and while Jane is determined not to let her best friend down, Rachel doesn’t really strike me as the type to offer anyone else the same courtesy. This is her wedding and she’s damn sure everyone’s going to remember that!
There are surprises, disasters, twists galore and nothing goes according to plan. Jane wishes every single (yes, she reminds herself that she’s single) day that she didn’t have to go through with all of this, but then reminds herself again that Rach is her very best friend. But how on earth will this actually all end? She just can’t see how it’s all going to work out, because, did I mention the secrets … and the complexities?!
This is a funny book with some really inspired, laugh-out-loud moments. I can’t wait to read some of Zara Stoneley’s other books, and I give this one 4 confetti-covered stars!
Author Bio:
Zara Stoneley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Date.
Born in a small village in the UK, she wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. After many (many) years, and many different jobs, her dream of writing a bestseller came true.
She writes about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hopes that her tales make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and occasionally say ‘ahhh’.
Zara now lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.
Zara’s bestselling novels include ‘No One Cancels Christmas‘, ‘The Wedding Date‘, ‘The Holiday Swap‘, ‘Summer with the Country Village Vet‘, ‘Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage‘ and the popular Tippermere series – ‘Stable Mates’, ‘Country Affairs’ and ‘Country Rivals’.
Where you can find her-
Website: http://www.zarastoneley.com
Twitter: @ZaraStoneley
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ZaraStoneley
Instagram: zarastoneley
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources Blog Tours for inviting me along for this enjoyable, fun journey.
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