| Title | : | The Wedding Party (The Wedding Date, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 351 |
| Publication | : | First published July 16, 2019 |
| Awards | : | Goodreads Choice Award Romance (2019) |
1. Alexa is their best friend
2. They hate each other
After an “Oops, we made a mistake” kiss, neither one can stop thinking about the other. With Alexa’s wedding rapidly approaching,
The Wedding Party (The Wedding Date, #3) Reviews
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I love this world of characters and all the books in this series. The Wedding Party has a great premise. Overall, I wanted the writing to be stronger but Guillory is such a charming voice and these characters are fun and interesting and I was rooting for them the whole way. If you’re looking for a sexy story that will sink it’s hooks into you, this is a nice choice. One frustrating thing—the characters eat pizza obsessively. After like ten times I was like omg seriously? More pizza? I am not exaggerating. It’s totally wild.
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This had the potential to be my favorite of the series because it was enemies-to-lovers but I didn't love it and I am SO SAD. I didn't really feel a ton of chemistry between the characters and the overall writing felt really.. stilted? Blah. This definitely wasn't a terrible book, but I think I set my expectations too high. Womp :(
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Maddie Forest thinks Theo Stephens is an uptight, hyper-organized, spreadsheet-loving jerk.
Theo thinks Maddie is a shallow, image-obsessed brat, with zero ambition.
After their mutual best friend, Alexa, becomes engaged, she asks them both to be in her wedding party.
Chagrined that they will have to spend time together during the whole wedding process, they both agree with good grace to participate. They vow to get through it no matter what.
As can sometimes happens, however, through their mutual distaste comes a spark that soon grows into a full-blown FLAME!
They know they have to keep their relationship a secret.
They cannot give Alexa the satisfaction of knowing they actually like each other and thus begins Maddie and Theo's secret affair.
As you are probably aware, this is the third installment in Jasmine Guillory's The Wedding Date series of companion novels. I have read all of the books in this series and this one is actually my favorite thus far.
Although it has a similar structure to the previous novels, I enjoyed Maddie and Theo and their hidden romance the most out of all the plots. I felt I could personally relate to this story more than the others and that helped to keep me invested.
One thing I did notice was this one seemed less steamy than the others, so if that is what you are looking for, you may be disappointed. We really focused here a lot on both Maddie and Theo's careers and self-growth.
I enjoyed following along with them as they navigated difficult situations in their lives and grew to depend on one another for support and insight.
I do enjoy this series a lot. I'll admit, it isn't perfect, but it's addictive and keeps me coming back for more. I will definitely continue to pick them up as long as Ms. Guillory chooses to write them!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. -
4 stars
An enemies to lovers romance by Jasmine Guillory… I’m here for it!
Maddie and Theo are Alexa’s (from The Wedding Date) two best friends and they don’t get along. From the moment they first met, they rubbed each other the wrong way. They’re just so different. Theo seems like the uptight pompous type of guy that Maddie can’t stand and Maddie is the type of girl Theo can’t take seriously.
Whatever, he and Maddie would have never gotten along anyway. She was the cool, hot, party type, and he was the kind of guy everyone thought watched C-SPAN in his spare time.
With the wedding quickly approaching, the bridesmaid and bridesman (I love this term!) end up spending more time together. And that includes a time in bed that’s more hot and intense then either one of them could imagine.
They aren’t willing to admit they like each other, but the sex is too good between them to stop. So they have rules. It will be a secret, it will be over when the wedding is over, and the obvious- they won’t fall in love. But the thing about rules? They’re made to be broken. With time, Maddie and Theo really get to know each other and they like what they see. It’s like they are actually perfect for each other, opposites attract and all that.
I enjoyed this book a lot, though it was a little slow to the start for me. Once it picked up, I was completely invested. I love these characters and I loved getting to see Alexa and Drew’s wedding, plus some cameos from the characters from The Proposal. If you’re looking for a steamy, fun, and enjoyable romance, this is one I would recommend!! -
4.5*
This is a book that’s been resting comfortably on my shelf for a couple months. Make no mistake…I’m loving my rom com weekends but for some unknown reason I kept putting it off. What’s wrong with me?🤦🏻♀️ seriously! This was such a sweet and charming read! I’m in a shame-spiral for not reading it sooner!
Maddie’s best friend Alexa is about to get married and she’s over the moon happy for her best friend! But Alexa also has a male friend Theo that will also be part of the wedding party. Normally, that would be fun for everyone! Problem is, Maddie and Theo don’t get along...like not even one little bit! But maybe if they just let their guard down for a moment..... Could there be sparks? If so, can they keep their “relationship” under wraps!
This was such a fun, topsy-turvy rom com! The perfect balance of everything this genre has to offer! Romance, frienemies and hopefully if they can survive each other, maybe even a chance they will have their very own HEA!
A rom com weekend buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing for an ARC to read and review. -
I mean this was alright. This is my second book from Jasmine Guillory, and even though I liked this one more than
The Proposal I still had some issues with it. I think this is way too mild for a book claiming to be a hate-to-love romance. These two characters didn't really "hate" each other, they just made fun of each other sometimes and there was not nearly enough banter. They would just pretend they disliked each other and then have sex a bunch of times. A pet peeve of mine in romance is when the characters get together right away, and in this one they were having sex by page 30. The pacing in the beginning was strange too, because the first few chapters are like: six weeks later, ten months later, etc. and there's a lot of weird time jumps. So the two main characters hook up 30 pages in and then decide it'll never happen again, and then of course it happens again twice in the span of the first 60 pages. Then they decide that they will continue to hook up until the wedding is over (their shared best friend is getting married).
I don't know why I just never really care for Jasmine Guillory's writing, it's always so meh to me. The romance scenes are either skipped entirely or glossed over so much, and I never felt any real chemistry between the characters. (Not to mention they eat pizza in this book like 50,000 times and I wish I was exaggerating but I'm not lol.) I just found myself feeling mostly bored by this story and never really caring about the romance, which is a bad sign to me. I liked these characters Maddie and Theo a lot more than the main characters in The Proposal though, and I found them a lot more interesting: probably because of their unique jobs and the whole wedding party thing. (I just really love books that revolve around weddings for some reason???)
I mean this book was okay, but it's totally forgettable and probably the last time I'm gonna read a romance from this author.
Thanks to Berkley Romance for the ARC, this goes on sale July 16th! -
Jasmine Guillory’s third book The Wedding Party is (in my opinion) her best yet! In her signature style, this book is steamy, sweet, sassy, and has depth to it that will help us all learn a bit more about what it is like to be a minority in a majority industry. I thought the enemies-turned-lovers storyline worked so well, with the added element of their personal connection through their mutual friend Alexa.
This is a perfect summer book!
About the Book
Professional style consultant Maddie doesn’t need a man to feel fulfilled. Especially not a man like Theo. Theo is her best friend Alexa’s work bestie. Several years ago when they first met, Theo asked Maddie what she did for a living and it was clear from his reaction to her job that he found her shallow and beneath him. Maddie has never told Alexa the specifics, but suffice it to say Maddie isn’t interested in befriending Theo.
When Alexa begs Maddie to go with her to Theo’s birthday party, Maddie begrudgingly agrees. Little did she know that despite her hate for Theo and his uptight beliefs, they would end up in bed together (total oops!). But no matter how good it was, Maddie and Theo remain enemies. It was a mistake, not to be repeated.
Alexa’s engagement may through a wrench in the works, though, when she names them both as part of her bridal party. Forced to work together, they agree that some sleeping together on the side is only a way to alleviate the tension between them. And only when Alexa isn’t looking—there’s no way she can find out.
Rules must be followed. Don’t tell Alexa. This ends when Alexa gets married. Only get together when they’ve already been with Alexa. No dates. Don’t fall in love. But they may find some of these rules are harder to keep than they realized…
Reflection
Maddie and Theo are both complex, well-developed characters that I absolutely loved! When I read this book, I couldn’t help but think how wonderful it is that Jasmine Guillory consistently pushes the boundary of the genre. This is part romance, part contemporary fiction, and a must-read books.
I learned a lot from Maddie and Theo’s characters. As different as they are, they both are people who feel they have to put on a certain demeanor to be taken seriously in their careers—a feat that is made more difficult by the color of their skin. While I think a lot of us can relate to feeling pressure to be a certain way, Maddie and Theo brought to light an interesting and unfortunate societal truth that is important to discuss. When you’re the minority group in the industry you work in, you don’t have a chance for slip ups. There is more pressure to work harder, dress the right way, and be perfect than your majority counterparts.
I don’t want to get preachy, nor does this book read that way at all! This book is fun, steamy, and touching. The chemistry between Theo and Maddie is HOT. I also loved their relationship with Alexa, and how they both put aside their differences to support her. And the ending is SO fun! I won’t spoil it but it left me with a huge smile on my face.
This book should be next on your summer reading list!
Thank you Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own. -
Many thanks to Berkely for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
Maddie and Theo have two things in common:
1. Alexa is their best friend
2. They hate each other.
Before this, I hadn’t read any Jasmine Guillory books. But now, I feel on a cellular level that I absolutely must ingest every word, syllable and page that this woman puts into the world.
So, what’s this book about?
The Wedding Date follows Theo and Maddie who hate each other. Theo thinks Maddie is a selfish b*tch and Maddie thinks Theo is a stuck-up, mansplaining, asshole. Unfortunately, they are forced together when their mutual friend, Alexa is getting married. After a seemingly accidental one night stand, Maddie and Theo slowly begin to come closer together. Is it true love or just a fluke?
➵ Maddie - Maddie is, to be completely honest, kind of a b*tch but in the best possible way. She’s that girl you want to be friends with and also that girl you would avoid pissing off at all costs.
➵ Theo - Theo may seem intimidating but the more you get to know him, the more you love him. He’s kind, smart, funny and good looking. Everything you could ever want in a man. Definitely, a new edition to my fictional crush list!
The story was brilliant and masterfully written. I loved the relationship between Maddie and Theo. Watching them banter and flirt with each other added years to my life. I also loved how hilarious this was. There were so many genuinely funny moments that I found myself laughing at.
Overall, this book was such a joy to read. There is so much joy and sorrow, fights and forgiveness, hugs and kisses, stored within these pages. I guarantee you will not regret giving this a chance.
Bottom Line:
5 Stars
Age Rating: [ R ]
Content Screening (Spoilers) - Educational Value: [None] ~ Positive Messages: [Be yourself even if other people don’t like it. Don’t fake it just to fit in.] ~ Violence: [A main character is hit over the head and suffers a concussion] ~ Sex: [The main characters have a lot of sex throughout the entire book. Details about both the male and female body are intimately discussed.] ~ Langauge: [F**k, sh*t, b*tch, d*mn, asshole] ~ Drinking/Drugs: [Consumption of Alcohol (all of legal age)]
TW: [None]
Reps: [Women of Color, People of Color]
Cover: 4/5 ~ Characters: 5/5 ~ Plot: 4/5 ~ Audio: 4/5
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: July 16th, 2019
Genre: Romance/Comedy
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I'm between 4 and 4.5 stars.
Jasmine Guillory has really become one of my go-to authors when I'm in the mood for a great rom-com. Her books are fun to read as well as well-written and steamy, and I find her characters so appealing that it feels like hanging out with friends, especially because the characters in all three of her books are linked in some way.
Her newest book, The Wedding Party, follows that age-old story of two people who can't stand each other yet one crazy night something changes. Maddie and Theo have known each other for years through their mutual best friend, Alexa.
There's no denying that they find each other physically attractive, but they're seriously turned off by their personalities. Maddie thinks Theo is pedantic and condescending, Theo thinks Maddie is superficial and a bit of a bitch. They do everything they can to avoid one another, or stick to mere pleasantries if they have to interact.
When an emotionally vulnerable Alexa takes Maddie to Theo's birthday party, it's the last place she wants to be, and Theo isn't thrilled to see Maddie there. But why can't they take their eyes off each other? Why are they thinking of each other that way? It must be the alcohol. When Maddie agrees to drive Theo home and somehow she challenges him to show her his dance moves, one thing leads to another, and...an amazing night and morning ensue.
But once the afterglow dissipates, Maddie realizes underneath the sexual skill and the hot body, it's still condescending Theo, and Maddie can't help but get an attitude, even when he tries to say the right thing. They acknowledge this was a mistake, and Alexa must never know about it. Until it happens again, and it's even better and hotter than the first time.
When Alexa asks both Maddie and Theo to be in her wedding party (as bridesmaid and bridesman), the two realize they're going to be thrown together constantly, and suddenly, that seems like a good thing, since they can't stop thinking about each other. They agree that they can continue to spend time together as long as they still keep it a secret from Alexa, and they need to recognize that this is a time-limited deal: once the wedding is over, they can go their separate ways and go back to hating each other.
It should come as no surprise that this situation turns out to be far more complicated than they imagined. How can you be so drawn to someone that makes you so angry half the time? Where is the line between love and hate? Does telling people about a relationship you've kept secret have the potential to change the dynamics?
When an incident occurs that shakes both Maddie and Theo, they need to examine their feelings and decide whether their relationship has a future, or if they're just not right for each other. But first they have to survive the wedding...
We've seen this story so many times before, but in Guillory's hands it still feels fresh and appealing, and you find yourself rooting for Theo and Maddie. I know I wanted to smack both of them at least a few times when they either misinterpreted something the other said, or said the wrong thing. I like the way Guillory kept the plot from getting too melodramatic or slapstick-y, so while elements of the story are certainly familiar, she didn't resort to clichés to advance the action.
This may be the sexiest of all three of her books, and I'd really love to see an adaptation of this on television or in the movies, because it would be great to see what everyone looks like after forming pictures of them in my head. (You don't need to read Guillory's books in order, although characters from the first two books do appear.)
If you're a fan of hate-you, love-you romances, this will definitely be up your alley. I for one can't wait for her next book now!!
See all of my reviews at
itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at
https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at
https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/. -
I wasn’t too convinced by this book. It stayed lukewarm the entire time and I couldn’t really get on board on the relationship.
I don’t know whether that had to do with the writing or the characters themselves.
Meh. -
Jasmine Guillory won my heart with this delightful romance! This is her third book and in my opinion the best one yet. And I defy you to read this entire book and not crave pizza ( I am even half tempted to try roasted garlic on my next Pizza). Theo and Maddie have never really liked each other, but they tolerate one another because they are both BFFs with Alexa. Then one night they accidentally uh oh kiss and then hoops they sleep together. What follows is Theo and Maddie trying to find any excuse to be together and every reason not to fall in love.
Enemies to lovers is one of my absolute favorite tropes, but I am not even sure I would classify this book as such. The banter between Theo and Maddie was almost too sweet too tame to be called enemies to lovers. This is irrelevant because I really loved both Theo and Maddie, something about them together just worked for me. I also really liked them as individuals and their friendship with Alexa. And can I just say Alexa towards the end👏🏻 this was just a Sweet straightforward romance that really made me smile.
*** many thanks to Berkley for my copy of this book *** -
The plot of The Wedding Party is pretty straightforward. Theo and Maddie have the same best friend Alexa. Unfortunately for Alexa, they themselves don't like each other at all. Maddie thinks Theo is pompous and boring, while Theo is convinced Maddie is as shallow as it gets. Despite all this, they suddenly find themselves madly attracted to each other to the point of starting a secret sexual relationship. They both agree to keep it secret from their best friend, but where will all this go? they are way too comfortable with each other especially since Theo is not pompous, but rather insecure and over-responsible, while Maddie really has a heart of gold.
I must admit I didn't connect with the characters straightaway. Not until I read about Theo alphabetising Maddie's spice rack and Maddie shoving in a wardrobe her piles of clothes previously scattered all over her uber-messy home. The characters suddenly became more relatable, although I still felt a bit annoyed with them for not realising they should give up their pretense and just admit they need each other.
What I liked the most about this book is Jasmine Guillory's impeccable writing style. Not a single false note in the whole book.
I will definitely try to read and review the previous books in the series as well as the sequel.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
My reviews can also be found on:
https://readingtonic.home.blog/ -
5 Entertaining, Flirty, Fun and Salacious Stars!
Talk about fun! “The Wedding Party” by Jasmine Guillory is absolutely everything I was hoping it would be and more.
Maddie and Theo just don’t like each other, in fact, if we’re being honest here, they hate each other. The problem: they both share the same best friend: Alexa, which puts them in close proximity quite often.
One night Maddie and Theo end up doing the deed and the sparks FLY. Of course, it happens again.. and then, they make a pact. 1) It’s only sex, and therefore means nothing; 2) No one can know, especially Alexa; and 3) Their arrangement ends once Alexa gets married.
You know what they say about the best “laid” plans however, they don’t always work out the way we want them too.. and let’s face it, sometimes love gets in the way.
Maddie and Theo’s antics made me smile throughout. I LOVE witty, smart banter and this rom com has lots of it! There are a few blushworthy moments, but they are quite romantic and oh so funny. Promise! “The Wedding Party” is my first Jasmine Guillory novel and all I can say is: what took me so long?!
Another fantastic buddy read with Kaceey! So glad we finally read this one together!
I am now a huge Jasmine Guillory fan and I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next. A huge thank you goes out to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group for the arc.
Published on Goodreads and Amazon on 10.13.19. -
Aw, this is so much fun! I’ve read and loved Jasmine Guillory’s other two contemporary romances, and The Wedding Party is just as entertaining!
Maddie and Theo don’t like each other; however, they have a best friend in common, Alexa. You can probably already sense where that tension may lead them…
They had an “oops” night together, and ever since, they are each obsessed with each other.
Alexa is about to get married, and both Maddie and Theo are in the bridal party. That attraction will not go away. They make a pact that they will end their tryst once Alexa is married, but when Alexa’s wedding is suddenly moved up, the pair don’t know what to think of it. They are actively trying not to fall in love.
The Wedding Party was such an engaging read with nice tension. I loved the witty banter between Maddie and Theo. They were so cute together!
This is the perfect book to pack in your beach bag when you are craving an easy, sweet romance with a touch of edge. Jasmine Guillory only gets better and better! I see a new book on the horizon in the fall! Woo hoo!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog:
www.jennifertarheelreader.com -
Okey dokey! This was my third Jasmine Guillory book, and I'm reading her entire series for an upcoming project, so I have many #THOUGHTS. Bear with me while I turn this lil review into a fucking PhD dissertation for a second.
Similar to when I read both The Wedding Date and The Proposal, I was hooked for the first 60ish pages of The Wedding Party. Love me some characters who are agitated with one another and can't really understand their attraction. Get it, Maddie and Theo!
I was vibing with this whole setup...until I realized that the first fifth of the book was just going to keep repeating itself for the remaining 80% using Guillory's tried and true sex-food-repeat method. To make things more challenging, I've always struggled with Guillory's dialogue (it just comes across as very pat and earnest to me), and in this novel in particular, there were at least a dozen times where almost identical sentences were repeated within the same page.
What seems to be a defining feature of Jasmine Guillory's first three books is that they're almost carbon copies of one another—it feels like you get characters hanging out at home having sex and eating pizza a lot for about 70% of the novel, with one or two minor misunderstandings thrown in. Plus all of the dialogue between any of the characters in these books is incredibly similar.
What's important to note, however, is that I'm not saying that liking a series where everything's the same is an inherently terrible thing. After all, I'm a bitch who's read roughly 17 books in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, and its plots are relatively indistinguishable 90% of the time. And don't I talk in every Tessa Dare book review about how virtually all novels of hers have characters fooling around against a wall or library shelf? I know it's coming and yet here I am 13! Tessa! Dare! books! later! Liking predictability and repetitive writing doesn't make us bad readers; it can feel comforting when there's so much uncertainty in real life. I'm just saying that we all have specific preferences for what we find cozy and lovingly familiar.
In my case, I think I'm getting tired of Guillory's particular formula and wish she'd change up a few things—though I appreciate her long-standing commitment to writing pizza-centric romance novels, and that'll never change. I'm actually intrigued by her fourth book, Royal Holiday, since it'll be a bit of a departure from her earlier work. But for now, The Wedding Party is right down the middle at 2.5 stars for me.
If you love her books though, keep loving them! Settle in! #GetCozy2020! -
2020 Reread
Let's celebrate BLACK LOVE!
The Wedding Party is book 3 in The Wedding Date series. And this book has my favorite romance trope Enemies 2 Lovers. And while the storyline in this book was slightly weaker than the other books I liked the couple Maddie & Theo the best. I think I might even like this book more on my second read. It just made me smile and given the times in which we live, can't we all use a little easy breezy romance.
Maddie & Theo reminded me of Kyle & Max from the 90's sitcom Living Single(Friends was a Living Single ripoff #Justice4LivingSingle). Maddie thinks Theo is stuck up and boring. Theo thinks Maddie is superficial and tiresome. After they get drunk and have really really really good sex. They decide to keep sleeping together on the low until their mutual friend Alexa(from The Wedding Date) gets married.
But I think we all know what happens next...
THEY FALL IN LOVE!
These books are predictable and sappy but I love em!
Read them! They're Great! -
This book was received in a GoodReads ARC Giveaway. I'm love, love, loving Jasmine Guillory's Wedding Date series. The Wedding Party is the 3rd installment and the perfect contemporary romance summer read! I've been crushing on Theo since the first book and this pairing gave me the feel-good HEA I needed right about now. This book was the perfect antidote to some of my heavier reads this summer, light and delicious and leaving me hungering for the next one!
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Enemies with benefits!
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The Wedding Party follows Maddie & Theo, who were first introduced in The Wedding Date. Maddie & Theo hate each other but are pushed to close proximity due to Alexa’s (MC from The Wedding Date) upcoming nuptials. One night after Theo’s birthday party, they hook up & decide that they’ll continue hooking up until they see Alexa married off & get it out of their system. Their relationship becomes a dirty little secret filled with a lot of pizza, lies, and snarky remarks that are supposed to be “romantic”.
What I liked:
-The cover
What I didn’t like:
-The time jumps
-Zero back ground: good luck keeping up unless you have read the other books.
-Maddie & Theo: These two are supposed to “hate” each other....fine, I love enemies to lovers. Their backstory is that they hate each other because Maddie felt judged by Theo & his Harvard eliteness. Their hatred is explained away in a simple “he/she was mean to me so I hate them”. How old are these people? Yes, first impressions are important but damn.
-Their relationship: Listen, they started to hook up 10% into the book. That completely threw off because their relationship doesn’t build up at all.
-Their “truth talks”: I agree that you should tell your friends the truth but man, these two made me cringe so much. They were downright mean to each other, throwing into each other’s face how much they hated *insert personal quirk*
-Being afraid of Alexa: Their entire relationship revolved around not telling Alexa because they were scared of her reaction.....again how old are these people? It felt very immature & these two are supposed to be adults.
-The constant whiplash: one moment they were gazing into each other’s eyes & the next they were yelling at each other. One moment they were saying I love you & the next they were doubting if the other person was in it for the right reasons (???). One moment they liked being at home eating pizza & watching tv but the next Maddie was accusing Theo of being boring. Whatttt??
-The constant snarky remarks against personal quirks: Let people like things!!! So what if Theo likes to make his own coffee??? Move on!
-Curly hair & the constant running of the fingers through it: I have curly hair & I will yell it until I am dead STOP TRYING TO RUN YOUR FINGERS THROUGH CURLS. I died a little on the inside every-time I read about the dreaded fingers.
I failed to feel any chemistry between these two throughout the whole book. Also, what do these characters even look like? Does anyone know? We get zero description aside from the occasional remark of their skin color or hair. WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?
There is more I can rant about but who even cares at this point.
Read for movement. -
Jasmine Guillory's The Wedding Party is her best book to date so far!
I read The Proposal and was disappointed but am so glad I was able to get an advanced copy of her newest book because it was so much fun!
Jasmine delivers a steamy, sweet, sassy, and oh so sexy romance novel. This isn't just a typical romance novel.. it definitely as depth to the characters and you just fall in love with the entire crew!
Maddie and Theo have two things in common. 1. Alex is their best friend 2. They hate one another
Hahah what a combo right?! So, this sexy duo of Maddie and Theo land in bed with one another... one problem the sex is so good they can't stop. They put down some rules... and have a plan that it will be over once Alex's wedding is done.
Of course... doesn't always work out like we planned right? This one was super fun and you can definitely see Guillory's talent in this novel.
I am so looking forward to reading her next book in the series!
4/5 stars!
Thank you so much to Berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 7/16/19
Published to GR: 7/16/19 -
Thanks so much to Berkley for granting my ARC on
NetGalley!
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i loved this one 😩👏🏼 arguably my fave in the series yet. Theo and Maddie were adorable and i love a good enemies to lovers trope!
this was the perfect palette cleanser after some meh reads and deff didnt disappoint. can’t wait to keep reading the rest of the series before the 6th comes out in July! -
The Wedding Party was so much fun! And so freaking cute! And so sexy and smart and so very, very quintessential Jasmine Guillory. I devoured this book in a day and enjoyed every delectable, romantic morsel of it.
This enemies to lovers romance follows Theo and Maddie, mutual friends of Alexa from The Wedding Date! These characters can't decide if they want each other or want to throttle each other, but as members of Alexa's bridal party, they also can't avoid each other. And so a complicated dynamic evolves, and a story full of reluctant attraction, insecurity and complicated emotion ensues.
I really loved this storyline and I so enjoyed these characters. Jasmine Guillory is such a refreshing storyteller, such a sharp writer. I eagerly anticipate each new book and this one certainly did not disappoint. The push and pull, the relentless attraction, the secret romance, the wedding planning, the banter... it all culminates into such a great read and I enjoyed it completely. -
So this pains me. I bought this today and ended up not really enjoying it. It was a fight to finish because in the end Maddie and Theo were not as intriguing as Alexa and Drew (The Wedding Date) and even Carlos and Nik (The Proposal). If you are going to do a hate to love romance you have to make me actually believe the two people don't like each other. We are finally shown what happened when Maddie and Theo first met and yeah, Theo sucked, but after that there was nothing there. We should have been given more to work with. Also....Theo and Maddie were boring. I was bored from beginning to end and just wish that we were actually get more Alexa and Drew in this one.
So "The Wedding Date" follows the timeline of Maddie and Theo's relationship. What actually did work for me in this one is that Guillory shows timelines. It drove me up the wall in the last book how quickly Carlos and Nik got together, but this one takes place over a course of about 10 months or so, possibly a year. We get to see Maddie and Theo's first meeting, Theo's birthday (which took place in book #1) and we get to see how Maddie and Theo first hooked up. From there we have the two deciding nothing like that will happen again and then of course it does once Alexa and Drew get back together (see book #1 again). So the whole book is just the two of them telling themselves that it's sex and that's it. They need to keep things from Alexa, because she's Pollyanna come to life and won't get that they are just hooking up and it's not a real relationship. Which btw was beyond stupid.
Maddie we know is a stylist and I honestly wish that we got to focus more on scenes with her clients. Maddie is trying for a job on television in this one and it just felt really shoehorned in I thought. Theo is trying to get universal pre-K (I think..honestly I started to fall asleep at some point) via the Mayor's office and he's focused on that. That said though these two keep making plans to see each other and they eat a lot of pizza. To the point that even though I wasn't eating said pizza, I got tired of reading how much of it they ate. I think that's the biggest problem I have. This book was boring. I got zero sexual chemistry from Maddie and Theo because for some odd reason Guillory faded to black a few times on their sex scenes. I didn't get it especially since I liked how up front she was with that in the first two books in the series.
The writing was okay, just repetitive. Reading the constant texts that Maddie and Theo were sending to each other while around other people got boring after a while. Also they are both rude as hell. I don't know why, this is fiction, but it started to irk me after we get to the scene of them trying to help Alexa pick a wedding dress that Theo is just focused on having sex with Maddie and texting her how hot she is. I mean what the hell. It doesn't get much better either when Maddie and Theo are both at Alexa's one day too. I get we are supposed to think that they are so sex crazed they can't help it, but I started rolling my eyes after a while.
The flow hits a wall after a while though. I think it's because there's no real obstacle to these two being together and I was already ready for whatever crisis there was that was going to get them to that point. By the time it came, I just didn't care.
I think this book takes place in Los Angeles..or was it San Francisco? I can't even tell you since these two just spend time at Theo's place. Seriously though I wish that Guillory had incorporated the city like she did in the last two books.
The book's ending was pretty funny though I have to say. Other than that, I was disappointed with this one. -
Before I get in to why this book didn’t work for me, I want to mention something that did: Alexa and Maddie’s friendship, particularly the way Maddie processed how Alexa’s engagement and marriage could change their friendship. It is a big adjustment when your best friend gets involved with someone, especially if you’re not also in a serious relationship, and I liked how the story delved into this. It reminded me of conversations I had with my closest friends before they got married and really rang true. Plus, it’s just fun to see how Alexa and Maddie were there for one another, throughout the wedding preparations. Also, this book is going to make you want to eat all the pizza.
Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes but the reason the characters are enemies has to make sense. It has to be more than finding the other person annoying after a brief conversation. Theo and Maddie had a simple misunderstanding where neither of them came across well but I did not see how it added up to the vitriol between them.
But we all react toward people in ways that don’t always make sense so I rolled with it. However, they both came across as incredibly immature as the book progressed. I did not understand their insistence on not telling Alexa what was happening, nor their willful belief that she’d never catch on. (COME ON.) They were incredibly mean to one another at various points, which did not do either any favor. More than anything, I simply became tired of their protests that they were just hooking up short-term when it was clear from the start something more was between them.
Additionally,
In short, there was too much for me to suspend disbelief. Other people seem to be enjoying this one. For me, The Wedding Date remains the most successful of her novels but it still is romance novel-lite to me. If you don’t read much romance, Jasmine Guillory’s books will be enjoyable enough. They're a good choice particularly for people who prefer closed door heat levels (it's not entirely closed door but the sex scenes shown are not explicit.) But if you are a romance reader, you can’t help but see the ways they fall short and this one much more than the others.
CW: reference to racial microaggressions, fatshaming,
Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from Berkley in exchange for an honest review. -
This was a fun, quick, and charming read.
I loved the chemistry between the two main characters and enjoyed that their relationship wasn't all 'sunshine and daisies'. Each of the characters had their own complexities and it wasn't a simple relationship.
Aside from that, there isn't much for me to say. It's one of those HEA reads that you get the gist of pretty early on. It's a light and fun read to enjoy. -
I really love Jasmine Guillory and the Wedding Date series. I was so excited when this book was going to surround Drew and Alexa's wedding and their friends falling for one another.
The moment Maddie met Theo, she's hated him. He may be her best friend's other best friend, but his infuriating and arrogant personality is not attractive to her. Until one night leads to a little more and Maddie doesn't know what to do. Maddie sets a deadline for Alexa's wedding and, after that, all ties are cut. But the closer the wedding get, the more Maddie forgets why she doesn't like Theo...
The last two books in this series both had relationships that started out as casual and the couple not wanting more, freaking out they were sending the wrong signals, and pulling away so that they didn't appear too serious. I was excited for something new and...got the same thing in this book. From the start, Maddie hated Theo and it seemed like it was a super rash and unsupported opinion. One misconstrued comment from Theo made Maddie hated him. Then, when they started their physical relationship, they both had to make sure it didn't seem like something more. Just like the other two books in this series. I'm kind of over that kind of relationship and wanted something different.
If you love a good wedding romance, this is definitely the series to pick up. I loved the whole wedding premise and how Theo and Maddie were both involved in Alexa's wedding. Alexa and Drew were so adorable and I really loved Alexa's part in Maddie and Theo's relationship.
Overall, while I love this series and this author, this one was just okay. I really can't wait for something different from Jasmine Guillory and am already itching to pick up Royal Holiday, the next installment in this series! -
I really enjoyed this book. I love me a good haters-to-lovers trope and this was done so well! I think that Theo and Maddie showed a lot of chemistry on the page and that's probably what made me like them so much. I also liked how they showed their true selves to each other, layer after layer, by sharing their hopes and fears. Obviously it was also nice to see some of the characters from the previous two books.
I really encourage you to read this one! -
I was looking forward to reading The Wedding Party since I enjoy Jasmine Guillory's writing style. However, I was let down by the book. I managed to finish it, but it was mostly out of frustration, if that makes any sense. If you've read The Wedding Date or The Proposal, you've read The Wedding Party. Guillory offers nothing new in terms of tropes and content. Here again, we have a relationship that begins as a casual no-strings attached relationship between Theo and Maddie, just as the first two books. Personally, it's not one of my favorite tropes, so perhaps that's why I was so over it in this one. Speaking of tropes, I thought The Wedding Party was supposed to be an enemies-to-lovers story, but I would not call it that. Sure the two of them disliked each other initially, but there weren't any strong enemies-to-lovers vibes. It was sorely lacking in that intensity and chemistry. I generally had a hard time feeling anything for Maddie and Theo's relationship. I did not think they shared any chemistry and I found their relationship rather bland. All they do is have sex and eat pizza (seriously, so much freaking pizza it's actually repulsive). There was no build up to an emotional connection which made it very hard to care for this relationship. I don't think I liked the characters all that much either, if I'm being honest. I found Maddie to be quick to judge at times, and Theo was rather flat. It's a shame because I think these characters had potential, but they weren't for me. What I did enjoy The Wedding Party was the friendship between Maddie and Alexa. It was actually so good that I almost wish the book focused on their friendship instead of the lackluster romance. Ultimately, The Wedding Party was a bit of a disappointment. I unfortunately think Guillory's romances are too surface-level for me so I'm unlikely to pick up more books from her in the future. -
If you are looking for a fun, humorous Valentine's week read then look no further than The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory. The third book in the Wedding Date series, this one can easily be read as a stand alone, although, you will want to read all three because they wonderfully written.
The Wedding Party has a classic theme of wedding dates and the I hate you/I love you trope but it is written in such a fun, modern manner that the story appears fresh. It really is classic ROM/COM that proves to be an enjoyable read.
