Mini Reviews: Summer Wedding Edition

 

Whether you like a rom-com to read while at the pool or on vacation or you like your summer reads with a strong side of steamy scenes, I've got you covered. I'm sharing my thoughts on two novels involving summer weddings and all that drama that a family wedding can bring.

Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan

Pages: 288

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: May 20, 2025

Publisher: William Morrow

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "A modern comedy of manners about two mothers, the best-laid plans, and one very memorable wedding.

Penelope and Chase make a lovely couple. She’s a bubbly Southern Californian with a killer work ethic. He is smart and charming, with political aspirations. They are planning a spectacular California wedding, wrapped in peonies and thousands of little white lights. Everyone is excited about it­­­­­­—except their mothers.

The mother of the bride, suave, Greek-born Alexa Diamandis, was a single mother by choice and does not understand why any woman would ever get married. The mother of the groom, Abigail Blakeman, is a garden-club stalwart firmly planted in coastal Connecticut. She thinks the whole enterprise would be so much easier if the wedding were at the golf club. When a sudden twist of fate calls them into action, these two very different women are forced to take over the wedding planning."

 

 

Mother of the Bride, Alexa Diamandis, has always been a self-sufficient woman and a single mother by choice. When her daughter, Penny, decides to marry, Alexa is confused as to why she would want to tie herself to another person, especially at such a young age. However, she tries to support her daughter's decision by helping plan a wedding in glamorous Montecito, California, despite her hesitations. Mother of the Groom, Abigail Blakeman, is also confused why her son, Chase, wouldn't just get married at their home in Connecticut and have a reception at the local golf club they frequent. A California wedding is the polar opposite of what she expected; plus, the Blakemans, who have always been well-off, are currently in a financial bind, so this wedding couldn't have come at a worse time. They must keep up appearances, though! Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan is a laugh-out-loud rom-com that is perfect for readers who love a good wedding story filled with family drama.
 
I liked that Dolan focused on the Mother of the Groom and the Mother of the Bride by sharing their points of view in Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding instead of the usual bride and groom. This was a nice touch and really showcased Abigail and Alexa's vast differences. However, as the story progressed, both women realize they have more in common than not and pull together a beautiful wedding for their children despite all the bumps in the road. Leading up to the wedding, there were some laugh-out-loud moments, some cringe-worthy episodes, and some heartwarming ones, too. If you love a good wedding story complete with a gorgeous setting, look no further this summer.

 

 

 

Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood

Pages: 416

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Berkley

Pub. Date: May 27, 2025 

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: The Love Hypothesis, Deep End,

Love on the Brain, Loathe to Love You, 

 Bride, and Love, Theoretically

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars 

 

 

Goodreads says, "Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life. Conor Harkness is thirty-eight, and Maya cannot stop thinking about him.

It’s such a cliché, it almost makes her heart implode: older man and younger woman; successful biotech guy and struggling grad student; brother’s best friend and the girl he never even knew existed. As Conor loves to remind her, the power dynamic is too imbalanced. Any relationship between them would be problematic in too many ways to count, and Maya should just get over him. After all, he has made it clear that he wants her gone from his life. But not everything is as it seems—and clichés sometimes become plot twists.

When Maya’s brother decides to get married in Taormina, she and Conor end up stuck together in a romantic Sicilian villa for over a week. There, on the beautiful Ionian coast, between ancient ruins, delicious foods, and natural caves, Maya realizes that Conor might be hiding something from her. And as the destination wedding begins to erupt out of control, she decides that a summer fling might be just what she needs—even if it’s a problematic one."

 

 

Maya Killgore is a twenty-three-year-old grad student and is not sure of the next step in her life. Conor Harkness is a thirty-eight-year-old man in biotech who has a boatload of money and is Maya's brother's best friend. Maya has secretly - and not so secretly - crushed on Conor for years. So when their paths cross at Maya's brother's destination wedding in Sicily, Maya hopes they might reconnect. After all, they are spending a lot of time together and in a gorgeous spot complete with stunning vistas, grottoes, fantastic food and wine, and picture-perfect rocky shorelines. As more time passes and things lead up to the wedding, Conor and Maya realize they share a connection, but their large age gap is a major deterrent to Conor. If you want a steamy summer romance (and I mean steamy!), then pick up Ali Hazelwood's Problematic Summer Romance.
 
If you're a fan of Hazelwood's romances and have read Not in Love, you might remember Conor and Maya from that book. However, it's not necessary to have read Not in Love to enjoy Problematic Summer Romance. I really loved the Sicilian setting; it’s perfect for a summertime read, featuring beautiful locations, delightful dinners, grottoes, and more. You can clearly see that Hazelwood knows Italy well. My main issue with the novel was the constant emphasis on the age gap between the characters. This aspect was overly focused on, which made the novel feel lacking in significant plot development. It leaned heavily on romance rather than offering a robust storyline. So, if you prefer stories without intense romantic elements, this one may not be for you. Despite this, I believe that Hazelwood's dedicated fans will enjoy it, especially while lounging at the beach or by the pool.
 

 

 

Are you a fan of Lian Dolan or Ali Hazelwood? Is either book on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.