What do you get when you take a bunch of best friends, a hunky flatmate, a bunch of secrets and an impending wedding?  An hilarious romantic comedy that's just a delight to read!

Peacemaker Jane is tasked with the job of keeping Rachel's bridesmaids under control.  With a huge amount of past history and tension brewing between them, Jane's task proves more than difficult.

I'm a sucker for a good romantic comedy but what I love even more is when that book is more about the relationships between a bunch of best friends and their ups and downs.

Female friendships are often complicated relationships in existence and this novel portrays them beautifully.  Ms Stoneley takes the varied identities often found in a group of friends and brings them to life through each character.  I love that each character is beautifully and humanly flawed but leaves you with no choice but to adore them for  different reasons.

Then there's Freddie - the hunky flatmate who seems so perfect.  Hurt and humiliated by the end of her previous relationship, Jane is suppressing her feelings for the delicious Freddie when it's it's obvious to everyone else that they are perfect together.  It's impossible not to spend the whole book rooting for them.

The whole story is told with humour, a hint of sadness and is a strong advocate for friendships in all their imperfect glory.  It's such a brilliant read and I highly recommend it.

It's quite the dilemma isn't it? When you are privy to the kind of information that can make or break a relationship. Your best friend is marrying a man who likes to play plug the hole with every female in his vicinity. Then you have to make a choice, do you tell your friend or keep your mouth shut and let them discover the truth for themselves?

It's even harder when people think you are bitter and scarred from your own failed relationships, hence more likely to want to see other relationships fail. That's not actually true when it comes to Jane, she just wants her friend Rachel to be with a man she can trust, but nobody is going to believe she doesn't have an ulterior motive. So, mouth zipped, soldier on, and pretend as if everything is hunky-dory.

Jane finds herself in the midst of what appears to be some sort of hidden camera episode of Cluedo for romance, backstabbing, betrayal and love, instead she is a bridesmaid and part of a bridal party for her best friend. Everyone has a secret to hide or a secret to tell, and for some reason everyone keeps revealing them all to Jane. Which is fine, except she can't keep them all straight in her head, so it leads to a romcomesque tragedy of errors and misconceptions.

I think everyone will get Jane, however towards the end I felt as if she needed to take a step back and ask herself why she feels the need to tell Rachel. To save her friend from certain misery? It's not the dark ages, there are other fish in the sea.The truth is, the messenger always gets blamed, shot, drawn and quartered. It's easier to do that than to confront the person doing the actual harm.

I can see why Stoneley is so popular, she writes with a fresh voice, stories full of drama and adds a layer of snarky humour to the mix. She reminds me of Sarah Morgan with the occasional Ruby Wax moment thrown in for good measure. It's a romcom written with the tartness of champagne bubbles and the wit of modern woman.

This was my first book by the author so I had no idea what to expect, which is always exciting, and I was blown away by it! Funny and crazy, hilarious and downright a pleasure to read from start to finish. Which did not take more than a few hours, in one sitting! Intriguing characters with a storyline that was fun to read and so many secrets to keep track of! No wonder poor Jane can't keep up! It's a mess! And sweet Freddie just has your heart pitter patterning from his first introduction. Loved all the characters and their dynamics and interactions and overall this read was a real good time, a great way to pass an afternoon and very well written. Well done to the author, I would be remiss not to give it five glowing stars!

A wedding you’ll never forget and a Rom-Com you won’t want to miss, Bridesmaids is the must-read, hilarious book for this summer!

I fell in love with Zara Stoneley over the holidays with her fabulous book, No One Cancels Christmas, and had a feeling that I would really like her newest book, Bridesmaids. I was absolutely right, except I had no idea how much I would enjoy this delightful story and the characters involved – including the precious kitty who will steal your heart!

There are four school mates, four friends and four members of the bridal party and lots and lots of secrets. Not all of the school mates are friends with each others. Not all of them are privy to each other’s secrets and not all of them are happy for the bride to be. Now they have all come together for the hen party and wedding and what a wedding this one will turn out to be!

Jane is our protagonist around whom most of the secrets flow. Not everyone likes Jane, but it appears that everyone talks to her, although what she hears is not always what is true. Sometimes Jane interprets things according to her own conflicted past. Rachel is the bride to be and so happy that she is oblivious to much of what is swirling around her: a fiancé who has secrets of his own, Jane who is struggling after her own failed engagement, and two bridesmaids who cannot stand to be in the same room at the same time. They are Maddie and Sally – one is married to the other’s old boyfriend and the other never gave up hope of rekindling that flame. And then there is Beth – the outlier, single, new mom whose secret makes all other secrets look like child’s play. Welcome to the wedding! Enjoy the ride!

When British Rom-Coms are done well, they are witty, smart, sharp and laugh-out-loud hilarious. Bridesmaids is all of that and more! I, quite literally, found myself laughing so hard at Jane and her friends, crying at times and then cheering for them at the end in a way that I seldom do for women’s fiction or “chick lit.” Zara Stoneley writes her books in such a way that each character has a very vivid personality and is relatable to someone that you know or have known in your life. You find yourself saying “oh yeah, I completely understand,” right along with the characters in the book. They are very real people while you are reading along with them. More importantly, though, Stoneley creates a story that is more than humorous. All of these characters are going through very complex issues in their lives from broken engagements to job insecurity to single parenthood and broken dreams. We watch as they slowly grow, come to subtle realizations about the next steps in their lives and become stronger as women – and men – so that by the end of the book you are as happy as they are with the way things turned out for their lives. It does have a happy ending although, wow, I wasn’t sure we ever would get these gals to that point!

If you loved Stoneley’s holiday tale or are looking for a delightful, heart-warming summer read, then this is the perfect choice for you. I absolutely adored it!

Thanks so much to #Netgalley, @HarperImpulse and #ZaraStoneley for my copy of #Bridesmaids.

Great story that just kept me captivated all the way through. Maybe not the best story to read a week before my own wedding, but surely that can't happen to me too!

I was rooting for Jane from the beginning, and enjoyed the stories of her high school friends reunited for her best friends wedding. One of the funniest stories I've read this year.

The story built up with the get together of all the bridesmaids, leading on to the hen do, and finally on to the big day! Great story and would recommend for somebody looking for a light-hearted, funny story.

“Bridesmaids” introduces us to Jane, who, after having been dumped on her hen night, isn’t so keen on weddings anymore. But when her best friend Rachel asks her to be her bridesmaid, she can’t say no, right? although the situation is rather awkward, as Jane knows a secret about Rachel’s husband – to – be and she really doesn’t know what to do!
The other bridesmaids turn out to be the girls’ school friends Sally, Maddie and Beth, and each of them have a secret of their own. Sally has married Maddie’s high school sweetheart Jack but Maddie still, secretly, loves him with all her heart. Beth is a single mum but won’t say a word about the father of her baby. Will all the secrets see the light of the day? And if so, why? Not at the wedding, right?

The story is told from Jane’s point of view and she is a brilliant narrator, and also an absolutely brilliant character, too often jumping to conclusions but that’s the way she is, putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with five or more, and I love such chaotic heroines! Probably because they’re like me. But back to Jane, who is such a warm, loveable character and her personal journey through the story, the decisions she has finally made, were heart – warming. She is the kind of character that simply makes you proud of them.
But we have a bunch of other, full of life, characters. Rachel, Jane’s best friend, Sally and Maddie and Beth. I loved how complex they were, how funny and how they often tried to put on a brave face to spare the others’ worries. They, like it usually is, had secrets that they kept from each other, but I really truly could understand why they were like this.

The story is full of hilarious moments and events and there were moments that reading it felt like watching a tennis game with your head going right and left, so many things happened and were said. The banter and dialogues were brilliantly light but also, believe me, it was full of feelings, this book, especially when Jane was wondering about her own emotions, and it was also so well written. It was uplifting take on love and relationships, marriage and also betrayal, but especially on friendship that will have you root for the characters and want to slap the others. The author easily pulls you into the story and from the very beginning you feel a part of the group and you’re with the characters through good and bed times.

“Bridesmaids” is written in such a light, chatty way and it was a real pleasure to read it. I’ve read all of Zara Stoneley’s books and loved all of them, and know how funny she can be, but this time the whole story is simply so light and bright and heart – warming and über – funny. It has this special feeling to it that makes you feel better and happier. I can’t recommend this gem of a book highly enough!

Bridesmaids is one of those feel-good books that are easy to read and keep you turning the pages. I really like wedding-related books so this one was right up my street. The characters were good, and the story was fun. A light and fun read!

Bridesmaids is a hilarious read, definitely good for the beach so long as your not too loud a laugher!!
The book is told fr9m Jane’s viewpoint, she is a good main character and I liked her. Jane had been dumped on her hen night and has not quite got over that although it was some time ago, so when her best friend Rachel comes over to tell her she’s getting married she has to put a smile on her face knowing that she knows something about the groom but should she tell?
The book is split into three parts, the first part is where we get to meet the bridesmaids then we have the hen party and then the day itself.
This was a light hearted read with likeable characters, not going to spoil it for you so you’ll just have to read it!!
Another winner by Zara Stoneley as good as the wedding I thought.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Killer Reads, HarperImpulse for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Weddings can be high stress times between the couple, their families and friends. Everyone seems to be very opinionated and it can be such a dramatic time. Throw in a bridesmaid with a cancelled wedding, a bridesmaid with baby daddy issues and two bridesmaids who share a man with all the drama, this book was full of drama!

I like a book that centers around the crazy of a wedding, it makes me think back on mine and appreciate the little drama that I did have! It is so intriguing how much stress we put on the one day and how it can possibly affect relationships for a lifetime. I almost wonder why we do the who show anyways!! This book made me think about how heightened it can get and how it can affect way more than just the bride and groom.

This book was a little too zany for me. It just felt a little too over the top and I was disappointed that I called the major plot point way too early. It was a good break from some serious reading, but I definitely rolled my eyes a few times!

Told from the point of view of Jane, bridesmaid for her friend Rachel. Will she get together with her flatmate Freddie? will all the secrets being kept by the other bridesmaids be revealed and will the wedding go ahead?

An entertaining read - another great book from Zara Stoneley!

Bridesmaids by Zara Stoneley is one of those books that will make you laugh, cry and shock you all at the same time.

Jane has been dumped by her fiance during her hen party by text. She has moved in with Freddy, one of her high school friends and is barely keeping it together with her crazy boss and her mother demands.
When her best friend Rachel chooses her to be her bridesmaid she accepts although she can't stand Rachel's soon to be husband.What's more Rachel has invited few other high school friends to be bridesmaids as well and Jane has to keep all of them happy.

This is like high school all over again-lies, petty squabbles, deceits, secret crushes, romances and drama.

I enjoyed this laugh out loud, romantic comedy very much. Characters are realistically portrayed, with all good and bad traits. It is so down to earth and heartwarming.
It is so engaging and highly entertaining, A perfect feel good book.

The blurb for sure summarises what you can expect from this new Zara Stoneley book. Definitely the most hilarious, feel-good rom-com of the year. Be prepared for a roller coaster ride because this book has lots of excitement in store for you.
As you might have already guessed, the whole story revolves around the preparations of a wedding. Added to this is the fact that our chief protagonist, Jane, is dumped at her hen do and is sworn off weddings. And other bridesmaids have their own skeletons which are threatening to come out at any moment. Yes, folks! We are going to have our hands full.
There are relationships made and unmade and a heartwarming fairytale ending (talk of true love!) that is both realistic and magical. Cosy and comforting, 'Bridesmaids' is the perfect gem for summer holidays with the most charming romantic mix -- a cute kitten and a cute guy along with it. Sigh!

4.5 STARS

Bridesmaids is a funny story about friendship and love!

I knew right from the first chapter this was going to be a book I enjoyed. Jane is absolutely hilarious. It begins she says with a lie she told her best friend, Rachel. You see, Rachel, is getting married, and Jane isn’t really about marriage these days. Her ex-fiance dumped her by text while she was at her hen party. However, she adores Rachel, so she decides to keep her honest opinion to herself even though Jane isn’t Rachel’s fiance’s biggest fan AT ALL!!! This is the beginning of a book full of humor, love, friendship, and secrets...and maybe betrayal! It culminates in the best ending I have come across in quite a while.

Jane, Rachel, Sally, Beth, and Maddie have been friends since they were young. Life has taken them all in different directions except Jane and Rachel. They have remained close. Each woman is very different. Rachel is the sweetheart! She has the biggest heart, forgiving others for the wrongs they have done. Beth is a single mother who is hiding a GIGANTIC secret. She won’t divulge who the father is. Maddie thought she had her life planned out when she was young, but she discovers she doesn’t. Sally is the one who has to be in control, and by the way, Maddie and Sally are in love with the same man. He is married to one of them. As you can imagine, this is a book filled with drama, yet there is also quite a bit of laughter as well. Our heroine, Jane, is the one who holds these women together. She has a problem of her own...she may be falling for her flatmate. All your questions will be answered, and all their secrets will be revealed. Read on to find out how it all pans out!

Not only is this a romantic comedy, but it’s about friendship and how it changes over the years. These women knew each other like no one else when they were young, and now, each have their own secrets they are keeping from one another. Can they find that special bond between them again? This is a gem of a book about love, the changes life throws at you, and lasting friendship!!!!

Those with children, or those who have been around children, know that they are OUTSTANDING at doing things to shock people. Now, there is a little boy in this book who goes by the name of Joe. He sounds a cutie to be honest, and that was before he timed something perfectly!

Have you ever watched the rom-com 'Bridesmaids'? Remember the scene where the characters are in an extremely posh, extremely expensive wedding dress shop when suddenly their stomachs make sounds to be people with IBS to shame. You know the one I'm on about? Yeah, that's the one...the one where you should have just put your carrot stick in your hummus for your mid movie snack**. Don't fret, baby Joe didn't do what THEY did - there was only one of him, obviously. However, his perfectly timed, similar incident in a similar shop had me bursting out laughing screeching, 'GO JOE!'. Let's just say that karma is a bitch, and so is a particular character - he got her right where it hurt!!

** carrot stick? Try family sized bar of chocolate....

Apologies...I veered off a little bit...

Be prepared for mega amounts of drama in this book. Every single character has an entire cemetery of skeletons in their closets, with some of them waiting to do more damage than others. The main character, Jane, has a huge heart and is willing to do anything for anyone, even if it makes her upset or makes her run around like a blue bottomed fly. She's had her heart broken big time and is now afraid to put her heart back out there in case it happens again. The perfect person to be a bridesmaid for her best friends wedding!!!!!!!!!

I adored Jane's character, even if she annoyed me at times due to her stirring the pot and refusing to set the record straight instead of turning a situation into a 'he said she said'. Granted, she wasn't the only one to do that and yes, I won't lie, it did annoy me because they were grown adults who were caught up in playground antics which could have easily have been rectified if they, surprisingly enough, actually spoke to each other! Too easy though, I know. As for her roommate, Freddie - I want one....

Beth, one of Jane's old school friends, is an absolute legend. Omg. She is the person who will see someone looking like they have just been dragged through a hedge backwards, and tell them exactly that. Yes, I know that people like that get people's backs up because of the, erm, bluntness of their words (I may or may not be speaking from experience), but wouldn't you rather honesty than fakery? Again, yes, I do know that there is a way of saying things. Unfortunately I haven't worked that out myself yet!!!

If you think that 'Bridesmaids' is going to be a sickly sweet, candy floss type of read due to the pretty in pink cover, then you will be most mistaken. I don't do candy floss reads at all, and I can safely say that Zara Stoneley's new book is anything BUT! It's hilarious. It's down to Earth. It's modern. It's romantic in the 'staring you in the face' sort of way. It's relatable. It's cosy. It is a bloody brilliant book which puts relationships of all shapes and sizes to the test, proving that if they're true and meant to me, any relationship or friendship will stand the test of time.

I loved how relaxed and engaging Zara Stoneley's story telling was, speaking to her readers as though they were best buddies instead of the ones on the other side of the paper. This author constantly surprises me with each book she produces, putting romance in the spotlight in an extremely realistic, relatable way which even makes the most UN-romantic of people, IE me, want to grab a piece of the action! And of the cake....

A fun, bubbly, entertaining romcom from Zara Stoneley. A bride, a group of bridesmaids and a wedding but a whole pile of secrets - what could possibly go wrong? Things, of course, do - but it's a fun ride and friendship prevails overall. Sweet, amusing and perfect escapism.

The fabulous Zara Stoneley is back with a captivating, effervescent and irrepressible romantic comedy that has got unputdownable written all over it: Bridesmaids.

Jane thought that she had life sorted: she was going to marry the love of her life, had a job she absolutely adored which allowed her to indulge in her passion for photography and was destined for a lifetime of domestic bliss and marital harmony – until things went belly up during her hen night. Her fiance Andy chose that very moment to tell her he didn’t see a future for them, leaving her alone, humiliated and with her entire life in tatters. All her hopes and dreams for the future had been smashed into a million tiny pieces, however, luckily for Jane she has her good friend Rachel by her side to help her pick herself up, dust herself off and show her that this is merely a bump in the road and that happiness can be within reach – even when you’ve been dumped and your social media influencer boss is driving you potty with her incessant demands, diva tantrums and lack of any sense whatsoever!

Things have certainly got better for Jane in the last couple of months. Her boss is still a nightmare with an Instagram filter, but she cannot imagine doing any other job, she has managed to find a flat share with an old friend from school, the gentle, charming and completely gorgeous Freddy and she is slowly but surely getting on with her life and enjoying herself as a single woman. Rachel had helped her to put herself back together and she would do absolutely anything for her – even be a bridesmaid for her wedding when being surrounded by wedding cake, confetti and tulle is Jane’s idea of hell. Still, Rachel was always there for her and Jane would not miss her wedding for anything – if even if she has some reservations about her best friend’s groom to be!

Rachel’s other bridesmaids have got their own problems to contend with. Maddie and Sally do not have anything in common except that they are hopelessly in love with the same man! Beth has just had a baby, but she is keeping mum about her baby daddy. Is the father someone with whom she had a one night stand? Or someone who is much closer to home? And then there is Rachel’s intended bridegroom who isn’t the Prince Charming she thinks he is…

Can the bridesmaids manage to persuade Rachel that she is about to marry a prized rat? Will they stop the wedding? Or will they all end up finding their own happy endings?

Zara Stoneley is on top from with Bridesmaids. Funny, heartwarming, emotional and sparkling with humour, charm, heart and warmth, Bridesmaids is a tale of friendships, second chances, fresh starts and moving on that will resonate and delight readers everywhere. Zara Stoneley has this wonderful ability to make readers roar with laughter on one page and cry on another and Bridesmaids is certainly no exception.

Fun, fabulous and feel-good, Bridesmaids is a compulsively readable romantic read from one of the best writers in the business: Zara Stoneley.

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APRIL 28, 2019 BY KATEEDIT

Zara Stoneley: Bridesmaids


Review:

If all weddings were like Rachel’s, I might be encouraged to attend them more often! Bridesmaids is full of drama, and I was never sure in which direction events would take the reader. I was eager to find out if Rachel would get married without a hitch and was hooked until the end following every kiss, argument and unfortunate incident!

Bridesmaids is narrated by Rachel’s Maid Of Honour, Jane, and Stoneley’s writing helped me to feel as if I was talking to my own best friend. I laughed with her and cried with her and felt angry as she did. I was able to feel involved in her circle of friends and I also enjoyed meeting her parents, and of course  Freddie. The characters are so well drawn that it is impossible not to respond to them and be drawn into their narrative.

Although Bridesmaids is full of humour, it is also an astute look at how friendships and romantic relationships develop over time. As Jane often acts as confidante to the group  the reader is also privy to many of their secrets, so the themes of infidelity  parenting and marriage breakdown are explored. I loved how this was done sensitively so that I was able to think about my own feelings as the subjects were raised.

Favorite Quotes:

He has been ‘he who must not be named’ for quite a while now. Mainly because hearing his name led either to an irrational outburst (from me), featuring lots of swear words, and descriptions about what I’d like to do to various parts of his anatomy, or, and this was so much worse, horrible, snot-inducing tears. Don’t you hate it when that happens, when you end up inside out and can’t stop?

I cut his head off all my photos. And a triangle out of the crotch area. And looked if Amazon Prime supplied Voodoo Dolls. They do, just in case you need to know for future reference.

Sally was the girl at school who either already had it all or was damned well going to get it soon. You know the type? You get that longed for pony, next minute she’s got a unicorn. A pink one, that makes dreams come true and farts rainbows.

I’m more Krispy Kreme doughnuts than quinoa, if you know what I mean. And most of that healthy stuff just seems to get stuck in my teeth and annoy me for the rest of the day. Whoever thought a rice cake was a good idea? I mean, who dreamt that the words rice and cake should even be in the same sentence?

‘But I’ll get over it. Plenty more fish in the sea,’ she raises an eyebrow, ‘just not that particular sprat.


My Review:

My perusal of this cleverly crafted tale was rudely interrupted by occasional outbreaks of giggle-snorts and one particularly vivid scene involving a sick infant in a bridal shop that erupted in spasms of laughter that ceased all further reading until normal respirations and clear vision was regained. Ms. Stoneley’s quirky cast of characters and engaging storylines hit all feels in a highly entertaining and pleasantly appealing manner. This was a fun read with a badly behaved groom, poorly kept secrets, and reams of sharp wit and clever snark. A new addition to my Brit word list is bint, which Mr. Google tells me is derogatory (and possibly offensive) slang for a female in the UK but is also used as a cheeky form of endearment in Western Sydney.

What do you think would happen if you got a group of girls together from high school to be your bridesmaids? Girls that have not seen each other in years. That may technically be a bit of frenemies? You guessed it, you get an entertaining read that will have you literally laughing out loud!


Jane has been a bit down on her luck lately. She just got dumped the night of her hen party by her fiancee Andy via text! He just wasn't feeling it. She struggles to find a flat she can afford on her own and finds that is going to be next to impossible. So she ends up moving in with the self proclaimed geek from high school Freddie. Except Freddie is no longer a geek. Unfortunately for Jane he is in love with some mystery girl. Her boss is literally a nightmare who thinks Jane is at her beck and call. Just when it couldn't get worse, her best friend Rachael springs it on her that she is getting married and wants Jane to be a bridesmaid! Add to the equation that Jane despises Rachael's soon to be husband!


Oh my gosh this had me gasping at the crazy antics these girls were capable of. The lies, deceit and secrets kept among themselves was shocking. It was like high school all over again! As the big day nears Jane is struggling to keep it together. These other bridesmaids put the D in drama! As Rachael's BFF Jane is expected to rein them all in and keep the peace.


Does the perfect wedding go off without a hitch? Did the girls manage to come together to make it a perfect day for Rachael? A delightful rom com that will have you smiling and laughing until the very end! Adorable, fun and zany! You are sure to love this one!


I am so excited that I got to come along on this blog tour! This is my first book by Zara Stoneley and you can sign me up as a fan. Her light, fun, quick and hilarious book brought a smile to my face.

Loved this one, exactly what I needed to read! I read this on a flight to the US and @zarastoneley draws you in immediately, sparking curiousity about what these secrets are.

There is so much to like about this book, a love story, humour, relatable situations, heartbreak...it has it all.

The story centres around Jane as she takes on the role of being bridesmaid to her best friend, Rachel. Jane doesn't have the best history with relationships but I won't spoil anything there.
This reminds me of so many situations I have been in and heard about from friends. Weddings bring together people who were maybe friends years ago, or complete strangers who all have a single friend in common...both of which can be awkward situations to navigate!

There are a lot of twists and turns to keep up with, and quite a lot of characters to get to know. I worked out some of the twists ahead of time...but there are some great ones that I didn't see coming!! Solid novel that I'll be recommending to everyone! Thank you to @netgalley and @harperimpulse for the opportunity to review
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