The Lucky Escape by Laura Jane Williams was so enjoyable and the most perfect summer read! This was my first time reading a book by Laura and I was not disappointed! I felt so many good emotions when I was reading this book and there were so many moments when I had no idea what was going to happen!

I loved the character development that Annie went through from the beginning to the end of the book! A lot of Annie's doubts and worries about her future were really relatable. The tension between Annie and Patrick was perfect and I found myself reaching for this book all the time because I could not put it down!

Annie is about to walk down the aisle with her boyfriend of over 10 years, Alexander. Except Alexander doesn't turn up. Devastated, her in-laws to-be insist she consider going on the luxury honeymoon to Australia anyway. Then a chance meeting with Patrick, who she hasn't seen since her summer school theatre days as a child, leads her to take chances and start to live her life the way she really wants to, rather than how everyone else, especially her mother, expect her to do.

Its a really fun read, but with undertones - the reader keeps wondering if people are as they seem, if things are as safe as Annie believes, if the romance will work out. In many ways she's a very insecure and rather wet individual - her little sister is much feistier. But she is endearing, and you are willing her to get over this catastrophe in her life and make something of herself.

I enjoyed it very much, even if a few parts were stretching credulity a little. Light hearted and fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book! I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this one just hit different, and at the right time. It’s sweet, funny, witty, and relatable.

Annie is caught between two versions of herself, and I found this theme resonated heavily with me. So much of our lives are shaped into the roles we play - for myself: mother, wife, daughter, nurse - but sometimes we get so caught up in “acting” in those positions, that it’s possible to lose sight of the fact that underneath it all, we are an individual too. And we owe it to ourselves to put ourselves first sometimes; to ask ourselves what would make us happy, and to prioritize the decisions that result in that happiness.

Something else that I really enjoyed about this book is that while it was a story about two Caucasian heterosexual people, the author took time to ensure there was visibility to POC, LGBTQ2+ representation, a side character with a near invisible illness, an interaction that brought up the use of pronouns in a very causal nature, the list goes on. It’s an important reminder that it’s just not that hard to offer up some time to showcase diversity.

I think I’m going to have to stop saying that romance isn’t a go-to genre for me, because I find I’m gravitating to it more as a welcome reprieve from heavier reads. And that’s certainly not to say that romance doesn’t tackle some serious topics, but I often finish the book more lighthearted than when I started, and it’s a great feeling.

The Lucky Escape hits shelves on June 29th, 2021, and is a delightful read.
Sincere thanks to @NetGalley and @HarperCollins for this digital advanced readers copy.

~ 👩🏻‍🦰

The Lucky Escape by Laura Jane Williams is a sweet novel exploring whether a previous love can have a chance to make it a second time around. Annie is left reeling after being dumped at the altar but when she crosses paths with an old friend from drama school, Patrick, she impulsively invites him to her "honeymoon" trip funded by her ex's parents. Annie is swept away to Australia with Patrick and plans to use this trip to recuperate after her breakup. However once they arrive in Australia the tension ramps up quickly as they realize much more than a light vacation is in store for the pair.

This cover looks like a fun beach read and this book was exactly that! The first portion of the book focuses on Annie's life after being left at the altar and the friendship she develops with Patrick. I thought that adding this helped develop the characters and also helped explain why Annie would invite Patrick beyond "romance reasons". I also enjoyed seeing Annie's relationship with her mom, sister, and friends as she relied on them after the breakup.

The middle part focuses primarily on the honeymoon trip which had a strong sense of place and left me wanting to travel to Australia ASAP! I loved the banter between the pair and thought the chemistry between Annie and Patrick was clear. Patrick was a lovable character and I was rooting for his happiness in this story. Annie at times could be frustrating as she was a bit flighty and indecisive, but I also understood that an event like she went through forces you to evaluate your entire life plan which is difficult.

The last portion of the book focused no how Annie processed her current circumstances and her relationship with Patrick, but I do think more time could have been spent on wrapping up some of the elements to the ending. However as long as you are okay with suspending a bit of disbelief I still think many readers would love to add this romance to their beach bag!

Many thanks to the publisher Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Get your summer reading sorted with this gorgeous tale of second-chance romance!

The Lucky Escape is all about Annie, a jilted bride looking for a fresh start. After a chance encounter with an old friend from drama school, it seems like things might just be looking up for Annie. Coupled with the fact that her ex's generous parents want to send her away on what was supposed to be her honeymoon, Annie's whole life is suddenly turned upside down.

With a brand new life and a brand new self to rediscover, this is a story of love, romance, and being true to yourself. It's also bound to give you travel envy reading about the luxury hotels, sights and attractions that Annie visits on her honeymoon!

The dynamic between the main characters is written excellently, and it's exciting to see how it develops over the course of the book. However, despite its enjoyable and easy to read nature, this is actually a different story than you might first think. I'd say it's more a journey of self-discovery with a subplot of romance, rather than a pure rom-com.

Annie and Patrick complement one another perfectly. From the moment they meet, you find yourself willing them to get together, and there are plenty of sweetly romantic moments peppered throughout the story. Of course, there are some bumps along the road too, but you'll have to read it yourself to find out if Annie and Patrick get their happily ever after!

The Lucky Escape is the perfect feel-good read for summer!

I loved the editors description of this book. The main character gets jilted on her wedding day. How did this happen to her ? And so she decides to start saying yes to life, to adventure and to living the life she really wants. Her first “yes” is a trip to Australia with and old friend. The premise is great and I really wanted to like it more. It’s romantic comedy without enough of either for me. It was a good read, but for me not a great one. I wanted fun, laughter, humor, a happy rediscovering of her true self and who she wants to be. It just needed a little more “oomph” for me. I did like it, but didn’t love it.

Annie finds herself left at the altar on her wedding day. After a chance meet up with an old childhood friend, Annie decides to take Patrick on her honeymoon with her. Whilst on the holiday Annie vows to say yes and to try every new opportunity.

This is such a great book to read during the summer and I read it within 24 hours! I loved Williams writing style and the plot, finding it so fun and fast paced, making me want to be on holiday. I also found the characters really likeable, including Annie and liked her development as the plot progressed. Williams includes some LGBTQ+ characters and uses different pronouns for her characters which I found to be very inclusive and well written.

I definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting a fun, chick lit read. I did find the plot a little predictable in places but this didn't stop me from enjoying it.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unedited feedback.

I really enjoyed this book .
A fun, clever ,read with great characters and an interesting plot.
A great summer read which shows you can bounce back after heartbreak
Thanks to Netgalley, Avon Books and Laura Jane Williams for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

It’s Annie’s wedding day and was suppose to be one of the best days of her life. Instead, her fiancé, Alexander, leaves her at the altar. Annie is devasted and confused, she doesn’t know what went wrong.

Days later she meets Patrick, an old friend from camp. He’s a breath of fresh air, so different than Alexander.

Her “suppose-to-be” in-laws feel horrible about what their son did to Annie, and they suggest she go on the honeymoon to Australia that they have planned. Annie needs to get away and decides to go with Patrick. Why not, they’re just friends, right?

This was a fun rom-com, perfect for the summer. It’s not just a romance but a story of mending a broken heart and finding out what you really want out of life. I loved the chemistry between Annie and Patrick and Patrick is just the sweetest guy ever! Also loved the honeymoon location, Australia.

It you’re in the mood for a sweet, friends to lover romance with the perfect getaway setting, this one is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of The Lucky Escape in exchange for an honest review.
So I loved Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams, it's still one of the funniest and most unique romance books I've ever read and it made me feel the most wonderful emotions. So I was quite hopeful I'd also enjoy The Lucky Escape, which I did, mostly.
I loved the premise and was really enjoying the book right up until they returned from Australia which is where I had my problems. Patrick was painted as incredibly healthy and able to discuss his emotions but honestly it just felt like he was making Annie's success about him and not wanting her to succeed. I realise this wasn't the intention but it came across very selfish which seemed completely out of character.
Having said that, I LOVED their adventures in Australia and experiencing them falling in love, it made me want to have my own holiday romance (happily engaged but a gal can dream). I enjoy how Annie's mother was dealt with, although it was dealt with very hastily, but that's the issue with books of this length. The attempt to deal with large and scary topics is present but there's not enough words to do it.
Overall I definitely enjoyed it and can't wait to read more from Laura, I'd definitely recommend it to friends.

I loved this! It made me question my life and my choices. It was cute, fun and exactly what you may be after from a chick lit. Highly, highly recommended!

I really enjoyed this book! Fans of insta lust/love should enjoy this story of carpe diem and love.
I honestly don't understand a lot of the less than favorable reviews this book is getting.
It's a light and fluffy read meant to entertain and not necessarily dig too deep.
Annie is a less than perfect, pretty flawed character and I always find that women are always harder on a female protagonist that it is flighty or indecisive. It's a shame that the same love and forgiveness we always have for a romance hero, we can have for a less than perfect heroine.

I enjoyed Patrick's hard earned wisdom and Annie's mother could've done with a slap or two. Freddie was a perfect little teenager that idolized her big sis, full of wisdom no 13 year old is really capable of. Her character was the real inconsistency in this book.

To me, this was a solid 4 star read.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you, Avon for this ARC.

A fluffy romcom read for readers who enjoyed the Unhoneymooners or Sex and the City. Imagine getting left at the altar on your wedding day! Annie still goes on her first class Australian honeymoon with a new-old friend to help cope with her heartbreak. The cute cover caught my attention!

There are some things I didn’t love... Characters seemed inconsistent and all over the place. The feminism felt super forced. The nicknames were a little weird and rather annoying.
But it’s a quick read if you want to escape.
A rounded-up 3 star read

Thanks to @netgalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Annie is all set to marry the love of her life, Alexander. She gets ready, heads to the church with her BFF, little sister, and dad. That is odd - why is the wedding planner standing outside the church with a pained look on her face? Alexander texted her - he is not coming.

Annie's world is turned upside down. As she tries to figure out the next steps in her life, including finding a new place to live, she starts exercising and joins a local bootcamp. While leaving there one day, "Annie?" asks a man (Patrick) at the gym. It turns out it they did a drama camp when they were 14 and have not seen each other since.

As they reconnect, Alexander's mother pushes Annie to take the lavish honeymoon (3 weeks in Australia!!!) she paid for. In a drunken conversation, Annie invites Patrick on her honeymoon.

What will happen next? Will this honeymoon be a trip to remember or a trip to forget?

I really enjoyed this book and had trouble putting it down for real life problems - i.e. - work.

I look forward to reading more by this author.

When her fiancé doesn't show up at the alter, Annie goes on a journey to discover her true self.

Annie has been with her fiancé since college and the obvious next step in their relationship is to get married. When he leaves her before the wedding, she's devastated and, after being offered a completely paid for honeymoon, decides to take the opportunity. One drunken night, she invites Patrick, an old acquaintance from her teenage years with whom she recently reconnects. They fly to Australia for their 3 week adventure as Patrick teaches her how to love who she is.

This book was a fun read, but not my preference for books. Those who enjoy stories where the female has to find herself and see who she is without a man in her life, this book is for you. Annie is very driven by other people's opinions of her and puts all the blame on herself for things that are not her fault. I found that very frustrating about her and while it's great to see her grow, she still continues to let people influence her decisions and I wish we had seen her fight back a little sooner.

This book was perfect for a summer read, the plot was fantastic and definitely gets you dreaming about reconnecting with someone you love on a romantic trip! I loved that this story was focused on finding what makes you truly happy instead of just settling, and it was fantastically written!! A truly lovely read.

The Honeymoon without a husband at all? Why not?

Annie was left standing at the altar after Alexander decided to send a text that he cannot marry her and leave without any more explanation. It hurt. It was the last thing that she would expect from him. Now, she's alone, broken-hearted, and with no clue what to do next. Then, she decided to go on her honeymoon. Alone. I mean, not exactly alone...

She decided to go to Australia with her old friend. They did not speak in years and after a brief meeting there felt a mutual bond. Spontaneously, agreed to go on holiday and use this time to chill and find the courage to move on.

It is not a typical holiday romance to read on the beach. It is much more. Of course, the love story is brilliant. I love how they realize feelings for each other, how they manage to take it slow and respect each other needs in this time. But this book is also about how to find own voice. To say aloud how you feel, what do you need, desire and to say yes to life opportunities. The changes in Annie are so inspiring and I truly admire her approach in this challenging time.

Moreover, the Lucky Escape is so excellent written that I have read it in one day! So funny, witty, and cute! A lot of alcohol, breath-taking landscapes and a bunch of friends make this even more amusing and enjoyable.

Definitely my 5/5

Loved the story! Hooks you right from the beginning with such a shock and then tugs your heart throughout the rest. Makes me want to reconnect with someone on a trip! Such a great read!

As one door closes another one opens….

Being jilted at the altar doesn’t necessarily have to spell disaster but I guess it all depends on the way you deal with the aftermath of your supposedly happiest day of your life turning into your saddest and most humiliating. Bride to be Annie faces just this situation when fiancé Alexander decides to call off the wedding, via the party planner! As anger, embarrassment, hurt and disbelief gradually subside and Annie eases herself back into ordinary life with the love and support of her friends the Core Four, her adorable teenage sister Freddie and canine companion Carol, will she view the worst day of her life as a lucky escape? Making the decision to transform herself into a physically and mentally fitter person, she bumps into an old friend, Patrick, whose own attitude to life, living in the moment and acting spontaneously is instantly appealing. And what better way to put this new outlook into practice than to invite this virtual stranger on your honeymoon; after all why give up a trip of a lifetime to the other side of the world just because your would be husband said “I don’t” instead of “I do”?!

I wasn’t sure whether I was going to warm to this storyline or even Annie herself but once this jilted bride gathers herself together I knew we were going to get along just fine, especially once the rest of the cast are introduced and I felt surrounded by ordinary, warm, kind,funny and loving human beings. The narrative jogs along at a steady pace until the actions moves to Australia and it’s then that temperatures really rocket!

Although the potential for one hot sizzling romance is blatantly on the cards will Annie succumb to Patrick’s obvious charms or will she friend zone him? I have to say I was completely smitten with Patrick Hummingbird; for me it was love at first sight! He’s kind, he’s caring and he knows exactly the right thing to say and when. In many ways Patrick is Annie’s gift from the gods. He’s her personal life coach, good friend and he’s obviously fit and handsome so I think someone should clone him now! It’s the presence of this character that sets the narrative on fire; I could literally see the steam rising from the pages thanks to the intensity of Annie and Patrick’s connection. Guaranteed to put you in the mood for holiday adventures of your own I truly didn’t want this part of the storyline to end! My 5⭐️are based purely on this Australian non honeymoon and the serendipitous appearance of Annie’s childhood friend, my favourite highlights of this altogether super summery read. However all good things, especially holidays have to come to an end so the question remains what does the future hold for the invigorated,more optimistic and assertive Annie and where does Patrick fit in?

Let’s be honest here. From very early on you have a clear vision how this storyline will inevitably wrap up but as far as I’m concerned that bothers me not one iota. If written well with characters whose presence light up the room then this type of novel is my favourite and Laura Jane Williams succeeds on both counts. Besides Patrick, Annie’s sister Freddie is a definite contender for best supporting actress! What a poppet! With such a wise head on young shoulders her voice really made me giggle. I also quite like the fact the Core Four remain on the periphery, encouraging and supporting Annie when the need arises especially since her mum is sadly lacking in that department. Maybe certain issues that some of these characters face are resolved at an unrealistic speed but I can forgive this minor discrepancy as this is escapist fiction after all! If I were to describe this book along the lines of a sandwich I’d say the outer layers (pre and post the honeymoon) are great but it’s the filling (Australia) that is the tastiest, most pleasurable part.

I’ve now read all three of Laura Jane Williams’ novels and loved all of them but I think The Lucky Escape is her best to date. There’s such an abundance of joy, laughter, love and romance in her writing that overwhelms any sadness or difficulties these characters may experience so you’re left feeling cleansed (temporarily) of any unhappiness or worries of your own. If the author’s main aim is to make you smile then in my opinion it’s definitely mission accomplished!! Read this. Smile. And be happy!

My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

My thoughts

 



Narrative and Plot



 

 




When I signed up for an e-arc of The Lucky Escape, I was expecting a fun rom-com escapist novel. The book did surprise me initially as it took enough time to get to the escapist part. But it was worth the wait. I enjoyed the whole extravagant trip and with good company too.







The narrative focuses entirely on the main character, Annie who kind of finds her voice in the book. The concept is something I have been familiar with the Kangana Ranaut starring movie Queen. Though it didn't live up to that, this had a sweet arc of its own.




The plot however, felt a bit wavering in the third half and had me puzzled at what direction it was going. It gave a wholesome ending but it could have either stopped while on a high or took a bolder risk.






















Characters and Conflicts

 


The two main characters Annie and Patrick were great to read. The romance was set up nicely. The bizarre idea of going on a honeymoon with a stranger was well justified. The entire trip was fun to read with surprising revelations about the characters.







However, in the third act the characters start to contradict themselves. Patrick himself felt diminished into a love interest towards the end. Annie seemed to backtrack after taking her leap without any inhibitions.







The story took a surprising turn making it feel like it had overstayed its welcome . All that conflict managed to do was backtrack the character arc a little bit and then push it forward full circle.




That's not to say that it was an unpleasant ending. The book was heartwarming and gleeful. It deals with various aspects of self growth and coping mechanisms. Not to mention, the ensemble cast with three dimensional supporting characters. As in life, you never come out of any kind of grief without a support system and Annie was lucky in that regard.








Conclusion

 


The Lucky Escape, is a jolly good one-time read for the summer season. If you love travelling from one destination to other all the while enjoying the comfort of your reading nook , this rom com is your pick.