Unfortunately I found this book a bit dull and wishy washy. It was entirely predictable and I found the main character quite annoying at times. She doesn't know what she wants and her thoughts are all over the place. It almost feels like the author didn't know where she was going with the book when she started and just kind of made it up as she went along.

I didn't find it gripping or original but it was definitely a laid back read if you are looking for something easy going.

This book was so so good! It’s a love story but it’s also a coming of age story. After being left at the alter Annie does a lot of self discovery throughout the book and so does her new old friend Patrick as he deals with his own losses and struggles. Together they escape their lives (literally - they go to Australia!) and figure out how to be themselves, the importance of taking risks and how to move forward in their futures.

I loved the chemistry between Annie and Patrick and I may have fallen in love with him myself haha. He’s so nice and sweet and downright hilarious in his goofy ways. This book had me laughing out loud at parts (hello “willygate”) and made me feel like I’d been to Australia myself with the beautifully described setting. I highly recommend this book to fellow rom-com lovers like myself and anyone who loves the friends to lovers trope.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the digital ARC of this book. All opinions remain my own as always.

This starts out as a fun book, fluently written and easy to read; a not too annoying protagonist, going through the worst day of her life so far. Although, it does feel like the author describes every supporting character in over-the-top detail, making sure no two have similar features or personalities and encompassing the entire spectrum of backgrounds. I did find this a little distracting, as if the author was trying just a little too hard to be all things to all readers and wasn't allowing our own imaginations any room to breathe life into them as we saw them ourselves.
The next part of the book is the 'honeymoon', set up nicely and with the best would-be mother-in-law ever! The travelogue would make anyone want to visit Australia tomorrow and there were some great ideas for real couples planning their own honeymoons.
It comes complete with misunderstandings and insecurities and well, you can guess. So I would really recommend the book to about 70% of the way through.
Bizarrely, then it strikes a really false note in the briefest of scenes in a supermarket and from then on it had to work really hard to get me back on side. It was as though some drama or obstacle was hurriedly needed before the ending, so the male character was suddenly thrown under the bus and started behaving and saying things very out of character with no explanation.
It's a shame, as there were opportunities for said drama and 'trouble in paradise' in various other ways which weren't explored and could have been absorbing played out on the page.
So a thumbs up for the Oz section. But lets itself down towards the end. When you make us care about a character, you can't then betray them and expect us to be happy about it. Or understand it, without some major explaining into the bargain.

Shortly after being left at the altar, Annie runs into Patrick, whom she hasn't seen since they were kids at summer camp. Her almost in-laws feel terrible about how their son treated her, and suggest she go on the non-refundable honeymoon trip they bought. When they okay her to take a friend, she invites Patrick.

Spending time with him, she realizes she's changed since the fearless girl she was when he knew her before. He accepts and encourages her in a way her ex never did. When did she stop living for herself and start living for other people? Can Patrick help her reconnect to her old self, and find love along the way?

From the beginning, I enjoyed this author's writing style. I felt immersed in Annie's world as she experienced it. The emotions were vibrant and heartfelt. Patrick is a big sweetheart, kind and adventurous—and exactly what Annie needs. The side characters were interesting, too. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys uplifting, romantic women's fiction.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Every now and then I like to take a break from psychological thrillers and settle down to a decent romcom. This certainly fits the bill. After reading the blurb it sounded just what I needed, and it was!

Annie is set to marry her boyfriend Alexander, who she has been with since her university days. She thinks she has the perfect relationship but unfortunately it appears that Alexander does not feel the same, as when Annie arrives at the church she finds out that he is not going to turn up. One jilted bride!

Alexander’s parents are appalled at their son as they really like Annie so they insist that she still goes on honeymoon and she can take a friend. Here is where the story builds. Annie bumps into an old friend, Patrick, from her school theatre group and invites him along for the trip, just as friends.

It is the holiday of a lifetime and the two friends enjoy each other’s company, but soon they both develop feelings which they are unsure of. Will they just remain friends? Is it too soon to jump into another relationship?

I love the way this story gently unfolds and there is plenty of humour along the way.

The characters are believable and I warmed to Annie straight away.

I can really relate to this story as I fell in love with one of my best friends, unexpectedly. Believe me, it can happen!

Many thanks to netgalley, the publishers and the author for an arc. Really enjoyed reading this.

Publication date is 10th June 2021

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK to send me a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I had a great time reading this book. It makes me feel things, primarily due to this wedding. Like NO! I wasn't okay at all, even if I knew what will happen.

I feel like the novel is divided into two parts. The first one is for the honeymoon and the second is set in London. I liked that aspect as you continue to follow Annie and her new self back to London. However, I wasn't interested in some elements, and also, it feels like this part take a lot more space in the book than the Australian honeymoon. In the end, even if I understand the importance of these holidays, it doesn't feel that important.

I wasn't a big fan of the romance between Annie and Patrick at the beginning. I found it was too fast and quite unbelievable (she was just dumped at the church.) However, I liked how it slows down a bit but still being present throughout the story, especially in the second part of the novel. I also like that you don't have a big problem creating tension in the story; it's a lot more subtle.

I connect right away with Annie; I share a lot of the same trait with her, so for me, the story has another meaning; it's more than a story. I love her evolution toward herself, but also other people. I just found that sometimes the wrap up is too fast, easy and always happy. I am meh about Patrick. It's not that I don't like him; I like how he sees life and his history. However, sometimes I didn't understand his way of thinking. I like the group of friends Annie has. It was like having a drink with them. For me, except for Alexander and Annie's mom, I like that diverse cast of characters.

Overall, this story is uplifting and a good summer reading.

The Lucky Escape by Laura Jane Williams

I was lucky enough to get this as an ARC from Netgalley and Avon books in exchange for an honest review .

I really enjoyed this one more than I thought I would! It really reminded me of the Sex and the City movie, but the ending was better.

Annie gets left at the altar. After the wedding her ex-in-laws-to-be (?) offer to pay for her to still go on the honeymoon because they were so appalled by what their son did to her. As she’s contemplating going , she runs into a friend from summer camp, Patrick. They reconnect and he convinces her to go on the free honeymoon and he goes along with her.

What I liked most about this story is that not only is it a romance story about falling in love after loss, but it is also a story about self love! Annie learns about herself and how to become truly happy in a romantic relationship, in her family relationships and with her career. My only complaint is that the beginning felt very slow and took a long time for me to get into it and some parts were a bit cheesy. 3.75/5⭐️

A really enjoyable read,first book read by this author and was just a perfect book to enjoy in the sun/ heat we have had,loved the characters Annie and Patrick and the main setting of Australia, well writren,believable and engaging

What a lovely beach read!! Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for a chance to read an ARC of this. I loved the premise of this book and it didn’t disappoint! There were times the miscommunication put me off, but overall I really enjoyed it.

Another wonderful read by Laura Jane Williams. I wouldn't be surprised if her books are made into movies before long. I love the humour in her writing. I laughed out loud several times and cringed so much when Annie sent the text meant for Kezza to Patrick. The characters had such depth to them and I really related to Annie. I finished this book feeling so happy and with the knowledge that it's not too late to change your life. A must read this summer.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟 💫 3.5/5 stars

The Lucky Escape is a fun, character-driven story of Annie, who gets stood up at the alter by her seemingly perfect fiancé and ends up going on their honeymoon with an old friend. The book follows Annie as she rediscovers herself and decides how she wants to move forward.

This is a fun summer read that I enjoyed reading by the pool. Although I wanted a little bit more romance, I loved watching Annie grow and change. The cover makes it seem like this is an escapist read, but there are a few darker themes and emotional moments throughout. The side characters are great and I particularly liked Annie’s sister and their sisterly bond.

Overall, The Lucky Escape is a sweet story full of heart and self discovery.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Full review to be posted closer to U.S. release date.

This was a fun summery read, but I didn't love it as much as I wanted too. I thought this was going to be such a cute romance where the main character gets together with her old friend after she gets stood up at the altar, but it was definitely more of a self discovery book. I didn't connect much with any of the characters and felt that the pacing got very slow.

This has such potential and I did enjoy reading it, I just think it could have been amazing. The dialogue and some of the plot was so over the top that it made me not get really into the story. I think some will love this book if you like the type of writing style and plot line the author took.

Annie is left at the altar, and after a chance meeting with an old friend, she decides to go with him on her honeymoon.

I liked the honeymoon part, but after that I felt that the book dragged on for too long. I think it would have been a better idea to stop the book just after the honeymoon, and maybe make a second book with the story after.

I feel some of the things that happened in the book were too implausible; however, I liked the end.

** I was given an ARC which I have read and reviewed voluntarily. All opinions are my own. **

Some parts of this story I enjoyed but really I struggled to empathise with the lead characters and it really dragged in places.

Also to the tooing and froing and weird behaviour changes were tiring after a while

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for an early copy of this book in returm for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book but no more than that. The characters didn't really speak to me, the best relationship I thought was between Annie and her younger sister, which is unfortunate when they weren't the main focus of the book.

Jilted on the day of her wedding to long-term beau Alexander, Annie is hurt, lost, confused and heartbroken.

After a chance meeting with childhood friend Patrick Annie makes a vow to say yes to every opportunity that comes her way so when the opportunity arises to go on her all expenses paid honeymoon to Australia with Patrick taking the spare ticket she throws caution to the wind. Could this be the escape she needs?

I enjoyed this story but it made me very jealous of all of the sights and sounds Annie and Patrick saw on their travels in Australia. I was rooting for the characters and ended up reading the book really quickly as I couldn't wait to find out what happened to them.

One thing I really like about Laura Jane Williams' writing is her depiction of women as real people with flaws and insecurities, it really makes you gel with the characters and really get behind them.

I enjoyed reading this book and this is the type of book that you take away on holiday or in my case the garden to read

with thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book in exchange for this review

dnf @10%

I hate dnf'ing books that I'm supposed to review for netgalley, but i am trying to read more books that I actually enjoy and want to read. this just doesn't fit that. the main charracter was so insufferable, and the story was just overall boring.

I really enjoyed my first dip in to Laura Jane William's novels, bringing to life an easy read and vibrant characters. Its the perfect read for this time of year, for those lucky enough to get abroad this year, on a staycation or even just a long bank holiday weekend in the garden with a gin in hand!

Annie was a great character and i found her very relatable but also a surprising character - without giving spoilers, I'm glad she learn to stand her ground. And Patrick.... ugh we all need a patrick.

I couldnt give it it the full five stars, as for me... as I felt the ending was not quite finished, i kind of needed more about how life went on for Annie and Patrick.

I would definitely recommend this to any romance reader and i cant wait to pick up the rest of Laura's work! I also now have unrealistic expectations for my honeymoon which the fiance will be thrilled about, thanks for that.

I loved this book. When I saw that it was a "take my new friend on my honeymoon after being jilted" book, I assumed that it wouldn't contain much beyond the honeymoon. I also assumed it might be a little unrealistic- falling in love after a week away together. This honeymoon was 3 weeks long and gifted by her former in-laws (who were more like fairy godparents- giving her an over the top vacation). It really added a lot for me as a reader that they had no worries for 3 weeks and the reason was explained. This book also extended beyond the honeymoon timeline and allowed for the characters to continue their story. In the end, the HEA felt true to the characters and the story.