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.

Annie is someone who has lived her life by being in the shadows, doing everything that is expected of a person who is in her thirties. But on her wedding day, she gets left at the altar by her fiance and she deals with the aftermath of her life turning upside down. She bumps into her friend from drama camp about 10 years ago and the sparks fly instantly, she soon decides to go on the honeymoon anyway with this new guy friend, Patrick. The trope this book follows is of estranged friends to lovers.

The juicy bits are explored when the couple is in Australia. They work on their relationship as well as themselves as individuals and find that they complement each other very well. TW: death of a spouse. The book does explore grief and loss through Patrick. The book has excellent female friendships and does a very good job in the portrayal of sibling relationships but at times I found that the chapters were unnecessarily long and prolonged. some of them I was skimming through because of how predictable it was. So this will definitely be a 3/5 star book for me. thank you NetGalley and Avon books for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you want to feel love radiate off the pages you read- this is the book for you! Adorably captivating, this book is a story not only about mending a broken heart, but learning what it means to feel ones self again! From the moment Annie's heart breaks to her healing by reconnecting with an old friend- you feel the emotions stem from each page you turn. Patrick is an old camp friend Annie met in high school, and after she is left at the altar, he becomes the medicine to heal herself. Annie has always fought herself on her means to be happy- always listening to the negativity of her mother, being bullied at school. and finally giving all of herself to a man not worthy of her love. Patrick knew her before she became a shelled up version of herself- and watching Annie grow into the person she is meant to be is inspiring and heartwarming. I whole heartedly recommend this book not only for the romance novel lover, but for those who feel like they have lost themselves!

It’s a cute story, with a likable heroine and a sweet hero, though it does drag in some places.

So we have Annie, stood up at the altar. And her old friend (from waaay back) Patrick who she bumped into about a month (?) after the incident. They reconnect, and in one reconnect moment, decide to take up her ex’s parents’ offer to go on the honeymoon still, to Australia. Together.

Annie is always better with Patrick around. It took a while to lead up to Patrick and after the trip, her alone, without Patrick...well I kinda skipped past those parts. It was taking a bit too long for her to realize and actualize her HEA.

But their Australian honeymoon were the best parts for me. I really am missing traveling. Haven’t been to Australia and Annie and Patrick had a great time there. I took notes on what they did. 😂 So that’s one nice takeaway from this.

Oh and I listened to the audiobook more than I read the ebook. And forgot to tag a nice quote from the book. Read along it while they were in Australia. But went back solely to the audiobook. I liked it better that way. Liked the narrator, she did good.

Thank you Harper Collins UK Audio, Avon and NetGalley for the arc and the audiobook. It can be a beach read.

This is the third book of Laura’s that I’ve read now and unfortunately I have the same comment on every one. The pace is very slow moving and the writing style is very flowery, leading to quite long books with a plot that could have been carried out in a far shorter number of pages.

The premise of this storyline was good and I liked the characters quite a lot to be honest but I’m really not a fan of “woke” books, whereby it feels like everything is a bit exaggerated to ensure everyone knows the book is set in present day. Overall I liked it more than our stop but probably wouldn’t read any more now.

The Lucky Escape had a good storyline and for the most part I liked the characters. It did drag a little for me and I was hoping for more depth. It’s a fun short read. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review after reading this arc.

The book title is a good description. Annie is about to marry Alexander but is jilted in the worst possible way.....at the alter. She's devasted but after bumping into a male friend she once knew as a teenager and the persuasion to go on the honeymoon that was booked for her and her new husband, she takes her old friend. It's a journey to the other side of the world of self discovery.
She learns that she has indeed had a lucky escape and that her husband to be wasn't right for her. The main characters are likeable but Annie needed to find a back bone when it comes to her mother!
The book is slightly predictable but funny in places and there is some good sexual tension. It's an easy and pleasant read and provided a form of escape without having to think too much. Easy to put down and pick up again. Good holiday read down by the pool or on the beach. Sweet romcom.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest review. Schelded to released 10th June 2021
Also [osted to Goodreads.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Avon Books UK and Laura Jane Williams for an e arc copy of this book.
The premise of the book is that Annie is due to be married but something happens that she doesn’t. She is devastated and can’t see a way to get out of the way she feels. To try and help she goes to a gym and joins a bootcamp. She meets someone from her past and they re connect.
However, there is still the Honeymoon waiting for her. Should she go or just stay home? She is persuaded to go and takes her long-lost friend with her.
This is a story of finding yourself, standing up for yourself, being the person, you want to be.

Unfortunately, DNF'd at around 20%. The main reason why is just it was just simply a bit boring, and even though it is not a long book I felt like the beginning just dragged on. Even though there was all this drama and set up happening I just didn't feel invested or interested in the main character. I agree with the other review here on GR that their were contradictions in her personality, and I wasn't rooting for her. I did love the idea of this novel though, maybe I will try again with this author in the future. Maybe.

Sometimes, a bad thing can turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you, as is the case with Annie. She is left at the altar when her decade-long boyfriend changes his mind at the last minute. His parents are mortified, and urge her to take the elaborate Australian honeymoon they'd planned as their gift to the couple. She decides to go, and in a wonderful twist of fate, reconnects with Patrick, a childhood friend, and invites him to come along. Patrick turns out to be a recent widower, and also the world's most perfect person. Their romance progresses against the wonderful backdrop of an incredibly luxurious, first-class vacation. This is the perfect escapist romance for summer reading!

This is the first book I've read by this author and I definitely want to read more. It's light-hearted, and funny and romantic, just what I needed to read right now.
Annie gets jilted at the altar and heartbroken, she has to put the pieces of her life back together. She meets back up with Patrick, a childhood friend. Her ex in-laws, horrified and ashamed of what their son has done, insist she still goes on her honeymoon, with a ticket spare.
It's a predictable ending but so much fun. A perfect summer read.

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

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adore Laura Jane Williams’ writing - I’ve read The Love Square and loved it so when I got approved for this arc I was thrilled! This book is amazing, I love the writing style and it is so easy to read and digest, the perfect summer chick lit read. This book also covers on some heavier topics such as self identity and made it feel quite relatable.

The characters and places were written very well and some parts were absolutely hilarious! Will definitely be picking up a copy and I look forward to more writing from LJW in the future