I can imagine being on holiday and quite enjoying this. Unfortunately, for me and the book, I was at home and need something a bit more capable of lifting me away from the everyday.

The plot is sort of fine, it just didn't feel terribly fresh, which made it hard to want to keep reading. Annie is ditched at the altar, still has a chance to go on an amazing honeymoon - and after bumping into an old friend one day, takes him instead. Hi-jinks and romance ensue.

It had a fairly slow start - taking its time to get to the actually honeymoon part that is highlighted on the blurb, and I think that really doesn't help. It could've begun at the altar. Or even in the airport!

Like I say, I can imagine picking this up on holiday and enjoying it. The characters are nice enough, it's not very challenging etc. But sadly it didn't work for me at the current time.

The Lucky Escape takes us to the day of the wedding of Annie but turns out she hears from the wedding planner that the groom has left her. Then she takes her honeymoon trip with a man she had met 20 years ago at school camp.

The premise of the book hinted at a funny, heartwarming story but I actually feel pretty disappointed. I think the book would have benefited a lot from dual POV and the there's onlyone bed trope. It's definitely not a bad book but it didn't click with me.

Why this book didn't work for me:
⏳It started off very slow paced and the ending felt too rushed.
🧍‍♂️Hero doesn't feel like a complete character. We don't get his POV and we never hear about his friends, family - except from his wife that passed away.
🏖 It took really long for the book to reach the honeymoon part, when it was my impression the book would take the most part there
👰 The conflict with her ex-fiancee was strangely too tame when often the conflict with the hero took much bigger proportions
🚪Closed door romance at 70%


Thank you Avon for providing me a complementary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was, for the most part, what I wanted it to be. A cute romance story that still manages to make us reflect on different topics. Perfect for someone who is looking for a fast and enjoyable read, but also for someone who, like me, is in a bit of a reading slump.

The premise sounded very interesting and I feel like it was executed really well until we got to my least favourite part of the book: the ending. It's not a bad ending, by any means. But I expected more from it.
Our main character is supposed to go through this life-changing situation and, honestly, I don't think she changed that much. However, I do appreciate the commentary on relationships that aren't going anywhere but people refuse to end for one reason or another. That plus the story of our other main character, love interest Patrick, provided a very interesting dynamic. Showing different ways of mourning the loss of a loved one and/or of a relationship.
My problem with their relationship is how it changed at the end because it felt very out of character at some points. It didn't really make sense to me.

Also, something that I didn't enjoy in this book was the classic "evil mum" character. Annie kept on vilifying her mum for the same things she did and I just find it very cliché to blame our bad life decisions on the parents that had too high expectations of their kids. Unless it's done properly and it shows a toxic dynamic and creates some social commentary.
For the most part, I did love the friendship between Annie and her female friends. It's always nice to see books that portrait female friendship as something good and not bitchy and toxic.

Despite my little complaints, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Perfect summer read.

I thought this was a great fun holiday read, a lovely tale that kept me wanting to push on and not put it down.

This is the first book that I have read by Laura Jane Williams. It will not be my last.
What a cute fun story. I truly believe that all things happen for a reason. This book shows just that.
Annie was left at the alter by Mr. Right who turned out to be Mr. Wrong. She was mad, sad and trying to pull herself out of the craziness that was in her world when she has a chance meeting with Patrick, an old friend. Patrick reminds Annie of how she use to be and how to not let fear get in the way.
This book was fun, quick and an easy read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the advanced copy of this book.
#NetGalley #LuckyEscape

4.5 stars for this book! It was my first Laura Jane Williams read and I enjoyed it!

This book really focuses on letting go of the past and learning to open up and find yourself.

I really loved Annie. She was authentic, real, and her thought process throughout the book was super relatable. Patrick was incredible guy, and I loved that both characters were suffering and broken. And Freddie!! What a fun, sweet younger sister!

I like how the ending tied together, too. I know it’s a romance book but for a second I thought maybe it wouldn’t have a happy ending—but I’m so glad it did!

I really enjoyed this read—and now I desperately want to go to Australia!!

Thank you for the ARC :)

The Lucky Escape is a tale of three parts. The first part consists of a bride (our narrator Annie) being stood up at the altar by her long time partner Alexander.


Annie accepts the offer from her ex-mother in law, to go on an all expenses paid honeymoon to Australia.

Its who she decides to take with her that's the real shock, Patrick who is a long lost friend from her teenage drama camp twenty years prior, a bit random but she meets him at the gym.

As you can probably guess an inevitable romance insures. Also the discovery they make about each other. A phrase that is reaped during the honeymoon phase of this book is the "touch of his hand on my back..." and it goes from there.

The third part of the book is what happens when they return to London and back to their normal lives, where their communication seems to break down somewhat.  I just felt there was to many inconsistencies in this part.

The best thing about this, I believe,  was the 'core four' and Adzo who are Annie's best friends from university and
work. They support her throughout this whole story.
The worst part for me was the silly nick names the family give to each other, such as Annie- Doo, it just grated on me and didn't add anything to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avor publishers for giving me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Lucky Escape is just that...a great find and a fun escape! Laura Jane Williams created characters with complicated lives and problems. Watching their relationship unfold is like drinking a cup of warm tea - a little bit predictable and a whole lot satisfying. Once you dig into this beach read, you'll devour it! Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

This was a cute storyline. Annie is left at the alter but decides to go on her honeymoon anyway with and old friend she runs into. I loved the part where they ended up flying business class! 🤣🤣. While it was a cute storyline, it did drag a little slower than I was anticipating. It took the first 30 percent of the book to leave on the trip. Overall that a sweet story that is a great read if you like romance. 🙂

Lighthearted, fun read. A little predictable but sometimes that's what you want from a book!

Would be a great book to read on holiday.

THE LUCKY ESCAPE - LAURA JANE WILLIAMS
PUBLISHED BY - AVON BOOKS UK
PUB DATE 10TH JUNE
PLOT - Annie is left standing at the altar , she is devastated and doesn't know why!
She later randomly meets Patrick, her old friend from drama camp and they instantly reconnect.
Annie's ex MIL insists that she goes on the all inclusive honeymoon to Australia and take someone along. Annie impulsively asks Patrick!
Will it be a Lucky Escape for both of them?? Can Annie get her life sorted??

MY THOUGHTS -
The writing is very good. It is not very heavy , an easy read and via Annie it emphasizes on how one gets accustomed in one's life that you don't question it and are settling for less than what you actually deserve.
What I liked about this book is that it's not only about the vacation or the lucky escape but also when Annie is back to her day to day life and has to get her bearings and confront some truths making it more realistic!
The chemistry between Annie and Patrick is super!! He is gentle, funny and full of life and is definitely one of my book BF.
For me the first 3rd of the book was quite slow then it picked up for me.
Thank you Netgalley and Avon books for this arc in exchange of my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books Uk for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Lucky Escape is the ultimate rom-com read with some self-discovery. Going in, I thought it was going to be like The Unhoneymooners (which I liked but didn’t love) but I got more Beach Read vibes.

After being stood up at the altar by her university sweetheart, Annie is left questioning everything in her life. One unexpected encounter with her old friend Patrick from drama camp leads to the ultimate Australian honeymoon trip.

I greatly admire the relationship not only between Annie and her little sister Freddie, but between Annie and all her friends. The juxtaposition between her healthy relationships and her unhealthy relationships (especially with her mother and Alexander) was done so well. I recognize some aspects about the character Annie were a bit wishy-washy; however, her growth is praiseworthy and I related to her a great deal. Although I think there has to be a definite friendship in order to go from friends to lovers, the romance between Annie and Patrick dragged out a little too long and I just expected more.

The references were immaculate and I could really not put this down! I would highly recommend this fun and cute story!

If you enjoyed The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren, this book is for you!

Annie is stood up at the altar and her husband to be ghosts her. Then, she encounters Patrick, a man from camp when they were teens.

As she has a honeymoon paid by her in-laws, her mother-in-law encourages her to still go to this luxury 3 weeks vacation to Australia. She decides to go with Patrick.

One third is before the trip, one third is the trip and last third is the return.

I did not think I would enjoy it this much but I needed something light and it exceeded my expectations!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a free copy of this E-arc in exchange for my honest review.

LOVED this adorable chick lit book! Loved the setting, loved the characters, and loved the storyline. Perfect to read at the beach, by the pool. anywhere! My first book by Laura Jana Williams, but will definitely not be my last.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

“The Lucky Escape” was a perfect depiction of a modern-day romance and real-life everyday struggles. Annie is left at the altar by her long-time boyfriend, and in an attempt at recovering from heartbreak joins a workout class. During her workout class, she meets Patrick! Determined to get back to the Annie she used to be, she decides to take a vow that she’ll say yes to every opportunity that presents itself. Using the spare ticket for her honeymoon Patrick sets off with Annie on an all-expense-paid honeymoon vacation in Australia. When they return, they must face expectations and judgments of the “real world”.

Laura Williams writing is spectacular in this novel. It is kept light and easy to read and follow. It is writing from Annie’s point of view as a series of events from the time she is left at the altar through her journey back to herself.

I was rooting for Annie the entire time! She’s an easy character to love, she’s sweet and smart and doesn’t know her worth. I related so much to Annie and her relationship with her mother, they were consistently at odds with each other. Her mother questioned every step Annie took and was always thinking about what others would say (how frustrating!). Patrick was by far my favorite character! He was so gentle, forgiving, tender, and of course handsome!

The book really questions your thoughts on rebound dating! Annie definitely jumped directly into another relationship as soon as her thoughts cleared from being left at the altar. It made me think about my views on rebound dating. On one hand, I think it can be detrimental to jump from heartbreak into another relationship, it can prevent self-healing and lead to using a person as a numbing device – which is not fair to both parties. But on another hand, if done right, a rebound relationship could also be healing in a way as well. Through Patrick, Annie was able to return to her true personality and learn to no be defined by her significant other. Patrick allowed her to be herself, he actually pushed her to be bold and relax. This rebound was very beneficial for both Annie and Patrick

Overall, I would rate this book 4 stars.

Beautiful work by Laura Jane Williams!

What a joy this book was! I haven’t read anything by Laura Jane Williams before and was totally charmed by both the storyline and the writing.

Annie’s world comes crashing down around her and we really feel her emotions - shock, pain, wallowing in self-pity, pulling herself together and then taking a totally unexpected direction.

The ‘escape’ is manifold and the story of what Annie does next is fabulous. There’s a trip abroad, a man, a return to reality, doubt and ultimately a very satisfying ending.

Patrick, Adzo, Freddie, the Core Four are all very real. The one character I didn’t get to grips with was Annie’s fiancé - I can’t even remember his name - but I think really that’s the point - what starts off one way ends up with Annie (and the reader) realising that he wasn’t significant at all. Annie’s self-development is what is significant!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to escape - even if it is just into the pages of a book!

Really enjoyed this book, a great summer read, perfect for the beach!
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book

It should have been the happiest day of Annie’s life .When her feckless fiancé Alexander, backs out of the wedding via text and flees the country, Annie is lost. Her entire future has disintegrated. Weeks after being jilted, she signs up to a boot camp and is reunited with Patrick, a friend from her teenage years. Catching up with Patrick feels like no time has past and reminds her of who she was before she felt she had to fit in and please everyone. On a whim after a drinking and crazy golf marathon, she decides to go on her honeymoon with Patrick who is coping with his own heartbreak. But what happens when you go on your honeymoon with another man?

I enjoyed this book. It’s lighthearted and funny. It’s one of those books where you can see how it’s all going to play out but that doesn’t detract from your enjoyment at all. I was happy to be along for the ride whilst Annie picks herself up, dusts herself off and starts afresh. The chapters in Australia were pure escapism and I loved reading about Annie’s transformation whilst she travelled with Patrick. The pace and feel of the book definitely changed once they return back from the trip and I felt impatient for the end.

All in all it’s a perfect upbeat beach read and I’d recommend to all fans of the romance genre.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Avon books for the opportunity to read the book in exchange for an honest review.

A great chic lit book that would be perfect as a holiday read.

There’s nothing overly “different” about this book, starting in the same way as many others in the genre with a jilted bride and then progressing with friends falling in love on an amazing holiday. However it really didn’t matter that it had a recognisable plot, loads of chick lit have quite interchangeable plots. The important thing was that it was an enjoyable read and a nice bit of escapism. I would definitely recommend for some light hearted rom com.

Anne was left at the altar. When she reunites with an old friend from camp at a bootcamp class. Taken by his outlook on life, she reunites with his friendship. With her ex is no where to be found his parents tell Annie to take the non-refundable vacation to Australia as an apology for their son's misgivings. And who does she take with her? Not her best friend, or a college friend from her core-four, but Patrick, the optimist widower, who Annie cannot get enough of. But living in the swanky hotels and fancy tours Patrick and Annie catch feelings, almost like the bachelor! But can their dreamy vacation affair last in the real world? Or will Annie's mother, ex, and job get in the way?

At first I thought this story was a bit cliched jilted bride runs into an old friend and goes on vacation and bam LOVE. But as this went along I couldn't put it down and loved that it went past the vacation and the struggles of coming back to the real life problems. It definitely gave me wanderlust vibes. I am also in the same boat as Annie in the respect of finding a new place to live and maybe taking a little more control of my life and not letting so many people's opinions get in the way. Overall it was a cute and enjoyable read! 4 stars.