When Annie’s fiancé leaves her at the alter, she is devastated. She decides to go on their honeymoon anyways as a chance to escape, however, she doesn’t go alone. She goes with an old friend she has recently reconnected with. That was so absurd to me. Take a girlfriend with you, or be brave enough to travel alone, don’t take a man you knew 20 years ago from camp.

Learning to live life and learning to be happy for what must be the first I mean in 10 years, it’s really nice watching Annie grow and move forward. Some of the plot felt forced and rushed. Overall a cute story with more depth than originally imagined.

I have been looking for a book that would get me out of the current rut that I have found myself in, I have been reading books and not totally enjoying them, sat with my kindle reading but the percentage of the book that I am reading never seems to increase or does so at such a slow pace. That is until I have found this book, what a total joy that I have whizzed through it and loved every minute of it.
Annie finds out on her wedding day that her fiance isn't turning up to the wedding, leaving her abandoned there in her wedding dress, this understandably leaves her devastated. She decides to join a local boot-camp, she finds solace in exercise and it is here that she meets Patrick Hummingbird. Annie and Patrick had known each other since they were 14 years old and attending a drama school together.
When Annie's ex in-laws want her to go on the honeymoon that they had arranged, a drunken decision lead to an amazing holiday. I loved reading about Australia, remembering the times from my own honeymoon, however, it wasn't as lavish as this one, this honeymoon sounded amazing. This is the story of 2 people trying to leave their past behind to form a new future and you are left routing for them from the start. All the characters in the book are strong and Annie has an amazing support network. Her relationship with little sister Freddie is really special and she has the Core Four to support, even though they are all at different stages of their lives.
I am new to Laura Jane Williams but I am going to make sure that I read her others, this book is so good, if you are undecided, give it a go, I promise you will not be disappointed!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon books for the opportunity to read this book as an eARC in exchange for an honest review

I was provided with an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to the author, the publishers and NetGalley.

I really wanted to like this book. But I didn't.

The premise is this: A woman, Annie, gets left at the altar by her fiance and decides to go on the honeymoon anyway with an old male friend Patrick. 3 weeks of adventure in Australia? Sounds good right? What it fails to mention is that the old friend is actually someone she met at drama school as a teenager and hasn't seen in about 15 years. They reconnect at a fitness class after the break-up and she decides to go on the honeymoon with him in the 3 weeks between the planned wedding date and the honeymoon departure. I know books don't always have to be realistic but come on. Annie is also so confused that her friends and family don't think it's a good idea. Oh and her exes parents who are paying for it all? Totally chill with it.

Overall, I thought this was a generic holiday romance that just ended up being far too slow and annoying for me. The characters were cringey and frustrating and I just didn't click with the story at all. This is a shame as I enjoyed the author's previous fictions.

Something that I had a personal gripe with, as a scientist, is that the main character and her best friend are both theoretical physicists. Great, some representation of women in STEM. However, I think the author has perpetrated some negative stereotypes. First of all, the main character says that she only really went into the field because it was so well funded. I mentioned this to the theoretical chemists I work with and we all had a good laugh. Science is not well funded, that's a myth. Sure it gets a lot more funding than the arts, but it's more expensive to do and the salaries of UK scientists are far lower than in the US and continental Europe. Also theoretical work is generally looked down on because it doesn't always have direct practical applications and is generally less well funded than experimental work.

And then both of the female physicists admit that they don't actually like their jobs and wish they could do something else. There's a massive problem with women in STEM leaving the fields. There are many reasons for this and it's really heavily influenced by sexism. I think it's fair to say that a lot of women do want to leave science but for it to be a minor plot line, seems more damaging to me than good. Sure, show that it's ok to change careers but why have both of your female scientists hating their job? Why not have at least one positive role model? In my opinion, it's a bit of an insult to the women who love science but get pushed out of it because of sexism/racism. It was quite clear that their roles weren't well researched either.

The Lucky Escape - Laura Jane Williams

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley.

ONE CANCELLED WEDDING

When the day finally comes for Annie to marry Alexander, the last thing she expects is to be left standing at the altar. She was so sure he was Mr Right. Now, she has no idea how she could have got it so wrong.
 
ONE UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

After a chance meeting with Patrick, an old friend who reminds her of who she used to be, Annie takes a vow of her own: she’ll say yes to every opportunity that comes her way from now on.

This is a feel-good, light and easy romcom to read, perfect for a summer escape. Throughout this book, Annie is reevaluating what she wanted to do with her life following being left at the altar. Annie is developed in a subtle way; she starts out afraid to take risks and as the plot develops she becomes more confident.

From the beginning I found myself wanting Annie to get the happy ending that she deserved.

Rating 4/5

3 to 3.5 stars.

A great, escapist summer read.

After Annie gets dumped at the altar, she's convinced to go on her Australian honeymoon anyway and ends up taken an old friend she's recently re-met, Patrick. The new friendship and break gives her a chance to reexamine the person her relationship had made her into and her life in general, against the backdrop of sunny Australia.

There was a lot to enjoy about this book: the fact that Annie's whole life and relationship with herself is explored, not just the romantic part; a main character that is bossing it at her job, even if she has doubts about it (not that common for a millennial lead in my experience); a great cast of supporting characters and believable relationships, such as that between Annie and her mother. At first, given the cutesy nicknames, I thought I'd find Freddie (her younger sister) annoying but Annie and Freddie's relationship ended up being one of my favourite parts of the book. I also liked Adzo, though she did fall a little into the Magical Negro trope. Oh and then there's Patrick - I've seen some reviews saying he has no redeeming qualities, whereas I felt the opposite and loved him, including the faults that make him more believable as a person. (Given his history, you've got to expect some things bubbling under the surface).

Oh, and I want to visit Antwerp now.

The downsides? I'd have loved more time actually exploring Australia, especially Sydney - I felt like we got a lot of detail about the lovely hotels and spas which was nice, but the bits I enjoyed most was when we got to experience some of the country with Annie and Patrick and there wasn't enough of that. I also felt like her relationships with her uni friends weren't fully explored, but what we did see was believable and relatable for a friendship group of that type and more description might have made the book feel a bit too slow. Talking of pacing, this was an unusual book where sometimes I couldn't put it down and others I was quite happy to leave it for a little while.

Overall though, this was a fun, escapist read with a fun, enjoyable cast of characters and premise. I just wish I'd been reading it on an Australian beach!

This book reminded me of why I love to read! Some books are valuable because they open our eyes to experiences beyond our own, and others are valuable because they help us to see our own lives more clearly. The latter was true of this book- The Lucky Escape.

I enjoyed reading this fun romance about a woman who has spent her entire adult life making herself small to fit someone else's expectations. After her 10 year relationship ends with abandonment at the altar, Annie commences on a luxurious "honeymoon" with a kind and genuine friend, and her path to discovering how to be in partnership with someone without sacrificing her own self is the real treat of this book. So glad I got to read it!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, which I am always happy to give. My thanks to #NetGalley, author Laura Jane Williams, and Harper Collins Publishing. #TheLuckyEscape

I needed a light fluffy read and this is exactly what this book was, so you'd think I 'd have loved this. It's a bit more complicated

We meet our main character on her wedding day and she gets stood up for that.
After a lot of moping she still goes on the honeymoon to Australia and brings a male friend she just reconnected with.

The rest you can probably guess, it was all very predictable. It also included the "beautiful woman who doesn't know how beautiful she is" trope.

Things I liked:
The relationship with her sister
The male love interest was a really good guy
The journey and learning how to stand up for yourself
The friend group was amazing

Things I disliked:
The main character in the first quarter of the book. Not my kind of person
The resolution of the conflict with her mother. Way too easy and convenient
The lengths where the mc just was really insecure and deliberating and just nothing was happening

Overall I did enjoy the read and I would definitely check out future books by this author and I would recommend this for a summer read.

Delicious escapism! Reading about sunny Australia was the tonic I needed on a dull and rainy day and how heartwarming is this love story. Great characters here, that we feel we know, the overbearing mother, the best friend who seems so much more adult than us. Above all, the beautifully written Patrick, who I'm sure every reader will be a little bit in love with. I really enjoyed this book, there's not an off note in it.

The Lucky Escape ☀️🏖

Ad - pr product - @netgalley @avonbooksuk

Another light hearted, feel good read from Laura James Williams.

When Annie gets jilted at the altar it feels like her world as she knew it is over. But after a spontaneous decision to take an old friend with her on her honeymoon, she starts to come back to herself and remember what it feels like to be happy again.

This is a real escape of a book for the reader as well, and definitely made me miss travelling even more than I already do!

I also liked how it dealt with some deeper themes such as Annie’s troubling relationship with her mother and the self-doubt that she has held inside for so long.

Overall a sweet read that I’d recommend if you want some escapism.

3.5⭐️

A painful humiliation becomes the driving force for a new life for Annie Wiig. After being ditched by her fiancé on the day of their wedding, Annie heads to Australia on their honeymoon taking old friend Patrick who she has recently reunited with.

I found it difficult to get into the book to begin with. It is a very slow burn and I found the characters quite irritating, with the exception of Freddie. I loved her relationship with Annie although she definitely reads as younger than 13 for most of the book. I also liked the relationship Annie had with her friends as their relationships were empowering and honest. Their lives were very different and all had their own issues but they supported each other regardless.

I liked Patrick as the love interest although I was somewhat skeptical to begin with. When his story was revealed, it did explain both his passion for life and the way he almost held back with Annie.

After the story picked up, there were some fantastic laugh out loud moments; the miss sent text, "willy-gate" and I warmed to the characters more. I really liked the positive way that Annie spoke about her body both before the holiday, when talking about exercising for strength and power rather than weight loss, and whilst on holiday, when talking about looking healthier for having gained some weight. I feel that this is something that we should see more of in books.

This is a cute book but ultimately it just didn't work for me. It felt a little too predictable and I just wanted more from the characters.

If you're after escapism and light romance then you will enjoy this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was brilliant! I really enjoyed the relationship between Annie and Patrick and their travels to Australia. I will definitely recommend to friends.

The Lucky Escape is a great holiday romance read (if your lucky enough to get on holiday these days!)

I really enjoyed this book. Annie was left at the alter by Alexander, who quite frankly did her a favour!

Annie then goes on honeymoon after a drunken deal with an old friend Patrick. He helps remind her of who she truly is and in turn helps her recover from heartbreak. With a little bit of romance on the side!

I have to start by saying I really liked this book! The slow pace of it isn't something I usually like, but in this book it was beautifully done.

The book kinda consists of 3 parts.
- The wedding
- The "honeymoon"
- Back home

I definitely liked the two first parts the best, the ending was kinda meh. That's why it got 4 and not 5 stars from me.

I love the way the characters grow through the story, especially the main character Annie.
(I have to mention loving that she is half norwegian since I'm Norwegian... 😊)

Annie's sister Freddie reminds me a lot of my daughter who is 14, the wise young teenager who seems to know everything.. Hehe..

I fell totally in love with this book right from the start and will definitely recommend it to all who like sweet romances and light beach reads.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

To quote the author, Laura Jane Williams, says "I hope you found it joyful and escapist". This was definitely mission accomplished. While it tackles serious women's issues it also made me laugh out loud. I really recommend it to take you away from the reality we are all experiencing.
I want to read more by this author.

You know from the title of the book and the book blurb what is going to happen. Annie is going to be left at the altar by her selfish fiance. After being totally devastated, she’s going to go on a very ritzy honeymoon to Australia, paid for by her in-laws-not-to-be. And she invites Patrick to come along. He’s a carpe diem sort of guy whom she knew when she was a teenager and hadn’t seen since then. But they meet up after she’s dumped and become friends. Since her escape is going to be lucky, this is going to be the trip that changes the whole trajectory of her life.

They embark on this wonderful trip that will make you wish you could jump in a plane and fly for almost 24 hours to spend time in Australia. Patrick is the nicest guy. He has his own sad history, but of course, he and Annie start to fall for each other.

The real question is whether or not their romance can survive the real world when they return. I enjoyed reading to find out how they would find their way to their own HEA.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

The perfect escape novel. Wonderful characters and a great story line. What more could you ask for. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

MAKTUB; it is written.

This was such a cute read of self-discovery and being true to what you preach. I thoroughly enjoyed the growth of Annie throughout the book. When she was left at the alter by Alexander, it broke my heart that she was simply getting married because it was what felt right. She believed dating someone for so long meant that marriage was the next step. I saw myself in Annie time and time again and had to remind myself that we all follow our own paths. Annie does a wonderful job of growing up and staying true to herself throughout. When her ex-in-laws told her to still go on the honeymoon to Australia, the story begins.

She meets her old high school drama friend, Patrick at the gym that she goes to and it's like a new Annie emerges. With Patrick there, she jumps back into her old habits and you can see that she was putting on a front the entire time she was with Alexander. Patrick and Annie go on a "not-date" and drink a bit too much when Annie asks Patrick to go on the honeymoon with her as friends. I'm sure you can imagine how that went.

The story reminded me a bit of The Unhoneymooners, which is a great read, but at times I felt like there wasn't enough back story to understand the depths of the characters. Patrick became a favorite because he was himself through and through. You do discover a secret Patrick has been holding that just makes you really appreciate life and your loved ones.

Overall, this was a really smooth read and I loved the character development and growth. It's a reminder to live your life to the fullest and to follow your own path. The stereotypical things we SHOULD do, don't necessarily mean they are what we NEED to do to reach ultimate happiness.

This was just a lovely lovely story that was a complete escape from our current world. I loved how Annie built herself back up again after being jilted at the altar.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the copy in exchange for a honest review.

This was a fun read which started with Annie's heartbreak at being jilted at the altar by her fiance Alexander. But after deciding to go on the honeymoon anyway, and all included trip to Australia courtesy of her in-laws, with an old friend Patrick she starts to heal.

The author has created a series of fun, well-rounded characters, and the plot is what you would expect from a chick-lit romance.

After Annie is left at the alter, her exes parents insist that she takes the honeymoon trip to Australia. Annie decides to take the trip, and invites along Patrick, a former childhood friend who she recently reconnected with.

Annie goes through stages of grief throughout the book, but as the book progresses, Annie starts to heal and in the process learns more about herself and no longer pretends to be someone she's not. I liked seeing the friendship between Annie and Patrick. Patrick is also dealing with his own grief, and together Annie and Patrick learn how to move on. Patrick was a sweet character and helped Annie learn to gain confidence in herself and that she is worthy of love.

Overall, I liked this book, there were parts that moved a little slow. The parts that I enjoyed the most were the scenes in Australia. This was a quick read that was predictable, but still a cute read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon UK books for providing a copy for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.