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.

If you liked UnHoneymooners, this will be your book! Such loveable characters you can’t help but smile as you read! Also, anybody want to invite me on a 5 star trip to Australia?!?

I ended up really enjoying this one and seeing how much our main character, Annie, grows a woman. Starting off the story by being jilted at the altar and going through a much-deserved depression. Once she reconnects with a childhood friend, Patrick, on a whim, they slowly start to hang out and then ended up agreeing to go on her honeymoon with each other. I loved everything about Annie and Patrick's trip to Australia! It was so scenic and picturesque. I also really enjoyed them growing closer and how much Patrick helped Annie to see her worth. Patrick is a gem of a love interest. I did enjoy seeing how they navigated their relationship after the trip as well.

This book was very sweet, and a perfect summer read. I think the reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is that I didn't find myself reaching for it so much. It didn't have overly captivated where I couldn't put the book down. But it was still a really good book!

When Annie is ditched at the alter her world understandably falls apart, that is until an old friend reappears in her life to show her that maybe that curse was actually a gift. Patrick, the aforementioned friend, has troubles of his own and joining Annie on her honeymoon to Australia is just as predictably heart warming as you’d imagine.

A dramatic but light-hearted and fast-paced summer romance read. I had a few personal gripes with the pacing of this book, parts felt a little rushed but I appreciated the busy plot too.

The characters were often overly dramatic or overly naïve but there were also wonderful sprinkles of wisdom throughout. In fact I often felt dangerous waves of wisdom-fuelled spontaneity creeping into my own plans while reading.

Favourite quote:

Being in the house alone was sad. It was a museum to what I was grieving.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc. The Lucky Escape will be available from 10th June 2021.

Annie is about to go into her wedding when the wedding planner gets a text to say that fiance, Alexander, won't be coming. As she comes to terms with her whole life turning upside down, she is encouraged to go on her honeymoon. And so her adventure begins.
I really loved this story. Annie, her family and friends were well described and believable. I knew how it would end but the journey was the story.
Just right for a holiday read or for curling up by the fire

Annie Wiig was left at the alter. This book explores the aftermath of this, while she goes on a journey of self discovery and meets up with someone in her past, Patrick. Annie seems to have a lot if issues with self worth, knowing her place and many things that women have in society today. After some convincing from Patrick, she goes on her paid for, honeymoon with him. I expected with this premise there would be some romance, and some comedy, but what I got was a journey of self discovery and self love. That does not make this a bad book, it just makes it different. The book seemed to have three parts to it: being left at the alter, going on the honeymoon and after the honeymoon.

This was a book I neither loved or hated, it was right in the middle of the road for me. First the good:

Annie has some great strong friendships, including the Core Four and her work friend, Adzo, felt real to me. She also had a great relationship with her much younger sister, Freddie, which is reminiscent of the relationship I had with my sister. All these women in her life gave good advice.

I also loved reading about the travel to Australia. The way the author wrote about it made it feel real and renewed my interest to travel their some day!

Now the less good:

I struggled connecting with Annie, likely because of her lack of direction in her life. That lack of connection made it harder for me to connect with and care what the outcome of the book was.

Another problem I had with this book was the diet and skinniness talk. Know that it exists and it can be triggering for some. There wasn't extensive talk about it, but there was at different points in the book.

Overall this was a middle of the road book for me. I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher for an open and honest review. All opinions are 100% mine.

3.5 ⭐️

After ten years of being together, Alexander ditches Annie on the morning of their wedding. No calls, no texts, just an awkward conversation with the wedding planner. Like anyone ditched on their wedding day, Annie is completely gutted.

While trying to find her new normal without Alexander, Annie bumps into an old friend from theatre camp. On a wild hair she decides to invite Patrick on the three week honeymoon she’d planned with Alexander.

The rest of the story pans out much like you would expect it would. It’s light hearted and adorable, and the perfect little summer read. The characters are well written, and the story reminds me so much of a Hallmark movie.

After having just been left at the altar, Annie goes on her honeymoon with her long-lost friend from summer camp, Patrick. Annie and Patrick's budding relationship is cute, and I love a vacation romance. This book had a lot to offer in terms of acknowledging the importance of healing, and self-growth being a priority over romantic love.

One thing about this book that wasn't my favourite was the pacing; in the beginning, it was a little slower as Annie tried to recover from being left by her fiance. I think this slow pace was really necessary because if how big of a life event that is, however it left the romance feeling a little quick. The quickness of it all is acknowledged in the book, which definitely got extra points from me!! Overall, I loved Annie and Patrick's chemistry and their fun trip across Australia, but at some points, it was so light-hearted that I would feel a little jarred because I would remember it was supposed to be her honeymoon.

My favourite character by far was Annie's little sister, Freddie! She was absolutely adorable. This is a fun, quick read, but it also has some tender moments where the two main characters are working on their individual growth.

It's usually a midlife which causes us to take a step back and re-evaluate our life but not so for Annie after being left standing at the altar (from recollection I don't think she got that far). A chance meeting of a friend from her past and the offer of a fully paid honeymoon sans groom brings a sea change to her life. Quite an entertaining read and we get to experience the high life in Australia. The relationship Annie has with her mother was well written and the mother's reaction to events worthy of Hyacinth Bucket. However, there was not a great deal of novelty in the tale so I shall have to knock a star off. For those living a middling existence and seeking inspiration for a change, it could be a winner.

I really enjoyed this book - a solid 3 stars. What I liked was that it was a cute story and had a happy ending better than I was anticipating but it was a tad predictable. Wish it had a few more twists involved.

Soooo good! This is a wonderful, not coming of age, but coming into oneself story! A quick read, perfect for the beach or a vacay! What do you do when your perfect life gets up ended? Go on your honeymoon, with an old friend! Such a fresh story with great rich characters!

This was a new author for me, and I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't my favorite book ever, but I really enjoyed it overall.

What a charming read! This story is perfectly paired with a mojito and a sunny day. I felt transported to the beaches of Australia while reading this. The main character is witty and real. Fans of Sophia Kinsella and Christina Lauren would totally enjoy this story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending an e-ARC.

A really nice book with great characters that were really well-written. I really enjoyed the story and it unfolded beautifully. Highly recommended.

Annie and Alexander have been together for 10 years, until he jilts her on their wedding day. Then unexpectedly, Annie bumps into an old friend, Patrick.

Annie ends us going on the fully paid 3-week honeymoon with Patrick and the rest is a lighthearted story, perfect for reading by the pool on holiday. Given the current climate, it’s also great to read in the garden or bath 😉

I’d give it a fun 3.5/5 stars.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

This book is everything!! It follows Annie who is set to marry her long term partner Alexander who jilts her at the alter. In a crazy turn of events Annie meets a long lost friend from summer camp, Patrick, and the pair go on Annie’s honeymoon to Australia as friends.

This book had me laughing out loud, it was so wholesome and I loved how the characters and the story developed. It was nice to go on the journey with Annie as she realised that actually Alexander wasn’t the right match for her and she deserves so much more.