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.

Annie is ready to marry Alexander, it's the next step in her life. It makes sense--or at least it did until he left her at the alter. Well, he actually had the wedding planner tell her he wouldn't be coming when she arrived at her wedding. It's deplorable, Alexander's parents are embarrassed and press her to go on the lavish honeymoon anyway, and after reconnecting with an old acquaintance, Patrick, she not only goes but takes him along.

This book is exactly what you would expect. It's not earth shattering, but it is entirely pleasant. The honeymoon sounded amazing, but I will admit, I fully expected a "Something Blue" turn of events, and Anna was going to be pregnant (spoiler--she isn't).

The best part of this book was what happened in Australia. Unfortunately, that was only a third or so of the book. It really seemed to drag in the last third when the main character all of a sudden became unsure of herself and her life. That was too much drama for me, especially after the first two-thirds of the book was lighter and more frothy.

Book release date 10th June 2021

The lucky escape a feel good romcom for all. Annie Is getting married little does she know her finance Alex isn't. So after Annie is informed by her wedding planner the wedding is off she ofcourse is a mess Skip forward she bumps into a friend from drama camp who she hasn't seen in 15 years but they get on really well, so when she drunkenly invites Patrick to go on her would be honey moon with her they think its a great idea. Post booze they decide to YOLO it and go As this is a romance book you can see where we are going with this storyline.

I really liked this book, Annie is such an incredible protagonist. She is smart beautiful funny and so much more yet she is so insecure. No one had ever praised her they have always pulled her down. So being able to read her transformation throughout this book is almost inspiring. Although Patrick is a huge influence I kinda liked the independent growth she does as well. Plus her inner monologue are so flipping funny I laughed so much throughout this book.

Annie's relationships with her Sister and the Fab Four (her friendship group) is the polar opposite to Alex or her mother these are healthy relationships and it Is great to read about how close a elder sister can be to a still young teen sister. Plus I loved the mix of the friendship group. Also how they come first before the men in their lives its great. Its also great that this friends are hilarious Plus they quoted one of my favourite Grey's Anatomy lines he might be dreamy but you're the sun. So that right from the very beginning was a great sign me and this book would get on well.

Patrick is a great male character. To start with I thought he was a creep but my opinion changed very quickly. I loved how encouraging and supportive he is to help guild Annie through her healing process. Plus he is hilarious like I was doubled over when his airport outfit is being described. Honestly I think I fell in love with him myself at that moment. He is such a funny character I appreciated that within what could be quite a depressing topic.

Would I recommend this book?
Yes I would. For an easy light hearted romantic comedy look no further the lucky escape is the perfect book for you. It has a bit of everything. I must say relatistically I would totally discourage any newly single woman to fly to Australia for a 3 week all expense paid holiday with a guy you knew at 15 and bump into at the gym 15 years later. So for Annie it will ofcourse not end in a serial killer situation but it could ha. Honestly the characters are relatable and that's what I often find is missing in this genre so I really loved this book for keeping it real.
Happy to rate this book 4 stars

Thank you to netgalley, Avon publishers and the very talented author Jane Williams for the digital advanced copy of the Lucky Escape. I would totally suggest that Annie and Patrick get their very own series because I want to read about milestones they hit. Title suggestions Happy go lucky, lucky lovers, luck runs out, all we need is luck, time to get lucks. Just a few ideas. Ha

Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Jane Williams and Avon Books UK for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is the first book by Laura Jane Williams that I have read and it’s not the normal genre I tend to go for. What a delightful read it turned out to be. The characters are loveable and so relatable. This book covers heartbreak, friendship, betrayal and love. It’s a lovely summery book. This is going to make every reader want to go on a trip to Australia. I think this will be the book of Summer 2021.

The Lucky Escape by Laura Jane Williams is sweet and enjoyable, but it isn’t all light and airy.

This book deals with some heavy issues, most noteably, Annie’s life of trying to blend in. With an adolescence of her mother’s criticisms weighing her down, Annie lost who she was. She used to be fun, and carefree, and somewhere along the way she stopped being that person.

And then Annie gets left at the altar by her long-time boyfriend. Add in a surprising appearance of a friend from the past and a trip abroad and all that Annie knew about life and herself is turned upside down.

There was a good laugh out loud moment that involves some accidental nudity during a massage, which I appreciated (always). And I fell in love with Patrick’s character. I think it adds so much to a story when a secondary character is well fleshed out and dynamic – that is certainly the case with Patrick. I also really enjoyed the growth in Annie’s character, strong females are 👌.

I would have liked to see Annie’s relationship with her mom explored a bit further, I felt that sorting of that situation didn’t give me the satisfaction I was craving for the new Annie. Overall, the ending of the book felt like it wrapped up just a bit too quick and easily for me, after the book started off just a bit slow.

All that said, I give the book 3 stars, now I very much want an Australian beach vacation of my own!

Many thanks to Net Galley and Avon Books for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.