Runaway Groomsman is a standalone romantic comedy by one of my favorite authors! This is Sawyer and Fallon’s story and what can I say! I LOVED IT!

How, how, how could Sawyer attend his best friend Simon’s and his ex-girlfriend Annalisa’s wedding. Of course that is what started the whole wonderfully funny & sweet story!

I loved the characters, especially the endearing old crotchety grandpa and Fallon’s BFF! Fallon couldn’t have asked for a better friend than Jaz! I loved the glass slipper moment and the canoodling in Canoodle. Those are just some of the things you will miss if you don’t read this book! Personally I consider Runaway Groomsman to be a MUST READ!

•Small town romance
•love triangle
•second chance at love
•slow burn
•dual point of views
•romcom

How often do we hear of the jilted bride? The always a bridesmaid never a bride? Getting the scoop from the male perspective is rare & in this book it really worked. Runaway Groomsman focuses on Sawyer...betrayed by his ex girlfriend and best friend...who are now set to marry each other. Overwhelmed by not only the betrayal but the media circus following the new happy couple's every move, Sawyer runs off to Canoodle, to escape the craziness that has become his reality! Canoodle is typical small town USA, and also home to Fallon...a familiar face from Sawyer's past. Told in dual point of views alternating between Sawyer and Fallon, this book is a slow burn with lots of angst and build up. Spicy and funny. A perfect mix of fun! Thank you to NetGalley & Montlake for an ARC of this book! 4 stars.

I loved this. From the opening scene where Sawyer loses it and flips off the ‘happy couple’ as he flees the church, I was immediately hooked. And then meeting Fallon…and more specifically her best friend Jaz, who immediately hates Sawyer for not remembering that he’s already met Fallon and once took her on a blind date. Jaz is a total psycho (and I mean that in the best possible way) This second chance small town rom-com was an absolute blast. Not only does it have an wonderful, and for the most part wonderfully lighthearted, storyline while also tastefully addressing the pain and struggle of dealing with a loved one experiencing Alzheimers, the cast of characters is just fantastic, especially the secondary characters. Everyone is larger than life, in a good way. I’ve no doubt I’ll be re-reading this one again sometime down the road. Thanks so much to Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of this fantastic book.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1ODT6223ZNBB2/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

When you hear about someone running away from a wedding it's usually the bride or groom.
In this case it's Sawyer, a groomsman and the ex-boyfriend of the bride and ex-best friend of the groom.

Of course it causes a media storm and he needs somewhere to go. When he heads to the town of Canoodle, CA to lay low, he meets Fallon.

This story was so charming, fun, and entertaining! It was sweet watching Sawyer and Fallon fall for one another as they each deal with the issues in their lives. They had fantastic chemistry and I really liked them individually as characters as well as together as a couple.

Meghan Quinn is an expert at mixing humor, romance, drama, and plenty of emotion together to write amazing books. This book is no exception, and I loved every second of reading it.

“His arm is draped along the bench, and I just know he’s wrapping his arm around Joan, talking to her as the sun begins to set. And I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything more romantic in my life. Because even though Joan is gone, she’s still in his heart, and the man continues to love her, ache for her, include her in his life. That’s the kind of love movies are written about.” - Sawyer

I feel like I should just leave this quote here as my review, it feels like it’s enough. But I won’t, this was really cute. I truly enjoyed my first Meghan Quinn book. I loved the characters, Fallon and especially Sawyer where fantastic. Sawyer is book boyfriend material. Omg and Sully just an amazing side character that you couldn’t help but love and care about.

The book starts off and ends with a wedding. At the beginning you get this dramatic scene where the best man takes off, loses a shoe (Cinderella style) and races up the California mountains (runaway bride style). He ends up in an adorable mountain town and proceeds to get wastey faced at the local bar. While passed out the bar owner and owner of the local resort (Fallon) drag his sorry butt to an empty cabin so he sleep it off. But Fallon recognizes this groomsmen, she went on a blind date with him and he didn’t even recognize her. Awkward! Comedy, renovations and drama continue to unfold.

This story is filled with typical Meghan humor and heart! I’ve never met a more loveable cast of characters. This story had me grinning from ear to ear for most of the book, except the times I teared up. I absolutely adored the relationship Sawyer had with Fallons grandpa. And the sweet gestures of helping fix things around the cabins was the icing on the cinnamon roll that is Sawyer. He was the sweetest hero I believe I’ve ever read, even with the threat of violence from Fallons best friend. This story was amazing from beginning to end!

Such a sweet, fun, and heartwarming story that makes you fall head over heels in love with its characters. Sawyer makes this story so much because he is so caring and just fun perfection. Fallon at times was hard to connect with and I felt like she didn’t put a lot of effort in like Sawyer did, but she had her moments. This story is a slow burn somewhat of a second chance because Sawyer royally messed up a previous date with Fallon and drama but will leave the reader smiling.

This was a wonderful little small town romantic comedy from Meghan Quinn. I've read some of her work previously and honestly I'm not quite sure why it's been so long since I've read one of her books. I think I'm going to have to seriously play catch up.

I just fell in love with this little town and all of the quirky characters who lived there. Sawyer and Fallon were such an absolutely beautiful couple and I'm just so thrilled they got their second chance. Sawyer comes stumbling into the bar in Canoodle, California one night after causing a media frenzy when he walks out of a wedding in which he's a groomsman - hence the title of the book. Little does he know he comes in contact with Fallon, who he had went on one blind date with previously and ignored her the entire time.

Throughout the book, we see Sawyer slowly open his eyes to the fact that ignoring her on that date may just have been the worst mistake of his life. I really loved the interactions between Sawyer and Fallon's grandfather, Sully. He was truly a great side character. The bond that those two built was truly beautiful.

This was so much more than just a romantic comedy. It is a beautiful second chance love story with a whole lot of heart.

A sweet, slow burn, low steam story that will leave you feeling good.
Sawyer probably makes one of the most dramatic and hilarious exits from a wedding that I have ever read and ends up at a bar in a small town and ends up in a cabin there. The owner? Fallon, the woman that he completely ignored on a blind date.
I LOVED Sawyer. He truly made this book for me. You can’t help but likeable from the start and it never waivers throughout the story. Fallon, I liked her, but she wasn’t my favorite at times throughout the story. Sawyer and Fallon definitely had chemistry though.
There are loveable and hilarious secondary characters and were such great additions to the story.
If you’re looking for a second chance, slow burn, rom com check this one out.

I had plenty of laugh out loud moments. My husband said to me, "It's been a long time since I've heard you laugh so much reading a book". It was a campy kind of love story but I tend to like those when I'm looking for comic relief. Sawyer commits a faux pas that could sideline his career and finds the perfect place to ride out the storm. Canoodle CA. The name of the town explains everything and Meghan absolutely delights with some of the store names, trail and mountain names and the myriad of creative characters. While rom-com is probably what the author is going for, there are some genuinely tender moments, some had tears flowing for me as well. Fallon and Sawyer spend much of the book sidestepping their current lives (relationships current and ex) and well...Jaz is a completely other story. Was it explosive chemistry? Not really. It was a slow build up which I think worked for these particular characters.

Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for this Read Now copy of Runaway Groomsman by Meghan Quinn!

I really wanted to like this, and was super excited because I know Meghan Quinn is a fan favorite, but this one just wasn't for me. I felt like the romance was the smallest part of this story. Fallon had a boyfriend most of this book which is something that just didn't work for me. HOWEVER. I loved Sawyer, I wish I could've seen him in more of a relationship dynamic but I adored his relationship with Sully.

Maybe fans of love triangles or Meghan Quinn's other works will like this. There were some cute/funny parts just overall not for me.

So this one’s a bit tough for me, I have a lot of mixed feelings on it. I think that this book has so much potential but I don’t think it was well executed. The ending seemed rushed for a book so long and overall it left me wanting more. I’m also not a huge fan of slow burn and boy was this one slooowwww.

I really did not like that Fallon had a boyfriend for at least 60% of the book. I know this book is supposed to be slow burn, but she wastes so much time in this relationship. Then she instantly started something with Sawyer when she broke up with her boyfriend, like within minutes. Even though the break up might have been a long time coming, it’s still just left a bad taste in my mouth. Sawyer, he was the shining star for me in this book. He is so charming and charismatic, and so thoughtful. I really love the relationship he had with Sawyer‘s grandfather, Sully. The banter between them was everything!!! They were just so precious. I never really felt fully invested in Sawyer, I think because she had a boyfriend, so I never really bought into the romance between her and Sawyer. Her friend Jaz…I found her to be so annoying. She was a bit psycho but not in a cute way.

Okay negatives aside, there were things that I really liked about this story. I loved Sawyer and that he was able to find himself in this small town. I loved the sense of community in this town. The way they all rally around Fallon to help take care of Sully, was really heartwarming. I appreciated how this story brought a realistic perspective to what it’s like to have a loved one with Alzheimer’s. It’s just so heartbreaking and added a lot to the storyline. For me, this book was less about the romance and more about the growth, familial relationships, friendships, and finding peace within yourself.

Another gem from Meghan Quinn! This book had me laughing out loud and gasping at some of the antics of our main characters but also of the quirky supporting characters. Hollywood screenwriter Sawyer escapes his life in rather dramatic (but not unwarranted) fashion and finds himself in the small mountain town of Canoodle. He takes some time at some rundown cabins where he meets owner, Sully, and his granddaughter, Fallon. (Sully has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and has his good and bad days.) Sawyer makes himself useful and helps with much needed renovations.

I won’t give away the great plot points but I’m a fan and think you will be too!

Meghan Quinn’s “Runaway Groomsman” is a small town romance that had me laugh and cry and it’s definitely a memorable story of forming relationships you thought you’d never have.

Screenwriter Sawyer Castle is standing by the groom, his former friend who is marrying Sawyer’s ex and the only reason he’s doing this is for optics. But at the moment of full realization of “what the heck is he doing?”, he flips off the bridal beast and arse of a friend and runs off. He ends up at the small town of Canoodle, California.

Get your Hallmark wine tumblers, for here is where Sawyer meets Fallon Long, who runs her family-owned business, “Canoodle Cove Cabins”, and of course this is also where Sawyer decides to temporarily escape. Realizing he’s found himself in the midst of the cabin renovations, Sawyer can’t help but feel for Fallon who is not only financially strained and lacking hands-on help, but she’s also caring for her grumpy grandfather who has Alzheimer’s.

This is a story that has Sawyer being 2022’s nomination for number 1 friend you could lean and depend on. It’s an endearing story of how Fallon strives to restore the classic vibes this place had back in the days of her grandmother and grandfather running it - the days when their love was so infectious that Fallon dreamed of being loved and loving back that same way. It’s a story where a friendship out of nowhere is formed between a committed and devoted man in Sawyer and Fallon’s grandfather, Sully, who’s long-term memory is in tact as he relishes in the sweet memories of his true love.

I appreciated the strangers to friends to lovers story and while I am NOT a love triangle fan, I am happy to say that this element did not last long and Meghan worked it in a way that didn’t leave you throwing your kindle against the wall.

Thanks for the laughs and the tears, Meghan, Montlake, and Netgalley. I stand by my recommendation and honest review.

**3.75 Stars**

The Runaway Groomsman was an overall sweet and romantic story about second chances and finding love when you least expect it. Sawyer finds himself in a small town after having what some would consider a very public meltdown. There, he finds peace, himself and a new purpose in life.

Fallon is overwhelmed with taking care of her ailing grandfather, while also trying to renovate the cabins that are part of the family business and what he himself has built.

Sawyer and Fallon's grandather connect and form a friendship of sorts and Sawyer helps with various projects. It both helps to get his mind off his own problems and help ease some of Fallon's burdens. Over time, they too become good friends and then it grows into a bit more.

This story is a slow burn romance. I adored Sawyer. He was sweet, patient, extremely romantic, and anything one could want in a hero. I also really liked Fallon. She was a rockstar trying to be a caretaker while also running a business. She had the world on her shoulders. I loved them together and was rooting for them. I thought the drama towards the end didn't quite fit with the story line and I felt like the book seemed a little longer than necessary, but overall it was an engaging read and I would recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really wanted to love Runaway Groomsman because who wouldn’t love a play on the Julia Roberts classic, Runaway Bride? But this book definitely came up short for me.

Sawyer Castle is a Hollywood romcom screenwriter who loses it in the middle of his ex-girlfriend and best friend’s wedding to each other - he was cheated on by her but still was forced to be best man to keep up appearances. Running away from everything, he ends up in the mountains in a tiny town called Canoodle where he intends to hide out from it all. While in Canoodle, he finds a town full of genuine people, camaraderie, reconnects with his love of building/renovation and finds a beautiful girl in need of help with her cabins and her grandfather. Sawyer is really sweet and even though his heart has been broken, he’s truly a romantic at heart.

Fallon Long quit her job as an ER nurse when her grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s to become his full-time caregiver and manage the cabins in Canoodle. She uprooted her life in Palm Springs to save the place she grew up loving and that meant so much to her grandparents and also to keep her grandfather in a place he felt comfortable. The cabins haven’t been doing well and she’d planned renovations but they need done sooner rather than later to avoid closing for good. Fallon is dating an ER doctor, Peter, long distance and they only really see each other or talk on the weekends while she’s still caring for her grandfather and updating the cabins. She’s not a romantic and hasn’t been able to tell Peter that she loves him back after a year together but keeps hoping it’ll happen.

This did not read like a romance to me - it felt much more like women’s fiction. Not only does Fallon have a boyfriend until about 60% of the way through the book who she couldn’t be emotionally available with because of everything happening in her life, but she also spent no time really getting to know Sawyer. Then, once she’s out of her relationship with Peter, she immediately announces her feelings for Sawyer and is all in on their relationship. It was way too insta-love for me, especially from someone as previously emotionally unavailable as she is. I felt like the romance between Fallon and Sawyer was manufactured and progressed way too quick since it only started in the last 40% of the book. Sawyer spent the entire book truly getting to know Fallon as a person so his feelings felt genuine but Fallon was borderline rude to Sawyer until she found out he was helping all along and even then made it clear she didn’t want to be his friend. I just didn’t love the two of them together or the way their relationship shaped up. The big break up was also pretty unnecessary since they’d already spent so much time not even considering a romantic relationship in the beginning of the book.

I did really enjoy the small town setting of Canoodle and all of the crazy characters. Everyone had such unique and quirky personalities and interests that it kept things interesting and I could definitely see why both Fallon and Sawyer felt drawn to the place. But I do have to say that Jaz’s penchant for violence got a little old after a while and I really disliked her involvement in their break up in the end.

Runaway Groomsman was an easy read, but my problems with the characters and the pacing really left me disappointed by the end.

Meghan Quinn is my go to fave for romcom and she never leaves me disappointed. I love every single second of time I spend between the pages of her books. This was yet another to just top the list of why she is my favorite author.

I’m always grateful when a favorite author can write something a little different but still have their classic humor and quirkiness that keeps me coming back again and again. This contemporary romance had all the elements I love to read - playful banter, amusing storyline and a little bit of angst to draw on the heartstrings. It’s about family, love, loyalty and trust, all things that resonate with me too.

One of the factors I appreciate from MQ is her characters. Sawyer and Fallon are very relatable, each of them have issues and some of these can cause them to do or say things they don’t mean. Self doubt can make them do stupid things that they wouldn’t normally contemplate, either jumping to conclusions or shutting the other out. Even the secondary characters are entertaining keeping the plot fascinating. Although I did feel Jaz was bordering on being committed or arrested!

You could say this is a slow burn tale that allows the main characters to form a deep friendship before taking the next step. Especially for Sawyer as he had been cheated on before and he wanted to do everything right by Fallon. He loved her sass and beautiful heart, her resilience and hardworking ethic. He wanted to be the man she could rely on. As for Fallon, she had never felt this way about any man and she wished he’d hurry up and kiss her. Ha! Gotta love a gal who knows what she wants.

This book also touched me a lot due to Sully, who was Fallon’s grandfather. He is suffering from Alzheimer’s and some days it’s a struggle for them all. My own dad had dementia and it bought back good and sad memories for me and I wanted to give Fallon a huge hug, because it’s never easy when a loved one has this disease. They way they all cared for him and treated him with the utmost respect was so moving. The epilogue gave me the answers to any questions I had with regards to everyone’s outcomes, so I feel this will be a complete standalone novel, and one that is worth the read.

It’s not often we see the hero escaping to a small town! It tends to be the heroine, am I right? I adored this spin. After a hilarious grand exit involving two middle fingers, Sawyer flees the wedding of his best friend and ex-girlfriend, driving until he finds himself in the kooky town of Canoodle, California.

There he meets Fallon, owner of the rustic Canoodle Cove Cabins. At over 450 pages, be prepared for a slow, slow burn! Because you see, not only do the two have a rocky past and reintroduction, but Fallon also has a boyfriend …

Normally I dislike like this type of conflict getting dragged on too long, but the intense longing Sawyer develops and attempts to conceal made it oh-so satisfying to see unfold.

As renovations take place at the cabins, I loved the acts of service Sawyer sneakily accomplishes. He was such a genuinely nice, romantic guy with the sweetest intentions.

But even more sweet was the bromance he develops with Sully, the crotchety grandfather who is living with Alzheimer’s. Their unexpected bond and banter completely warmed my heart.

And overall, I simply loved the way this story was told. With Sawyer being a screenwriter, it was fun to have his added commentary on his situation, comparing everything to a Hallmark-type script. I'd totally watch this story on film!

I love how versatile Meghans writing is. This book was quite different to previous books. It's not as spicy or as tension filled as some of her previous books but it didn't need to be as the writing spoke for itself. It was a beautiful story I loved the little name drops from previous books scattered through it and the idea of a show being made out of the story we are reading was a really clever idea. The slow burn build up between Fallon and Sawyer was beautifully done! I adored the side story of Fallons grandad it was heartbreaking but absolutely adorable in places hearing him recall him love for his wife made me all mushy. A fab story and another hit from the Queen of Rom Coms