The angst in this book was reeeaaal - almost torture at some points 😂 This was the first of Denise Williams’ novels I’ve read so excuse me while I go and read everything she’s ever written now…

This was. I like the author’s writing and the way she builds the characters and the world around them. The chemistry between RJ and Lear was interesting, there were times where they were a little too antagonistic. I did feel the back and forth and hot and cold went on for a little too long. Not my favourite from the author but overall it was still a fairly enjoyable read (3 ⭐️).

RJ is the most perfect unlikely romantic idol, she is powerful and intelligent with this beautiful soft part of her. It is a fantastic plot and I laughed out loud at several points and maybe (...okay definitely) swooned over Lear at times. Do You Take This Man?... well I just might!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶🌶🌶/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Berkley Books for an early copy of this book :)
Do you take this man tells the story of a divorce lawyer turned officiant (RJ) and a wedding planner with a difficult love life (Lear) becoming enemies to stranger, but can they really avoid all the love that surround them?
This review will contain tagged spoilers.
PROS:
- the writing. It was absolutely amazing it kept me reading this book all day. I literally read this in one day.
- the steam. IT WAS THERE and also well executed which is something that’s always appreciated ;)
- the banter. we appreciate when the banter is good and not repetitive. This was that and so much more
- Lear. The male mc was on point. He was super cute but deep and i really enjoyed his povs.
CONS
- Mid SPOILER ALERT I din’t really felt like the end was realistic, it came across really forced as, from a very personal perspective, I would have never got back together.
- Rj. While Lean was such an excellent character I can’t say the same about the female MC. She got on my nerves every time and I couldn’t really make myself like her. But I guess that’s part of the good writing to make her feel more booklike.

In general this book was amazing and impressive and I would 100% recommend to everyone.
Because everything in it was perfect.
Lovely.
Exceptional.
okay I’m done lol
x/G

I absolutely adore Denise and her writing - as evident from my very high ratings of her previous two books. But I’m sad to say this one didn’t work for me.

I’m a huge fan of wedding themed books, and the premise was literally everything I love in a romance on paper. I also loved the role reversal when it came to RJ and Lear’s jobs. Why can’t a man be a wedding planner?!

But I just didn’t gel with the characters at all. While I get this was enemies to lovers, these two were actually so nasty to one another that they became unlikeable to me. I genuinely didn’t see many redeeming qualities in either of them.

This then led to the romance feeling a little unbelievable overall. They went from having only truly nasty encounters, to suddenly acting like horny teenagers based on almost nothing. It felt stilted and forced, with a lot of telling rather than showing of the so called spark between them. The key to a great enemies to lovers book is a lot of slow burn and built up tension, which this was sadly lacking.

I will always be a fan of Denise’s and pick up anything she writes, but unfortunately this was a miss for me.

Do You Take This Man is so much fun and might be my favourite Denise Williams book so far! If you're a fan of reverse grumpy x sunshine and/or hate-to-love tropes, this is the book for you!

RJ is a divorce attorney who is working a side gig as a wedding officiant during the summer. She's very much a no-nonsense type on the surface, but secretly a real softie. She ends up having to work weddings with Lear, an event planner, who is trying his hardest to shake off the label of 'nice guy' after a past relationship ended, but is still...very nice. The two start off on the wrong foot but are undeniably attracted to one another so they enter into a 'enemies with benefits' relationship...

This book is packed with sharp banter, steamy moments, and great friendships! I loved the back and forth between RJ and Lear and how they were both drawn to each other, even though they didn't want to be! (I also loved seeing glimpses of Britta/Wes again!)

Instant dislike turns to lust but can it turn to love? Follow rj and Lear as they try to navigate careers and relationships. Both come with baggage but can they help each other through the hard times whilst working on weddings together.
You feel for both of them individually and as a couple. Script of characters from previous books but can be read as a stand alone without any glaring story line misses.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read this book. Full review to follow. I’ve always loved books about weddings and especially the wedding planning business so this looks to be a great read! So excited t see how RJ and Lear come together. I always love a good sort of enemies to lovers troupe and this looks to be a. Dry enjoyable one. I look forward to sharing more thoughts soon.

After butting heads, an event planner and a wedding officiant begin an enemies with benefits arrangement as wedding bells chime around them in the newest rom-com from acclaimed author Denise Williams.

Divorce lawyer RJ would never describe herself as romantic. But when she ends up officiating an unplanned wedding for a newly engaged couple in a park, her life is turned upside down. The video of the ceremony goes viral, and she finds herself in the unlikely position of being a sought-after local wedding officiant. Spending her free time overseeing 'I dos' isn't her most strategic career move, but she enjoys it, except for the type A dude-bro wedding planner she's forced to work with.

Lear is a people person, but after his longtime girlfriend betrayed him, he isn't looking for love. He knows how to execute events and likes being in control, so working with an opinionated and inflexible officiant who can't stand him is not high on his list. He's never had trouble winning people over, but RJ seems immune to his charms.

Surrounded by love at every turn, their physical attraction pulls them together despite their best efforts to stay an arm's length apart. Lear refuses to get hurt again. RJ refuses to let herself be vulnerable to anyone. But when it comes to happily ever after, their clients might not be the only ones saying 'I do'.