Tag: Rom Com

My Big Fake Wedding by Jessica Hatch is a rom com that has great bones but suffers from having a fairly unlikeable main character. That makes it difficult for the reader to get behind Bea in her quest. However, there are some good things to mention as well.

Let’s start with the good.

I liked the premise. Who hasn’t gotten caught up in a “dream wedding” scenario, thinking about the future with the person they think could be “the one?” And who hasn’t suffered when they found out that the person most definitely was NOT the one?

It just so happens that Bea goes through this cycle in spectacular fashion, because she actually wins that dream wedding scenario. But has no potential groom in her life. So, she does what any logical woman would do, right?

No, she doesn’t say no to the wedding so that some other person who may actually HAVE a fiancé could benefit. She keeps it and decides to find a fiancé. That does resolve itself, but I’m not going to say how.

In writing this review, I realize that this is why I had a hard time with Bea. Although the plot line could be great, Bea makes it seem like a selfish choice. Again, making it difficult to get behind her decisions.

I don’t know if the author intended it, but I got a very “Bridget Jones’ Diary” from the story. No spoilers, but in the quest to find who she thinks is the perfect partner, she overlooks the person right in front of her who is, in fact, her better match.

The root of everything that makes this less successful than it should be is that the reader doesn’t get much opportunity to see interactions between Bea and her “rightful partner.” The scenes that do involve them spark, so it is easy to see who she should be with.

Unfortunately, there are far too few of those scenes, which makes the inevitable (you know it’s going to happen) still seem very abrupt. The same goes for the person who Bea picks as her target. He’s tolerant and goes along with her crazy plan…until he doesn’t.

Bea also doesn’t seem to have a lot of regard for the people around her. This is off-putting. I so very much wanted to root for her. But it was hard. The comedy part of the rom com is apparently from Bea trying to make everything happen. Okay.

I know this review sounds like I didn’t like My Big Fake Wedding, which isn’t true. It was fine – I just think it could have been better with a few different choices. Jessica Hatch created some moments that really worked (the to-do lists at the ends of chapters were a nice touch).

But Bea needed to make more of a connection to the pertinent characters. That would have made My Big Fake Wedding a winning rom com.

Kristen Bailey is an author who will shock you when you read her books. No topic is off-limits or taboo. But you may also be surprised at how much you find yourself laughing. That becomes clear early on in her new romantic comedy Great Sexpectations.

First of all, I have to say that I absolutely love her Callaghan Sisters series. So, I was predisposed to like this one. But she had me hooked from the opening scenes at a Halloween party.

Who wouldn’t love a girl who wears a Ghostbusters costume in the midst of everyone else in sexy gear? Right there, I could tell that Josie would be an ordinary gal trying to find her way in a sex-filled world.

Once her family history and business are revealed, that becomes even more apparent.

Honestly, this is definitely an NSFW book – do NOT try and sneak a couple of chapters on a break or something like that.

For one thing, you’ll find yourself laughing way too much – literally out loud – which will lead to questions about why you’re laughing which will in turn lead to all kinds of awkwardness.

Nobody needs workmates butting in on this.

Second, there are parts that will probably make even the most open-minded person blush. Again, that would lead to questions, yada, yada, yada.

Just snuggle yourself down on your couch or in bed and dive into Josie’s world. Trust me, you will not want to put this book down.

As much as people may think that the author writes to shock, I think it is more to open people’s eyes to pertinent societal issues. And she mostly does so with humor.

It does seem that she is dismissive of concerns as voiced by Cameron’s family. I hope that they are written especially “large” to make a point. When it comes to certain discussions (as at Josie’s first encounter with them) there are legitimate points on both sides. I don’t think it’s right to dismiss either one out of hand entirely.

But this review is more about the way Ms. Bailey writes things that most people wouldn’t consider talking about even with their closest friends. And she writes whole books about these topics.

And oh, are there topics in this one! As I said before, NOTHING is taboo in Kristen Bailey’s literary world. Not giving anything away though, because you definitely need to experience each new layer to fully appreciate how the author approaches it all.

Another thing about that world? Look carefully, and you’ll find references to the Callaghan sisters throughout. I’m happy that the author hasn’t entirely abandoned them. But I’m equally happy to add Josie and her family to it.

I loved Great Sexpectations, and I really hope that there are more to come (no pun intended – a nod to the author) with these characters.

Author Bio:

Mother-of-four, gin-drinker, binge-watcher, receipt hoarder, enthusiastic but terrible cook. Kristen also writes. She has had short fiction published in several publications including Mslexia & Riptide. She writes women’s fiction and she hopes her novels have fresh and funny things to say about modern life, love and family.