It was a fun read - which is what you want for a predictable romcom, however the story didn't particularly grab me and towards the end I was racing to finish.

2.5 Stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was awarded an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sam dreads her best friends wedding ever since her boyfriend, Liam cheated on her. The problem, Sam is maid of honor and Liam is the best man,

One of the obstacles is the wedding is in Scotland, for a week.

Sam knows she can’t go to the wedding solo. She decides to hire a boyfriend.

This book was the epitome of chick lit. I absolutely loved it. This is a perfect summer/beach read!

Samantha Jenkins needs a date for her best friend's wedding, the one where her ex, Liam ( the best man) and his HUGELY pregnant girlfriend Stella are attending. Sam' struggled with going to support her best friend ( Jess) and not because she doesn't want to confront her ex. When her work friend Sarah suggests she finds a guy and pays him to go, pretending to be her boyfriend, Sam's not for the idea. Then she meets Jake, an actor, who seems perfect for the part. What follows is a wedding week in Scotland filled with hi-jinks and angst as Sam struggles not to fall in love with her pretend boyfriend.
This was a cute little story, a little long on antics and short on romance, but satisfying none the less.

I genuinely dont know where to start with this one. I love, love, loved it and everything from here on out threatens to be just gushy words about how much I loved it so I'll try and reign that in a little... but really its so absolutely amazing that you NEED to pick it up and read it. Now!



This isnt the first book by Stoneley that i have read, so i knew going in what to expect from her writing and I was not disappointed. From the first pages I loved Sam, really felt for her and the situation she found herself in; with her cheating ex boyfriend being best man at her best friends wedding and her still single following their split. As the story progressed and we saw more of Sam, the real Sam, the one she was before the cheating Liam, the more I loved her. I loved watching her realise she was more than the sad girl she was at the beginning of this book.

And Jake! Wow! Stoneley definitely knows how to write a swoon worthy leading man.... and it wasn't just the ladies in the book swooning around Jake. But he wasn't just a pretty face, he was a real man of substance, a man who knows how to make a woman feel good about herself, and not the superficial kind but the real deep down stuff that sticks beyond a 'you look pretty'.

But the real star of the book has to be the adorable Harry.... and my most favourite of scenes that had me laugh out loud which involves a four poster bed and some sexy knickers and I can guarantee it is NOT what you're expecting.

I have to admit that the fake date/relationship is very possibly my favorite romance trope so as soon as I read the blurb of this book I knew I had to read it. It may be storyline that's been done to death in both books and numerous romcom movies but I just couldn't resist despite some concern that this would turn into just another okay-ish but nothing special read. Thankfully though this was not the case. I did have some doubts in the beginning of the story but soon became completely addicted and I think ended up finishing the whole thing in an evening.

Main character Samantha Jenkins is extremely relatable and fake boyfriend Jake makes for an incredibly sweet and swoon worthy leading man. He has more than a few secrets and keeps his motives for playing the doting boyfriend in the Scottish Highlands for a week pretty close to his chest but he certainly knows how to give a woman a boost of confidence and there is plenty of chemistry between him and Sam.

The other characters are also pretty well rounded and likable for the most part and for the less than nice ones (I'm referring to horrid ex boyfriend and new pregnant girlfriend) they generally get their comeuppance at some point in the story.

As you would expect there are more than a few laughs along the way and the author uses the setting of a country estate in the highlands to bring in a lot of the classics, horse riding for the inexperienced, shooting, an out of control dog (more than once), a dip in the lake and a fair amount of inebriated socializing. All of which make for very entertaining reading (there were more than a few occasions where I found myself laughing out loud).

It does occasionally venture a little too far into the stereotypical romcom read and if I'm honest I'm not entirely convinced that I'll remember it in a few months time as there wasn't quite enough about it that really stood out. It does however sit on the higher end of the scale and is one I'd recommend if you're looking for a light and fun romance.

This is one wedding you do not want to miss!  I LOVED it! As soon as I saw the book cover (cake... need I say more..!) and the synopsis I just couldn't wait to get my hands on it.  Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Impulse I was lucky enough to receive an early copy and  after reading a few reviews I couldn't wait any longer and this book shot up my 'to be read' pile.

This story made me think of the brilliant 2005 film 'The Wedding Date' with Debra Messing and the lovely Dermot Mulroney!  How was this film 8 years ago?! - I must re watch this!

This book has to be one of my fav books of 2018 so far, so good I was up till the early hours as I just couldn't put it down.

We meet Sam... good news is that her best friend is getting married, bad news is the best man is her ex boyfriend Liam.. The bad bad news is her ex boyfriend Liam has a new girlfriend and to make matters worse the bad bad bad news is the new girlfriend is pregnant!!  Arghhhh!!!

So Sam is the maid of honour to her best friend, Jess.  Unfortunately the groom's brother is Sam's ex boyfriend Liam.  The wedding is the last place Sam wants to run into Liam but Sam being Sam the most caring and wonderful friend she puts her feelings to one side and plans to attend.

To save loosing face in front of family and friends at the wedding she decides to tell everyone that she has moved on and has a new boyfriend, problem is said boyfriend does not exist.  After visiting her hairdresser Tim, she is presented with an idea of an escort or hiring an actor and here she comes away with a business idea that is Jake.. Sam and Jake meet and after hitting it off decide to confirm a contract with rules (rules are for breaking right?!) and off they leave for the wedding in the Scottish Highlands as 'pretend' boyfriend and girlfriend not long after Jake has played the perfect partner at dinner with the 'in laws'. (awww he's a keeper!)

Thank you Zara for Jake, I am sure I am not alone when I say he is the perfect date, such a charmer and I loved him from the first chapter he appeared in.  My list of chick lit hotties is rather long (what's a girl to do?!) but I have to say Jake is right up at the top!

I really liked Sam, she was very relatable, and I really wanted nothing but good things for her.  I did feel sorry for her in the beginning especially finding out that her ex boyfriend Liam (we hate him by the way) must have done the dirty deed on her but as I read further into the book I envied her for having such a hot date at the wedding of the year! (jammy dodger!!)  On a serious note this book was also a self discovery for Sam on what she wanted out of life 'AL' (After Liam!) and I must admit Liam most probably did her a massive favour!

I loved the lead up to the wedding, lots of funny scenes many including Harry, Jake's dog... The most cutest, curious dog ever!  I enjoyed reading the chemistry between Sam and Jake, Will Sam fall for Jake and just how good of an actor is Jake?! Arghhh questions.. questions...!

Well done Zara on such a blooming brilliant read, thank you for creating a story that kept me from sleeping, I love when a book does that!

Review: I would like to start by thanking the publishers and NetGalley for letting me review this book before publication. As soon as I saw that this book was by Zara Stoneley I knew I just had to read it knowing how much I have loved her last two books. 

So, where to begin, this is a cracker of a book. The first thing you notice is the cover. It is lovely, simple but effective and it stands out at you. The title is so fitting. Upon reading the blurb I couldn't stop but turn the page and start reading straight away. There goes my to be read pile and what was that? There is washing up to do? Nope, I don't think so! 

Sam is our main character and the story is told through her point of view. Now I think I would do exactly what she does in this story and hire a professional boyfriend. God, to face you ex at a wedding on you own, I don't think so! As for Jake well he sounds just perfect! Apart from the acting part, which can lead to confusion over what is real, don't think Sam thought that one through. Although, she should remember his acting career to date. No giveaways here this is a must read!

Zara has written a beautiful romance that had me laughing with tears. I loved it! 

I could so easily re-read this one.

Well done Zara its amazing.

Read the excerpt and was expecting a cute book. The characters didn’t pop out and grab me. I got bored and put the book down 1/3 through. I guess I am in the minority, from seeing all those five stars.

This book is just cliche after cliche. "Overweight" women can't get over her ex ,can't find anyone and is also super clumsy and has a low self esteem. Why, why, why???? Please no more books like this. I just want a girl (any type of girl) to have high self esteem and no not every girl is clumsy that she's falling down everytime that she sees the guy she likes. It's a no for me.

This is a lovely and enjoyable story, that I think would make a great film. However that may be because I years ago watched a film with the same basic premise and in fact same title, ao although I enjoyed the journey and writing, I wasn't overly surprised about the overall story arc.

Ok there are differences between the film and the book as you would hope being completely different but there was that sense of familiarity with the thoughts that Sam was having throughout.

Putting all that to one side, this is a book filled with amusing moments, and I think I fell in love with Jake almost instantly. I do love a book with eye candy, and he is more than just a gorgeous actor willing to be a fake boyfriend.

He is hiding the true reason he is willing to go along with the the charade of being Sam's boyfriend and a date for a week long wedding in Scotland. I loved how he slipped into the role perfectly and seemed a natural at the various activities on offer, while also absolutely hating on sight Sam's ex-boyfriend who is the best man.

I really enjoyed the character of Sam too and completely understood her need to go to these lengths, showing just what a good friend she is.

And of course this wouldn't be a Zara Stoneley book if there weren't horses and dogs involved somewhere, and the two dogs featured are fabulous. Tank is exactly that and Harry is a larger than life dog who may be very keen on human food, despite the regime he may be apparently on. The scene involving horses too was great

Despite my initial thoughts this is easily a book I would recommend to others, it really has everything I look for in a romantic comedy - romance, comedy, gorgeous man, some fabulous scenes, an ex worth hating, funny parents and animals. This is pure enjoyable escapism and I did really enjoy the whole book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This was a girl who was dumped by her boyfriend, invited to be maid of honor for her best friends wedding, who her best friend is marrying the brother of the boyfriend that dumped her.... it was not my cup of tea. I read about half of it, and reading the blurb that was on Netgalley I thought it was going to be funny but to me it wasn't. I am just one person, you read it and tell what you thought.. I downloaded this book for an honest opinion of the book. Thanx

I have to admit that at first, I was a little bit wary about the concept of this book. I mean,  we have all seen the film 'The Wedding Date' with Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney, right? Plus, having read multiple books with a wedding date at the forefront of its storyline, I couldn't help but wonder what was going to be different about Zara Stoneley's interpretation of the theme seeing as it has been done multiple times...

But, after reading 'The Wedding Date', I can honestly say that whilst the theme may be familiar, nobody has written it in the way that Zara Stoneley has. Ever. And I don't think that they will either. There's writing a story based on a popular theme, and then there's writing a story based on a popular theme and owning it ten times over. Zara Stoneley is the latter and by golly did she own it!

Samantha has been asked to be the maid of honour at her best friends wedding. The wedding where her ex-boyfriend (the one who dumped her after dipping his wick in new wax before the old wax had even dried) was going to be the best man. Samantha's knee-jerk reaction is to hide under the covers and ignore the invitation ever arrived, just so that she doesn't have to come face to face with the man who thinks his derrière doesn't smell after a bout of diarrhoea. But, because Sam has a conscience and a heart, she is determined to not let her best friend down on her wedding day. With no boyfriend, no date, no man in question, Sam has to think outside the box when it comes to wanting to shove her ex boyfriend inside a box. How? Well, you'd better read the book then, hadn't you!!

Oh my goodness gracious me! This book!!!! I think I resembled a pig more often than not whilst I was reading Zara Stoneley's latest offering! The amount of snorting that came out of me really didn't sound healthy at all, especially when faced with a border collie whose personality is larger than life. Seriously, the dog is a legend and I want his bandana for my own dog!

Now, as a person who finds themselves checking into 'Zara Stoneley Anonymous' after each book, I cannot help but think that 'The Wedding Date' is her best book EVER. Seriously! The humour was absolutely brilliant, unforced, and totally in keeping with the overall vibe of the storyline. Not only that, the energy throughout the entire story was mind-blowing and highly contagious. So much so, I couldn't help but feel like I could conquer anything, even if it meant looking like a prat whilst doing it. 'The Wedding Date' is Zara Stoneley's most energetic book yet, and one which kept me with a humongous smile on my face the entire time.

Everything the characters got up to was unique, brilliantly written and full of hilarious one liners which ended up creating vivid (and hilarious) imagery in my mind. One word - horse. When you delve into this book for yourself, remember the word 'horse' and you'll see what I mean!

Whilst I have to admit that the author may have adapted her writing style slightly with 'The Wedding Date', I for one am not complaining and think that the slight change has brought more energy and oomph to an already accomplished author. I would LOVE to see these characters back in another story, and I would love to see Harry settle down with a Mrs Harry to find out whether they dress their pups in bandana's. It has GOT to happen!!

'The Wedding Date' blew me away and threw all of my misconceptions out of the window straight away. These bunch of characters are truly fantastic, with personalities you cannot help but gel with. Well, apart from the two characters which are total asshats!!

I want to stand on my soap box with brightly coloured pom poms and shout about this book for the entire world to hear - that is how much I loved this book! Honestly, what a fantastic, high energy, hilarious novel - 'The Wedding Date' is my most favourite book of 2018 so far, and even in my 'top books of all time' list. I have found my new book boyfriend in 'Jake' and nobody is pinching him!!! 'The Wedding Date' is the best date I have ever been on, and the one I will remember for a very long time...especially seeing as I will be re-reading this book until I know it word for word. Out-fudging-standing. Zara Stoneley, you legend!!!