3.5/5

Having enjoyed One and Only, I was very eager to read It Takes Two, even more so after I took one glance at that adorable shippy cover. While I didn't like It Takes Two as much as One and Only, I was still invested in the bridesmaids and their friendship.

I was curious about Wendy ever since we met her in the first book. In It Takes Two, my curiosity and interest in her only grew. She was not the most conventional heroine in that she was prickly and cold at times. Let me tell you, I was here for that. She was a little guarded with her emotions and she had her reasons for why she was that way. She did open up a little more as the story progressed and I also loved how even though she was very happy about her best friend getting married, she wasn't entirely gaga over her fiance. We don't always love every person we meet in real life and I found that aspect of her personality to be very relatable. I was hoping that I would like Noah as much as I liked Wendy, but that didn't quite happen. For some reason, I had a tough time connecting with Noah on any level. He was a workaholic, uptight and very protective and loving his sister. These are personality traits I should have liked, but I never quite warmed up to him.

As a result of me not loving him, I wasn't completely invested in the romance - part of me felt like my girl, Wendy deserved much better than him. Wendy and Noah had some animosity between them and there were also second-chance romance vibes here. Growing up, Wendy had a huge crush on him, but he ended up breaking her heart which results in her feeling very cold towards him despite her never-quenching attraction to him. I thought the chemistry in It Takes Two was well-written. The banter, the back-and-forth quips between the two really made them flame as a couple. The sexy scenes nearly set my book ablaze! They also openly conveyed the hurt they experienced which I very much appreciated. What stands out for me about the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly is the unbreakable female friendships between Wendy and her best friends. These girls were so supportive and loving of each other. There was a comfort level in their relationship that honestly made me envious as I have yet to find a relationship like that.

It Takes Two was a solid addition to the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series. If you enjoy romantic comedies with a touch of angst, steamy romances and positive female friendships, you should most definitely give this series a try. I'm excited to read the next book, Three Little Words, which is Gia's book, who I already love.

Let me set the scene for you... Last week, Forever Romance teamed up with Jenny Holiday to host a week long read-a-long for One and Only, the first book in Holiday's Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series. So here I was about to do a quick re-read One and Only when I decide to pick up and read a couple pages of It Takes Two. That title is no joke! It took me two pages before realizing that the chances of me putting it down was zero to none. I was done... Gone for... Crystal was out for the count until she finished the book. So, I did... At 3 o'clock Monday morning. I regret nothing, excerpt for the coffee IV I needed to function on Monday.

I loved this book. It Takes Two was a magical experience from cover to cover. Noah Denning is my new book boyfriend. Watching him slowly lose his mind as his attraction to Wendy grew was amazing. I think he knew deep down that the attraction has always been there, but since Wendy was his little sister's best friend, of course he buried it. When he runs into her years later, he can't ignore it. Even more, Noah doesn't want to ignore it. He may not be in the right mind-frame for a relationship, but damn if he's going to let this moment pass them by. I loved his "Cher moment" when he realizes that he loves Wendy. If you've seen Clueless, then you'll know what I'm talking about.

I loved Wendy just as much as Noah. In fact, I've added her to my book BFF list (heroines I want to be best friends with). Poor thing has been through so much that started with the sudden death of her dad. All her life she's only known what it's like to lose someone. Eighteen year old Noah standing her up for his prom was the last straw. From that point, Wendy knew it was better to shield her heart than having it broken. As Jane's wedding approaches, Wendy starts to panic a little at the thought of possibly losing her best friend. As her relationship with Noah blossoms, Wendy's heart starts to heal. And she realizes that things are going to be okay.

I don't know how many times I can say I loved It Takes Two before I start to sound repetitive. But... I loved it so damn much! I adore the friendship between Wendy, Jane, Elise, and Gia. Gia's reaction to Noah and Wendy was friggin' hysterical. I loved the relationship between Wendy and Noah. It was sweet, romance, and sexy... Then there's Jenny's writing, which is fabulous. Just a flipping amazing book. I've got my fingers crossed that Gia's book will include her wedding because I need it. After 2 books, Jenny Holiday is firmly planted on my favorite author list.

Short comment: 2 stars. I enjoyed the first book in this series, and I really wanted to like this one just as much, but it simply didn't work for me. I felt like the plot really dragged along very slowly, and the "obstacles" in the relationship did not make sense. On a very basic level, to have our main character from the first book end up turning her wedding into a more intense event after all her protesting from before did not seem likely or realistic.

Goodness, Jenny Holiday writes the BEST romances! This series is sooo good and this book left me grinning from ear to ear. I snagged the prequel novella and cannot wait for more in this adorable series!

I had some mixed feelings about the first book in this series because I didn’t love that one as much as I was expecting to. Even though I still enjoyed it. But I was extremely excited about this pairing and couldn’t wait to dive into it.

IT TAKES TWO is about Wendy and Noah. They’ve known each other their whole lives and have always played an important role. Wendy is Noah’s sisters’ best friend and that is Jane, the heroine from book one. They’re forced into some proximity due to Jane’s wedding coming up and that stirs up feelings long thought buried between them. I loved stories like this. Trope catnip for me.

I started reading IT TAKES TWO and I didn’t want to put it down until I finished it. It was addictive and I just couldn’t get enough of it. Wendy is so very independent and also shows a carefree side to the world. Noah is the rock, the dependable and responsible one. They could both be more like the other and circumstances in life are what shaped them. I adored how clueless Noah was (most of the time) and how Wendy pushed him out of his comfort zone on more than one occasion. These two were the perfect sparks for an adorable read.

I can’t wait to read more from this series and I hope I enjoy it as much as I did this one.

This book was such a fun and emotional rollercoaster. Wendy Liu had been through such difficult, happy and heartbreaking life. Love the strength and character personalities. This book is also a lesson to how important communication is between one another.

Let me start by saying I still love book 1 the best, because the main character sings to my soul. But book 2 is SO GOOD guys. It's definitely worth continuing the series. I loved Noah and Wendy's sniping at each other. I loved all the real-ass emotions that both characters were steeped in without it getting too overwhelming or broody. I liked Vegas, although part of me was like "how on earth do all these people have the money to spend the weekend in Vegas on a whim? And where can I get some of that?"
My ultimate favorite thing about this book was that there was a stripper who was paid not only to strip, but also to talk about books afterwards, and I now want a short novella based on this guy. Jenny, get on this.

Okay, full disclosure I think I am officially a Jenny Holiday fangirl. It kind of snuck up on me and I didn't see it coming but here it is. I read Famous and Infamous (and really enjoyed both!) and then bought her 49th Floor series when it was on sale because the stories were very inclusive. I was not disappointed and that sealed the deal but her Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series has delighted me to no end.

It Takes Two is the second in this series and the heroine is Wendy, the Maid of Honor of the heroine in book 1. The hero is the brother and groomsman of Jane - that heroine from book 1. Right away, I'm in love with Wendy because she is SO PRICKLY. She is an attorney, as is the hero, and she likes what she likes - which happens to be casual sex. Wendy is completely unapologetic about this, a fact that endears me to her right away. That it's a commonly known thing amongst her friends, and not a BIG DEAL, is one of the things I love about Holiday. There is zero shaming that occurs, not that there should be, but it's so ingrained in us that there would be that's it completely novel to me when it doesn't happen.

Noah and Wendy have history and it's not so pleasant...although Noah doesn't realize this. And this is handled in such a way that it's not exactly a secret or a reveal per se, but it is. For both Noah and the reader it's kind of a big reveal and it packed a big punch for us but what I appreciated so much is that it wasn't dealt with throughout like *shhhh omg it's a secret* because I really dislike that.

Yet another aspect of this book that made me love it so much is the friendship factor. It's massively present. Wendy is reeling over Jane getting married and possibly having her friendship change. One way this showed through is her feelings towards Jane's fiance, Cam. She just didn't love him and couldn't warm to him. I could relate to this so, so much. That jealousy was written so well and later on there is a scene between Jane and Wendy that truly brought tears to my eyes because it is so touching. 

Jenny Holiday is definitely an author that I'll be buying more of and paying attention to. I love that she writes both m/f and m/m as well as inclusively. I've seen a lot of people talking about these last two books and I hope that more people pay attention to her writing because she is so worth it!

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Have you ever found yourself wanting to read a fun yet a bit serious romance story about a girl who once was shy and sweet then got her heart broken and became a strong independent woman who doesn’t let anyone in so they can’t break her heart again and the boy, now man, who broke her heart without realizing? A story that also happens to feature diverse and interesting characters, a bridezilla who doesn’t know she’s a bridezilla, and contains a lot of bickering and rivalry between the main characters? Sure you have. And lucky for you, IT TAKES TWO is all that.

I laughed, I swooned, I blushed, I cried a little and I related. And I really think most of you are going to experience similar emotions so please pick up this beautifully written rom-com. I had the best time reading it and I want you to have a great time too.

A funny story that begins with the bridesmaid being attracted to the bride’s brother Noah for years. Wendy Lu who he actually adds a name to it and makes her name become a character from Whoville. Getting together again now for his sister’s wedding is bringing up emotions for both of them from the past and for Noah he is finding himself looking at Wendy as a strong beautiful women. Not the girl he remembers. He is also wondering why after he left for college and would come home he would only see her a few times in all of these years since. But he knows that she and his sister are still best friends and he remembers the two of them doing things together until he left for college. Wendy is falling back into the happy spot of seeing Noah at times more so now that Jane her best friend is getting married and she is wanting to do more things with Noah, the guy who broke her heart when her left her and at the prom. He did not leave her he never showed. This has created the women she is today and she will do anything to beat Noah and there you have it. The two bachelor and bachelorette parties become a completion and at the wedding it will be voted on which one is the winner. This is where the story really takes off. It was already good but here it just gets better. The answers begin to happen and Noah becomes well he becomes a guy. I will leave it at that. This is a fun book with a good story, with good characters. Funny moments, serious times, and overall a very good book.

This book is the second in a series, but can absolutely be enjoyed as a stand-alone. I enjoyed revisiting the characters from the first book, and I love the theme of second chance at love relationships.

Noah and Wendy had known each since childhood. As teens, Noah unknowingly broke Wendy's heart and changed her outlook on love. When they are forced to spend time together due to Jane's (Noah's sister/Wendy's best friend) wedding, a new, adult relationship begins developing as they each face their pasts.

Although I enjoyed the banter between Noah and Wendy, and I loved seeing more of the recurring characters, there were a couple of things that kept me from giving 5 stars. In the first book, I loved Jane; however, in this book I found her rather annoying.. Secondly, Noah and Wendy are both successful lawyers, but they are wishy-washy, insecure, and unable to meaningfully communicate with each other which became a bit frustrating.

Overall, this was an enjoyable story that included many laughs, as well as emotional moments and some sexy times. It was a fun read that I would definitely recommend.

I accidentally deleted my original review so I'll make this short and sweet. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Jenny Holiday's writing. It's easy to follow without any grammar issues. Sadly I find that I don't enjoy her novels (I've read books 1 and 2 of this series). I can't seem to get invested in the people or plot and it bothers me since I'd like to recommend her (Holiday is a local author). For me the first book's saving grace was the tourist attractions (i.e. Niagara Falls and Canada's Wonderland). I 100% recognized what Holiday was describing and it was a really cool experience. It Takes Two is set in Las Vegas. I've never been, and found that without that "personal" touch I had nothing to look forward to in the novel and finished it for the sake of saying I did.

Overall I'd recommend Holiday because there's nothing wrong with her novels. For whatever reason they don't mesh with me but they may with you.

It Takes Two is the second book in Jenny Holiday's Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series. You met Wendy in One and Only and learn a tiny bit about her.

I enjoyed the first book even if at times I had a few issues. I figured I would like this one too and I did, just not as much as the first one. I think! It's kinda hard to explain. But since this is a review I will try my best to do so.

I liked the idea of the book, there is something about brothers of friends that turn into good stories.

I really liked Wendy. I was able to connect with her right away. She was a fun character to read about. It was Noah that I had trouble with. He was sorta one dimensional for me. No real depth. It's not that I didn't like him, I did, it's just....

I think for me this brought the story down. It didn't make me not like it but it made for only a solid three stars. I might go back some day and read this one again and see if I liked it more then this time.

I’m loving Jenny Holiday’s Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series so very much! It’s fun, swoony and sexy and Wendy and Noah gave me all the feels in the latest installment, It Takes Two.

I’ll never not love the best friend’s big brother trope, especially when it’s done as well as it was with Wendy and Noah. I loved these two characters so much. Their history was rather complicated, so it was a bit enemies to lovers with a hint of a second chance romance. Noah was such a sweet, protective and caring guy. It was so easy to crush on him. Wendy was a little prickly at times, but she was also a good friend to those she loved. She’d suffered a lot of loss in her life and her walls were definitely up high and tight. But, Noah always did seem to find a way through them. He always had, for better or worse.

Wendy and Noah’s story was sweet and a little sexy and I just couldn’t get enough of them. There was a bit of a slow burn as these two came to terms with their feelings, but it felt right and natural. Things definitely heated up, too. Their “what happens in New York stays in New York” fling was SUPER hot, but it was also obvious there were some very real feelings underneath it all. I was happy to see the more casual agreement move into a deeper connection. Wendy and Noah were so perfectly suited, I can’t imagine them NOT together.

The other fun part about It Takes Two was the secondary characters. First off, we get to see Cam and Jane, of One and Only fame, in the lead up to their special day. And, well, the special day itself. We also get a chance to learn even more about Gia, the last woman standing, which just made me want her book even more. Three Little Words just can’t get here soon enough. I’ll be waiting with total grabby hands until I get it.

FAVORITE QUOTES

There was no universe in which Noah Denning was going to be the “milk” Wendy Lou Who got for free.

This was why he avoided casual sex. It so often came with all these confusing emotions. You didn’t know where you stood. You had no control over how things were going to go.

“You’re Jane’s person. Jane’s my person. Therefore, you’re stuck with me. Simple logic.”

Jesus Christ. He almost felt like bursting into song. Was this what being in love was like—being in a musical?

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion.

This book was a slow burn for me, I hadn't read the first in this series which may or may not have made a difference. Wendy and Jane have been best friends since grade school, and memebers of the dead dads club. Janes older brother Noah has been there for both girls but after turning down the prom with Wendy, she's held a grudge against him all these years. So every time Noah has come home to visit Jane, Wendy has dashed off to different parts of the world to avoid being around him. Now with Jane getting married things are going to get hashed out because they can't avoid each other.
No doubt these two lawyers have chemistry and the inability to work stuff out. Maybe because they had waited so long, and Wendy was not entirely up front about how much the prom meant to her. 17 years is a long time to ignore someone. I felt the book held its own but it was a little hard to get into. Still it caught and captured me about half way all the way to the end. Love a HEA. Four stars of entertainment!

I loved Wendy and Noah! I've been thinking a lot about how to best review this book, because it was so personal and hit me right in the feels. Lots of romances have locked down characters that struggle with intimacy and falling in love, but the way this worked between Wendy and Noah just felt very real. Yes, he was an overbearing jerk at times. Yes, she was prickly and defensive. But I loved them both and I loved this romance. Such a great read.

This is book #2 of the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series and it's a perfect romantic comedy. After reading the first book, I was ready to see who the next couple would be. The settings are fun because weddings can be crazy and the author can do a lot of things with the characters that you can't do in an everyday contemporary romance novel. In this book Jane is getting married to Cameron. Jane is all about a low-key wedding because the last wedding they all planned was anything but low key. However, when the bachelor and bachelorette party turns into a competition, it is anything but low key. In fact, the running joke is that the bride is trying to be "low-key". Jane's best friend, Wendy Liu is in charge of planning the party. She is competing against Jane's brother, Noah Denning.

They are both high powered attorneys. Noah practices law in New York and Jane practices law in Toronto. They used to be close and they grew up together, with Noah always protecting Jane and Wendy. However, when Noah stood Wendy up at prom, he shattered her heart and she has never really gotten over that hurt. From that point on, Wendy has made it her mission to see Noah as little as possible. That becomes a bit difficult during the wedding festivities. The reader can clearly see that the arguing and witty comebacks between Wendy and Noah are filled with sexual tension. Wendy is all about one night stands, but Noah is more of a serial monogamist. Noah also has a thing against sleeping with his sister's best friend. Wedding shenanigans force the two together and they have to deal with the new direction their relationship is going. A funny, steamy, sexy wedding romance is a perfect pick for this summer's wedding season!

I have chosen not to finish this title. I didn't believe the connection between the characters...it seemed stilted and I never believed that there was enough connection to sustain a long term relationship.

As always I appreciate the opportunity to read this title.

Laura

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
Wendy has successfully avoided Noah Denning for years, which has been hard to do since he's her best friend's brother. Being humiliated in front of the school so many years ago not only wounded her pride, but her heart. She thought that Noah cared about her, but she was proven wrong when he ditched her to work.

Noah has worked hard to make a successful life for himself so that he can take care of his mother and sister. Not that they need financial support any longer, but he still does everything he can to make their lives better. That was especially true after his father died and he had to take care of everything – even putting his own happiness on hold to focus on his family.

Noah has long admired Wendy and they verbally spar like crazy. He's often wondered why their relationship changed after he went off to college and only now realizes the night he stood her up caused a deeper hurt than he imagined. Wendy has carried that pain in her heart for a long time and only after her aunt gets hurt does she realize that by holding on to that pain, she has not lived life to its fullest.

I enjoyed the book and seeing how Noah and Wendy's relationship progressed. It started off rocky but as they got to know each other again, you could see how much they truly cared about the other. Their competitive natures lead to sparks and flames. What Noah and Wendy don't realize is how much work it is to hide their relationship and are surprised when it all comes to light. And it all happens in the weeks leading up to Noah's sister's wedding.

Jenny Holiday is a new to me author that I started reading a couple of months ago. Her new series, Bridesmaids Behaving Badly centers around a group of friends who are bridesmaids in each other’s weddings. I really liked the first book in the series, One and Only, and of the standout characters I enjoyed in the book was Jane’s best friend, Wendy and her unrequited feelings for Jane’s older brother Noah. It Takes Two is their story. And let me tell you: I swooned and cried and smiled all the way because this book was fabulous.

“Was this what being in love was like—being in a musical?”


It Takes Two has everything I want in my romance:

Firstly, it features a stubborn, prickly heroine who is hiding a soft gooey center. Wendy has abandonment issues and a slew of other issues that made me want to give her a hug. She’s also smart, loyal, and a good friend to her girlfriends.

Secondly, Noah is a caretaker hero who is endearing and solid, and just an all around great guy to have in your life. Sure, he was a bit clueless in the beginning (hello! He’s a guy!) but I never got the idea that he was hurtful or mean towards Wendy.

Thirdly, and my most favorite of all, is the strong bond between these 4 female friends. I LOVE female friendship in books. Seriously. Romance books should feature more women supporting other women. This book is filled with so much love and affection between female friends. I just loved reading about these girls and their devotion to each other.

And last but not the least, it has two of my favorite tropes: unrequited love and in-love-with-bestfriend’s-brother. I, a seasoned romance reader who loves her tropes, am predisposed to like this book. No question about it. This book was written for readers like me.

My only gripe about this book, and this is a minor one and it’s probably just me, is that the middle and towards the end lagged a bit in terms of pacing. It rebounded with the ending but I just noticed how the story slowed down a bit in the middle. While it didn’t affect my enjoyment for the book that much considering I still really enjoyed it, I’m mentioning it here to give other readers a heads up.

Other than that, It Takes Two was everything I was hoping for. I enjoyed it and if you like the things I mentioned above, you might enjoy this one, too!