Absolutely loved this book! In true Jenny fashion, this book was packed with humor, lust and heartfelt love! I love seeing the emotions surface and seeing the evolution of the Noah’s and Wendy’s love for one another. Another stellar read!!

3.5

So far Wendy Liu is not looking forward to her best friend's wedding. For one, she's sad about the inevitable change in their relationship as her friend becomes a wife and Wendy remains single. For another, she's going to be forced to interact with the bride's brother, Noah, who is someone Wendy has gone to painstaking lengths to avoid for the past seventeen years, after he broke her heart. Instead of lashing out at Noah at every turn, since they'll be dealing with each other a lot in the coming weeks, Wendy turns up their already competitive nature with each other to a thousand.

Noah has no idea why everything about the wedding has turned into a competition, but if it keeps his feelings in check regarding Wendy, he's all for it. But after a trip to Vegas for the bachelor / bachelorette parties well you know the saying "what happens in Vegas"... except Wendy and Noah are having a problem keeping it in Vegas.

But will the past between then ruin any chance they may have for a future?

This is the first book that I've read by Jenny Holiday which means, yes, I did not read the first book in the series. While it didn't keep me from understanding this book, I wonder if I missed out on some nuances of the characters as the were portrayed in the first book.

The romance just felt a bit odd for me. While I understand and appreciate the idea that certain events can have an altering effect on someone's life, I felt like where Wendy is coming from when she says Noah broke her heart and then how that moment basically makes her into the person she is in the present day felt strange. Probably because no one else registered knew that anything was wrong. Even her best friend, the heart-breakers sister(!), seemingly has no idea that her brother caused her friend such a tremendous amount of heartbreak. Especially since Wendy has been holding on to this for seventeen years - which seemed a little excessive to me personally.

But then, towards the end, the author posits another possible reason for Wendy changing into the adult she has become. I felt like there was no real commitment one way or another to either event being actually the thing that makes Wendy into a person who doesn't do relationships and is unable to stand still for long periods of time (meaning she likes / needs to travel a lot).

Noah's side, on the other hand, felt more plausible. He's always been used to being the one taking care of everything / everyone around him from a young age. Now that his sister is getting married he's having problems letting go of the "fatherly" aspect of their relationship. I felt like Noah coming to terms with the fact that his sister is grown and finally learning to take time for himself and do things that he wants to do instead of what he thinks needs to be done, was more clearly stated than Wendy's story.

While this one was a bit iffy for me at times, I really do want to go back and check out the first book. It may be that understanding these characters better will change my perspective a bit. Just because this was a middle of the road read for me, I would still pick up the next book.

IT TAKES TWO

I read this book before reading the first book in the series but I don’t feel like it changed my experience of reading this book, although it does really make we want to go back and read Cameron and Jane’s story, so that’s a bonus.

I’m sort of torn about the banter between Wendy and Noah. I enjoyed their competitive nature and thought their lawyer-speak being used as a sort of foreplay was great, but at a certain point their need to outdo each other just got sort of annoying.

I did, however, really enjoy Noah’s jealous side and his need to stop Wendy from making, what he perceived, was a horrible mistake at Jane’s bachelorette party. From their things just kept getting hotter and hotter.

I love the whole friendship dynamic being built in this series and can’t wait for more in Gia’s book!!

It Takes Two is a witty, sexy and wonderfully entertaining romantic comedy, and it’s a delightful second installment to Jenny Holiday’s phenomenal Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series.

Noah wasn’t just Wendy’s best friend’s big brother – he was also her friend and her family as well. When she developed a crush on him in her teens and he unknowingly broke her heart, their relationship was forever altered. Their friendly, competitive dynamic took on a sharper tone, and Wendy avoided him whenever possible. Years later, they are together again for Noah’s sister’s wedding activities, and Noah realizes that he sees Wendy as much more than a friend or someone he needs to take care of. For different reasons, they are both scared to consider the romantic possibilities, and they verbally spar over almost everything in an attempt to dance around their attraction. But forced proximity pushes them to the breaking point in which they can no longer deny what is happening between them.

Wendy is smart, sassy and fiercely independent, and Noah’s demonstrative, easygoing nature brings out her more vulnerable and sensitive side. They are complex, likeable characters, who are captivating to watch as they bicker their way to understanding the truth of their feelings and achieving a meeting of the minds and of the hearts. Don’t miss this stellar romantic comedy!

Appeared on USA TODAY HEA on June 28.

This book has both cussing (including f-bombs) and explicit on-page sex. If these things will cause you to leave a bad review, you should skip this one. Although this is book two of the series and there are tie-ins to the first book, this one completely stands alone and you *do not* have to have read One and Only to enjoy this one. In my opinion you *should* read it because the book is great and it adds a lot to this story, but isn't required reading.

It Takes Two is a fun story that has not only a best friend's brother theme, but it also has a frenemies-to-lovers vibe that makes this story totally irresistible. Wendy and Noah were in each others' lives for years, but had grown apart after years spent in separate cities. Their backstory, and that long-time bond, make this book something really special from start to finish. I loved the way that they bickered and bantered, and the way that they actually saw each other and had a relationship rather than the usual romance novel “falling into bed = insta-love” schtick. These two actually had a genuine, honest relationship that grew and changed throughout the course of the story.

The thing that makes this book (and this entire series) is so great is that Ms. Holiday has a tremendous way with words. The descriptions and the humor (especially their inner thoughts, oh my gosh) in this story were so fun and witty that I couldn't stop laughing and highlighting things like a madwoman as I read. I love when a book can make me stop reading and highlight something fantastic while cackling or giggle-snorting and that happened many times in this one.

Wendy was an interesting character. She was such a strong woman who had so much going for her, yes, but inside she was also still such a relatable hot mess. I liked the way that she worked through her issues – both with Noah and within her own mind. And Noah was fantastic. First and foremost, I loved the way that he loved his sister. His love of Jane was nothing short of beautiful, and it really set the tone for the kind of person that he was. Even though he was a little obtuse where Wendy was concerned at times, the fact that he honestly adored her despite it all was undeniable.

There were a few moments that made me want to cry, but there was also a quote that spoke to me as I prepare for what will be a major and devastating loss of someone I love dearly. It hit me so hard and so deeply that I highlighted the words and then wrote it down by hand so that I will never forget it. I won't spoil it but it turns out that Reverend Bill is incredibly wise.

Also, it needs to be said that Cameron (the hero in book one) is an amazing book hero. Without going into details, every time he was on the page, I fell more and more in love with him.

I would highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a true, genuine love story between two characters who just belong together.

I cannot wait for The Glamazon's book.

Loved this book so much. It made me wish I were a better writer. I’ve always loved the best friend’s brother trope. Wendy and Noah were great characters separately, and their history made me root for them from the very beginning.

My only real complaint is that I was reading during my son’s middle of the night feedings, and I kept failing to notice when he was done.

Even though this is the second book in a "series" it is not necessary to read book one first. However, that would enhance the reading experience because almost all the characters in this book are introduced in book one (One and Only).

It was so much fun to follow Noah and Wendy's romantic journey. It was very refreshing to see a romance that developed over the course of a couple months (with them knowing each other since childhood), rather than a whirlwind romance of a couple of days. When you close the book you are left with the sense that Noah and Wendy will be together forever.

I also enjoyed seeing Wendy's relationships with her friends, especially the growth in her friendship with Gia, and her aunt.

The only issue I did have, was that Jane seemed a bit out of character from the first book. But, this could be due to the fact that she is simply not narrating.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down. I am excited to read the next book in this "series" and see all the characters again.

Omg. I LOVED this book. I have been looking for an author like this- the perfect rom com via a novel. I received this as an ARC and it was lovely. Funny, romantic, angsty- and the hero and heroine were swoon worthy. I so loved Wendy and Noah. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

I didn't read the first book in the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series, and don't think I missed much by not doing so. Though there's a progression to this group of friends finding their true loves, the prior couple was in the current book enough to not make me feel left out of the story. It can be read as a standalone, but I'm guessing it'll be stronger as a whole series.

Wendy Liu and Noah Denning have known each other for a very long time, as Noah is her best friend's older brother. At some point, their feelings evolved but neither admitted it to the other. An "incident" (view spoiler) occurred during their teenage years that caused Wendy to reject the notion of a committed relationship and hold onto years and years worth of a grudge toward Noah.

Now her best friend is getting married, and Wendy and Noah are thrust together as the wedding draws near. The two have obvious chemistry, but Wendy continues to hold onto a grudge that Noah doesn't even realize exists.

This story moved along nicely, and the cast of characters were relatable and fun. The bits of Jane's wedding preparation and Wendy's involvement as maid of honor build up and are interspersed nicely throughout the story.

However, the grudge storyline drug on for way longer than my patience for it did. This hampered part of Wendy's maturity, which is a shame, because she otherwise was a powerful woman.

Another minor thing that bothered me during the story was the formatting when the two are texting each other. I loved the texting bits, they were great lines that played well to Wendy and Noah's characters, but there were no italics or indentions to set them apart from regular paragraph text, so it was difficult to orient sometimes when they appeared.

Overall, this is a fun story and worth a read. While I'm still not interested to go backward to Jane's story in book one, I do look forward to Gia in book three.

i LOVED book 1 so so so much, so much more than i expected. i normally need a break in between series books, otherwise it gets a bit same same, i start to compare too much, or one isn't as good as the other. i told myself to wait at least a day or two before starting this one but i just couldn't help it.

this one was definitely cute, funny and sexy. i loved all the characters, i loved them from book 1. there were a couple of scenes that reminded me too much of book 1 (like the first sex scene reminded me A LOT of book 1, 'we don't need condoms' isn't that exactly what Cameron says to Jane? when something that similar happens, it takes me out of the book, and if i'd spaced it out a little more, perhaps i wouldn't have noticed).

this book was so angsty. i felt all the feelings that Wendy did. Noah was a bit harder to pin down with understanding him, but i did really like him. i love this whole trope - best friend's older brother, unrequited love turns a bit to enemies to lovers.

i love this group of friends so much. they are so believable. i must say, i need a magical solution to elise's problem though, perhaps her novella coming out in december gives me that. although with jay thinking what he thinks.. i don't know, i need more from those two please! and i'm quite worried about Gia - something she mentioned in book 1 and her actions in book 2.. obviously something going on there and if her love interest is Bennett and he's a chef? restaurant owner? i can't wait to see how that goes down.

overall, thoroughly enjoying this series and will absolutely read more from this author!

I LOVED this book. I loved the Toronto/NYC/Vegas setting. I thought the characters were smart and fun to read about. I can't wait to read more from this author and particularly the other books in this series.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything In Between

The Good
Sometimes you want it to hurt so good.

So when I started reading It Takes Two, and realized that there’s this deep thread of longing between Wendy and Noah, man did it stir up my angsty cravings. There’s just something about connecting with a character that has that deep down desire for someone that they think they can never have that. Make it BOTH lead characters feeling that way and lawd, that just makes me want to get my groove on.

That’s the kind of angst I can get behind (heh). I think the Firsts (meet, kiss, love scene) were great and helped to keep me invested in what happened with these two. The little nuggets of history that Ms. Holiday drops along the way really set the scene for said longing and I was dying to find out just why these two never got together. In that respect, the story worked well for me.

And finally, I usually struggle with romances featuring lawyers because I work as a criminal defense paralegal. It’s like doctors reading doctor romance, you can’t help but nitpick the inaccuracies. It takes me out of the moment and no one wants that when you’re trying to immerse yourself in a romance. While there were a couple of things that were a bit off, for the most part their attorney shop talk as foreplay really did work and I loved Wendy’s response to someone who doesn’t understand why she does what she does. I think she handled it admirably and I was happy with the way their profession informs their characters and their interaction with each other.

The Bad
This pains me a bit. I mean, the ‘verse, the characters, the longing, it all drew me in and I enjoyed my time with Wendy and Noah. And yet, there are several plot devices that drove me a little batty, so I wasn’t as into this book as I was One and Only, the first book in the series. Both are runners, literally and figuratively. Both struggle with being frozen by events in their past that they’ve hung onto that have colored all of their actions to the present day. It’s part and parcel of the angst and I get that. It didn’t stop me from wanting to smack them upside their heads at different times, especially when the conflict felt drawn out just for the sake of drawing it out.

I understood their issues and sympathized with most of it, however, I think there were several scenes that were a bit repetitive and considering how intelligent I thought these characters are, just don’t make sense. Which leads me to the ending - I will say, I’m not exactly sure if I’m satisfied with that resolution. There’s a big gesture, and yes you get the climactic scenes that gets everything out in the open. I was just left wanting more, in the not as good as it could be way.

Everything in Between
This group of friends is so believable and well drawn that their individual dynamics feel very familiar. I myself am part of a quad of girlfriends and we have our own subgroups that have changed over time because of relationships, children and general interests not being the same. But we’re all tied to each other through memories and our love for each other. The family we chose, not the family we were born with, but still important. In that respect, this ‘verse continues to resonate with me and I want it to continue. Gia needs her story stat, especially since I have no idea who is going to be her partner at this point, but I’m dying to find out.

The Bottom Line
3.25-3.5 stars
I liked Wendy and Noah’s romance. I liked Wendy and Noah and their journey to an HEA. I just didn’t love it the way I wanted to. While it’s flawed, I did ultimately love revisiting this cast of characters and I want to keep visiting this world. I’m so ready to get to Gia’s story.


**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**

I don't usually give 2 stars, especially when it's a trope that I love--best friends to lovers. But there's just something so wrong with this book that I didn't enjoy reading it at all. I even flipped the pages just so I could get to the end, and even then, it wasn't satisfying at all.

The role reversal was refreshing though--Noah was the serial monogamist, while Wendy didn't believe in relationships--but even that failed to save this story.

So, what went wrong?

1. I just didn't feel the banter between Wendy and Noah. Normally, Jenny Holiday's banter between her main characters are usually witty and funny, but in this book, it fell flat. I guess I should've been warned with that first scene of them bantering in front of the photographer. I mean, I know what that scene is supposed to be, or the purpose it's going to serve in the story, but I was left bewildered by their conversation and I wasn't entranced at all.

2. In relation to #1, I just didn't feel the chemistry between them. I thought them being together felt forced.

I guess that's enough reason. When the main characters are uninteresting and their romantic development is not engrossing, the story falls apart. Such a pity, because I loved the cover, and I thought it pretty amazing that Wendy is Asian, something not oft seen in books. Jenny Holiday was able to pull it off with a half-Asian hero in a previous book (49th Floor Novels #2) and I loved that book, but sadly, it seemed to be a one-off.

I'm seriously deciding whether I want to read the last book or not. The jury's still out.

**Will be posted on June 20

DNF @ 12%. Everything about this book grated on my nerves. The banter between the hero and heroine was immature, and even this early in the book, the heroine is so unlikable that I can't see myself rooting for her. She's so judgmental and good gravy - the pity party. The 'over-Jesused' Aunt who didn't give her enough attention was the straw that broke the camel's (admittedly flimsy) back. Because apparently the whole world owes her. This book and I just did not mesh well.

MY RATING: 4.5/5 STARS
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Okay, this is my second book ever from Jenny Holiday and if you haven’t read One and only (the first book in the Bridemaids Behaving Badly series) then you really need to reconsider your to be read pile. Seriously. One and Only released earlier this year and it blew my mind. It was simply a romance novel filled with richness and depth.

It Takes Two is the second novel in the Bridemaids Behaving Badly series and unlike the second one, I found Jenny Holiday taking a lighter edge to her main characters, Wendy Liu and Noah Denning. Unlike One and Only featuring Jane and Cameron, Wendy and Noah were cut from the same cloth but when compared to them, they don’t hold as much emotional baggage. Where Jane carried guilt over her alcoholic father’s death, Wendy had a father that passed away too young and a mother too absorbed with earning a living than focusing on raising her child. While Cameron was deemed the black sheep of the town let alone his family for misdemeanors that were really unfortunate accidents, Noah lost a father, grew up too fast when he was too young to take care of Jane, his younger sister, and his depressed mother. Sure, it was sad but it wasn’t as complex or it didn’t knock out the breath from my lungs like Jane and Cameron’s backstory.


However, it does not mean It Takes Two wasn’t still a good book. It Takes Two felt like a solid book. It just felt right. I’m being an awful reviewer but have you ever read a book and you’re nodding your head along because the story is compelling, the pacing is perfect, and the characters can be your best friends? This was what I felt for this novel. I really enjoyed the troupe this book followed which was childhood crush on your best friend’s brother only to have it carry over in your adulthood years.

Wendy has had a crush on Noah since she was still in high school. Her crush had developed naturally over the course of time instead of it being based on superficial reasons like he was super hot even though he was. She liked how dependable he was or how they just simply understood each other without getting all the right words out. They seemed to be on the same page so when Jane suggests to have Noah take Wendy as a date for Prom, they’re both secretly thrilled and delighted. However, when Noah stands Wendy up, she is humiliated and heartbroken. She becomes a difference person after that traumatic event. Hardening herself, she grows out from her wallflower personality to become a fearless, smart, independent woman that swears like a sailor. I have to note that it was slightly frustrating that Wendy kept putting the blame on Noah for how she is in the present. Because of Noah standing her up, Wendy built this hard exterior. She makes emphasis about how she used to be shy and undetermined but what’s seriously so bad about being a bad ass now? There’s nothing wrong with being shy and there’s definitely nothing wrong with being a super talented lawyer who grinds out the hours and argues till their last breath to ensure a fair trial has ensued. However, I am super pleased that Jenny did a fantastic job at character development and made Wendy realize there is no shame in who she is now because of her past.

She’s a good friend through and through so when the idea that her best friend will be getting married and entering the newlywed life, she’s not so sure. Wendy becomes weary of Jane’s new relationship, secretly resenting her fiance, Cameron, and berating herself for every negative thought that comes into her mind about them. It’s silly but all this roots from the insecurities of her being left behind. Because without Jane, she feels she is utterly alone in this world. I totally cried like a baby when Wendy and Jane had “the talk.” They were so open with each other and I just feel my throat constrict whenever I think of how powerful friendship can be. I just love these girls.

Noah, on the other hand, is noble and steady as a rock. He doesn’t do casual so he’s shocked when he discovers that her little sister’s best friend is a firecracker instead of the wallflower he remembered growing up. Ever since his father died, Noah took over the responsibility of being the sole provider in the Denning household. He worked himself to the bone while in high school to pay for the bills at home and to put food on the table. He also worked hard in his studies, making sure he followed a career path that was stable because stable meant little to no anomalies that could potentially leave him with no resources to take care of those around him. Noah has been programmed to think of others first before him and we can see how uptight or stiff he can get. However, his relationship with Wendy sparks on the pages. They bicker, banter, and have intelligent conversation with each other. They’re clearly the same. They’re both lawyers. They’re both runners. They have similar personalities. It’s just so obvious that they’re made for each other.

They enlist in casual sex but obviously soon emotions get involved which triggered the conflict in this novel. Main conflict themes in this novel included misunderstanding and miscommunication. Both parties could have communicated better. Wendy often gave a stand offish attitude towards Noah because of what happened at prom and Noah needed to take a moment before he actually speaks because word vomit got the best of him a lot of the times. Due to not communicating, they both seemed to tip toe around each other which can be frustrating. I also realized I started having a pet peeve in romance novels which is the idea that you didn’t realize you loved someone until a pivotal moment. I’m not saying it’s unrealistic and I’m definitely not saying, I hate it whenever it happens but when it’s done correctly and well, I’ll enjoy it. It’s just hard for me to feel the powerful emotions of love when all I felt from a character was indifference or them being flat-out clueless, it’s hard for me to believe. I’m not saying this was 100% what happened with Noah and Wendy but it irked me a bit that Noah just seemed so clueless towards Wendy’s feelings for him. After Noah has the epiphany, it got better for me. We saw the domesticated side of Noah who daydreamed about waking up with Wendy beside him or moving in with her, or even being open to the idea of being a father.

Finally, this book is sexy. There’s sex. And it’s hot. And totally not suitable to read in the workplace unless you want HR to give you a call. Also, it’s freaking hilarious. I cackled while reading Jenny Holiday’s dry wit.

MY RECOMMENDATION
UM HELLO. If you’re a huge fan of contemporary romance, look no further. It Takes Two is an intoxicating read I could not put down. Jenny Holiday is an amazingly talented author who writes stories that just grips you from the first page to the last.

It Takes Two was ultimately a disappointment for me. It sounded like a great enemies-to-lovers set up and while there certainly was a lot of sparring and "fighting" going on between Noah and Wendy, it wasn't an enemies-to-lovers story at all. It was a "Wendy's still butthurt some 20 years later that Noah stood her up at the prom" story.

Unfortunately, that cast Wendy into such a negative light that I found myself questioning her maturity. Thankfully, she found herself questioning her maturity as well. Because wow did that girl need to grow the hell up! And it wasn't just her relationship with Noah that showed how much she needed to grow up either.

As Jenny ( One and Only ), Wendy's best friend and Noah's sister, plans her wedding, Wendy and Noah are thrown together as often as Jenny can engineer it. This isn't to Wendy's liking, but Noah seems happy enough about it. Neither Noah nor Wendy seem all that interested in each other at first and they verbalize cross-purposes (while lying through their teeth in some cases) which keeps them apart.

I really didn't feel the chemistry between them. For Noah's part, he seemed genuinely attracted but was not man enough to put himself out there. Wendy sparred with him partly with malice and that didn't work for me at all. For large stretches I couldn't figure out how Noah failed to understand how he had hurt her. He's a lawyer (so is she); how can he be so clueless. And then there's an emotional reveal and I totally get it. Wendy's an idiot and the result is she's still butthurt and running 20 years later. Sheesh!

The premise of It Takes Two was intriguing but it didn't live up to it. I won't be finishing this series.

This is the first time for me reading Jenny Holiday but at this point, I’m not sure that I will read her again. I was just underwhelmed with this book. It Takes Two seemed, to me, as though it was a story on repeat. The same issues over and over, and a HEA that was just blah. I think the story line would have been a fun one, but it was just completely underwhelming for me.

Ever since Noah Denning broke Wendy Liu’s heart at her high school prom, she has been trying to avoid him when he comes for visits. Jane Dening, Wendy and Noah grew up together since they were nine. Both girls lost their father at a young age. They called themselves, The Lost Girls Club. Wendy always had a crush on Noah. Now that they are adults and Jane is getting married, Wendy has to suck it up, since they are both in the wedding party. As kids, Wendy and Noah alway sparred on just about any topic.
When Wendy overhears that the guys are doing a bachelor party in Vegas, she decides to change the bachelorette party to Vegas also. She cannot be outdone by Noah. Things take a different turn when Wendy and Noah end up in bed, making them both realize of what was right in front of them all along. Small problem, he lives in New York, she lives in Toronto.
Can love survive this great distance?!
This was a cute rom-com. I found it a bit slow till the middle of the book. My rating is actually 3 1/2 stars.

I am a fan of Jenny Holiday so I jumped at the chance to receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved the first book in this series and was very excited to read this one. Unfortunately this one book was not as amazing as what I generally expect from Holiday. I still love this group of friends. Their bonds were even more on display in this book and you can see why they suffer through wedding obsession for each other. Maybe some of the problem is that I ended up liking the characters the book wasn't focusing on more than Wendy and Noah, I wanted more about Gia (happy that her book is next) and Cameron just proved that he was the type of hero that Noah just wasn't. I had a hard time with Wendy and Noah's relationship. They grew up together but barely saw each other for 17 years. Attraction I could buy but the sudden realization of love. after a couple of weeks of silly competition and very little real conversation. I could not. I did love the journeys the two took in their own lives to examine their relationships and how they were letting their pasts affect their presents. They both did a lot of growing in this book which was great. I just wish there had been more romance in this romance.

This was a fantastic book where I couldn't stop reading. I loved Wendy and Noah and felt like their banter and chemistry was the highlight of the book. I enjoyed their rivalry and connection and was hooked to every page! Bravo! 4 stars!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Forever (GCP) for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.