4 Stars for Georgia Beer’s romance, Hopeless Romantic

I really enjoyed Beer’s latest novel that is an insta-attraction but a slow burn romance. Teddi Baker is sought after wedding planner. At one point her business had three store fronts but after an ugly divorce, she had to sell 2 of her stores to pay half of her assets to her ex-wife.

Leah Scott is a successful divorce attorney. Since her mother’s divorce, Leah looked after her younger sister, Kelly. She was gladly footing the bill for Kelly’s wedding, even agreeing to have Teddi plan her wedding. Teddi who barely is able to hide her distain for Leah when she realizes that Leah was her ex-wife’s divorce lawyer.

I really liked both couple’s support systems. Teddi has her best friend and right hand man, Preston and photographer Harlow. Leah has her sister Kelly and BFFs Tilly and Jo. They understood both the mains and pushed and/or supported when needed. Its interesting that Leah and Kelly’s mother shows up here and there but we never really get to know her. Just that her divorce left her penniless which in turn motivated much of Leah’s life.

I liked both characters but really was able to relate to Leah’s love for Rom-Com movies. I watched all the ones mentioned in this story more than once, maybe more than a couple. OK, countless times. Who would of guessed that the “Hopeless Romantic” was Leah, a divorce lawyer and not the wedding planner, Teddi? Leah regularly goes to a local movie theater that shows classic movies and after the movie she would often stop at the coffee shop next door. It was at the coffee shop that she runs into Teddi. Teddi, who offers her a seat in the crowded coffee shop. And so begins a pleasant Beers slow burn romance. Except I kept waiting for the Uh, Oh. Moment. You know where something happens to break up the couple? I wasn’t disappointed nor was I disappointed with the HEA ending.

Hopeless Romantic is one of my favorite books by Georgia Beers. Teddi Baker is a wedding planner. She loves a happy ending but she doesn't believe it for herself anymore after her divorce ripped her apart and her business as well. She has essentially been a funk for the last couple of years. She is trying to rebuild herself and her business. Leah Scott is a divorce attorney who gives her all to her clients including Teddi's ex-wife. She fights to make sure she get them the best settlement possible after seeing her mother struggle after getting a divorce from Leah's dad. She does believe in love and wants to marry someday. When Teddi is hired to be the wedding planner for Leah's wedding they initially don't know who each other are and the sparks fly. To bad she soon releases who Leah is.

So I really enjoyed Hopeless Romantic. Of all the Beer's books I have read this is probably my favorite. The author has put together some really good chemistry between the mains. I always love when an author can do that. I think one thing that really clicked with me is the mention of the various romantic comedy movies. It was serious nostalgia for me. And who didn't think about You've got mail? Yes for me all those movies put a little extra magic in this romance. Even though Teddi has an issue with Leah and you wonder if and how they would make it to the next stage and then Beers just makes it happen. It is so smooth and flows just right. I even liked the angst in Hopeless Romantic. I normally like low angst but this one needed more to build up to the end. And the end was so good. I just really loved it.

2020 has been really challenging, but one thing I can say is that I have read some absolutely wonderful romances this year. Hopeless Romantic is another one I can add to the list.

5 Stars

This arc was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

If you ask me, you can't really go wrong with a book by Georgia Beers. Some might be more up your alley than others, but it's always a nice romance you can lose yourself in a for a bit of time. I enjoyed the romcom references in this book. It gave me a lot of "oh yes, I remember that"-moments. Teddi is a wedding planner who has been burnt by love and had to sell two companies to pay a divorce settlement and now it turns out the sister of her new client, who she has amazing chemistry with, was the divorce attorney of her ex. You would expect a hate-to-love romance, but that's actually resolved rather soon. The romance between Teddi and Leah is supersweet and I closed the book a happy romantic.

Leah Scott, divorce attorney, is helping her sister organise her wedding and set about to engage a wedding planner.  Teddi Baker, wedding planner, has been divorced for three years now and that broke her. When Leah and Teddi meet there's some serious chemistry but Leah just happens to be Teddi's ex wife's divorce attorney.
Georgia Beer is an awesome lesfic writer. She develops great characters with sizzling chemistry and just knows the formula for writing fantastic romance novels. When I read the synopsis for this book I got very excited and this book didn't disappoint.  This book is definitely for 'hopeless romantics'. Loved it.

Kelly Scott is getting married to the love of her life and her sister, Leah Scott, is supporting her with all of the wedding planning. Leah is eight years older than Kelly and they have a strong relationship due to the fact the Leah protected Kelly during their parents fights and ensuing divorce. Leah Scott also happens to be a divorce attorney.

Kelly is scouting wedding planners and is scheduled to meet with Teddi Baker from Hopeless Romantic as one of her possible choices. Leah joins her sister for the visit. Teddi and Leah immediately click and sparks fly. However, Teddi soon finds out that Leah represented her ex, Julia, and as a part of the divorce settlement Teddi had to sell two of her three business locations. So even though Teddi and Leah initially experienced strong chemistry, that fact puts an immediate stop to anything further.

Can Teddi separate Leah the divorce attorney from a possible new dating interest? That question and more are answered in Hopeless Romantic, the romance.

The dynamic between the two characters sizzled throughout the book. I loved that as a divorce attorney, Leah, enjoyed rom-com movies with special emphasis on a few of my favorites. The final scenes in the book felt like the closing moments in one of those rom-com's. 4.5 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book so much. I wanted to read a sweet and compelling f/f romance and Hopeless Romantic was a great choice. In it, you will meet two opposites but as we all know, opposites attract.

Teddi Baker is a wedding planner who doesn't want to get re-married after her divorce that didn't end well while Leah is a divorce attorney who always dreamed of being married to the woman she loved. When Leah's younger sister is looking for a wedding planner, Teddi fits perfectly and Teddi can't agree more. Sparks fly even though they don't know at first who they are to each other. Leah was the lawyer who helped her ex-wife to get what she wanted in the divorce. So when Teddi learn that, it's not easy for her but she'll end up growing as a character and I loved that about her. On the other hand, I feel like Leah might not have grown as much. The reason why is kind of a spoiler so here it is : [It felt like Teddi was the only one who compromised and ended up agreeing to marry Leah in the future while Leah was acting petty and childish when they broke up. I wish Leah would have tried a little harder to accept Teddi's point of view. (hide spoiler)]

Other than that, I don't really have anything bad to say about this book. Overall, it was pretty cute and enjoyable! I'm curious to read more from this author in the future.

(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

Georgia Beers has given us another sweet romance. I did love the concept of the wedding planner who didn't want to get married with the divorce attorney who was a big romantic. Both characters I thought were well done and enjoyed following their journey.

I did find that the blurb on the book gave me the impression that we would have a romance of hate to love but found that didn't last long at all, almost felt like it fell flat a bit. In saying that I did also like that the reason for their disagreement later in the book didn't have anything to do with the role Leah played in Teddi's divorce which had me guessing on what would happen as the book progressed.

The story "Hopeless Romantic" by Georgia Beers revolves around Teddi, the divorced wedding planner, and Leah, the divorce lawyer.
Leah's little sister Kelly marries and finds her wedding planner in Teddi. Leah accompanies Kelly to her visits and immediately there is an attraction between Leah and Teddi. It turns out quite quickly that Leah was the divorce lawyer for Teddi's ex-wife, which quickly cools down the budding sympathy between the two. The question is whether Teddi can perceive Leah detached from her job as a lovable person.

This book was not the first of Georgia Beers I read and it will not be my last. However, I was a little disappointed with this book. In my eyes the two main characters didn't really fit together. I didn't feel any sparks flying when I read it. I also had difficulties to get into the story and get carried away. I found that the main conflict (Leah was the divorce lawyer Teddis ex-wife) was also solved very quickly, there was a relatively unspectacular long middle part in the book and at the end a conflict flared up again, which I found too hasty. Also the fact that Rom-Coms were a big topic in the book was too much for me. Perhaps this preference for movies could have been discussed a little less. But my remarks are all subjective, and can of course be perceived differently by other readers.

I received a copy from netgalley in exchange for a an honest review.

An honest review thanks to NetGalley. Teddi is a wedding planner and believed in happily ever after, but was faced with her own divorce. Leah is the attorney who represented Teddi''s ex-wife during the divorce. Leah is a nice character and just wants everyone to be happy.
I really enjoy reading Georgia Beers and the couple had a great chemistry.

Hopeless Romantic tells the story of Teddi, a wedding planner who went through a very unpleasant divorce that left her wary of love, and Leah, Teddi's ex-wife's divorce attorney, and a true believer in love, in romantic comedies, in finding a happy ending. The two meet when Leah's sister hires Teddi to plan her wedding. The attraction is immediate, but they quickly realize their history. Will these two be able to build a relationship when one no longer believes in love for herself, and the other longs for a rom-com happy ending?

I really enjoyed this book. I actually hesitated to read it due to the cover image, but then remembered the old saying. And I have read other books by this author and like her writing. I'm so happy I did. It wasn't just light-hearted fluff, but actually a good story of two women falling in love.

I liked that the two main characters are in their late 30s/ early 40s. They were established in their careers, and had no drama relating to that part of their lives. The real central conflict of the relationship revolves around what they want their futures to look like, and facing what they are afraid of. I also found their circles of friends to be well-written and entertaining. I thought the book was great.

This is the epitome of opposites-attract romance with conflictive characters. And I don't just mean that they are different. Their individual existences are also ironically contradictory.

Teddi Baker owns the wedding planning company "Hopeless Romantic" and dedicates her career to happy weddings for clients. But she is divorced and doesn't believe in her own happily ever after anymore. When Kelly Scott comes in as a potential customer, Teddi cannot take her eyes off her older sister, Leah. Ever the dichotomy, Leah loves rom-coms, whole-heartedly believes in happily-ever-afters, dreams about having a wedding of her own, but is also a divorce attorney. She has seen more failed relationships than anyone should have probably ever seen. Unfortunately, one of those was Teddi's divorce as Leah had represented her ex. Just how incompatible or compatible are they?

I love the incongruities of Teddi and Leah. Teddi devotes herself to her work that revolves around romance, but she avoids her own HEA. Leah is a divorce attorney, but that doesn't sway her beliefs in HEAs. For most of the story, Teddi and Leah have a great relationship, both opening up to each other while planning Kelly's wedding. But do they really want the same future?

"Hopeless Romantic" is a great book that opens with tons of funny, fragmented internal dialogues, and closes with one of the most amazing endings. And oh what I'd give to be physically there for the wholesome final scene. It is also aptly named. While Teddi is the one owning a business with the namesake, Leah is the actual hopeless romantic.

The relationship arc is beautifully done, and none of the obstacles they face are not random events. It breaks my heart to see the temporary incompatibility. With the escalation of their love throughout the story, it is impossible not to root for them to work through their differences. As Teddi's best friend Harlow said, "obstacles are made to be conquered."

There are a lot of wonderful friendships in the story. Teddi has her right-hand man Preston and photographer Harlow while Leah has her family and best friends Tilly and JoJo. All are incredibly supportive and great people in general. I am happy for them to have such friends in life.

At some point in the book, I had the oddest thought that Teddi felt more like a "Leah" and Leah a "Teddi." That doesn't really make much sense but thought I'd share. Also, Lindsay and Piper from "Blend" made cameos.

I guess every romance reader is at least a little bit of a hopeless romantic, and Beers's newest story guarantees to capture your heart. It is a wonderful rom-com with intriguing characters, happy settings (because weddings are almost always very happy, right?), and the best ending. What's not to love?

Thank you NetGalley, the author and publishers for the opportunity to read and review "Hopeless Romantic".

What a fantastic read! Everything is so well-judged, The premise is realistic, the characters are so well crafted and put together even in their coming undone moments, that the story just sweeps the reader along. The dialogue is great and even the minor characters are real and multidimensional. The pace is spot on and you know there is a crash just around the corner, or several, both good and bad. But it's just so satisfying as a read. If anyone wondered what you need to tell a story, this is it. It's a seamless effortless satisfying read.

5*

Georgia Beers is rapidly becoming a favourite author of mine - yet another great book. Such charming main and secondary characters that I really felt a connection with.

Thé ‘obstacle’ in the story felt quite minor but I was really grateful because their relationship was so wonderful I didn’t want anything to upset it. And the ending - oh how wonderfully romantic.

I loved it. Perfect story, perfect telling

Georgie Beers does it again....another great book! Hopeless Romantic really sets up a beautiful story between Teddi and Leah!

Teddi has gone through a horrible divorce. Leah was the divorce attorney for her ex. Hopeless Romantic is beautifully written, with sincere humor, sexual chemistry mixed with authentic emotions. The story had a real sweetness to it and it’s soulful and inspiring.

Just a wonderful book!

OK, so this is the best romance I've read in a while!!! Saying I loved it would be a serious understatement! I honestly don't remember loving one novel this much in a recent time! I loved both Teddy and Leah, their personality, the way their interaction scenes are written, their chemistry... Everything! I'm giving Georgia Beers 10 stars for this one! It's a 10 from me!

4 stars. Teddi Baker is a wedding planner who has been divorced for two years. She is not sure she believes in marriage even though she helps people have the happiest day of their lives. Leah Scott's sister, Kelly is getting married. She wants the best wedding planner in town, Teddi. Teddi and Kelly meet and have an instant connection but both know their names sound familiar. When Teddi finds out Leah is Teddi's ex wife's divorce attorney, the one who made Teddi give away half her business, she is unsure she should be spending time with Leah. Leah is just trying to be fair with all her clients, as her mother's divorce was not fair.

I enjoyed this novel. I enjoy most Georgia Beers and I enjoyed this one a lot. I enjoyed the dynamic between the two main characters and how their feelings develop over the course of the novel. I enjoyed the dynamic with Leah and her sister, Kelly and how Kelly helped with the relationship. The drama in this novel was predicable and I feel like it could have been solved more efficiently, but the novel needs some drama in it. I recommend this novel. I enjoyed it a lot.

After her divorce, Teddi came close to bankruptcy and had to close two out of three locations for her wedding planning business, Hopeless Romantic. Deeply hurt by her ex, she has wanted nothing to do with her own romantic life, and does not believe in a happily ever after anymore; she is no longer a “hopeless romantic,” though she continues to do an excellent job as a wedding planner.

One day, a new customer, Kelly, walks in with her older sister, Leah. There is instant attraction between Teddi and Leah, though both try to brush it off. They quickly realize that Leah was Teddi’s ex-wife’s attorney. Even though both of them try to avoid it, the attraction lingers.

This is another delightful romance by Georgia Beers, and—like her other books that I’ve read—unputdownable. I loved seeing how the relationship bloomed and how each person grew because of the relationship. I am a hopeless romantic, and this book brought me joy. I am going to be purchasing a hard copy of it.

What a fun ride this book was! When Georgia Beers is good, she's REALLY GOOD, and with Hopeless Romantic, she swung it out of the park. This book went immediately on my "to be read again list" the second I read the last page.

First off, what a great premise - Teddi, a wedding planner gets shredded in a divorce and swears of marriage forever. Capital F forever. Leah comes strolling into Teddi's office one day and there's instant chemistry between the two. The only problem is (and it takes both of them a minute to realize this), Leah represented Teddi's ex in the divorce. Ouch. Teddi gets over the first bump pretty easily, but the marriage obstacle is hard to navigate, and the story veers into the typical pattern where girl loses girl - a formula I LOVE (and Beers does this very well).

There was just enough humor to not be over the top, and the characters were extremely likable. I would love to see a sequel of this book just to revisit where Teddi and Leah end up.

This is Georgia Beers at her best. Looking forward to her next.

I really greatly enjoyed reading Hopeless Romantic! From their first encounter, Teddi Baker and Leah Scott have serious chemistry. The former is a seasoned wedding planner for the latter's sister. But getting involved is complicated by the fact that Leah was the divorce attorney that represented Teddi's ex-wife. They never met previously since the case was settled out of court.

I adore how Teddi and Leah are drawn to each other and can't help falling in love with each other. They take their time to get to know the other person. I like a good slow burn. Personally, learning that Leah was a rom-com fanatic was such treat and I appreciated how Georgia Beers incorporated it into her story. It was a real highlight for me. In my opinion, I felt the obstacle to their relationship was realistic, but didn't feel it would keep them apart for as long as it did since they were so in love. I loved the grand gesture at the very end and think it would be wonderful if a movie adaptation was made for this novel! I rate it a 4.5/5.

4.5 stars

Teddi Baker is a wedding planner who no longer believes in marriage, at least for herself. After a rough divorce from the woman she thought she would spend the rest of her life with, Teddi hasn't formed any romantic connections since. Then she meets Leah Scott, the sister of her newest client—the same Leah Scott who served as her ex's divorce attorney and nearly cost Teddi her wedding planning business. But despite their past, Teddi and Leah find themselves drawn to each other. Will Leah be the one who gets Teddi to open up her heart again?

This was a really cute story. The premise immediately drew me in, and I needed to see how the delicious irony of a jaded wedding planner and a gooey romantic divorce attorney would turn out. Georgia Beers absolutely did not disappoint; in fact, this is probably my favorite of her books that I've read so far. She really played up the rom-com angle in this story, and by the end, I found myself thinking that not only were Teddi and Leah good together, they were meant for each other.

The Characters: Teddi and Leah are both such sweet, lovely people. I loved them both. They're exceptionally well-rounded, and I really enjoyed seeing their different sides, from when they're interacting with clients, friends, family, and each other. I loved the extra detail that Georgia Beers took in giving them little quirks and habits, like Teddi's visits to the aquarium and Leah's love of rom-coms. The cast of side characters was also fantastic. They were also fleshed out and very likable, despite the sheer number of them.

The Romance: Wow, that chemistry. Beers really dialed up the physical attraction in this one. I loved the progression of their relationship from professional to slightly hostile to friends then to lovers. The cute scenes were giving me the feels, as did the angst thrown in towards the end of the book. There wasn't much sex, but even the descriptions of the kissing scenes were blush-inducing.

The Plot: The book mainly follows the planning of Leah's sister Kelly's wedding. However, the romance takes center stage, and it was absolutely exciting enough to keep my engaged all the way. Although Leah and Teddi get together relatively soon, their relationship progresses steadily, and I was totally invested. And as previously mentioned, there is that pocket of angst to shake things up.

The Writing: Lovely. It really flowed, and I liked the informal style that Georgia Beers took that really carried through the voice of the characters. The story alternates between Teddi and Leah's third person limited POVs.

Areas where this lost the .5 star for me: There were some really minor continuity errors/contradictions near the beginning that made me pause, but nothing that actually mattered to the plot. Also, I'm feeling conflicted about how the final conflict was resolved. <spoiler>The angst at the end happens because Leah eventually wants to get married while Teddi absolutely does not. I thought the book leaned a bit too hard into taking Leah's side. Even Teddi's friends told her that she should compromise, while Leah's friends told her to hold out for someone who did want the wedding. I'm not terribly pro-marriage myself, and I felt a bit weird seeing that agenda pushed in the book. I respect that it's something Leah really wants, but I would have liked to see some attempt at compromise on her side as well, like considering not getting married and just building a strong relationship despite that.</spoiler>

Other Notes: This is relatively minor, but I felt a bit weird about Teddi's description as "dark"—dark hair, dark eyes, "super tan" skin. Is she Black? And if so, why not just say it? I appreciate the attempt to be less white, but being ambiguous about the race of one of the characters kind of undercuts that.

All in all, a really lovely read with vibrant characters and a HEA to root for. I would absolutely recommend.

**I received an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.