Sophie is a professional bridesmaid. She is hired by brides to help them with all of their wedding needs, but no one ever has to know she’s been hired, she pretends to be a friend. When she’s hired by the mother of an “It Girl” bride, Sophie know this can make her career. But the bride, Cordelia, is the definition of bridezilla. She does not want Sophie’s help and is determined to make her life hell.

This book was adorable! This was a sweet book that wasn’t just about romance, but more about friendship and finding your voice. It had some funny and ridiculous moments and some heartfelt ones as well. As a current bride myself, I found myself cracking up over the various mishaps and bridezilla moments throughout the book. As wedding season approaches, add this to your must read list!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall is just an all-around fun, light, and engaging book. I was immediately drawn into Sophie Breeze's world of being a professional bridesmaid. You may wonder what a professional bridesmaid is, well, this is someone pretending to be the best friend that is essentially there for the bride in all ways possible to make sure her wedding goes off just as planned. Some of these brides would be considered 'bridezillas' and have bizarre, demanding requests that a 'real' best friend would not agree to do. The main bride in this story is high society, so pulling off her wedding would be a huge deal for future work. Unfortunately, Cordelia (the bride), is also incredibly difficult and not interested in Sophie's services (she was hired by the MOB). Throw in a super hot brother, a detestable ex-best friend, a massive scandal and you have the makings of lots of mayhem!

While the premise of this book sounded incredible far-fetched, I was pleasantly surprised by how enthralled in this story I became. Sophie is a professional bridesmaid, not quite a wedding planner, but a fake friend to both help a bride with planning and be an emotional support during what's unfortunately a stressful time. When she's hired by a bride's mother to help with the wedding of the century, it seems like a dream come true, until the bride does everything in her power to get her to quit. But Sophie's determined to do her job, and it doesn't hurt that the bride has a handsome brother...

This book is just so much fun. It's laugh-out-loud funny, with some downright hilarious text message and email exchanges for Sophie's job separating out chapters (and definitely my favorite part of the book). This book brought me so much joy, and I know it'll be one of my favorite romcoms of the year. There are so few romcoms that are actually funny, and many romances with darker, deeper elements--and there's not anything wrong with that, but something you just want something fun and light. And this is the perfect feel-good read for that!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 10/10

The Secret Bridesmaid is billed as a romcom, but I would say this is more like chick-lit. It is definitely more com than rom. There is actually very little romance so if you're looking for a romance this is not the place to look. That being said the story was definitely laugh-out-loud funny. The main theme of the story was the developing friendship between the main character Sophie, and one her wedding clients, Lady Cordelia. Sophie's day job is to be a hired bridesmaid, and as the title says no one is to know she is hired except the bride (and maybe a few other key people). Sophie helps brides plan and execute their weddings and support them through the the entire event. When Sophie is asked to be the secret bridesmaid for Lady Cordelia, she takes on her most difficult client yet. The story is cute, and easy to read. The 'romance' is an afterthought, and there is no steam. The author could have done a little more to wrap up the relationship between Sophie and her ex-Daniel. Definitely a good beach read if you need something light and quick.

4.75/5 :)

This rating is high because this book just made me happy and the characters were to my liking. I especially loved the last several chapters which made me all ‘smushy’ as Cordelia would say.

I just couldn’t stop smiling. I love Sophie’s (and some of the other characters’) humor and the way Katy Birchall uses comic relief. The ending is absolute perfection. Although an epilogue would be nice to see how her life turned out (and i’m curious about Annabel’s wedding… )

At first, i couldn’t get into the story, but I was very much invested after a few chapters. The more you read, the better it gets. I just loved how the story progressed. Sophie was definitely a dynamic character, and so was Cordelia. I have learned to love both of them.

The transitions were sometimes confusing as a few of the events jump from one and another. At the end of most chapters there’ll be some comic relief from Sophie’s emails or some events at her other weddings. But there’s not really a clear transition (at least in my version) so if you plan on reading this, just keep that in mind.

It’s hard to imagine that these people are in their thirties. If you said they were teenagers, I would have believed you. They could be SO childish at times. I have to say, sometimes, it is nice to see adults acting not-so-adult-like :)

+ I can already see this being made into a movie. but they better remake the swan scene or else i won’t be watching it. 😤


In short, I loved this way more than i had expected to.

04/14/21

PS. I would like Sophie’s mom as my therapist thank you very much.

This book was so entertaining. It’s a light, romcom full of great characters and many humorous scenes. It’s the perfect summer / beach read and would make such a fantastic gift for a bride to bestow on her bridesmaids as they help her navigate the chaos leading up to her wedding.

Sophie Breeze is a professional bridesmaid. She is hired to assist the bride through the planning process and help make sure the big celebration runs smoothly. She just landed her most famous client. Lady Victoria has hired her for the upcoming societal wedding of her daughter. Problem is, Cordelia is the ultimate bridezilla. Not wanting to accept Sophie’s services, she does everything possible to sabotage the arrangement by making numerous ridiculous demands. Little does she know that Sophie isn’t so easy to push away. In fact, she might just be the one true friend she didn’t realize was missing from her life.

The requests Sophie goes through, not only from Cordelia, but also her other clients and vendors, is so over the top hilarious. Don’t let those moments fool you though. This is a wonderful story about friendship, family, trust and loyalty. Cordelia’s antics were over the top rude, making her easy to dislike. However, my heartstrings were swayed once she shared her true story behind her behavior. I also loved the underlining message of making sure your wedding is a true representation by including things that personally hold a special meaning to you. The mistaken identity trope offers a sweet, light romance with the bride’s brother too. This story will definitely leave you smiling!!!

The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall is a laugh out loud, feel good book. This British rom-com story was fun to read some enjoyable characters and all the feels.
Sophie Breeze is so good at being the Robin to someone’s Batman that she literally made a career out of it. As a professional bridesmaid she is hired to do just that one phone call changes her life however. When an former client’s mom calls for a sit down with Sophie, she is hesitate to go but little does she know her life is about to change in every way. Mixed with the invite to her long term ex boyfriend’s wedding, Sophie’s like is an emotional roller coaster that you want to get on too.

I highly recommend this novel to all who need a light read but enjoy a book with substance as well. Sophie Breeze is a complex character and I loved getting a peek into her work life as well as her professional life. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was decent for me. I was not as interested in the story and narrative of The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall. However, it was a cute story and very sweet!

This is a sweet story filled with wedding talk and English aristocracy, which are some of my favorite things. The premise of a professional bridesmaid is a bit thin (which seems to be recognized by author since the concept is explained a thousand times) and the beginning felt fairly chaotic to me, but it’s a light and breezy read that has lots of fun elements!

What a delightful read. THE SECRET BRIDESMAID alternated between laugh out loud funny scenes, to moments of heartwarming friendship. I spent so much of this book grinning- truly loving the characters, the antics, the hilarious jokes about the things brides- and the people who love them, or are paid to help them- will do to make a wedding perfect.

I went into this book expecting a romance, and was so wonderfully surprised by the friendship at the heart of the story. The romance was lovely and understated, but the plot around Sophie and Cordelia was spectacular. I’d recommend this novel whole heartedly to fans of rom coms, royal/high society aficionados, or anyone who has been in a bridal party recently! I’m grateful I picked this book up and spent time with these lovely characters.

I kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I went into the Secret Bridesmaid expecting a fun British romance. What I got was a fun British friendship story with a side of romance. I liked it so much. I enjoyed watching Cordelia open up and watching Sophie come out of her shell. The story of their battles and hijinks in prep for Cordelia's wedding are enemies to friends at its finest and I will be back for more from Katy Birchall.

Sophie adores weddings and being a bridesmaid, so she becomes one professionally. In her role as a secret bridesmaid, she supports women through whatever they need during wedding planning. And then she gets an opportunity to work with a famous bride who doesn't want to work with her. Lady Cordelia Swann does all she can to make her quit, and the requests and pranks are amazing.

Many of the chapters conclude with vignettes or emails from the weddings Sophie has worked. I laughed so hard that I had to put my book down because I couldn't see straight.

This is a beautiful story about friendship and vulnerability. However, I would not classify it as a romcom. The romance is very understated. So I recommend reading this for a good comedic story filled with great humor and a celebration of female friendship.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy. The opinions here are mine.

Absolutely loved this one. Such a fun read and one that many people can relate to. I really enjoyed Sophie's personality.

4/5⭐️

I really loved the concept of this book; it was so unique. The concept of being a professional bridesmaid is similar to an event planner, except, no one knows that you are being hired to do a job. Sophie's job seems like a breeze. She's outgoing and every bride she works with loves her; until she needs Lady Cordelia Swann. Cordelia makes Sophie's life extremely hard and challenging - putting up a very cold front. Sophie has to break down Cordelia's walls to truly understand her.

The love interest in the book really was a nice pick-me-up...love makes me so happy!


Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy!

Sophie Breeze lives a life of lies. Well, sort of. But it's for a good cause, so it's okay, right? Her family and closest friends know the truth. And so do the brides. Wait, brides? Sophie has create a niche business as a professional bridesmaid. IT"s the perfect compromise for the brides that don't want an official wedding planner but need someone to count on for all the adding details. Sophie believe in happy ever after, loves weddings, and has a million funny stories..

She's so good that she gets a referral to help a bride from a prestigious family, Lady Cordelia Swann. Except Lady Cordelia doesn't want a paid bridesmaid and does whatever she can to scare Sophie off. Except Sophie won't scare, right? It's a battle of the wills. And, throw into the mix an handsome older brother of the bride.... this might be a job like no other for Sophie. The stakes are high (think of the future referrals), will Sophie rise to the challenge?

I read this in practically one sitting. I adored Sophie, her cousin Cara, and her parents. And Cordelia absolutely grew on me- along with her fiancé, brother, and parents. And there were some side characters that I loved to hate. And the exchanges about the weddings Sophie worked with were hilarious (I'm smiling just thinking about them). This really had rom com movie vibes and would be rated PG or maybe low PG-13 based on some content discussions. It was a delight to read!

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this humorous but sweet book & finished it over one weekend. I can definitely recommend this book to my library patrons who love romance but prefer to leave out the spice. Thank you for the advance copy.

I loved this!! This was the perfect combination of 27 dresses and the Devil Wears Prada. It was funny, cute with a little romance mixed in. It focused more on friendship, loyalty and trust which I loved. It is extremely important for your wedding to have people you trust that are able to be there for you every step of the way, but it is also important for women in general to have those types of friends throughout their life and I love that this story showcased that.

It was a very quick, enjoyable read and it would make a perfect Hallmark/Netflix movie!


The review will be posted on my bookstagram (https://www.instagram.com/RINNEYREADS) the week of 4/12.

Sophie is the ultimate bridesmaid... for a price. For brides who need help with planning, a shoulder to cry on, and a professional who knows her way around weddings - they call Sophie. Sophie seamlessly assimilates into the bride's life as a long lost friend, college pal, etc and helps them plan the most important day of their life. When she gets her biggest client to date, Lady Cordelia the Marchioness of Meade's daughter, Sophie knows she needs to pull out all the stops to rocket herself to the next level in her career. But Cordelia has no interest in Sophie's brand of bridesmaid and does everything she can to make Sophie quit. Can Sophie pull of the wedding of the century in England or will she crash and burn?

As someone who is getting married shortly after the release of this book, I knew it would be topical and was excited to read it. I found the antics in this book incredibly funny and enjoyable while maintaining the Adult Contemporary aspects. The hint of romance was very much welcome and appreciated. I loved the pranks Cordelia plays on Sophie and the emotional journey both women take together.

I could have used a bit more romance in this book, however I don't think the book was diminished by being more light on the romance side - it's just my preference. This leans more on the literary fiction side of the line, so if that is a favorite genre of yours I would recommend this title. No stand out critiques, though something was missing that could have taken it to a five star book in my opinion.

**Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

This book was so much fun! It wasn't what I was expecting after the blurb, but I loved it even more for that. I expected more romance and less friendship, but I loved the friendship, so everything worked out in the end.

My favorite thing about this was definitely Cornelia. Sure, she was utterly unlikable at times, but her character was written so well! She was beautifully complex, and an amazingly written closed-off character. She didn't change because she found a love or a friend, she was still her thorny self. We just got to see another side of her, which I loved so much. She wasn't written off as just another mean girl, she was so much more than that.

I also loved the humor in this. At times, it had me cackling. The interludes between chapters featuring the outrageous ceremonies Sophie had to plan were absolutely amazing. Every time they showed up, I knew I was in for a ride. It kept the book from getting boring, as there was always another ridiculous request in store.

Long story short, I loved this book! It was the perfect read for a summer day, full of plotting, friendship, and humor. I'll definitely be rereading it!

Thanks to Katy Birchall and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Secret Bridesmaid is the perfect read for romcom fans. It has 27 Dresses meets Devil Wears Prada vibes with maybe a little The Wedding Date and The Wedding Planner thrown in for good measure.
Sophie is a bride's best kept secret. She is the assistant/friend every bride could dream of having. She is the ideal bridesmaid that looks and sounds like a friend and the best thing for the bride is that no one has any idea that it's her job. You need her to dye her hair to match the others in the bridal party? Done! Wear a costume to your themed wedding? Check! Sophie is the "yes" girl. All is smooth sailing until she meets bridezilla aka Lady Cordelia Swan. This nightmare bride just might make Sophie question her abilities to go the extra mile and the hot brother is a complication Sophie definitely doesn't need.
I had zero expectations going in. The amount of smiling and random chuckling as I read was just what I needed. The emails and WhatsApp messages were particularly amusing.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.