I love stories that feature a solid growth in women's relationships. While I related more to Cordelia in my guardedness and caution, Sophie is one I aspire to be: open, generous with herself and unbelievably kind. This was a good book and quite refreshing in that the story of relationship growth is between the women at the core center of the book. There was clarity in the character's motivations. It wasn't overly "smushy" too.. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin Press for the Advanced Reading Copy of the book! It was such a pleasant read. Frans of the Royals or any stories similar to it would really appreciate this lovely story,

This book was a quick (somewhat) enjoyable read.

I was expecting more romance and it was very minimal here. This was actually more of a story about a VERY unlikely (and honestly, very unhealthy,) friendship between two women. One is flailing a bit and being taken advantage of, by everyone, really. The other was born with wealth and status and seemingly treats everyone around her horribly. She's given a tiny bit of a sympathetic reveal as to "why" she is like that.. but it just wasn't enough of an excuse for me. The lengths to which she tortured and humiliated poor sweet Sophie were pretty vile. Clearly, I liked Sophie. She was quite a pushover, but that is partly because she is so kind and trusting. (To an eye-rolling degree at times. She really thought Cordelia called a car for her, after she'd be SO mean??? Come on.)

I don't regret reading this one. It was a good, quick beach read. Toss it in your carry-on, just set your expectations accordingly.

Thank you to #StMartinsPress and #Netgalley for a complimentary copy #TheSecretBridesmaid in exchange for my honest review.

I love having an easy read! Very captivating, fun with a bit of mystery! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to see what comes next

This was entertaining and fun it was a great blend of women's fiction with a hearty dose of romance. There was a lot of growth for Sophie, who was delightful, and the book was a lot lighter than I expected it to be. A happy summer read that picked me up out of a book slump.

Katy Birchall's The Secret Bridesmaid is a hilarious wedding tale that will not want to be missed! "Alwags a bridesmaid never the bride" is a quote oftentimes used in classic romantic comedies. Sophie, the main protagonist, matches this quote perfectly. Her job: a bridesmaid/wedding planner to those who require her services. 99 percent if the time clients appreciate her. That is until she meets Lady Cordelia who despises Sophie. Yet landing and keeping this job will skyrocket Sophie to financial success. Trials and tribulations ensure as Sophie fights for Cordelia's approval and tries not to fail for Tom, her handsome brother. Will Sophie succeed or trip on her heels? Can she find love in the middle of wedding madness?
The Secret Bridesmaid is Katy's debut but one would never know. The characters placed throughout are meaningful and provide laughs. The plot, although somewhat long, is a refreshing take on the wedding comedy novel subgenre. Short chapters, with memorable end notes and relatable characters, make this is a HIT!
Don your wedding gear and dive into a journey with Sophie. You won't regret this!

Title: Secret Bridesmaid
Author: Katy Birchall
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Pages: 394

Secret Bridesmaid is a perfect mash-up of a royal/high society, weddings, female friendship and a slow-burn romance. Never heard of a professional bridesmaid? Me neither! Sophie Breeze has made a career out of being a professional bridesmaid. She is perfect for when a bride needs more help from her friends and family than they can give and poses as a long-lost friend or relative so no one is the wiser. In this book, Sophie is hired to be a professional bridesmaid for the society wedding of the year, if only she can win over the bride, Cordelia, who is a bit of a bridezilla. She also has to juggle her secret identity along with a growing romance with Cordelia’s brother.

Cover: I love the cover and colors selected. That said, I’m not sure why she is wearing a summer dress when the book is mostly set in the fall and winter.

Character Development: The character development of both Sophie and Cordelia is outstanding. It becomes very clear why these characters act the way they do. I loved that there was a focus on Sophie as an entrepreneur and businesswoman as part of her character arc. I was impressed that the author did not make Cordelia into a caricature. This book also thoughtfully developed the relationship between Cordelia and Sophie. I also like that the romance plays second fiddle to the friendship between these two women.

World-Building: This book is set in London and the Swann family estate. You get a flavor of these locations without it distracting too much from the characters or plot.

Plot & Pacing: The pacing for this book is spot on and it clipped along to the large society wedding. Interspersed with Cordelia’s wedding are emails from Sophie coordinating aspects of other weddings such as arranging for a “Hen’s Party,” that are delightful and give you insight into this world of professional bridesmaids.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a light, breezy summer read that has royal vibes, a spectacular wedding and thoughtful character development.

ARC provided to me by St. Martin’s Press, in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley

This was a super fun, quick read about friendship - it's labeled romance, but it's so much more than that! It's a lovely piece of women's fiction and a delightful summer read.

I loved this book. The story of Sophie/Emily and not only a "friendship" with the bride of a socialite family and her steamy, attractive brother. All though the book, I felt there was detailed character development and at the end I wanted to see how it all ended up. I did like the HEA ending. I would like to thank netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend this book.

This is the cutest new book! I laughed out loud and I felt like I was reading a Sophia Kinsella novel. The concept is that the main character is a professional bridesmaid. People can hire her to plan their weddings and she will also do any request, reasonable or ridiculous to ensure the wedding goes off flawlessly. As you might imagine this leads to some hilarious antics, as brides come forward with crazy ideas.

I loved the London setting, and the humor around weddings and brides in this book was spot on. It's the perfect light ride, with just enough drama and suspense to keep you invested while having fun reading. This is definitely a great beach or pool read for the summer, and will be a go-to suggestion for me when friends want a fun girly book to read.

This was such an adorable story. I love books set in the UK and really loved the main characters. I adored it! Looking forward to more Katy Birchall.

This was such a fun and unique story. I adored it! Sophie was so much fun and I loved the British setting. I will definitely be on the lookout for more from Katy Birchall.

Thanks to the author Netgalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great read. Funny, emotional and poignant. Yes, this is technically a Rom-Com. There’s a guy and it gets complicated and it’s all very cute. But wow, the friendships were the highlight. In fact I would go so far as to say that Sophie, our heroine, teaches and learns about friendship more than she does about love.

There’s the wonderful friendship she has with the women in her family, the friendship she establishes with the brides she works for and ultimately the friend she makes in Cordelia,

I think there’s a lot to be said in literature about the importance of female relationships and how they enrich our lives. Whilst I love that Sophie gets her guy in the end (you knew it would happen) the best thing about this book is that she made a friend for life.

My heart was squeeeeeezed. Such a lovely read.

Really entertaining read with The Devil Wears Prada vibes set in the world of wedding planning!
Sophie is a professional bridesmaid-she gets hired to help brides achieve their wedding dreams with a more intimate touch than a wedding planner can provide. Sophie's business is going well until she gets hired by the mother of a famous British aristocrat who ends up being a real pill. Sophie knows that a successful wedding for this society doyenne will make her career-if only she can get past the bride's hostility and not fall in love with the bride's brother!
There are a lot of zany antics in this story but they don't take away from what I feel is an accurate rendering of female friendships.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in return for my honest (albeit late) review.

Sophie is a professional bridesmaid. That is, she's hired by London brides to be of service in the lead-up to the wedding as well as be by their side on the big day. Her job is part event planner, part day-of coordinator, and part emotional support through it all.

The synopsis of this one is a bit misleading -- I'd characterize it as fiction, with a romantic subplot, not a romcom. And I didn't find it "hilarious." However, I did wholeheartedly enjoy THE SECRET BRIDESMAID.

It's just plain fun. I loved watching people be there for others, and a new friendship build. It took me a little while to get into it, but by the end I was completely swept up by these characters. Author Katy Birchall is definitely one whose books will be auto-added to my "to be read" list in the future.

Two things I wish an editor had removed from the text: referring to a close friend as her "spirit animal" and using dream catchers in the decor at an "Anglo-Indian fusion wedding."

I loved this book so much! Incredibly charming while not spilling over into cloyingly sweet, this is a great book for anyone who loves romance, comedy, or both.

Sophie is a professional bridesmaid who is hired by minor royalty to work for her daughter’s wedding. Problem is, Cordelia is an impossibly nut to crack. Not just cold, but also seems to be intent on ruining Sophie’s life. But when Sophie starts to prove herself to be not just an excellent bridesmaid, but a loyal friend, things start to change.

Would recommend this book!

Super cute. Light and fluffy. Nothing spectacular, but I was a nice quick read. I'd consider others by this author if I came across them, but I probably wouldn't seek them out.

I just loved The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall! Such a unique concept! What do you do when you don't want to hire a wedding planner? Hire Sophie Breeze! She is paid to be a bridesmaid who is said to be a long lost friend or relative so no one knows the truth. She is there to handle ever crisis that can and will come up. Her latest client Cordelia doesn't want to hire Sophie and plans to do everything she can to make her miserable. Their interaction is so much fun! Highly recommend.

The Secret Bridesmaid was such a cute read! The light hearted story and stellar characters made it such a enjoyable book to escape into. Katy Birchall writes fun chick-lit that kept me laughing and swooning throughout! Can everyone say #BEACHREAD!!!

What a unique story. I loved the idea of this book and was excited to receive an arc! The characters were fantastic as well. I look forward to reading more from the author!

The Secret Bridesmaid features Sophie, a girl who’s made it a job to be a secret bridesmaid for everyone but doesn’t focus on her own love life and tends to play things safe.

We receive a beautiful introduction to Sophie, our main character, right from the beginning. We see how kind and caring she is about others—but we also come to realize that she needs to take care of herself more and be willing to adventure and grow.

Sophie is quirky and a well fleshed-out character, along with Cordelia and her other friends!

Sophie’s so fun, and I absolutely adored her personality. She wasn’t just a character who stayed stagnant. Making the choice to be more adventurous and spontaneous, Sophie grows into the person she may have secretly always wanted to be. She just needed a nudge in the right direction.

Cordelia, in my opinion, had the best character development throughout the story. We learn about her regretful past and the reason for her lack of trust. But she slowly comes out of her shell to give Sophie a chance, and it’s they have some lovely moments.

However, the romantic leads in The Secret Bridesmaid were a little off-putting.

Daniel felt like he was only in the story to remind her of being a “boring” person. He didn’t feel like an actual character. I disliked him because he was a jerk, but I also disliked him because he just seemed like he was forced to be there.

Tom also felt like he was just sort of there to be the prince in shining armor. They have a few romantic moments, but there needed to be more for me to really feel like they were meant to be rather than the plot demanding a romantic lead.

Focused on friendship, The Secret Bridesmaid had many cute moments—but for a story that’s seemingly supposed to focus on romance, there was not enough to make this more than a decent read.