The Lucky Escape by Laura Jane Williams is aptly named. As the reader knows from the book description, the story begins with Annie getting left on her wedding day by her fiance Alexander; Annie is at the church, in her wedding dress, with all the guests, and Alexander is a no-show. Alexander's parents insist that Annie go on the honeymoon anyway, taking along a person of her choosing, and who can resist a first class, three week trip to Australia? Annie not only opts to go on the honeymoon, but she takes Patrick, a childhood friend with whom Annie has recently reconnected, post-jilting.

What happens next is predictable, but that doesn't make it any less fun. I felt both pain and joy as Annie realizes what it feels like to be appreciated and loved and accepted. It was painful to realize how very low Alexander had made Annie feel for so long, but what a triumph for her to find true friendship and respect with Patrick.

Of course, Annie's honeymoon can't last forever, even if the man she is traveling with is not her husband. Eventually, Annie and Patrick have to travel back to London and the real world; and the real world is, as we all know, a lot harder to navigate. Families, jobs, friends, and real life stress have Annie and Patrick questioning what exactly they want from this budding relationship. And, let's not forget about Alexander, who is also back in London.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ms. Williams, and Avon Books for an opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.

Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!

I have to say this one fell a bit short for me. It was a bit all over the place at the beginning. We shall say “pre-honeymoon.” It started getting much better when she and Patrick when to Australia, but then every thing went a bit wonky again once they got back.

Patrick completely changed from his “happy go lucky” likable self, to kind of petty and possessive, and then Annie very much so let him. Why would she need to apologize to him for finally doing exactly when he even recommended?

I will say I enjoyed the side characters, especially her sweet sister Freddie.

It had a lot of potential, but just didn’t quite cut it for me.

In the midst of lockdown and the pandemic, this was just what my heart needed. I loved the protagonist, Annie, and felt she was extremely funny and relatable. This book was just a consistently enjoyable and light read. I felt like I was right there on the beach enjoying a cocktail. I would definitely recommend if you're looking for a fun and light-hearted story to put a smile on your face!

A fun quick read. When Annie is left at the altar by her college sweetheart, who called the wedding planner instead of her to let them know the wedding was off, she doesn't know what to do. Luckily, a run-in with Patrick, an old camp friend, paired with a set of would-be inlaws who insist Annie still take her honeymoon to Australia, leads to an adventure for two Down Under. Sparks fly, but can, and should, two brokenhearted people find love? To nitpick, I couldn't believe that Annie's ex's parents would be so good to her -- treating her to the first class all the way trip -- even after the wedding was off. But it was fun to indulge the fantasy. There's a tinge of depth and exploring what it means to be an adult that makes this a bit more than your typical beach book but it is still a page turner and a good escape.

NOTE: Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, I love Laura Jane and secondly I love her books! Thank you Avon!
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this book might seem like any other romance novel, where the protagonists come together in an unlikely situation and end up getting together. However, this book doesn't end there and that's what I love about it. It teaches you so many things about adulting, of how your problems aren't less than anyone else's, how your friends can still be there for you regardless of where they are in their lives, how there is no age to start over,
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it also talks about second chances and how "what people will say" can come between your own feelings. Never let someone else dictate your life with their thoughts, do what feels right!
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can't wait to get my hands on the actual book, so that I can mark my favorite lines!
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The Lucky Escape is a classic beach read with a romantic lift, but laced with a beautifully inspiring coming-of-age element that makes it my favourite Laura Jane Williams novel yet.

Annie Wiig was abandoned by her ex, Alexander, on her wedding day. Nearing 30, single, and now more insecure than ever, she feels as if she has lost her grip on life. So she decides to make a promise to herself: stop trying to be perfect and just say yes. At a spin class she meets, or rather becomes reacquainted with, Patrick. He's an old friend from her childhood theatre camp, and a refreshing reminder of the simpler times. When Annie gets the opportunity to take her honeymoon sans ex-fiancé, she decides to take the chance. And while she's at it, she takes a chance on Patrick too.

This book is nice and light, the perfect story to relax and enjoy. Laura Jane Williams has a quality to her writing that's friendly, humorous, and effortlessly charming. But in contrast to Our Stop and The Love Square, The Lucky Escape has a deeper, heavier layer added that is explored through the protagonist’s expressions and development.

Annie has plenty of humour and wit, even though she has spent much of her life living to please others. She is easily the most complex character I have met in Williams’ novels. I loved how human and authentic her personality felt, especially when it came to comparing her past with her present and future. She has inner conflicts with herself, she says the wrong thing, she makes realistic mistakes, she has genuine timidities, and she has imperfect reasoning. Her development is the best part of this story. While the plot has some cringe rather than swoon moments, Annie's character is strong and compelling as she leans to love exactly who she is. Additionally, the loyalty in her friendship group and the bond with her sister is wonderfully uplifting.

Patrick really is a breath of fresh air. He's naturally adventurous and confident. And he brings a nice stream of maturity to this novel. I love that he has a completely different approach to life compared to Annie. Their romance is sweet, and their adventure is engaging, but sadly not the most memorable. The pacing was a little slow, especially in the beginning of the book. It takes a while for momentum to build, and I did actually consider giving up around 30% of the way through. But I’m glad I stuck with Annie and her courageous advance to another year of adulthood.

Overall, I liked reading The Lucky Escape. It’s light-hearted mixed with the right amount of depth without straying too far from the romance. It has plenty of laughs, truthful heartbreak, colourful characters, and a gratifying journey to self-acceptance.

A light- hearted, feel good read that I really enjoyed. Yes there was heartache but there were also plenty of laughs along the way!

Amazing book!! You will fall in love with the main character! She is so spunky and sweet. This book was perfect beginning to end.

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Release Date: Expected 10th June 2021 (Avon Books)


Annie is getting married today. After nine years of being with her university sweetheart Alexander, she's now finally a "Strong Independent Woman Who Just Happens To Be Committing Her Life To Someone". She's in her beautiful dress, and stepping out of the car to the chapel to meet her Wedding Planner ... who just recieved a text from the Groom who isn't coming.

Along with her best friend Azdo; a fellow theoretical scientist who's pretty handy with a countour stick, her wickedly clever little sister Freddie and her eternally supportive Dad, they all manage to escape the ceremony before the guests can even realise what's going on. Everything has changed. Her home, her plan, her future ... they're all so very different and she doesn't even know why. So when her feiry former-mother-in-law-to-be calls and insists she takes the all expenses paid honeymoon to try and relax, she can't say no. Along with her newly found Confidant and recent broken heart, former theatre school friend Paddy, they set off for a strange adventure of self-discovery and heartbreak.

Full of a cast of colourful, beautifully vibrant and unapologetically real women who I fell in love with right away - this book was full of everything. Hilarity, heartbreak, rage and romance all wrapped into one. Every single character had a whole life of their own and came to life on the pages in front of me.

This was honestly a feminist dream of indulging in a devilishly dramatic romance without having to deal with the age-old cliches and stereotypes of perfect women whose personalities exist solely based on their boyfriends.

Absolutely refreshing and hilarious charming, this was such an easy read that I finished in one sitting.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Thank you to NetGalley and Laura Jane Williams for this ARC.

Annie gets jilted on her wedding day. Her future in laws gave them a gift of a honeymoon to Australia and urged her to still go. Anni decided that she was changing her life and when she met Patrick whom she'd known years ago she asked him to go with her on o non honeymoon. Great book

The Lucky Escape follows the story of Annie who having been left standing at the altar, realises Alexander might not have been the right man for her. After a chance meeting with an old friend, Patrick at the gym, Annie decides to head off on her would be honeymoon. She has a spare ticket, could embarking on this trip with Patrick help mend her broken heart or will spending three weeks with a man who’s not her husband be a mistake?

I enjoyed this book, found the characters to be both likeable and relatable and thought the book progressed at a steady pace. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.

I received this eBook on @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of the books I was most looking forward to reading in 2021 and it has 100% exceeded my expectations.

I absolutely loved the storyline and the fact that there was just as many downs as ups. It is hilarious and sad all in one, I laughed and cried throughout and then laughed a little more and cried from laughing. My favourite part has to be Willy-gate, I literally died of laughter.

The concept of the story is mortifying and you can only feel so sorry for Annie, and I loved that there was a very ‘Will they/ won’t they” throughout the story. What an amazing non-honeymoon, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little jealous!

Publication Day - 10th June 2021

I really recommend this book!

I loved Our stop so was really pleased to get the ARC of this one- i thought it would be such a lovely light hearted read and it was just that and more! With likeable characters driven by a predictable yet one of kind plot at the same time, The Lucky Escape left my heart warm whilst also covering some deeper topics like loss and lack of self esteem. I really enjoyed this book and lapped it up over a few winter evenings and will definitely purchase it upon release as a feel good read!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a perfect chic lit beach read. The story kept me interested. Who doesn't love a story about starting over and embracing your inner badass self.

Annie was about to be married when her fiance tells the wedding planner it's not happening. Annie is left broken hearted. Her not quite in laws urge her to take the honeymoon trip. Annie decides to go with Patrick, a man she has run in to that she knew from when she was a kid.

I won't give away anymore. Definitely worth the read!

#LuckyEscape #NetGalley

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I always struggle when starting new ones, but this had me hooked immediately. It’s totally predictable, but I enjoyed the escapism. The characters were great and the settings amazing (I had to look them up and the images didn’t disappoint). I’d recommend this book for some well deserved positivity right now.

First off I wanna say thank you to Avon books uk for allowing me to read this arc for an honest review. I really did like this one it made me want to book a holiday vacation other than that it was just okay to me

this pains me to write this, but I struggled SO hard with this book.

I am one who is an all consumed reader. I pick up a book and have a hard time putting it down for anything until its done. This one I found myself losing interest in as soon as I picked it up - it never kept my attention and I had a hard time sitting still.

The premise was fun, the characters were likeable, but I felt lost in details that didn't really matter and story lines that didn't add to the story in any way.

I've finished it and hope to re-read a later time, maybe on a beach somewhere when I can really get into it.

This book was not my favorite read but I got through it and overall it was okay. This book took me a lot longer to read than others, I just couldn’t get as connected as I’d wanted to. The Lucky Escape is in the romance category, although it has some romance between the characters I feel like it could have been better.

Annie gets left at the alter on her wedding day to Alexander. He up and leaves with no communication to her. This part was not my favorite and obviously it make you hate Alexander, but we do get some answers later in the story.

I enjoyed the character of Patrick the most throughout the book. He was a very go with the flow person who had some trauma in his love life which makes him who he is. The honeymoon in Australia is where the book starts to come together, it seems like a different book while they’re together and that’s where we see the romance parts.

After the honeymoon we start to see developments with Annie and her character. Her mom becomes better in the end of the story and we get some closure with the characters. Overall a okay read that just didn’t live up to what it could have.

I received a ARC copy of this book from Netgally and Avon Books UK for my honest options. Thank you!

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Avon for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book!

It was a very light and easy read, with some cute tropes. I particularity really loved reading the description of the scenes in Australia, they really added a lot to the book.

Really liked the buildup of the story, and loved seeing these two explore their chemistry. The middle-end of the book did get a little slow, but it definitely picked up by the finale.

The Lucky Escape is a cute, easy read about a woman who is left at the alter and goes on her honeymoon with an old friend she reconnected with during the aftermath of her break up. While this book did lose a little steam towards the end, I loved it and think it should be in everyone's beach bag this summer as it is the perfect book to read while enjoying some sun.

Thank you Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my copy of this book!