3.5 stars

This was a very cute opposites-attract romance. Months ago, Vivian and Mel meet for the first time, and it did not go well. Now, they are both in the wedding party of their mutual friends. As they spend more and more time together, they start to see that they may have more in common than they originally thought.

At first, I really didn’t like Mel, but he started to grow on me as we got to see more of his perspective and understand him and his background. He was also the sweetest towards Vivian and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop. I really loved Vivian, who may seem like an “ice queen”, but has so much more to her.

I did find that the book felt a little rushed at times, and so I would have liked for certain parts to be more developed and to get more information in order to better understand the story and characters.

Thank you to Berkely and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m really enjoying romantic comedy books right now and so glad I got the chance to read this one. This book is a follow up to Donut Fall in Love, but could definitely be read as a stand alone (I didn’t read the first one). I really enjoyed the stand up comedy aspects, the enemies to lovers, and the quirky grandma character. Overall a fun and lighthearted read that I think you will enjoy!

Thank you to @netgalley @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @prhaudio for a free download of the audiobook.

Vivian and Mel’s first encounter with each other didn’t get off on the best foot. While Mel is pursuing his passion of being a comedian, Vivian doesn’t feel he respects her decision to work in corporate finance rather than pursue her passion of part. It doesn’t matter though, because they live in different cities…actually different countries. That is until Vivian’s roommate gets engaged to Mel’s best friend.

The novel was cute and the banter between the main characters is entertaining. I feel like the read was enjoyable, but at the end something seemed missing to me. I also feel like more development or insight is needed around the family relationships and the strain that was occurring for Vivian. I struggled to empathize with her, thus not really making any kind of investment in her or Mel’s relationship.

3 stars

My first thought - a little too long.
I did enjoy this book. The family pressure, cultural references, pressure to have children, have a mainstream relationship. I thought the author did a great job showing a different path. As a person with her own struggles, I enjoyed seeing a couple not move in together. They made their relationship work around their lives. And I loved it.
I also loved the many references to those who make people laugh are often the most depressed in the room. I often use humor to deflect, especially the chaos and issues of my life. It really resonated with me. And I loved Robin Williams. There are many of his quotes around saying the same thing.
The characters' sexuality didn't disappear - I loved the reality of yes they still check out people, even those of the same gender.
And the sex - holy hot! Yes! A man who doesn't commit to proving he can make his partner orgasm in a way she clearly state doesn't work for her.
I felt this was a great realistic rom com.

Rating 4.5/5
Plot 5/5
Spice 3/5
Writing 4.5/5
Character Development 5/5

[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]

“The Stand-Up Groomsman” by Jackie Lau tells the story of Vivian Liao and Melvin Lee. Vivian was a huge fan of an infamous, but shortly-axed sitcom that starred Ryan and Melvin. When Vivian has the chance to meet Melvin in person, she feels starstruck at first, however, her feelings quickly change when Melvin pushes her too hard on her life choices and this turns Vivian from absolutely adoring Melvin to absolutely despising him. Now Vivian’s roommate, Lindsay is marrying Ryan and Vivian must face Melvin again as she’s the bridesmaid and Melvin’s the groomsman. As the two work together to help with the wedding, Melvin realizes his first impression of Vivian was misjudged and Vivian realizes that Melvin might actually be the same charming man that he is on-screen.

I love a good opposites-attract rom-com and I loved this book! The bridesmaid vs. groomsman, rom-com trope reminded me of the Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren and I thought it was such a fun read. The plot was cute, the characters were enjoyable to read. I love when characters have to set aside their differences to get something done and then they realize something about themselves. Overall, great heartwarming book!

I love stand-up and improv and so I jumped at the chance to read and review the Stand-Up Groomsman! I didn’t realize it’s the second in the series, so it’s fine as a stand alone.

Vivian and Melvin get off to a bad start when they meet out one night. But they live in different cities and they don’t have to deal with each other until their mutual best friends get engaged and they are both in the bridal party. Vivian finds Mel funny and. Harming, but he doesn’t respect her career and makes fun of her for working in finance (not cool Mel!!) As they help plan the wedding with their friends, they see the best in each other and start to fall in love. They still have the distance between them, but they text and talk all the time.

I really thought this was a cute novel! I love that Melvin worked on his standup set throughout the book and we get to hear his jokes. They are definitely an opposites attract couple, but I think that’s why they are so fun! She’s a little buttoned up and he will go far for a joke. But they work together so well. They had excellent banter the whole book.

Thank you so much to @berkleyromance @jackielaubooks and @prhaudio for my gifted copy! The Stand-Up Groomsman is out now!

4.5 stars

Heat Factor: It’s a slow burn–much intense emotional heat with satisfying results

Character Chemistry: It killed me, dead. I am not okay now, thanks Jackie Lau.

Plot: Mel the stand-up comedian and Vivian the financial analyst/secret artist meet and can’t stand each other only to find themselves as attendants in their friends’ wedding. Mel is the entire rainbow and Vivan is gray. And I love them.

Overall: This book made me swoon so hard, so many times that I actually NEED a fainting couch now.

So Erin and Holly both said I was going to like Jackie Lau, and they were right. This is my second Lau creation, and I feel like my ribcage is going to crack from how much swelling my chest is doing after finishing it.

Do you like the banter and mismatch of When Harry Met Sally? Because that’s what you’re going to get from this one. Only, add in two comfortably bisexual characters, a character who’s a comic (and actually has funny sketches included in the text!!) and a woman who’s the grumpy and not the sunshine (for ONCE) and ka-pow. It’s beyond. It’s extra. It’s just…fantastic.

Mel is louder, colorful, and funny, and he’s the perfect foil for Vivian. I hesitate to call her an “unlikeable heroine” because she is NOT (I’ll fight you), but she’s gruff and she’s used to caring for herself and being pretty buttoned up and proper, so she’s far from being soft and pliant. She’s so relatable, and her character is so perfectly and meticulously written—Lau peppers her text carefully with gestures and passing thoughts that open Vivian up without her even having to disclose anything sweeping and vulnerable for the reader. And that’s effective, because it would be utterly out of character for Vivian to just spill her guts, even to herself. Every depiction of her makes sense, and it makes her incredibly easy to sympathize with. So when Mel’s bright, colorful chaos descends upon Vivian, it’s easy to see why she’s falling for him and it’s equally easy to see why it’s stressful for her.

I loved Mel’s stand up, as well, which shocked me. Normally when authors depict an art form a character specializes in, it can tend to feel clumsy. But in this book it’s really brilliantly done. Like any good comic, Mel uses humor to entertain, but also to unpack really incredible issues in creative ways. And just like it worked for Vivian, through each little vignette we end up seeing more of the underlying anxiety and feelings of inadequacy that have held Mel back in life. It ends up making a lot of sense that Vivian would be someone solid and real for Mel, and ultimately someone he can trust with himself.

But in all honesty, their relationship isn’t 100% deep. It’s also really playful and fun. For example, at one point in a text thread Vivan says “Congrats!!” and Mel responds “Look at you, using two exclamation marks. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?” Mel teases Vivian constantly, but the way he doesn’t it makes Vivan feel really seen and often admired, and I was floored by how well it ratchets up the tension. It was like flirting on steroids.

And ultimately, I adored that the way they handle the hurdles they face is unique, compassionate, and tender…and really, really sexy. I just dare you to end this book without a heart full of yearning. I dare you.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

Really enjoyed this book that has some characters we meet in Donut Fall In Love (which I loved)! It's an opposites attract romance and while both Vivian and Mel both have their quirks, they are truly better together. It's a very sweet (and steamy!) coupling and I love how realistic Lau's romances are because you can really just immerse yourself in this group of friends and their lives and feel like you are in the know. I also enjoyed the contrast in Vivian and Mel's families and how that impacts how they see relationships. Also, Lau always has great #ownvoices representation and also love the bisexual representation in this one. I did enjoy listening to this one on audio but the male narrator's voice was not pleasing TO ME. He did a wonderful job and overall it worked out fine but there were times where it was a bit jarring when I got back into it.

I am such a big fan of Jackie Lau's work. She never shies away from difficult topics and her characters always have honest discussions about sex, mental health and food. I love a character who knows exactly what she likes in bed and isn't afraid to ask for it and a man who isn't afraid to give it to her. Combine that with the portrayal of being bi, undiagnosed mental illness and family issues and it's another winner by Lau. There is a moment in here when Vivian talks to her family and I had to stop for a minute because I felt so absolutely seen in that moment and had to take a moment to process. I could have done without the standup comedy bits at the beginning of each chapter but I appreciate how hard those must have been to write and want to give the recognition to the author of that.

Many thanks to Let's Talk Books Promo, Berkely and NetGalley for a gifted copy of The Stand-Up Groomsman. It's on sale now and should not be missed. I wish more people read Jackie and appreciated the awesomeness of her writing.

This one was so entertaining. Vivian Liao has a serious job during the day but at night she spends her time making fan art. She might have been geeking out over meeting the very subject of her fan art, Melvin Lee, but he is nothing like she expected, and not in a good way. She could go her entire life not seeing him again, but that isn’t an option when his best friend is marrying her roommate.
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The two of them need to take part in every wedding activity together. Annoyance soon turns to something more. This would make such a fun movie and true that form for me the grandma steals the show!
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Huge thank you to @berkleypub@prhaudio and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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🎂The Stand-Up Groomsman 🎂
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Short synopsis: Vivian and Mel are different in every way, but decide to put their discrepancies aside when they become bridesmaid and groomsman for their best friends wedding.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this comedic play on a romance. Mel was annoying but in a cute, charming, funny way. Vivian was serious and had a lot of family issues to work through.

I especially liked Po Po and would love a chance to meet her in real life, singing Shania Twain.

I liked how Mel helped Vivian find some of her insecurities and push through them in a loving way.

I did not know going in this was part of a series, that being said I think it can totally stand on its own. I didn’t feel like I was missing a lot and could totally keep up with what was going on.

Thank you @prhaudio, @berkley, and @netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. Publication date was October 25, 2022 so this is out now!

Read if you love:
* Karaoke
* Family dynamics
* Spin offs with side characters
* Blind dates set up by Grandma
* Cake
* Opposites attract troupe

The Stand-Up Groomsman by Jackie Lau, book two in her Donut Stand Up series, follows Vivian and Melvin. Vivian was once a big fan of comedian Mel, until she met him. When they meet, it does not go well and they’ve vowed never to meet again. Unfortunately Vivian’s friend and roommate is now engaged to Mel’s best friend consequently as a bridesmaid and best man, they will need to spend quite a bit of time in each other’s company. From trying to get along for the sake of their friends to actually finding out they enjoy each other’s company, their relationship has a long ways to go.

This story also examines the family and career dynamics for both characters, the good and the bad, as well as their identities as both main characters are bisexual. We see this in Mel’s comedy sets as he portrays, and edits, his life for the public along with their day to day discussions with each other and the people in their lives. The book deals with the way people perceive and misperceive sexual identity. Eventually the two build a friendship, taking things to the next level; but it takes Vivian a long time to trust Mel and accept the love and comfort he offers. I thought both characters were so well developed and it was refreshing not to see a simple, easy romance. Each has work to do in their personal lives before they are ready for romance. I highly recommend The Stand-Up Groomsman to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

This was a fun and steamy opposites-attract contemporary romance. I liked the uniqueness of the story because Mel is a stand up comedian. I don’t think I have ever read a book where the main character was a stand up comedian.

I think Mel’s character would drive me crazy in real life, but he makes an interesting character to read about. Vivian was Mel’s complete opposite; a conservative introvert with a corporate job. My favorite character in the book was Mel’s grandmother who stole the show for me, she is hilarious!

I didn’t realize that this was the second book in a series, but this can definitely be read as a stand alone.

Read if you like your romances with plenty of steam, funny moments, and a couple that are complete opposites.

This is the first book I've read by Jackie Lau and I don't intend for it to be my last. The Stand-Up Groomsman took me a bit to get into. When Vivian's roommate gets engaged, of course she asks her to be a bridesmaid. However, her roommate is getting married to her favorite actor's co-star. With stars in her eyes, Vivian had met Mel previously, but the encounter left her disappointed by the man she felt considered her a sellout for not pursuing her art professionally, but rather as a hobby. Forced to interact again, the two put their differences aside and work together to help plan wedding activities for their dear friends. As they work together, the two can't help but see each other with fresh eyes. Could it be that they've had it all wrong? Or that things are often less finite and more like shades of gray?

Mel is a comedian, and I'll be the first to admit, standup isn't for me. I find it to be crude and often lewd. While many find humor in poking fun at stereotypes and sex jokes, I personally just can't. There is a talent to threading the needle and I can recognize that skill even while it misses the mark for me. I will plainly say this is a ME issue. So the stand-up portions in this book were a bit hard for me.

Outside of that, I did enjoy the book and I loved watching the caring thoughtful side of Mel emerging. I loved the exploration of traditional gender roles and breaking away from the norm. At one point Vivian wears a suit and the appreciation Mel expresses toward her for her style made me smile. I feel most badass in a blazer, so this moment stood out to me. Both characters see one another as humans and find attraction toward one another as people. There's such beauty in that aspect of the novel that stayed with me well after closing the book at the end.

I look forward to going back and reading other novels by Jackie Lau.

Finishing this book made me want to go back and read Donut Fall in Love. Mel and Vivian are both complex, intriguing characters and I want to see glimpses in them in the previous book. Mel especially with his charm, humor, and anxiety, is one of the most relatable heroes I’ve read in a long time. Vivian, it takes a little while to completely understand but the writing and the storyline means you want to put in the time to truly understand what makes her tick. She has a tough exterior and it’s like the heroine’s I’m used to reading but that’s what makes Jackie Lau’s books so unique. Her characters are glaringly realistic and her anxiety representation is so spot on that a times I makes me uncomfortable.

Vivian and Mel have both misjudged each other when they first met and it takes time for them to see beneath each other’s layers. There are times where Vivian’s prickly exterior drives away Mel’s caring nature but they find their way back to each other. They learn together that in a healthy relationship it is possible to compromise without one person giving up their dreams. Vivian had been burned by that in the past and Mel was scarred by short-lived relationship that never panned out. Jackie Lau always has a fascinating cast of side characters from Mel’s grandmother and her pink limo to Vivian’s family and the pressure to raise her younger siblings. Her side characters are just as complex and never one-dimensional. This book was exactly what I wanted from an author who is quickly rising to the top of my recommendations list!

Fun, sweet, sexy romance between two people who are seemingly opposite. Vivian and Mel drive each other bonkers, but somehow manage to find a deeper connection and great chemistry, and their flirting and banter make for a terrific read.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for access to this arc.

I was excited to start “The Stand-Up Groomsman” because Asian rep and bisexual characters. Jackie Lau books tend to either work well for me or they fall flat. This, unfortunately, is a fall flat book. I didn’t read the first book in the series “Donut Fall in Love” and don’t think that’s necessary to try this one. What made me finally DNF this were a few other things. The first meeting between Mel and Vivian was supposed to be a “Not Cute Meet” but Mel really didn’t impress me with how he kept on at Vivian about her job. Okay, he had a bad experience with a corporate job and tells Vivian that she should ditch hers to pursue her art. She pushes back and Mel just Won’t Let It Go. Let it go, Mel. It’s not your life.

Mel is the stand-up comic of the book title. We get to see Mel at work, in comedy clubs, several times. There are pages of description of him doing his act. It’s not that funny and reading endless pages trying to describe something that works visually and audibly isn’t entertaining to me. Then there are the secondary and tertiary characters who come off as little more than “character actors” in a sitcom. Yeah, I get that’s probably what they’re there for but the sheer number of them started to feel as if I were watching a bad TV show with a laugh track. This book is getting great reviews elsewhere but it didn’t work for me.

I found the book funny and sweet. The HEA is well earned. It includes a lot of fun details with the food of New York, the male protagonist's family and all the fan fic. I look forward to more from this author.

Vivian Liao's roommate is engaged to her favorite actor’s costar, bringing her face-to-face with Melvin Lee. While he's a charming actor and comedian, he finds her to be a snob and a sellout, wasting her life in the corporate world instead of being an artist. The two have to remain in each others' orbit to ensure the wedding is perfect. This makes them learn more about each other, so there might be another happily ever after in the future.

The Stand-Up Groomsman is a sequel of sorts to Donut Fall In Love, in the sense that the couple marrying is Ryan and Lindsay from that book. The supporting characters there are now the stars, and we get to see their chemistry grow. Of course, they try a long-distance relationship, and both of their anxieties and past failures in relationships cause them to second-guess what they grew into. Vivian was essentially a third parent to her younger siblings and similarly had to give up a lot in her prior relationships. Melvin retreats to humor as a coping skill when dealing with rejection, and doesn't fully commit to anyone so he won't be hurt. These are very real fears, and rear up frequently enough to be a problem. We do see them work through these issues, whether with friends, mentions of therapy or medication, or self-reflection, they realize that they work together.

A very fun romance novel to curl up with.

I loved Vivian and Mel! These two were real people with real problems that readers can easily identify with and respect. Both of them are bi and how their sexuality has caused problems for them personally is a bit part of the story and their discovery of who they are, separately, and as a couple. Vivian’s personality is very even. She seems to be more of a watcher of life than a person who is actively participating. Her relationship with her roommate Lindsay was her first step outside the box, and the fact that Lindsay’s fiance is a famous actor has made her deviate from her staid lifestyle. Meeting Mel is a good example of her trying something new. Of course, their first meeting was a disaster but she allows Mel to apologize and become her friend. Mel’s a stand-up comic so his personality is outrageous and funny- he wears bright loud clothing and seems to pursue the clown persona. He is actually very different than that bright shirt he is constantly wearing. He has dark thoughts and self doubts that keep him up at night worrying over his life and happiness. When he meets Vivian it’s like a bright light has shown through that darkness and despite trying, he can’t forget her.

As you can imagine, this book is a great mixture of fun and seriousness. It’s rare that the hero overshadows the heroine for me because as a female I’d normally identify more with a woman. His problems were so present though and I really felt his emotions a lot more than I did Vivian’s even though she was also working through some of her own issues. They were both great characters separately, he just shone more. Together though, they were passion, fire, and constant. I know constant isn’t normally a romantic description but it was something they both needed in the other. They were the yin to the others yang and made a perfect pairing. It made for a great romantic novel and I enjoyed it tremendously.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.