I enjoyed the opposites-attract romantic comedy called "The Stand-Up Groomsman" (for the most part). I loved the bisexual representation and the Asian representation so, so much. This story did make me laugh on multiple occasions in the early chapters, but the humor fades quickly.

Honestly, preferred book one in this series so much more. I think it had a lot to do with the comedy, I love stand up comedy, but this just didn't fit for me. I don't know how to explain it but the parts that were supposed to be funny, just weren't to me. All in all, compared to book one, this one was a miss for me.

This was such a fun read!

If you're a fan of the grumpy X sunshine and opposites attract tropes, you'll really enjoy this one! It was fast paced, full of humor, and a very easy read. The Stand-Up Groomsman would be a perfect pallet cleanser type of story after a hefty fantasy!

I loved seeing the characters from the first book in this series pop back up. The world felt so realistic and cozy. I also adored Mel's family! Both the main characters AND the side characters felt fully fleshed out.

There is also AMAZINGGG rep for bisexuality and plus size male characters.

I really enjoyed my time with this one, but giving it 3.5 stars since I don't think I'll remember this book deeply in a few months. It was fun while it lasted, but not a story that had a huge impact on me!

I DNF-ed this book. I was literally dragging myself to finish it. The book wasn't intriguing enough for me to go on.

I loved Jackie Lau's first book so was eager to take this one for a spin but was a little disappointed. While I like the dive into mental health, I felt like parts of the book were repetitive or fluff or trying too hard to be funny when it was not funny or maybe just not humor I understand not being Asian.

One of the best books I read in 2022, without a doubt. A quiet slow burn between two characters that first appeared in Donut Fall in Love, I thoroughly enjoyed their meet disaster and the slow collision of their feelings for one another.

Longer review to come.

While I loved the first book in this series, I wasn't sold on the couple for this one. The male lead was a bit of a jerk in the last book and he really didn't improve for me in this one. Sadly this was a DNF.

This was a cute rom com with a lot of heart and some spice. Vivian definitely needed therapy though. Her family baggage really held her back in her relationship with Mel.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the bi-representation in it, which in a book like this - when the paring is man/woman - could so easily be left out entirely or questioned. I enjoyed how different Mel and Vivian are but how right for each other. And I especially liked the unconventional ending, that they found a way to be together on their terms, without either one having to give up things that are incredibly important to them.

Because their best friends are engaged, Melvin and Vivian are seeing a lot of each other - whether they want to or not. While their first meeting wasn’t exactly positive, Mel soon realizes he might have seriously misjudged this bridesmaid, and Vivian discovers the best man might just be as dazzling off-screen as he is on. Will there be more than one happily ever after?

I loved Donut Fall in Love - definitely should read it before this one - and this enemies-to-lovers was just as fun. Jackie Lau is quickly becoming a must-read for me!

The Stand-Up Groomsman was a fun and steamy opposites-attract contemporary romance. Vivian Liao works a demanding job during the day and does fan art at night. She may have been overjoyed to finally meet Melvin Lee, the subject of her fan art. The only thing Melvin's vivid shirts can match in vibrancy is his personality as a stand-up comedian. Although they don't click right away, as they are thrown together for their friends' wedding ceremony, opposites may attract.

Both Vivian and Mel struck me as having complex, interesting personalities. They each had distinct driving histories and adventures, which I enjoyed. I like Vivian's strong female character, her justification for choosing her profession over her interests, and the way she was put together and came across when we first met her. I found both of the characters to be quite well-rounded, and it was enjoyable to not witness a straightforward love story. Before they are prepared for romance, everyone has personal work to accomplish.

Vivian has deep scars, and it takes a lot of effort for her to get through the anguish. I adore how Mel fits her so well. Mel was wounded by a brief romance that never materialized, and Vivian had already been burnt by it. The dynamics of both characters' families and careers— good and bad—and their identities—both of the main characters are bisexual—are also examined. It discusses how people view and misunderstand sexual identity. My first Jackie Lau book is this one. I enjoy how queer and Asian people are represented in this book.

A bridesmaid and groomsman put their differences aside to get their friends down the aisle in this opposites-attract steamy romantic comedy.

They say to never meet your heroes, but when Vivian Liao's roommate gets engaged to her favorite actor's costar, she has no choice but to come face-to-face with Melvin Lee again. He's just as funny and handsome as he is on-screen...but thinks she is a snob and a sellout. It's none of his business how she chooses to live her life, no matter how charismatic he is.

Mel is used to charming audiences as an actor and stand-up comedian but can't connect to Vivian. She's a smart, talented artist--which is why he thinks she's wasting her life as a corporate finance drone. The only thing uniting them is their goal for the wedding to go off without a hitch.

As they collaborate on wedding cake and karaoke parties, Mel realizes he might have seriously misjudged this bridesmaid, while Vivian discovers the best man might just be as dazzling off-screen as he is on. With the wedding underway, maybe more than one happily ever after is in the future.

To be completely honest, I had a decent enough time reading this book but it ended up being a 3 star romance that never really kicked off into high gear for me.
I was attracted to it because of the incredible cover but at the end of the day, it left me disappointed and underwhelmed which is why I probably won't be reading another of this author's books again.

Thank you for the arc!

I started this book right after finishing the first in the series, Donut Fall in Love. I thought that book was so cute, so I figured I’d love this one too. Unfortunately this one fell flat for me. I thought it was cute and some parts were enjoyable. But, I did not love it as much as I hoped I would. I found it to be kind of slow and drag on. Also, Mel really bothered me for some reason. I am not a big fan of the insta love trope, and it did not work for me in this book. Overall, I think this book just wasn’t for me.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

TW: biphobia, depression

The stand-up groomsman is a sweet romance with complex characters. I wasn't sure that Mel and Vivian would be a good couple. Mel was annoying and being a jerk towards Vivian in the beginning. Vivian has a complicated relationship with her family. Vivian was a surrogate parent to her younger sibling Amanda; Mel is a comedian who has insomnia and occasional bouts of depression. This is my first Jackie Lau book. I like the Asian and Queer representation.

The Stand-Up Groomsman was such a delightful read. Mel, in particular, was a hoot and a surprise sweetie. The karaoke scene was my fav part--it totally hooked me and really showed us Mel's character. I could also picture Kimchee from Kim's Convenience right on the page. Jackie did an amazing job giving me those Kimchee vibes and all the feels!

I enjoyed this book. With the work I do for Fat Girls in Ficiton I am often asked about books with fat representation for man and for whatever reason that representation is even harder to find than representation with women. I'm glad to have another one to recommend to people when they ask. I really enjoyed his character. It was also a good romance, I was able to see why the characters made the choices they did and it was a good read.

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was that Vivian and Mel were getting a book--their opposite-of-a-meet-cute in Donut Fall in Love was absolutely everything--and I am so glad to say their story did not disappoint. Ms Lau is absolutely amazing at giving us delightfully complex characters who somehow manage to find the one person who is completely wrong for them only to eventually (after a lot of delicious food, LOLing, a healthy helping of angst and a stuffed animal or two) discover that they are somehow actually perfect together.

I loved that Vivian and Mel very much make their own path to an HEA that will work for them. Their romance is slow burn--Mel finds himself fascinated with Vivian even when he isn't sure that he likes her all that much, and Vivian's journey to reconciling IRL Mel with his professional persona is rocky, to say the least. But his ability to see and understand Vivian (the karaoke scene, OMG!) helps, as does the way they are each able to accept and even (eventually) enjoy each other's quirks. And gah! that ending... <3

You really don't have to read Donut first to love this book (you should, though, because it's awesome); the disastrous meet cute is replayed here for those who missed or forgot it. Seeing Donut's two characters plan their wedding and get married is extra fun if you've read their book, but since this is really Vivian and Mel's story it stands perfectly well on its own too.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

The first book I read written by Jackie Lau was Donut Fall in Love and I like the story although I did find it hard to connected with the two MC. So, yeah. As for this second book, I really do enjoy reading the story. If you have read the first book know that this is the story of Vivian (Lindsay’s roommate) and Mel (Ryan’s good friend). Vivian is working in finance sector while Mel is a comedian. Their first met is not as how Vivian expected to be. The two does not get along that well. The thing is they are now having to cooperate as they both are the bridesmaid and groomsman to their best friend, Lindsay and Ryan.

What I like in this book more than the first one is that this is not a usual relationship. Hating each other than fall in love kind of trope. No, it just not working into that one. Vivian has going through a lot in her life with her family’s problem and her past relationship isn’t working that well. So, to fall in love that easily is not happened for her. Mel also facing the same thing as Vivian. His relationship with his family is not that good and even though, he always ends up in a short relationship. Anyhow, he has a strong personality and care for other people. He really cares about Vivian’s feeling. I like the fact that they two might start at a bad foot but they two progress really well.

This is a slow burn and very complex, surprisingly I do enjoy every little thing in the story. The fact that the age gap of siblings is really relatable to me. Just like how Vivian has to babysit her sister that is how I did when they were little. It never easy but I put that as a lesson in my life and try my best to get along with my sibling despite the huge age gap. Things might not be the same to Vivian. I love Vivian’s character as she came out strong and determine with what she wants and with her career. Mel is a funny man, always put a smile on every people’s face.

Overall, I like how Jackie Lau portray the issues that happened in real life into these characters. Its feel alive. How not every relationship is easy as ABC, not as simple as that. The story is full of emotions. It is definitely a heart-warming and splendid story that I enjoy.

I'm a fan of this author and was definitely up for reading Vivian and Mel's story, especially after having been introduced to Vivian in Donut Fall in Love. They both have some issues (truth be told, all the characters in Jackie's books do) - Vivian was a surrogate parent to her younger sibling Amanda and has never been appreciated by her family for all she gave up for them, and Mel is a comedian who has insomnia and occasional bouts of depression. They're definitely an opposites attract couple who don't strike a good note together when they first meet (Mel thinks her job sucks and tells her so, something he later regrets and apologizes for). But somehow, upon repeated exposure to each other (since their good friends get married and they are in the wedding party) they get to know each other better and Vivian finds herself attracted to Mel. This initiates a long distance relationship between them. I loved how they work through their issues, communicate with each other (though on Vivian's side it takes her longer to open up) and their family dynamics are quite different, making for other challenges. There's always a funny Po-Po around though! (Mel's grandmother is a hoot). The ending is a happy one that suits this unique couple.

The Stand-Up Groomsman is an opposites-attract meet-disaster contemporary romance pairing a buttoned up maid of honor and a stand-up comedian best man for their best friends' wedding. I didn't read the first in the series, but I found it easy to get to know the characters and catch up. I liked that this is a wedding book, but it's not a Wedding Book. It's not an endless parade of dress fittings and last minute panic, it's simply a really useful device for getting two people a second shot together.

I wondered how Jackie Lau would handle the stand-up in the book and I was so glad that it worked for me. I found the stand-up to be funny. The rest of the book is standard contemporary rom-com fare, with the family, occupation and mental health insights I've come to expect from Lau, but the stand-up was a major risk. I think it paid off. While Mr. Hotshot CEO still holds a special place in my heart for the depiction of treatment-resistant depression, this might be my second-favorite of Jackie Lau's books.

If you're an audiobook reader, I highly recommend checking out the audio on this one. The narrators did a great job and the comedy translates really well in that format.