(I'd give this a 3.5 if I could.) 'The Wedding Date Disaster' was a cute read and I read it in a day, so it's a quick one too! It kind of reminded me of 'The Hating Game' and 'The Spanish Love Deception,' so if you're a fan of either of those then this will be a hit. It's about two workplace rivals, Gemma and Ben, who pretend they're dating while attending Gemma's sister's wedding in Italy. As one could then assume from there, this book includes the classic tropes of workplace rivals, fake dating, destination romance, and slow burn. In terms of the characters, Gemma has some pretty terrific people-pleasing issues and Ben is very blunt, which makes for an interesting pairing. There were times where I was a bit annoyed with them, but there were also times where I thought they were very cute and sweet. While I did overall enjoy this book, my biggest hesitation is that Gemma is lowkey cheating on her boyfriend the whole time she's at the wedding... Yes, it's clear that Adam sucks, but still. If that aspect was a little bit cleaner, then I'd confidently give this book 4 stars. All that being said, I would recommend this book to romance lovers looking for an easy read in a fun destination with some epic fake dating.

This was okay, both Gemma and Ben had some self discovery going on. Their interactions got a bit too snarky at times. Gemma was such a doormat, literally in every aspect of her life and this got boring to read about.

#netgalley #TheWeddingDateDisaster

Lots of chemistry between Ben and Gemma in this enemies to lovers fake dating.
I didn’t like Gemma’s actual boyfriend…. I couldn’t get behind him being nonplussed about her taking a fake boyfriend overseas to her family. Her actual boyfriend was awful and she was a doormat with him, I’d rather they had just broken up or broke up with her as they were about to go to Italy.it made Gemma a cheater, which is always a reason to enjoy the book a little less and means I can’t ever fully root for the couple to get together (but that is just a me preference).
The banter between the main characters was great and I enjoyed the writing style so I will be checking out what else Kate Mathieson has written.

I received the book as an ARC and provide an honest review

This book was a fun read but didn't hook me like I wanted it to!
Both MC's were a bit annoying with all of their name calling and such.
Still a fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter and Kate Mathieson for the ARC!!

“How many stars is this book?”

The second that I finished this book, I couldn’t decided. I think there were moments this book made me mad or annoyed. There are other times that this book made me happy and in love.

*SPOILER*

The cheating trope was not it. I get it Adam was not the best boyfriend ever and an unemotional guy, and we could have dived in more in him not wanting emotions from Gemma. However, it didn’t stick enough for me to not feel guilty when he just got cheated on time and time again. After Gemma loved him for being stable and know he would never cheat like her dad.

It also didnt seem like she told him she cheated when she was breaking up with him?


I would have liked the book a whole lot more if Gemma went on this trip single, or maybe before the kissing started Adam broke up with her; or vice versa.


Gemma and Ben were cute, their banter worked, it is so bad when banter doesn’t work. I truly did like them. But every cute moment they had, I kept thinking “Gemma isn’t a cheater, what her dad did to her family… she would never do that”

I think I liked Gemma way too much, and Ben way too much, for their love story to be on the shoulders of cheating. And while yes I have said cheating about 100000 times already, it wasn’t that heavily mentioned and some might even bend the rules for these two because they were cute!

But alas I couldn’t be one of the people that glazed over it :/

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of the book for an honest review!

This book was just ok for me. I loved the premise of it however it seemed to drag on for a while till it got really good. Then once it got good it was over. It left me with questions about how it worked out.

This novel was phenomenal! I loved the banter and the enemies to lovers transition we saw as readers, I ATE this story up! Kate Mathieson, i need more!!! I want to know what happens next with Ben and Gemma, I loved their characters and so glad Gemma had so much growth throughout the book. All romance lovers need to pick this one up asap!

Thank you to Harper Collins for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this title via NetGalley.

The wedding date disaster was a fun and refreshing read, from the first moment I was captivated by the story and the characters!!
This book was made for girls who love Italy, enemies to lovers, fake dates and great romances with tension and spice!

The characters are built so that you feel identified with them at all times, Gemma Evans is proof of this with her family relationship and her work situation, and Ben is the example of things not being what they seem.

The chemistry and moments of tension between the MCs are chef kiss, you will find from funny moments to sweet ones or with a lot of tension and a family drama on the part of the FMC that will make you want to hug her every two seconds!

What to expect from this book?
-Enemies to lovers
-Fake dating
-Workplace
-Family dramas
-Forced proximity

So, if you love all the tropes mentioned above and you like sweet romance with a touch of spice and an Italian setting of millions, The wedding date disaster is for you!!

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter and Kate Mathieson for the e-ARC!! I really had a good time reading this book.

The Wedding Date Disaster by Kate R. Mathieson is a charming blend of romance, humour, and self-discovery that delivers everything you could want in an enemies-to-lovers story. With its picturesque Italian setting and a cast of relatable characters, this novel strikes the perfect balance between heartfelt moments and laugh-out-loud banter.

Gemma Evans is a relatable and endearing protagonist. Her struggles with career setbacks and navigating family expectations make her journey feel authentic. Watching her evolve from someone who feels stuck in life to someone who finds her voice and her worth was incredibly satisfying.

The dynamic between Gemma and Ben is where the book truly shines. Their witty, tension-filled exchanges as workplace rivals evolve into something deeper over the course of the wedding weekend. Ben’s layers are gradually revealed, transforming him from Gemma’s nemesis into a genuinely kind and charming love interest. The fake-dating trope is executed to perfection, with plenty of swoon-worthy moments and just the right amount of spice to keep things interesting.

The lush Italian backdrop adds to the story’s appeal, immersing readers in a romantic atmosphere. The family dramas are both humorous and heartfelt, giving depth to the secondary characters and enhancing the story’s emotional weight.

While the romance is delightful, the pacing occasionally felt uneven, with some parts of the plot dragging slightly before picking up again. Additionally, a few of the family dynamics could have been explored further to give them even more impact.

Overall, The Wedding Date Disaster is a fun, heartfelt read that I found was just what I needed. With its mix of fake dating, destination romance, and personal growth, this book will leave you smiling and rooting for Gemma and Ben to find their happily-ever-after.

This was such a charming rom-com that had me laughing from start to finish. Gemma was an incredibly lovable character, and I found myself really rooting for her. The Tuscan setting was wonderful to visualize as well and makes me want to take my own trip to Italy

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the advanced copy!

Here’s your review with polished grammar while keeping your personality intact:

This is the kind of book you read and can totally picture as a fun romantic comedy movie! I couldn’t stop imagining who I’d cast as the main characters. If you started off hating Ben like I did, please keep reading—you won’t regret it!

Gemma, the protagonist, is up for her dream job, but her coworker Ben swoops in and steals the position. Not only does he take the job, but he’s also ridiculously cocky about it, making him incredibly unlikeable at first.

Gemma needs a date to her sister’s wedding in Italy and doesn’t want to show up alone, dreading her family’s judgment. She asks a friend to set her up on a blind date, and of course, it turns out to be Ben!

I couldn’t put this book down—it was so funny and full of surprises. I really hope they make it into a movie. And I need Liam Hemsworth as the hunky Australian Ben!

It’s a cutesy fake date romance without hardly any spice. Both rivals at work but when FMC needs a fake date for her sister’s wedding the MMC becomes her date. It’s a nice short read but these two were oblivious to things the whole time.

3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the E-ARC. This was such a easy read. Gemma ever the people pleaser is off to Italy for her sisters wedding her BF Adam doesnt go so she decides that she needs someone to pretend to be her BF rather than telling her family he couldnt go. Somehow her work nemesis is the one that is her "fake BF" and then she starts to see a different side of him and we see so much more of why Gemma is the way that she is.

DNF @ 50%

This, this felt like a bit of a struggle.
I really wanted to like this, as The Hating Game and The Spanish Love Deception are two favourites of mine, but this just completely missed for me.
Both Gemma and Ben felt entirely immature to me, both calling each other names and taunting each other to an extent where it went way beyond the flirting limit. Also, Gemma's family was straight-up bullying her for the majority of the wedding festivities.

No this went beyond fun and just felt awkward and uncomfortable to read. I'm sure a lot of people will love this book, but it wasn't for me.

"The Wedding Date Disaster" by Kate Mathieson blends enemies-to-lovers tension, fake dating antics, and the charm of an Italian destination wedding. With a relatable protagonist, compelling romance, and heartfelt moments of self-discovery, this book will appeal to fans of "The Spanish Love Deception" and "The Hating Game."

Gemma Evans is a consummate people-pleaser who finds her world spiraling when her promotion is stolen by her workplace nemesis, Ben McDonald. Add a family wedding in Tuscany and a blind date that turns out to be—you guessed it—Ben, and the stage is set for chaos, hilarity, and sparks to fly. The book doesn’t shy away from tackling deeper issues, such as toxic family dynamics and workplace competition, but it does so with a lightness that keeps the story engaging and fun. The romantic tension adds to the overall story in a way that is very well done.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and Kate Mathieson for this delightful read—I can’t wait to see what Mathieson writes next!

Seems weird to hire a fake boyfriend for your sister’s wedding when you have a real boyfriend who just can’t make it.

The characters are in their thirties in this book but it read very YA.

DNF @ 33%
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.

I tried to give this a fair go, but immediately from the beginning, I couldn't stand Gemma, the main protagonist. This is a corporate woman who called her nemesis Weasel to his face, is dramatic, judgmental, and wholly immature that I couldn't find her relatable and failed to gain interest in her career and personal woes. Ben isn't much better, and the amount of "Oh, Gemma"/"Now, Gemma" he deployed is tediously repetitive at best.

The Wedding Date Disaster comes across as if The Spanish Love Deception and The Hating Game had a baby, but a poorer attempt of both. I'm not one to DNF books often, but I am not the right reader to enjoy this, so instead of enduring to the end and giving it a low rating, I've chosen to step away from this very predictable, and sadly lacklustre, read.

This is a cute romcom that almost every reader can relate to one challenge the main character is going through. I like how it really wasn’t a spicy romance until right at the end. Having the story take place in Italy and during a wedding weekend really helped set the mood.

This was a great fake dating story with the added plus of an Italian backdrop. It was a quick, fun, and entertaining read. I loved the banter between Gemma and Ben. The relationship that developed between them had great tension and build up. There were times I wished Gemma would stand up for herself but when she did it was worth the wait.

I will always love a book that is set in a “book setting” and this one was no exception. I loved that both main characters loved books. And Italy!!! What a great setting. This was such a cute read, I devoured it quickly.

A very special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.