🌟🌟🌟✨ 3.5 stars
This was a charming and thoughtful read that dives into love, identity, and the pressure to have it all figured out. Emma’s journey from being left at the altar (well, almost) to trying to salvage not just her career, but her entire vision for the future, is messy, vulnerable, and surprisingly relatable. 💔➡️❤️
The premise—finding a new groom before the original wedding date—sounds wild, but it’s handled with heart and just enough realism to keep you engaged. Emma’s relationships with Will, the guarded podcast producer 🎙️, and Matt, the sweet but maybe-too-ready divorcee 💬, both bring something unique to the table. There’s no easy answer here, and that’s what makes it interesting.
Some moments felt a bit stretched, and the chapters jumped around a bit too much for me, but overall, it’s a smart and emotionally honest story about choosing yourself, even when everyone’s watching. 📱📚
A solid read for fans of contemporary romance with a bit of chaos and a lot of heart. Would you risk going through with a wedding just to protect the life you built around it? 🤷‍♀️

Interesting story and kept me guessing, the characters could have been fleshed out more but overall a good beach read for the summer time.

I ended up DNFing halfway through. I think the story had lots of potential but was just a little too political for my taste. I know all books are political in there own way but I prefer to have as little politics in my books as possible, already get enough in my real life and I read to escape. I did not end up posting a review on my socials since I did not finish the story fully through.

This is a lighthearted rom-com about a newly single marriage therapist that involves her online platform in her effort to keep on her wedding schedule. The MC is sweet and relatable and the cast of secondary characters are amusing. The MMC is appealing and fun. Overall it's a frothy story that's not necessarily realistic, but is great escapist lit. Perfect for summer!

As a Raskin fan when I saw this title I knew I was going to be all in. Knowing that they wrote this while taking inspiration from their own personal experiences is a sobering reality. Raskin truly outdid themselves with this novel rapt with incredible comedic timing, and glorious character growth. Emma has a special place in my heart.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the arc copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Emma Moskowitz is a couples therapist with a popular YouTube channel and an upcoming debut novel about relationships, including content regarding her personal one. She has her ideal life, up until her fiance walks out on her 6 months before they say "I do". Naturally, Emma is crushed and immediately starts to question her 0wn worth, along with her career altogether. How can she give love advice if she can't keep her fiance?

Emma is desperate to have the future she envisioned, including a husband and kids, thus comes up with Operation: Save My Date. She chooses not to cancel her wedding in 6 months, with a new focus on finding a new groom. Emma sets up a dating profile and meets Will, a podcast host with whom she shares an instant connection/attraction. She shares her journey online, and soon finds herself in a love triangle of sorts with Will and her brother in law's coworker Matt.

Overall, I give the book 3.5 stars. Emma was kind of annoying and very very clingy to me, I wish she would've just chilled out more. The plot was interesting enough and not too far fetched in today's age; people get married after months of meeting all the time. The other characters were fine overall, other than Jackie who was too busy obsessing over Matt when she has a perfectly fine husband at home. Stay in your lane girly. The writing itself was good and easy to read, I just didn't connect with or care about the characters when it comes down to it. I would read other work by this author and hope to find something I love of hers in the future.

I would like to add that I've seen a lot of hate in other reviews regarding the political opinions expressed in this book. I, for one, have no issue with that and commend Allison for expressing herself on the matter. This is her art, she is entitled to her opinion, and I did not find the content to be an attempt at "dividing readers". Like, come on.

Wasn’t my favorite read. Wished the ending had been different. A lot of build up during the book just to be let down.

Emma has been dumped by her fiancé six months before they were set to say their “I dos.” The same Emma that is a relationship therapist with a huge book deal. Oops. Now she has imposter syndrome, but her family is convincing her that she wasn’t what was wrong in the relationship, he was.

With her family telling her it’s okay to date right away, she decides she will keep her wedding date (and Oscar De La Renta dress) and find herself a new groom. She’s on a mission to prove that the traditional rules of courtship (long relationships) don’t lessen the chance of divorce, but that maintaining and working on issues is what made a marriage last.

She starts with Tony. An ex that she begins reminiscing about. But he has a girlfriend.

Then there’s Rob, an old neighbor turned doctor. But he seems too into Emma and she doesn’t like that one bit.

And then there’s Will, her tinder match who is a podcaster. They meet, hit it off, and then on date two, Emma ends up in the local hospital when she dislocates her knee cap. The dialogue is cute and I love the interaction with her parents at the hospital. Just after a few minutes together, her mom is on board with Will becoming the groom. And it’s clear they have a connection and you achingly want this to work. But we are at page 50 and we know that’s not gonna happen. Sure enough, she pitches her proposal and he says no.

Emma is bummed Will is not open to the idea and takes a week off to heal her slightly wounded heart before meeting up with bachelor #3, Matt, a handsome finance guy who just happens to be married. But soon-to-be divorced. This was a red flag-this man just likes the idea of marriage and scared without that safety net. But alas, he’s nice, handsome and on board.

During this dating time with Matt, Will returns with a separate proposal: do a podcast about her journey. She agrees, but this ultimately makes them have to work together and see each other on a regular basis. That chemistry is not going to dissipate.

Lots of back n forth. Build up, disappointment, etc.

Side note: anytime there’s a journalist/radio host/podcaster character I cannot stand when the grand gesture is in said newspaper/on radio/etc. SPOILER: that didn’t happen. Phew. Overrated and overdone.

Overall it was cute and you were rooting for the chemistry. So did she save the actual date? I guess you’ll have to read to find out who ties the knot or did not!

Thanks @Netgalley and @ HarlequinPublishing for the advanced digital copy.

Save the Date is a cute romantic comedy based on second chances and finding love in an unexpected place. Emma Moskowitz, a couples therapist and online creator, is completely blindsided when her fiancé calls off their wedding with just weeks away before the big day. With everything already planned, Emma decides to go ahead and save the date, while she looks for a new groom.
What follows is a heartfelt, funny, and slightly chaotic journey as Emma shares her story online and finds herself caught between two unexpected suitors. As she navigates the emotional fallout, viral attention, and budding connections, both Emma’s personal and professional lives collide in shocking way. With a friends-to-lovers trope and slow burn romance vibes, this story also discussed and deals with mental health and anxiety through Emma’s perspective as a therapist.
Easy to read, entertaining, and emotionally grounded. I really enjoyed this book. I will be looking for more books by Allison Raskin.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I received an eARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was cute. It is about a couples therapist who is jilted by her fiance before the wedding (and after deposits) who decides that she is still going to move forward with her life and get married as she planned. She goes on a journey to try to find a groom using arranged marriages and the belief that all you need is commitment (not love) to have a thriving marriage. She learns a lot about herself along the way and finds out that love and chemistry may actually have something to do with a successful marriage. This book was cute but our FMC got a bit on my nerves sometimes. Mostly because I don't understand the driving need to get married. It is just not something that resonates with me. I liked the character, Will, he made me laugh out loud and seemed the easiest to relate to. Her sister Jill made me side eye a lot because I thought at one point she was going to go after our FMC's groom to be. Still not sure I believe Jill's marriage is a happy one tbh.

So, "Save the Date".... a book with a premise that’s kinda ridiculous but could be intriguing. Emma, a couples therapist, gets dumped six months before her wedding and decides the logical solution is to find a new groom by the original date. Because, sure, why cancel the venue when you can just swap out the dude? It’s got that classic Aughts rom-com energy—high stakes, public humiliation, a race against the clock. Anne Hathaway would have been all over this.

Every modern romance lately seems to be about podcasting, and this book is no exception. Will, the podcast producer who refuses to be Emma’s rebound groom, is easily the best part of the book. He’s charming, funny, and the only one calling her out on her nonsense. Emma herself is… a lot. She’s a therapist, yet her decision-making is baffling. I get that panic makes people irrational, but her whole "I must marry *someone* to save my career" logic never quite lands, even in the alternate reality of women's fiction. People... break up? Even famous couples. The world keeps turning.

And... not to say too much, but the love triangle plotline feels forced. The emotional cheating vibes are awkward. And the ending feels a bit rushed. But all in all, the book works for a beach or plane read.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Fun read! It's a super interesting story and kept me guessing, The characters could have had more detail but overall a good romance read for the summer time.

This was cute and took an unexpected turn, glad she finally saw what was in front of her. I liked the build up and the tension and found myself laughing in quite a few places. As someone who also suffers generalized anxiety disorder, it was rather refreshing to have an FMC like this.

Honestly, it's not a great book. The heroine was a total pill. No wonder she got dumped. Her idea of revolutionary thinking was just not.... well revolutionary. Had a tough time finishing it.

#netgalley #SavetheDate

It was an interesting book. Took a bit to finish it but overall liked the book. The concept about being engaged and about to be married and then the wedding is called off. What happens next?

Such a fun one! Felt like a self help/self discovery book with a romantic twist- pacing was a bit slow for me.

I received an advanced reader copy of Save the Date by Allison Rankin from NetGalley. While there were things I liked about this book, it ended up being just an average read for me.

The story follows a familiar but fun setup: a woman dealing with the aftermath of a breakup (or complicated romantic history) finds herself entangled in wedding-related chaos, which brings unexpected twists, drama, and possibly a second chance at love. The premise had potential, and there were definitely some charming moments and characters that kept me reading.

That said, the pacing felt uneven, and some of the plot points were either predictable or a little too conveniently resolved. I also found it hard to fully connect with the main character at times—her decisions didn’t always feel believable, and the emotional payoff wasn’t as strong as I hoped.

Still, Save the Date has a light, easy-to-read style that fans of contemporary romance or wedding-themed stories might enjoy. It’s not a standout, but it’s a decent pick if you’re looking for something breezy and entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eBook in exchange for an honest review.

Save the Date by Allison Raskin is a charming and endearing romance centered around Emma, a romance therapist whose world is turned upside down when her fiancé suddenly leaves her. The breakup not only upends her personal life, but also threatens her professional image and upcoming book deal—or so she fears. Instead of taking time to heal, Emma makes a bold decision: she’s going to get married anyway. What follows is a whirlwind of dating that places her between two very different men—Will, warm, funny, and emotionally grounded but unwilling to marry on a deadline; and Matt, recently divorced, emotionally unsteady, but eager to commit.

There’s a lot to enjoy here. The pacing is smooth, and Emma’s anxiety and compulsive tendencies are portrayed with refreshing honesty and relatability. She’s a flawed but evolving character, and her moments of kindness—particularly toward Matt and his ex, Kelly—add depth and nuance. I especially appreciated the friendship and encouragement rather than competition or drama in those interactions.

Will was a standout for me. His humor and warmth brought out the best in Emma and gave the story some much-needed levity. The romance itself is sweet and largely closed-door, and the storyline offers a unique twist on the typical love triangle—it’s more of an emotional journey where everyone finds closure, rather than a battle for affection.

That said, there were a few elements that didn’t sit well with me. A central issue was the emotional cheating—it’s subtle, but present—and Emma’s reluctance to address it head-on until late in the book left me a bit frustrated. I also felt that, while the story is heartfelt and unique, it lacked a certain spark or emotional payoff that would have elevated it to a five-star read.

Overall, Save the Date is a solid romance with a realistic and thoughtful look at healing, relationships, and self-growth. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy introspective characters and love stories with emotional nuance, even if it doesn’t quite hit every romantic high note.

Rating: 3.5–4 stars

This book was definitely written by a therapist! I do think Raskin's background does make this book a bit kinder and a bit gentler of a rom-com, which I really appreciated in a world which is feeling anything but gentle. After Emma's fiance dumps her, Emma not only is forced to reexamine her relationship. but since she is a couples therapist, it completely shapes the core of her work and frankly, whether or not Emma knows what's she's doing as a therapist.

I appreciated the book's insight that a breakup shakes more than our belief in the relationship - it also changes the narrative we have about ourselves, about who we are and about how loveable we feel. I also loved that the book advocated for therapy (really, everyone needs therapy. Go) and how the book was rooted in a specific Jewish subculture of LA. This book was really a gentle read at a time when we need more books that encourage you to be kind to yourself. Would recommend for fans of Sarah Adams.

I feel bad saying this because I know the book was inspired by the author's real-life broken engagement, but I did not enjoy this book unfortunately. The main character seemed very annoying and all of the characters felt very one-dimensional. I could see people enjoying it if they were in the mood for a light fluffy romance but based on the topic and character as a couples therapist, I was just left wanting more substance. Thank you for this arc!