I love Allison Raskin so I had high hopes for this book and it delivered in some ways and left me confused in others. In “Save the Date,” Emma is dumped by her fiancé six months before their wedding. No explanation other than “something is off” and no, he doesn’t want to work on it. Devastated, Emma tries to piece her life back together but feels like a fraud – she is a couples therapist with a Youtube channel and book deal who gives people advice on how to maintain happy and healthy relationships. So, she decides that she will keep her wedding date and find someone new. Not to trade one groom for another but to show that a relationship is built on having a certain level of compatibility mixed with a commitment to make it work. She just needs to start something with someone and they can figure out the rest. Weirdly, it kind of works! She finds herself stuck between Will, a podcast producer who is a marriage skeptic, and Matt, a recent divorcee who is ready and willing to settle down. What will her future look like? And can she find marriage, save her book deal, and have the internet not eviscerate her? Maybe or maybe not but it is worth a shot.

I love Allison Raskin. I have followed her since her Buzzfeed days and then when she started a podcast with Gabe Dunn. I remember her talking about her own ended engagement and how she worked to move on. Her recent appearance on Nicole Byer’s “Why Won’t You Date Me?” is one of my favorites. So I was so excited for this book. And it has a lot of great parts especially as they relate to therapy and mental health. Truly, if you are an anxious girlie who wants to learn about secure attachment, this has a LOT of really great advice and modeling. There were also some funny moments and her family dynamic brought nice levity to the book.

BUT, I just couldn’t buy into the whole concept that she is going to get married to someone new in six months. It was explained well with logic and good therapy speak and still, my heart said “Nope, this makes no sense.” If you are trying to find someone you are compatible with, it can take more than six months to do that and placing a false sense of urgency on that connection probably won’t help. And that was an issue in both of her connections. I wanted to root for Emma but her desire to stick to the destination instead of focusing on the journey made that really challenging.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

This book was just meh in my opinion. The premise was interesting, woman has a broken engagement so she tries to find a new fiance to marry so she doesn’t have to cancel her already made wedding plans.

This book had every trope imaginable in it, but somehow nothing really stuck? Also, there was little to no chemistry with the characters.

I almost DNFed, but I powered through.

The premise on this one is wild. I knew that it could either really be an interesting hit for me, or fall flat. It ended up landing somewhere in the middle.

Emma is shocked and heartbroken when her fiance leaves her 6 months before their wedding with no warning. She thought things were going well, but she was very wrong. As a relationship therapist and online guru who is currently writing a book about how to have successful relationships, she knows that her reputation will take a hit. So Emma puts together a crazy idea to find a replacement groom that will marry her on her wedding day, the only issue is the guy who she can't stop thinking about has no interest in being a fill in groom.

This book had a lot going on. I was intrigued by the premise but I thought it took a while to get going. I would have cut out the first two guys she "reconnected" with because I thought they added nothing to the story and made the other relationships feel rushed. I did think it dipped into some murky waters with the two main guys she was deciding between and some emotional (and almost physical) cheating. I also wanted just a bit more character growth from Emma about being okay by herself. I thought the ending was cute and wrapped the story up well. Overall, it was a cute read, but needed a bit of editing. It is wild that it was based on a true story from the author's actual life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the e-book in exchange for my honest review!

I wanted to like Save the Date, but the main character’s constant whining made it hard to enjoy. The premise had potential, but her over-the-top reactions to every minor inconvenience got old fast.

I really liked the unique premise of the book where after Emma's fiancé calls off their engagement, she decides to not cancel the wedding and instead find another groom to step in. She meets Will, and they have instant chemistry and she thinks he can be the one and shares her idea with hi,, which he understandably balks at. The part that threw me is that Emma is a licensed therapist and was upset with the way Will reacted and figured he would just get over it and marry her.

I wish the story wouldn't have then brought Matt into the picture to "save the day" and agree to go along with Emma's plan, when there was still attraction between her and Will, and they were seeing each other in a professional setting as they were working together on a podcast.

The ending felt too tied up together, it needed to be messier with everything Emma had gone through. I appreciated the Jewish representation in this book and the message that even when life knocks you down, you can always fight your way back up.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free arc of this book. I found this book delightful and well-written. Having lived in Los Angeles, and being familiar with the MFT world, I could see how this might even happen. I am glad the main character showed her insecurities and how she is dealing with them. It is realistic for a therapist (or anyone) to face these issues. I enjoyed watching her grow and found the ending satisfying. I would recommend this book for a fun read and an opportunity to do some introspection at the same time. I would love to see this turned into a movie.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Quick, cute beach read- predictable but who doesn’t love a cute predictable beach read? I did like how her confidence in love and herself grew. Great book!

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Publishing for giving me an advanced copy of my #1 TBR!! And boy every page was worth the read.

Imagine meticulously planning your dream wedding, only for your fiancé to drop a bombshell: he’s out. Six months before the big day. Most people would cancel, grieve, and move on, but not Emma Moskowitz. Instead, she embarks on an ambitious (and borderline unhinged) journey to find a new groom in time to keep her original wedding date.

Save the Date is not your typical rom-com. It’s messy, hilarious, and occasionally exasperating, much like modern dating itself. Through Emma’s escapades, the novel explores the intersection of love and social media, the pressure to appear perfect, and the all-too-relatable fear of being alone.

Emma is a walking contradiction, brilliant at helping others with their relationships yet utterly clueless in her own. As a therapist and influencer, she has built a brand on romantic advice, but when her own engagement implodes, she spirals into a whirlwind of questionable decisions. Her determination to replace her fiancé rather than process her grief is equal parts frustrating and fascinating. At times, you’ll root for her; other times, you’ll want to scream, “Emma, stop!”

Romance or Reality Check?

Rather than delivering a fairy-tale romance, Save the Date challenges the very foundation of love stories. The two leading men: Will, the commitment-phobic podcaster, and Matt, the overly eager divorcé aren’t traditional Prince Charmings. Instead, they serve as reflections of Emma’s own unresolved fears and desires. The novel asks: Is love about fate, timing, or simply choosing someone who chooses you back?

Would you risk it all to keep your wedding date, or would you send that RSVP straight to the shredder? Emma’s story will make you question everything you think you know about love.

No. Just no.

There’s so much wrong with this book. I’m thankful I didn’t buy it and I regret giving this author my time.

Save your money. Save your time. Find something else to read. Life is too short to read a crap book.

This was a fun and unique story! I was quite surprised with the ending but it was good. We have Emma, Will, and Matt. This story had some twist and turns. It would have been kind of fun to have duel POV but then again not sure how that would work! My first read my this author! I will definitely have to read more.

A really unique idea and such a cute romance! The characters were very well done and I feel that the story progressed nicely

“Save the Date” is a romantic comedy all about second chances at love! I really enjoyed reading this book, because I found it to be both unique and entertaining. I was fully immersed while reading this story. This book centers around a couples therapist, who has a book deal and is an online creator, named Emma Moskowitz. Her Fiancé ends up breaking up with her close to their wedding date. He seems like a real loser of a guy! Like really, who does that to someone they love? After he breaks it off with her, her and her world starts crumbling down. It was only months before their wedding!

The wedding was already all sorted out. So, this is where the title of this book comes from, she plans on saving the wedding date! However, she doesn’t have a guy to go to the wedding with her. She needs to find her a groom and quick! So, what better way than to do it online? She goes online and shares her story. This is where things start to become complicated because two different men want to be the groom in her wedding! So, we have one runaway groom and two men wanting to be the groom! So, which of these two men does she and up choosing? Or does she end up changing her mind at the last second? This book made me curious as to how it was all going to play out for her in the end. It is an indoor romance, friends to lovers, slow burn romance. It does talk about anxiety and mental health, because she is a therapist. This book gave me the movie 27 Dresses vibes! However, the two storylines are completely different. This was an easy to read book that kept me interested! Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars rating!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Allison Raskin and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is set to be published on April 8, 2025!

It takes a certain kind of person to decide to find a replacement groom for a wedding that's already scheduled because the original groom has opted out of the marriage. And that's Emma, a therapist who thought she had it all until she didn't. She's got a lot riding on this wedding-not just the deposits but also her career. SO can she find a new groom with Operation Save the Date? Well, no spoilers because this is about the journey. She meets some real hoots as well as some nice guys. I liked Emma, even if I didn't agree with all of her decisions. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. One for a rainy day.

This was very cute and I really enjoyed it. The ending threw me a little bit, but I think that was the point. I really enjoyed this unique storyline and all the hiccups along the way.

I really enjoyed this story. It is different. It's like a rom-com/self-help book. When Emma, a relationship therapist, finds herself blindsided by her fiancé walking out of their relationship without any explanation. She is devastated and moves back home, because she can't stand to live in the apartment she and her fiancé had lived in. The reader goes along for the ride to her finding closure and maybe a new romance or two?

Great writing, wonderful characters, and a good story.

This was a fun read that kept my interest. The main character was someone I could relate to, though it did seem as if she had a lot of quirks such as sensitivity to clothing, anxiety, and not sharing food. On the one hand, those flaws made her more human, unlike some characters who seem too "normal" to be relatable. On the other hand, her constantly mentioning her issues was distracting at times. The story was fun, though of course it was clear which guy she would end up with long before things resolved. An entertaining quick read that was light and fun.

I enjoyed this. Quick and sweet read.

Emily, a couples and family therapist, gets dumped by her fiancé out of the blue. She decides to keep her original wedding date and find a new groom before that day. Very funny and thoughtful antics ensue from there. Its obvious what is happening and where the story is going but it was still a fun ride getting there.

I highly recommend this fun book. As I said I enjoyed reading about Emily and her quirkiness. Its funny, smart and entertaining.

Thank you NetGalley providing me the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

Save the date by Allison Raskin is a sweet and entertaining read that delivers plenty of heartwarming moments, humor, and relatable anxieties about love, family, and change. The story follows Emma, a couples therapist, that was recently dumped by her fiancé. Instead of cancelling all wedding plans, she decides to find a new groom to take his place.
I loved the idea of this book. It was a fun rom-com to break up my fantasy reading binge. I enjoyed reading Emma’s authentic reactions in her dating journey. This book touched topics of mental health, relationship struggles and heartbreak that felt honest and touching. The plot felt predictable at times and lacked witty dialogue/banter. It may not be groundbreaking, but it was an enjoyable, heartfelt story.

I truly enjoyed the story—it’s a fun spin on a romance with a great plot and plenty of tension that keeps things interesting.

That said, the FMC was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I think the author was going for a witty, sharp personality, but it often came across as more insufferable and whiny than charming.

Another thing that threw me off was the political commentary. While I’m all for a bit of depth in a story, the political undertones felt out of place here. If it’s not directly relevant to the plot or character development, it might be best left out. The focus should have stayed on the relationship, and the political mentions took away from that and felt like the author just wanted to take a dig.

Despite these issues, the plot and the tension kept me going. The romance still shines through, and despite my frustrations with the protagonist, I couldn’t stop reading to see how it all played out.

Definitely would have been a 4-star read based on plot if the FMC was a little more… pleasant.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for offering this
ARC for review via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

Save the Date by Allison Raskin tells the story of Emma, a woman determined to salvage her wedding after her fiancé unexpectedly leaves just months before the big day. In a desperate bid to keep her wedding on track, she embarks on Operation: Save the Date. Enter two charming men: one who desires to be with her but refuses commitment, and another, recently divorced, who wants it all—but perhaps not with her.

This story is cute, funny, and offers a refreshing take on romance. Emma's background as a therapist makes her a relatable and grounded protagonist. She appears to know exactly what she wants, but as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that what she thinks she wants may not align with her true desires. This internal conflict adds an interesting layer to her character, making her more complex than a typical romance lead.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the quick read, I did feel that the story was a bit rushed. I would have loved to see more development in Emma's relationships with both men—how they challenged her beliefs about love and complemented her personality. These moments could have added more depth to the narrative.

Overall, Save the Date is a fun, light-hearted romance that I would recommend to anyone looking for a quick, feel-good read.


Thank you to Allison Raskin, NetGally, Canary Street Press, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing the opportunity to read and review, this ARC.