Listening to Save the Date felt like eavesdropping on the world’s most unfiltered therapy session meets wedding-week chaos spiral—and I loved every minute of it. The narrator brought the character to life so fully, it felt like I was tagging along on a bachelorette road trip where drama, self-discovery, and awkward honesty were riding shotgun.

Allison Raskin’s writing is raw and hilarious—equal parts heartfelt vulnerability and biting one-liners. The anxiety representation? So spot on. I felt seen, heard, and occasionally called out in the gentlest, funniest way possible. And the emotional payoff? Oof. Chef’s kiss with a little ugly cry.

This audiobook was the perfect blend of humor, heartache, and healing, all wrapped in a wedding veil of "what the heck am I even doing with my life?" Highly recommend for anyone who’s ever questioned their timeline—or their therapist’s advice.

This was a 4 star read!

This is a fun romance story about Emma, a couples therapist and novelist. When her upcoming wedding is called off, Emma is in a mess! Who would have trust in a couples therapist whose own relationship didn't make it! In a clever move, Emma keeps the wedding date and starts to look for a husband to fill in the only missing part of the plan.

This book was fun and made me giggle out loud. I was reminded of my own horror show of life in the dating pool. I loved the journey with the love interest and highly recommend this one to anyone looking for a fun, light-hearted read.

Save the Date
⭐⭐⭐.5

Emma’s life seemed like a dream come true. Engaged to her perfect match, thriving as a couples counselor, and adored as a popular online influencer, she was on the cusp of publishing a highly anticipated book. But in a shocking twist, her fiancé leaves her without a word, shattering her seemingly perfect world.

Now, just six months from a wedding that’s already in full swing and with her career hanging in the balance, Emma must quickly figure out her next move. Thus, *Operation Save the Date* is born!

As she documents her journey for her online followers, Emma embarks on a quest to find a new love to marry in just six months. Along the way, she finds herself torn between two very different men: Matt, a kind-hearted recent divorcee yearning for true commitment, and Will, a charming podcaster with whom she shares an undeniable spark—but who has zero interest in tying the knot.

As the countdown to her original wedding date ticks down, Emma faces a crucial decision about her future. Will she choose the safety of stability or the thrill of passion? Time is running out, and the clock is ticking on her chance at love!

This book was very cute! The theme of the story was sourced from the authors own life. Allison not only wrote a beautiful story but also did a great job narratorating her own book!

Read this book if you love…
- Swoonworthy stories
- Men with depth
- Therapist FMC
- Social Experiments
- Love Triangles (with 2 good choices)
- 2nd Chances
- Supportive Family Members and Supporting Characters

Thank you @netgalley @harlequinbooks @allisonraskin for the audiobook advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Save the Date written and narrated by Allison Raskin is such a cute listen!

After being dumped six months prior to her wedding, couples therapist, Emma Moskowitz is determined to save face (and all the money that has been invested in her lavish wedding) and find a new groom.

Emma publicly declares her initiative online and commences her search. Will she fall in love with the man she runs into at the grocery store, someone from a dating app, or possibly a recent divorcee? What if she meets the one, but he is not ready to settle down? No pressure future dates (insert much sarcasm).

Emma is determined and with her sister on her side, she might just make this work.

This story is cute and sweet. Allison Raskin does a terrific job both as the author and narrator of this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the advance listen in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This one is a 4.25 but I am rounding up to a 5.

I had high expectations for this book. I thought it would be a fun idea since I had never read a book like this before. It had potential. The audio wasn't bad. The narrator did a great job! I really enjoyed the MMC, Will. For the majority of the book he was the most reasonable out of all the characters. He thought this idea of, basically, finding a replacement fiancé' was a bit ridiculous. She also had her best friend who felt like it wasn't a good idea and yet the FMC, Emma, didn't really care and kept at it. All the other characters were just awful. The sister was over the top involved in Emma's life and wanted her to go viral and was way too much. Her MARRIED sister was basically in love with Matt, one of the options for Emma to marry. It was so cringey. She called her parents by their first name and it took me far longer than it should have to figure out who she was talking about. It's just weird to not call them mom or dad in the book. Also, the constant political jabs is not okay. There's a place for politics, but it is not in a romance novel. Emma was such an unlikeable character. She was very self-centered and for being a therapist, you'd think she'd be able to understand how unhealthy her plan was, but she didn't. I get that she was trying to create her own narrative, but it didn't work. I would have DNF'd but just needed to see what was going to happen, which is why I gave it just 1 star.

*Save the Date by Allison Raskin – 3⭐️*

This was an okay read. *Save the Date* is a romcom centered around Emma Moskowitz, a marriage therapist whose world is turned upside down when her fiancé dumps her six months before their planned wedding.

Emma, an anxious and determined woman, chooses not to wallow in heartbreak. Instead, she decides to keep the wedding date—with the intent to get married anyway. Through online dating, she meets Will, a charming podcaster with chemistry to spare, but he resists Emma’s self-imposed timeline. Then there's Matt, a successful investment banker whose own marriage has just ended in betrayal, and who surprisingly agrees to marry Emma.

The novel explores relationships, societal pressure, love, and the reasons people make the choices they do. However, the execution felt uneven. The author injects political commentary that feels out of place and risks alienating readers. Emma, the protagonist, comes across as somewhat unlikeable and underdeveloped, making it difficult to truly connect with her or the other characters.

I also wasn’t a fan of the audiobook narration, which didn’t help with immersion.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review.**

This book has a fun and timely concept, blending rom-com vibes with deeper mental health themes, and Allison Raskin deserves credit for tackling both with sincerity. The audiobook narration is energetic and engaging, making it easy to follow along. However, while the characters are likable, some of the plot points felt a bit predictable, and the emotional depth didn’t always land as strongly as intended.

It’s an enjoyable listen overall, especially if you're into stories about personal growth and dating mishaps, but it didn’t fully stick the landing for me. A solid, if not standout, listen.

This was a great light-hearted book with a sweet but predictable story! It was exactly the kind of book I was in the mood for and I’m glad I got to listen to it as an audiobook! The story kept me engaged until the very end and I liked the ending!

Save the Date is a funny, messy, and emotionally resonant exploration of heartbreak, healing, and hope—told through the lens of a woman determined to rewrite her own narrative after being left at the altar. Emma’s quest to still get married on her original wedding date is both cringe-worthy and compulsively readable, with moments of genuine insight into anxiety, self-worth, and romantic expectations.

Some decisions Emma makes are hard to watch, but that’s what makes her journey feel authentic. The podcast framing adds a modern twist and offers some of the story’s strongest scenes. The author’s note gives needed context, showing just how personal and cathartic this novel is. A great pick for fans of quirky rom-coms that blend emotional depth with humor.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ARC!

This book was okay - Emma is attempting to recover from being dumped (6 months prior to the wedding) by trying to rush to find someone else to marry still in that time frame. She then has this very intense desire to discuss it all and document it on social media; and well - she makes some REALLY questionable choices and decisions along the way. There are a lot of really cute moments, but there's a lot of moments that make you cringe as well. It was overall funny and really well documented about how to turn pain into something better!

I also highly recommend reading the authors note - as having an understanding of where the story came from and how it was mostly lived by the author? That made it really special!

I really enjoyed the audio, but don't feel as though the narration really helped me to feel more connected to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this e-alc in exchange for my honest review.

This was super cute.
4 stars e=rounded up to 5 to offset the folks giving bad reviews because heaven forbid a character have political thoughts.
I almost dnf'ed only because i thought the premise was too bananas to end up being good, but i fell in love with the main characters during their podcast scenes and had to finish it to see how it all played out. I was pleasantly surprised by a lot in this book and i am glad i stuck with it. It ended up being witty and emotional and a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio & Allison Raskin for the chance to read this book.

Okay cuuuutie book. Look at you! Written by a real life relationship therapist that was left by her fiance before her wedding. (Initial Author's note is CRUCIAL to appreciate the inspirado!) I love how this was an opportunity for her to re-write her next steps in a somewhat wild way- and we got to be entertained by it! What an exercise! She also narrated it! So well done there!

I loved the character development- she had so much emotional growth and self actualization during each step of her journey. I really loved the chemistry with the MMC.

I do have thoughts/questions about the sister's marriage. I feel like we needed more info there after the club scene? Or maybe we get a follow up book about them!?

Spoiler- Was this a 2nd act break up?!? I think it was.. and honestly that was great for pacing.

I loved the premise of this one! The author's note at the beginning was really interesting as well. While I found the characters lacking emotional development at times, I thought overall this was a fun read and an amusing premise.

It was particularly good on audio. The narrator and voice was captivation and held my attention.

This is a romantic comedy that follows Emma, a couples therapist who, after being left at the altar, decides to keep her wedding date and find a new groom within 30 days.

I deeply commend the authors ability to open up and share this story based on her real life lived experiences. It is undeniably a feat to be able to process and open up after such a heartbreaking instance, and it shows the strength of this author to use their experience for good.

The novel’s premise is quirky and engaging, leading to great potential in the rom com genre. Emma’s character, though flawed, is portrayed with authenticity, allowing her opportunities to struggle and grow. The story also delves into mental health topics, such as anxiety and depression, offering perspective and relatability in our current world. Additionally, the audiobook provides a storytelling experience with clear and expressive narration.

While I can recognize the potential of this story, I also had many annoyances while trying to enjoy the story. Emma’s decision-making and language to the world around her are very off-putting. A couple of examples that really threw me off below:

1. Her immediate choice to pursue a relationship with Tony as her first option is sad. Tony is described throughout the plot as a “serial monogamist” with questionable commitment and sometimes his monogamy “overlaps”. That’s not monogamy, darling, that’s just cheating. Despite them literally dating, he still has her in his phone as “girl from the rock show.” They even describe a scenario where she threatened to date his friend unless he posted her on his social media. Very toxic relationship as a whole, and her willing to subject herself to that again speaks volumes to her self worth.

2. Another great example of her low self worth is her tendency to blame herself for failed relationships, rather than recognizing the complexities of mutual incompatibility. She believes she can go back to prior flings and everything will work this time because she corrected herself acting as if she were the only problem in the relationship.

3. Another comment I hated was during a conversation with her sister. Emma is talking about her fears of posting this journey to find a new husband in 30 days online for views. She shares her concern that she doesn’t want to just marry someone at the end of the time to not look like a failure online, and the sister’s response was “there are worse reasons to get married.” What a gross thought process. You shouldn’t be aiming to get married for a “less than awful” reason - you should want to get married because you love that person through and through and want to be with them for the rest of your life.

4. Furthermore, the rapid progression through multiple romantic interests early in the story is overwhelming and detract from character development. By the time we got to 30% of the story, we were already on our third man, and that doesn’t include the groom who left her before the story even started.

Ultimately, I could see the idea and potential for this book. I did give this a light DNF at 41% meaning I may come back to this later to see how the story resolves, but I’d like to move on to another book for now. I do believe this concept and premise is a great opportunity for a rom com, and my hopes for this character are that at the end, she finds some self worth and loves herself. I will be disappointed if the only reason she finds some peace and worth is because she finds a man, but I have yet to finish, so I cannot say what will happen. If you choose to read this book, I do believe it can be enjoyable, but it needs a large sum of suspension of your belief to make this a fun story - such as believing you can find true love in such a short time.

Straight out from the romantic comedy gods, how the author wrote a book loosely based on her own fiancé left months before the wedding is amazing. It was entertaining and had lots of humor with some mental health awareness as Emma is a therapist and has anxiety.

To be honest. I thought the plot sounded cute and unique but in reality sounded a bit ridiculous and was over reacting. I was over it sadly after the first chapter

At first I wasn’t sure, but as the book progressed I found myself invested in the story. As a hopeless romantic, I feel seen by the characters. The development and their wants and needs was very relatable.
Did the FMC sometimes make me want to punch her? Yes she did, but in a your my bestie and I just want what’s best for you kinda way. That’s how I felt. Like I was there in the story as a best friend. Not everyone can do that and I just want to acknowledge the author for her great writing!

I would definitely recommend this book! The narration as also amazing!

I liked that the authors note gave background that this was written based on her own experience with a canceled wedding…… and that’s about all I liked tbh.

The tone was just off? And I wasn’t a fan of the “third person omniscient” POV. I think it would have been a much better story written in first person. TBH I didn’t get far into the audiobook.

3.5

After being unceremoniously dumped six months before her wedding, Emma is on a mission to save her date. She's not looking for a stand-in, it's more that she wants to cut out a long courtship and find a partner who will stay for the long haul. Her efforts spark interest from Will, a podcast producer, who wants to follow her journey without walking down the aisle with her. Soon, it seems like Emma has found her groom in Matt, but is he truly who she wants?

Read if you like:
-Classic 90s/early 00s rom-coms
-Banter/Chemistry
-Right Person, Wrong Goal

Save the Date was so fun! It reminded me so much of so much of the rom-coms that made up my formative years. I liked Emma and could relate to her "I'm not Crazy" crazyness. I found myself a little bit distracted trying to predict the twist (which I failed to predict by the way), and was a little let down by the ending (maybe I built it up too much in my head), but otherwise it was a good read (or rather a good listen since this is a review of the audio book).

3.75 stars.
I really liked this book!
The only reason that I didn't give this book 4 stars was that at the very beginning I had a bit of a hard time getting pulled into the story - and that was only the first 1-3 chapters. However, once I got past that, I loved the book! So I am glad I stuck with the story.
The plot was well structured and paced well throughout the book. Even the subplots are well done.
I loved the mental health representation with our FMC - Emma. So many women deal with functional anxiety, it was good to see anxiety so well represented.
I adored the MMC - Matt, he was so sweet.
The banter and chemistry between the two was so cute.
This is a quick and easy read, good palette cleanser.
The characters are well developed, the FMC more so than the MMC, but still well developed.
This was an interesting setting and was a unique book.
If you love a quick and sweet romance, go check this book out!
Thank you to NetGalley & Allison Raskin for the opportunity to review this book!