This is a fun book with a nice balance of serious life issues. Perfect for fans of Mama Mia and Father of the Bride. The novel was surprising the the best ways.

Two very different mothers take of the wedding preparations for their children. Cute book idea in concept, but I didn’t feel an emotional connection with the charachters

A light-hearted, funny family drama involving the MOG and MOB who have to get along while helping plan their children's wedding. This was an easy read and good on audio. I liked that we got the story from the older women's perspectives. Recommended for fans of books like The people we hate at the wedding, Three days in June or Social engagement. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was a fresh and engaging take on a wedding story told from the Mother of the Groom's (Abigail) and the Mother of the Bride’s (Alexa) point of view. Abigail and Alexa are very different, and honestly, they aren’t that excited about their children’s engagement—but that was half the fun! Watching the two women start to - not only scheme together - but also become family was a real treat.

I loved reading Aunt B’s column, Dearly Beloveds and Betrotheds, an etiquette website sprinkled throughout the narrative. Her advice was humorous and pretty much spot on!

This is a must-read if you're a fan of heartwarming wedding stories that mix family drama with a healthy dose of meddling mothers.

Thank you, @williammorrowbooks for this gifted book, and thank you @harperaudio for the gifted audiobook via #NetGalley. #epictastemakers

What a refreshing story about a wedding- as told from the perspectives of the Mother of the Bride and the Mother of the Groom. The joining of families and all of their personalities can be stressful. I loved both Abigail and Alexa-both wonderful women from two very different backgrounds. When Chase and Penelope almost call of their big day, Alexa and Abigail band together to make sure their kids fall back in love and down the aisle.

Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding was funny, sweet, and heartfelt. I enjoyed it so much.


Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for access to this audiobook in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan is a portrait of two very different moms trying to pull off a last-minute wedding. I’m so grateful to @williammorrowbooks for a copy and to HarperAudio for an ALC. This one comes out May 20!

The book starts with Penelope, a bubbly California girl building a business, and Chase, a New Yorker with political aspirations, telling their parents they’re engaged. Penelope’s single mom Alexa, a Greek-born travel agent, tries to say the right thing but doesn’t really understand why her daughter is so interested in tying herself to a man. Chase’s mom, Abigail, who is very proud of her DAR membership and works hard to keep up appearances, wonders (to herself) why her son didn’t choose a New England girl, someone closer to home, someone more like Abigail. Will the two very different women—neither of whom is initially sold on the union—be able to work together to pull off the wedding?

This was a fun book. Interspersed between the alternating POV chapters was a marriage advice column from Aunt Bea that was pretty hysterical. Although there was also good advice in there. Despite being a tad prickly on the front end, both moms really grew on me and it was lovely to see their relationship bloom throughout the book. There were some other fun, unexpected relationships along the way as well. I’m sure anyone who has a child will recognize the hesitation both moms are feeling about letting their kids go. Even though this was really a book about the moms, I would have liked to see a little more of Penelope and Chase’s relationship since that drives so much of the story.

Maggi-Meg Reed narrates the book and she does a fabulous job with the Abigail’s New England DAR sensibility and Aunt Bea’s advice. She handled Alexa’s chapters well too, but in an ideal world I would have loved a second narrator to distinguish the characters a little more. I still loved listening to this one and would recommend the audiobook. It was a fun listen.

Narrators were spot-on—fun, expressive, and really brought these characters to life.

Abigail and Alexa are the moms of Chase and Penelope, two wildly competent adults who’ve got their careers—and wedding plans—figured out. The problem? Their moms are feeling a little left out... and a little cranky about not being consulted on, well, anything. Cue some passive-aggressive mother-of-the-bride/groom energy.

Then Chase and Penelope have a massive fight, call the whole thing off, and suddenly the moms have bigger things to worry about than floral arrangements. Instead of sulking, they team up, set aside their egos, and actually do something helpful: they save the damn wedding.

I loved watching these two get their act together and shift gears from “this is about me” to “let’s help our kids.” It was funny, sweet, and just the right amount of dramatic. A solid, charming listen with a lot of heart—and two moms who prove it's never too late to grow up a little.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for an early review copy.

Thank you so much to Harper Audio for the gifted audiobook!

3.5 Stars

Title: Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding
Author: Lian Dolan
Pub Date: May 20, 2025
Audiobook Length: 10hrs, 4mins
Audiobook Narrator: Maggi-Meg Reed

This was a super fun and easy to read book!

Abigail and Alexa couldn't be more different. But when their children fall in love and decide to get married, they are quickly thrown into each other's worlds. When wedding planning takes a shift from happy and exciting to terrible and uncertain, it's up to Abigail and Alexa to save not only their kids' wedding, but also their relationship!

Overall, this was a cute and slightly cheesy story that would make a perfect reading slump buster or pallet cleanser after a heavier read!

I flew through it in a day and found myself smiling and rooting for the main characters! I definitely think this will be a hit for many!

Maggi-Meg Reed was a wonderful narrator to listen to (as always) and added so much to the story with her expressive voice!

Title: Abigail and Alexa, Save the Wedding
Author: Lian Dolan
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Maggie Meg Reed
Publisher: HarpeAudio Adult/Harper Audio- William Marrow
Pub Date: May 20,, 2025
My Rating: 3.3 Stars
Pages: 288

Alexa Diamandi is the Mother of the Bride and is a successful travel guide in Montecito California.
Abigail Blakeman the Mother of the Groom - Chase and is a rich housewife living in Connecticut.

Penny and Chase call as they have something they wanted to tell their parents. When they call Penny’s Mom, Alexa is hoping Penny is pregnant and they are planning to elope.
Their call is to say they are getting married.
Abigail - Chase’s mother is hoping to have a simple ceremony in their coastal Connecticut home’s back yard. The couple currently are living in New York as Chase is the right hand man of the mayor of New York, In fact, when the mayor’s term is up , Chase is planning to run for Congress. So Abigail is sure they would want an east coast wedding.

Nope Penny wants the Wedding in Montecito and thus the wedding planning begins.

It was a quick read and although not like “My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ which was such a fun movie- but this was cute.
Narrator Maggi-Meg Reed was super in performing all the characters!

Want to thank NetGalley and Harper Audio Adult/Harper Audio and William Marrow for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 20. 2025.