Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy in exchange for a review.

Audrey is in Vienna for her daughter's wedding. Her ex husband (Beau) has gone AWOL so she and her former best friend, Ian, go to look for him. Ian is also Audrey's ex husband's ex husband. The three met as students studying abroad in Vienna. Ian and Audrey fell out after Ian married Beau but have called a truce while attempting to find Beau.

I enjoyed this book and especially liked the dual POV from Audrey and Ian. It was fast paced and entertaining. I liked the side characters such as Ian and Audrey's shared ex mother in law and Colin, a blast from their past. They did come across as a bit immature at times and it should have been obvious to both from the start that Beau didn't care about either of them but it was a light fluffy read so I wasn't expecting too much depth.

The book I didn’t know I needed. What a gorgeous, fun, life affirming read. I devoured this in a day!

3.75⭐️ rounded up
Thank you Netgalley, Little A publishing, and Rachel Cohn and Melissa de la Cruz for the e-arc! All opinions/reviews are my own.

This was a super quick read for me! I loved the glimpse into the life of older main characters that this story gave. Being in my late thirties, the characters were more relatable than some younger characters I normally read.

Ian and Audrey were best friends studying abroad when they both met Beau. They each fell in love with him and eventually both married and divorced him. Their friendship did not survive.

Ian remained close to his step-daughters and the wedding of Audrey and Beau's oldest daughter brings Ian and Audrey back together.

This is a story of forgiveness, reconciliation, and new beginnings. It was lighthearted and fun and would be a great book to read while traveling. :)

This book was messy(in a good way) from start to finish. It was fun and never lagging but it sometimes read as YA.

Hey, I’m Audrey… and I’m in Vienna for my daughter’s upcoming Christmas wedding. Sounds blissful, right? Think again.

My ex-husband Beau is MIA, my ex-best friend and Beau’s ex-husband Ian is showing up, and just to top it all off—my evil ex-mother-in-law is stirring up drama like it’s her full-time job.

What could possibly go wrong?

Told from both Audrey’s and Ian’s perspectives, this book is a fun, chaotic ride through past and present. We get a glimpse into their college years, their tangled relationships, and all the tension that resurfaces during this very festive (and very awkward) reunion.

I really enjoyed the pacing and the dual POV—it kept things lively. That said, I would’ve loved a bit more character description (for those visual readers like me!) and more backstory on Beau, who felt like a bit of a mystery.

Overall, it’s a solid, entertaining read that had me grinning more than once.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I tend to love this sort of book and this premise sounded so fun and messy, but I found it to be a bit lacking.

I love alternating perspectives, but I found both Ian and Audrey to have such similar personalities/voices that it was hard to tell them apart. I found them to be a bit childish on top of that.

I do think that if you’re looking for a chill and easy read, this is the perfect book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for providing the eARC.

This was actually a really fun read! It was like a minor train wreck you couldn’t look away from.

As much as Audrey and Ian were not that great of people at times, they were very real and multilayered. Their relationship was complex and it was great seeing how they were when they were young and how they slowly came back together after all the issues that occurred. Friendship was such a refreshing topic to focus on.
Did I wish that some people actually experience consequences? Absolutely but this was a somewhat light hearted read that wasn’t about bad people getting what they deserved but people growing from mistakes.

And because this was a light hearted Christmas type book, the romantic relationships didn’t seem that developed, they just seemed obvious and then it happened. Some of the writing I had to get used to, like I had to read a few things multiple times to understand what they were trying to say. And it was kinda of a weird theme of everyone is getting divorced, at least 5 couples that got divorced (this at least seems a lot to me for a fiction book). And this might a downside for some readers but a lot of these characters are kinda unlikable, more like tolerable at best.

The ending is hilarious. I have to give it to the authors for that very last moment.

-- 3.75 ★

The premise of this book is so unlike anything I've ever read and it was brilliant. The book flows so easily and it was such a fun and simple read. Although it is quite short I still managed to gain feelings for the different characters and could envision them realistically which is a plus. Ian and Audrey's relationship went from hatred (rightfully so) to blossoming into something more mature and sophisticated. It felt like a huge hug I will miss their dynamic so so much. I just didn't like how Ian's character acted at times BUT we need flawed characters in books, he just irritated me fitfully.

Glorious title, and apt, because Audrey and Ian both loved, married, and divorced Beau who is the centre of his own world and also in a way the centre of this book. Even if he's largely absent. MIA, just a few days before the wedding of his daughter.

Daughter Izzy is to be wed at Christmas, in Vienna, the city where her parents (all of them) met as foreign students many years back.
At times I couldn't decide whether I was reading Vienna's content creators marketing efforts, or the start of a feel-good-thriller (this was, after all, an ARC - I went in with no prior knowledge) or an upmarket Hallmark-script.

Having finished the book I can safely say the latter. Ian and Audrey, once best friends, have steered clear after both their marriages to the same man collapsed (not their faults, the fault of the man). Now they cooperate in trying to locate the bloody guy in hopes of making this self-centred hedonist appear on time for his daughter's wedding. They traverse Vienna, drink lots (LOTS - talking marketing: maybe there was a sponsordeal here with some alcohol producing companies?) and remember the good, later the bad, and just before the end -as it goes in novels- the ugly.

I found myself wanting to pick up the book to continue reading even when life called me, so that's good. A few things did irk me tbh: these people are mid-forties, surely they would sound like it, and -god forbid- act like it? Both Ian and Audrey get their own chapters, but I sometimes had to double check whose I was reading as they did sound very much alike.
I would have loved to have had a few baddies left, instead, all and any argument is settled - this would work in a Hallmark (I think) but was too quickly achieved/ brushed over on the pages.
Nevertheless a fun Christmas read

I received a copy from NetGalley in return for my honest opinion

This is like a Hallmark movie in book form! One of the characters even refers to the story this way and it makes sense! Christmas, tick. Wedding, tick. Best friends who've fallen out over a man and haven't spoken for years, tick. Snowstorm, tick! It all makes for an enjoyable romp that made me laugh out loud at times.

It isn't a challenging read, definitely a curl up on the sofa and enjoy while the rain falls outside type of book. It got me through a delayed train journey very comfortably. There's an ambiguous ending suggesting the possibility of a sequel, which I'd happily investigate if it appears.

Yes, I'd recommend although don't look for hidden twists or surprises. It's all laid out like a wedding feast to be enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost; thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for allowing me to read and review this novel. Thank you.

Man… I need to go to therapy after reading this one. I feel like both Ian and Audrey ruined a friendship over a man who didn’t really love them both. Who always ran away from problems rather than own up to them. It’s kind of sad

THRILLED to see Cohn's name with another author. I have loved her body of work and have been waiting quite a while. I love what she and de la Cruz have done with the new social dynamics of our world. What a delightful read!

Best friends happen about the same man, who is reckless and and hurts both of them. They haven’t seen each other in a decade but come together to try to save their daughter’s wedding. It was funny and enjoyable. I love the character growth.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

This was a hopeful, fun romp set against the beautiful backdrop of Vienna, Austria. Family and friends have gathered in the city for Izzy’s wedding, but one key person is missing, her father, Beau, who also happens to be the ex-husband of both Audrey and Ian. Despite years of estrangement, Audrey and Ian reluctantly team up to track Beau down.
As they search, the story flashes back to their youth as exchange students in Vienna, unraveling their tangled past. Along the way, there are plenty of lively subplots — from wedding mishaps to dealing with an overbearing mother-in-law, however, at its core, this is a story about Audrey and Ian rediscovering their friendship and making peace with their shared history.
Told from both Audrey's and Ian's points of view, the novel is full of humor, heartfelt moments, and a bit of delightful trashiness. I loved the lively dialogue and rich setting, and found it to be an entertaining, feel-good read.

Real rating: 2.75 stars rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little A. for providing me with an ARC of this novel. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.

The tile of this book instantly struck me because I knew I would be in for messy drama. Two best friends, Audrey and Ian, who fall in love with the same man, Beau, and even get married and divorced to him. Beau is MIA the night before Beau and Audrey’s daughter’s wedding, so Ian and Audrey take it upon themselves to find him before it’s too late.

Unfortunately, the writing style of this novel alerted me almost immediately that I would not have a great time with this book. It’s very…quirky, which I’m not a fan of at all. It felt a bit excruciating to get through. On top of that, there’s the constant pop-culture references and sprinkled use of ebonics—meant to elicit a chuckle from the reader, but is more distasteful than anything, especially considering it’s being referred to as “gen z slang”— that keep getting inserted into the story.

Even with the alternating POVs between Ian and Audrey, there honestly isn’t much of a difference in tone. They’re practically the same person. More than once, I had to pull up the table of contents to remind myself who was talking because I honestly could not tell the difference.

Even a book with the most interesting premise, for me, can be completely sullied by a “quirky” writing style. This is not to say that everyone would dislike it. I can only compare the style to the likes of Cara Bastone and Emily Henry—interesting storylines with quirky writing styles, not right on the money, but in that ball park—so if you’re a fan of their writing, you might like this book.

The other main thing that throws me is the fact that all of the main characters are at least 45 years old (minus Audrey and Beau’s two children). Yet, there is nothing any of them does that reflects that. I genuinely had to keep reminding myself they were nearing their 50s, yet all of their actions, rationale, communication skills—it’s like a New Adult novel. There’s just morsels here and there that remind me of their age: the mention of subtle frown lines, wrinkles by their eyes, random moments of worrying about their jobs.

I get the prevailing theme here—trust me, I do. Two ex-best friends that were torn apart by their love/heavy competitive infatuation (take your pick) for the same man, rekindle their friendship as they traverse the streets of the town that started it all, making them feel young again.

Well, they feel a bit /too/ young.

Even with the small flashbacks from both Ian and Audrey showing glimpses of their individual relationships with Beau, I have a hard time believing it was love. I actually don’t think anybody was in love with anybody. Beau was just having fun—yes, even with two marriages and two children between the three of them. Audrey and Ian are (not were) incredibly insecure people who were both steadfast in their belief that Beau was incredibly out of their league and they were /lucky/ he even gave them the time of day. Both Audrey and Ian were in this weird competition with each other for his attention. I can chalk it up to youthful naïveté at the time, I suppose. But by their mid-30s? Some growth would’ve been great to see.

I also don’t love that they made the sexually fluid man cheat on everybody with anybody. It feeds a harmful stereotype. Audrey even made a comment early on in the book where she says something along the lines of acknowledging that Beau wasn’t straight, but still “fooled” herself into believing that marriage would make him faithful. That says a lot. She also makes comments here and there about Ian that suggests she’s someone who genuinely believes she’s an ally, but isn’t at all.

Then we have Ian who keeps calling Audrey a “bitch” or a “ho” in his internal monologues for literally no reason. His anger towards her is so incredibly misplaced that it’s almost exhausting to keep reading.

Those last 30-odd pages gave it the extra .75 boost.

Overall, I believe they are all borderline alcoholics who are in dire need of therapy, not a man, and are honestly better off without each other in their lives. They enable each other’s worst qualities.

I picked this up immediately because… You know I live for the drama

That title had everything 😩.
Messy energy, potential chaos, and a lot of drama I was born ready for this. I thought I’d be cackling all the way through, dragging the characters in my head, texting my boyfriend mid-read like “you will NOT believe what just happened.”

Well … not much actually happened.

It’s only 170 pages, so I should’ve been eating it as a snack.
The chapters were short, the premise was solid but it all stayed wayyyyyyy too safe.

I wanted spice, I wanted petty, I wanted to feel like I was reading someone’s messy stories or tweets after a breakup. Instead it really stayed polite.

It’s not a bad book overall. The writing is clean the story moves and I appreciated the concept. But I really expected more humor 🥲, more depth, more something. The whole time I kept waiting for the moment where I’d laugh out loud… and it never really came.

Anyway. Read it if you’re in the mood for a quick queer read. Just don’t let the title trick you like it tricked me.

Absolutely love this funny story about family and friends.

I always surprise myself when I decide to read a book that has cheating in it. The title of the story is what caught my eye. I thought, “ this sounds like it’s going to be a funny story”. Then I read the premise, and I thought “ I really hope this is gonna be as funny as it sounds”. It was funny.. They were laugh out loud moments. as well as some serious not so funny moments.

The story is told an alternating point of views by both Audrey and Ian, who were once best friends. However, a man named Beau came between them. Beau referred to himself as sexually fluid, which means he liked both men and women but refused to label himself. Audrey and Ian both fell in love with Beau at the same time. They both were married to Beau at one time, first Audrey, then Ian but Beau refused to be tied down or committed,

I loved the relationship Audrey and Ian had. You could tell they cared for each other even when they were mad at each other and refusing to talk to each other or pulling pranks on each other.. they both willingly let go of their silliness for the sake of their family. They loved each other like brother and sister or maybe better. Ian was definitely a better coparent than Beau.

The book was shorter than most books. I’ve read lately and it had two epilogues one in Audreys point of view and one in Ian’‘s, I wanted more so it definitely deserves four stars.

I’d like to thank that Galley for this complementary advanced, copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little A for an advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This story follows Audrey, a forty-something single mom of two daughters, and Ian, a forty-something ex-step-father to Audrey's children. Their connection? Beau, a charming but flaky philanderer who did Audrey and Ian wrong in so many ways. Prior to their own respective relationships with Beau, Audrey and Ian were best friends studying abroad in Vienna, where they both met Beau. Now, after twenty-some years, Audrey's daughter Izzy is getting married (also in Vienna), bringing together the two estranged best friends. On top of that, Beau has gone missing and Audrey and Ian need to work together to find the father of the bride and save this wedding.

This story was funny and touching. I loved Audrey and Ian's relationship. The strained awkwardness when they first reunited after their divorces from Beau, their humor and affection showing a long history of love between the two that was derailed by their marriages to Beau. Throughout the book, I laughed out loud at their sibling-like antics, the endearing displays of sudden protectiveness of each other to silly outbursts of frustration. They made a good team as co-parents to Izzy and Mia, only to revert back to their frenemy status when alone. Told in duo points of view between the two friends, I loved watching their Vienna Christmas wedding (mis)adventures. The side characters were also enjoyable, filling out the family dynamics that made up the conflicting and joyous occasions in the story.

The tone of the writing matched the subject: it allowed for good humor and playful banter, but also for serious heart to hearts, discussions on infidelity, alcoholism, cheating, co-parenting, horrible (shared) mothers-in-law, heartbreak, and ultimately, the healing power of true friendship. I really enjoyed the pace, the writing style, the topics in question. I found they were handled well by the authors and made for a funny and heartwarming exploration of what it means to be family.

4/5 stars

Audrey and Ian were best friends until they fell in love with the same man. they both married and divorced him. Twenty years later Audrey's daughter is getting married and the ex's meet up again.