Julia is about to get the shock of a lifetime—her high school bully is about to become her stepbrother! It’s been over a decade since she last saw Carson, but the moment he shows up to make amends, it all comes rushing back. Carson knows Julia is the biggest mistake of his life. He broke her heart when they were teens, and now he’s determined to do everything in his people-pleasing power to make things right.

I was gagged when the story opened with Carson scrambling to apologize before Julia even realized who her new stepbrother is. MC Vaughan really amped up the drama in this sequel—but doubled down on the romance, too. As Carson and Julia team up to throw their parents’ destination wedding, the tension between them simmers. Belize, which I fell in love with back in "Romancing Miss Stone", provides the perfect backdrop. We get hiking, beach scenes, and just enough privacy for feelings (and flirting) to grow.

What makes this so satisfying is how grounded the romance feels. The "almost step-siblings" premise adds spice, but it’s their shared past and emotional maturity that really drive the connection. Both are nearing their 30s, and watching Julia come into her own gave the book unexpected emotional weight.

Around 70%, I realized how deeply Julia’s personal development was resonating with me. She’s reframing the pain of her childhood with adult insight—learning to see her mom’s divorce not as failure, but as an act of love and bravery. She’s also debating her next big leap, unsure if anyone believes in her vision. It’s such an affirming read for anyone at a crossroads, working to heal old wounds and step fully into who they want to be.

This one is swoony, emotional, and full of heart. I really loved it.

A fun rom-com set in Belize. School bully turned lover/kind of second chance romance. Great banter and the narrator did a really good job.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers romances with a tropical twist and just the right amount of spice, Destination Wedding and Other Disasters by M.C. Vaughn is one to add to your TBR pile.

Set against the lush and dreamy backdrop of Belize, this story follows Julia Stone, a capable hospitality pro who’s less than thrilled to discover she’ll be planning her mother’s whirlwind beach wedding with her former high school bully, Carson Miller. As if being suddenly step-siblings wasn’t awkward enough, Carson is now tall, charming, and maddeningly attractive, unfortunately for Julia, he's also the last person she wants to work with…or so she thinks.

This is your classic enemies-to-lovers setup, complete with sizzling tension, witty banter, and emotional baggage that gives the story real depth. While the spice will satisfy those who enjoy a steamy slow burn, what really elevates this story is how it weaves in deeper emotional threads, namely the characters' struggles with their childhoods, family dynamics, and the weight of growing up with complicated parents.

Vaughn does a great job balancing humor and heart, giving us not only a fun, flirt-filled vacation read, but one that explores forgiveness, growth, and the unexpected ways we find our way back to people we never imagined we'd fall for.

Destination Wedding and Other Disasters is quirky, heartfelt, and full of sunshine, with just enough drama to keep you flipping pages late into the night.

3.5 stars ✨
I read and listened to this simultaneously since I had the eARC and ALC. overall, I enjoyed the story and romance between Carson and Julia. My biggest qualm was that some of the word choices and phrases used during the steamy scenes gave me the ICK 🥴 and the narrators attempt at a male voice during those scenes honestly added to the cringe 😅
Overall not a bad story, it’s just the cringe I experienced kind of took me out of the story, but I did like the MC’s and was rooting for them to get over themselves and make things work.

This was a fun romance. I appreciate a well-written travel adventure, and this book was just that. The setting is well-developed and made me feel like I was visiting Belize. The romance was adorable while also being steamy. I rooted for Carson and Julia from the first page. This is one of the few books where the side characters were as well-developed as the main characters.

“Love is not just about finding the right person, it’s about being the right person.”

Destination Weddings and Other Disasters was such a fun and sexy read. The setting of the book is breathtaking. The plot - exceeded my expectations. The characters had me hooked from the beginning. I absolutely loved watching their love story unfold. My biggest takeaways from this book is that you don’t know what others are feeling or thinking, and you may be carrying around baggage that was never yours to carry. That there’s beauty is taking chances. Also, it’s okay and even necessary to put your wants, needs, desires and happiness first. If fact, you’re the only one who can. Ugh, just read the book. It’s too good not to. I wasn’t able to read Belize Dreams #1, but that didn’t detract from this book. This was my first book by M.C. Vaughan and I look forward to reading more. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Meg Sylvan, did a fantastic job. Honestly, she’s probably my favorite female narrator. 🩵☀️🩵

I would like to thank Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for giving me an ARC (which did not sway my opinions or review).

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

Carson is an event planner, and he’s good at his job. So when his dad tells him he’s getting remarried, and him and the new wife want an “easy breezy” wedding on the beach… in Belize… Carson is determined to make everything perfect for them. Especially since his father’s wife’s daughter is Julia. The same Julia whose life he made a living hell back in high school. Julia didn’t know that her mother’s soon-to-be-husband’s son is her high school bully, and when she learns she’ll have to work with him in order to give her mom the perfect wedding she wants, she grudingly agrees. But Carson isn’t the same person he was ten years ago, and as Julia works with him, she begins to realize that all of those feelings she had years ago are still there, simmering beneath the surface. Carson never stopped holding a torch for Julia, and as they explore Belize, he knows there will never be anyone else for him except for her.

THIS. WAS. AMAZING. Plot wise, this was adorable. You have the two of them working together to give their parents the wedding they want, despite all of the complications involved in planning a super quick and “easy” wedding on the beach in a foreign country. And watching the two of them not only do what they set out to do but also have fun and letting loose as they go and explore and enjoy themselves was so fun. The characters were great, I loved Carson and Julia, though her little meltdown towards the end annoyed me but I could also see where she was coming from. The romance was great, a little spicy but mostly steamy. I was honesetly rooting for the two of them from the very beginning and was so happy with how it ended. Overall, this was a really fun, really cute, super sweet read and I would definitely recommend it.

This novel was not for me. I did not enjoy the writing or plot. The narration was good. I dont think I am the target audience for this novel.

This was cute. You know when you need a light, brainless read that won’t stick with you but can entertain as a palate cleanser? This is it. Fun setting, second chance/insta-love-ishhh.

Interconnected stand-alone but you don’t need to read book one to give this one a go.

Single narrator but dual POV- sometimes switching character POV didn’t jump out as clear as it should, but otherwise well done.

This book had all the tropes; enemies to lovers, miscommunication, (almost) step brother romance. The book really followed the growth journey of Julia even when she doesn’t realize how much she has grown while learning who her family member have become and falling in love with her high school bully/ soon to be step brother while planning their parents wedding. The over all theme of the book was learning and growing but also acknowledging the growth in yourself and others.
The narrator did a wonderful job building emotion and bringing the story to life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio & M.C. Vaughan for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second book in the Belize Dreams series and while it DOES read well as a standalone- Alex (our FMC's sister) & Bo's story seemed to be layered into this one more than most that read as standalones. But I think it would be okay to read out of order!

I enjoyed this second chance- former high school tutor, former high school bully, forced proximity, plan a wedding together in another country in 7 days story. There was a lot of personal growth for the FMC and I appreciated that. The high school bullying was weak sauce from an immature as hell dude. Julia was right to have her guard up- but people DO change. I hate that Danny guy showed up. Grosssss. The setting was a wonderful background and would make anyone add Belize to their travel plans.

Spoiler review: I'm a little disconnected from why Michelle and Carson's dad (can't remember his name) still got married. Also- the romance conflict is that they are about to be step siblings- so they can't... but then we just don't care about it anymore? I don't know. I just feel like Tessa Bailey handled this trope/taboo in a more palatable way in Dream Girl Drama.

Narration was well done. The mom's voice was a little grating.. buuuuttt I think that was the point! :)

Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarlequinAudio for an advance listening copy of #DestinationWeddingsAndOtherDisasters. Enemies to lovers romance pairs high school rivals planning a destination wedding on an extremely short time line. 4 stars.

This is such a fast, beachy read! Loved when they made it to Belize and it felt like we were touring around with Julia and Carson! The food, music and the locations made the book so fun!

A few things that drove me crazy but still enjoyed it!

Great narrators which made the dual POV great!

Thanks for the ALC to NetGalley and the publisher!

Such a good book, friends!
Julia is a perfectionist, type A, who has a dream of success in hospitality post-grad. Her Mother, a serial romantic/marriage lady of leisure, is getting married for the 4th time. She isn't just getting married to anyone; she is getting married to the Father of the guy who teased her so traumatically in school that she still holds onto the aftereffects.
Carson, now a very successful business owner and developer in the hospitality industry, knows that he was quite the piece of work in school. He is now a changed man, and his Father is marrying Julia's Mother. Julia - the victim of his behavior in school. Despite his actions in school, he always harbored a crush on Julia, who was his tutor.
Their parents decide that they want a last-minute destination wedding in Belize (Julia's former home, and the home of her deceased Father).
There is so much witty banter. I laughed out loud several times. We also get a classic enemies-to-lovers.
Tropes: enemies to lovers, witty banter, chemistry for days, coming home, character growth, and family growth.
The plot is well structured, and the pace is quick.
The characters are well-developed, relatable, and engaging.
I did not realize this was the second book in a series. I read this as a standalone, and it was great. I didn't feel that I was missing out on anything or any important information that was pertinent to this plot. However, I did enjoy the book so much that I plan to now go read the first book!
This was a perfect summer read.
Add this to your TBR!!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Happy Reading!

A frenemies to lovers as well as shedding high school images. Julia Stone's mother is getting married. For a 4th time. This time, to the father of a guy who teased her mercilessly in high school, Carson Miller. Carson has a big secret, though, and it's that he had the biggest crush on Julia, but when things went sideways, he lashed out. Therapy and a decade of growth has helped him. But now, both hospitality professionals, they need to plan their parents' destination wedding in Belize, in under two weeks. Julia and Cardon end up working together to plan the wedding and end up getting to the bottom of the issues that have driven them apart in high school. It is a light and fun read perfect for summer/vacation reading. Thank you to Harlequin, the author and Netgalley.

4⭐️ 2🌶️ 4🎧 GAH I love a good step siblings’ trope!! Add in enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and a tropical climate, sign me up!! This is the second book in the Belize Dreams series and is a standalone novel. I haven’t read the 1st book in the series didn’t feel it was necessary; however, I have already added it to my TBR!

Julia and Carson really complimented each other as adults. Carson has mommy issues which lead to him being a bully in high school, thank goodness he grew up and showed Julia through action that he was ready to be the man she deserves. The 3rd act was disappointing, but I also understand where Carson came from in the way he acted and happy they found their HEA.

This audiobook is narrated by Meg Sylvan; she did a good job bringing this book to life.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Books for this advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Reading the premise of this book hooked me right away! Such a unique intersection of many things that I love. Adventure, high school enemies, forced proximity!!!

I love Carson’s charm, his delightful observation of Julia, and his determination to be genuine. He’s a consent king and constantly was adhering to the boundaries Julia established. It felt very black cat x golden retriever, which is a dynamic I adore. There were lots of mishaps and having to work on their communication and I’m a sucker for character growth in realistic ways.

Meg Sylvan did a fantastic job bringing both these characters to life and her expressiveness made the story even more compelling.

This was a very classic fun romcom! :)

I read Romancing Miss Stone and found the Belize adventure romance to be fun and quick-paced. So when the opportunity to listen to book #2 via audio (thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin audio) I jumped at it.

Both books have cute covers and titles, which is always a plus for me. The narrator of this book was pretty good (although, there is POV of the MMC and at times I wish there was a dual or duet narration for it).

Sadly, I did not enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed the first one. I couldn't get into the bully/high school plot and they were just both so cranky at each other that I didn't find either of them likeable. Then add in that their parents are getting married and they'd be step-siblings and meh... just wasn't a super fan. The mom was annoying and though I liked the sister in book 1, I didn't as much as book 2.

Grab a copy on 07/01/2025 and lemme know what you think!

3⭐

Destination Weddings and Other Disasters was such a cute, fun read! Julia's mom is getting married...to her high school nemesis Carson's dad. And Julia and Carson are forced to plan the destination wedding in Belize together. Julia is not happy with this development but as they embark on their planning in her beloved Belize, sparks fly.
The book was fun and funny, had good character development, and good spice. If the future step-siblings thing gives you an ick, don't worry. The plot handles that very well and you will not have the ick for long. Julia and Carson make for a very cute rom-com couple and the book was such a fun and easy read. Perfect for the pool or by the beach!

Thank you Netgalley, and Harlequin Audio for the Advanced Listeners Copy!

Destination Weddings and Other Disasters was my first novel by M.C. Vaughn. I wasn’t aware this was part of a series until I received my copy but it was not required to read book 1 before this one!

I loved this second chance romance between the “popular guy” and “smart girl.” The pair are now adults and are in similar professions. They are tasked with planning their parents’ last minute destination wedding.

My favorite part was the “only one room” aspect. I love a one bed trope but this was a different spin!

I look forward to reading more from this author. Meg Sylvan’s performance was perfect for this story.