would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

when ella loses her job it was just another thing to add to her list where she wasnt important enough to people in her life.... they had left her a week after everyone who was let go saying oh we forgot you....

so when her friend rachel offered her a place to stay at least she knew she was wanted so off she went to restart her life in a new town and new state....

and so when she moved she starts looking around for a new job and getting to know this new town she had moved to.... and she found what was to become her favourite place a book store and not any other book store but one she was to grow to love....

max loved book club it was a way to let off steam..... though they mainly read sapphic books it was the friendships and the camaraderie that it bought to her life but when ella walked in max knew her life would never be the same again.....

what a read..... loved the dynamics of max and ella.... the realisation of max relationship with rachel to ella being best friends with rachel all added to the drama but man that ending had me in tears....

cant wait for the next book by this author.... man can she write ...

Ah! Okay, calm down. I was excited to get my hands on this book after reading the blurb and also because Brayden is one of my favorites. I’ve read romances where the POV was told by the character who was betrayed by the best friend, but never one where the POV was told by the ex and the best friend. Normally, I wouldn’t touch a book that even hints towards betrayal with a ten-foot pole, but it’s a Brayden book, and so I gave in. I had reservations about how I was going to find the protagonists likable, let alone root for them as a couple, but I didn’t have to worry about it for long.


The pace in the beginning was a bit faster than I would’ve liked. One of my favorite parts of romances happened quickly, and it felt anticlimactic to me, but that's a me thing. After that, all of my favorite things happened, so it wasn’t so bad! As the story progressed, I fell a bit in love with Max and Ella. When it came to romance, Max was a cynic and her job as a divorce mediator didn't exactly help her views on that front. Ella had insecurities and self-doubts in her personal as well as professional life. Where Ella was insecure, Max was confident and always there to remind Ella how awesome she was. I loved that Ella had a support system in her found family and not just in Max. The members of the club had endless banter and such love for each other that it made me so happy. I had mixed feelings about Rachel (the best friend) but I was pleased with her growth. The way my jaw dropped at a certain relationship reveal…

Overall, the book touched on many topics that could never be talked about enough. From insecurities, found families, complicated relationships, and stressful family dynamics to finding love in the person you least expect. There’s no skipping to the good part in this book because calling it good would be an understatement. I recommend giving this one a read!

Can We Skip to The Good Part is witty and millennial humor gold! Five stars, hands down. I found myself identifying with Ella a lot in terms of not feeling like enough. I loved both MCs and loved all the side characters, who honestly could all get their own little spinoff and I’d read it. I even warmed up to Rachel and to Max’s mom. The character arc for both of them was realistic and wonderful. I’ll keep it at that because I don’t want to spoil anything.

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book due to the trope of “dating the best friend’s ex”. I’m a girls’ girl and believe in girl code. However, Melissa did a great job navigating the trope. It didnt make me feel too icky about the situation and I appreciate. It helped that I didn’t particularly like Rachel in the beginning, but like I said, her character arc was realistic and worth it in the end.

The chemistry between Max and Ella was cute and I loved the back and forth they could engage in, not only at the book club but in real life scenarios as well. I know the author classifies the novel as a slow burn or at least one of her insta posts does, but I wouldn’t necessarily categorize it as that. They get together toward the end of the beginning of the book if that makes sense.

I was so surprised at another couple that came together due to the book club, but I absolutely loved their pairing. Like I said earlier, any of the side characters could get a story of their own and I’d read it. Even one with Doug, who I assume to be straight and I don’t read straight romance, so that’s saying a lot.

The way the author portrayed the complicated family dynamics of both the MCs was stellar. It was cool to see the difference between their relationships with their immediate families but also seeing how it affected both of them. While both MCs had families that obviously loved them, the dynamics were well written and realistic. I could feel each of their frustrations and sadness because I found myself being frustrated and sad for them.

There were so many good quotes that I want to share, but can’t right now due to it being the ARC. It’s definitely going to be a reread and I’ll definitely have to get the physical copy as well as the kindle version so I can share all the quotes.

It was also clever and cute the way the author used the book club and aspects of romance books throughout to contrast or compare what was going on in Can We Skip to the Good Part. I love when authors do this.

I don’t know how I went so long without reading a Melissa Brayden book, but it definitely won’t be my last!

I’ll leave you with the words of a character in the book named Ariana, “Five stars! A definite reread!”

I really enjoyed this!

Ella and Max are both spitfires, with their own unique banter that immediately bounces off one another causing sparks to fly!

Both in a place in their lives where they need someone to choose them, each in their own individual ways, they collide when they meet at a local book club and there’s an immediate attraction.

The club itself is so lovable with a real family feel, that pulls you in immediately, and leaves you reaching for Google to find your own book club to attend!

I enjoyed the side stories and getting to know their friends whilst they build the relationship and how close they all become.

I didn’t love Ella’s parents and felt so bad for her during the Christmas scene 😢

If you’re a fan of snippy banter, found family and forbidden love then this is a great one for you.

Would absolutely recommend and have no doubt I’ll read this again.

cute, fun, and interesting book with some great romance and a great vibe of finding yourself and becoming who you wanted to be. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

I thought long and hard about what I would do if that had happened to me.
I didn't come to a conclusion, but my first reaction would definitely have been to stand up for my best friend, just like Ella did!
The plot: Ella loses her job. She had the impression that she was invisible there anyway, and her best friend persuades her to move to another city and finally move in with her.
Once there, she looks for hobbies and a way to start everything anew.
Why not start a book club, which sounds promising? Then she meets M, who is simply stunning, and they have an immediate connection.
But nothing is as easy as it seems, because M is Max, the evil ex of her best friend Rachel! And she broke her best friend's heart, or did she?
Solidarity is always there, no matter how good and beautiful and impressive Max is...or is it?
It gets complicated and yet it is actually so simple.
I loved the book club and all the members.
I loved Doug and his fabulous bookshop/café. Great characters, combined with wit, sharpness, charm, and a complicated love story that packs a punch!
Complicated and powerful as Max perfectly describes it, along their way to each other!
Thanks so much to the publishing Team, Melissa Brayden of course and NetGalley for this great book and the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy! I'm giving this book a 3 stars which goes right in the middle of the rating scale 😄

The premise of Can We Skip to the Good Part? is fun and the description pulled me in! Though the writing style didn’t quite pull me in as much and I think I might know why — I’m more of a “hook me fast” reader. But there's a lot of humour in here which is very engaging and I LOVE humour but I think for my preference, there were many descriptions. A lot of details to describe and obviously that's important in a book but until I could get to those fun humourous dialogues and inner-monologues, I couldn't connect. The descriptions are useful but not fun to read, I hope that makes sense. What if maybe some humour was added into the descriptions to flow along with that same vibe? Just a suggestion, I am NOT an expert and I don't want to sound like one 😄

Though judging off the "vibes" and writing, I think fans of Ali Hazelwood would love this book and I think it definitely has potential! I wish this author all the success for this book and I hope it does very well!

Thank you very much again to NetGalley for this copy.

I enjoyed Can We Skip to the Good Part--it was a cute, sweet, easy read. In terms of plot, this diverts slightly from the traditional romance novel format, which is great. I felt like I was on my toes, wondering what was going to happen!

However, I didn't love all the characters. Ella and Max are ok, but sometimes felt like an additional dimension or nuance was missing. And I really didn't like Rachel, as a character. She felt the least fleshed-out and seemed to only be there for the conflict, rather than as a significant side-character on her own standing. Rach and Ella's conflict also didn't feel resolved, just no longer existent.

I loved the Weepers! I want many more books with Stevie, Olive, Ari, etc. They were hilarious and brought more charm. I also loved Doug and wish we saw more of him.

All in all, this was book was fine, a nice, easy read, but not mind-blowing.

I enjoyed the story but didn’t love the two main characters. I had a difficult time connecting with them and I thought they were actually better suited with other people especially Ella.

The side characters really helped the story. They were fun and I would have liked more focus with them throughout the book.

The ending was sweet and fit the story. I’m not sure if it’s a book I will reread but it is definitely worth giving a chance.

Thanks to NetGallery and the Publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.