The Bridesmaid

Reader reviewed by Natalie

Abby's parents run Dove's Roost, a wedding venue where they make couples' wedding dreams come true. Over the years Abby and her sister Carol have witnessed so many wedding meltdowns they vow to never marry. It is a shock to the family when Carol returns home after college graduation and announces she is going to be married. Their parents look at it as an opportunity to put on the ultimate wedding. Abby is sick at heart at the thought of losing her sister.

Abby's world is changing in other ways. Her two best friends are planning a year in Italy and the boy she has a crush on is showing interest in her. A dedicated athlete and soccer player Abby is missing practice and games as she gets sucked into the wedding maelstrom and slowly but surely her sister is turning into Bride-zilla. Her parent's marriage is also cracking under the strain.

Reader reviewed by Alexandra

Abby Beaumont has witnessed enough weddings at the age of sixteen to last her a lifetime. That's a side effect of your parents working in the wedding planning business. Another side effect is that you become very well acquainted with the Bridezilla, the hideous monster all women become as their wedding day approaches, no matter how rationally she is typically. Abby and her sister Carol pledged long ago never to get married and become a Bridezilla. Abby always thought they would keep their sister-to-sister promise. So when Carol announces that she's engaged and wants to be married in August -- which is only three months away -- with Abby as her maid of honor, Abby feels betrayed. When Carol turns into a complete Bridezilla, Abby knows her feeling of betrayal was justified. Even Noah, the pastry chef's hot son, can't make her feel better about having to do her least favorite thing -- wedding planning. Plus, she's not really convinced that her sister's finacé is right for her. This story starts out seemingly predictably, but takes some interesting twists. This book is as light and fluffy as the icing on a wedding cake, yet is still poignant and not too clichéd.

Reader reviewed by Rebecca

This book really rocks. I haven't finished it all, but I'm extremely close. This is really the best book I have ever read. It is about this girl, Abby, who is very close to her older sister, Carol. She is so excited that she's going to be home for the whole summer until she hears her big announcement. She's gettin MARRIED!! You'll definitely love this book!! You HAVE to read it!!

Reader reviewed by two sided freek

When i read the excerpt i thought, i have to get this book. It make me laugh out loud and had me giggling for more than 10 minutes. the situations abby gets stuck in and how abby and noah come together are the best parts but there are others that are hilarious too. Carol seems a little bratty in the middle while noah's jealousy is a little over the top bt the realistic situations smooth out the bad parts overall i would recommend it as an aside read just when you want something entertaining and can't find anything 5 starred.

Reader reviewed by rachel

i happened to find this book in the library, and didn't think it would be that good. just another one of those cheese-fake romantic novels for older people. but i loved the story!!! i cracked up reading it, and it had a mixture of romance, humor and something extra. i don't know, but i definitely recommend this book. i felt happy at the end of the book, but sad that it all ended. it made me want to work in a bakery XD (cheesy!!) and the guys in the story were sweet, like kinda rare...i dunno. there are few stories nowadays that actually get to me, but this made my list!!!

Reader reviewed by shopgirl

Abby Beaumont's parents own a wedding hall, so Abby has seen all sorts of wedding antics. Based on her jaded view of weddings, and specifically, Bridezillas, she and her older sister Carol vow to never get married, and just have boyfriends.

But one day when Abby is 17, Carol comes home with a surprise - she's engaged! And not only that, but she's only known Tucker Robb, her husband to be, for a few months! As if that's not bad enough, once Tucker arrives, he immediately starts acting shady, which gets Abby's back up in a serious way.

Abby's and Carol's parents, being the wedding experts they are, immediately begin planning Carol's wedding, only to find that their dreams for Carol's wedding do not coincide at all. Soon, they are yelling and arguing all the time.

Abby is aghast. Not only did Carol break their vow, and her mom and dad are behaving so childishly, but things are getting hectic in Abby's own life, and she has no time to deal with Carol's transformation to Bridezilla and her mom and dad's antics! Abby is a gifted soccer player, and has the opportunity to go to Italy for a year to get schooled, and play soccer with one of the world's greatest players. Then there's Noah, the baker's son. Abby has a huge crush on him, but Noah has always seen her as a sister figure, hasn't he? And even if not, what about Italy?

I liked this novel a lot. Abby is an appealing main character, Noah is adorable, and Abby's family is just plain crazy, and seeing Carol morph into a Bridezilla is hilarious.

This novel has a little bit of everything - a little mystery, some really funny moments, and a whole lot of romance! I think readers 14 and up would really enjoy this novel is any of those elements sound appealing.