The Wedding Engagement
by Zoe Allison
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: October 8, 2024
Reviewed by PJ
Planning a wedding is so romantic . . . except when it’s not yours, and you’re planning it with the guy you’re secretly crushing on.
Scottish schoolteacher Liv Holland has a secret. She’s been carrying a torch for Arran Adebayo, her brother’s best friend, for years. A blind date gone wrong cements in Liv’s mind that Arran has no romantic interest in her whatsoever. But then, with her brother set to marry her own best friend, she and Arran are enlisted to help plan the festivities…
After being left at the altar by his ex, single father Arran is having trouble managing his growing feelings towards the woman who is both his best friend’s sister and his son’s teacher: Liv. Then his mind is blown when fate thrusts them together for an unexpected blind date, but he messes up his chance to tell her how he feels.
As the big day approaches and Liv and Arran’s connection intensifies, their chemistry chafes against their checkered romantic histories. Risking everything for love could mean losing each other forever . . . or being the next ones to find their happy ever after.
PJ's Thoughts:
I am really enjoying these characters. We first met best friends Sam, Nico, and Arran and Maya, Liv, and Elise in The Ex-Mas Holidays (Sam and Maya's story - read my review here). Now, in book two, Allison takes readers back to the Scottish highlands for a celebration of Sam and Maya's happily ever after and an unexpected friends-to-lovers journey for besties Arran and Liv.
Allison has packed this book with fun, laughter, steamy times, tender moments, and more than a little angst. I love Arran and Liv together. I love the ease of their friendship, the respect and support between them, and Liv's sweet relationship with Arran's young son, Jayce. The author takes her time with them, slowly growing their feelings in an organic way that feels right for the emotional barriers holding both of them back.
Arran's emotional baggage is on full display but Liv is hiding a multitude of complex feelings that are slowly revealed over the course of the story. I appreciate how the author deals with her issues and the fact that she doesn't give her an "easy fix" but rather treats them with the gravity they deserve. Both Arran and Liv have significant growth that includes an endearing grand gesture and a proposal that both brought me to smiling tears and convinced me that these three (Arran, Liv, and Jayce) are destined for a wonderful life together.
Waiting in the wings are Nico and Elise...I hope! These frenemies throw off too many intriguing sparks to not be in line for a romance of their own. I'll be watching for more information about the possibility of a book three.
The Wedding Engagement could be enjoyed on its own but because the six friends, plus some supporting characters, are all present - and intrinsic - to the storylines in both books, I found it a lot more fun to read the books in order, beginning with The Ex-Mas Holidays. Wherever you decide to begin, both books have my enthusiastic recommendation.
If you do not enjoy salty language you should be aware that there is quite a bit of it in this book. I do have to say, though, that after spending six weeks in the UK this year, it felt organic to these characters and not at all gratuitous.
Have you read any Zoe Allison books?
Do you enjoy contemporary romances set in Scotland?
What's your favorite romance trope?
One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, October 23 will receive a print copy of The Wedding Engagement, courtesy of Berkley Publishing.
*U.S. only
*Must be 18
