Book Review: Always The Bridesmaid by Laura Carter

I’m so happy to be welcoming Laura Carter back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the latest novel in the Brits in Manhattan; Always the Bridesmaid.

A cheeky chappy comedian

Charlie is most comfortable playing the funny man in front of boisterous crowds in London’s comedy clubs. But he’s about to be swapping his routine for wedding speeches. And his new acquaintance Sarah, thinks he is anything but amusing.

The woman who’s got it covered

Weddings are always a difficult time for widower Sarah, but you would never tell – she’s too focused on making the week of her best friends’ wedding as perfect as possible. She definitely has no time for the grumpy and surly Charlie, who it’s clear her friends are trying to set her up with.

And only one room left at the rental…

When a drunken invitation adds more people to the pre-wedding holiday house than Sarah organized for, she finds herself spending A LOT more time with Charlie than she intended. If only they could both let their guards down, they might find they have more in common than they think.

*****

I loved the last book I’d read in the Brits in Manhattan series, Two to Tango and so I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for book four in the series, Always The Bridesmaid.

If you’ve not read any of the books in this series, don’t worry. This can be read as a standalone. I felt there was enough information to keep up. However, I am going to be reading the books I’ve missed as soon as I can.

This novel focuses on Charlie and Sarah, as their friends, Jake and Jess prepare to get married.

Charlie and Sarah don’t exactly get off on the right foot and the situation gets worse when they end up having to share a room.

It was lovely for Sarah to have her own novel and Charlie is a great addition. I loved these two from page one and especially together. It’s evident from the beginning that there is a spark between them. I liked the flip from being in New York to England.

Sarah has a bit of a tragic history, and you can’t help but have a lot of empathy for her. She is not single out of choice but due to the love she stills has for her late husband, doesn’t foresee herself getting into any new relationship.

Charlie is one of those characters you can’t help but love. He’s a little cheeky, hides his pain behind humour but he’s a good un’ at the core of it. He’s also battling past issues.

The relationship between them is an interesting one and I liked seeing how it developed. I felt from the beginning that they needed each other. What happens is something I hope you’ll find out for yourself.

It was also lovely to catch up with the gang. It was like catching up with old friends.

Always The Bridesmaid is a fun, flirty, funny novel that has friendship and love in spades and had me laughing out loud in many places. The characters are wonderful and the subjects tackled are done with care.

It’s about taking chances, finding courage, and discovering that there could be love after pain and loss.

From one Laura to another, thank you for another great addition to this brilliant series. I hope we get to see these people again soon.

(Thank you to Boldwood Books, Netgalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for the review copy in exchange for a honest review.) 

About Laura Carter –

Laura Carter writes romance and women’s fiction with a romantic slant. Exploring everyday relationships and getting under the skin of her characters is her passion.

She takes inspiration from everything she overhears in cafés, so be wary of that strange woman ‘listening’ to music next time you’re chatting over coffee.

Laura lives with her family in Jersey, Channel Islands.

Say hell0 to Laura via her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to Laura’s newsletter. 

Always the Bridesmaid is book four in the Brits in Manhattan series and was released by Boldwood Books on 17th November 2023. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.