It’s such a pleasure today to be joining the blog tour and sharing my review of the latest book from Jill Mansell, The Wedding of the Year. Published by Headline Review on 18th January, it’s now available in hardcover, on all major e-book platforms, and as an audiobook, with the paperback to follow on June 6th. My thanks to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy (although I also bought my own…), and to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the invitation and support.
Every time I read and review one of Jill’s wonderful books, I really have to mention that her early books – beginning with Fast Friends way back in the early 90s – began my own love affair with romantic fiction. And just look at her now – the undisputed Queen of Feelgood Fiction, and although I don’t manage to review her books as often as I’d like to, they just get better and better. Her last, Promise Me, was – as always – a fantastic story of love and friendship, quite wonderfully told, filled with tears and laughter, emotionally engaging, and with characters I really cared about (you’ll find my full review here). And I’m delighted to be back for another…
Love, friendship and secrets revealed as the sun beats down on dazzling blue Cornish seas…
It’s set to be a perfect day – until the chauffeur is asked to keep driving the bride around the church. This wedding definitely isn’t going as planned.
Lottie is a guest at the wedding when she sees Max. No kiss has ever matched the last one they shared fifteen years ago. They were on the brink of a beautiful love story, until a shocking event tore them apart. Now here he is, still ridiculously good-looking, teasing Lottie in the old way – and that overwhelming electric attraction is back. But Max is way out of bounds.
Freya owes Cameron everything. But she doesn’t love him. Which is a shame, because they’re about to be married.
Ruby has been the perfect wife. When she discovers the truth about her husband, her response is reckless and delicious. But after that, nothing will ever be the same again.
In keeping with its title, this book opens with the cast assembling for a wedding – which, to put it mildly, doesn’t go quite according to plan. It’s an inspired way of introducing the various women whose stories then slowly unfold.
Cameron waits in vain at the altar for Freya, not because she’s given in to her doubts about going ahead with it – there are compelling reasons why she feels she must – but because she’s circling the church awaiting the return of the vicar. Ruby’s the vicar’s wife, her discovery having thrown a spanner in the works on their special day – but it does give her the opportunity for the fresh start she needs and rather deserves, although there will be challenges along the way. Lottie spots Max, once the love of her life, among the congregation – and when she finds the attraction between them is as strong as ever, has to face up to the family complications that tore them apart. And then there’s Iris, Ruby’s cleaner, a bit of a gossip but with a heart of gold – she could do with a fresh start of her own, but when romance unexpectedly comes her way she can’t help feeling she doesn’t deserve it.
The book follows their lives over the year or so following the ill-fated wedding – with the story told from their various perspectives with their back stories being gradually revealed as they move on and navigate life’s challenges, the possibilities of new romance, and the issues that make future happiness sometimes look impossible. No one story predominates, they gently overlap, and that was something I really enjoyed – the reading was easy, and I never felt so deeply invested in one thread or couple that I minded moving focus to another. And every one of these wonderful women found their place in my heart, in a read that really had a bit of everything – laughter, drama, real life issues, a few surprises, plenty of emotional moments, and a generous dash of romance – all rounded off with a wedding that we hope will go more smoothly than the one that started it all.
The whole book’s construction is just perfect – but it’s also such clever storytelling, joyful and uplifting, filled with warmth, and a journey for its characters that had me totally engaged from beginning to end. Such a lovely read, and one I’d very much recommend to others.
About the author
Jill Mansell has been writing Sunday Times bestsellers for over twenty years, her most recent novel was Promise Me. Her hobbies include exploring the Cotswolds and the south west of England, scouting for locations for future books, and discovering brilliant new restaurants along the way. She lives in Bristol with her family.
Jill keeps in touch with her readers on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram: you can also visit her website.
Thanks for the blog tour support x