Welcome friend! This is going to be the first of many Jill Mansell novels that I am going to review on the blog. I loved her work growing up and though this is the first book I am reading in a decade, I am a huge fan and have read 6 other books by Jill. Her novels are described as feel good romance and they truly have that impact! Here is what The Wedding of the Year is about:
The Wedding of the Year
Jill Mansell | Goodreads
Love, friendship and secrets revealed as the sun beats down on dazzling blue Cornish seas . . .
It’s set to be the perfect wedding – till the chauffeur is asked to keep driving the bride round the church. This wedding is not going as planned.
Lottie is a guest at the wedding when she sees Max for the first time in fifteen years. No kiss since has matched their last kiss together. They were on the brink of a beautiful love story. Then something shocking happened that tore them apart. Now here he is, handsome as ever, teasing Lottie in the old way – and that tingling electric attraction is back. But Max is out of bounds.
Ruby has been the perfect vicar’s wife. But when she finds out the truth about her husband Peter, outrage and disbelief drive her to act impulsively, without a thought for the consequences. And nothing will ever be the same again.
There will be a wedding of the year – but maybe not yet. When love is in the air, anything can happen . . .
The gorgeous new romance from the beloved and bestselling Jill Mansell!
The Wedding of the Year – Book Review
In typical Jill Mansell fashion, The Wedding of the Year is hilarious, cute and heartwarming. There are a number of characters that this book follows and in a few sentences, Jill creates such fleshed out characters that you would think you have been with them a long time. Let’s start with the people and the unique plots they present:
Lottie and Max
The romance between Lottie and Max could be considered the protagonist of this book. They grew up teasing each other all through school. At the age of sixteen when the time was right to take their “friendship” to the next level, life was not yet ready to give them the chance. A conflict between their families led them to go separate ways until now, thirteen years later, Max is back in town for the wedding of Lottie’s friend. Their attraction is undeniable and they haven’t forgotten how they used to drive each other nuts with their habits and sarcasm.
I enjoyed how they got to reconnect and rediscover their feelings. Though there was a lot of mistrust that Max could truly settle down, I liked that there wasn’t as much emphasis on trying to show him as a player. He loves Lottie and will do anything to be with her… including concocting a complex plan to get their parents back on talking terms.
Related to Lottie and Max are their parents’ stories. I loved that The Wedding of the Year addresses long-term happiness in marriages, the effects of infidelity on the parents and the children, and the guilt that sometimes never leaves. I liked how the kids’ taking a shot at their relationship gave the parents the courage to be honest about their own.
Just between Lottie, Max and their families, Jill creates a whole history of relationships, hurts and joys and that is maybe half of the book.
Ruby, the Vicar’s wife
Ruby finds out through her household help that her husband has been cheating on her. It’s the day of Lottie’s friend’s wedding and Ruby decides to confront her husband and his mistress. She hasn’t been happy in her marriage and being cheated on shakes her reality. She finds herself in another town, meets a wonderful man and spends the night with him.
On returning to her town, she begins a new chapter of her life. She is a published and beloved children’s book author. She decides to focus on the next book in her series. Sadly, writer’s block is unavoidable in the midst of a broken marriage. I liked how The Wedding of the Year intertwines the theme of creative pursuits through Ruby’s narrative.
Ruby’s story was my favorite. I really enjoyed her and the situations she ended up in. Jill crafts unforgettable scenes and there is one where Ruby is crying her purple mascara out in front of a young delivery boy, terrified of this pregnant woman who has lost her shit because he said he was coming later but was early. I am here for the laughs!
Freya and Cameron
The book opens to Freya and Cameron’s wedding that, as you can probably guess by Ruby’s confrontation, does not happen. While to the world they are the perfect couple, Freya’s perspective alludes to problems. Mostly that he is narcissistic who is perfect in every other way and, too perfect that he gave her mom his kidney and she is forever in his debt. But he is boring and she wants out. When the wedding does not happen, Freya starts to find ways to not set a new date. Eventually, a new receptionist walks into Cameron and Freya’s lives and Freya hopes she can pawn off her fiance to this infatuated girl.
I enjoyed Freya’s story and loved how much the town folks cared about her. When they would see Cameron with another woman and Freya would not be worried, they would make sure to emphasize how worried they are for her. Friendships and community are beautifully woven into all the lives in this book.
The Wedding of the Year is a fun book that offers true escapism. It is one I read when work was too busy and all I wanted was a light read. I adored the characters and am looking forward to reading more by Jill Mansell. I have a decade of her catalog to catch up on!
Do you have any Jill Mansel favorites?
About the Author: Jill Mansell
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 southwest of England, scouting for locations for future books, and discovering brilliant new restaurants along the way. She lives in Bristol with her family. Connect with her on Instagram and X.
Many thanks to Random Things Tours for giving me a chance to highlight this book on my blog in exchange for an honest review.
Check out other reviewers on the tour:
Thanks for the blog tour support x
Thanks for having me, Anne. 🙂