The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall #Review

Today we have  a sparkling romcom, The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall. It is her first adult book which has been published  and was published on 4th May by Hodder and Stoughton.

Sophie Breeze is a brilliant bridesmaid. So brilliant, in fact, that she's made it her full-time job.

As a professional bridesmaid, Sophie is secretly hired by brides to be their right-hand woman, ensuring their big day goes off without a hitch. From wrangling rowdy hen dos to navigating last minute portaloo cancellations, there's no problem she can't solve.

So when she's employed by an actual Marchioness to help plan the society wedding of the year, it should be a chance for Sophie to prove just how talented she is.

Of course, it's not ideal that the bride, Cordelia, is rude, difficult and determined to make Sophie's life a nightmare. It's also a bit inconvenient when Sophie finds herself drawn to Cordelia's posh older brother, who is absolutely off limits. And when a rival society wedding is announced, things get even more complicated . . .

Can Sophie pull off the biggest challenge of her career, follow her heart and maintain her reputation - all while keeping her true identity hidden?

My Thoughts

What a breath of fresh air this read was. I loved the premise of the story which gave the author so much scope to poke gentle fun at the wedding business. My very favourite part has to be the glimpses you are given into Sophie's email correspondence as she tries to meet the demands of her coveted brides. They are genuinely laugh out loud funny! 

    Of course there is more to the story than the humour, delectable though it is. Sophie's character is so likeable but also gets to show a few insecurities. Driven to succeed as 'the secret bridesmaid'. she nevertheless manages to keep her feet on the ground. Her reaction to the grandeur of the Dashwell Hall is so relatable and without pretention. Somehow she manages to see through the titles and the lifestyle and see the family for the people they are. Sophie isn't the only person in the story who has insecurities. Cordelia has them in droves and the armour she puts on is a solid shell of anger and obstruction. When Sophie talks over her problems about Cordelia's behaviour with her mother you glimpse why she is so suited to job. She is loyal and fair but also has a determination to be as professional as she can be. 

    Jam packed with interesting characters and situations, this is just a delightful read.

In short: Filled to the brim with fun and romance.

 

About the Author

 

 

Katy is the author of several young adult novels including The It Girl series, the Hotel Royale series and Morgan Charmley: Teen Witch. She is the co-author of the middle grade Lightning Girl series and Star Switch with Alesha Dixon, and the Find the Girl teen series with YouTube stars Lucy and Lydia Connell. Katy was proud to be the author of a retelling of Jane Austen's Emma for the Awesomely Austen series, a collection of Austen's novels retold for younger readers. She has also written a non-fiction book, How to be a Princess: Real-Life Fairy Tales for Modern Heroines.

Katy lives in London with her partner, Ben, and her rescue dog, Bono.

The Secret Bridesmaid is her adult fiction debut.

You can follow Katy here: Twitter  |  Website  |  Instagram  

Book link: Amazon UK

Thanks to Katy Birchall, Hodder and Jenny Platt of Hodder and Stoughton for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

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