A review by allisonwonderlandreads
The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall

funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Sophie's a woman who prefers happily ever afters (same) and keeps her life carefully in control with a smile on her face (uuuuuuuuum... not same). This combined skill set makes her the perfect professional bridesmaid. She secretly supports brides with planning and making their wedding dreams come true, from managing parents and securing vendors to corralling the other bridesmaids and putting out fires on the big day. Some of the funniest portions of the book were email, text, and voicemail interludes showing some of her more ludicrous on-the-job interactions.
 
What I loved about this book was that I thought I was picking up a romance, but that was a minor plotline. In fact, this delightful story applies romcom tropes to a friendship (is there a term for a girl bromance, people? Help me out!). Sophie is thrilled to be hired by the mother of the infamous Lady Cordelia for her wedding. Cordelia is an unwilling participant in the arrangement and goes to hilarious lengths to try and tempt Sophie into quitting. Along the way, they might find something a bit more real.
 
This was a unique reading experience for me, and I loved every minute. It was witty, relatable, and placed female friendships at the forefront. I loved Sophie's journey to accept a starring role in her own life, working against her desire to be liked and accepted by everyone. I think these are common struggles for women socialized to be pleasant and helpful at the expense of our own goals and feelings. It's a joyful story of love in all its forms and one I enjoyed immensely.
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