If you like happily ever afters and feel-good romance novels, then this book is for you.

The story begins with jilted bride, Annie and absent groom, Alexander. Straight away, the connection between Annie and her little sister, Frederica is evident, followed closely by her relationship with her best friend, Adzo, giving you an insight into the type of person that Annie is. As they prepare heir beloved Annie for the biggest day of her life, we learn that her husband-to-be isn't, and doesn't show up to their wedding venue. The compassion that is immediately felt for Annie came as much more of a surprise to me than I was expecting; although it usually takes me a little time to connect with the characters of a book, it seemed to be instantaneous this time around, from "Annie-Doo, you look like a ... model."

As the story unwraps, we learn that Annie's relationship with her father is very loving and strong, in contrast to that of her bond with her mother, which is much more strained, but Laura still manages to convey the love that is very clearly there. The desire to keep reading was strong, given that I am a romantic and I wanted to see the direction that this love story would take her. To my delight, it didn't take long before it was in full swing; unlike some books that take many chapters to pick up, The Lucky Escape seemed to be fairly fast moving. After several chapters of processing her abandonment and meeting her support network, Annie bumps into an old camp friend, Patrick. They click instantly, in the way that you hope to do when you haven't yet found true love (or have lost it, for that matter). I felt their immediate connection, and found their spark to be rather sweet, despite knowing that Annie is in no position to date at this point, which led me to route for them to get together. Her clumsiness only adds to her character, and you begin to see what perhaps Patrick has seen.

Patrick, we learn as soon as he enters the narrative, is quite possibly the sweetest guy that there is. Of course, their meet cute is terribly timed, with Annie only just beginning to find herself and get over her ex almost-husband, but it doesn't matter. The pair's platonic relationship begins to blossom, and they find themselves making a crazy drunken decision to take Annie and Alexander's honeymoon together, as friends; it is in Australia that we see their relationship really begin to flourish. I absolutely adored the way that he looks after her throughout, from simple smiles, to the brush of a hand. My soppy, romantic imagination lives for scenes likee these, the will they-won't they, and Laura Jane certainly brings that to the table; I could read it all day long...and I did.

With everyone else seeing their connection, it appears that the only people who don't see it is them. Laura's ability to write what we would all have been thinking is fantastic too; I laughed out loud many times, particularly as they experience some embarrassing moments, and I know that I would likely have reacted in the exact same way. I definitely saw similarities between myself and Annie, particularly in her inability to voice her opinions and feelings to begin with, but also in the contrast of her naivety and strength.

Given that the honeymoon is set in luxury accommodation, setting the scene was important, and again, was very successfully created. I felt the sun on my face, heard the sea and sensed her relaxed state as she made her way across the world. When there was tension, I felt uptight; when there were jokes and giggles, I laughed. his book had everything that I'd hope for in a contemporary romance novel, and it was fluent enough to prevent me from putting the book down. As someone with a rather short attention span, there are few books that I can do this with; the chapters are just the right length to read only one, or three at a time.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who daydreams of the perfect 'will they-won't they' love story, with twists and little surprises popping up throughout. It is a wonderfully, light 'beach read' that will have you carrying your book or kindle wherever you go.

This is the first book I have read by this author. Annie is jilted at the alter and we follow her through the heartache of the next few weeks until she meets an old friend from when she was a teenager. I think from then on the story is quite predictable and we know how it is going to end. There are a few trials and tribulations along the way as Annie needs to “find herself”.

I thought it took quite a bit of getting to the Honeymoon, which I have to say sounded fantastic. I wasn’t sure why the Antwerp trip was there, it felt like the book was being padded out to me.

I was a bit confused about the relationship between Annie and her mother as we didn’t really get an explanation as to why it was as it was. The sister, Freddie was a great character and the friends were a great support network.

All in all It’s a nice holiday read.

The Lucky Escape has a good classic rom-com recipe: boy meets girl, girl meets boy, girl gets engaged and is abandoned at the altar, then girl runs into an old friend. Cute, dramatic, exactly what you are expecting until you realize you are still at the beginning of the book. So while it seemed like the plot was going to be all light-hearted and fun, it did dip into some heavier issues and emotions. It had a little bit of a slower pace, which I didn't mind, but it may not be the quick pace that other people want in this genre.

Overall I am giving it 3.5 stars. I loved that Laura Jane Williams allowed Annie to go through this self-discovery stage, I found it to be a nice change of pace. But ultimately I was wishy-washy about the love interest. I liked them when they were together on her honeymoon, but when they got back to London some of his actions were just a little too cringy for my taste. I just kept thinking you've only been together for a few weeks, it hasn't been that long. At the same time, I was like well I guess I am happy for them.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Annie is left at the altar by Alexander and ends up going on her honeymoon with an old friend, Patrick. Will she find true love with Patrick?

The premise of the book was exciting, however, it failed to keep my attention and interest. There were many parts of the book where it dragged on for me. Once she got to her honeymoon it was better, but I still ended up feeling disappointed overall.

Right book. Right time!!! 💁🏼‍♀️This is type of book I needed right now. I wanted escapism, some romance and lots of cute banter. I have read all of Laura’s books and I really enjoy her style of writing. Its witty, fun and full of heartfelt moments…yes I did cry 😭 because this is me!😆

The story follows Annie who has a right tough time when she is jilted at the altar by her husband-to-be Alexander. Bozo! 🙄THEN after a chance meeting with Patrick, an old friend from drama camp days, Annie takes a vow to say yes to every opportunity that comes her way from now on. She decides to go on the honeymoon to Australia. Why the hell not?!! 😎 And with a spare ticket going, she decides to take Patrick…as friends…..of course….😉 I sure would! 😏

SPOILER! I LOVE a feel good story (not really a secret) I need a holiday bad 🤣 so while that isn’t happening in real life, this book did just the job. I really loved Annie and I could see traits of me in her character to be fair. Probably why I had a lot of fist pump moments and sobbing sessions. 😅 She goes through a personal journey in the book and I loved that. And Patrick……..🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 Hmmm…kind of in love with him?!!! 🔥

Anyhoo, I loved the story, the loveable and cute characters, the friendships, the flirty banter and the beautiful settings particularly in Australia.☀️ The hotels they stayed in sounded unreal. At the same time, it has depth, tackles some real life issues and felt authentic. Its super readable and a perfect summer book. Really really enjoyed it. A right charmer! 💃🏼

Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. I am somewhere around a 2.5-3 stars. I thought the premise of the story was very intriguing and something I thought would make for a great story.

Where it went wrong for me:

1. The beginning of this book was painfully slow and at times I would have to put the book down and it took awhile to motivate myself to pick it back up.

2. The two MCs were a bit of a miss for me. I thought Annie was fine and I liked that she was working on herself after being jilted by her fiance, but other than that she just seemed to be a bit wishy washy. However, Patrick was a big no from me. I thought he was fine during the honeymoon portion of the book, but when they get back from the trip his character takes a full 180 turn and he has turned into a possessive, easily angered, man child.

All in all, I think the story had a lot of potential and definitely a beach read style book. I just don't think it was a book for me.

The story took a bit to get going and the premise was good but questionable actions occurred. The friendships and relationships between friends in the story were charming and the whole mother daughter...ugh

Paddy is a sweet character. I think the story would have become more interesting by switching to his perspective. Overall, this book was okay. It's a light tale of self-discovery and, although it's not exactly my favourite I'd recommend it to those wanting a fun, quick read.

The Lucky Escape by Laura Jane Williams was so enjoyable and the most perfect summer read! This was my first time reading a book by Laura and I was not disappointed! I felt so many good emotions when I was reading this book and there were so many moments when I had no idea what was going to happen!

I loved the character development that Annie went through from the beginning to the end of the book! A lot of Annie's doubts and worries about her future were really relatable. The tension between Annie and Patrick was perfect and I found myself reaching for this book all the time because I could not put it down!

Annie is about to walk down the aisle with her boyfriend of over 10 years, Alexander. Except Alexander doesn't turn up. Devastated, her in-laws to-be insist she consider going on the luxury honeymoon to Australia anyway. Then a chance meeting with Patrick, who she hasn't seen since her summer school theatre days as a child, leads her to take chances and start to live her life the way she really wants to, rather than how everyone else, especially her mother, expect her to do.

Its a really fun read, but with undertones - the reader keeps wondering if people are as they seem, if things are as safe as Annie believes, if the romance will work out. In many ways she's a very insecure and rather wet individual - her little sister is much feistier. But she is endearing, and you are willing her to get over this catastrophe in her life and make something of herself.

I enjoyed it very much, even if a few parts were stretching credulity a little. Light hearted and fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book! I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this one just hit different, and at the right time. It’s sweet, funny, witty, and relatable.

Annie is caught between two versions of herself, and I found this theme resonated heavily with me. So much of our lives are shaped into the roles we play - for myself: mother, wife, daughter, nurse - but sometimes we get so caught up in “acting” in those positions, that it’s possible to lose sight of the fact that underneath it all, we are an individual too. And we owe it to ourselves to put ourselves first sometimes; to ask ourselves what would make us happy, and to prioritize the decisions that result in that happiness.

Something else that I really enjoyed about this book is that while it was a story about two Caucasian heterosexual people, the author took time to ensure there was visibility to POC, LGBTQ2+ representation, a side character with a near invisible illness, an interaction that brought up the use of pronouns in a very causal nature, the list goes on. It’s an important reminder that it’s just not that hard to offer up some time to showcase diversity.

I think I’m going to have to stop saying that romance isn’t a go-to genre for me, because I find I’m gravitating to it more as a welcome reprieve from heavier reads. And that’s certainly not to say that romance doesn’t tackle some serious topics, but I often finish the book more lighthearted than when I started, and it’s a great feeling.

The Lucky Escape hits shelves on June 29th, 2021, and is a delightful read.
Sincere thanks to @NetGalley and @HarperCollins for this digital advanced readers copy.

~ 👩🏻‍🦰

The Lucky Escape by Laura Jane Williams is a sweet novel exploring whether a previous love can have a chance to make it a second time around. Annie is left reeling after being dumped at the altar but when she crosses paths with an old friend from drama school, Patrick, she impulsively invites him to her "honeymoon" trip funded by her ex's parents. Annie is swept away to Australia with Patrick and plans to use this trip to recuperate after her breakup. However once they arrive in Australia the tension ramps up quickly as they realize much more than a light vacation is in store for the pair.

This cover looks like a fun beach read and this book was exactly that! The first portion of the book focuses on Annie's life after being left at the altar and the friendship she develops with Patrick. I thought that adding this helped develop the characters and also helped explain why Annie would invite Patrick beyond "romance reasons". I also enjoyed seeing Annie's relationship with her mom, sister, and friends as she relied on them after the breakup.

The middle part focuses primarily on the honeymoon trip which had a strong sense of place and left me wanting to travel to Australia ASAP! I loved the banter between the pair and thought the chemistry between Annie and Patrick was clear. Patrick was a lovable character and I was rooting for his happiness in this story. Annie at times could be frustrating as she was a bit flighty and indecisive, but I also understood that an event like she went through forces you to evaluate your entire life plan which is difficult.

The last portion of the book focused no how Annie processed her current circumstances and her relationship with Patrick, but I do think more time could have been spent on wrapping up some of the elements to the ending. However as long as you are okay with suspending a bit of disbelief I still think many readers would love to add this romance to their beach bag!

Many thanks to the publisher Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Get your summer reading sorted with this gorgeous tale of second-chance romance!

The Lucky Escape is all about Annie, a jilted bride looking for a fresh start. After a chance encounter with an old friend from drama school, it seems like things might just be looking up for Annie. Coupled with the fact that her ex's generous parents want to send her away on what was supposed to be her honeymoon, Annie's whole life is suddenly turned upside down.

With a brand new life and a brand new self to rediscover, this is a story of love, romance, and being true to yourself. It's also bound to give you travel envy reading about the luxury hotels, sights and attractions that Annie visits on her honeymoon!

The dynamic between the main characters is written excellently, and it's exciting to see how it develops over the course of the book. However, despite its enjoyable and easy to read nature, this is actually a different story than you might first think. I'd say it's more a journey of self-discovery with a subplot of romance, rather than a pure rom-com.

Annie and Patrick complement one another perfectly. From the moment they meet, you find yourself willing them to get together, and there are plenty of sweetly romantic moments peppered throughout the story. Of course, there are some bumps along the road too, but you'll have to read it yourself to find out if Annie and Patrick get their happily ever after!

The Lucky Escape is the perfect feel-good read for summer!

I loved the editors description of this book. The main character gets jilted on her wedding day. How did this happen to her ? And so she decides to start saying yes to life, to adventure and to living the life she really wants. Her first “yes” is a trip to Australia with and old friend. The premise is great and I really wanted to like it more. It’s romantic comedy without enough of either for me. It was a good read, but for me not a great one. I wanted fun, laughter, humor, a happy rediscovering of her true self and who she wants to be. It just needed a little more “oomph” for me. I did like it, but didn’t love it.

Annie finds herself left at the altar on her wedding day. After a chance meet up with an old childhood friend, Annie decides to take Patrick on her honeymoon with her. Whilst on the holiday Annie vows to say yes and to try every new opportunity.

This is such a great book to read during the summer and I read it within 24 hours! I loved Williams writing style and the plot, finding it so fun and fast paced, making me want to be on holiday. I also found the characters really likeable, including Annie and liked her development as the plot progressed. Williams includes some LGBTQ+ characters and uses different pronouns for her characters which I found to be very inclusive and well written.

I definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting a fun, chick lit read. I did find the plot a little predictable in places but this didn't stop me from enjoying it.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unedited feedback.

I really enjoyed this book .
A fun, clever ,read with great characters and an interesting plot.
A great summer read which shows you can bounce back after heartbreak
Thanks to Netgalley, Avon Books and Laura Jane Williams for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

It’s Annie’s wedding day and was suppose to be one of the best days of her life. Instead, her fiancé, Alexander, leaves her at the altar. Annie is devasted and confused, she doesn’t know what went wrong.

Days later she meets Patrick, an old friend from camp. He’s a breath of fresh air, so different than Alexander.

Her “suppose-to-be” in-laws feel horrible about what their son did to Annie, and they suggest she go on the honeymoon to Australia that they have planned. Annie needs to get away and decides to go with Patrick. Why not, they’re just friends, right?

This was a fun rom-com, perfect for the summer. It’s not just a romance but a story of mending a broken heart and finding out what you really want out of life. I loved the chemistry between Annie and Patrick and Patrick is just the sweetest guy ever! Also loved the honeymoon location, Australia.

It you’re in the mood for a sweet, friends to lover romance with the perfect getaway setting, this one is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of The Lucky Escape in exchange for an honest review.
So I loved Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams, it's still one of the funniest and most unique romance books I've ever read and it made me feel the most wonderful emotions. So I was quite hopeful I'd also enjoy The Lucky Escape, which I did, mostly.
I loved the premise and was really enjoying the book right up until they returned from Australia which is where I had my problems. Patrick was painted as incredibly healthy and able to discuss his emotions but honestly it just felt like he was making Annie's success about him and not wanting her to succeed. I realise this wasn't the intention but it came across very selfish which seemed completely out of character.
Having said that, I LOVED their adventures in Australia and experiencing them falling in love, it made me want to have my own holiday romance (happily engaged but a gal can dream). I enjoy how Annie's mother was dealt with, although it was dealt with very hastily, but that's the issue with books of this length. The attempt to deal with large and scary topics is present but there's not enough words to do it.
Overall I definitely enjoyed it and can't wait to read more from Laura, I'd definitely recommend it to friends.

I loved this! It made me question my life and my choices. It was cute, fun and exactly what you may be after from a chick lit. Highly, highly recommended!

I really enjoyed this book! Fans of insta lust/love should enjoy this story of carpe diem and love.
I honestly don't understand a lot of the less than favorable reviews this book is getting.
It's a light and fluffy read meant to entertain and not necessarily dig too deep.
Annie is a less than perfect, pretty flawed character and I always find that women are always harder on a female protagonist that it is flighty or indecisive. It's a shame that the same love and forgiveness we always have for a romance hero, we can have for a less than perfect heroine.

I enjoyed Patrick's hard earned wisdom and Annie's mother could've done with a slap or two. Freddie was a perfect little teenager that idolized her big sis, full of wisdom no 13 year old is really capable of. Her character was the real inconsistency in this book.

To me, this was a solid 4 star read.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you, Avon for this ARC.

A fluffy romcom read for readers who enjoyed the Unhoneymooners or Sex and the City. Imagine getting left at the altar on your wedding day! Annie still goes on her first class Australian honeymoon with a new-old friend to help cope with her heartbreak. The cute cover caught my attention!

There are some things I didn’t love... Characters seemed inconsistent and all over the place. The feminism felt super forced. The nicknames were a little weird and rather annoying.
But it’s a quick read if you want to escape.
A rounded-up 3 star read

Thanks to @netgalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.