This book was a labor of love…to finish. I wanted to DNF, but I got this from NetGalley and wanted to be able to give an honest review. Stella has had a hard time of things. She was fired from her old job at an ad agency after having an affair with her asshole married boss, and has been wearing a scarlett letter ever since. She’s reinvented herself as a wedding photographer and is under the tutelage of one of the most famous wedding photographers in Europe and the UK, Connor Knight. Who is also incredibly handsome and a well known playboy. But who’s counting. She ends up kissing him and then eventually one-night standing with him after promising herself that she wouldn’t stoop to sleeping with another one of her bosses.

So of course she wallows in self-loathing before ignoring his attempts at seeing her again. Until she just can’t stay away. I’ll leave it at that. Connor…there wasn’t much at all to like about him. He had a few instances of chivalry but I just didn’t really like him. Stella…I can empathize with her situation, but I just didn’t really enjoy being in her head. The only thing these two had going for them is their attractiveness (if she talked about people’s bodies one more time…) and the fact that they each speak a second language. Slow clap, I guess? I felt like the “best friend” was extremely selfish and careless with Stella’s feelings, and she was a terrible friend once it came to sharing her own life with Stella. I just…didn’t like this or anyone in it. So, that’s the review.

I really wanted to enjoy this book and was excited about the premise, but this one fell flat for me in so many ways. I did find the setting of the story quite immersive, and it made it easy to imagine a summer in France. However, it was hard to connect with Stella and I found it frustrating to follow her thoughts and decisions, especially concerning her connection with Conner, making miscommunication the leading conflict without much reason for it. So many scenes throughout the story felt like they were caricatured versions of characters that had little depth, placed there for comedy or shock value, neither of which worked well for me. While the chemistry between the two main characters was there, it would always get cut short which was in my opinion a missed opportunity, especially after so much talk leading up to those moments. The ending with the grand gesture felt completely out of character for Conner and was an exaggerated nod to the already-incessant mentions of Jolene, which for me veered way off from where the story could've left the characters instead. With regrets, this was hard to get through and almost put me in a reading slump, which was not what I hoped this would be.

I loved this book so much.Stella was such an amazing character with a realistic personality that made me believe she was real.I was rooting for Stella and Connor from the start and was so happy with how it ended

Oh I’m so torn here.

I laughed, I did! Genuinely!! This was funny and silly and there was banter. The writing was pretty smooth and the characters were likable (if a little bit basic.

But it was just so over dramatic? I couldn’t get over how ridiculous I found the whole premise. In certain ways that may have made the book funnier, which I suppose is a plus for a romcom??

Long story short I had fun and hopefully others will too. I definitely couldn’t really swoon or call this awww worthy. But I’d still recommend it presuming silly is in the necessary criteria.

Really enjoyed this read. There was a lot of dynamic characters. Stella, the main character, was sometimes a little self absorbed and in her own head. Some of the things going on in her life or around her seemed super obvious but she wasn't making the connections. The ending also seemed a little rushed and unrealistic. I hate the idea that a man who won't commit and tells her so will of a sudden be ready for grand romantic gestures, marriage, and children.

3.5 stars for Shooters! It is a fun, slow-burn rom-com set in the world of wedding photography. I love that is has some great settings in Europe, is laugh out loud funny and shows us what photographers experience behind the scenes. Stella can be frustrating at times but is trying to learn from her mistakes and create a new life for herself. Connor is a sexy and super talented wedding photographer who doesn't believe in love. They are forced to spend time together and eventually sparks fly. It's a great beach read.

I loved this book. From Stella finally finding her voice after a terrible choice that she made, but that choice helped her find photography, which truly is her passion. Along the way Stella meets Conner the handsome playboy photographer.

I wanted to do nothing else but read this book and find out how it ends. When it did end I wanted more of the characters.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy

As someone who's into photography, the blurb already had me
I really enjoyed reading this book
The plot, the characters, all were amazing ♥️

Stella is determined to become a successful wedding photographer, even if it means learning from Connor Knight, a wedding shooter with sexy rock star status and an ego to match.

Burned by an affair that ended her last career, Stella should know better than to get entangled with Connor during a residential course in a romantic French chateau. But while his arrogance turns her off, his talent turns her on.

Their clashes lead to a whirlwind of passion, but Stella struggles to frame a future with a man who’s come to distrust “happily ever afters” and hides a softer side behind his image. Can Stella learn from her past mistakes and teach Connor about real love before he disappears from the picture?

Shooters is the perfect romantic comedy that will pull you out the blahs. I loved the character development, dialogue, plot, and the steamy factor.

this is a cute book and a fun read

thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an advanced copy of this book!

I really enjoyed this one! I loved that it was set in the UK as most seem to be set in the US and enjoyed seeing the relationship between the two main characters developed. Stella was a fab main character - I really enjoyed her character arc and she was actually funny! There was enough tension between her and Connor but didn’t go into the detail of the sex scenes. I didn’t mind this and don’t feel like the book lacked because of this. The side characters were also great - Lilliwen is my spirit animal. Loved her!!

This book was awful. It was a “romance” but nothing really happened until the epilogue. If I didn’t feel obligated to finish it for NetGalley, it would have been a DNF after the first few chapters. I get a slow burn but this was not done well at all. Do not recommend reading this…

"A pose is just a pose. It's the emotion that elevates it into an impressive picture."

With my kids' best friends getting married soon, wedding stories have been a staple lately! I find it fascinating to get a peek behind the scenes of what makes all the magic of weddings possible. Especially the aspects, like caterers and photographers, who often get overlooked!

This book was a quick, light read. Stella is a grumpy sunshine character with panic attacks. Connor is smarmy, self-important, and also grumpy.

The scenes at the Paulina & Oliwier wedding were quite funny! But somehow the vibe with Stella & Connor didn't really pay off for me.

Overall, the book is fun & fast, which would make it a good beach read.

Having been a wedding videographer, I just had to read this one. It's brilliant.
If you follow Julia Boggio on social media, it will come as no surprise to discover that this book sparkles. It's as much fun as she is - well, almost.
With a believable plot and characters, it's hard to believe that this is a debut. I'll definitely be on the lookout for other books by this author.
Thanks for the ARC.

Absolutely yes yes yes! This book gives you all the right vibes, such a wonderful read for sure! No doubt a lot of people will read this over and over again

Rating: 3 stars ⭐️

I really wanted to like the story but I hated the infidelity in this book.

If that’s not a trigger for you, maybe you will like it.

Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for providing me with a copy. My opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the premise of this book, especially the focus on photographers and the fact it was set in Great Britain. Unfortunately this book did fall short for me! I wasn't as invested as I wanted to be with the romance and found that I was skim reading at times just to get to the next bit of action. I found the pacing a little odd and found the middle of the book a bit of a struggle to get through (the first 40% was probably the bit I got through the easiest).

Initially I really enjoyed Stella's character. She's incredibly determined to pursue her career as a wedding photographer despite not having a lot of support from her family, and she has picked herself up after losing her previous job through a scandal. Unfortunately, as the book went on I began to find her quite frustrating and a little annoying at times. I also didn't particularly like the love interest, particularly later on in the book - I probably liked him most at the start of the book/towards the middle. The miscommunication between these two genuinely made me want to yeet my kindle out of the window.

A bit of an ick I had - it's known from the start that Stella was involved in an affair and that the outing of said affair ruined her career. It just worried me that she was still interested in/pursuing a man who she thought was in a relationship? I really struggled to get past this and feel like that maybe put me off them as a couple and made me dislike Stella's character.

In terms of side characters, I really enjoyed some of them! Having a mix of personalities on the retreat made it an interesting read. Sadly, I found them to be quite one-dimensional and the conversations really repetitive (especially from those characters who featured later in the book).

Another thing I noticed while reading is that there was a lot of references to British popular culture/'celebrities' and I wonder whether a lot of non-British readers (or even younger readers) might not understand the references. They were often quite random as well so I found it a bit jarring.

Overall, just not quite was I was hoping for! There were definitely moments and characters I enjoyed but sadly it just wasn't for me.

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

After Stella’s earlier career ended due an affair, she is determined to make a success at being a wedding photographer. To do so, she must learn all that she can from Connor Knight, a wedding shooter with sexy rock star status and an ego to match. Yet despite their clashes, they soon find themselves involved, and Stella must decide whether she can actually trust him, or whether there is more to Connor than his public image.
A great debut novel with plenty of great characters, all with their unique personalities. Stella was a very realistic with flaws like all of us possess and she tries, if not always successfully to address her issues. I enjoyed how these two characters developed as the story progressed, but I did wish that their relationship could have been further explored.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"The photography conference simmered with talent: those who had it, those who wanted it, and those who would always suck no matter how hard they tried. Stella Price wondered where she fell on that scale.”

The story begins with Stella Price at a photography conference. She's determined to learn as much as she can about wedding photography - her brand new career choice. She had to make an abrupt change after her last job ended with an affair and public humiliation.

Stella is determined to "discover her potential" with Connor Knight. He's a world-renowned wedding photographer offering a one-week course at a French Chateau. When she narrowly misses out on securing her spot, she has to get creative to earn her way in. He's the best and failure is not an option.

What follows is a super enjoyable journey of self-discovery and romance, with beautiful European settings. The author said this book is a love letter to the photography industry and I definitely felt it. But you don't have to have knowledge about the subject to enjoy this book. I know close to nothing about photography so it was new and interesting to me. My favorite parts of the book were the weddings and receptions. We get to meet a wide array of side characters and eccentric clients. I loved Stella with all her flaws and her determination to better herself. I also loved Connor and wish we could have gotten some of his POV.

Lastly, I LOVE Dolly Parton and so does the author ❤️ She's referenced several times and I loved it so much 🎶

I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend! {Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review}

Read if you like:
💍 slow burn romances
💍 wedding photography
💍 European settings
💍 Dolly Parton

This is such a fun read! A sexy, sassy delight. I loved Stella and the insight into the joy and chaos of the wedding world. Some big, memorable characters (my queen Liliwen!!) who were super well realised. I laughed and I swooned.