I wanted to love this so much, but it did fall a little flat. There was a lot of judgement, and the leads were just a little too rude for me. And I guess the cheating in the book was too much for me? I understand that Gemma's boyfriend was not attentive, but then just break up.

This is an enemies to lovers book that mostly worked because they weren't really enemies, just misunderstood each other. Gemma was really slow to see her life accurately. Ben was a great book boyfriend, once the reader became aware of his true self. This book would've benefited a lot from a dual POV. I don't know if Ben's reveal to be a good guy was so necessary, it made Gemma seem pretty immature. A cute quick read that transports you to Italy, and who doesnt love a romance in Italy? Good for fans of the tv show Younger. 3 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and One More Chapter for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a very fun read. There's witty banter, the push & pull off enemies to lovers, and of course, the eventual realization of all of the things.

Yes, all of the things. Finally knowing who you truly are, and what you need to do to show it to those who matter. A woman coming into her own, and having someone by her side who fully supports her.

I would definitely recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Throughout reading Kate Mathieson’s The Wedding Date Disaster I couldn’t help but feel that I found myself in the midst of a Regency-era romance, albeit a modern one. The enemies to lovers trope is one of my favorites and, here ,the one between book editors Gemma Evans and Ben McDonald is equal parts expected and charming. Ben’s laidback Aussie attitude counters both his “radical honesty” (i.e. prickishness) and Emma’s uptight Englishness and inability to be anything other than trickly sweet to everybody except for him. From the moment he arrived at the workplace where's she’s spent most of her adult life and charmed literally everyone but her, he, in her estimation, has earned the moniker of “Weasel”. To add insult to injury, he nabs the senior editor position that she assumed would be hers. So, when Gemma needs a plus-one to her half-sister’s wedding in Italy (her dream destination) on the heels of losing the promotion AND being told by her longtime boyfriend, Adam, that he can’t come to the wedding because he’s got too many responsibilities back home in Sydney, she needs a fake boyfriend to take his place. Why, you ask? (But didn’t, really, because this is a rom-com and you just know she not only needs a fake date but will also fall for and end up with him by the end of the story.) Welp, Gemma’s family is, like any good rom-com secondary cast and origin of the heroine’s phobias, anxieties and whatnots, complicated. Complicated like her dad cheated on her mom, got his baby-momma pregnant, came home with both his new daughter and side-piece in tow and proceeded to live under the same roof as Gemma and her scorned mother. Fun!

Because of her desire to make her mother’s, and subsequently the rest of her “blended,” family’s lives as easy as possible, Gemma’s yes-woman personality was crafted at a young age. Imagine showing up at the wedding without her very real (albeit boring and kind of terrible) boyfriend Adam in tow? Pearl-clutching horror and shame! Thus, when Gemma arrives at the airport - in grey pajamas and slippers, no less - to meet her mystery date, she’s already not feeling it. When she has the stark realization, after security and ready to board, that it’s her nemesis, the real fun - for the reader, of course - begins. 

Ben, as any good rom-com leading man is, is more of a Greek god than not-so-humble executive. So, when they touch down in Florence and he meets Gemma’s twisted little family looking even tanner and buffer and everything-er by dint of her pj-clad rumpledness that’s only been amplified by travelling halfway around the world, they can’t help but wonder how "Adam" ended up with her. This, of course, provides more tension for the enemies but more laughs for the readers. To wit, one of my favorite lines: “My half-sister’s mother is about to do a soft porn with my pretend boyfriend!”

That Regency feeling is heightened by the ridiculousness of the festivities that Gemma’s half-sister bridezilla puts them through, thrusting the fake couple together into situations of forced proximity wherein uncomfortable feelings (mostly in their nether-regions) ensue. Like having to stand-in for the happy couple’s wedding shoot and (gulp) kiss to ensure the lighting’s right for the real thing. Or engaging in a very hands-on couple’s spa day. Every time Gemma tries to convince herself that she feels nothing for the man who’s suddenly less a weasel and more a charming, gorgeous, sincere, and walking example of competence porn - her own Darcy hand-flex as it were - we’re waiting even more impatiently for their inevitable end.  

Mathieson makes Gemma, and, by default, us, work for it, however. The breadcrumbs of Ben’s attraction - a forgotten meet-cute, the competitive workplace behavior that underlies a seemingly futile flirtation, and the obvious care with with he tends to Gemma when she falls ill - are so obvious we might as well be in a Hallmark flick. The humor that Mathieson imbues into these scenes, however, keeps me invested enough in a story that I’m just waiting to play out. Though it takes essentially the WHOLE. FRICKING. NOVEL for Gemma to come to see what we have the WHOLE. FRICKING. TIME, the payoff is ultimately sweet because Ben is superior to real Adam in every conceivable way. Despite the fact that Gemma’s assumptions about him from start to near-finish were callous and knee-jerk reactions to the honesty that she subconsciously wants to exhibit in her own life but can’t (until he teaches her how, that is), he does what every good rom-com hero does. He shows up. 

Gemma throws his kindness in his face? He shows up. She PERMANENTLY deletes the edits he’s painstakingly made to her novel that, granted, he didn’t ask for permission before reading or red-penning? He shows up. (Though, honestly, I might be Team Gemma here. Writing is personal and precious and her beloved book on Italy that her boss passed on has been a sore spot for her throughout the novel.) Accosted by her handsy pseudo-step-mother and harangued by the rest of the dysfunctional family? You guessed it. He shows up. In a tux. Looking like Aussie sex on stick. (Sex on the barbie?) 

Ultimately, there were those Hallmark moments that I found more saccharine than anything: the quick revelation between Gemma and her half-sister that she’s never hated her but (gasp!) thought she was perfect; the immediate ick she gets when she's honest with real Adam, who, by the by, couldn’t make it to the Italian wedding because he needed to clean his ceilings; Ben’s admission that she’s “rubbed off” on him and he wants to let others in but, for reasons I won't spoil, finds really difficult.  Yup, there were a lot of cliches to be had here. However, between Ben’s book-boyfriend qualities, the wit with which Mathieson incorporates into both of her leads, and the meta-nature of the writer / editor dynamic, there was just enough more to enjoy than not.

||: The Wedding Date Disaster
By Kate Mathieson
Chapter Five Page 51
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

[ The envelope could have a thousand great things in there. And offer of a house? Early retirement? A prince writing to tell me I'm his long-lost cousin and there's a spare Italian palazzo awaiting me.
But I know only one thing; it's from my family.
I've put an entire ocean's distance between us, but now the envelope is in my hands. Glossy and hideous. I can't tell what it's going to be. But it's something BIG.
My parents’ wedding anniversary? A birthday? I could explain my way out of these.. or so I hope. I don't have to fly back to England, do I?
Before I can even get inside my apartment, curiosity and anxiety overwhelm me. I take the envelope and rip it open.]

In this fast-paced, emotional filled, triple threat of a book we meet Gemma. Well, we meet many sides of Gemma and very quickly I learnt to love her. She was sassy, knew what she wanted, and wasn't afraid to go against the norm. A real independent woman who believes her life was on track.. until she met him. Ben.
How can your whole life change in four days? It can’t! Other than torture her worse than an executioner could in the middle-ages.

I love this coming of New Age love story that isn't a romantically induced coma normality.. with a boy meets-girl across a room.. moment than has been done to death.
No, Gemma is not a typical woman and I liked her straight away, even more once flaws started to surface and although I was irritated by Ben, I might have been rooting for him in the end. It was very gritty with a little bit of spice without going overboard. I love Italy, which made me love this book even more, and I have to say I did like Lulu.

Actually, I don't think there was anything I didn't like.. no wait. There was.
I want to know what happened next.

A huge thank you to Kate Mathieson, Harper Collins UK; One More Chapter and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and relay my honest feedback :||

Reading this book made me feel so many feelings! The people pleasing nature of Gemma, the FMC, resonated with me so completely that I felt uncomfortable at times. The writer captured the thoughts and feelings of the character so well that I actually felt the pain with her. When she found a way to stick up for herself and tell her truth I actually teared up! It was an amazing character arc!
I wasn't sure I was going to like this book from the first few chapters as I actively hated Ben, the MMC. I just couldn't imagine how the author could turn it around for him to be the good guy! But I was so wrong. He turns out to be the best guy and shows it again and again. There relationship is a slow burn that has you falling in love too. You can't help but root for them.
Kate Mathieson has a magical way of writing characters that just makes them feel real. I have really enjoyed reading this book!

I really enjoyed "The Wedding Date Disaster" I thought it was a cute read that's definitely meant for lounging by the pool or on the beach. This book was an immediate pick for me because of the enemies to lovers trope and the fact most of it takes place in Italy!

In the beginning of the book we find Gemma on what she hopes is the precipice of a turn in career and life. She is hoping for a promotion, for her and her boyfriend to move in together, and for her to really start being able to publish the books that she is interested. The only problem is that the new hot shot editor is standing in her way of the promotion.

Through a comedy of errors Gemma finds herself flying to Italy for her sister's wedding without her actual boyfriend, and instead has a stand in boyfriend who just so happens to be Ben, the hot shot editor who took her promotion.

Thanks to Kate Mathieson and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for allowing me to read this early copy of "The Wedding Date Disaster."

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5

Okay why did this give The Proposal vibes? I actually loved the banter and the relationship between Ben and Gemma. And the concept was amazing.

Definitely recommend for an easy and quick read.

The premise of this book was solid, but I found both characters to be very unlikable. Gemma is an editor who has a large streak of people pleasing. Ben is the smug new editor at her publishing house. This enemies to lovers is an easy read, but wasn’t the book for me.

Fairly cute and easy read. I did have a problem with the main character, Gemma being unlikeable for most of the first third of the book. She had a chip on her shoulder and a bad attitude underneath a desire to people-please. Kind of a doormat, not happy about it but not willing to rock the boat. When she starts to come around it makes for an interesting awakening. Gemma is very good at her editing job at a publishing house but of course wants to write her own book. There are family dynamics that are relatable if a bit over the top. It adds to her people pleasing while gritting her teeth behavior. I'd have given in for a chance to spend a week in Tuscany too. It's amazing and my favorite place on earth - at the moment.

Ben is the new guy at work and gets the job Gemma wants. He's nice, people like him and he's successful. This makes Gemma jealous and rude. Ben has no idea, he's such a good guy he doesn't get her thinly veiled contempt. It's a pleasure to watch him bring her out of her rut. His encouragement makes all the difference. Their HEA was a bit of a twist, I like the way it played out.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter publisher.

#TheWeddingDateDisaster #NetGalley #OneMoreChapter #KateMathieson #romance #contemporaryromance #HarperCollins

This had potential but the characters were wholly uninteresting and at times, downright infuriating. The MMX was a turd and the FMC was either being a doormat or a brat.

The Wedding Date Disaster has a bit of it all! Enemies to lovers, family dramas, fake dating, slow burn, forced proximity. And Kate Mathieson makes it work!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gemma is a complete yes girl. She lets her whole family walk all over her and does everything y she can, to her own detriment to keep them happy. And her sister’s wedding is no different…

When her boyfriend tells her that he’s too busy to be her date to the wedding, after she’s already told her family he will be going, she needs someone who will pretend to be him. For a week. On a destination wedding.

Enter the man who took her promotion at work. Ben. The man who’s been nothing but rude to her the whole time Gemma has known him… He agrees to pretend to be her boyfriend and we start to find out that he’s not actually as bad as he seems.

Although I did get a bit frustrated at Gemma at times (why can’t she just say no?!). I really loved this story, and although I knew where it was going, I loved how Gemma and Ben got there!

Thank you Kate Mathieson, Netgalley and One More Chapter for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. The Wedding Date Disaster is out now and I’d definitely recommend getting your hands on it!

Gemma is having a run of bad luck. She was denied for a promotion that went to her work nemesis, a good looking guy named Ben. He’s slick and suave and Gemma can’t stand him. At the same time, her sister is getting married in Italy and her boyfriend can’t go, and she’s not going alone because everyone will comment on her single status.
Her friend sets her up with a date in exchange for a trip to Italy, and Gemma is appalled when she sees that her date is Ben, her enemy from work.
He charms her entire family at the wedding, and after a while he charms Gemma as well. She discovers that there’s much more to Ben than she thought.
This is a charming and humorous enemies to lovers romance. I liked the descriptions of Italy, and their romance feels authentic. I hope you’ll enjoy reading this as much as I did!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Wedding Date Disaster was fun and charming. I really enjoyed the witty banter, the slow-burning tension, and the family drama. I also enjoyed how the story gradually revealed more about the characters, letting their relationship build piece by piece. Once the tension kicked in, it was fantastic—I just wished there had been even more moments with Gemma and Ben together because their dynamic was easily the best part. Their banter was top-tier, and Gemma’s sense of humor made her such a fun protagonist to follow.

That said, there were some slow sections where I found myself missing their interactions, and certain aspects of the family drama wrapped up a little too neatly, considering how things started. Some conflicts could have used more development before being resolved.

Overall, though, this was an entertaining and satisfying read! Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the eARC of this fun book!

I loved this book SO MUCH!!!! I didn’t wanna stop reading it once I really got into at like Chapter 3.

Books set in Italy always have a special place in my heart. Italy feels like it’s part of my soul and Tuscany just has a beautiful vibe about it that whenever the setting is being described, my heart just fills with joy. This book was such a wonderful and beautifully written read.

I loved seeing Gemma’s personal evolution and really enjoyed that Ben was part of what made her realise she needed to take a stand for herself and start setting boundaries and being honest to herself and everyone about the way she feels.

Gemma is incredibly relatable. Women often are conditioned to be perpetually amenable, accommodating and apologetic. We often are made to believe that everyone’s feelings and needs are more important than our own needs and feelings.

Seeing Gemma set herself free was truly incredible.

Also, the romance aspect was very lovely! I love the banter, I loved their chemistry and their palpable connection.

My only complaint is I wish there was more chapters lol 😂 I didn’t want this story to end.

I will definitely be reading more by Kate!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, One More Chapter, HarperCollins UK and Kate Mathieson for giving me an ARC of this spectacular book!

I loved Gemma and Ben's witty banter, and I'm a sucker for fake dating and destination romance tropes. This didn't disappoint! At first I was worried that they were a bit over-the-top mean to each other, but if you stick with it, it just enhances the chemistry and suspense for later! This is perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Christina Lauren, and Lynn Painter's books!

"The Wedding Date Disaster", by Kate Mathieson, consists of some of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers and fake dating. Gemma and Ben are work rivals who have hated each other for years. When Ben get the coveted Chief Editor job over Gemma, she's ready to go scorched earth. However, bigger problems arise: Gemma has to attend a family destination wedding and her lame boyfriend refuses to go. She enlists her best friend to help her find someone who will go with her and pretend to be her boyfriend. When she shows up at the airport for her flight, she finds that Ben is her pretend boyfriend for the trip. As the two take off, the tension is palpable. But during the trip, Gemma discovers that Ben has been smitten with her from their very first meeting.

While I usually enjoy these popular tropes, I didn't believe the chemistry between Ben and Gemma. I also didn't like how the mean things he had done to her were supposedly because he liked her. Their have been other books that have used these tropes in a more believable way. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Sometimes I do not always enjoy the enemies to frenemies to serious relationship trope books but this one totally works. The chemistry betwen Ben and Gemma is off the charts from the early chapters. She is beyond annoyed he gets the promotion she wants and has served time for, but Ben is just favored by the rest of the staff to get the promotiob because it is a male-drivem occupation... There is so much tension, desire an nerves immediately from Gemma and Ben..

Then the bones of the story start fallinfg into place. Gemma's annoying boyfriend cannot go to a family wedding in romantic Italy. Fate sets in and Ben just happens to be at the airport when Gemma is boarding her flight. Decisions are made and a fake relationship pursues.

I do not want to spoil anything more. Once Ben and Gemma start their fake relationship.. OMG!

This was an enjoyable, quick and easy read. I liked this more than I thought I would. Recommended.

Thanks to Kate Mathieson, Netgalley, and Harper Collins UK 1 More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collin’s UK for allowing me to read an ARC of The Wedding Date Disaster by Katie Mathieson.

When Gemma is invited to her sisters wedding in Italy, she knows she will require backup when faced with her family, unfortunately that backup refuses to come in the form of her boyfriends, whose ultra goal focused mind can’t tear himself away from his job and….cleaning the bathroom ceiling….to go with his girlfriend to her dream location when she desperately needs backup. So what do you do when your boyfriend won’t come (and you’re convincing yourself that thats totally okay) and you can’t find anyone else….you think about hiring someone of course. And when you put your friend in charge and it just happens to be your work nemesis…well you can’t say it will be boring.

If you love The Wedding Date (movie or book), The Spanish Love Deception, and The Hating Game, you’ll enjoy this fun read! Fake

A perfect blend of The Spanish Love Deception
and The Hating Game, this book was an absolute delight! It featured some of my favorite romance tropes fake dating, holiday romance, workplace romance, and enemies to lovers—all wrapped up in a fun and engaging story. With laugh-out-loud moments, heartfelt emotions, and two irresistibly lovable main characters, it had everything I look for in a great romance. This was my first read from this author, but it certainly won’t be my last!