3.5 stars

I initially struggled to get into this book, slow burns aren't my fave and also I got a bit frustrated at both of them for liking each other but not wanting to risk their friendship

However when things started to happen I thought it was really cute and I love how supportive they are of each other

The friendship group in this book/series is so lovely I love all the characters

- friends to lovers
- slow burn
- single dad
- brothers best friend

Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for the ARC - all opinions are my own

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved this book by Zoe Allison.

The story was sweet, the characters relatable and the setting was beautiful.

Cannot wait to see what the author brings out next.

I highly recommend this book.

The romantic gestures over a number of days that Arran arranged were so romantic and thoughtful. And one of my favourite parts in the book.
There was some spice, but it was not too spicy. ( just the perfect amount to engage a reader😅) The few scenes were tasteful and well done. I didn't find it to be a slow burn, I enjoyed the build-up and the development in their relationship.

The way Liv loves Jase, Arran's son was so special, I loved the bond. I think finding love after a breakup, especially if there are children involved, can be so difficult, and I'm so glad he found someone who adores his son as if he were her own. That alone made my heart swell.

I loved the eavesdropping old ladies at the tea room. They were hilarious with their advice for the younger generations.
Men pretending not to know how to do something I could totally relate to that🙄
Titanic art scene so hot, and sweet and all feelsy words.

I really enjoyed this 2nd book in the Glenavie series. It can be read as a standalone, but why? When you can enjoy the characters in both books!

Tropes:
Mixed race couple
Single dad/jilted before the wedding dad
Sort of interfering ex
She fell first-( in childhood )
Friends to lovers
Family drama

This was a very interesting book. I did enjoy parts of it and the friends to lovers aspect was really good. I just felt like it was a little to long and would have been better if it was shorter as the story dragged on a bit.

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

Thanks for a copy of this book! I liked this book but didn't love it. It was a little bit too slow off the mark for me but was a fun Autumn read overall

I did enjoy parts of this book and found myself laughing at some of the antics but also found it too slow a burner some times and wanted it to get going,lots of characters to get to know and a lovely setting did add pluses to the book but for me it just needed to develop the plot just that bit quicker,,the writing was good and would read another book by this author 3.5 stars

omg i loved this!! such a good book with a really decent storyline. I loved the supporting characters and i really feel like they help you understand Arran and Liv better. I love the comedic element and romantic spicy stuff too which really makes it an easy read 😊 The book is comprehensive throughout and i love the way it’s written! I guess i knew what we was going to happen from the start hence why the 4/5 stars, a few twists and turns would have deffo been cool but nonetheless a great read!

A story about Liv who is in love with her friend’s brother and is now helping him to plan his sister’s wedding.
A found this book slow in parts but it has some amusing banter and a few interesting characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book and I enjoyed the relationship between Arran and Liv. I didn't enjoy it as much as Sam and Maya's book but it was still a lovely read.

Jayce was an added bonus and I'm glad that Jess wasn't used as a villain for a plot point.

I do feel this book was about 100 pages longer than it needed to be and I did skim read a lot towards the end as it seemed to drag out a bit longer than I thought it should have.

I am looking forward to Elise and Nico's book, however.

Such a lovely read.
First book I have read by Zoe Allison. Living in Scotland I loved the Scottish settings.

3🌟
Liv and Arran's relationship was predictable from the get go, and to be honest I wasn't really rooting for their relationship to work. They were sweet generally but it felt like a real slow burn romance and ended up being dragged out a little too long. The concept of them planning parts of the wedding was fair enough and seemed it might work, but to be honest I found it hard to stay focused on reading the book and didn't find myself flying through it like normal.

There are quite a lot of characters in the Wedding Engagement, who are a close knit bunch of friends.

Liv Holland has had a crush on Arran Adebayo, her twin brother’s best friend, forever. Arran is a trying very hard to co-parent his young son Jayce, with his ex who is quite frankly taking liberties, and Liv steps into help take care of him when Arran has to work. Her twin Sam is getting married to one of her best friends, and all the friends come together to help make plans as the wedding a success. Zoe and Arran get paired up together to sort out music for the wedding, and it is quite apparent to everyone around them that they both have feelings for each other but neither has wanted to take it further from fear of upsetting Sam, or breaking the guy code of dating your best friends sister.

All the characters are likeable especially little Jayce. I found myself laughing aloud whilst reading the book and thinking how lovely it would be to be in such a close group of friends, who always have each others backs. This is the first book I have ready by Zoe Allison but it won't be the last, I really enjoyed her writing style and humour in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and Zoe Allison for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What an absolutely beautiful book. I LOVED THIS. The characters are so perfect and adorable. The story itself kept me hooked, its really enjoyed. I will definitely be recommending this book.

Thank you to HQ Digital and Zoe Allison for gifting me a digital ARC of The Wedding Engagement in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I couldn't wait to get my mitts on The Wedding Engagement after loving Zoe Allison's book last year. Finally, we have Arran and Liz's story in our hands! Arran was my favourite character from The Ex-Mas Holiday, so I've been dying ever since to read his love story and wasn't disappointed.

Zoe Allison has written a book full of passionate longing, unrequited love, and dysfunctional family ties. It's a pot of boiling emotions, fears, and slow-burn romance. The writing is a gorgeous, beguiling, and aching love story about two friends who long to be more to one another but deny it out of fear of ruining the precious friendship that underpins their lives. The pacing is a bit chopping as the intensity of the longing and desires ebbs and flows with Arran and Liv's fears and denial holding them back. I loved the scenic descriptions of the places in Scotland that were visited in the story. Zoe Allison has a talent for vividly bringing the awe of the Scottish landscape to life in the reader's imagination.

The romance is a very slow burn (a little frustrating at times). Still, you have to appreciate the demons both Liz and Aaron are battling. Ultimately, I was grateful for how Zoe Allison staged and set up the pacing for their journey to falling in love as it brought the characters to life as compelling, 3-dimensional people who overcame their obstacles and doubts with healthy communication, respect, and giving each other time and support. Heightening their affection and love for me as they proved they could go the distance with each other no matter what challenges might be thrown their way during a relationship.

There is a tiny flicker of a miscommunication trope – but it focuses on the things unsaid between Arran and Liv that drive distance between them. Both are afraid of crossing the line between friendship and love due to their internal wounds, as the thought of losing their friendship stops them in their tracks. I'm not a fan of miscommunication usually – but I think The Wedding Engagement cleverly uses it to compliment Arran and Liv's character arcs to push them out of their comfort zones on their journey of self-discovery to allow them to embrace their deep-rooted feelings for one another.

The Wedding Engagement is a fun, cute read with a swoony-friends-to-lover romance story at its velvety core full of found family vibes, sweet, intimate moments, and some hot-damn spicy scenes. I devoured this book in a matter of hours – I loved seeing how Sam and Maya's relationship has grown from the last book and the big moment of seeing Arran and Liv come together.

Ooh I absolutely adored this read! The characters are sheer perfection and the entire plot was heartfelt, humorous, emotional and incredibly gripping. Yes the plot is obvious but that does not matter when it is executed well and involves characters whom you really take to heart. This is a follow-on book which I did not realise until I finished reading, however this does not matter at all as Allison does such a good job of filling in backstories and I very quickly felt like I had known the characters for a long time.
'The Wedding Engagement' is a delight to read but Allison includes some hard hitting subjects which add to the seriousness of the plot. They were executed very well and added another dimension to the plot.
I simply loved everything about this and the characters are wonderful. I cannot wait for Allison's next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for an advance copy.

I absolutely love Zoe Allison so to have an opportunity to check out a new book of hers is truly and honor and treat! Beyond excited to share my thoughts and especially with a fun wedding theme I am so ready to take this one with me to the beach!

Title: The Wedding Engagement by Zoe Allison

Release date: October, 7th, 2024

3.5 Stars

"The Wedding Engagement" by Zoe Allison is a charming and delightful romance that captures the essence of unrequited love, the complexities of family dynamics, and the joy of discovering love where you least expect it.

Set in the picturesque backdrop of Scotland, this novel follows Liv Holland, a Scottish schoolteacher, and Arran Adebayo, her brother's best friend, as they navigate the treacherous waters of planning a wedding that isn't their own, all while grappling with their growing feelings for each other.

Liv has harboured a secret crush on Arran for years, a feeling she believes is not reciprocated, especially after a disastrous blind date. Arran, a single father who was left at the altar by his ex, struggles with his budding feelings for Liv, torn between his past and the potential for a new love.

As they work together to plan Liv's brother's wedding to her best friend, their connection deepens, leading to moments of laughter, heartache, and the realisation that their feelings for each other may be more than just friendship.

However, their romantic pasts and the fear of jeopardising their relationship with Liv's brother loom over them, making their path to happiness fraught with challenges.

Allison's novel is a slow-burn romance that emphasises the importance of friendship, family, and the courage to take a leap of faith for love. The Scottish setting adds a layer of charm and authenticity to the story, while the humorous and heartfelt moments keep readers engaged and rooting for Liv and Arran's happy ending.

Be warned, this is a very slow burn and it does take a while to develop but It's a book that will make you laugh, sigh, and believe in the power of love to overcome obstacles.

Thank you to The Publisher HQ | HQ Digital ,The Author Zoe Allison & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

The Wedding Engagement by Zoe Allison
Rating: 3/5
Release Date: 7 October 2024

Liv Holland has been secretly in love with Arran Adebayo, her brother’s best friend, for years. As they help plan Liv's brother's wedding, their mutual attraction becomes undeniable. Despite their complicated romantic pasts, they must decide if pursuing love is worth the risk of losing their friendship. With the wedding approaching, Liv and Arran must determine if they can find their own happily ever after.

The characters in this book are constantly longing to kiss each other, which becomes repetitive and simplistic. While the inclusion of a character with a child adds an interesting dimension, the story feels hackneyed and unpolished. Despite having appealing elements like a Scottish setting, a friends-to-lovers plot, and artistic characters, the book feels forced and awkward. The characters' repeated excuses for not getting together are frustrating and not well-executed as plot devices.

Overall, “The Wedding Engagement” was a struggle for me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, HQ Digital, and the author, Zoe Allison, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.