Bridesmaid Undercover by Meghan Quinn

This early review copy was provided to me by Bloom Books through Hambright PR. This in no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions.

Title: Bridesmaid Undercover

Series: Bridesmaid for Hire

Author: Meghan Quinn

Release Date: August 20, 2024

Publisher: Bloom Books

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: digital, Hambright PR

TW: graphic sexual content, cursing, vomit, minor medical content

Synopsis

Everly Plum is delighted to be heading up the Bridesmaid for Hire program at Magical Moments by Maggie. And when Hardy Hopper, one of their billionaire investors, approaches Everly for help with his friends' wedding, she's more than happy to step in. But Hardy has an extra assignment for her: his ex-girlfriend will be the maid of honor opposite his role as best man, and he wants Everly's help getting her back.

There's only one problem: Everly may have a tiny crush on the dashing businessman. But despite the way Hardy makes her stomach flutter, she's determined to prove herself, both as a bridesmaid and as a matchmaker. That is, until she finds her crush turning into real feelings. Not to mention, Hardy can't help but notice how well he clicks with Everly, and before he knows it, he's not looking for his ex's attention anymore.

But even after their simmering attraction finally rises to the surface, they will have to contend with meddling friends, poor timing, and professional boundaries—and the risk that no one might get a second chance after all.

Thoughts

I found this book disappointing in a lot of ways. It felt far too long for the story it needed to tell. There was a lot of filler content, especially all of the ‘save the animals’ emails from JP. Additionally, the story kept getting reiterated every time the POV changed, which made it feel repetitive and dragged out. I think the pacing could have been much tighter to keep me more engaged.

One of my major issues was how quickly Everly forgave Hardy. Considering how much the situation broke her, I felt that her forgiveness came too easily and too quickly. I would have liked to see more of Everly expressing her emotions over the situation. Her experience seemed to get glossed over for the sake of a reconnection with Hardy, which I found unsatisfying. A deeper exploration of her emotional journey would have made her character more relatable and the story more impactful.

Despite these glaring issues, there were aspects of the book that I did enjoy. The overall story was really cute, and the chemistry between Everly and Hardy was spot on. Both of them were, for the most part, greatly enjoyable characters. Their interactions felt genuine, and their budding romance was sweet and engaging. The spicy scenes between them were also delectable and added a nice touch of heat to the story.

The chaos that is Hardy Hopper was genuinely hilarious, making for some highly enjoyable moments. His antics had me laughing out loud more than once. The banter between Everly and Hardy was a highlight of their relationship and really showcased Quinn's talent for writing dialogue. It was refreshing to see two characters who were so perfect for each other, and their journey to romance was filled with memorable moments.

However, these positive aspects weren't enough to outweigh the negatives for me. This was my first Meghan Quinn book, and while there were moments I enjoyed, I'm not sure I'll be picking up another one anytime soon. The issues with pacing, repetitive storytelling, and the lack of emotional depth in Everly's character arc made this a less-than-satisfying read for me.

In conclusion, while the book had its charming moments and delightful character interactions, the overall experience left me wanting more. I hope that in future works, Quinn can find a better balance between humor and emotional depth, as well as tighten up the pacing to create a more engaging story. For now, I'll be hesitant to dive into another of her novels.