Jasmine GuilloryContemporary Romance · Romance
The Wedding Date
Synopsis
Alexa Monroe is the chief of staff to the mayor of Berkeley. Drew Nichols is a pediatrician from Los Angeles and a groomsman at his ex-girlfriend's wedding. When a power outage traps them together in an elevator the day before the festivities, Drew asks Alexa to be his plus-one, and she agrees.
The weekend is easy, funny and warmer than either of them planned for. Once the wedding is over they have to decide whether it was only a good weekend, or whether they can make a relationship work across the distance between their two cities, around two demanding careers.
The Wedding Date is Jasmine Guillory's debut novel, published by Berkley in 2018, and the first book in her Wedding Date series. It is a contemporary romance built on a fake-date premise, with a light tone and a long-distance second half.
How it reads
Prose complexity 4/10
- Warning: Spoilers I wasn't sure how to begin to review this book but I was intrigued by the interracial relationship (black female, white male), also how their fake relationship transitioned into a real one. By reading the story, you can't help but fall in love with the characters, wanting their relationship to work out and blossom. I did enjoy the character development especially for the story involve each of the character's careers as well as friendships making them more authentic and relatable. Alexa works as the Mayor's Chief of Staff and Drew is a Doctor and their careers are focused during their story showing their passion for them but also for helping other people. Their friendships are also a major part of the story as Alexa has Theo, a fellow coworker that she confides in while Drew has Carlos who plays a key factor in Drew realizing his feelings for Alexa. Another aspect I liked about the story is how race is discussed and Alexa doesn't shy away from discussing it to Drew. He doesn't seem to understand it at first but begins to see Alexa's point of view as the story progresses. Guillory's writing style gives us the POV from both main characters giving us insight into their thoughts and lives. The changes in POV as smooth and gives us a clearer picture of the scene occurring. Overall, I loved this story, the development in the romance between these two characters when they realize how much they fell in love while pretending to be in love. Drew has a pattern when it comes to his dating life yet when he meets Alexa, he changes with a help from two characters that truly give him the insight that he wants romance in his life rather than the dating lifestyle he had lived previously. "No, let me finish, let me get this out. You...I...Alexa, I can't imagine my life without you. I haven't been able to since I first met you on that elevator. When I woke up that morning and you weren't there...it broke me. I tried to live without you, but I couldn't. I can't." "Alexa, I love you. I love you so much." Drew realizes how much he truly wants and needs Alexa in his life and decides to pursue a real relationship with her. He even asks to be transfer to a hospital nearby to be with her showing how much one moment totally changed his life.
- Drew is an asshole and so full of himself. He lacks self-reflection and rigorous self-examination at the time he needs to. Geez there were times I wish I could reach into the pages of this book and smack him 😒😤 Oh dear Alexa...communication babe, communicate and stop running 🤦🏽♀️. If you've read this, does Jack has his book in the series? Cause I care about him so much and want to know more about him too 😊 Interracial romance seems not to be working for me in books lately 🤷🏽♀️ For what it's worth: it was good seeing a Black woman being successful as a mayor's chief of staff and the TARP project to help teenagers. And Drew's work as a pediatrician.
- I like the whole elevator scene. I would read more by her. My beef is that the two main characters are book smart but also so dumb and immature. Too much pining and assuming. I thought they would both be bright enough to hash things out rather than behaving like children.