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Summary: One Woman's Journey Through a Round of Weddings
Review: When all of your girlfriends are getting married and settling happily into domestic bliss while you remain single, it can make you wonder about your own chances at everlasting happiness. After all, one does dream of one's own frilly, white extravaganza complete with cake, champagne, a troop of miserable bridesmaids and a handsome, kind and caring Prince Charming.Cate Padgett, like every other girl, dreams of her own wedding as she is forced to suffer one indignity after another in order to fulfill the fantasies of her closest friend. Such indignities include posing for endless photographs in ugly bridesmaid ensembles, forking out thousands of dollars for dresses, shoes, hairdos and presents, and giving up her personal time and life. Cate accepts the humiliating fittings, strange requests, photo ops and expensive, ugly and ill-fitting shoes with grace and aplomb as one friend after another makes the foray into marriage. Meanwhile, she ponders the state of her own wavering relationship and wonders when and if she, too, will join the ranks of the happily engaged and soon-to-be married. Paul, Cate's businessman boyfriend, seems happy enough with the status quo. There are no "I love yous" exchanged or even a mention of commitment to the future, despite the fact that they've been dating for a year. His inability to commit is apparent in his ability to go several days at a time without speaking to Cate or even seemingly giving her a second thought. Meanwhile, Ethan, a childhood friend, returns to Cate's life, making her wonder why suddenly he seems so much more appealing than the man she has spent the last year with. Still, Ethan is a friend and to imagine him as boyfriend material isn't in Cate's makeup, despite the fact that she makes frequent note of Paul's shortcomings compared to Ethan's glowing qualities. While Cate is busy with four weddings, a trip to Hawaii to spend some time with Paul, and a trip to Vegas to help yet another girlfriend celebrate her impending nuptials with an especially risqué bachelorette party (lap dances included), she still has time to consider the state of her current relationship. Cate is like many other young women of today, dating the man whom she knows is not The One and wondering when Mr. Right will appear. It only makes it harder to accept the unknown when everyone around you is pairing up. ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID is the newest addition to the tidal wave of Chick Lit currently flooding the shelves of bookstores everywhere. It's a novel that addresses the angst, trials and tribulations of today's young, single woman who's not quite sure if she should rejoice in her freedom or bemoan her spinsterhood. It's also a novel that will make you want to keep reading in order to see if Cate is lucky enough to catch one of the many bridal bouquets or if she's one of the unlucky ones left standing empty-handed. ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID is the first novel from 26-year-old author Whitney Lyles, who has drawn on her own bridesmaid experiences to pen a story of one woman's journey through a round of weddings. --- Reviewed by Amie Taylor
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Summary: Funny, charming, well-written
Review: Whitney Lyles's debut novel is a laugh-out-loud, charming book about a 26-year-old single, Cate Padgett, who spends an entire summer in other people's weddings. I loved the way Ms. Lyles used the San Diego setting (being a San Diegan myself!) to great ironic effect. She doesn't miss a beat in the situations in which her heroine finds herself during a series of madcap weddings. I'm picky about the romance novels I read, and I will sure be looking for her next one.
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