Hello, there everyone. It’s taken me a touch (okay – way longer) than expected to finally sit and be able to write this review. I apparently had far more time than expected during my winter break from school, but now that my final semester is in full swing I have been mentally exhausted far more times than I can count. Between finding a routine with Lucas being home (I think we finally have it…possibly), work, and school, and just everyday life, I have been incredibly tired. Having to stretch myself between different things and having to shift my roles as needed has been a lot more difficult than expected. It has taken me up until now to finally complete February’s book. But now here we are – the February book review for the LDR Book Club featuring The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory.
The Wedding Date is a sweet book. Published January 30, 2018, this book brings us through the love story of Alexa Monroe and Drew Nichols.
This story opens with Alexa and Drew being caught in a broken-down elevator. With seemingly all the time in the world, while waiting for the elevator to be fixed, the two start to get to know each other. Drew learns that Alexa was in the elevator as she was going to visit her sister who was in town and Alexa learns that Drew was in the area for a wedding. And not just any wedding – the wedding of his ex-girlfriend and one of his best friends. To make things worse for Drew, his date canceled on him. In a twist of events for both Alexa and Drew, he proposes that Alexa plays his fake girlfriend for the weekend. To both of their surprise, Alexa agrees.
This little moment sets off a fake dating situation that starts to become more real as time goes on. If you’re a fan of romance and love the fake dating trope – you already know where this is going. And let me tell you – it’s cute. If you’re someone who’s a sucker for a fake dating trope and a relatively quick read (provided you don’t keep falling asleep like me which had nothing to do with the book), this will be up your alley.
I know that this is a very specific to long distance relationships thing, but I have a little debate on myself on whether I want to officially call Alexa and Drew’s relationship “long distance.” Alexa lives in Berkeley, California while Drew lives in Los Angeles, and while I understand that these cities are in entirely different parts of the state, I want to argue and say that this would be considered “mid-distance.” Of course that doesn’t negate the fact that it’s still exceptionally difficult to navigate a relationship with a 6 hour driving difference (less with flying and probably more with traffic), but conflicts can be solved a lot quicker. Which also leads into my next point.
The realism of the anxieties of trying to figure out a relationship from a distance, especially with issues communicating was something I found myself enjoying. It’s very easy to get in your head and let insecurity and fear kick in. This often leads to jumping to conclusions that most likely aren’t there and leads to having difficult and quite often awkward conversations. It’s something that happens in all relationships, but with LDR (or any distance, really) it’s something that seems to prey on one’s mind a little more than usual.
The issues in communicating, something I’ve seen several reviews complain about (which – they’d all be surprised by how often it actually comes up), is extremely accurate. In the LDR community, one of the first things that is constantly asked when trying to give advice is, “Well, did you talk to your partner about the issue you’re having?” Most times the answer is no, and this is something that we see consistently in this book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot. It has a wonderful and diverse cast of characters, offers a quick read with some heavier themes mixed in, and just has a lovely pacing and storyline. While I’ll get through my very long laundry list of books first, I can see myself potentially returning to this book later on. I also just recently learned that this book is the first in a series, so I might check out the rest!
Unlike the book for January, I wholeheartedly do recommend this book for those in long distance relationships!
Rating: 4/5 Stars
While I know I’m technically a bit (or a lot) behind – the book for “March” will be What Light by Jay Asher. Yes, the same Jay Asher who wrote Thirteen Reasons Why. I’m not sure what exactly I’ll be getting into with this book, but I’ll be sure to let you all know.
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