cover image The Weekend Wedding Assistant

The Weekend Wedding Assistant

Rachel Gladstone. Turner, $16.99 trade paper (304p) ISBN 978-1-68442-377-4

Gladstone debuts with the humorous and tender story of a grieving heroine whose fiancé has recently died and who finds work fixing other people’s weddings now that she’s no longer planning her own. When Julia Holmes masochistically visits the church where she would have married the late Aaron DeMinthe, she spontaneously accepts a weekend position assisting with the chapel’s weddings. She hopes the job will restore order to her life and distract her from her growing feelings for Aaron’s best friend, Lincoln Douglas, whom she’s bonded with over their shared mourning. She meets attractive wedding photographer Garrett McLeod and embarks on a passionate affair with him in an attempt to move on, but with the distraction of other people’s weddings and her continued sadness over Aaron, Julia’s thoughts linger on Lincoln. Julia’s funny, sympathetic narrative voice allows for a nice balance between comedic interactions with outrageous bridezillas and heavier emotions as she struggles to accept Aaron’s death and forge a new life. Despite repetitious elements and a reliance on cliché, the sometimes fluffy plot remains entertaining and Julia’s emotional journey is authentic. This optimistic romance tackles dark subjects with a light touch, making for a sweet tale of second chances. (Feb.)