The young adult genre has become my favorite over the years, and while I still enjoy reading books from other ranges as well, there's just something about the young adult titles that have a special place in my heart. But since there aren't many young adult titles that feature bachelorette parties/weekends or weddings related festivities in general (or at least not that I know of) I decided to branch out today and name a few of my favorite titles that feature these events and rights of passage.
"Something Borrowed" tells the story of Rachel, a young attorney living and working in Manhattan. Rachel has always been the consummate good girl---until her thirtieth birthday, when her best friend, Darcy, throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy's fiance. Although she wakes up determined to put the one-night fling behind her, Rachel is horrified to discover that she has genuine feelings for the one guy she should run from. As the September wedding date nears, Rachel knows she has to make a choice. In doing so, she discovers that the lines between right and wrong can be blurry, endings aren't always neat, and sometimes you have to risk all to win true happiness. "Something Borrowed" is a phenomenal debut novel that will have you laughing, crying, and calling your best friend.Some of you may have seen the movie recently released featuring Jinnifer Goodwin and Kate Hudson, and if you have you know how great this story really is! The movie did a pretty good job of transferring the written word to the big screen and I've got to admit it was one of the few instances where I may have actually liked the movie more than the book. I'll admit that this decision may have in fact had more to do with John Krasinsky playing one of the main characters, more so that the film following so closely to the pages of Griffin's debut novel, but regardless it was wonderful. There is a scene in this book where one of the main characters Darcy is being thrown her bachelorette party, and the idea and theme they used for her was awesome! I don't want to give anything away if you haven't had the chance to pick this one up, but I'm hoping to steal the idea for my own bachelorette party if and when that day arrives in the future....just loved it!
I Do (But I Don't) (Crandell Sisters, #1) by Cara Lockwood
"She creates perfect days."In spite of her incorrigible curly hair, Lauren Crandell is a neat-freak and organizational guru, qualities that make her the perfect wedding planner. But when two weddings in one day go haywire, and hunky firefighter Nick Corona comes to the rescue -- twice -- Lauren realizes there are a few important details in her own life she hasn't been tending to since her divorce. Namely, her sex life.
"She lives lonely nights."
Sweet and sexy Nick seems hell-bent on fanning the flames between them, and Lauren definitely feels sparks flying. But she's scrambling to plan nuptials for her most challenging client yet -- a beautiful, cunning, and certifiable Psycho Bride. With the big day rapidly approaching, a series of misunderstandings, mishaps, and mistaken identities threatens to ruin not one, but two happily ever afters. But with her career and her love life on the line, the wedding planner just might learn that you can't plan "everything, " least of all true love.
This is one of my all time favorite "chick-lit" books, as well as written by one of my favorite authors. Lockwood is clever and witty and her writing is easy to fly right through and have you crossing your fingers that the fun never stops. I literally laughed out loud several times while reading this one. I had tears in my eyes at one point from laughing so hard at the scenarios that Lockwood was painting. This title, like Something Borrowed, was turned into a movie. While this one never made it to the big screen, it was actually a Lifetime movie. Featuring Denise Richards as the main character and Superman's Dean Cain as the leading male, they were actually pretty good matches for what I had invisioned in my head while reading the book. Full of laughs and cringe-worthy moments, this book is definitely a great read to get anyone in the wedding spirit but it may have you crossing your fingers that your wedding doesn't turn out to resemble some of the ones featured within Lockwood's pages.Dixieland Sushi by Cara Lockwood
Wax on....Jen Nakamura Taylor thought she left behind her awkward past of growing up half-Japanese, half-white in a small Southern town when she moved north to produce a popular Chicago television show. But when she gets word that her Southern Belle cousin is marrying Kevin Peterson, the very boy Jen loved-with-a-capital-L for years, she realizes she can't run from her past forever. Not only does the news conjure up sticky memories of growing up with a mixed heritage in the South (soy sauce on chicken fried steak, anyone?) but now the very single and very busy Jen has got to find a date for the wedding -- a grand affair that could put Scarlett O'Hara to shame.
Wax off....
Riley -- Jen's cute British friend from work -- seems just the ticket; even his girlfriend thinks it's a good idea. But as Jen and Riley whistle on down to Dixie, sparks start to fly. Add to the fire the grown-up but still charming Kevin Peterson, who appears to have a soft spot for Jen, and, well, whoa. It's going to take everything Jen has (and a lot of help from the Karate Kid-wisdom of her pop culture hero Mr. Miyagi) to survive the meeting of past and present, and of North and Far East and South...where Jen finally learns to come to terms with her heritage, her love life, and herself.
Another one by Lockwood, and like I said I just adore her writing style and the situations she puts her wonderful and unique characters in. This was another title that hit my funny bone and had me flying through the pages quicker than I realized. Between the main character's habit of giving herself advice that was first coined by the Karate Kid's Mr. Miyagi or the crazy situations she gets herself into involving her good friend who their may be more to than she originally though (including chemistry) and her ex-boyfriend who is the soon to be groom marrying her cousin. It's filled with craziness and funny situations and will leave you feeling good when you've finished the last page!Happy Reading!
I love Something Borrowed (and Something Blue)! I also really liked The Bachelorette Party by Karen McCulluh Lutz, it's kind of raunchy in parts, but it's hilarious!
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