Guest Reviewer Week! Brianna Soloski (@girlseeksplace) reviews Running of the Bride by @RachelEddey

Running of the Bride by Rachel Eddey

239 pages * 4/5 stars

When Rachel’s handsome studio exec boyfriend proposes on the Sex and the City movie set, she can’t fathom the dizzying adventure ahead. Accepting a once-in-a-lifetime venue deal helps their budget but puts them on a crash course to get married in just four months—and time isn’t their only challenge. They battle a wacky host of vendors, including a hair stylist who fakes a car accident and a makeup artist channeling Marilyn Manson, all while testing their love amid tastings and tulle.

Using her nervous energy productively, Rachel enters every contest she can find, winning diamond earrings, a honeymoon, a photographer, and two wedding gowns. Her pop culture obsession lands the wedding party on two hit reality TV shows. There’s just one problem as the clock ticks down: Her staunch perfectionism and fear of dancing threaten to derail everything. She has to redefine perfect and embrace the mistakes—or risk losing it all.

Please take your seats. The wedding is about to begin.

(Amazon description)

I am still on my funny girl memoir kick. Actually, just a memoir kick in general. They are quick reads, which is perfect for summer and my busy schedule. (And yes, I’m super busy – I work three jobs and am trying to cultivate a steady freelance business. You can be busy without a husband and kids, for all the naysayers who can’t fathom how I could possibly be so busy).

Anyway, Running of the Bride is the perfect beach book. It tells the story of Rachel and John who, upon their engagement, decide to get married with only four months of planning time. One look at the calendar sends Rachel into a frenzy of countdowns and color-coded spreadsheets. I totally get how she feels and would definitely do the same thing.

Rachel and John end up on two reality shows: TLC’s Rock the Reception and Say Yes to the Dress. I’ve never seen the former, but the latter is a guilty pleasure of mine. What follows is a whirlwind of dance lessons, dress fittings, and a concentrated effort on Rachel’s part at becoming a more relaxed person. Of course, the couple also wins a wedding dress, a honeymoon, and snags a venue simply because of who they know.

Overall, I liked Running of the Bride. It had all the romance and fun of a wedding memoir and was a great read to start off my summer with. I am still hopelessly behind on the books I am supposed to be reading and reviewing, but I keep getting sucked into other books. I’ll get to them all. Eventually. I promise. 

***** Check out my interview with the author, Rachel Eddey, at 
http://girlseeksplace.wordpress.com/2012/08/21/running-of-the-bride-the-interview/!!!

About the Reviewer

Brianna Soloski is an avid reader and writer. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Sierra Nevada College. She also obtained her teaching credential from the college. Although she’s not currently teaching, she enjoys spending time with her friends’ kids. In her spare time, she loves to travel and would love to book a world cruise – imagine the memoir that could come from an adventure like that! Girl Seeks Place is her first full length novel and will be released October 26, 2012. She can be found blogging at www.girlseeksplace.wordpress.com. She can also be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brianna-Soloski-Writer, and @girlseeksplace on Twitter.