4.5 BELLY LAUGH STARS ✬ CHARLOTTE FALLOWFIELD ✬ NEVER THE BRIDE

4.5 BELLY LAUGH STARS

NEVER THE BRIDE 

Dilbury Village #1

by

Charlotte Fallowfield

Abbie collects dresses. Specifically bridesmaids' dresses. But the one dress she covets the most has been out of reach so far. She isn't happy with her single status but living in a small village in England doesn't exactly give you a wide variety of male specimen to choose from. At the wedding of one of her friends Abbie locks eyes with the groom's gorgeous American best man...and stumbles right into his arms. They deepen their acquaintance in the spray of sprinklers. An emergency the same evening calls Miller home to New York. He leaves in a hurry but not without leaving Abbie his phone number and a sweet plea to call him.

Abbie cannot imagine a way how a relationship with a guy living on the other side of the pond could work. Add to that a reputation of being a lady's man and her decision is made and she throws his phone number away. Still, she can't stop thinking about him. A couple of months later they meet at the next wedding. Understandably, Miller is hurt and avoids Abbie but can he really turn away from what might be the love of his life?

‘There’s an us?’ My voice was barely a whisper. The thought of it excited and terrified me at the same time.
‘There is,’ he stated firmly. ‘I can’t explain it, Abbie. The moment I saw you, it was like I was looking at a missing part of myself. Like I’ve been alone all of my life, and suddenly I wasn’t anymore. I’ve thought about you every day since we met. I don’t know how we’re going to do this, with me in New York and you here, wherever the hell we are because I have no idea. I just know that I’ve got to try. The question is whether you’re willing to?’

Abbie is a sweet, quirky heroine with a stubborn streak, a big heart and a penchant for mishaps. She lives with her flatulent dog in the countryside in harmony with her neighbors and best friend. Her reasons for not wanting to leave her home are understandable, I could relate to her reservations although I did feel at times that she gave up too quickly.

Miller is a rich, charming but stubborn guy who hides insecurities you don't expect. There were some situations that didn't make sense to me at first because Charlotte Fallowfield makes it so and it is completely on purpose.
This book is written in a single POV from Abbie's perspective so the works of Miller's mind come from her and the way she experiences him. And this is probably the only thing that irritated me and had me deduct a half star. I love my dual point of view because it broadens the experience and gives you more depth into the characters' minds. Lack of dual POV notwithstanding, the solution to Miller's problems and insecurities did make sense in the end and I could forgive him.

This story is a charming, delightful and hilarious. It reminds me a great deal of Meghan Quinn's best books. It's a highly entertaining ride with a low steam factor. I like my reads more spicy but once in a while I do perfectly fine with a tamer story. We get a lot of toilet humor, which might get a little bit too much at times but I got some great belly laughs out of it. There is also a surprising dose of angst which kept me engaged. The side characters are incredibly endearing and if you are in dire straits these are the sidekicks you will want in your life.
Overall this was a fantastic introduction to Charlotte Fallowfield's books and I can't wait to get my hands on Georgie's story! This author's voice sounds proficient and fluid. If you love a good rom-com and don't mind the low steam this will be perfect for you!

‘When the time comes that you have to make the decision, you will.’
‘And what if I make the wrong decision?’
‘Take some advice from an old woman, Abbie. There’s no such thing as a wrong decision. You make your choices in life based on the cards played to you and your emotions at the time. Whatever will be will be, you can’t change fate.’