Sorry.. Didn't enjoy this.. too bad because the cover was so beautiful.. this book was catty and bitchy as it could be.

Should have DNF'd this one. Most of the main characters seemed so childish and I didn't like any of them. Some of the events in the book also seemed so weird (don't get me started on the time capsule...).

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks go to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House.

Genre: General Fiction, Women's Fiction, Adult Coming-of-Age, Literary Fiction
Spice Level: 1 pepper (there's a scene with the door open—I skipped it but it wasn't too long to get too detailed.)

WEDDING OF THE SEASON has a languid pace much like sailing on a calm ocean. It the story of old money versus Nouveau Riche. It the story of that which is lost and that which is found. It's a story of secrets. And it's a story of love—lost, found, betrayed, broken, and settled. It's also a story of love for your family, for the past, and for the future. After all, it's set in Newport.

Cass is a photographer and ran when hard times hit her family. She's back and has to face her past. But also the burden of secrets and the weight of her family legacy. Her family is check to jowl in the cottage, while the woman who "stole" their ancestral home lords over them. And who's getting married? Of course it's the daughter of the old rich, and now impoverished family, to the son of the lord of the manor. There's plenty of tension there!

Who are they trying to fool? When the rich has already moved down in status to the cottage, I kept wondering why there's this big hubbub? That didn't make sense so me when Cass's family is already somewhat black-balled from polite (meaning rich) society. I don't live on the East coast, so maybe I missed the nuance of the situation.

All of the characters fell a little flat for me—and I feel terrible saying that. The dad, J.P., doesn't seem to know what's going on. Hope, the mom, is living in a different era. Archer seems defined by his previous illness. Maggie is one I never felt like I knew as well as Jack; that's the couple in love. And Susie, Jack's mom, is hard to decipher between her words and actions. That's not everyone, but enough for this review. I'm fumbling here trying to figure out what I didn't love about the story. I wanted to adore this book and the world, but it also fell a bit flat for me. Was that because I'd just attended a wedding full of love? I don't know. It seemed a bit convoluted for convolutions sake...

The part I liked the best is in the last 5% of the book where the Mom, Hope, is talking to her children. I felt the resolve at this moment. Something of the heart of the story. As always, I love to read the acknowledgments to see what the author used that was real or if the time was fudged on history—this book was no exception to that rule.

Since it just wasn't for me, I'm giving it 4 stars because I think others will connect to it differently. If I rated it purely for myself, I'd give it 3 stars.

This is going to be a hit with the right audience.

It was a lovely easy summer read. I liked Cass' arc. She was a great character. The setting was lovely as well.

A quick and fun read about family dynamics, the drama of mixing two families together in marriage and the history of the Coventry family in picturesque Newport. I enjoyed following Cass’s adventures and happy with the conclusion!

just kind of blah, boring.

Grabbed this randomly off the new arrivals shelf at the library. The cover touts "Elin Hilderbrand meets..." I don't love Hilderbrand's writing so I should have known to put it right back on the shelf. Oh, well.