The Bridesmaid

Abby Beaumont has witnessed enough weddings at the age of sixteen to last her a lifetime. That's a side effect of your parents working in the wedding planning business. Another side effect is that you become very well acquainted with the Bridezilla, the hideous monster all women become as their wedding day approaches, no matter how rationally she is typically. Abby and her sister Carol pledged long ago never to get married and become a Bridezilla. Abby always thought they would keep their sister-to-sister promise. So when Carol announces that she's engaged and wants to be married in August -- which is only three months away -- with Abby as her maid of honor, Abby feels betrayed. When Carol turns into a complete Bridezilla, Abby knows her feeling of betrayal was justified. Even Noah, the pastry chef's hot son, can't make her feel better about having to do her least favorite thing -- wedding planning. Plus, she's not really convinced that her sister's finacé is right for her. This story starts out seemingly predictably, but takes some interesting twists. This book is as light and fluffy as the icing on a wedding cake, yet is still poignant and not too clichéd.

This book covered everything, there were no questions left unanswered. I LOVE this book.

This book is the pick for our mother-daughter book club. This is a great chick-lit read with well drawn characters and a fun plot that will appeal to girls who enjoyed Traveling Pants and Princess Diaries. Abby's parents run Dove's Roost, a wedding venue where they make couples' wedding dreams come true. Over the years Abby and her sister Carol have witnessed so many wedding meltdowns they vow to never marry. It is a shock to the family when Carol returns home after college graduation and announces she is going to be married. Their parents look at it as an opportunity to put on the ultimate wedding. Abby is sick at heart at the thought of losing her sister. Abby's world is changing in other ways. Her two best friends are planning a year in Italy and the boy she has a crush on is showing interest in her. A dedicated athlete and soccer player Abby is missing practice and games as she gets sucked into the wedding maelstrom and slowly but surely her sister is turning into Bride-zilla. Her parent's marriage is also cracking under the strain. Abbott's take on weddings, ice sculptures, mothers of the brides, and color themes is hilarious. Readers will identify with Abby and cheer for her efforts to fix her family and do the right thing for herself.

I totally fell for this charming novel. It drew me in and kept me laughing and intruiged the whole time. I felt the pressure and frustration of the wedding plans. This was one of the best novels that I have read in a long time. It is fun and full of laughs. If Hailey Abbott continues writing like this, we will have a new star among young adult literature.

Abby Beaumont is surrounded by weddings. Her parents run the Dove's Roost, a wedding hall. Naturally, Abby hates weddings. She is looking forward to spending the summer with her sister, who just graduated from college. When Carol shows up with a ring and a fiance, Abby is horrified. Then Carol announces that Abby is her maid of honor. Abby's plan to do nothing but show up is quickly over. Abby's parents can't agree on anything for Carol's wedding, and end up completely ignoring each other, while each plans a seperate wedding for their daughter. Carol quickly turns into a Bridezilla, and its up to Abby to keep the family from destructing. Meanwhile, she is suffering from unrequited love for Noah, one of their chefs. She also has the chance of a lifetime to spend a year in Italy, but might not be able to afford it. Can she pull of a fantasy wedding, get the guy of her dreams, and spend a year abroad?