The Wedding Girl: A Novel

When I read the title and the brief little synopsis before purchasing the book, I was expecting a cute little summer read. A sort of a romp of a story through wedding planning, bridesmaids, just a silly little story. What I got was a much deeper, reflective story on secrets and the effects of hiding our true selves from the world.

Milly Havill had a fun summer ten years prior with two good friends. Her actions to try to help someone, come back to haunt her at a time, when it really matters.

Fast forward ten years and Milly is preparing to have the wedding of the century to the son of one of Britian's most successful businessmen. Simon Pinnacle seems a bit of a perfectionist and Milly, who adores Simon, is willing to remake herself to fit Simon's perception of her.

Milly's mother, Olivia is caught up in the wedding preparations and the idea of being connected to the Pinnacle family. She also runs a successful bed and breakfast and it sounds as if she is truly a great hostess making certain her guests are well cared for when visiting. James, her husband is an accountant. He is beginning to feel lost, as if their lives together have grown apart and they are heading on separate paths. James wants more.

Isobel is the older sister, a successful career girl, blazing trails and making her parents proud. Until she discovers that her life is taking a huge turn.

Harry Pinnacle is Simon's father. Harry abandoned Simon's mother when Simon was young. Without his wife, Harry became successful in business. Simon, has been trying to best him and make a way for himself. One thing is certain is that Simon is certain that he will definitely best his father in the love and family area.

Rupert, is one of Milly's former friends from ten years prior in Oxford. Rupert was uncomfortable. Rupert set out to remake himself, but has he been truly happy? His current life requires some reflection and decisions, when Milly comes crashing back in to his life, looking for their mutual friend Allan.

Alexander is the photographer, back in Milly's life, after ten years, ready to photograph the wedding of the century. However he knows Milly's secret and teases her about it.

Esme is Milly's beloved godmother. She is always there to comfort, console and support Milly. But, is she truly as wonderful as she seems?

This story examines the secrets and winding and unwinding of lives. How sometimes, we remake ourselves to make ourselves attractive and acceptable to others. How sometimes we lose our way to our true selves in a search for happiness. Then, only to wonder are we truly happy as we are now.

Don't get turned off by this title. And, don't expect a sweet summer read. Do, however, read this book for an examination of how some people discovered who they truly were and find themselves back to redemption.

This book doesnt live up to the hype that comes with this author's name. The character developement is at the level of a high schooler and the plot is all over the place. The story doesnt pick up until there is about 50 pages left and then youre confused if the story is about a gay couple, a preggers sister or a girl getting married. I was very disappointed with this book and i dont think ill ever read a book from this author again. I love chick lit, but this book just doesnt measure up.

I hadn't read any Madeleine Wickham books until recently, when I read [[ASIN:B004GKMUU8 Cocktails For Three]] and really enjoyed it (more than the Sophie Kinsella books, the author's pen name, which I occasionally delve into for an escapist release.) I didn't enjoy The Wedding Girl quite as much, although it's very readable. I found the lead character Milly a bit annoying, and a lot of the plot relies on misunderstandings and missed timing that is a bit cheap and sitcommish. The general theme is secrets, and a secret Milly has that threatens her upcoming marriage. In the process of revealing this, we are introduced to several periphery characters that make the book feel a bit scattered. One in particular, an old friend struggling to come to terms with his homosexuality, adds depth to this book, but also feels short-shrifted - his story could easily have been the co-center of this novel, and was the only part of the book that felt interesting to me actually. Alas, he only gets a chapter or so to himself, and so his complexity is resolved rather quickly.

So overall, very readable, I wasn't bored, but just a bit scattered in some ways and predictable in others.

I've read many Sophie Kinsella novels (Undomestic Goddess, Shopaholic Series). While this book was well written and interesting, it lacked the witty and charming characters that are the trademark of Kinsella's work. It was a good effort but Kinsella has written other books that really draw you in and make you care about the main character.

This book was one of my favorite Madeleine Wickham books. Very sweet and well done. Enjoyable read!! I just wish the audible CD was narrated by a "better" voice...

I bought this book because I have read all of Sophie Kinsella's books and heard that she and Madeleine Wickham are one and the same person. I was expecting the same style of writing and it is very different. I must say though, that the story did have a lot of depth and the characters were diverse and complex. I enjoyed this book.

This book was all over the place! I almost didn't finish it b/c it was very slow going and it didn't get good until the secrets were actually revealed. I get that the book is about secrets, lies, truth and forgiveness, but the side plots were unnecessary and it made the whole tone completely unfocused.

I never sympathized with Millie b/c there was no good reason for her to keep such a benign secret and the way she handled herself was ridiculous. While I understand that the Rupert and Alan angle had to be thrown in there to serve as the plot catalyst, the fact that there was no resolution between Rupert and Alan nor Rupert and his wife made me question the message that Wickham was trying to convey. Then add in some random religious snobbery along with some questionable relationship choices that aren't incest per se, but really outlandish nonetheless.

Every single main character in this book has more than one personal relationship that is troubled in one way or another. And the only relationship I was rooting for was the one between Simon and his father Harry. I loved Harry as a character and he seemed to be the only one that had any sense, though he wasn't perfect either.

The story was a nice try by Wickham. There were too many things going on and the ending was proof of this as she could not tie everything up satisfactorily. The whole thing seemed to be a misguided mess.

I normally like her books, under this name and sophie kinsella. And while I know it is fiction, this one was just really reaching I guess. Not her best work.. Much prefer Cocktails for Three.

as described and quick arrival of book

Too many themes, concepts, storylines jumbled into one. The seller however was great delivering on time and the book was in good condition