“Pure fun – a romantic comedy that’s perfect for a day at the beach!” Lauren Layne, New York Times Bestselling AuthorCaroline Abbott knows her way around bridezillas.Working at a stationery store means helping engaged couples pick out the perfect save-the-date cards and invitations for their dream weddings–a dream job.Until the bridezilla of the day belongs to her first kiss, Alexander Wilder. … belongs to her first kiss, Alexander Wilder. He’s all grown up now, running his family’s luxury hotel chain, and even hotter than she remembers from that scorcher of a smooch.
So when Caroline catches his fiancée half-naked with another man, she has to tell him. And Alex has to break it off. And of course, the ex-bridezilla goes completely bonkers.
Good thing Caroline has plenty of experience–and friends to help save her.
She also has the sudden interest of Alex, who has a proposal of his own for her. Is it just a rebound for him, or does he also feel the same spark that drew them together all those years ago?
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Save the Date by Monica Murphy is a delightful read. It is a mix of a 2nd chance romance, fake to real romance and slow burn romance. Add in a delicious mix of main and secondary cast of characters, great scenery and engaging dialogue, this makes for a terrific start to a new series. In this book we get Caroline and Alex’s story and what a great story it is. Without giving too much away, they knew each other as children and they meet up again as adults. Alex’s is very well off and is engaged to a woman who isn’t all she proclaims to be. Caroline used to have a crush on Alex years ago when they were kids but he ghosted her. Now she is handling the “save the date ” cards for his wedding. Isn’t that awkward…. but she’s professional and very good at her job. Let’s just say, things don’t go as planned.
Caroline and Alex have a chemistry that is undeniable. The plot is believable and the twists and turns kept me going on as fast as I could get thru the pages. I loved the ending and look forward to book 2.
My Rating: 4.5 stars *******
I absolutely loved every page and word of Monica Murphy’s latest romance – Save the Date. It has a little bit of everything – a second chance, crazy ex and a fake engagement it covers all the trope bases along with being probably my new favorite Monica Murphy book.
Caroline Abbott is good at her job – she helps engaged couples pick out the perfect stationery for their upcoming weddings. When her latest couple walks into her store she notices 2 things – 1 the bride to be is a little off and 2 the groom to be is not only the guy who flirted with her 15 min before he is her first kiss. To say that Alex Wilder has grown up quite well is an understatement – he is definitely no longer the lanky kid with glasses that Caroline remembers. Alex also seems disengaged with the whole wedding process something that Caroline finds strange. Then when she catches the bride to be in a compromising position she knows that she needs to tell Alex and that’s when the story really takes off.
Alex Wilder knows he is a workaholic – helping to run his families hotel chain doesn’t allow for much downtime. Feeling pressure from his family he knows he probably jumped the gun in asking his fiance to marry him especially after he runs into the beautiful Caroline Abbott at a local coffee shop. Not to mention when Caroline catches her he knows he needs to break things off but he needs a fiance to close a deal with a European family who has the perfect building in Paris – can he get Caroline to help him and can he keep his feelings hidden?
Save the Date is funny, romantic and charming from the beginning. Ms. Murphy does a fantastic job drawing the reader into the story with great character development and story set up. The idea that a romance doesn’t have to be locked into one type of story is what I really loved – it was not long and drawn out which it certainly could have been with the horrible bridezilla. Told in dual POV’s we get both sides of the story which I loved. We also get to meet some great secondary characters who I can’t wait to see again in the Dating series.
I cant recommend Save the Date enough – it’s worth the time for sure.
Cute and cozy. I fell in love with the cover of this book, and having read a few stories by MM already, I knew I’d be tempted for sure.
Save the Date blends fun, chic and slow-burn romance. Mostly from the heroine’s POV, it’s a sweet second chance romance that rekindles in the most unexpected circumstances.
It may start at a stationery shop specialized in wedding invites, yet it spices up with false appearances, luxurious lifestyle, first kisses and a plot twist that ensures this couple gets their happy bells tolling.
I enjoyed every scene where workaholic, handsome Alex and honest, nice Caroline interact. Chemistry works fine even in very slow motion.
I liked meeting Caroline’s friends as they are so supportive of her and good candidates for future stories of their own. The only downside is that every event was rehashed a few times over and seemed a bit repetitive.
My favourite part is when Alex proposes a wild plan to Caroline that sets off a real change between them. It’s romantic to the brim, dreamy and totallly instagrammable 😀
Yet it also encompasses a subtle, true message that it’s not only about finding a man in life, but enjoying life as it is, as a woman who knows herself and is happy with her own choices. I found Caroline’s story charming and sweet, a bit disconnected maybe because of two quite distinct parts in the plot, but altogether romantic, modern and appealing.
I think it has even a good potential for more chic adventures about the bunch of friends, and I wouldn’t say no to another treat like this.
I absolutely loved Caroline and Alex in Save The Date. Monica Murphy has a way of writing stories that pull you in, feel as if you’re in the story, and feel the emotions of the characters. Caroline loves her job and deals with all types of brides picking out save the date cards. Then meet Alex, he is successful in his family business, but has quite the fiancé and knew Caroline when they were younger. Caroline and Alex take you on a fun, emotional, and interesting adventure from the moment they meet getting coffee. Alex and Caroline have an instant spark, but will these two give into their feelings or move on. Read this fantastic book and see what happens with Alex and Caroline, you won’t be disappointed.
Right off the top, the author had me at “Carmel-by-the-Sea,” which is one of my favorite places on Earth. I loved the descriptions of the real locations she included in the story because I was able to picture them as they looked when I visited there. But beyond that, the whole book was enjoyable. I liked Caroline’s periodic awkwardness – it was enough to make her realistic without being cartoonish or over the top. I also liked how the plot built; nothing was given away too early, which allowed the reader to journey with the characters. For more thoughts, visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release digital ARC of the book.
What a great easy read! I have been a Monica Murphy fan for a while and this one was very refreshing. It was low angst and lower on the heat than some of her others, but high on the slow burn. If you like a slow burn, second chance romance, this is the book for you. This would be a perfect beach read. I could tell there was set up for spin off books early on, so I can’t wait to read the next books in the series as well!
I received an Arc for a honest review and this was a new author to me. I really enjoyed the storyline and characters. Caroline works at a store called Noteworthy(very cute) where she helps people pick Save the Dates, invitations and thank you cards. She has to deal with a lot of different personalities and who would have known that her client one day would pose a huge challenge. Her client fiance happens to be her first kiss and he has grown up. Alex is a VP for his family hotel chain and recognizes Caroline right away. There is some chemistry that grows throughout the story. Caroline finds Alex’s fiance in a compromising position and tells Alex. From this point you have fake relationships, crazy ex, wicked attraction and Paris of course! The characters are funny and cute together and have great banter. Very much enjoyed and look forward to more from this author.
5 Star Review of Save The Date (Dating #1)by Monica Murphy
Monica Murphy is a new author to me and after reading Save The Date I will definitely be reading her other works when time permits.
I really liked Caroline Abbott, she is someone that I could easily be friends with. Working at Noteworthy she specialises in Save The Date and wedding invitations meaning she deals with a variety of brides.
Caroline is shocked when her latest bride’s fiancee turns out to be someone Caroline once knew, Alexander Wilder.
Alex was the first boy Caroline ever kissed and has always held a special place in her heart.
After discovering his fiancee has been cheating, Alex calls the wedding off and instead embarks on a journey of self discovery with Caroline.
Alex is most certainly swoon worthy and I loved the slow burn of the relationship as it built with Caroline.
Caroline’s friends were awesome and just as quirky as her. I really loved how supportive they were.
This is a sweet, romantic, second chance at love story that ticked the boxes for me. Extremely well written this story will take you on a fabulous journey that will leave you with a smile on your face.
Charming & Sweet! I love Monica Murphy’s style, she always pulls me in. “Save The Date” was another fantastic read, that left a smile on my face and my heart happy.
I enjoyed Caroline and Alex so much. Them reconnecting was super entertaining, charming and sweet, and had me smiling big time. I loved learning about their past history and I enjoyed the slow build of heat as everything played out. I also loved the flirty fun vibe it had going on and Caroline’s friends support and counsel through all the ups and downs. But the best part for me was their fun, flirty, witty banter and their inner dialogue. So cute and so real!
Fantastic Read! Don’t miss this great second chance romance!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Another super romance from my favourite author.
You can’t help but fall in love with both Caroline and Alex, just like did way back with their first kiss.
Both characters are easy to follow, honest in their development and I think we know someone just like them which makes Monica’s characters just so easy to get attached too.
As an ex shop girl myself I related to Caroline and her customer issues 😉 no spoilers here
Alex is just yummy. He knows it’s Caroline he wants and maybe, yes, goes about it a little backwards but that’s the fun of the story.
The great thing about this book is the easy flow that helps the reader move with the story. There’s no great revelations, no overly dramatic “what?” moments and that’s refreshing when you just want love to win.
If you want a feel good, make you secret smile book then Monica has done it again.
I’ve been really lucky this time to get the opportunity to read this book before its release. I’ve been reading Monica books forever and leave reviews when I can, so thank you.
Save The Date by Monica Murphy was a fun, fantastic, quick read! This was not like any other Monica Murphy book I have read but I loved every second of it!
This book is full of laugh out loud moments, chemistry that causes sparks to fly, and a fake relationship!
This book was not what I was expecting, but I am not one bit upset about it! I absolutely loved Saved The Date! This is such a fun, quick, summer read everyone should pick up!
Save The Date is such a cute read. I devoured this one it was that good. Caroline is amazing. I love her so much. She is sweet and will make you giggle at times. Alex he may be a workaholic but he is a goner when it comes to Caroline. I love how these two have a past together and the whole meet again moments. You can feel the draw between them from the start. Save The Date is a breath of fresh air read. It’s fun and sweet with hints of sexy around the edges. A perfect read for a rainy day or a day at the beach. You will fall in love with Caroline and Alex and have fun watching them find each other again. I couldn’t put this one down.
Monica Murphy est ce que j’appellerai une auteur hybride dans le sens où elle peut nous proposer de la dark romance, un thriller, une romance Young Adult et ici elle nous propose une comédie romantique avec Save the date. J’ai passé un très bon moment de lecture avec Caroline et d’Alexander .
Nous découvrons Caroline Abbott dans son élément à savoir la boutique dans laquelle elle travaille depuis des année. Chez Noteworthy , on travaille depuis des années à proposer de la papeterie de qualité pour faire du plus beau jour de votre vie un moment inoubliable. Elle doit bien entendu faire face à tout type de clients mais en général, elle se plaît énormément dans son travail. Une nouvelle cliente , Tiffany Ratcliffe risque bien de lui donner du fil à retordre car elle est très exigeante et son fiancé ne semble pas avoir de temps à lui consacrer pour l’épauler dans les préparatifs. Qu’elle n’est donc pas sa surprise quand elle découvre que le fameux fiancé est le premier garçon qu’elle a aimé et qui était le meilleur ami de son frère Carter. Elle est très troublée et le sera d’autant plus quand elle va découvrir un secret concernant la future mariée. J’ai aimé ce personnage car elle est entourée d’un groupe d’amies solides qui seront toujours là pour l’épauler et Stella , sa colocataire , saura aussi là pour la pousser dans ses retranchements. Il s’agira donc de découvrir ce que l’avenir réserve après qu’il décide de devenir la fausse fiancée d’Alex.
Alexander Wilder est un accro au travail incroyable . S’il pouvait répondre à ses appels , mails ou messages en dormant, il le ferait sans l’ombre d’un doute. Il se met une pression sur les épaules et décevoir son père est inconcevable. Il est donc le fameux fiancé de la la fameuse Tiffany et dès qu’on les voit ensemble , on se demande ce qu’il lui a pris de se lancer dans une relation avec elle . On comprend l’attrait physique mais on ne comprend pas le mariage. On a l’impression que rien n’a d’importance si ce n’est son travail et il devra ouvrir les yeux face à l’évidence. Sa vie est réglée comme du papier à musique et rien n’est donc laissé au hasard. Quand il se retrouve en compagnie de notre héroïne, on sent que l’étincelle est encore présente mais ce qu’on ressent à 17 ans ne peut sans doute pas être équivalent à l’âge adulte. A t-il seulement le temps de se consacrer à une vraie relation qui exige du temps et de l’engagement. Avec Caroline, il va prendre conscience qu’une femme à ses côtés est autre chose qu’une simple présence et il devra donc apprendre à être conciliant. Mais entre sa carrière et l’amour, fera t-il le bon choix.
Bref, Monica Murphy signe ici une comédie romantique très sympathique qui nous fait passer un bon moment de lecture. Alex et Caroline vont nous donner le sourire avec leur histoire qui ne sera pas sans turbulences. L’argent ne fait pas forcément le bonheur mais encore faut il se donner les chances de trouver l’être unique qui vous donnera envie de bousculer votre quotidien pour vivre un bonheur à portée de main.
4.5 Stars
It has been a while since I have read a book by Monica Murphy. Save the Date was such a fun fast paced read plus I just love the cover.
Caroline loves her job and where she lives. She has a great group of friends who are all supportive of each other. She loves helping couples find their invites and save the date cards. She never expected one day to see a boy from childhood.
Alex works for the family business and has just moved backed to Carmel. He is married to his job and doesn’t take much time for anything else. When he sees Caroline again he’s reminded of his childhood. He was best friends with Caroline’s brother and had a crush on her.
They have this pull towards each other and the chemistry. I was captivated by this book and couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed this book and can not wait to read more from Monica Murphy. This was the perfect summer read. I highly recommend it.
What a wonderfully sweet, sexy, drama-filled second chance romance. Caroline has found her passion in paper; she loves helping brides find the perfect ‘save the date’ and invitations for their weddings. She never dreams that her latest client will bring Alex back into her life. Alex was her first kiss when they were kids and he was her brother’s best friend. Then he disappeared. When she sees him again, those feelings she had as a 12-year-old are still there. His fiancé is a bridezilla and when Caroline has to share something she witnessed with Alex, well, his world gets flipped. Alex is stunned to see Caroline again after all these years but it’s a welcome surprise. When he finds himself in a bind for a deal he’s trying to close, he enlists Caroline to be his fake fiancé. As they travel to Paris, will they be able to keep everything platonic? Or will those old feelings win? I had fun with their journey as they reconnected and weathered the challenges that presented. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
I’ve always been a fan of Monica Murphy… Drew and Fable are my faves!
This is Alex Wilder and Caroline Abbott’s story. They were childhood friends and were each other’s first kiss. They lost touch over the years and came to a chance encounter one day at a stationery store—were his fiancée was ordering their wedding invitation…
Alex is consumed with his work and seriously takes the role of the worthy hotel heir. Caroline is this sweet, hardworking girl who wants to own the stationery store one day… aaaand I’m just going to stop here because discussing Alex and Caroline further would surely giveaway the story.
It was a wee bit fast paced for my liking… I think everything happened less less than a month… but attraction and feelings has no timeline… and since they know each other when they were kids, it’s easy to reconnect.
It was a light and easy read… it’s something you’d want to read after a long and hard day.
For the fans of Lauren Blakely, RS Grey and Max Monroe, this is the book to pick up next!
Save the Date is the perfect summer read! Readers who enjoy travel, fake relationships, second chance romances, and books that revolve around weddings are not going to want to miss Monica’s latest novel! I savored this novel- like a fine macaroon! I read it in one sitting as well. It’s a lighthearted read with an excellent cast of characters and an engaging story line. Monica Murphy can write a diverse number of books- romances, young adult thrillers, and YA romances which is why I am always coming back for more! Save the Date falls in the romance category (maybe even chick lit) and has everything it needs: a cute relationship (brother’s best friend from middle school, and second chances), character growth (Alex finally realized what LOVE is about), and a little bit of sexy times (not too much, just enough to see that the two were compatible). It’s an all around wonderful book.
Monica Murphy
Couldn’t put this one down!! It was fun, exciting, comical with just the right amount of drama to keep things going. This book really has a little bit of everything that makes a good romcom. I went into this one blind and was so thrilled that it exceeded my expectations.
Caroline works at a high-end stationery store that sells save the date and wedding invitations to betrothed couples. She’s great at what she does and she has long since learned how to deal with Bridezillas. Caroline is thrown off her game when her new client’s fiance turns out to be Alexander Wilder, a man with whom she shared her first kiss. Alex has grown up to be successful and gorgeous and Caroline finds it hard to get Alex off her mind. When Caroline catches Alex’s fiancee with another man, he calls off the wedding and he and Caroline begin to reconnect.
This was a really fun and easy read. I liked Caroline as a character quite a bit and Alex is definitely more fleshed out as a romantic lead in Save the Date than some of the books I’ve read where the focus is on the heroine and the romantic interest feels a bit stale and under-developed. But Alex was intelligent, sexy and had plenty of personality without having to come across as an assh*ole alpha male, which I appreciated. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, although I’ve never been fond of the one-dimensional mean girl (Tiffany) who feel they’re just there to create some drama for drama’s sake.
The book is full of romantic tropes, but they don’t feel contrived here at all (except for maybe the “We have to share a bed because the hotel messed up” trope which is the second I’ve read in a span of 2 weeks! :D). My favorite part is that Monica Murphy does not have Alex and Caroline suddenly head over in heels in love after knowing one another for a few weeks. That’s what made this book so wonderfully believable for me in terms of a real relationship. They recognize that they care about each other, but LOVE doesn’t always happen that swiftly, especially when you don’t know the other person all that well.
I think the only major downside to STD is that there’s no huge conflict here. Caroline an Alex are into each other, and they deal with expected insecurities and doubts as they get to know one another again after 10+ years. But nothing really happens that makes you doubt they’ll be fine in the end. And maybe the book will be dated in a few years with all the pop culture references, but it’s still a really fun romance.
4.5 stars! (ARC provided in exchange for an honest review)
I absolutely loved this book! The story was cute and Alex and Caroline were such great characters. Caroline Abbott loves her job. She helps couples with their wedding invitations and save the date cards. Every bride is different, but there are some that are difficult. One of her customers just so happens to be Alex Wilder, the guy who gave her her first kiss, and his fiancée. Difficult describes Alex’s fiancée to a T. When an error requires Caroline to deal with the issue, she learns a horrible secret, she must do what’s right. Monica Murphy is a master storyteller, and her books just keep getting better and better.