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A review by currant7
The Substitute by Denise Grover Swank
4.0
This review can also be found in Currant7 Recommends.
Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Megan Vandemeer is on a plane to fly back to her hometown for her weekend wedding. The catch is that she broke her engagement a few months ago. She was afraid to tell her parents, who have planned an elaborate wedding awhile now. Megan is not devastated about the break; instead, she worries about breaking her parents' hearts and expectations. In comes her answer - Joshua not only saved her from airport security due to her drunken-state but also got entangled to be her stand-in fiance!
What I like...
1.) the comedic antics happening of supporting cast members of Grams, Libby, and Blaire
2.) the sizzling attraction between Megan and Josh
3.) Nicole (aka "Knickers") - Megan's jaded, entitled mother-of-the-bride, termed as "Knickers," running the wedding of their dreams versus the brides' (to the point of changing the bride's chosen wedding gown to the mother's choice without her consent)
What I didn't care for...
1.) the cliff-hanging moments from spilling the secret then gets retracted or diverted to something else; and
2.) the "feels" when confessions did come and I had to have a box of tissues beside me
Told from Megan and Josh's POV, the Substitute's writing is witty, concise, and humorous. The jokes were uber funny and well-placed in the scenes. There are many internal conflicts between main characters that would test out their moral ethics and judgment calls. The plot gets complex as the story went so do not gauge this story from only the synopsis because many heavy moments outweighed the funny.
I felt so bad for Megan and Joshua. The dilemma that each faced is has no upside since either decision will hurt the people they both love and care for. For Josh, it is either Megan or the business. For Megan, it is her family or Josh.
I do have my opinions:- for Megan's case, I would "bite the bullet," confess everything and be ready for the consequences. Megan's reasons for breaking her engagement would have been acceptable, but carrying things too far and fooling everyone would be the more significant issue. Still, it would have been the easier way for Megan compared to putting the charade.
For Josh's case, I am at a loss. I do not know how and what I would decide because it would affect others versus Josh himself. I believe he would survive the aftermath of either decision, but breaking people who trust him not to "burn" them is something else. Thing things and concerns that ran through Josh's head were heavy. He was so torn on telling Megan or let someone else spill it for him. The truth was eating him up slowly throughout the story until the ultimate betrayal came that broke him.
I love Gram's antics so much. I kept looking forward to her scenes for witty banter and wacky side comments that crack me up each time. She is an endearing character that I will remember for a while. Two words I will remember her for - "nudist colonies." That is a sneak peek of what this woman has in her bag of jests.
In summary, the Substitute is all about the angsts that brought about events beyond Megan and Josh's control. Both knew someone was to get hurt at the end. I would describe the book as a suspenseful one, especially when the author puts readers "on edge" each scene that might give the "truth" away. I was holding my breath throughout as Josh and Megan still did not know what to do. But as Fate decided how they meet, Fate decides the answer for them in the end.
This book is a must-read for readers who love "the unexpected," the "serendipitous," and love amidst "the impossible." I cannot wait to see what will be next in the series.
Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Megan Vandemeer is on a plane to fly back to her hometown for her weekend wedding. The catch is that she broke her engagement a few months ago. She was afraid to tell her parents, who have planned an elaborate wedding awhile now. Megan is not devastated about the break; instead, she worries about breaking her parents' hearts and expectations. In comes her answer - Joshua not only saved her from airport security due to her drunken-state but also got entangled to be her stand-in fiance!
What I like...
1.) the comedic antics happening of supporting cast members of Grams, Libby, and Blaire
2.) the sizzling attraction between Megan and Josh
3.) Nicole (aka "Knickers") - Megan's jaded, entitled mother-of-the-bride, termed as "Knickers," running the wedding of their dreams versus the brides' (to the point of changing the bride's chosen wedding gown to the mother's choice without her consent)
What I didn't care for...
1.) the cliff-hanging moments from spilling the secret then gets retracted or diverted to something else; and
2.) the "feels" when confessions did come and I had to have a box of tissues beside me
Told from Megan and Josh's POV, the Substitute's writing is witty, concise, and humorous. The jokes were uber funny and well-placed in the scenes. There are many internal conflicts between main characters that would test out their moral ethics and judgment calls. The plot gets complex as the story went so do not gauge this story from only the synopsis because many heavy moments outweighed the funny.
I felt so bad for Megan and Joshua. The dilemma that each faced is has no upside since either decision will hurt the people they both love and care for. For Josh, it is either Megan or the business. For Megan, it is her family or Josh.
I do have my opinions:- for Megan's case, I would "bite the bullet," confess everything and be ready for the consequences. Megan's reasons for breaking her engagement would have been acceptable, but carrying things too far and fooling everyone would be the more significant issue. Still, it would have been the easier way for Megan compared to putting the charade.
For Josh's case, I am at a loss. I do not know how and what I would decide because it would affect others versus Josh himself. I believe he would survive the aftermath of either decision, but breaking people who trust him not to "burn" them is something else. Thing things and concerns that ran through Josh's head were heavy. He was so torn on telling Megan or let someone else spill it for him. The truth was eating him up slowly throughout the story until the ultimate betrayal came that broke him.
I love Gram's antics so much. I kept looking forward to her scenes for witty banter and wacky side comments that crack me up each time. She is an endearing character that I will remember for a while. Two words I will remember her for - "nudist colonies." That is a sneak peek of what this woman has in her bag of jests.
In summary, the Substitute is all about the angsts that brought about events beyond Megan and Josh's control. Both knew someone was to get hurt at the end. I would describe the book as a suspenseful one, especially when the author puts readers "on edge" each scene that might give the "truth" away. I was holding my breath throughout as Josh and Megan still did not know what to do. But as Fate decided how they meet, Fate decides the answer for them in the end.
This book is a must-read for readers who love "the unexpected," the "serendipitous," and love amidst "the impossible." I cannot wait to see what will be next in the series.