Book Review - The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall

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Title: The Secret Bridesmaid

Author: Katy Birchall

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 4th May 2021

Rating: 5 Stars

Sophie Breeze is a brilliant bridesmaid. So brilliant, in fact, that she's made it her full-time job.

As a professional bridesmaid, Sophie is secretly hired by brides to be their right-hand woman, ensuring their big day goes off without a hitch. From wrangling rowdy hen dos to navigating last minute portaloo cancellations, there's no problem she can't solve.

So when she's employed by an actual Marchioness to help plan the society wedding of the year, it should be a chance for Sophie to prove just how talented she is.

Of course, it's not ideal that the bride, Cordelia, is rude, difficult and determined to make Sophie's life a nightmare. It's also a bit inconvenient when Sophie finds herself drawn to Cordelia's posh older brother, who is absolutely off limits. And when a rival society wedding is announced, things get even more complicated . . .

Can Sophie pull off the biggest challenge of her career, follow her heart and maintain her reputation - all while keeping her true identity hidden?

I've lost count of the numbers of times I've been laughing out loud while reading this book.  There is so much that just hit my funny bone and had me giggling at times close to hysterically.  

This is especially true of some of Sophie's email exchanges with other bridesmaids or companies she is working with. They are so ridiculous that you can actually believe they are real! 

And this is such a fabulous concept, a professional bridesmaid, I loved how Sophie describes her role in weddings, and the way she has all her bride's backs is really clever - and the lengths she will go to are varied and impressive and on occasion funny too! 

Well until she is hired to work on the society wedding of the year, only the bride, Cordelia doesn't want Sophie's help and is determined to be so outrageous in her demands that it will force Sophie to quit. 

I was completely enjoying part of Sophie's world, seeing just how she worked, and also some character development too.  But for me it was all about the various weddings and the immensely entertaining scenarios that were presented. 

It was a quick and easy read which I always love and when I wasn't reading I was trying to find excuses to ignore work and move back to the book.  Perfect holiday / garden reading, when you just want to lose yourself in something that's hilarious. 

This is the first book I've read by Katy Birchall, and it definitely won't be the last. If she always puts this level of humour in her books then I'll be first in line to read them all!   A wonderful tonic to the past year and a bit, and we can all do with more laughter in our lives. 

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.