Always the Bridesmaid
Whitney Lyles
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Buy *Always the Bridesmaid* online

Always the Bridesmaid

Whitney Lyles
Berkley
Paperback
336 pages
February 2004
rated 3 1/2 of 5 possible stars

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Amy O’Sullivan is approaching the “Big Three-O” soon, and she does not relish the idea of turning thirty years old. She recently broke off her three-year relationship with her fiancé, Jack, after deciding that he is not the man that she wants to marry and spend the rest of her life with. Jack works all the time, and their relationship had become routine. Amy wanted out of the relationship but still feels the loss of splitting from her partner. Further, Amy receives the proverbial slap in the face when she discovers her “friend” Jodie is sleeping with Jack on the sly. Understandably depressed, Amy is ready to write men out of her life permanently.

However, that does not mean that Amy does not long to meet the “right man” and settle down like all her female counterparts seem to be doing these days. She simply doubts whether there is any suitable man out there for her. Her good friend Beth is engaged, and Amy will be a bridesmaid in the wedding. Her younger sister, Suzi, brings her hunky Australian boyfriend Matt home to Ireland to meet Amy, their parents and to announce their engagement. Again, Amy is to be a bridesmaid, and she struggles between feeling jealous and “being happy” for Beth and Suzi and their pending nuptials.

Amy works as a “story princess” in a local bookshop where she holds a children’s story hour. She loves working at the bookshop, although she sometimes wonders whether she should move on to something else. Just when Amy thinks she cannot handle another day of the single life, in walks the world-renowned children’s author Stevie J. Stevie J. is famous for his children’s books about wizards (similar to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series). Stevie J. is handsome, famous, kind and takes a liking to Amy, just when Amy thinks that there is no Prince Charming out there for her. Has she found her Prince Charming after all?

Always the Bridesmaid is an entertaining, fun read that chick-lit fans will enjoy. Amy is a frustrating character at times because she is so moody and tends to wallow in self-pity, in addition to creating many of her own plights. However, Amy is a “real” character, and the author does a good job with the character development of Amy and the other main characters. Reading about Amy’s experience as a “story princess” and the references to popular children’s authors and books adds interest to the story, as does reading about Irish culture. Always the Bridesmaid is recommended as a light beach read this summer for fans of chick lit and light romances.



Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Shannon I. Bigham, 2004

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