The Best Day of Someone Else's Life is the story of Kevin “Vi” Connelly and her quest for the perfect wedding day. The only problem: she doesn’t even have a groom yet.

She calls a wedding day the BDOYL, or Best Day Of Your Life, and all her friends seem to be experiencing it for themselves while she’s left in the dust. Of course, she’s in all their weddings and has to dish out for hideous dresses that she’ll never possibly wear again, the curse of being a bridesmaid. As she searches for her own BDOYL, Vi endures hilariously embarrassing toasts, makeup, and dresses in order to be a true friend on the best day of someone else’s life.

The Best Day of Someone Else's Life is incredibly funny, especially for anyone who has recently been in a wedding. Though it’s exaggerated for humor, the book does make the reader realize the ridiculousness that both brides and bridesmaids must endure. Set in Washington, DC, this is one of those books where the location is important to the story. The city almost becomes a character, looming in the background along with Charlotte, NC, which is Vi’s hometown.

Unfortunately, the problems with The Best Day of Someone Else's Life outweigh the humor. First of all, it’s simply too long. A book with the standard chick-lit fare - weddings, friendship, and the search for true love, with a little bit of humor thrown in - doesn’t need to be more than 450 pages. The slow pace is also frustrating considering that, while the book is fun, it doesn’t have much substance to it. Additionally, Reichs’ sometimes stilted writing is a frustration.

The Best Day of Someone Else's Life seems remarkably similar to the recent Katherine Heigl movie 27 Dresses. While the book doesn’t quite boast the charm of that movie, it’s still a funny read about the hilarity of weddings and the joy (even if you have to REALLY search for it) of being a bridesmaid.