Borrow-a-Bridesmaid by Anne Wagener
Borrow-a-Bridesmaid
by Anne Wagener
To start off with full disclosure, the author was part of my local writing group when she started this book. So I got to see some of the early scenes. It was such a pleasure to get to find out what happens to Piper and Charlie and everyone else in this book!
The plot is pretty simple: Piper is a young woman with a degree she isn't sure how to use and a recent breakup under her belt. Her job selling books at the airport doesn't pay well, so she decides to sell her services as a bridesmaid on Craigslist. This quote from a spot near the middle of the book sums it up pretty well:
You know, I think since graduation--and maybe even before--I've been paralyzed. Because I don't know what path is right, what job is right, what guy is right.
Piper is such a hoot. You can't help but love her character. She's clever and funny and the sort of person I could instantly relate to. It was so easy to jump into her life, falling in love with Charlie, going on terrible dates, desperately trying to please her horrible boss just to make ends meet, craving BFF time with her roommate, and wanting more out of life than a car that's on its last legs and a job that isn't a career.
The characters were amazing. And the plot, awww. So many times I felt for Piper in her struggles. When things don't go her way, it's devastating, even when things are going well for other characters (like Lin and Steve) all you want is for Piper to find herself and find her words. Which, of course, she does. But in a beautiful, realistic way.
I was entertained every single minute. There are so many fun, clever lines but also so many wonderful descriptions and word choices. I had fun the whole way through just watching the story go by, described so well. It was like having a friend tell me a story (which, I guess, in a way it was).
I could not recommend this book more highly. It was such a treat to read.