Reviewed by Leah on
After reading Jane Costello’s second novel The Nearly-Weds I set about finding Bridesmaids, her debut, hoping it would be just as good a read. I started it in earnest and finished it hours later. It’s by no means a short book – just over 400 pages – but I whizzed through it quickly. The question is, though, was it as good as The Nearly-Weds?
A short answer would be yes. Yes it was just as good as The Nearly-Weds and it also had the same warmth and humour, too. We’re immediately thrust into one of the four weddings Evie will be attending throughout the course of the book and I was instantly sucked in. I found myself laughing out loud when Evie first met Jack and the way in which it happened – her chick fillets popping out of her dress and from then on I found myself laughing out loud on numerous occasions. As the story progresses a lot of things get in the way of Evie and Jack which drove me to distraction and I hoped it would all work out in the end.
I absolutely adored all of the characters particularly Evie who narrates to us throughout the book. The blurb describes her as warm and sparkly and I could see that pretty much from the off. She was hugely likeable and the situations she got herself into had me laughing out loud on numerous occasions. She was like a walking disaster. Jack was also immensely likeable, even if he was seeing Valentina at the beginning of the book! He seemed perfect for Evie and all of the obstacles that were thrown in their way drove me insane. Evie’s friends were all great: Grace, who I’d say was Evie’s best best friend and who’s the first to get married; Georgia, who makes regular appearances and whom I liked immensely. Georgia’s wedding is the second wedding we attend, Valentina, although self-obsessed and prone to being annoying was also incredibly likeable and is bride in the fourth wedding of the book and finally Charlotte, whom was my favourite of the four friends. Evie’s mum is the other wedding and I loved her quirky and eccentric nature. It may seem as if there’s quite a few characters to keep up with and there was, but I found them easy to deal with. We also meet three of Evie’s ex-boyfriends but only two are prominent: Gaz and Seb, both annoying and both unlikeable but for different reasons entirely.
Reading a book entitled Bridesmaids does of course mean there’s going to be weddings galore and boy, are there a lot of weddings throughout the book! I felt as if I should have read it wearing a dress and huge hat! I liked the inclusion of the weddings and the madness that ensued most of the time. There are other plots in the book, mainly about the friendship of the five girls and we see how marriage effects those we witness getting married. There were a few twists in the story and one involving Charlotte I guessed immediately but it was interesting to see how it was handled and how it ended. Costello writes in such an easy way that I find myself flying through her books. I said in my The Nearly-Weds review that she reminds me of Paige Toon with the easy style of writing and the ease in which I fly through her books and it’s again apparent in Bridesmaids. Costello also peppers the book with some fantastic and hilarious moments which had me laughing and it takes quite a book to make me laugh out loud.
Bridesmaids is well worth a read as Jane Costello is a fantastic writer which makes for a fantastic read. Jane’s only had two books published but I’m a huge fan already and can’t wait for her next offering. Her books are witty, warm and immensely moreish! Plus most women will have been a bridesmaid at some stage and I dare you to not laugh and nod your head at the wedding scenarios!
Reading updates
- Started reading
- Finished reading
- 23 October, 2009: Reviewed