Book Title: The Wedding Date (The Wedding Date #1)
Author: Jasmine Guillory
Purchase: Amazon
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Description from Goodreads:

A groomsman and his last-minute guest are about to discover if a fake date can go the distance in a fun and flirty debut novel.

Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn't normally do. But there's something about Drew Nichols that's too hard to resist.

On the eve of his ex's wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend...

After Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she's the mayor's chief of staff. Too bad they can't stop thinking about the other...

They're just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century--or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want...

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

After thoroughly enjoying Jasmine Guillory’s lighthearted rom-com The Proposal (read my review here), I couldn’t resist hopping onto Amazon to grab The Wedding Date as an ebook — like I couldn’t even wait for the two-day shipping, I needed it immediately. And it turned out that I enjoyed The Wedding Date even more than The Proposal (though Sandra is bewildered by this sentiment). In my opinion, Jasmine Guillory writes the adult versions of Sarah Dessen books. She’s consistent — you know you’re getting a great meet-cute, steamy romance, and stories of personal growth with a great cast of supporting characters. These books are perfect for fans of Sex in the City, which I also recently started watching for the first time (I know, I know, what took me so long?!).

The book introduces us to Alexa Monroe, Chief of Staff for a California mayor, and Drew Nichols, a hunky pediatric surgeon and BFF of Carlos Ibarra from The Proposal. As I’m realizing is standard for Guillory, the chapters switch between Alexa’s and Drew’s perspectives, giving the reader insight into both their thought processes as they try to guess what the other is feeling because, y’know, many of us struggle with open communication.

Alexa and Drew meet when they get stuck in a hotel elevator together. This particular meet-cute resonates with me, as someone who’s also been stuck in an elevator. Unfortunately, my own experience didn’t lead to a hot date or really any romance at all — I just ended up late for work on my first day at a new job, while the men stuck in the elevator with me became increasingly aggravated. Hard pass.

Thankfully for Alexa and Drew, they aren’t stuck for too long — just long enough to realize they have a natural chemistry and ease between them. On a whim, Drew asks Alexa to accompany him to a wedding that very weekend; his date canceled on him last-minute and he figured he had nothing to lose. To his surprise, Alexa agrees and the two end up having a blast together at the rehearsal dinner and reception. One thing leads to another, the two spend the night together…and the next day…and so begins a series of sexy hookups. Drew lives in LA and Alexa lives outside San Francisco, so neither of them sees this turning into a real relationship. But the more time they spend together, the more likely it becomes they’ll have to confront some increasingly real feelings.

Alexa Monroe is one of my favorite protagonists; I found her infinitely relatable, from her body insecurities and love of doughnuts to her poor impulse control when texting the Hottie McHottie she’s dating. She’s an admirable friend, incredibly hard worker, and she knows how to bring out the best in those around her. If you enjoy an honest and hilarious inner monologue, Alexa will be right up your alley.

And Drew is a perfect complement to Alexa. This book demonstrates that career-oriented couples can thrive when both parties celebrate each others’ successes and support each other through the tough times. These characters are multi-dimensional and authentic, so it’s all the more exciting to watch their relationship blossom. The cherry on top is that their chemistry is off the charts; Guillory’s writing is romantic without being flowery; it’s hot and undeniably thrilling — not unlike the early seasons of Grey’s Anatomy.

Both characters have substantial sub-plots and important life events outside of their relationship. Alexa is personally invested in advocating for the creation of a teen arts rehabilitation program, while Drew is equally invested in a special patient. As much as I enjoy the characters together, their separate lives are authentic and gripping, leaving you feeling closer to both. I went into this book with limited knowledge on what a Chief of Staff really is or does, so it was especially interesting to learn more about this role.

Overall, a solid contemporary read with lovable characters and a cute premise. The chapters fly by, and each of Guillory’s subsequent novels build on the same cast, so the more you read, the more invested you’ll become. I’m looking forward to following Alexa’s best friends, Maddie and Theo, in The Wedding Party next.