Five Wakes and a Wedding

2.5 Stars<br /><br />What can I say except that I was looking for a cute rom com and I should have known by the title that the novel didn’t fit that bill. <br /><br />Nina is an undertaker who starts her own business in Primrose Hill after getting fired. Little does she know that the residents of Primrose Hill have no interest in funerals and therefore they try and make life very difficult for Nina and the rest of the staff at Happy Endings. <br /><br />Unfortunately little went on for much of “Five Wakes and a Wedding” and when it did it made me realize that I was simply the wrong reader for this novel. That being said the relationships made between Nina and and several others characters were great and I really enjoyed the character development throughout the novel. <br /><br />Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books UK and Karen Ross for an arc of this novel in exchange for an arc. <br /><br />Published on Goodreads on 7.25.19.<br />

How many books do we get to read on undertakers? For me: Not a single one. So without a doubt, this was a fresh breeze in a genre I love so much. But don't be misled by the blurb, it is not as intriguing as it sounds. It is your usual relaxing story even if it is all about funerals. Oh! don't make that face like the residents of Primrose Hill. Death is one of the realities of life and we need to face it whether we like it or not. But how you want to make your grand exit is entirely up to you.<br /> Yes! I know love and death are polar opposites. One is a nourisher while the other is destruction. So a love story featuring funerals (five in fact) is strange indeed. What is stranger is that we are going to love the funerals much more than the wedding at the end. Nina's passion for business clearly dominates the story of her love life. If I have to pick a favourite among the funerals, it is going to be the second one. It was spectacular as well as surprising. <br /> If you haven't thought about your funerals yet, this book is a good place to start. Do you want everyone to weep over your death or be glad about the moments they were able to share with you? So don't miss this precious gem, you are bound to get a lot of ideas.

<b>FORMAT READ:</b> eBook (ADE)<br /><b>READ FOR:</b> feel-good writing, something to make you smile<br /><br />⟹ <a href="https://themoonwholistens.wixsite.com/mysite" rel="nofollow noopener">MY BLOG</a> ⟸<br />⟹ <a>SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI</a> ⟸<br /><i>*All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise* </i><br /><br /><b> <u>OVERALL THOUGHTS:</u> </b><br /><br />Adorable light and fun read. I really liked Karen Ross’ writing style in this book. It was engaging and it was intriguing to read about Nina.<br /><br />There was nothing too heavy and the characters were very easy to relate to. They were very easy to care for and are the kind that I look for in a contemporary. I really liked that the plot is centered around wakes and a wedding, it made it very intriguing for me since these events are opposites of each other in terms of how people react to them.<br /><br />It was honestly a real fun read and I would recommend this to anyone who just wants something light-hearted. I read this book to break up a fantasy streak of mine and it worked really well for me… so if you want to do that I really recommend you try this out.<br /><br /><b> <u>PLOT:</u> </b> ★★★★☆<br /><b> <u>WRITING STYLE:</u> </b> ★★★★★<br /><b> <u>CHARACTERS:</u> </b> ★★★★☆<br /><b> <u>THEMES:</u> </b> ★★★☆☆<br /><b> <u>PACING:</u> </b> ★★★☆☆ <br /><b> <u>PAGE TURNER:</u> </b> ★★★☆☆<br /><br /><i>Thank you to Avon Books UK for sending me an ARC to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.</i>

‘So tell me Nina.” His voice is soft, husky, urgent. ‘Have you ever done it in the back of a hearse?’<br /><br />I know I said I wasn’t down with romances or chick-lits as of late but if said romance/chick-lit involves death, then you know I gotta do it em.<br /><br />Meet Nina Sherwood, an ambitious undertaker who has taken on the business of a lifetime (hehe). Nina has just opened her first funeral parlour on the grand street of Primrose Hill. Recently fired from her swanky undertaker job, Nina has decided that she wants to open a funeral home that cares not about profit but the dead and their family. It’s all very grand of her and all but she faces opposition on all sides as none of the residents of Primrose much want her shop of death scouring the land of the rich and fabulous. Who on earth wants to think about death while sipping a fancy latte across the way? The resistance comes fast and furious but Nina is determined to prosper one way or another. . Nina is not one to back away from a challenge, why should she? She has the grim reaper on her side.<br /><br /><br />This was a fun, light read that although dealt with the heavy subject of death, never took itself too serious. Nina is a fun character. She’s sweet, smart, brave, and stubborn. Sometimes too accommodating to people who are downright nasty to her but I have to give her that, because me? I would be slinging attitude left and right at certain characters, maybe cackling like a witch and leaving them ominous notes that simply stated a future date.<br /><br />I know this is romance/chick-lit but I really didn’t think the romance aspect was necessary at all. It felt very strongly convoluted since the beginning and I never warmed up to the man of Nina’s choosing. He made my skin itch actually.<br /><br /><br />I do have a problem with this novel in terms of pacing as well. Everything seemed so quickfire, such a nonissue that sometimes I had to go back and make sure I had read correctly. The characters other than Nina also felt one-dimensional. They were just there, simple caricatures and it’s a shame because they seemed like amazing people, but I couldn’t really feel it at the same time. Likewise the plot is predictable. It’s fun, don’t get me wrong but very very predictable.<br /><br />I loved the funeral aspect of the novel. It’s well done and original and I actually learned quite a lot about different methods of funeral, wakes. I sobbed at one character’s demise although you knew that one way or another it was certainly coming. Like I said, it’s a tough subject but necessary to think about. Because unless you’re a Super Saiyan with all the dragon balls eventually you will die. And its much better to prepare you and your own family for it. I’ve gone to way too many funerals in my life to know that this is an absolute necessity. As morbid as it sounds.<br /><br />All in all, I give this grim peppy book a 3.5/5<br /><br />Don’t worry, death is but just another journey.<br /><br />‘I am the resurrection and the life’ the minister began. ‘The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.’

Although it took me a moment to get into this book, I quite enjoyed the story of Nina the female undertaker trying to get her new shop up and running in a posh part of London. <br /><br />The biggest twist in this story is the female undertaker as main character, which includes a lot of actually very interesting information on death and funerals. Death being a taboo topic is a big issue in real life and within this novel. That's what made me push the book to 3.5 stars (or 4 stars) instead of just 3 stars.

Such a light and easy read which I loved.<br /><br />Five Wakes and a Wedding follows Nina Sherwood, a single undertaker as she sets up her new business in Primrose Hill. The troubles of a start-up, business neighbours, and conflict are all covered. Throw in a bit of romance and voila!<br /><br />I loved the character of Barclay Banks, he didn't take life too seriously and made the most of it. Gloria and Edo were fantastic secondary characters who really cared for Nina and the ending also had a lovely little twist that I actually wasn't expecting.<br /><br />The bright pink cover initially drew me in but I've always been interested in funeral directors, crematorium and the like. It's not often you get someone creating a business plan for an undertaker for their Business Studies GCSE - but that was me! Don't worry, I have the non-fiction and memoirs in my TBR pile, but I couldn't help smile at the title of this book.<br /><br />Wonderfully written, I flew this this book with ease. It was fast paced, just the right length and a delight to read.<br /><br /><i>Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

⭐️⭐️<br />2 STARS<br /><br />I hate it when this happens, but I just wasn't super fond of this one. It was a cute and sweet quick read, but the plot was generally slow and didn't really capture much of my interest. <br /><br />This is the story of Nina, an undertaker who has recently started her own business after being let go from her previous position. <br /><br />From the title, I was expecting more details about funerals and the stories behind them and that isn't what we get. It was almost halfway through the book before Nina had anyone even seek out her new business. Once we did see some funerals that our MC organized, I can't say there was anything spectacular about them. They actually felt rather odd and dull, even though Nina's undertaker business wants to "make funerals more personal" I just didn't get that vibe from them.<br /><br />The plot was just OK, and I also think it was TOO fictional if that makes any sense. Things were too easy and convenient, and VERY over-the-top unrealistic. I much preferred the story in the middle of the book that talked about Nina's husband who had died. I thought this was much better written and I would have loved to have heard and seen more about it. <br /><br />I personally did not like the character of Barclay. I thought his character was the most over-the-top and out there. I also found that he seemed to be so very immature, and it just did not fit a Romantic leading male? He had an EXTREMELY privileged life and he just does so many stupid and ridiculous things that I still can't get over. <br /><br />There were a few parts that made me laugh, as Nina's character is quite witty. She has a lot of little asides that were humorous, such as her advice on not wearing lip gloss when spreading ashes. I also liked how her unusual profession played a unique roll in the book. It isn't something normally seen in this genre.<br /><br />Overall, this was a sweet and unrealistic story that makes for a nice light read. It isn't a complex or moving story, but if you are looking for a read to kill some time, or need something super light then look no further. Looking through other reviews I see that there were quite a lot of people who enjoyed this one, but I just don't think it was for me.<br /><br />Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the Advanced copy of the novel in exchange for my honest review.

Fun, funny, romantic and wonderful. This book is absolutely hilarious. It will make you laugh out loud. And you will love he romance in this book as well. I loved it.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK, and One More Chapter for an e-arc of this title for review.</i><br /><br />I really enjoyed the unique premise of Five Wakes and a Wedding - Nina is starting her own business (awesome) as an undertaker (whaaaaat). Most of the book is set in Primrose Hill, which was super cool (I love when an author sets their story in a specific neighborhood, rather than just "New York" or "London").<br /><br />After a slightly slow start, the plot clips along - this is definitely a book you could devour in a day poolside this summer.<br /><br />I do wish there had been less discussion of dieting. It felt out of place given that this is a book about a woman who's an entrepreneur (and not a book about a model, or a cookbook). In the same chapter that Nina identifies mansplaining, she thinks to herself about calories (and how she's about to dive in because they don't count in her current situation. I.e. that's the reason she's allowing herself to enjoy a good meal). I get it - I'm a woman raised in the same body-focused, fat-shaming world as the author. But I'm trying not to relate to food like it's the enemy, and so it's jarring when the word "diet" appears 10x in a book not about food. (I imagine the reader is supposed to interpret it as humorous, but I didn't.)<br /><br />I'll also note that it threw me off a bit when the point of view switched for each wake. I assume these chapters will be formatted differently in the final version, so that won't interpret the flow of other readers.<br /><br />Overall, I liked it, and would recommend if that premise sounds interesting to you too!

Nina Sherwood believes everyone deserves a happy ending, but the retailers of Primrose Hill’s high street, seem determined to deny her her’s. Within weeks of Nina’s funeral parlour, ‘Happy Endings’ opening, she is denied membership of the Primrose Hill Traders Association, harassed by a council inspector, and presented with a £22,000 bill for roof repair from her crabby new neighbour, and when Nina finally receives a booking for a funeral, it turns out to be a cruel hoax. Will her business die a slow death, or will Nina get her happy ending after all?<br /><br />The topic of death could be considered the antithesis of the romance genre but Ross makes it work, and it’s a point of difference that I found appealing. What I really enjoyed about this story was Nina’s championing of individualised, modern funerals, which Ross portrays in a respectful and matter of fact manner. I have to admit I don’t like to think about my death, however inevitable, but I was quite intrigued by the funeral ideas explored in this novel, especially those showcased at the ‘Death Expo’. I also liked that Ross framed organ donation in such a positive way, I happen to agree that it should be an opt out process.<br /><br />Nina is an engaging protagonist, but I concur, she has terrible taste in men. Unfortunately I wasn’t really a fan of the romance between Nina and Barclay, whom I thought was too much of a cliche as a handsome, wealthy, lawyer with a reputation as a thrillseeker and playboy. I didn’t find him much more appealing than Nina’s very awful ex-husband, especially at first, and I think he only redeemed himself by the skin of his teeth. Nina and Endo, an artist and her housemate, seemed a more likely match.<br /><br />I did like Nina’s friendship with her other housemate, Gloria (who also has awful taste in men), and her brief friendship with celebrity, Kelli. I also thought several of the other characters were interesting, even the unpleasant ones, and I was amused by the identity of wedding party.<br /><br />Five Wakes and a Wedding is an easy, lighthearted romance novel, despite the spectre of death.<br />