Book Review: Cancel The Wedding

Author: Carolyn T. Dingman
Title: Cancel The Wedding
Publisher: Harper
Publish Date: Aug 5, 2014
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: TLC Book Tours
Book Blurb: 

A heartfelt fiction debut that will appeal to fans of Emily Giffin’s Southern charm and Jennifer Weiner’s compelling, emotionally resonant novels about the frustrations of blood ties, Cancel the Wedding follows one woman’s journey to discover the secrets of her mother’s hidden past—and confront her own uncertain future.

On the surface, Olivia has it all: a high-powered career, a loving family, and a handsome fiancé. She even seems to be coming to terms with her mother Jane’s premature death from cancer. But when Jane’s final wish is revealed, Olivia and her elder sister Georgia are mystified. Their mother rarely spoke of her rural Southern hometown, and never went back to visit—so why does she want them to return to Huntley, Georgia, to scatter her ashes?

Jane’s request offers Olivia a temporary escape from the reality she’s long been denying: she hates her “dream” job, and she’s not really sure she wants to marry her groom-to-be. With her 14-year-old niece, Logan, riding shotgun, she heads South on a summer road trip looking for answers about her mother.

As Olivia gets to know the town’s inhabitants, she begins to peel back the secrets of her mother’s early life—truths that force her to finally question her own future. But when Olivia is confronted with a tragedy and finds an opportunity to right a terrible wrong, will it give her the courage to accept her mother’s past—and say yes to her own desire to start over?

Review: I love books that involve a family mystery and this is definitely one of those reads. Don't call it chicklit though. I wouldn't lump it in with that genre. Its a beach read or a vacation read. The kind of book you want to sit down with in one afternoon and finish, even though its 400 pages long!

It was easy to see from the prologue that part of the mystery involved Jane's childhood friends, George and Oliver. Her daughter's names are Georgia and Olivia....hmmmm...but you'll find out more about that later.

I could totally understand Olivia's taking off, after Leo's setting the date for their wedding without even discussing it with her. I would have done more than leave my ring in the bathroom. I probably would have shoved it somewhere not to pleasant feeling.

Logan is a fun character too. I love the interactions with Olivia, especially at the beginning. She's more than your typical fourteen year old. There are definitely times when she acts more like the adult than her aunt.

There's also a romance that brews between Olivia and Elliot a local newspaper owner. He is just perfect. Of course, when you compare him to Leo, you have to think he's perfect. Leo is just a workaholic and there really doesn't feel like there's any real love between him and Olivia.

I absolutely loved everything to do with them finding out about Janie's life in Georgia. There was so much to it and it will really play on your emotions.

Oh and the title doesn't necessarily mean the wedding you think it means.

This book is full of everything I love, families, mystery and a who gamut of emotions. And yes, you will cry a few times while reading this!

Rating: 5 flowers