Book: The Paid Bridesmaid
Author: Sariah Wilson
Published: December 21, 2021
Drink Choice: non-alcoholic Pina Colada
Stand Alone, Series, or Other: Stand Alone
Type of book: Novel
Genre: Rom-Com; Fiction
How long did it take me to read this book: 7 days
Audible/Google audiobooks: One Week (during commuting time)
Overall rating: 🍹🍹🍹
Ok, readers and likers. Please go in your closet, grab that Bridesmaids dress or Tuxedo, and donate it to charity. You will never again wear the seafoam dress or that baby pink tuxedo. Do you know that suit you kept in the closet does not fit, or is it just a weird cut on your body? Donate it. Donate it to charity! Now that our public service announcement ends, let us get into this review.
The Paid Bridesmaid by Sariah Wilson is a good fit for those seeking a lighthearted, romantic comedy with a touch of wit and a focus on the blossoming relationship between the central character, Rachel, and the best man, Camden. The book is set in Hawaii as a destination wedding, where we meet Rachel, an enterprising woman who creates a business for brides to hire bridesmaids. She does not just act like your friend; she does the extra stuff that sometimes the wedding planner or wedding coordinator may miss during your wedding. As the wedding events occur, we are introduced to Camden, the best man. Camden is annoying but endearing, and as the book continues, you see why they have chemistry.
This book touches on complicated topics, such as dealing with childhood trauma and how it presents itself in adulthood. Childhood trauma shows up in so many ways, through being over-analytical, perfectionism, and more. I liked how this book did not sugarcoat dealing with parents who have personal problems. One parent deals with addiction, and another parent deals with health issues. The story does not stay too long on these topics. Still, it is peppered within the book that the readers can appreciate the nuances of all the characters and interactions with the characters dealing with such heavy issues. Also, all the characters mingle beautifully, not overly overshadowing Rachel’s story but adding and allowing us to see Rachel’s actual depth. This book is excellent for reading while on a plane, on a beach vacation, or in the evening while at the beach.
I have been a bridesmaid. Being a bridesmaid is both fun and annoying. When you do it with love for the bride, it is the best time to see the person you love marry and move to a different level in life. On the other side, Bridesmaids can be the worst—egos, backbiting, and complaining about the bride, who usually does not request anything crazy. Now, I would also like to say that there are a lot of Bridezillas out there, but most of the time, it can be your friends and family. I have seen more brides deal with a friend or relative’s ego, causing tension on their wedding day. Reading this book reminded me of a story I heard on the radio, the now defunct “The Kane Show,” which also has several articles about the paid bridesmaid business. In this book, the topic is explored: why some people hire a stranger to be a bridesmaid and the ramifications of such a service. Many people will say, “Oh, it’s like 27 Dresses”. No, “27 Dresses” is a different type of romantic comedy. It is a person or several people dedicated to being there for you on your day, within reason.
While reading this book, I was sipping on water because I was at work, but I have a fun recipe I got from Ritual for a Pina colada Mocktail in honor of Rachel. Plus, I will include the link to several articles about paid Bridesmaids service in the DMV area. I hope you read this book or listen to it.
Pineapple-Coco Mocktail Recipe:
Ingredients:
2 ½ oz Ritual Tequila
½ cup diced Pineapples
2 oz Pineapple Juice
2 oz Coconut Cream
1 oz Lime Juice
1 oz Simple Syrup
Ice
Instructions: Add all ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Pour in a chilled glass and enjoy while reading this book. ( Now… if you are not about Mocktails, I provided a link below for an alcoholic version😉).
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/04/07/wedding-pandemic-bridesmaid/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/always-a-bridesmaid-for-hire/2015/05/21/e5a43a32-e2f4-11e4-81ea-0649268f729e_story.html
https://freshaprilflours.com/pina-colada-bars/
https://suebeehomemaker.com/frozen-pina-colada-cocktails/
Until Next Time,
Che Michelle
Che-Michelle Tales 
Leave a comment