Publisher: 27th April 2021 by Hachette Australia
Pages: 454 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: contemporary, fiction
My Rating: 5 cups
Synopsis:
At the first wedding, there's a shock.
The second wedding is unexpected.
By the third, Delphie thinks nothing could surprise her. But she's wrong . . .
Delphie is enjoying her brother's wedding. Her surprise last-minute Plus One has stunned her family - and it's also stopped any of them asking again why she's still single. But when she sees all the missed calls that evening, she knows it can't be good news. And she's right.
Delphie has been living her best life, loving her job, her friends, her no-strings relationships and her dream house by the sea. Now she has to question everything she believed about who she is and what she wants. Is her mum right - is it time to settle down? Or does she want to keep on trying to have it all?
Each wedding of a glorious summer brings a new surprise. And as everything Delphie thought she had is threatened, she has the chance to reshape her future . .
My Thoughts
Sheila O’Flanagan is becoming a firm favourite of mine and her latest offering did not disappoint. In fact, I cannot help but feel that the book title does a complete disservice to what the novel truly is about. Superficially yes, there are weddings and a proposal but dig deeper and there is so much more to this tale. There are the requisite lighthearted and romantic moments, yet at its heart I applauded the strong stance made by the women who embrace their independence.
‘Everyone says they want you to be happy, but it’s their version of happy that they want.’
Women can be and do anything they put their mind to in today’s age, however, there is that unspoken expectation of marriage/partners and children. Sheila explores this through her main character in an authentic way that will ring true for many females. What does today’s ‘modern woman’ look like and how can society be supportive of that? I could relate to much of what was on offer in this book through the entirely relatable characters and storylines. It is wonderful to journey along with Delphie and the hurdles and realisations she must encounter in an effort to be who she truly feels deep down inside.
‘Maybe we let ourselves feel pressure,’ I observe. ‘Maybe we have to not care so much about what other people think.’
Three Weddings and a Proposal has much more on offer than what one may assume at first glance. Enjoy the lightheartedness, but appreciate that this book is about recognising your own strength and staying true to what makes you happy. Yes, there will be pressures from those near and far but remember ... you always have choices.
‘You can’t live your life with the fear of missing out. You have to make choices. You have to believe in your choices. And you have to have confidence in the future’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
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