The Wedding Beat: A Novel [Paperback]

I got this book from a First Reads giveaway from Goodreads.com. Thank-you! This book is scheduled for release in April.

The author, Devan Sipher, writes the Vows section for a New York newspaper. It's obvious that he's experienced with wedding details and has spent time interviewing folks in the throws of wedding preparation! The story is fast faced and every easy to read.

It's refreshing to read a story from the perspective of a male navigating the dating world. For anyone who's fumbled their way through online dating, being set-up and working up the nerve to approach someone in a coffee shop, you'll feel empathy for Gavin.

I love the banter between the characters - the conversations are funny and light. It's easy to see this play out like a romantic comedy film.

What really struck me is Gavin's personal journey to find true love as he's facing his own mortality. (He sees his grandparents together and doesn't want to be alone when he's old.) He sees others his own age getting married and feels his "biological clock ticking." His relationship with Melinda is a secondary part of the story.

Don't you sometimes wonder about the reviewer who gives a 1 star to a book about which everyone else is raving? I always read those one stars. Sometimes I listen to them; sometimes I don't. It depends on the review---whether what the reviewer dislikes is the kind of thing I am likely to dislike as well. So, I'm providing my two cents worth here for others whose reactions to this book might be similar to my own.

Anyhow, I didn't finish this book. Tried several times. Even got about halfway through (by skipping over a lot, I'll admit). I found the protagonist to be a nebbish and a kvetch--that is weak, whiney, and annoying. A lot of the book consists of his irritating internal thoughts which struck me like nails on a chalkboard. I didn't think most of the funny parts that funny and I didn't find the romantic parts that romantic. I just wanted the man to DO something instead of whine. So, I would recommend reading or listening to a sample before purchasing this book. As I remember it, the opening is one of the better parts of the book so I don't know if it will really tell you much, but perhaps it may give you some sense of whether you like this character--or would like to shoot him.

After being in a reading funk for a few weeks I needed a certain book to help me get out of it. When I received The Wedding Beat on my doorstep, I read what it was about and was instantly excited to read it. It was the right book that I needed at that moment and it had me tearing up while reading about Gavin Green's journey to finding the one he believes is his true love. I loved that this story was about a male character that just wanted to fall in love with the woman of his dreams. Finding "the one" is not easy for men either and this story really showcases that as the main character Gavin goes through so many emotions while reminiscing about past loves and the one that got away. He also to deal with his somewhat dysfunctional family that will have you laughing whenever they appear on the page.

What makes it all more heartbreaking is that Gavin writes the wedding column at a major NYC newspaper. He interviews couples that are about to be married for his column and attends each of their weddings. He can't help but want what surrounds him as he doing job and wonders if he himself will ever find the right woman that will take that journey with him. There are times when he feels that he may be alone for the rest of his life and just when he has hope that he may have found someone, he's back to square one again. It doesn't help that he's pressured by his parents to find someone or anyone to settle down with and it makes people question why he writes the wedding column if it's something that he's never experienced in his life. He's very good at what he does, but there's one upcoming wedding that is just too much for him to take and places him in the uncomfortable position of doing something that he never thought he would do. Will being honest and true gain him all that he's ever wanted in life or push him away from the one that he's been waiting for.

The Wedding Beat is cleverly written by Devan Sipher and entertains the reader during an important part of Gavin Greene's life. It will make you reminisce about your own journey of love with your loved one. It will make want to grab onto them and hold them tight, because the journey is not an easy one.