Wrong Wedding is one of those quietly satisfying marriage-of-convenience romances that sneaks up on you. The premise is classic Noelle Adams; practical decisions, emotional restraint, and feelings that refuse to stay neatly contained. The execution is what makes this one stand out within the Convenient Marriages series.

A plan meant to save a family business goes sideways, and Summer Cray finds herself married not to her best friend as originally planned, but to his older brother who is far from her favorite person. From the very start, there is a sense that this “wrong” wedding might actually be the right one all along.

Summer is a heroine shaped through responsibility and loss. Orphaned, practical, and carrying the weight of an inheritance, she has always done what is expected of her, even when her heart has been quietly yearning elsewhere. Her long-standing feelings for her friend Carter feels safe and familiar, which makes her sudden marriage to Lincoln Wilson all the more jarring. Lincoln, on the other hand, is very much the family’s black sheep, brooding, guilt-ridden, and convinced he does not deserve the things he wants the most. There is a softness beneath his rough edges that becomes increasingly hard to ignore as the story progresses.

What makes their dynamic compelling is how understated it is. This is not a loud, dramatic romance, but one built on proximity, small gestures, and emotional honesty that unfolds gradually. Lincoln has clearly been carrying his feelings for Summer for far longer than she realizes, but his loyalty to his brother and his own lack of self-worth keeps him holding back. Summer, interestingly, is the braver of the two when it comes to emotional risk, and that reversal works beautifully for their story. And I feel that Summer taking on that initiative balanced this story out really well.

I really enjoyed how their relationship develops once Summer begins to see Lincoln clearly, rather than as an inconvenient substitute. Lincoln clearly shows how dependable he is when everything seemingly falls apart, and that builds the foundation of the relationship that forges to life between the two.

There is tenderness here, and genuine affection, along with moments of quiet heat that gives the reader tingles of the good kind. That said, I felt like that the story spends a bit too much time circling Carter’s arc. While it provides context, it occasionally pulls focus away from the main couple at moments when the emotional tension between Summer and Lincoln deserved more space to breathe. And I am here for the main dish and not the side dishes that detracts attention from the main.

Overall, Wrong Wedding was a great read, with Summer being especially easy to root for, and Lincoln’s journey from self-denial to self-acceptance adding depth to what could have been a straightforward trope romance. The epilogue is sweet and satisfying, offering just the right note of closure.

Recommended for: Readers who enjoy marriage-of-convenience romances, quiet pining heroes, emotionally brave heroines, and stories where the “wrong” choice turns out to be exactly right.

Final Verdict: A gentle, emotionally rewarding romance where love grows in the margins of obligation and proves that sometimes the wrong wedding leads to the right forever.

Favorite Quotes

“Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Say things that you know will annoy me.”
“Why does it annoy you that I say you’re pretty?”
The question surprised her so much she answered it honestly. “Because you don’t mean it. You’re just saying it to rile me up.”
His eyebrows shot upward. “I do too mean it. How can you think I don’t?”
“Because I’m not… I’m not… I mean, I’m not bad to look at, but I’m not…”
The teasing in his eyes faded as he said, “I’ve never known anyone prettier than you. That’s the truth. I’ve always thought so. You shouldn’t be surprised that I’d say it.”

“Maybe what?”
He drew back his hand and looked away from her. “I don’t know. Just a random thought. I hope it’s not right. Surely it’s not…” His features twisted very briefly.
It scared her. “Lincoln? What is it? Tell me.”
“It’s nothing. I don’t think it’s right. He’s never… never once…”
She reached out to grab any part of him she could reach. It happened to be his upper arm. Her fingers wrapped around the firm contour of his bicep. “He’s never what? If you know, you have to tell me.”
“I don’t know. I promise. Just random thoughts that are probably figments of my angst-ridden imagination. I really think it’s just a lifetime of holding himself to impossible standards. No one can live up to it. So he’s finally just fallen off the deep end. He’ll be okay. We’ll bring him home. He’s going to be all right, Summer. I promise.”
She nodded, feeling better when he met her eyes again.
“We’ll find him tomorrow. And we won’t go home until he’s coming with us.”
She slid her hand up his neck until she was touching his bristly jaw. She loved the texture of it beneath her fingertips. “Thank you, Lincoln.”
His body tightened. “You’re welcome.”

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