REVIEW: Runaway Groomsman by Meghan Quinn

Runaway Groomsman by Meghan Quinn: Everyone has heard of a runaway bride, heck even a runaway groom isn’t to out of the norm but a runaway groomsman, well now this is definitely one for the books or in Sawyer’s case one for the tabloids.

After storming out of his ex girlfriend and ex best friends wedding in a blaze of glory, Hollywood screenwriter Sawyer is in need of a break, somewhere he can go to lick his wounds in private while the media storm he caused blows over and what better place than the small quirky mountain town of Canoodle? Sawyer just never expected to bump into a blast from his past…one that he didn’t even remember! Or for this quirky town and its even quirkier residents to worm their way into his heart…could the romance writer finally get his very own happily ever after?

“Sometimes, when you think you’ve hit rock bottom, what you’ve really hit is the foundation for the next chapter in your life.”

I just love a cute small town love story and this is definitely what we get from Sawyer and Fallon. I just adored the entire town of Canoodle, not only did it have a super cute name but I loved that all the towns people were so close to each other and all of the playful store names. I just loved the way the book kicks off with Sawyers dramatic wedding exit, even losing a shoe on his way out! This really helped set the tone for most of the book and showing that this really was Sawyer’s story.

Both main characters were really good, I loved getting to see them interact and getting to see them building a relationship. Fallon was a great leading lady, I loved her determination to do right but her grandpa and that she wanted to preserve her grandparents love story. She definitely worked the whole girl boss, I can run my own world vibe down to perfection. However the star of this book hands down goes to Sawyer. He was the best part of this entire book, he was full of heart, love and care. Gosh did Sawyer make my heart melt with all of his kind acts and that he was quietly helping Fallon with all of the repair work without really wanting her to know it was him. If anything this was one long romantic gesture to show Fallon that he really was the guy for her, even if it did not start out that way.I just adored the way he bonded with Sully and that he did his best to help Sully feel included. I really liked the playfulness and brotherly banter that flowed between Sawyer and Roarick and that we even got to see Roarick getting his own little happily ever after. In short Sawyer was one giant heart melting swoony hero that I loved to bits.

The secondary characters were just brilliant! I loved Fallon’s dads, Roarick, all the silly towns people and most of all Sully. I just loved that the entire town knew that Sully had Alzheimer’s and that they all tried to help keep thing normal for him. As much as I enjoyed getting to follow Sawyer and Fallon on their romantic journey, I couldn’t help but wait ti get more and more snippets of Sully and grandma Jone’s story. This really was a nice touch and had a very heartwarming fell to it. The only character that I didn’t really love all that much was Jaz, I loved that she was so wacky and crazy with her knife but I really didn’t like that she caused unnecessary issues between Sawyer and Fallon, all because of her own issues. But this really wasn’t a major issue.

I really liked the chemistry between Fallon and Sawyer, their connection was pretty clear. Gosh did it take them forever to finally get together! As far as slow burn reads go this was a super slow slow burn romance! Things only really heated up in the last quarter of the book! I will say that I do wish that Fallon had ended things with Peter sooner and maybe this would have picked up the pace of this book.

As much as I enjoyed reading the Runaway Groomsman there was just something missing for me, I don’t know if it was just to slow or if I wanted more pinning from Fallon but there was just something missing for me. Nevertheless I did rather enjoy reading this book and giggling at all of the silliness that ensued.

Book Info:

Publication: October 11th 2022 | Pub: Montlake |

Hollywood screenwriter Sawyer Castle knows a good love story when he sees it. But when it comes to real life romance, he’s a mess. That’s how he finds himself standing at the altar…as his ex-girlfriend ties the knot with his very famous best friend. The pressure, the resentment, the media coverage—it’s all too much—and before he knows exactly what he’s doing, he’s making a run for it, leaving a shocked congregation and flashing cameras in his wake.

Needing to lie low amid the media fallout, Sawyer lands in the charming town of Canoodle, California, where he crosses paths with Fallon Long, who runs the Canoodle Cove Cabins, a family-owned business and Sawyer’s new short-term residence. Overwhelmed with renovations and her long list of responsibilities, Fallon is struggling to make ends meet while attempting to bring the cabins back to their original glory. So when Sawyer arrives, she is grateful for the income, but immediately writes him off as just another vapid Hollywood hack, until he begins to prove her wrong at every turn.

As Fallon comes closer to saving the family business, an undeniable bond forms between her and the handsome screenwriter. But the pressures of her family obligations and Sawyer’s notoriety might prove to be too much for anyone to handle. Could Canoodle be the setting for a new romance—or is true love just a Hollywood cliché?