The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken: All it took was one split second to change the lives of four 
different people forever, when an accident claims the lives of Monica and Brooks it is up to their best friends Colby and Rip to step up and take care of their two young children. The only problem being Colby and Rip could not be more different even if they tried, where Rip is organised and controlled Colby is wild and mess, oh and after having the date from hell things have been kind of awkward between the two of them. Completely consumed with grief of their own these two have no choice but to put their differences aside and make things work for their Godchildren, after all there must have been a reason for Monica and Brooks to leave them in charge of their kids, right? Maybe the only way to get out on the other side of their new normal is to lean on each other…
Short, sweet and an emotional gut punch that is exactly what it felt like reading The Godparent Trap. I really enjoyed reading Colby and Rip’s story as they figured out their way in a life that neither of them had asked for but both so clearly desired. If you are a fan of the movie “Life As We Know It” then you are definitely going to love this book, with a very similar premise to the movie we get to see two completely opposite people come together to care for two orphaned children that they both care for dearly, the only major difference between the book and the movie being a switch on the gender roles as to who is the more strict and put together Godparent.
Colby was so completely loveable, I just loved that she wore her heart on her sleeve and that she was going through the pain and loss of losing her best friends as the kids were grieving the loss of their parents, all while trying to keep it together and be the best stand in mother that she can be. I really liked that she came across as this real and relatable person, I mean she really was thrown in the deep end here trying to keep afloat. I must say I liked that she has always had this crush on Rip which only made her want to try all the more hard to impress him but gosh was it hard to keep things as neat and tidy with two kids!
To be honest for the first few chapters I was a bit on the fence about whether I liked Rip or not but he eventually won me over. For all his ridged strict orderly way he really just did not want to let the kids down. I really liked getting to see him soften up and really let go of that stick he was clenching once he realised that life with kids is messy and the beauty of life is in the mess. I just loved getting to see him realise that Colby was the thing that he had been missing all his life and that his sister was right all along that all he needed was a bit of colour to be thrown his way.
I just loved the chemistry and banter between Rip and Colby, these two were just the cutest. Their underlying tension was pretty evident after a couple of pages and having them play house only amped up this connection. Add in the fun little bit where Banks helped push Rip along by making him jealous and it was just a swoon feast! Oh Banks! I just loved this guy and the silliness that he brought to the book, I do wish that we got to see his story unfold a bit more but hey maybe there is a book for him! As for Ben and Viera, oh my heart just broke for the two of them but as always kids prove to be resistant and that is exactly what these two are. I loved that they too were lowkey pushing Rip and Colby together to form their new family unit.
The only thing that held me back from giving this a five star rating was that last bit of angst and drama that we really could have done without but nevertheless it all worked out in the end!
The Godparent Trap is a definite must read, this book is sweet, funny and has just the right amount of emotional pull to make you tear up. This grumpy/sunshine, BFF brother, enemies to lovers trope candy is a definite must read.
Book Info:
Publication: July 19, 2022 | Forever |
Colby’s living her best life: as a popular food blogger, she gets to fulfill her dreams of exploring the globe. But her world comes crashing down when a tragic accident leaves her co-guardian of her best friend’s two adorable children. Not only does she need to put down roots—fast—but she’ll be sharing custody with the one man she can’t stand sharing a continent with, let alone a house.
Accountant-extraordinaire Rip values rules and plans. But when he loses his sister and his best friend and becomes an insta-guardian all in one night, Rip sees his organized life imploding. What he really doesn’t need is his sister’s irresponsible, flighty—albeit kind and gorgeous—best friend making it worse.
Rip doesn’t trust Colby to take their new responsibilities seriously, while Colby can’t believe Rip thinks children will thrive under his rigid control. Yet soon Rip and Colby discover they need each other more than they hate each other. Could it be possible that following their hearts is just what their new little family needs?
