In The Rehearsals by Annette Christie, Tom Prescott and Megan Givens knew that having a destination wedding could present some 
challenges. Ever the planner, Megan thought she’d covered all their bases. And she did, all except for one: The Universe sticking her and Tom in a time warp where they’d have to relive the catastrophe of their rehearsal dinner day after day. But even as Megan and Tom make different choices when the slate is wiped clean every morning, things never seem to work out as they hope it will. And as the couple realizes just how much they’ve let their relationship go over the past decade–and how many secrets they’ve amassed–their HEA isn’t a guarantee anymore. Will it be worth the work to give it another shot?
“This day. Have you already been through it before too?”
Tom heard her sharp intake of breath. He realized she knew…
“Too?” she asked. She swallowed hard and he nodded in response. They froze, thieves caught in the night.
“What’s happening to us?” she whispered, her eyes locked on his.
Annette Christie’s premise of a destination wedding romance with a Groundhog Day style time warp, with all the laughter, frustration, and soul searching our main characters went through, lived up to expectations in The Rehearsals.
‘She needed to be able to move past his betrayals, and he needed to move past hers. Because if they didn’t, the universe might very well hold them hostage forever.’
Trigger warning:View Spoiler »
It’s always fun to read something by a debut author. And in this case, the storyline for The Rehearsals sounded like it would be a whirlwind of emotions as well as fodder for some funny moments. All of which turned out to be true. What I didn’t expect was to have such a strong reaction to Megan and Tom and the many, *many* mistakes they made both past and present. An FYI: One such mistake made by Megan several years ago comes to light, then happens again in the present day, might be too much for some readers, as it almost was for me. (See the trigger warning above if you don’t read certain tropes)
This was told from Tom and Megan’s alternating POVs, which I loved. We got to see their thoughts on where their relationship was at the start of the day that kept repeating itself, and how they worked through what they thought the universe was trying to tell them. I liked that Megan and Tom were friends first. Of course they were also very much attracted to each other. But there was a layer of compassion and goodwill between them that I think is why things turned out the way they did in the (satisfying) ending.
Tom and Megan’s issues stemmed from a few areas–mainly their families–although a lot of it was from getting into a rut, as I think most people can understand. Watching them rehash the past and come to several realizations individually was what captivated me when Megan or Tom did something I didn’t agree with completely. And it helped that there was a strong supporting cast, which Christie used to her best advantage to enhance the story.
QOTD: Have you read any books with a “time warp” where days or events repeat themselves?
Book Info:
Publication: Published July 13, 2021 | Little, Brown and Company |
Fans of Josie Silver and Rebecca Serle will delight in this romantic debut novel―that has a Groundhog Day twist―about a couple who call off their wedding after a disastrous rehearsal dinner, only to wake up the next morning trapped in a time loop. Together.
Two people. One wedding. No end in sight.
Megan Givens and Tom Prescott are heading into what is supposed to be their magical wedding weekend on beautiful San Juan Island. But with two difficult families, ten years of history, and all too many secrets, things quickly go wrong. After a disastrous rehearsal dinner they vow to call the whole thing off—only to wake up the next morning stuck together in a time loop. Are they really destined to relive the worst day of their lives, over and over? And what happens if their wedding day does arrive?
A funny, romantic, and big-hearted debut novel, The Rehearsals imagines what we might do if given a second chance at life and at love—and what it means to finally get both right.
