BOOKWORM REVIEW: The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken
TLDR; This is the movie Life as We Know It but with a relatable FMC and more spice.
Colby and Rip's lives have been turned upside down. When his sister and brother-in-law passed away in an accident, they were both left with the responsibility of raising the two young kids. Now the workaholic bachelor and whimsical travel journalist are being thrown into the deep end of parenting.
They would have to get along first, though, and that means getting past their completely opposite personalities. Rip likes organization, routines, and perfection, while Colby prefers being spontaneous and having fun.
I absolutely love that despite their different personalities, they are both driven by the love for their godchildren and the couple they lost. The arc for these two was really fun to watch. It started with two rather emotionally immature people who bickered like it was their life goal. The transition from that two people who respected each other's differences and quirks and realized that the faux-animosity they used to have was really unresolved attraction and tension.
There is an emotional shift from what I would consider Act 1 to Act 2 of the book. The first half deals with knowing who the main characters are, how they got to their situation, and how they deal with being instant parents. The second half is a lot heavier as the grief and loss they've tried to sweep under the rug finally implodes from being internalized and ignored for so long. I appreciate this a lot as this was something that I felt was missing from the movie, and Rachel Van Dyken did a great job of telling a fantastic story around this emotionally heavy issue.
I would be remiss if I didn't give props to Rip's co-worker Banks who steals the show every time he is present. We all need a chatty sidekick who has our back.
** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Rachel Van Dyken, Forever Publishing, Netgalley, and Valentine PR and Literary Management for providing an ARC. **
ABOUT THE BOOK
Life's Too Short meets The Unhoneymooners in this sparkling, steamy, and swoon-worthy novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken, in which two sworn enemies must share house, home--and maybe their hearts--when they become co-parents after a sudden loss.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?
Get Your Copy
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3qc00iH
Amazon: https://amzn.to/32lkcGk
Nook: https://bit.ly/3pc3T7M
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3mkDzXv
Add to Goodreads → https://bit.ly/3sjiYq3
MEET RACHEL VAN DYKEN
Rachel Van Dyken is the #1 New York Times Bestselling, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 90 books ranging from contemporary romance to paranormal. With over four million copies sold, she's been featured in Forbes, US Weekly, and USA Today. Her books have been translated in more than 15 countries. She was one of the first romance authors to have a Kindle in Motion book through Amazon publishing and continues to strive to be on the cutting edge of the reader experience. She keeps her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, adorable sons, naked cat, and two dogs. For more information about her books and upcoming events, visit www.RachelVanDykenauthor.com
Connect with Rachel
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelVanDyken
Website: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/RVDNewsletter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachvd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachVD
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cNVwL9
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/RVDGR
RVD Facebook Group: https://smarturl.it/RVD_FB_Group
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rachelvandyken/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachvd
Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/RachVD