Amanda's Wedding [Hardcover]

Jenny Colgan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2001

Melanie and Fran are two charmingly wisecracking young Londoners who simply can't believe it when their old schoolfriend Amanda, Satan's own PR agent, manages to get herself hitched to a laird (Scottish for lord). Who cares that Fraser McConnel has worn the same ratty Converse sneakers for years and that his castle is really a pile of rubble -- all the social -climbing queen of preen cares about is the title she'll soon have. She's got Fraser by the nuptials, and she has no intention of letting go. Gentle, decent Fraser is completely innocent Amanda's wiles, so Mel and Fran, still smarting from Amanda's evil misdeeds years ago in school, join forces with Fraser's adorable younger brother Angus to sabotage the mismatch of the century. Between fighting off the attentions of a love-crazed accountant, dealing with a ne'er-do-well rockstar wannabe boyfriend, keeping Fran's deadly maneuvers with the opposite sex under control, finding herself at the heart of a bachelor party controversy, consuminglarge quantities of alcohol, and throwing out hysterical barbs that would make Oscar Wilde proud, Mel will break some hearts and win over those of readers by the score...all of whom are certain to enjoy the mayhem -- and hilarious mishaps -- in store in "Amanda's Wedding!"

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Planted firmly in Bridget Jones territory, Colgan's first novel takes off with the kind of manic energy and sharply vulgar humor that only a Brit-sitcom can, before settling down into the typical fare that comprises contemporary girl-fic. Londoners Mel and Fran, both 20-something, are horrified to learn that the third member of their childhood trio, AmandaAan uppity, shallow brat who's burned them one too many timesAhas landed Fraser McConald, a Scottish lord, as her fianc?. Compounding their annoyance is the fact that back in their university days, Mel, who serves as narrator, had a huge crush on Fraser. Mel is also reeling because her loutish, aspiring rock-star beau, Alex, who left her 10 months ago to find himself in America, has returned to her doorstep in full force. Further complicating matters is Nicholas, a clueless, eight feet tall accountant whose advances she sometimes succumbs to when very drunk. Fraser's charming brother, Angus, rightly suspects that Amanda only wants Fraser for the Town & Country cachet of his crumbling castle, and he enlists the aid of Mel and Fran to sabotage the nuptials. In any romantic comedy, it's a given that the lead heroine will get a man; the question here is which man? With several possibilities, readers may be surprised at the outcome; some may be disappointed. The writing is clever enough, and Mel and Fran's antics are entertaining, even if their self-involvement tips over into cruelty at times. But for those who expect more substance, even in a comedy, the only momentous theme availableAthat it's preferable, if at all possible, to marry for love rather than convenienceAis hardly weighty. (Feb. 1)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Hip, trendy, and raunchily hilarious, Colgan's tale of twentysomething Londoner Melanie and her coterie of pals takes place in the weeks leading up to the wedding of Amanda, a rich, gorgeous, and thoroughly rotten old schoolmate who pops up every six months or so to gloat. Mel's life is a mess. She has a strange reclusive flatmate whom she fears will kick her out. Her best friend, Fran, pops in as if she owns the place. She wakes up after a night of wild sex with a man she can't stand, and then Alex, the boyfriend who had abandoned her without even a note, comes back from America and into her bed. Does he really want her, or does he just need a place to crash? Add to that her dismaying discovery that the Scottish laird betrothed to the dreadful Amanda is none other than Fraser, whom she had a huge crush on years earlier. Finally, Mel, Fran, and Angus, Fraser's offbeat brother, combine forces to try and thwart Amanda's ambitions and save Fraser from a fate worse than death. This contemporary romp unfolds like a movie and will please readers who yearn for sophisticated humor and a happily-ever-after ending. Diana Tixier Herald
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446526479
• ISBN-13: 978-0446526470
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,912,639 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A decadently fun read..., April 25, 2001

By 

E. M. Carey "LGW" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amanda's Wedding (Hardcover)

There is obviously no shortage of Bridge Jones-like books about single women in London, and many of them tend to blur together. Amanda's Wedding, however, stands out for the sheer enjoyment and satisfaction of it. I breezed through it in a day, loved every moment of it and think everyone looking for a great escape should do the same.

The book revolves around Amanda's wedding, but not Amanda. Amanda is the old childhood friend who suddenly became rich, started acting quite posh and then found her old friends not up to her new refined tastes. Our heroine, thankfully, is not Amanda but one of her castaways, still close to the other desertee. Occasionally Amanda deigns to contact her old friends, and the catalyst for the story is news of her engagement.

I don't want to include any spoilers here, so I will be very basic - the plot entails the experiences of our herione and her friend leading up to, during and after Amanda's wedding. There are men, jobs, disasters, good times, bad times and so on. And while Amanda herself is quite the stereotype, she's also somehow real and believable, the perfect foil to the others. Along the way, a slew of good characters are introduced, all of whom are charming and funny.

This books is definitely one to be enjoyed and not one that teaches the meaning of life. But it certainly delivers, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written, satsifying, fun and funny book. It's very much worth the investment and is a perfect way to cheer yourself up or just have a good time. I expected a cookie-cutter novel and was delighted with what I found - I unknowingly made a wise purchase, indeed!

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it, love it, love it!!!, March 8, 2001

By 

CoffeeGurl - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Amanda's Wedding (Hardcover)

Could this book be any funnier? I couldn't stop laughing at the hilarious dialogue and clever one-liners. Jenny Colgan has become part of my list of favorite British writers ... and that says a lot about this gem of a book!

Amanda used to be one of Mel's best friends -- till she became a major money-grubbing snob. To make matters worse, Amanda has become engaged to Fraser, Mel's old crush. Things take a hilarious turn when Mel, Mel's obnoxious best friend Fran and Fraser's brother Angus get together to sabotage the wedding. The novel goes uphill from there. I especially love the twist at the end.

Are you in the bargain for a hilarious romantic comedy from an up-and-coming author? Read Amanda's Wedding. You'll laugh your pants off!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What's not to love - except Amanda?, March 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Amanda's Wedding (Hardcover)

OK, so this isn't great British literature. Or even really involved super British modern romance. Read Christina Jones or Katie Fforde (the best) for that. But I started this book yesterday evening and couldn't stop (darn, I have to work, but I did leave a bit early to finish it!) Really funny, cute - and despite what some might think, our heroine doesn't end up with the wrong man. Just one of the possible Mr. Rights. (Although, I do wonder how they make it all work out so everyone is comfortable. I know, I know, it's only fiction - but still, you always wonder how everything all works out.) Our Scots boys are full of charm, Mel is sloppy but sweet - and I actually liked Mookie the bridesmaid. Fran - well, I also wonder how that all works out. Anyway, the total cast of characters is so fun - annoying, but charming at the same time. Read this!!