Name: Five Wakes and a Wedding
ISBN: 9780008354350

Karen Ross

Undertaker Nina Sherwood is full of good advice. For example, never wear lip gloss when you’re scattering ashes.

Five Wakes and a Wedding

Alicia Haws

⭐️⭐️
2 STARS

I hate it when this happens, but I just wasn't super fond of this one. It was a cute and sweet quick read, but the plot was generally slow and didn't really capture much of my interest. 

This is the story of Nina, an undertaker who has recently started her own business after being let go from her previous position. 

From the title, I was expecting more details about funerals and the stories behind them and that isn't what we get. It was almost halfway through the book before Nina had anyone even seek out her new business. Once we did see some funerals that our MC organized, I can't say there was anything spectacular about them. They actually felt rather odd and dull, even though Nina's undertaker business wants to "make funerals more personal" I just didn't get that vibe from them.

The plot was just OK, and I also think it was TOO fictional if that makes any sense. Things were too easy and convenient, and VERY over-the-top unrealistic. I much preferred the story in the middle of the book that talked about Nina's husband who had died. I thought this was much better written and I would have loved to have heard and seen more about it. 

I personally did not like the character of Barclay. I thought his character was the most over-the-top and out there. I also found that he seemed to be so very immature, and it just did not fit a Romantic leading male? He had an EXTREMELY privileged life and he just does so many stupid and ridiculous things that I still can't get over. 

There were a few parts that made me laugh, as Nina's character is quite witty. She has a lot of little asides that were humorous, such as her advice on not wearing lip gloss when spreading ashes. I also liked how her unusual profession played a unique roll in the book. It isn't something normally seen in this genre.

Overall, this was a sweet and unrealistic story that makes for a nice light read. It isn't a complex or moving story, but if you are looking for a read to kill some time, or need something super light then look no further. Looking through other reviews I see that there were quite a lot of people who enjoyed this one, but I just don't think it was for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the Advanced copy of the novel in exchange for my honest review.

Sarah Williams

2/5 stars

PROS: The narrator, Nina, is very witty. She's got a great, quick wit and I liked a lot of the little asides she had in the book (such as advice on not wearing lip gloss when spreading ashes, how one of the things she looks at in a man is his suitability to carry a coffin, etc). Also, the unusual profession made for a great twist in what is a pretty hegemonic genre. 

CONS: This book moved a little too slowly for me. Also, I felt like the conflict with the shop in Primrose Hill could've been avoided through some due diligence on Nina's part. When one of the neighboring store owners came in and told her about how Primrose Hill was becoming younger/was being gentrified, I felt like that was the sort of thing she should've looked into when deciding where to lease her store. So that conflict felt a little contrived. 

Overall, this was a sweet book, I just don't think it was my cup of tea. 


  I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.