The Rehearsals

by Annette Christie

Overview

Groundhog Day meets People We Meet on Vacation in a funny and romantic novel about a couple who call off their wedding after a disastrous rehearsal dinner—only to wake up the next morning on an "irresistible" adventure (Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author of The Hotel Nantucket).

The wedding is tomorrow. If today ever ends.

"A sweet, delightful romance." —People
"An enchanting and compelling look at life's what-if's." —Helen Hoang
"Terrific fun from beginning to end." —Sarah Haywood

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316592970
Publisher:	Little, Brown and Company
Publication date:	07/05/2022
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Annette Christie is a Canadian-American hybrid with a BFA in Theatre and a history of very odd jobs. She's had articles featured in various publications including HelloGiggles and The Guardian, and the back of her head is featured prominently in the film Mean Girls. She currently resides in Alberta with her husband and two children. The Rehearsals is her adult debut. 

Editorial Reviews

"An enchanting and compelling look at life's what-ifs. Christie writes with honesty, heart, and a great deal of charm."—Helen Hoang, USA Today bestselling author of The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test

“Irresistible . . . Annette Christie has written a fun, yet thought-provoking, rom-com.”—Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author of Golden Girl

“A funny, clever, enchanting story about finding our way back to ourselves and to those we truly love. It had me spellbound from the first page. . . . The Rehearsals is refreshingly honest about the ups and downs of long-term relationships, whether romantic or family, handling its themes with wit and zest. Terrific fun from beginning to end!”—Sarah Haywood, author of the New York Times bestseller and Reese Witherspoon X Hello Sunshine Book Club pick The Cactus

“A delightful debut . . . Christie’s clever time-loop plot allows for great depth of emotion as her protagonists explore different paths and come to terms with what they can and can’t change about themselves and each other. This charming story delivers equal amounts of honesty and hope and is bound to win the hearts of rom-com fans.”—Publishers Weekly

“Funny, romantic, and surprisingly thought-provoking, The Rehearsals is both a highly enjoyable romp and a poignant meditation on love and second chances.”—Shelf Awareness

“Megan’s and Tom’s betrayals are explored compassionately and honestly . . . As Megan and Tom relive the same day and get to know each other in an entirely new way, it’s unclear until the very end what will happen with their relationship, creating a level of suspense that will keep readers turning the pages. A compelling story about the power of second chances and forgiveness that’s sure to spark conversation.”—Kirkus Reviews

"A truly absorbing read, told with wit and heart, and impossible to put down. Annette Christie is a master of creating characters that feel like friends, where you hate to turn that last page and say goodbye."—Jen DeLuca, author of Well Met

"Christie's sparkling and witty debut explores the tangled web of the night before a wedding. Through Tom and Megan, we discover the importance of second or more chances, and how learning to listen (to others and yourself) is the key to love and happiness." —Roselle Lim, author of Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune and Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop

“Christie keeps the tone light, inserting repeating scenarios into each day, and turning the nightmare time loop into a journey of self-discovery. There’s a feeling of resolution at the end,
which isn’t what the characters expected, but it’s what they needed. Fans of Christina Lauren and Meg Cabot will savor this charming relationship comedy.”—Booklist

“I was thrilled when the story delivered, one hundred percent, on the promise of its intriguing premise. Christie grabbed me on the first page and didn’t let me go until the end, when I closed and book and smiled. A warm and touching novel by a wonderfully talented author.”
 —Mary Simses, author of The Wedding Thief

“A compelling, clever look at the hard work of growing up in our relationships—with friends, family, lovers, and ourselves—woven through with humor and tremendous heart.” —Rosie Danan, author of The Roommate

“A deeply special book, warm and wise and filled with undeniable tenderness. Annette Christie draws her not-quite-newlyweds Megan and Tom with tremendous empathy, and I rooted for them on all their wild misadventures, eager to find out what would happen each time they woke up. An effervescent, one-of-a-kind love story.”—Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of Today Tonight Tomorrow

“A clever and engrossing story . . . I loved the whole backdrop to their Groundhog Day-style predicament: the picturesque wedding venue, the clashing families, and the way the recurring day developed layers and surprises as Megan and Tom tried to get themselves out of the loop.”—Helen Cooper, author of The Downstairs Neighbor

"A refreshing and very astute observation of relationships, both the ones you have with the people closest to you and the one you have with yourself. It's smart and nuanced, the kind of book that makes its reader feel seen. Anything set around a wedding is kryptonite for me, and Annette Christie beautifully weaves wedding angst with secrets, betrayals, confrontation, and what it really means to choose someone else, and yourself. . . . A beautiful, fun, surprising book.”—Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of The Girls Are All So Nice Here

"A humorous, honest look at the complexities of relationships and the sacrifices we make to maintain them. A refreshing read for fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon and Emily Henry."—Suzanne Park, author of Loathe at First Sight

“Clever and engrossing . . . I loved the picturesque wedding venue, the clashing families, and the way the recurring day developed layers and surprises as Megan and Tom tried to get themselves out of the loop.”—Helen Cooper, author of The Downstairs Neighbor

"Utterly captivating, charming, and brilliant. With a compelling plot and relatable characters, The Rehearsals explores the raw emotions behind the question of 'what if' and the true meaning of second chances."—Sonia Hartl, author of Heartbreak for Hire and Have a Little Faith in Me

“A whip-smart Groundhog Day reincarnation that will have you laughing and cringing in equal measure. The Rehearsals not only takes you on a wild ride, it forces you to ask yourself if you’re living your best life. Hilarious, heartfelt, and stay-up-all-night addictive.”—Kelly Siskind, author of New Orleans Rush

From the Publisher

2021-05-05
After calling off their wedding, a young couple gets stuck in a time loop, reliving the day of their catastrophic rehearsal dinner.

Megan and Tom are a picture-perfect couple. With her job as senior visuals editor at GQand his job as a lawyer at his family’s firm, they’re living the dream. And now, they’re getting married on the picturesque San Juan Island, bringing together their friends and family as they celebrate their love. But all that perfection is merely hiding the problems under the surface. Megan’s and Tom’s families have never gotten along, and Megan has always felt that Tom takes his family’s side over hers. Unbeknownst to Megan, Tom has just accepted a job (at his family’s behest) in Missouri, meaning that they’ll have to move away from New York City and her job. Meanwhile, Megan privately feels guilt over having slept with Tom’s best friend (who is also his best man) years ago. When all the buried secrets come out at their disastrous rehearsal dinner, Megan and Tom angrily call off their wedding…but then they wake up on the morning of their rehearsal dinner, again. Megan and Tom figure out that they’re stuck in a Groundhog Day–style time loop, doomed to repeat the horrific day with the one person they never want to see again. Christie doesn’t hold any punches in her adult debut, allowing her characters to act out in surprisingly bold ways. Megan’s and Tom’s betrayals are explored compassionately and honestly, making both of them feel like fully rounded people who are, if not always completely likable, at least understandable. As Megan and Tom relive the same day and get to know each other in an entirely new way, it’s unclear until the very end what will happen with their relationship, creating a level of suspense that will keep readers turning the pages.

A compelling story about the power of second chances and forgiveness that’s sure to spark conversation.

Kirkus Reviews