Save the Date

A Savannah florist and wedding planner, Cara Kryzik struggles to keep her business afloat while dealing with demanding brides and mounting debt. Her world becomes more complicated when she encounters Jack Finnerty, a local contractor who seems to appear at inopportune moments. Between managing high-stakes society weddings and trying to salvage her reputation after a series of mishaps, Cara must also contend with competition from a rival florist. Her golden retriever Poppy provides companionship as she navigates professional and personal challenges in the historic Southern city. The story follows Cara through a summer wedding season filled with family drama, business obstacles, and unexpected connections. Her work brings her into contact with Savannah's elite social circles while forcing her to confront her own past relationships. The novel explores themes of second chances and self-discovery against the backdrop of Southern wedding traditions and Savannah's distinctive culture. Through Cara's experiences, the story examines how career ambitions and personal relationships shape identity.

Readers describe Save the Date as a light beach read with a predictable but enjoyable romance plot. The wedding-focused story delivers comfort and escapism. Readers appreciated: - Detailed descriptions of Charleston and the wedding industry - Authentic family dynamics and friendships - The main character's growth as a businesswoman - Humor throughout the dialogue Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Too many side characters and subplots - Romance feels rushed in the final chapters - Some find the wedding industry details excessive Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (24,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (2,100+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.1/5 (300+ ratings) From reader reviews: "Perfect summer escape but needed better editing" - Goodreads reviewer "The Charleston setting makes this book" - Amazon reviewer "Too much technical floral description, not enough romance" - Goodreads reviewer

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🌸 Mary Kay Andrews previously worked as a journalist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution before becoming a full-time novelist. 🌸 The author draws heavily from her experience living in the South, particularly Georgia, to create authentic settings and characters in her novels including "Save the Date." 🌸 The book's protagonist, Cara Kryzik, is a florist - a profession the author researched extensively by spending time with real wedding florists to ensure accuracy in the details. 🌸 The novel was partly inspired by Andrews' own daughter's wedding and her experiences with wedding planning and floral arrangements. 🌸 "Save the Date" is part of the romance genre known as "Southern fiction" or "Southern lit," which typically features strong female leads and distinctly Southern settings and cultural elements.