BOOK REVIEW
Book: My Plus One = You
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Author: Angela Haas
Rating: 4.5/5
Reviewer: Stavyah Vatsarah
Rachel Kicklighter is a bridesmaid for the tenth time in Angela Haas’s My Plus One = You. She’s thirty-four, single, sick of satin dresses, and tired of watching friends get married while her own love life goes nowhere. Then she meets Cameron Nash, a handsome stranger who’s been asked to take the place of a groomsman who fell into a cactus patch after drinking too much. The suit barely fits poor Cam, and a button pops off and hits Rachel in the forehead. I laughed at that part. Haas knows how to turn a wedding disaster into a pretty charming first meeting.
A Bridesmaid Who’s Had Enough
Rachel is a bit of a mess on the subject of love. She loves her friends but hates being the one left out when the couples hit the dance floor. Her experience with Andrew, who broke her trust, has made her skeptical about love. She has a nice guy in Phil who treats her well, but she can’t bring herself to take it further.
I liked Rachel because her fears seem real. She wants love, but she is afraid of what it will cost her. She jokes about her bad luck and her endless bridesmaid duties, but underneath the wit is someone who is afraid to get hurt again. Haas gives her a sharp voice, and her thoughts are funnier than what she says out loud.
Rachel’s life is not only about dating. She works in the family business, where her relationship with her mother is another source of stress. I liked this part of the story because it shows her struggle is about more than simply finding a man. She also needs to learn to put herself first.
A Man Who Hates Weddings
Rachel and Cam are a strange couple. He’s handsome and clearly attracted to her, but weddings make him nervous. Their first meeting is funny, but his demeanor at the ceremony hints at some deeper pain. He has a past of his own to confront, and the thought of falling in love again terrifies him.
What I liked about Cam was that Haas allows him to be more than a dream man in a fine suit. He can be kind and warm, but he also retreats when the going gets tough. It’s his fears that make him human, although there were times I wished he would stop overthinking and just take a chance.
The scenes from Cam’s perspective are a big help. We see the gap between his feelings and what he says. I thought that was more interesting than a romance where the man is a mystery until the last page.
Beyond a Wedding Date
The book’s charm lies in the idea of being someone’s plus one. For one reason or another, Rachel and Cam keep running into each other, and wedding plans become a test of their bond. When both have old wounds, a simple invitation can feel like a huge risk.
I liked the way Haas builds up their attraction through small acts, shy smiles, teasing, and moments of care. The chemistry is there, but the real drama lies in how hard they find it to trust their own feelings.
Some scenes are sweet; some are awkward in a way that feels true to life. When Rachel is upset, she talks too fast. Cam can be quiet when he ought to be talking. I liked that their problems don’t go away just because they find each other attractive.
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Friends, Family & Old Wounds
Rachel’s friends, Laura and Emily, add warmth and humor. They know when something is wrong, tease her, and give her advice. I loved their brunch chats and honesty about love. They make Rachel’s world seem real.
Cam’s family is also important, especially his mother, who wants him to be happy again. I liked how Haas uses these connections to show how romance almost never exists in a neat little world of two people. Friends and family can help, but they can add to the pressure.
The past is a big presence for both leads. Rachel is afraid she’ll lose herself in a bad relationship. Cam is afraid of the pain that comes with trust. Their wounds are not the same, but both must face the urge to flee when love gets too close.
When Love Is Hard
The book mixes humor, romance, and family tension. Sometimes I thought the two were too slow to see what everyone else saw. A few of their fears lead to the same tense exchange more than once. I wanted them to be more open.
But Haas makes their skepticism understandable. Love is not always about finding the right person. Sometimes the hard part is allowing that person to see the parts of you that still hurt. What struck a chord with me was how Rachel needs to learn that kindness doesn’t mean sacrificing her own needs. Cam must also confront the fact that fear can hurt others, even when his intentions are good.
A Date to Remember
My Plus One = You is ultimately a story of love, trust, friendship, and the courage to try again. I liked that Haas gives her leads, lives, fears, and flaws beyond their romance.
It’s a moving love story about a couple who are equally charming and frustrating. Rachel and Cam may meet by chance, but it’s the work involved in letting someone into your life that makes their story worth reading. After all those weddings, I found myself hoping Rachel might finally get to enjoy one.
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ENGAGE WITH LH | Click on the cover image of the book My Plus One = You and buy yourself a copy right off the bat!