Dragged to the Wedding is over-the-top yet incredibly fun

When I first saw the cover for Dragged to the Wedding by Andrew Grey, it immediately went on my TBR because it’s just beautiful.

Aside from the cover, I knew I was going to be in for a treat as soon as I heard the premise which we’ll discuss in a second. Considering Carina Press’ track record with queer releases, this book had a lot going for it. Plus it was featured in my romance reads to keep Pride Month going, too.

Thankfully, I was lucky enough to get a digital ARC from Carina Press so thank you to the publisher for that. They had so many great books come out in 2023 and Dragged to the Wedding is one of them.

If you’re looking for a new queer book or just something that might surprise you, then Dragged to the Wedding will do it.

Dragged to the Wedding is an over-the-top yet fun queer romance.

Dragged to the Wedding begins with James, a gay police officer who isn’t out to his family yet has to go back to his hometown for his sister’s wedding. His friend decides to introduce him to Lala aka Daniel who is a drag queen. The two agree that Daniel will pose as his girlfriend “Daniella” to get James’ family off his back.

Let’s stop right there because that premise sounds completely off-the-wall and it is but that’s what makes it fun. It’s all the deliciousness of fake dating with extra steps. These two do have a few close calls when they first get there but it’s clear Lala is a professional and wouldn’t let her performance suffer no matter what happened.

Amidst their fake dating, we’re also seeing James’ sister’s wedding essentially go up in flames because nothing goes right. She’s dealing with their mom trying to overtake everything, a bad wedding dress, and a pastor who isn’t what he seems. Frankly, it’s a lot for the bride to handle but James and Daniel step in to help and it’s so heartwarming.

Daniel quickly fits in with James’ family and that’s what I loved about this book. It felt like a warm hug at times yet there were some darker moments. Daniel and James are contemplating being together yet don’t know how the other feels. James is trying to confront his family about his sexuality and it’s hard to read at times. They have an idea of him that doesn’t exist.

Given this book’s shorter page count, I think it achieved everything and more. I do feel that a few things during the third act could have been broken up. There was a plotline with the pastor and of course, Daniel’s “reveal.” It just felt like a bit much yet I do think Dragged to the Wedding was fun and unlike any other romance I’ve read before. If you’re looking for a new queer read, I don’t think you can go wrong in picking this one up.

Dragged to the Wedding by Andrew Grey is out now where books are sold.