Meghan Quinn’s Bridesmaid by Chance rounds out the Bridesmaid for Hire series with flair, fire, and just the right amount of feverish tension. If Bridesmaid for Hire laid the quirky foundation and Bridesmaid Undercover explored undercover chaos with heart, then this third installment steps it up by putting a billionaire and his assistant into a perfectly ridiculous, accidentally vulnerable, and unmistakably romantic marriage of convenience.
With Hudson Hopper’s stoic intensity and Sloane Galloway’s sassy spontaneity, Quinn dives deep into familiar tropes—forced proximity, secret marriage, regency roleplay—yet freshens them with heartfelt character arcs, whip-smart dialogue, and emotionally satisfying reveals. While not without its missteps, Bridesmaid by Chance is a fitting, fiery finale to a series that celebrates love in the most unconventional of settings.
The Setup: Corsets, Contracts, and Chemistry
Hudson Hopper, billionaire tycoon with a penchant for green juice and regency-era business decorum, finds himself in an absurd situation—pretending to be married to his assistant, Sloane, for the sake of a high-society London club membership that could open major business doors.
Sloane, fresh out of college and fiercely underestimated, proposes the arrangement to boost her own ambitions. She’s snarky, stubborn, and used to being underestimated. He’s rigid, respected, and terrified of emotional spontaneity. Their relationship, though contrived at first, blossoms into something more real, messier, and endearingly human.
What starts as a “you scratch my back, I’ll fake marry you” business pact turns into an exploration of class, control, and craving—both emotional and physical.
Strengths That Sizzle
Chemistry That Crackles: Quinn excels at romantic tension, and Hudson and Sloane’s dynamic is her latest proof. Their opposites-attract energy isn’t just trope-deep—it’s rooted in character.
The banter? Effortless.
The physical tension? Electric.
The emotional payoff? Slow-burn but worth every combustive page.
Sloane’s Voice: Sloane isn’t your typical rom-com heroine. She’s mouthy but introspective, bold but broken in believable ways. Her working-class background, layered with ambition and insecurity, brings a compelling texture to what could have been a one-note assistant trope.
Dialogue That Delivers: Meghan Quinn’s comedic voice is strongest in the dialogue. Sloane’s outbursts—particularly the now-iconic “sitting on your face” rant—strike the perfect balance between laugh-out-loud awkwardness and emotionally revealing subtext. You root for her because she’s not afraid to say the wrong thing.
Series Cohesion: Fans of the series will appreciate the return of Everly and Hardy (Bridesmaid Undercover) and glimpses of the broader co-op storyline first developed in Bridesmaid for Hire. Quinn knows how to build a shared universe where each love story is part of a bigger, messier, and more beautiful romantic web.
Where It Falters
Predictable Tropes, Occasionally Overplayed: While Quinn often flips rom-com tropes on their heads, there are moments when the plot beats feel too rehearsed—like the classic “misunderstanding leads to breakup” tension or the convenient big business deal riding on emotional stakes. It works, but it doesn’t always surprise.
Hudson’s Coldness Lingers a Bit Too Long: For a significant portion of the novel, Hudson is emotionally walled-off to the point of frustration. His growth arc is effective but slow, and readers might wish for earlier cracks in the armor before the inevitable swoon-worthy redemption.
The Ending Ties Up a Little Too Neatly: Though satisfying, the conclusion leans heavily into “happy-ever-after tied with a regency bow.” While that’s part of the genre’s charm, the real emotional meat of the novel deserved a slightly more layered resolution.
Series Recap: A Bridesmaid for Every Kind of Chaos
Bridesmaid for Hire: Where it all began. A quirky businesswoman for hire as a bridesmaid. Meet-cute meets emotional growth in a whirlwind of weddings and unexpected feelings.
Bridesmaid Undercover: Adds mystery and emotional depth with an undercover operation and secret identities. Quinn dips her toes into suspense while still delivering on the romance.
Bridesmaid by Chance: The most emotionally grounded of the trio. It turns what could be an over-the-top premise into a surprisingly heartfelt story about self-worth, ambition, and learning to let go.
Writing Style: Witty, Fast-Paced, Emotionally Tuned
Meghan Quinn’s style shines brightest when she leans into chaos with compassion. Her sentences are punchy, often clipped with purpose, and her use of dual POV (Hudson and Sloane) gives readers insight into both the anxiety of control and the recklessness of longing. There’s a sitcom-like rhythm to her chapters—think The Office meets The Hating Game—with moments of sharp emotional introspection tucked between the jokes.
Her prose isn’t literary, but it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s emotionally intelligent commercial fiction—perfect for readers who want to feel, laugh, and escape in one sitting.
Themes: Power, Performance, and Partnership
Bridesmaid by Chance isn’t just about love—it’s about how people perform identity in the name of ambition, survival, or societal approval.
Power dynamics between boss and assistant are thoughtfully explored (and ultimately equalized).
Performative roles—in weddings, at work, in relationships—are called out and challenged.
True partnership, romantic and professional, is positioned as something earned through vulnerability and respect, not dictated by hierarchy or charm.
Who This Book Is For
Fans of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne or The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood.
Readers who enjoy workplace romances with boss-assistant dynamics (but with mutual respect).
Lovers of forced proximity, marriage-of-convenience, and regency-themed side plots.
Those who like romantic comedies with emotional substance beneath the fluff.
My Final Take: Sharp, Saucy, and Surprisingly Soft
Bridesmaid by Chance is a rom-com that knows what it’s doing. It leans into the fun of its genre while refusing to let its characters coast on charm alone. It challenges its readers to root for growth, not just attraction, and it rewards that rooting with a finale that is funny, flirty, and full of emotional payoff.
While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, it delivers exactly what readers crave—romance that feels earned, characters who feel real, and dialogue that deserves to be read aloud.
Final Verdict: A funny, sexy, and emotionally satisfying conclusion to a trilogy that proves love can come with contracts, corsets, and complications—and still feel totally real.
Suggested Next Reads
Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher
The Roommate by Rosie Danan
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
Set on You by Amy Lea
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas