Romance

Review: The Substitute by Rachel Thorne

May 9, 2026

Synopsis:

She was supposed to be getting married in three days.
Just not to him.

Megan
After dumping my cheating fiancé, I fly home dreading the moment I have to tell my terrifying mother the wedding is off. But thanks to a Dramamine-and-champagne disaster at the airport, I pass out on the plane… and wake up with a handsome stranger posing as my fiancé.

Josh
I only meant to help.
Really.
But when Megan’s family mistakes me for the missing groom—and playing along helps with the real reason I’m in Kansas City—I go with it.

Megan
Now I’m trapped in a nightmare week of wedding festivities with a guy who refuses to help me stage a public breakup. And unfortunately for me, Josh plays the role of attentive fiancé a little too convincingly. He’s kind, infuriatingly attractive, and entirely too good at making me forget he’s only supposed to be temporary.

But the closer we get to the wedding—and to each other—the messier the lie becomes. And somewhere in the middle of all the wedding-week chaos, my substitute fiancé starts to feel like the real thing.

The Substitute is a sweet, closed-door romcom packed with a fake engagement, banter, chemistry, and wedding-week chaos.

This edition of The Substitute is a sweet/closed-door adaptation of the previously published New York Times Bestselling steamy version written as Denise Grover Swank.

Review:

There are some books that simply feel right from the very first pages. The dialogue, the characters, the story – everything clicks, creating an instant connection and the hope that this feeling will last until the final page. This was one of those books for me.

Megan is so afraid of being judged by her mother that she chooses not to tell her about her breakup, instead letting her believe the wedding is still happening. A classic avoidance tactic.
Josh, on the other hand, is trying to save his company and sets off on a journey to uncover the truth about what really happened and who is responsible.
From the moment they meet, I was immediately invested, especially in the chaotic way their paths cross. Watching them stick to their plan until the very last moment could only end in one of two way, and honestly, I was there for it. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and their connection came through so naturally that I found it hard to put the book down.

While the story felt predictable at times, that didn’t lessen the enjoyment for me. If anything, it made it even more comforting, allowing me to enjoy every moment. If you’re looking for a genuine feel‑good read, this one is well worth a chance, and I hope you’ll enjoy it just as much as I did.
Knowing that this is a slightly adjusted version of the original material only added to my enjoyment and made the experience even better.

🌙 Recension: The Substitute (The Wedding Pact #1) by Rachel Thorne
📚 Genre: Romance
📅 Release Date: May 14, 2026
📖 Publisher: ‎‎ DGS
📱 Read as: Kindle
📗 Kindle – included in Kindle Unlimited
💸 I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 361
⭐️ 4.5/5