The Wedding Beat

By: Devan Sipher

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Sometimes the best man isn’t even in the wedding party.

Gavin Greene is a hopeless romantic. He’s also a professional one: He writes the wedding column for a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper, covering spectacular parties from coast to coast. But there’s a thin line between being a hotshot reporter on assignment and being a single guy alone on a Saturday night at someone else’s wedding.

Everything changes on New Year’s Eve when Gavin meets Melinda, a travel writer with enchanting dimples. A moonlit stroll across a Manhattan rooftop seals the deal - until an Aussie with an attitude swoops in and whisks her away before Gavin gets her number.

Gavin crisscrosses New York City to find her again and learns that there’s something worse than losing the woman of his dreams: having to write an article about her wedding.

Devan Sipher has been writing about weddings for the New York Times’ Vows column for more than five years. He received a master of fine arts degree from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. He lives in New York City and is still single.

©2012 Devan Sipher (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“ The Wedding Beat is a romantic, hilarious, and inspiring story.” (Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin, New York Times best-selling authors of The Nanny Diaries)

“Devan Sipher uses his journalist’s sharp eye for detail to take a delightful and fresh look at the romantic comedy genre.” (Jillian Lauren, New York Times best-selling author)

“Filled with sharp observations, hilarious truths, and poignant moments. Reading The Wedding Beat is like sitting next to the wittiest guest at a wedding - a rare find!” (Beth Harbison, New York Times best-selling author of Shoe Addicts Anonymous)

So So

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

better plot and script

What do you think your next listen will be?

Pandora's Box

What three words best describe Peter Berkrot’s performance?

OK but he didn't have great material to work with

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Wedding Beat?

? all kind of corny

Would have given 3 1/2 Stars if possible

I hovered back and forth on the overall rating between 3 and 4 stars. While the story was good, I felt almost depressed at the bad luck of the main character, Gavin. He could not catch a break and it got a little wearisome. That could have been made up for in a spectacular "guy gets the girl" ending, but even the confrontation at the end was a little pathetic. A good resolution came in the final third of the "Epilogue." That wasn't enough happiness to counteract the problems faced, the off-timing, the bloodshed, etc. Plus I wanted to know more about how they got to where they were in the "Epilogue." I felt after all I had invested into the story, I was missing some information that I deserved to know. I did like best friend Hope and her story with AJ. That added a nice/funny twist in the story. The couples Gavin interviewed were interesting. Gavin's grandmother was very sweet. The narrator did a fine job. A good listen, especially if you are drawn to rooting for the underdog. So while three stars may seem harsh for a good book, I just couldn't bring myself to rate it four stars due to my wanting to slap some sense into Gavin and yell something to him about seizing his destiny. We don't do that to fictional characters.

Like a trip to the dentist!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The Wedding Beat was well written, although, somewhat painful to read...Kind of like a trip to the dentist. The agony...I would have preferred a bandaide being ripped off! At lease the pain would have been short-lived. This poor guy struggled more than he should have. Life is just not that complicated.

Have you listened to any of Peter Berkrot’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to Peter Berkrot prior to this. He has a nice voice and I liked his performance.

Did The Wedding Beat inspire you to do anything?

no

Any additional comments?

This was an experience that I would not recommend, and would not revisit.

Happy I purchased this on sale

While I enjoyed how the character's relationship with his best friend, coworkers, and interviewees were developed, something about the relationship with the parents was grating. It took me awhile to get into this book, but I'm happy I listened the whole way through.

I really tried

I tried 3 different times to listen to this book. I even went to the beginning and see if I missed something but an hour into the book I just couldn't continue. I don't know if it was the slow pace, the main character seemed wimpy to me or the narrator but I just couldn't finish the book.

Whiney nerd seeks perfect love

What disappointed you about The Wedding Beat?

I couldn't finish this book. I became tired early on of this nebbish kvetching---which he does continually throughout the book. My reaction to the protagonist's annoying internal thoughts (which was what most of the book was) was like nails on a chalk board. I wanted to tell him to just shut up and get on with it. Also I didn't find the humor all that funny and the romance wasn't very romantic. It was actually rather sad. About half-way through I gave up and quit. I gather most people liked this book which I don't understand. Maybe if you listen to the sample you can tell whether you find the protagonist off-putting.

Has The Wedding Beat turned you off from other books in this genre?

no

Would you be willing to try another one of Peter Berkrot’s performances?

maybe

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

irritation, frustration

Exactly what you would expect. Fun to listen to.

If you could sum up The Wedding Beat in three words, what would they be?

Fun to listen to.

What did you like best about this story?

Exactly what you would expect.

What about Peter Berkrot???s performance did you like?

The voices were done well enough to distinguish.

Read All About It

The narrator did not distinguish well between a woman's and a man's voice. Sometimes I could not tell.

The story was alright. I couldn't follow along sometimes. Didn't know which girl/date he was talking about.

Oh well.

Charming and fun

Any additional comments?

Fun and funny story - I laughed out loud several times. The only thing stopping me from giving this 5 stars is that I thought the ending was abrupt and a bit unsatisfying. But this charming story is well worth listening to.

Great story, a bit slow start...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Sure-not for a full credit though. Got it on a fabulous sale.

Any additional comments?

Fun, chick-lit. Good, fun read not too 'deep'.