The Godparent Trap

By: Rachel Van Dyken

Narrated by: Maria Liatis, Jacob York

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Life's Too Short meets The Unhoneymooners in this sparkling, steamy, and swoon-worthy novel from number one New York Times best-selling author Rachel Van Dyken, in which two sworn enemies must share house, home—and maybe their hearts—when they become co-parents after a sudden loss.

Colby's living her best life: As a popular food blogger, she gets to fulfill her dreams of exploring the globe. But her world comes crashing down when a tragic accident leaves her co-guardian of her best friend's two adorable children. Not only does she need to put down roots—fast—but she'll be sharing custody with the one man she can't stand sharing a continent with, let alone a house.

Accountant-extraordinaire Rip values rules and plans. But when he loses his sister and his best friend and becomes an insta-guardian all in one night, Rip sees his organized life imploding. What he really doesn't need is his sister's irresponsible, flighty—albeit kind and gorgeous—best friend making it worse.

Rip doesn't trust Colby to take their new responsibilities seriously, while Colby can't believe Rip thinks children will thrive under his rigid control. Yet soon Rip and Colby discover they need each other more than they hate each other. Could it be possible that following their hearts is just what their new little family needs?

©2022 Rachel Van Dyken (P)2022 Forever

Critic reviews

“This is Van Dyken’s best yet.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Rachel Van Dyken will tear your heart out, slice it in half with a machete, and hand it back. Then, you'll thank her."—Kristen Proby, New York Times bestselling author

"Rachel Van Dyken is on my auto-buy list."—Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author

best of 2022

the perfect combination of grief and humor in this book. I love books that make you almost cry over loss  in one scene and then make you cry because you're laughing so hard in another scene. I also love books that make you feel emotionally connected. Loss is a very hard topic and I thought it was very well done.

It was hilarious watching Rip and Colby learn how to take care of two kids full time. Some of the incidents in the book were so true to life I couldn't help but laugh. I especially loved their banter since they really did hate each other and we're suddenly living together.

And the side character, Banks, definitely kept me laughing too. His coffee mug sayings even made my husband laugh. 

I really loved the character growth in this book. Both Rip and Colby grow so much as they go through immense life changes. I love the emphasis on compromise in the story. I also loved how much they loved the kids. 

Cute

The Godparent Trap is the story of Colby & Rip learning to navigate the world of parenting, after the unexpected death Colby's best friend (& Rip's sister) and her husband in a car crash. The story itself has some tough topics but it is told in a more lighthearted manor throughout the book. Neither Colby nor Rip have raised children so being thrust into parenthood is a lot for both of these characters while also trying to grieve. Not to mention that they had been on one disastrous date in the past so there is a level of dislike between them. One night of a stomach flu, changes everything for this insta-family. While the way in which Colby, Rip and the kids become a family is heavy, I did not feel as if the book was. Rachel wrote the story in a much more light-hearted funny way.

The Godparent Trap

Heavy and yet not so heavy, the way RVD gives us the facts but doesn’t dwell on the accident was a nice change.

Was it hard yes the subject matter is hard, but it was done with finesse and not overdone either.
Becoming co guardians was not what anyone expected but life happens and sometime in life tragedy happens it’s how you make do after.

Colby is a hot mess express but it works for her, she gets it done in the end just in her own way. Ahh Rip he is more straight laced of the two, likes things in order but what he failed to see is that sometimes messy is the only way to go. I love that Colby and the kids make him see this.
It was kind of dicey there for a while, but they couldn’t help but fall for each other, they are helping the kids and themselves through the grief of losing loved ones. And in doing so they become a family it may not be perfect but it was perfect for them.

It really was a great story, I am glad I picked up the audio because it was perfect.

Real life and romance!

Rachel combines comedy, kids, sexiness and loss in one very entertaining story. Such a talented writer.