Three Brides, No Groom

by Debbie Macomber

Three women meet at their fifteen-year class reunion...and discover that their lives have taken unexpected directions.

Back in their college days, Gretchen Wise had been engaged to a top law student. Carol Furness, head cheerleader, had said yes to the school's football hero. And Maddie Cobain was the girl who'd fallen for a professor.

Now the three of them gather around a popular fountain on the college grounds. This fountain was where lovers met, where promises were made...and broken. So it's fitting that Gretchen, Carol and Maddie sit here to share their stories of betrayal and, yes, revenge. Stories of finding new love...

Sometimes the things you don't plan are the best!

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Ebooks, Audiobook

376 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1997

About the author

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Reviews

[Readaholic Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this Debbie Macomber novel. It really draws you in.

[Constantine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice reading, the book is the story about three girls and their relationships. The nice thing is that they meet for a reunion after 15 years and each tells her own story. The nice thing about the book is that the three stories are separate from each other. This makes the reading easier. Recommended for any romance lovers.

[KatLynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[MBenzz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow. That was....not good. I realize this book was first published in 1997, but this book's message is just pathetic. I was 17/18 in 1997, and I do NOT recall women having the mindset of 'If I don't have a man in my life, I have nothing!'. There was So. Much. EYE-ROLLING going on while I read this.

The book is about three women who meet at the fountain before their 15-year college reunion. Each woman tells their tale of a broken engagement and a surprising new love interest that ultimately didn't work out. (Or DID it?!?!?!) *Cue Eyeroll*

All three stories are basically the same tale, just slightly changed. I thought Gretchen's broken engagement was pretty crappy given the cheating and the getting another woman pregnant, so when Carol said, 'You think that's bad, wait to you hear MINE!', I was expecting a doozie.

I did not get a doozie. Wow...your college football hero boyfriend gets picked up for the NFL then suddenly ditches you...that's not at all a surprise, sweetie. That's expected.

And Maddie with the professor was just so cliche. We're not told much about each girl's relationship, so we couldn't care less when their engagements are broken off because we haven't been invested in them as a couple. As for them finding love again so ridiculously soon after their broken engagements? Yeah...ok.

Gretchen spends 3 days with bad-boy whats-his-name on the back of his motorcycle while he takes her home, and by the end of the trip, she's madly in love with him and expects him to marry her. Carol's budding relationship with Clark was the most believable in that they actually spent time getting to know one another; however, the reason for their break up was so stupid and childish. JUST. TELL. HIM. THE. TRUTH. Tell him the stupid immature reason you decided to meet Eddie for dinner! And the same went for Maddie and the preacher's son. So unbelievable and ridiculous. Each girl deserved what happened to them as their behavior was just awful.

And the ending? SO predictable and mindless. Why wouldn't they have just told one-another at the fountain how their stories ended?? All three of them opted to be cagey and secretive with their ending? Unlikely.

I'm giving this two stars and not one because I did read the entire thing and didn't DNF it. I wanted to, but I thought there's no way this could get any more cheesy or desperate.

I was mistaken. This was my second (the first one being read YEEEEEARS ago) Debbie Macomber book, and it was definitely my last. This is junk.

[Leslie Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Debbie Macomber has drawn in an audience based off of her contemporary romances. They are thoughtful and uplifting, heart warming stories to curl up and read on a rainy day. While reading this book after hearing the stories of the three women I instantly felt a connection to each story because of how she enthralls her readers with such real live scenarios and feelings in which we all have felt. I was almost disappointed after each story when hearing their newfound men did not work out, but I also knew Macomber never lets a reader down. When they spoke of their husbands by the fountain I instantly knew it would be their newfound loves in each of their stories. Took me less than a day to read this book and enjoyed every minute of it.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok, but very predictable. I felt like I knew what the epilogue for all three "brides" was going to be right away. The book held my interest, and it was surprising to see how quickly some of the characters changed, but not very thoughtful or deep; a very easy, quick read. I have liked some of Debbie Macomber's other books much better, but if you want a light read, it's not bad.

[Treveni Nagarajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Enjoyed every bit of the book.

[Nathalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good stories, but we could have skipped the detailed descriptions of so-called French kissing 😆

[Monica Gearhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. Three separate girls tell their stories of being engaged and how the guys broke their hearts. I kept wanting to read the epilogue to see what happened after each girl told their story.

[Silverluna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really LOVED this book, as evidenced by the fact that I read this in less than 12 hours...

[Gigi Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three women meet at their fifteen-year class reunion …and discover that their lives have taken unexpected directions. Back in their college days, Gretchen Wise had been engaged to a top law student. Carol Furness, head cheerleader, had said yes to the school's football hero. And Maddie Coolidge was the girl who'd fallen for a professor. However, all three brides were left at the altar, so to speak, at the last minute the grooms backed out on the weddings.

Now the three of them gather around a popular fountain on the college grounds. This fountain was where lovers met, where promises were made… and broken. So it's fitting that Gretchen, Carol and Maddie sit here to share their stories of betrayal and, yes, revenge. Stories of finding new love….

Sometimes love doesn't turn out the way you plan. Because sometimes the right man isn't. Sometimes the things you don't plan are the best!

This book was originally written in the mid-1990s. But has recently been re-released. So I guess it will be alright to call it "vintage" Macomber. I do like my 'vintage' books. They are such interesting and delightful books to read. I found this book quite charming as well. I am a fan of Debbie Macomber for many years now, and I am almost never disappointed by her books. And this one did not disappoint, I really enjoyed it. It was a clean, wholesome, light romance book, which is my favorite, another book of what I call my Cinderella book genre.

I enjoyed it so much I awarded it 5*****

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent book, I haven't read many by this author. This is one of Debbie Macomber's earlier works. It's an anthology of short stories that are linked due to the three brides being alumni of the same college. I liked the first story in the set the best, the second was a good read as well. The third one really didn't keep my attention, I have never been thrilled by the student falling for the professor trope. I got part way through it, gave up and skipped to the epilogue. I did like the fact that the book did end in a HEA.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute read. I love her books....good heartfelt stories.

[Kayrene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, older romance by DM. Three brides tell their individual story. Listened to it on audio, and reader was very sing-song, which was very distracting. Enjoyed it though.

[Kim Smiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story to listen to in the car. Three women back to Queen Anne where they attended college for a 15 yr. reunion. They weren't close friends, but saw each other at the fountain on the college campus and got to talking.

Each had their own college story about being engaged and being dumped at graduation. So they sit at the fountain and tell their stories to each other.

Gretchen was engaged to Roger and the wedding was all set until she found out he cheated on her, right before graduation. He wanted her to stay with him and begged her not to break their engagement. He used being drunk as an excuse and the girl coming on to him, it wasn't his fault! But she decided to take off with another guy on campus, the bad boy who offered her a ride on the back of his motorcycle. This starts an adventure that leaves the reader hanging until the end of the story because before we find out what happens, the story launches into girl #2, Carol:

Carol was engaged to football star Eddie. She was his biggest supporter, dating him for 4 yrs and she was head cheerleader as well. Their wedding was all set, but when he signed with the Denver Broncos, he dumped her at graduation, stating training was about to start and he couldn't get away to get married. She was convinced he would come around and decided he would call her and apologize and beg her back. She didn't get a teaching job because she figured she'd be moving to Denver. Now she was homeless and jobless. But she did find substitute work and met a college friend while summer subbing. He worked for a major computer company, he was a genius. They became good friends and she soon forgets all about Eddie. But circumstances come between her and this computer geek and we are left hanging to find out if she moves to Alaska for a teaching job, if she gets back with Eddie, (who eventually does call) or if the computer geek comes around and gets the girl. Because we move to girl #3, Maddie.

Maddie was the campus bad girl. Getting involved with a math professor, she thought they would marry after graduation. He did promise her, but they had to keep their relationship a secret for him to keep his job. 3 days before graduation, she tells a sorority sister her plans and soon the whole school knows of their relationship. And then he dumps her.
She later finds out that he dumped her because he stole her answer to the last problem on her math mid term. She thought it was part of the test, she was late to class that day and didn't hear him say it was a bonus problem, that no one had ever solved it. Well, unbeknownst to her, she did and he took the credit for it. The engagement was all a ruse so she wouldn't find out about him stealing the credit for such a huge accomplishment. She befriends Brent, a former college student and he's now going to the police academy. when she lets him know of her plans to steal back her test to prove she solved the problem, he goes in on this escapade with her to help her out. Once again, circumstances leave Brent questioning her integrity and these two split. Now we're wondering how their story ends as well.

We find out all of the answers in the epilogue. It was a fun story to listen to, very entertaining if you like this author.

[Ashley Snider · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Debbie Macombers books however I didn’t like the layout of this book at all.

Three friends meet up for their 15year class reunion. They were all engaged at graduation and they meet at the fountain to discuss what happened after graduation. Three Brides no Groom is a classic love story. Each met and fell In love with their destiny only to have the men walk away from Love. What happens after is a mystery as each woman ends her story by the man walking g away and then you get to the reunion to find they each married the men they were lining after. You just don’t see what happened in between.

Each story is almost a stand-alone just tied together in the sense that they are telling each other what happened after graduation. Easy read just missed being able to see how their relationships were put back on track for each to get their happy ending.

[Varsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This book was surprisingly interesting! I appreciated that it had a different format from other romance books, and that each character felt like a fully formed, individual person. However, I despised the casual sexism throughout this book, and didn't find it believable that some these people fell in love over the course of like 4 days.

Also, I was so confused by the endings of each of their love stories. The women end by telling each other that their true loves left them or let them go, and they never got back together. Then, the epilogue flips that completely - each of them got married to the man they talked about. So why lie!? Especially when talking to friends.

Overall, it was fun to read and I liked seeing an example of a traditional romance novel. If you have a few hours, check it out; you at least won't be bored!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect light, not heavy in any way book got a vacation. Classic movie romance stories without being too deep in the romance genre.

The story of three women who went to college together, reunited after their 15yr reunion, revealing that their lives didn’t go in the direction anyone had thought. The end has a twist, but in my opinion a very predictable one. Would’ve been more interesting if it had had a different ending, but if you’re looking for a fairytale happily ever after ending then this is your book.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

About 3 girls who just graduated from college
they all fell in love while at college
but after they graduated, their plans were changed
by the men in their life, they were scorned by their partners
they each went their way and fell in love with someone else
6 chapters for each girl
and the epilogue showed who they actually married at their college reunion
However I thought it would of been better if the writer added another
chapter for each girl to show what exactly happened, for each section
it left you hanging in the air. The epilogue needed more to tell each story's ending.

[Lis Sigona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Brides No Groom - excellent storyline from Debbie Macomber - college reunion memory lane and how things seem or were thought to have ended up in relationships turn out to be not what was to be (isn’t that the heartbreaker ladies?) and then the least except happens. Surprises abound by the time the reunion dinner meet up transpires. If only every “happily ever after” could be so easy/wonderful.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this because I was still on a romance kick and had this in my collection from reading it in the 90s. I wanted to see just how inappropriate it was that I’d read it as a kid…

Well it was boring. A few quick references that likely went over my head, and affirmation that this was not the book I was remembering after all.

Cheesy and def written in the 90s but ultimately just silly and anticlimactic.

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three graduates of Queen Anne University are back at college for their 15 year class reunion. They are all drawn to the popular fountain on the college grounds. It is at this fountain where promises were made and broken. As each girl shares their story a common thread is found, as each woman tells of betrayal and revenge. A good read.

[Judith Doyel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Remembering your past..

You will live reading these stories of three sorority sisters who had dramatic cancelled wedding stories and new adventures and lives as they are rescued. Loves redound and lost again. We learn their stories shared with new friends at their fifteenth college reunion.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed and mostly believable stories of three women who were engaged, but didn't marry, what changed and why. The women didn't really know each other in college, but learn each others stories when they gather for a class reunion.

[Jeri Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of boring and very predictable

Formulaic. Each section represented a “type” and a potential groom, and then the “anti-groom.” Was patently obvious how each would end. MacComber is an excellent writer but this is a throwaway. Sorry.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up. I love Macomber’s wholesome feel good books But this one was a little too predictable for me. 3 women return to college reunion. Each had been engaged at graduation and the wedding called off. They relate what happened but in typical HEA fashion, each eventually finds a good hubby

[Corrina]

I really liked the style used and found that it flowed so easily I wanted to read it again immediately. The characters were enjoyable to get into the minds of. I really liked where they lead me along to, as well. This should be a movie!

[Mel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so bad that I could not finish it. The portrayal of the female characters as weak, needy and the lesser sex was too much for me to handle. That a wo,an is not complete unless she is wi th a man goes against everything I was raised to believe.

[Janice H. Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three young women with serious wedding plans each see their plans go awry in this love story. When the women meet right before their class reunion, they each have a story to tell. A good romance and love story.

[Mary Manee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that makes you want to shout at and shake the characters at times and at other times you want to say, "You go girl!" You will smile and think I knew it and your mouth will gape open as you think that you did not see that coming.