What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

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► Suggest books for me > Books where someone steps in unexpectedly at a wedding to replace the bride/groom

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message 1: by Keith (new)

Keith | 224 comments In Aparajito, a novel by Indian (Bengali) writer Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay (which, along with its predecessor, Pather Panchali, was adapted into a trilogy of films, which is how I heard about it), the protagonist is invited to a friend's female cousin's wedding. When the groom's family arrives from another village, it turns out that the groom is mentally disabled, so the bride's mother calls off the wedding. For religious reasons, it's believed that the bride has to marry at the appointed time, so the protagonist reluctantly steps in and marries her.

I'm curious to know what other novels, short stories etc. exist with a similar plot. They could be in any genre (romance, fantasy, historical etc.), the circumstances could be anything that removes the bride/groom (death, running away, already being married etc.) as long as their absence/unsuitability is only revealed right before the wedding is due to take place, and the person who steps in doesn't have to be a stranger (it could be the groom's best man, for example). However, I'd be most interested in books which treat this kind of plot realistically/dramatically, rather than merely as an excuse to to throw two romantically unconnected people together unexpectedly and have them fall instantly in love or go through a standard will-they-won't-they-look-we-all-know-they-totally-will spiel (similar to common romance tropes like arranged marriage, shotgun wedding, mail-order spouse etc.). I'd also be particularly interested in any books which put an LGBT+ twist on the scenario.


message 2: by Rosa (new)


message 3: by Keith (new)

Keith | 224 comments Rosa wrote: "Once Upon a Marigold has this."

Thanks, that sounds like fun.


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