Vi Keeland, the #1 New York Times bestselling author known for delivering steamy romance with heart, brings us her newest standalone novel, Jilted. This refreshingly authentic romance captures the journey of two wounded souls finding their way to each other despite their complicated pasts. As Keeland’s first book under the Bramble imprint, it showcases her signature mix of humor, heat, and emotional depth while adding a new layer of vulnerability that longtime fans will appreciate.
The Plot: More Than Just Another Wedding Romance
At its core, Jilted by Vi Keeland follows Sloane Carrick, a writer for Bride magazine whose dream job has become a nightmare after being left at the altar by her fiancé, Josh. When covering a wedding for the magazine, she meets Wilder Hayes, a groomsman whose cocky attitude initially rubs her the wrong way. Their bickering quickly transforms into an unexpected make-out session in a coat closet, setting the stage for a complicated relationship.
The plot thickens when Sloane discovers Wilder is the son of her company’s owner, meaning they’ll be spending the next year crossing paths at numerous weddings. Add in the fact that Sloane has sworn off men for a year (her “man moratorium”) and Wilder hasn’t had a relationship last more than two months in a decade, and you have a recipe for a delicious slow burn romance.
What sets Jilted apart from typical wedding-focused romances is how Vi Keeland weaves in deeper themes of trust, vulnerability, and family. Through alternating perspectives and strategic flashbacks, we learn that both protagonists carry significant emotional baggage. Sloane is grappling with abandonment issues stemming from losing her mother at a young age and being left at the altar. Wilder harbors deep trust issues after being manipulated and lied to by his college girlfriend, Whitney.
Character Analysis: Complex, Flawed, and Utterly Endearing
One of Vi Keeland’s greatest strengths is creating multidimensional characters that feel like real people, and Jilted exemplifies this talent:
Sloane Carrick
- Intelligent and driven, balancing her professional life with family responsibilities
- Struggles with vulnerability after being humiliated at her wedding
- Has a warm relationship with her family, particularly her protective brothers
- Shows impressive growth in her willingness to trust again
Wilder Hayes
- Initially presents as the typical cocky athlete with commitment issues
- Gradually reveals his softer side through thoughtful gestures (buying Sloane’s dream wedding dress even before they’re officially dating)
- Carries deep wounds from his past that explain his fear of commitment
- Shows remarkable emotional intelligence in his interactions with Sloane’s family
Supporting Characters
- Sloane’s family (her father Harry, brothers Will and Travis, and niece Olivia) provide both comic relief and emotional depth
- Elijah, Sloane’s best friend and work partner, serves as an excellent sounding board
- Lucas, Wilder’s teenage half-brother, adds an endearing subplot with his budding romance with Sloane’s niece
Writing Style: Balancing Humor and Heart
Keeland’s writing shines in several areas:
- Dialogue: The witty banter between Sloane and Wilder crackles with tension and humor, making their interactions a highlight of the novel.
- Emotional Depth: Keeland doesn’t shy away from difficult emotions, creating genuine moments of vulnerability that elevate the romance.
- Pacing: The story moves at a comfortable clip without feeling rushed, giving readers time to invest in the characters while maintaining engagement.
- Dual POV: The alternating perspectives provide valuable insight into both protagonists’ thoughts and motivations, creating a more rounded story.
- Heat Level: The intimate scenes are steamy without overwhelming the plot, focusing on the emotional connection as much as the physical.
Strengths That Make This Book Stand Out
Authentic Journey Through Grief and Healing
Keeland doesn’t sugarcoat the pain of betrayal or loss. Sloane’s journey from hurt to healing feels organic, with realistic setbacks along the way. Similarly, Wilder’s gradual opening up about his past trauma unfolds naturally, making their eventual connection all the more satisfying.
Family Dynamics That Feel Genuine
The family relationships in Jilted add richness to the story. From Sloane’s protective brothers to Wilder’s complicated relationship with his father and half-brother, the family dynamics feel lived-in and authentic. These relationships aren’t just background noise but integral to understanding who these characters are.
Subverting Romance Tropes
While Jilted by Vi Keeland embraces certain romance conventions (the meet-cute, the slow burn), it also subverts expectations in refreshing ways:
- When a pregnancy enters the storyline, it doesn’t immediately solve all problems
- The “grand gesture” comes earlier than expected and in an unexpected form
- The hero’s initial rejection becomes a moment of growth rather than just a plot device
Areas That Could Have Been Strengthened
Workplace Ethics Questions Left Unexplored
The potential conflict of Sloane dating her boss’s son is acknowledged but never fully explored. This missed opportunity could have added another layer of complexity to their relationship obstacles.
Some Secondary Character Development Feels Rushed
While most supporting characters are well-drawn, a few (like Wilder’s friend Andrew) seem to exist primarily to move the plot forward rather than feeling fully realized.
The Timeline Sometimes Feels Compressed
Major life decisions (like Wilder deciding to move from London to New York) occasionally happen so quickly that they slightly strain credibility, even within the accelerated timeline of a romance novel.
How It Compares to Keeland’s Other Works
Fans of Vi Keeland’s previous works like The Invitation, The Boss Project, Indiscretion, and Inappropriate will find familiar elements in Jilted: strong chemistry, witty dialogue, and complex characters with real-world problems. However, Jilted digs deeper into emotional trauma and healing than some of her earlier novels, showing evolution in her storytelling.
The romance between Sloane and Wilder feels reminiscent of the emotional push-pull in her co-written works with Penelope Ward, like Hate Notes and Dirty Letters, but with Keeland’s distinct voice shining through.
Who Will Love This Book?
Jilted by Vi Keeland will particularly appeal to readers who enjoy:
- Slow-burn romances with genuine emotional barriers
- Strong family dynamics in their romance novels
- Heroes who are alpha without being overbearing
- Workplace settings with a twist
- Second-chance themes (not just romantically, but second chances at happiness)
- Wedding backdrops without saccharine sentimentality
If you enjoyed books like Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners, Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game, or Helena Hunting’s If You Need Me, you’ll likely find Jilted right up your alley.
Final Thoughts: A Romance That Stays With You
What makes Jilted by Vi Keeland stand out in the crowded romance field is its emotional honesty. Keeland doesn’t take shortcuts with her characters’ journeys, allowing them to process their pain in ways that feel genuine rather than contrived. The result is a romance that feels earned rather than inevitable.
The novel’s exploration of how past wounds affect our ability to trust again resonates beyond the final page, making readers reflect on their own walls and defenses. By showing two people working through their fears to find happiness, Keeland delivers not just a satisfying romance but a story about the courage it takes to be vulnerable again after being hurt.
With its perfect balance of humor, heart, and heat, Jilted earns its place among Vi Keeland’s best works and serves as an excellent introduction for new readers to her storytelling prowess. The book reminds us that sometimes the most beautiful beginnings come after devastating endings—and that a happy ending is all the more precious when you’ve had to fight for it.
A captivating, emotional romance that balances lighter wedding-themed moments with deeper explorations of trust and healing.