Allison Raskin’s latest romantic comedy, “Save the Date,” tackles one of modern dating’s most mortifying scenarios: what happens when your carefully planned life explodes six months before your wedding? For Emma Moskowitz, a licensed couples therapist with a thriving YouTube channel and a book deal built on her relationship expertise, this nightmare becomes the premise for an audacious social experiment that’s equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.
The novel opens with Emma face-down on her parents’ office carpet, reeling from her fiancé Ryan’s abrupt departure. His reason? “Something is missing.” It’s the kind of vague, devastating explanation that leaves the dumpee questioning everything they thought they knew about love, life, and their own worth. But rather than wallow in self-pity, Emma hatches “Operation: Save My Date”—a plan to find a replacement groom and keep her August 29th wedding date intact.
The Art of Messy Authenticity
What elevates “Save the Date” beyond typical romantic comedy fare is Allison Raskin’s unflinching portrayal of modern relationship anxiety. Emma isn’t your standard rom-com heroine waiting to be rescued; she’s a professional who understands the psychology of relationships yet finds herself completely blindsided by her own romantic failure. This contradiction creates rich comedic material while exploring deeper themes about expertise versus lived experience.
Raskin, who previously co-authored the “I Hate Everyone But You” series with Gabe Dunn, demonstrates remarkable growth as a solo novelist. Her background in mental health advocacy—evident in her previous non-fiction works “Overthinking About You” and “I Do (I Think)”—adds authentic depth to Emma’s therapeutic insights and anxiety spirals. The author’s personal experience with a broken engagement clearly informs the emotional authenticity of Emma’s journey.
The novel’s structure cleverly mirrors the chaos of modern dating and social media culture. Emma’s story unfolds through multiple platforms—her YouTube channel, a podcast with potential love interest Will, family dinners, and therapy sessions. This multimedia approach reflects how contemporary relationships often play out across various digital spaces, making the story feel remarkably current.
A Love Triangle That Actually Makes Sense
The romantic tension between Emma, charismatic podcast producer Will Stoll, and recently divorced investment banker Matt Monroy avoids the typical love triangle pitfalls. Each relationship serves a distinct purpose in Emma’s journey toward self-discovery. Will challenges her assumptions about love and timing, representing the terrifying possibility of genuine connection without guarantees. Matt offers security and shared values but lacks the indefinable spark that makes Emma feel truly seen.
Raskin’s portrayal of Will deserves particular praise. He’s neither the perfect romantic hero nor the commitment-phobic bad boy. Instead, he’s a thoughtful pragmatist whose reluctance to rush into marriage stems from his own family trauma and relationship history. His character development throughout the novel feels earned rather than convenient, making his eventual proposal genuinely satisfying rather than simply inevitable.
Matt, too, receives nuanced treatment. While he could have easily been written as a boring safe choice, Raskin gives him genuine appeal and emotional depth. His struggles with his ex-wife Kelly’s infidelity and his eagerness to rebuild his life create sympathy rather than contempt. The resolution of his storyline feels both surprising and inevitable—a testament to Raskin’s skilled plotting.
The Supporting Cast That Steals Scenes
Emma’s family provides some of the novel’s strongest moments. Her parents, Alan and Debbie, feel like real people navigating the challenges of retirement and long marriage rather than convenient plot devices. Their subplot about rekindling their relationship while dealing with Alan’s retirement-induced neediness adds depth and humor while paralleling Emma’s romantic journey.
Sister Jackie emerges as an unexpected scene-stealer, transforming from what could have been a shallow pretty sister stereotype into Emma’s fiercest advocate and social media manager. Her enthusiasm for “Operation: Save My Date” and her growing crush on Matt provide consistent comic relief while highlighting the ways family members can surprise us.
Best friend Imani serves as the novel’s voice of reason, though Raskin wisely avoids making her too preachy. Her skepticism about Emma’s plan feels genuine rather than obstructionist, and her professional insights as a fellow therapist add credibility to the story’s psychological elements.
Digital Age Romance and Its Discontents
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its exploration of how social media complicates modern relationships. Emma’s decision to document her husband-hunting journey online creates additional pressure and scrutiny that feels authentically contemporary. The comments sections, viral moments, and the pressure to maintain an online persona while navigating personal crisis reflect genuine challenges facing content creators today.
The podcast format allows Raskin to explore relationship dynamics through a different lens. The conversations between Emma and Will often reveal more about their compatibility than their romantic scenes, demonstrating how intellectual and emotional connection can develop through professional collaboration.
Therapeutic Insights Meet Rom-Com Chaos
Raskin’s background in mental health shines through Emma’s professional observations about relationships. The novel seamlessly integrates genuine therapeutic concepts—attachment styles, communication patterns, the myth of soulmates—without feeling like a psychology textbook. Emma’s ability to analyze other people’s relationships while remaining blind to her own patterns creates both humor and poignancy.
The exploration of anxiety as a character trait rather than a plot device deserves recognition. Emma’s anxiety isn’t magically cured by finding love; instead, it’s portrayed as an ongoing aspect of her personality that requires management and understanding. This realistic approach to mental health sets “Save the Date” by Allison Raskin apart from romance novels that treat therapy as a quick fix.
Minor Missteps in Paradise
While “Save the Date” by Allison Raskin succeeds admirably in most areas, some elements feel slightly underdeveloped. The resolution of Emma’s professional crisis—her book deal and YouTube channel—happens somewhat too easily given the magnitude of her public relationship failures. Additionally, some secondary characters, particularly Emma’s clients, occasionally feel more like vehicles for therapeutic exposition than fully realized individuals.
The pacing occasionally suffers during the middle section when Emma is dating Matt. While their relationship serves an important narrative purpose, some readers might find their interactions less engaging than Emma’s crackling chemistry with Will.
A Modern Classic in the Making
“Save the Date” by Allison Raskin succeeds because it understands that the best romantic comedies aren’t really about finding love—they’re about finding yourself. Emma’s journey toward self-acceptance and authentic connection feels both uniquely contemporary and timelessly relatable. Raskin has crafted a novel that honors the genre’s traditions while updating them for an era of dating apps, social media, and evolving relationship expectations.
The book’s ending, which subverts reader expectations in the most satisfying way possible, demonstrates Raskin’s understanding that the best romantic conclusions feel both surprising and inevitable. Without spoiling the specifics, the resolution honors both Emma’s growth and the story’s themes about taking leaps of faith.
Perfect for Fans Of
Readers who enjoyed these similar titles will likely love “Save the Date” by Allison Raskin:
- “By The Book” by Jasmine Guillory – Contemporary romance with realistic relationship dynamics
- “Beach Read” by Emily Henry – Enemies-to-lovers with depth and humor
- “The Spanish Love Deception” by Elena Armas – Academic setting with authentic emotional growth
- “One to Watch” by Kate Stayman-London – Body-positive romance challenging genre conventions
- “The Dating Plan” by Sara Desai – Cultural elements with genuine character development
“Save the Date” by Allison Raskin stands as a remarkable achievement in contemporary romance, proving that the genre can tackle serious themes while maintaining its essential optimism and humor. Allison Raskin has delivered a novel that will resonate with anyone who’s ever questioned their life choices while scrolling through social media, making it essential reading for the digital age romantic.
