The Big Day

Saying I Do Only to Discover I Didn't

Advance Reader Copy

Genres

Later in Life, Marriage, Women's Nonfiction, and Memoir

Trigger Warnings

Sex, Death, and Profanity

Type of Ending

Series

Second or higher in series

Series Read Order

Reading prior books is not required

Author Prefers A Review On

Goodreads

Reader Spots Remaining

Number of days to read

135

Publication Date

Sep 22, 2026

Page Length

140 pages

Available Formats

ePub and PDF

The Big Day

Saying I Do Only to Discover I Didn't

Advance Reader Copy

Blurb

A 49 year old first-time bride discovers she's not married, so she must decide to stay or leave.

For fans of Sloane Crosley, another mostly true memoir from the acclaimed author of Sit, Cinderella, Sit about whether she’s finally ready for marriage before she turns fifty.

For years, Lisa Cheek believed commitment wasn’t in her genes. Her dating patterns were clear—date a lot and widely, but never settle down. When anyone wanted to marry her, she backed away. So even she is surprised when, at forty-nine, she finally says “yes” to a proposal and commits fully to her boyfriend, Big Johnson. But when she finds out on their wedding day, after the vows, that they aren’t actually married, she hesitates. Should she take this as a sign to run while she still can?

In The Big Day, Lisa Cheek invites us to witness her wedding day, with all its hilarity, chaos, and unexpected turns. Throughout, she reviews both her past relationships and the marriages of her family and friends, analyzing the choices of others and reliving the biggest ups and downs of her own love life. Ultimately, she must decide once and for all whether she’s just not marriage material—or if she’s finally found a love worth staying for.

What people are saying...

"A hilarious, thoughtful and modern look at marriage, partnership, family, and most importantly—self. I love Lisa Cheek, and after reading The Big Day, you'll say I do (too)."

- Steven Rowley, New York Times Bestselling Author

"When a clerical mishap threatens to invalidate Lisa Cheek's wedding in the year before she turns 50, she finds herself frantically reviewing her relationship history for clues. It makes for a funny and heart-warming ride through her past, with scenes that so many women-of-a-certain age will relate to."

- Sari Botton, editor of Oldster Magazine.

Details

Genres

Later in Life, Marriage, Women's Nonfiction, and Memoir

Trigger Warnings

Sex, Death, and Profanity

Type of Ending

Series

Second or higher in series

Series Read Order

Reading prior books is not required

Author Prefers A Review On

Goodreads

Reader Spots Remaining

Number of days to read

135

Publication Date

Sep 22, 2026

Page Length

140 pages

Available Formats

ePub and PDF

Author

Lisa Cheek is an author and former film and television editor known for her humorous, candid writing about relationships and identity. Her debut memoir, Sit, Cinderella, Sit, was a People Magazine pick, an Amazon bestseller, and a Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist, and was named one of Zibby Media’s Most Anticipated Books of 2025. Her latest memoir, The Big Day, is a funny, unflinching look at love, marriage, and the complicated question of whether to stay or walk away. You can find her musings at One Minute Thoughts From A Pink Head on Substack. She lives in Los Angeles with two dogs, two cats, and her husband, Big Johnson, where she has several scripts in various stages of development while working on her next memoir.

Publisher

She Writes Press