As a fiancée who is most likely going to break off her engagement, I think the concept of your project is very cool. Good luck with book and everything else—I’d love to know where I can get a copy when it comes out. The quotes and other tidbits from different people's experiences on the website are very interesting and amusing (I especially like the Idiot Quotes.) I think it's great that such a site even exists to support "almost brides" and it sounds like your book will be a useful and entertaining resource.
-No City

I just finished checking out your website. It is awesome!!! Please, please let us all know when the book is on the shelves. I've never had a broken engagement but reading the excerpts from your book really intrigued me and my heart went out to all the "Almost Brides" out there.
-Virginia

This site couldn't have come at a better time. I am still trying to decide what's best for me...moving on or trying to work it out. Just this week along i have emailed with three other women who are in a similar situation as I am. It's comforting to have other people who 'understand' to chat with. How about a message board??

Keep up the great work—you are doing a wonderful thing for all women.
-New Jersey
(The Almost Bride replies: Thanks for the suggestion. We’re working on it!)

One reader had some issues with the "Non-Negotiables":

First let me tell you that I think all of them are absolutely correct, but the way they are phrased could lead to a little confusion.

Re. Number 2, emotional violence:
I think this is absolutely true, but I feel there needs to be something in here that separates what is disrespectful from what is merely annoying. I'm sure there will be greater detail in the book, but this is just what I am reading here.

For instance: I am a HUGE flirt. I flirt with everyone. I flirt with my fiancée’s friends. She is perfectly OK with this and does not see it as disrespectful. She will never change this about me and she likes that I show an interest in her friends. Other women that I have dated have found this tremendously disrespectful because I was paying attention to someone who was not them.

Re. Number 3. How about if it's his mother who's rotten? Again, I could not agree with you more, but many brides take this to mean that the husband will back them even if they are wrong and refuse to admit it. While this is an admirable thing to do, it may not be right in all cases. People always seem to only see their side of an issue. Mothers, while seemingly very protective of their sons, were brides-to-be at some point in their lives and have a perspective on things that brides-to-be simply cannot have. Brides-to-be, to my experience, tend to be too quick to judge the often well-intentioned advice provided by mothers of the groom. Brides also tend to see any input from the future mother-in-law as a challenge for the groom's attention.

Again--these aren't in all cases, but it does happen quite frequently.,

All of the others, I find myself in agreement with. Except that I hate Maya Angelou, but that is more personal preference.

Good luck with the book-- I think you are doing a great job and want to wish you luck . I just wanted to point out what I saw.
-Colorado

Fab web site!!
-New York

I just wanted to say that this is a great site and I can't wait for the book to come out! I hope to see it on shelves soon. I have so many friends who could benefit from a text like this! I have known so many people (men and women) who have broken it off and are in the healing process. I think that they would find comfort in knowing that they aren't the only ones dealing with this.
-Michigan

I recently called off my wedding two months before the "big day." Every day gets a little better for me to come to terms what I did. Today I was having some second thoughts on my decision until I went to your website and read the section on "non-negotiables" when I realized that every one of the reasons fit my former relationship to a "t". I think what you have done is wonderful and if I ever know of a friend who goes through the same thing, I will refer her to the site. Please let me know when the book is available because I would love to purchase a copy! Thank you for all of your help. Without the strength from friends and other women, I don't think I could have made my decision and would be soon living a life of hell.
-Indiana

Just checked out ThereGoesTheBride.com. What an awesome web site! I can't wait until your book hits the shelves; I've got like a dozen friends I want to buy a copy for. Thanks, Almost Bride, and keep up the good work!
-Maryland

Would you like to weigh in on the site, breaking engagements, cold feet, or marriage and coupling in general? Drop a line to the Almost Bride at TheAlmostBride@yahoo.com. All identities are kept confidential, but please include your state of residence. We look forward to hearing from you!