The Stand-in Dad by Alex Summers (Paperback)

A heart-warming, uplifting love letter to LGBTQ+ inclusion and found family.

Forty years after being rejected by his own family for coming out, David has built a life centred on kindness and helping others. When he meets Meg, a young woman struggling with her own family’s reaction to her engagement, he sees a reflection of his past and refuses to let her face it alone.

Meg is engaged to Hannah and should be planning her future with excitement. Instead, her parents’ disapproval leaves her questioning everything, including whether to go ahead with the wedding at all. Feeling unsupported and uncertain, she is on the verge of giving up on what should be one of the happiest moments of her life.

David steps in with an unexpected offer. He becomes her stand-in dad, supporting her through every stage of the wedding preparations. From fittings to planning decisions, he is there to make sure she does not feel alone.

As the wedding approaches, the absence of Meg’s parents remains a constant presence. When challenges arise, the strength of this new connection is put to the test. Together, they must find a way forward, showing that family is not always defined by blood, but by the people who choose to stand beside you.