After four years with her boyfriend, Cadie McCaffrey is thinking of ending things. Convinced Will doesn't love her in the "forever" way she loves him, Cadie believes it's time for her to let him go before life passes her by. When a misunderstanding leads to a mistake, leaving her hurt, disappointed, and full of regret, she finally sends him packing.
But for Will, the end of their relationship is only the beginning of his quest to figure out how to be the man Cadie wanted him to be. With the dubious guidance of his former pro-athlete work friends and tactics drawn from Cadie's favorite romantic comedies, Will attempts to win her back. It's a foolproof plan. What could possibly go wrong?
Bethany Turner is back with more of the heart and humor readers love. Anyone who enjoys a good romance or binges romantic comedies on Netflix will devour this delightful story.
Just over a year ago, I read The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck and enjoyed it ... but I didn't think it was quite as amazing as all the reviewers were saying. When I saw the buzz building for Wooing Cadie McCaffrey, I knew I wanted to read the book, but I went into it cautiously. Maybe it's the reduced expectations, but I. Loved. This. Book. Not only do the rom-com references abound, but the book also deals with issues of sin, repentance, and forgiveness in an incredibly relatable way.
This book is one of the only ones I've ever read that tackles sin and sex in such a sensitive and realistic way. Most of the time in Christian romance, sex is danced around or alluded to; maybe a character had sex in the past and dealt with the consequences or a couple lets their kisses get a little heated, but it's not often an "in the moment"/this-might-actually-happen-or-maybe-it-did issue. But Turner, in both The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck and here, is not afraid to go there, and I appreciate that. It brings a dose of reality and, ultimately, allows for deeper discussion of repentance and forgiveness.
In addition to all that, this book is just so fun! The story of Will and Cadie's relationship is told both in the present and through flashbacks, and they're such a great couple! They have a few communication issues, which lead to many of their problems, and sometimes the communication issues are quite comical. And I loved Will's attempts to win Cadie back through paying homage to her favorite rom-coms. The setting is also really fun—an ESPN-like sports network full of great personalities. (I didn't particularly appreciate the insinuation that a Cubs pitcher was doping, but at least Turner made up names for all of the athletes who got in trouble...)
I could absolutely see this book becoming a rom-com ... it reads exactly like one, and I could totally picture the scenes in my head. And now I can't wait for whatever Turner writes next! 5 stars.
Buy the book.
Read my review of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck (4 stars).
Bethany Turner is the author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck and the director of administration for Rock Springs Church in Southwest Colorado. A former bank executive and a three-time cancer survivor (all before she turned 35), Bethany knows that when God has plans for your life, it doesn't matter what anyone else has to say. Because of that, she's chosen to follow his call to write. She lives with her husband and their two sons in Colorado, where she writes for a new generation of readers who crave fiction that tackles the thorny issues of life with humor and insight.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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Loved 'Sarah Hollenbeck,' so I'm hopeful I will also enjoy this one!! Glad you liked it better than Bethany's first Revell novel. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're going to love it, Rissi! The rom-com references are such fun, plus there's a depth to the novel that I wasn't expecting.
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