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 … 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.
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Romantics everywhere will sigh happily at the perfect ending.
I’ve found my new go-to author for rom-com with heart.
Wooing Cadie McCaffrey by Bethany Turner is a breath of fresh air. I laughed, I teared up a little, I struggled some, I got frustrated, I wrestled with a couple of my own issues, and I cheered like crazy for Will and Cadie. This fabulous story had me running through the gamut of my emotions, and I enjoyed the journey immensely.
I would like to propose a subtitle for this novel. My proposed title is as follows:
WOOING CADIE MCCAFFREY; OR, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE*
(*yes, I stole the subtitle from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but it’s totally apropos!)
Cadie and Will are communication failures. I have definitely been a communication failure a time or two. I bet we’ve all been guilty a time or two of failing to communicate. Maybe we forgot to text our spouse about an important appointment. Perhaps we’ve accidentally sent an email to the wrong person but swore we sent it to the correct inbox. Or maybe we’ve just straight up misunderstood the words being spoken to us, especially if those words were coming at us prior to our first cup of coffee of the day. Point is we’ve all messed up a time or two where communication is concerned. But I’m not talking about this kind of communication. I’m talking about the more vulnerable kind; the kind between those we choose to love, our significant others.
Cadie and Will struggle to talk. The number one culprit: assumptions. Assuming the thoughts and feelings of our spouse or significant other is a super bad habit to get into. It gets Cadie into major trouble in the book, and it has really gotten me into some sticky situations a time or two in my marriage. In my personal experience, I’ve been with my husband for so long I am 100% convinced I know him like the back of my hand. I rationalize my assumption habit by saying to myself, “My husband and I have been together for a decade so I must be a Robert expert. In any given situation I know what my husband will think and I know how he will react!” But this is bunk. I can’t possibly know what my husband thinks at all times or how he will react to every situation we find ourselves in because my husband is NOT a programmable robot. He is an independent, flesh and blood man whom God fearfully and wonderfully made. Cadie has been with Will for four years and assumes she knows his every thought and feeling where she is concerned. Cadie then makes life-altering decisions based on what she THINKS Will thinks but never takes the time to ASK Will what he thinks. I have to admit that this drove me insane while I was reading the story, and I may have yelled at Cadie a few times, but of course, it’s because I recognize myself in Miss McCaffrey and knew what path her assumptions were leading her down. I wanted so badly to steer her in a different direction, but where would the fun be if I had the power to do that?! LOL!
Will is not off the hook in the communication department. Will’s failure lies in the fact that he forgets to check in with God. Aside from being totally swoonalicious and incredibly smart and charming, Will is a very focused man. Laser-focused actually. He desperately tries to give Cadie what he assumes she needs and wants, and even makes extremely grand plans in this regard, but completely forgets to get God’s take on the matter. Will disregards that man may make plans, but it is God who directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9). But honestly who hasn’t pulled a Will once or twice in his/her lifetime? I’m certainly not blameless. I can’t count how many times I’ve made a plan and jumped headfirst only to crash and burn. In my crash-and-burn status, I realize my error and ask God for forgiveness thinking to myself, “Man, life would be so much easier if I just remembered to talk to God first!” Will does eventually get there, but there were definitely moments in the novel where I had to shake my head at him. Silly Will!
Now, do you see why I want to add a subtitle to this novel?
Cadie and Will make it clear that good communication is key to a happy, successful relationship. And God makes it clear in His Word that good communication begins by adding Him into the conversation. It’s definitely my goal to remember to put God first BEFORE I open my mouth or make assumptions.
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute spent reading Wooing Cadie McCaffrey. This book packs a punch and isn’t afraid to tackle some tough, real-life topics in an honest, respectful manner. It is a story filled with realistic, endearing characters. And, it’s a story that’s so engaging a reader will stay up way past bedtime devouring every word. I highly recommend this novel. Will and Cadie’s story is one I won’t soon forget!
I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Bethany Turner is taking Christian fiction by storm! Wooing Cadie McCaffrey has everything you ever wanted in a romantic comedy–witty banter, laugh-out-loud moment, and sigh-worthy romance. But don’t let the adorable cover and unique, lighthearted voice fool you. Turner and Cadie McCaffrey grapple with and she grace-filled light on topics that have too long been pushed into our Christian closets. It’s safe to say that Wooing Cadie McCaffrey isn’t your grandmother’s Christian fiction, but everyone and their grandmother needs to read this book.
Bethany Turner has done it again!
She knocked it out the ball park. Seriously, I devoured #WooCaM in one sitting. I was hooked from the meet-cute prologue all the way to the epilogue. Ms. Turner had my emotions on a roller coaster. I couldn’t read fast enough and not slow enough either. You know how you want to know everything at once but also want to savor every single word?
This book touches on a subject that is absolutely needed in the Christian world. I loved the way Ms. Turner handled it and some of my favorite quotes came from it.
I’m dubbing Ms. Turner the queen of CF romcom and I cannot wait until her next release.
* I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.
I love Bethany Turner’s voice, it’s so funny and honest. I will admit, I never could believe the premise of this book that this couple had dated for 4 years and not discussed marriage, and that made it hard for me to enjoy the story. But Bethany’s voice is super delightful so check it out, and I can’t wait till her next one.
Bethany Turner is the queen of rom-com! Charming, clever, and heartfelt, this story has it all. I especially love how this author isn’t afraid to tackle the REAL ISSUES facing Christians in our world. The setting is fabulous and I adored the pop culture references. The conflict between the characters was oh-so-believable, showing faults on both sides, and leaving me rooting for this couple from start to finish. Bethany Turner will continue to be a go-to author for my precious reading time.
Author Bethany Turner is back with another rom-com that sometimes made me giggle, other times had me frustrated with the characters. But that’s the point; they are living real situations and are less than perfect.
Cadie and Will seemed to have problems communicating, which frustrated me. Which is often real life. At their age shouldn’t they be better at it? But maybe it’s more that they seemed to be trying to protect their hearts? Regardless, their miscommunications will having you chuckling and then shaking your head.
This book is Christian fiction but the characters are not perfect and they….well, I’m not going to spoil it for you. But I’m thankful for a God Who forgives and helps us to move on. Some have called part of the book as inappropriate content. I call it human failing. I don’t want a book where the characters are perfect. I can’t relate to them. As for the complaints about it being “too Christian”, umm…..it’s Christian fiction. I appreciate the fact that God has a huge part in this story.
The story moved at a decent pace and I enjoyed the flash backs. Cadie sometimes irritated me but I really liked Will. He was trying so hard.
If you enjoy a rom-com that has some more serious moments then give this one a try!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
From the moment Cadie and Will met I was hooked on this super cute, fast paced book. They were meant for each other or so I thought. There are doubts, misunderstandings and dialog that had me laughing as I turned the pages.
I was team Cadie for the majority of the of the storyline but my feelings changed and I was all about Will for a while. Of course, as the story progressed, I became a fan of both characters and rooted for them to have their happily ever after. I liked the secondary characters as much as I liked the main characters in this book, too.
Overall, this is a good book for those lazy summer days when you want to escape, read it at home or take it with you on vacation, but read it for the pure entertainment it provides.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher but was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions are my own.
When I began reading Wooing Cadie McCaffrey I was expecting a charming, fun story with a good dose of pop culture, but I got way more than that. This story possessed a depth I hadn’t anticipated. Amongst all the hilarity and rom-com film references, there was an immense amount of heart.
This author knows how to captivate readers. I was drawn in—from the initial, humorous meet cute between Will and Cadie to the genuinely satisfying ending. The engaging first person point of view placed me directly into Cadie’s mind which was a funny yet tender thing. One minute I’m snort-laughing and the next I’m nodding my head because I’ve experienced a lot of this character’s doubts. She’s so relatable and that makes her endearing.
Now Will is completely oblivious. I’ve found myself saying “poor guy” on several occasions. It seemed his heart was always in the right place even if his head was somewhere in the seventh inning of the 1982 world series. The man breathed sports, but you could tell his heart beat for Cadie which caused me to root for his success in his effort to woo her back into his arms.
All around I loved this story. This book painted the picture of Christianity—portraying that the blotches of messiness and scribbles of failure are nothing compared to the strokes of grace, forgiveness and knowledge that God’s arms are always open, wooing us back into His awesome embrace.
**I received a copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
Playfully fresh.
“I made the commitment to love her forever. That commitment doesn’t go away just because she’s not in on the plan.”
What a cry-out-loud, laugh-out-loud romcom. Bethany Turner has perfected how to pull your heartstrings and make you fall in love with her characters through their mountaintop and dark valley experiences, while cracking up at the hysterical moments and dialogue.
I loved the journey through New York City and loved Cadie’s first person voice in the present. Will’s third person voice in the past, through flashbacks, and in the present is honest and so lovable. Clueless about everything outside sports but so tender and persistent, Will is a swoony hero! Tons of misunderstandings and misinterpretations of actions and words place their relationship at odds but how they learn to move forward is heart-warming and charming.
This is a book that needs to be made into a movie! I received the book from the publisher via LibraryThing and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.
This book was such a delight! Most romance novels start at the beginning of a relationship, but this one started in the middle—at the point when everything goes wrong.
I was rooting for both of the main characters, but especially for Will, who was sweet and loyal and so determined to get Cadie back—even if he had to make a fool of himself to do it.
This book is so real! I appreciated that it was written about something hard and stressful that the couple has to work through. The romance is cute because of the forgiveness and growth that they went through even more than any of their romantic gestures. I learned a lot from this book and their relationship.
Bethany Turner’s second novel is just as delightful as The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck. She has a knack for writing funny, relatable characters that are as fresh as a spring breeze in April.
Pairing some fun and familiar moments to many readers in this book, the author inserts some sweet, tender, scenes reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally. And, I can’t wait to read her next book very soon. She’s a literary dynamo!
Enjoyed this one tremendously! I did not want the story to end! This is a must read for all lovers of 80’s and 90’s rom com movies!! All the movie references were such a fun stroll down memory lane. Looking forward to reading more Bethany Turner books in the future!
Oh, my word, this is one of my all-time favorite reads of the year! Bethany Turner has taken every single romantic moment from every single romantic movie, meshed it with realistic, real life relationships, and added faith in God and His forgiveness…
…and created a story that will have you grinning, laughing, and crying…sometimes within the same sentence! I absolutely adore Cadie and Will. I love their backstory, their supporting cast, and the honest look at what it means to honor God in everything…even love.
Fair warning: there comes a moment when something happens that may have your eyebrows up and your mouth turned down. Press on. It’s SO worth it! I’m fact, this is one novel I wish every woman would read.
I plan on reading it again and again.Bethany Turner
There’s no doubt that Cadie and Will’s awkward, funny first meeting and instantaneous chemistry is the stuff of heart-fluttering chick flicks. But fast forward four years later, and Cadie is realizing she just might not have Meg Ryan’s knack for happy endings. The zing has faded and a last ditch effort to save it only brings emotional disaster. Yet just as Cadie gives up, Will starts fighting—with an arsenal of classic romcom antics, no less—in a desperate campaign to win her back.
Reading Wooing Cadie McCaffrey is an absolute joy for any girl who has secretly longed to see Richard Gere show up on her fire escape. The novel humorously and affectionately deconstructs the romcom genre, peeling away the gimmicks to illuminate the beautiful and often heartbreaking complexities of a real romance. Not only that, it employs wit and grace to tackle relationship issues that much of the Christian Fiction world still treats as taboo.
Bethany Turner has once again woven a sweet, hilarious narrative centered around a faith journey that is anything but sugar-coated. What makes the narrative really come to life, though, are the characters. Will and Cadie are delightfully relatable, and the supporting cast is colorful and entertaining, especially the couple’s coworkers.
This is a book you’ll definitely want to reread and pass around to all of your gal pals…and maybe even a few of the guys too.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was not obliged to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
I had a hard time putting Wooding Cadie McCaffrey down! It was interesting how the groundwork was laid, not in chronological order, but done to follow the last part perfectly. The movie references were so much fun! But most importantly, the heart of this book was wonderful. The struggles that couples face with their own expectations, their parents and God’s, were all fleshed out so realistically. I laughed and I cried, so I know my emotions were fully engaged. I just finished it, but I look forward to re-reading it, so it’s a book for my keeper shelf! And I think it will be fun to watch all the romance movies it references while I read through it the next round!
I received a copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This book is about real life! Heartaches, love, and all that jazz!