Book Review: The Do-Over by Bethany Turner

Rating: ★★★☆ (3.5)
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Bethany Turner
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: March 15th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When McKenna Keaton walks into the boardroom of Wallis, Monroe, and Burkhead, she expects to be named senior partner. Instead, she learns she’s being investigated for embezzlement. To wait out her unpaid leave, McKenna sublets her Upper West Side apartment and goes home to Durham, North Carolina, to save money. Saving face is going to be another thing entirely, but she assumes her problems will blow over soon.

While living in her childhood hometown, McKenna learns about a family curse that—if real rather than imagined—could suggest she has less than a year to live. This information is troubling (of course!), but it’s the reunion with former classmate Henry—Durham’s favorite son—that flips her world upside down. Henry is now a celebrated documentarian, back in town to premiere his latest masterpiece. Vulnerable to (and desperately needing) a distraction as her life falls apart, McKenna begins seeing the shy nerd from high school in a whole new light.

As she waits out the results of the investigation and wonders if her literal life is hanging in the balance, McKenna debates her future and questions her past. She might survive it all in one piece—but a new love and a newly-examined life might be the only things that can save her.

ENJOYABLE.

This was my first Turner book and I don’t think it’ll be my last. I really enjoyed this story and all the different nuances it held.

With a, we knew each other in high school and are now reconnecting, trope (one of which I didn’t know I’d love), I was wrapped up in this romance. It’s very fast paced and at times I could have used a bit more. Yet, it held some sweet moments. Some where I wanted to shake the characters, but a happy ending for all.

I liked that McKenna had a lot of opportunity for growth. She’s very much stagnant in HER mindset and making people understand that’s who and what she wants to be. While nothing wrong with that, I loved that she found ways to reconnect with her sisters, slow down a bit, AND still accomplish professional goals she was after. The bit of mystery with her career was a nice added touch.

There was a big theme of family history here and I’m not sure I’ve read much of that as a subplot. I really liked the background and passion McKenna’s Dad and Henry had for telling stories from the past. This plot wove well into the full story and I thought it was a unique writing choice.

I struggled with the conflict, that’s mostly why I took off that last 1/2 star. Just became frustrating and drawn out a bit too long. It was a fantastic audiobook and still a solid read and I look forward to more!

Overall audience notes: