Review by the_immortal_library - Wes and Addie Had Their Chance

the_immortal_library 's review for:

Wes and Addie Had Their Chance by Bethany Turner

3.0

challenging emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings: Alcohol Addiction, Spouse Death, Parent Death

"Wes and Addie Had Their Chance" is a second-chance romance that, for me, was both a beautiful read and a challenging journey. Despite some struggles with the characters' emotional arcs, I still found myself really enjoying the book and appreciating the growth they ultimately achieve.

The story follows Addie, a widow and former CIA operative with PTSD, and Wes, the politician who broke her heart years ago. This premise sets the stage for a deeply emotional romance, and Bethany Turner doesn't shy away from the heavy themes. I liked the last two books in the series, but I found myself struggling to connect with Addie, who is the focus of much of the book's emotional weight. I understood that her trauma was a core part of her character, but the constant "trauma dump" throughout the story felt at times like it was preventing her from growing and truly connecting with others. She felt very resistant to help, even from those who cared about her most.

However, this resistance made her eventual triumphs all the more powerful. I was incredibly proud of her journey toward sobriety and the significant growth she shows by the end of the book. While I didn't love her relationship with her father, her overall character arc was a testament to her resilience. Wes, on the other hand, was charming and remorseful, and his efforts to right his past wrongs and show Addie that he still cares for her were genuinely compelling.

The narration was a highlight of the audiobook experience. Talon David, Patrick Zeller, and Bethany Turner did a fantastic job of bringing the book to life. Their performances were seamless and never took away from the story. My struggles were with the plot and character development itself, and had nothing to do with the narration, which was excellent throughout.

Overall, I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy second-chance romances and are prepared for a deeply emotional character journey. The payoff is worth the difficult, but ultimately rewarding, road these characters travel.

I received this ALC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings