Member Reviews

First off, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The important bit, CALAJF was my first Bethany Turner experience and I was hooked immediately. After I finished I immediately read BASHEO and have since been patiently waiting for Addie and Wes' story.

Whilst I will read anything Turner writes, I was hesitant with this story as I find second-chance plot lines some of the hardest to believe and support through to the end. I knew I wanted this story after finishing Cole and Laila's, I just never knew I could feel so much empathy for both sides of the relationship. I love that nothing was dismissed in regards to the characters past and my favourite part, they communicated!

What has struck me since I picked up my first Bethany Turner story, is that she produces the most emotionally intelligent characters and Addie and Wes are no exception.

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This one was just alright for me. I didn't feel that the chemistry between the two characters wasn't that strong. Or maybe it felt like the book was a little too all over the place. Whatever the reason, it was just an ok read for me. However, I think this book will find its readership among the romance community and will do just fine!

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The first page of this book was absolutely stand out. I'm not a romance girl but this made me reconsider my staunch stance. As the title suggests, this is a second chance at love kind of book. Both protagonists, one of whom left the other at the altar, are widowed and not looking for love, but you know... What wasn't clear was that this is the third in a series so it seemed to me that I was being bombarded with a slew of characters. In case you think I'm exaggerating they are: Jo, Joel, Doc, Cole, Wray, Leila, Marietta, Sebastien, Neil, Phil, Brynn, Elwyn.
Initially I thought I'd need to carefully re-read to trace the connections but it turned out these were all secondary characters, and the non stop dialogue could be slipped into any character's mouth at any point. There was nothing to distinguish them - they were just all the other people living in the town who disapproved of Wes and Addie getting back together.

The non-stop dialogue was quite offputting and eventually I realised why Romance is not the genre for me.

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Wes left Addie at the altar as a teenage bride. Now, with both of their secondary spouses deceased, they come face to face as 40 year olds for the first time since their original wedding day.

What I liked about this book: Wes and Addie COMMUNICATE LIKE ADULTS! I had to put it in caps because it's literally the most annoying trope in romances for two people to never be able to actually talk to each other about the stuff that matters. Wes and Addie share all the things in healthy ways, which is so great. They are also snarky silly humans who are fun to share space with.

What I didn't like about this book: The ending. I don't want to spoil the book but I would have liked a lot more "here's what's actually next." for both of them.

3.5 stars rounded down because the ending left me grumpy. :)

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced review copy! All opinions are my own.

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This story is like a cup of hot tea: it's cozy, feel-good and enjoyable. It won't stick with you long-term per se, but it made for a lovely interval. Make yourself a hot drink, light a fire, & curl up with this story.
There were definitely some parts that I felt a little less believable....like how quickly she forgave him without a huge explanation as to why? Just because she saw his abs? Also, I like how she touched on the somewhat sensitive topic of alcoholism but I wish she would have flushed that out a bit. The male character seemed a bit one-dimensional but I liked how Addie was described.
I do think that this story would be a little harder to get into without reading the other two books in this series prior as the author doesn't do a ton of world-building or explaining about the various townspeople.
So despite a few problems, this was still an enjoyable story.

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Wes and Addie is the 3rd of a delightful series. Bethany Turner not only has penned a delightful rom-com series, she also reminds us how absolutely wonderful small town living is.
Wes and Addie have a history. He literally left her at the alter and her town has never forgiven him. She has moved on, but having him show up in town one cold night leaves her unsure if she has gotten over him.
There is so much more than a simple romance story to Turner's books. They have a hidden message, nothing Turner is going to hit you over the head with, but one that is richly woven into the story. You might not even notice it until you get all the way to the end, but you will remember it when you recommend her books to other.
Grab a cozy seat, a drink of choice and enjoy any and all of Turner's book. Just be prepared to laugh and maybe even shed a tear.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the advanced reader copy

This was my third time trying a Bethany Turner book and I think I'm just not the reader for this author. I couldn't connect with either of the main characters

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Giving this five stars because I can’t accurately rate this. I couldn’t finish it and am just not in the right headspace for it. 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

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Absolutely adored it! This phenomenal second chance romcom is so fun. Love the characters. Cute, fun, simple but memorable.

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The plot follows the lines of a romcom, the author goes into many lenghty narratives to help readers to follow the evolutions of all the characters. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher to allow a preview. All opnions are mine.

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Wes and Addie Had Their Chance’ is a second chance romance. After both becoming widowed the main characters find themselves returning to their childhood town in search of answers for what to do with their life, although under very different circumstances. Wes is a presidential candidate and Addie is a former CIA agent now working for the local taxi agency, what they both have in common is that they used to be childhood sweethearts, until Wes left Addie at the alter?

This book was in general very mixed for me. I found myself loving some parts and being engrossed in the characters and their backgrounds. At times these would be very moving. The dual perspective was well-used and would leave you at great cliff-hangers.

However, I just couldn’t get behind the raging melodrama style and how ping-pongy the narrative could be. You could be in a tender moment and it would jump to something funny within seconds. While at times this enhanced the characterisation it was overall jarring and sometimes, I would just have so many dramatic things going on at once I would forget what was going on. In general, however, the point was entertaining and it didn’t have any dull moments.

I found one of the plot points to be a bit controversial and at the aim of not exposing anything from the book, I would say it changed my perspective of the ‘small-town’ narrative of innocence into something quite sinister. A character having to hide a large part of their identity should not be explained so nonchalantly as it was in this book as it completely changed my perception of the setting and the one of the main characters for this reason.

Overall, I did enjoy this book, it was great fun, the author has a great sense of humour and it is strongly conveyed in the book which I deeply appreciated and I would be interested in reading some more stuff by her.

Thank you to #netgalley for this ARC of #wesandaddiehadtheirchance

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I DNF'd this one. Is it set in Colorado? Connecticut? Both? I couldn't keep it straight and I wasn't invested enough to figure it out. At first, I loved the voice of the narrator, but even that lost it's appeal with the confusion.

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This story felt a little too kitschy and a little too unbelievable (that many successful people from one small town class?). The premise is cute enough, the second-chance lovers trope is always fun- but the story itself is a mixed bag of short, punchy sentences and then rambling rabbit trails…

The tone is off- quirky interludes in the middle of supposed-to-be-dramatic moments throw it all off balance; almost as though the story is trying too hard to be fun.
This is the third in a series, but I don’t feel the need or desire to read the prior two stories- for me, it’s a one and done.

I do appreciate the lack of spice, because I can happily recommend this one to my students without worry.

I received a digital version as an ARC from NetGalley

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A sweet and accessible love story that manages a few genuine surprises along the way! Turner's latest addition to the Adelaide Springs universe filled in the lore well, while also serving as a satisfying standalone entry.

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Wes and Addie Had Their Chance is a deeply emotional and compelling second-chance romance wrapped in small-town charm and political intrigue. Addie’s return to Adelaide Springs after losing everything is a powerful exploration of starting over, and her fiery dynamic with Wes—her former fiancé turned senator—brings all the tension and chemistry you’d hope for.

The dual layers of personal heartbreak and political drama add depth to the story, while the quirky, loyal townsfolk create moments of humor and warmth. Addie’s sharp wit and her CIA instincts make her a refreshingly strong and complex heroine, and Wes’s journey from political stardom to self-discovery is equally engaging.

If you love second-chance romance, unresolved feelings, and a dash of mystery, this book will keep you hooked from start to finish. It’s a story about forgiveness, resilience, and learning that sometimes, the second chance is the one worth taking.

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Bethany Turner has done it again with Wes and Addie Had Their Chance! This story pulled me in right from the start with its mix of humor, heartache, and all the feels. Addie’s return to Adelaide Springs feels so real—messy, awkward, and full of those small-town quirks that make you laugh and cringe at the same time. Her journey of picking up the pieces of her life is relatable and so easy to root for.

The tension between Addie and Wes is everything. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry undeniable, and their history makes every interaction feel so loaded and real. Turner does an amazing job exploring how complicated second chances can be, and it all builds up to a love story that feels earned, raw, and deeply satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC! If you’re into small-town romance, second chances, or just need a book that gives you all the warm, fuzzy feelings while keeping you hooked, this one is a must-read!

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This was a quick read once I was able to stop tearing up due to the story lines about loss. I liked the premise and I believe it would be a good book for a romantic novel reader. The narration of the book was fun to follow as it shifted perspectives between the main characters.

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While I really enjoyed the other two books in this series, I just couldn't get into Wes and Addie's story. It might be reader-error (ie, too much other stuff going on in life) or it may just be that I couldn't connect with them as characters. Either way, the author still remains one of my favorites and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. (And Cole & Laila are still my favorites from this series!)

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I really enjoyed this book! It was the first book I’ve read by this author and I will definitely check out more.

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