The Do-Over by Bethany Turner

 Book Excerpt:

Sometimes dreams come true. Other times, the best outcome begins with an epic fail.

Career-driven McKenna Keaton has devoted her life to attaining the senior partnership at her law firm. So asking a man on a date should be nothing. But the past four days have been the worst of her life and have called everything she thought she knew about herself into question. Besides, she can't remember her last actual date—one that didn't involve using a blind date as an opportunity to get a stranger's perspective on effective cross-examination techniques. (It's like sharing fondue with a jury!)

But a real date? And with shy, nerdy Henry Blumenthal—McKenna's high school rival for valedictorian who once took three hours to beat her at chess? Scratch that. He's Hank Blume now, the famed documentarian, Durham's darling son, who has attained all his dreams and more. But, unfortunately, he also happens to look like he stepped out of an Eddie Bauer catalog.

Whereas McKenna is a disgraced workaholic from New York on unpaid leave, accused of a white-collar crime she would never commit, succumbing to panic attacks, watching her dreams unravel. At age thirty-eight—and destined by the family curse to die before she turns forty—it's absolutely the wrong time to have a major crush on a man. Especially one who treasures his memories of McKenna as the Girl Most Likely to Succeed.

"Pitch-perfect comedic timing, a relatable heroine, and a refreshing sweetness elevate this novel above the sea of modern rom-com. The rare author who can make me laugh-out-loud, The Do-Over is Bethany Turner at her best." —Lauren Layne, New York Times bestselling author.

"Bethany Turner has crafted a delightful, witty story with zippy dialogue, warmly relatable characters, and hilariously apt pop culture references. I found myself sneaking off to read just one more chapter. I'm still smiling, thinking about this book. Reading it felt like eating a big bowl of Lucky Charms mixed with Fruity Pebbles. A colorful explosion of happiness." —Rachel Linden, bestselling author of The Enlightenment of Bees."

Witty and sweet contemporary romantic comedy stand-alone novel-length: 99,000 words and by Bethany: Plot TwistIncludes discussion questions for book clubs.

Title: The Do-Over
Author: Bethany Turner
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"The Do-Over" by Bethany Turner
My Assessment:

'The Do-Over' presented a slow start in the beginning. Still, it did pick up, giving the reader an exciting and enjoyable read about the lives of McKenna Keaton and Henry Blumenthal by the end of the story. These two had been childhood schoolmates' friends and had grown apart after growing up. McKenna displayed some downright negativism in how she handled her life, especially when it came to her family in North Carolina and not being honest with them after her return.

On the other side of the scale, Henry was likable as he comes into the story...with a name change [now Hank Blume] and with a fascinating job of being an acclaimed documentarian who had liked McKenna in HS. So, we have two opposites that will come together and give the reader an exciting read.

The author also gives the reader some very well-developed secondary, well-defined, and even adorable secondary characters that add so much to the story. How will the story play out as McKenna has returned home in NC because her powerful attorney had been accused of embezzlement over $300,000 from her job in New York? What was going on in the relationship with the Keatons...especially with the sisters and the mom? And how will Henry come into all of this as the situation plays out? The reader will have to pick up this good read and see how well this author brings it all out to get it all. However, in the end, it seems like the story was somewhat cut short, but all in all, it was a good read.

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