Fiction
Michael Joseph
320
Maddy, dressed in white, stands at the back of the church. At the end of the aisle is Rob - the man she's about to marry. Next to Rob is Ben - best man and the best friend any two people ever had. And that's the problem. Because if it wasn't Rob waiting for her at the altar, there's a strong chance it would be Ben. Loyal and sensitive Ben has always kept his feelings to himself, but if he turned round and told Maddy she was making a mistake, would she listen? And would he be right? Best friends since childhood, Maddy, Ben and Rob thought their bond was unbreakable. But love changes everything. Maddy has a choice to make but will she choose wisely? Her heart, and the hearts of the two best men she knows, depend on it...
I am very excited to write this book review because I’m surprised by how much I truly enjoyed the story. 
It is from the “Chick-Lit” genre which I’ve always avoided. This is officially the first one that I’ve read and I’m pleased to announce that “The One That I Want” hooked me quickly and kept me guessing. Throughout the story I kept alternating ideas about how this book could possibly have a happy ending for all three of the main characters.
The story is told from the perspective of Maddy and Ben, two of three childhood best friends. We begin at the wedding of Maddy and Rob, and internally Maddy is wondering if Ben is going to object or if he’s going to let her go. It seems as if she wishes he would stop her wedding. Then we jump back into their childhood and travel onto adulthood with Maddy and Ben. We follow along as Maddy and Robert fall in love and watch Ben secretly love Maddy as well. Almost instantly you’ll choose who you want Maddy to choose. For me, it was Ben. Then suddenly Robert would so something wonderful for Maddy and also wonderful things for Ben and I’d be so torn. Robert is a good guy too! So then who’s team am I on? Do I want the wedding to go along or do I want Ben to stop them on their big day?
What kept me hooked on this book was all of the misunderstandings and missed opportunities. So many times they simply misunderstood each other, or should have just spoken up in the moment. Then the moment passes and it’s too late. It is frustrating to “know better” as a reader and yet it’s amusing when related to real life. How many missed opportunities do we have because we simply misread someone’s intentions? I couldn’t wait to reach their adulthood and find out who would end up with Maddy and have their happy ending. If it was Ben and Maddy, could they keep their best friend Robert somehow? If Maddy proceeds to marry Robert, can Ben manage to remain their mutual best friend?
This was a sweet story of love and friendship. I would have appreciated a little bit of humor, but I’m not the writer and I’m not even sure that would have worked. I’ll just mind my business and find the next book to read. 🙂
Kristin lives in the PNW with her husband, and three kids. She loves to read YA fiction, fantasy, and romance. She enjoys a few side-hustles, including creating bookreels/booktoks for authors. The only shows she watches are re-runs, and if she’s not reading a book, she’s listening to one.
