After the Shut Up Ring starts with a banger of a first chapter – Angie’s almost husband reads wedding vows designed to humiliate her in front of their two young daughters and everyone they know. He even gets his groomsmen and the officiant (one of his best friends who got ordained on line) in on the act. After years of making excuses and trying to make it work, Angie says no. She sees the vows are being filmed, looks at her daughters, and refuses. In the audience, her best friend’s older brother, Brandon, stands up, ready to intervene if necessary.
There is a moment in every Cate C. Wells book when the man has to make a conscious choice to grow in some way that will allow the woman he loves to choose him. He has to let go of an idea of himself, take off blinders, and allow himself to be vulnerable. In After the Shut Up Ring, Brandon has to learn to use words to communicate. He’s always shown his love by taking care. He shows up to help, unasked. He pays attention. But a concern that they both have is, will Angie date him because he can fix her problems, or because she wants to be with him. Brandon has to step back and let Angie solve her own problems, and he has to step up and talk to her. Another reviewer called one of the moments in the book, “Baby’s first emotional intelligence.” I laughed, because, that’s accurate. Brandon has to think about what he says and how he says it and he chooses to be real with Angie every time. Angie has her own growing to do, and while a lot of it is in relation to being honest with Brandon about what she wants, she also does a lot of thinking about why she stayed with a man who had no respect for her.
I really enjoyed this a lot. It was an emotionally rewarding read that dealt sensitively with some hard topics. It’s short, and I wish it had been a little longer. Still, I love a man who does his research when presented with new information. Cate C. Wells has said that right now she’s not interested in writing a series, but if she ever decides to write a book for Brandon’s best friend, Shane (“Shane has never met a bad idea he didn’t want to get to know better.”), I will read it.
I received this as an advance reader copy from the author. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.