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The Forgetful Bride: A Wholesome Holiday Romance
Revisit this wholesome holiday romance by beloved New York Times bestselling author, Debbie Macomber.
When Caitlin Marshall and Joseph Rockwell were eight and ten years old, they got married in a pretend ceremony. Now, twenty years later, Caitlin is a grown woman doing well in her career and she is looking to move forward from these embarrassing childhood memories… If only Joseph—now a successful Seattle contractor renovating her office—would let her forget.
Joe loves to tease Caitlin and she likes to keep a professional image, especially in front of her boss. But pranks and teasing can hide a deeper feeling, and Cait and Joe might just be steps away from realizing there might be something real between them after all.
Previously published.
Want more Macomber? Check out these fan-favourites!
Ending in Marriage
Ready for Marriage
Lessons in Love
When Caitlin Marshall and Joseph Rockwell were eight and ten years old, they got married in a pretend ceremony. Now, twenty years later, Caitlin is a grown woman doing well in her career and she is looking to move forward from these embarrassing childhood memories… If only Joseph—now a successful Seattle contractor renovating her office—would let her forget.
Joe loves to tease Caitlin and she likes to keep a professional image, especially in front of her boss. But pranks and teasing can hide a deeper feeling, and Cait and Joe might just be steps away from realizing there might be something real between them after all.
Previously published.
Want more Macomber? Check out these fan-favourites!
Ending in Marriage
Ready for Marriage
Lessons in Love
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
167 people are currently reading
627 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Macomber
895 books20.6k followersDebbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
June 25, 2021
I thought that this book was good
June 21, 2021
Sometimes the love of a lifetime starts very early. Sometimes it needs a little help along the way. Sometimes, all you have to do is jog your memory and it all comes flooding back.
December 10, 2022
A quick easy read for a Friday night in December. I knew from the first page that I was going to enjoy and indeed I did. It met my requirements for a Christmas read-it was a feel good story that made me smile.
December 30, 2023
Cute romance, a bit predictable and almost irritating at times.
May 17, 2024
Short and sweet. Interesting how the author was able to put a twist to the plot.
August 5, 2021
2.5 stars. The story was wholesome compared to many of the other romance books I’ve read, it was certainly a change of pace that I’m not regretful of. Overall, it was okay. There were some amusing/charming parts, but I did think the childhood wedding was a dead horse that was frequently beat for no apparent reason. The first couple mentions of it were cute. The near constant mention of it was annoying. It was presented like it was the only thing the MCs had in common in the present, which shouldn’t have been true.
I also found the fem MC to be a bit of a brat, pretty self-absorbed, and generally a whiny kill-joy. Again, there were moments I found her overblown reactions to the male MC’s antics amusing, other times she got on my nerves. She definitely didn’t act her age all the time and not in the cutesy way, if there is a cutesy way.
The fem MC’s OBSESSION with her boss was creepy, I saw a lot of commonalities between her and certified stalkers. A young girl being that “interested” in a guy is expected and normal, within reason, but a grown ass woman? When she’d received no encouragement from the man himself at all? Creepy. Very, very creepy. And I was at a loss as to why she “loved” him anyway. There was nothing in particular that stood out about her “affection” for him.
I couldn’t really take the male MC seriously as a suitor because he was always playing pranks on the fem MC. He was rarely ever serious and they rarely discussed serious things with each other. I just didn’t really feel the chemistry between them as much as I would have hoped for with the book being so focused on their budding friendship versus their sexual attraction.
I saw the “twist”, if it was meant to be one, from a mile away, and the fem MC’s self-absorption, and her boss’ pussyfooting, nearly got in the way of her friend’s happiness. She regularly notes something was up with her friend but always found a selfish excuse for why not to ask her about it. It was irksome.
Like I said, not amazing, not terrible. It was eh.
I also found the fem MC to be a bit of a brat, pretty self-absorbed, and generally a whiny kill-joy. Again, there were moments I found her overblown reactions to the male MC’s antics amusing, other times she got on my nerves. She definitely didn’t act her age all the time and not in the cutesy way, if there is a cutesy way.
The fem MC’s OBSESSION with her boss was creepy, I saw a lot of commonalities between her and certified stalkers. A young girl being that “interested” in a guy is expected and normal, within reason, but a grown ass woman? When she’d received no encouragement from the man himself at all? Creepy. Very, very creepy. And I was at a loss as to why she “loved” him anyway. There was nothing in particular that stood out about her “affection” for him.
I couldn’t really take the male MC seriously as a suitor because he was always playing pranks on the fem MC. He was rarely ever serious and they rarely discussed serious things with each other. I just didn’t really feel the chemistry between them as much as I would have hoped for with the book being so focused on their budding friendship versus their sexual attraction.
I saw the “twist”, if it was meant to be one, from a mile away, and the fem MC’s self-absorption, and her boss’ pussyfooting, nearly got in the way of her friend’s happiness. She regularly notes something was up with her friend but always found a selfish excuse for why not to ask her about it. It was irksome.
Like I said, not amazing, not terrible. It was eh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2022
This one was a mixed bag for me. I t had some absolutely delightful moments and then some truly cringeworthy moments.
I love the story of Caitlin and Joseph in the beginning of the book. It is absolutely adorable.
Cait as a grown-up is a little hard to swallow. She's a grown woman, doing well in her career, but is hopelessly in love with her boss. And after a year, she can't figure out why he doesn't notice her and obsesses over it.
ARGH!
Maybe because he's not interested?
She makes me want to bang my head against the wall. And yet I get it. Been there, done that. Learned from it. So I try to give her some grace.
Plus now Jow is around. She is hoplessly in love with him but has a disconnect between her heart and head because she is so hung up on her boss, Paul.
Joe is somewhat juvenile in the way he picks on Cait. I was still a bit amused because I'm not the butt of his jokes. He clearly has a thing for her. I think what frustrated me the most with him is how nonplussed he would get when Paul was mentioned. I dated someone like him once.
While not necessarily one of my favorites, it was still an enjoyable way to kill a wintry afternoon. Definitely one of her older books, but I may still revisit it in the future.
I love the story of Caitlin and Joseph in the beginning of the book. It is absolutely adorable.
Cait as a grown-up is a little hard to swallow. She's a grown woman, doing well in her career, but is hopelessly in love with her boss. And after a year, she can't figure out why he doesn't notice her and obsesses over it.
ARGH!
Maybe because he's not interested?
She makes me want to bang my head against the wall. And yet I get it. Been there, done that. Learned from it. So I try to give her some grace.
Plus now Jow is around. She is hoplessly in love with him but has a disconnect between her heart and head because she is so hung up on her boss, Paul.
Joe is somewhat juvenile in the way he picks on Cait. I was still a bit amused because I'm not the butt of his jokes. He clearly has a thing for her. I think what frustrated me the most with him is how nonplussed he would get when Paul was mentioned. I dated someone like him once.
While not necessarily one of my favorites, it was still an enjoyable way to kill a wintry afternoon. Definitely one of her older books, but I may still revisit it in the future.
December 22, 2012
Such a romantic sweet story, Can I have a Joe Rockwell?:) Debbie wrote everyone so wonderfully, everyone was fleshed out and had their own distinct personalities... though a few times I wanted to shake Cait to wake her up in regards to Paul.
I loved how miss macomber showed Csitlin and Joe progressing from friendship to "more", those two will make you smile and laugh quite a few times... I had a suspicion what was going on with Lindy and was eager to see how it all played out.
Caitlin does something wonderful for someone else that'll bring hppy tears to your eyes, a true spirit of christmas in that moment :)
The ending was so romantic with some humor thrown in the end that ties back to when t hey were children.
Higlhy recommend this delightful book!
I loved how miss macomber showed Csitlin and Joe progressing from friendship to "more", those two will make you smile and laugh quite a few times... I had a suspicion what was going on with Lindy and was eager to see how it all played out.
Caitlin does something wonderful for someone else that'll bring hppy tears to your eyes, a true spirit of christmas in that moment :)
The ending was so romantic with some humor thrown in the end that ties back to when t hey were children.
Higlhy recommend this delightful book!
January 5, 2022
This book is a quick read, and isn’t particularly complex or challenging. The ending is quite predictable, and it has the same formula as many Hallmark or romantic fiction does. There isn’t much that is surprising in the plot; however, that is not really what Macomber fans expect either.
The main character, Cait, is too insistent on her love interest, and it becomes boring and repetitive. Macomber hits the reader over the head with Cait’s obsession with her boss, which is excessive and tiring. Joe’s character is a bit more redeeming, although simplistic and stereotypical.
As a generic, ‘romantic mix-up’ book, it works; just don’t expect much more from this book.
The main character, Cait, is too insistent on her love interest, and it becomes boring and repetitive. Macomber hits the reader over the head with Cait’s obsession with her boss, which is excessive and tiring. Joe’s character is a bit more redeeming, although simplistic and stereotypical.
As a generic, ‘romantic mix-up’ book, it works; just don’t expect much more from this book.
October 31, 2018
Joe annoys me yet Cait puts up with him embarrassing her in public comes across like a bully who likes to get his own way. Plus i think Lindy n Paul r secretly in a relationship. Im writing this n im not even halfway thru. Cait if this is beginning of ur relationship it will have u divorced within 10 years when its killed ur relationship n u have internalised. Anyone reading this yes i am talking to a fictional character at 4am!
July 30, 2014
I loved the two main characters!
I loved the two main characters!
I enjoyed this sometimes funny romantic book.I really loved the character Joe, he's wit and personality are great as is Caitlin. I found that once I put it down, I couldn't wait to pick it up again to see what happened next. This was a really good read.
I loved the two main characters!
I enjoyed this sometimes funny romantic book.I really loved the character Joe, he's wit and personality are great as is Caitlin. I found that once I put it down, I couldn't wait to pick it up again to see what happened next. This was a really good read.
November 14, 2017
Eight-year-old Caitlin and 10-year-old Joe get “married”. Years go by until they meet again but guess what? Cait is in love (unrequited) with another man. This somewhat lengthy, almost tediously wordy, romance plot slogs until the two finally get together again. Might have made an okay short story but it is too “padded” with unnecessary details.
July 29, 2021
The Forgetful Bride was another easy, enjoyable and silly at times read. Truly could be a Hallmark movie. A Christmas in July moment for sure. Though I enjoyed reading this book the main character fell a little flat for me and the setting of Christmas seemed thrown in at times. If your looking for a quick easy beach read this it it. Not much weight to this one.
April 8, 2022
A nice, easy Christmas read. Given to me as part of a 4 part series collection. The Christmas Wish. The writing is good.
It is actually very Christmassy and enjoyable if you are just looking for something light and romantic. Most of it does and could happen.
I would read this author again.
A nice, feel good romantic, realistic Christmas story.
It is actually very Christmassy and enjoyable if you are just looking for something light and romantic. Most of it does and could happen.
I would read this author again.
A nice, feel good romantic, realistic Christmas story.
July 12, 2015
Cait's brother and Joe had been childhood friends. Joe and Cait met again when Joe's construction company was remodeling the offices where Cait worked. Joe had to work really hard to convince Cait that she loved him, not her boss. Short story.
December 17, 2020
I’m not really convinced that’s how real life relationships should work, but it was a fun story.
March 19, 2021
A nice light read for a day spent travelling for business and medical appointments and errands. A bit predictable since I had things figured out way ahead of Caitlyn.
April 2, 2021
I listened to this as an audiobook on my daily walks. An average read with a feel-good ending.
November 6, 2021
Christmas story. Joe was my favorite character.
December 28, 2021
A favourite author of mine. The story was pretty good and a quick read.
December 28, 2018
This was a cute story but the heroine, Cait, was exasperating throughout. Since when does a grown woman (described as intelligent) throw aside the potential for dating and marriage because she is "in love" with a man who doesn't even notice her in any way outside of business for an entire year!? And on top of that, there is a best friend that can't seem to tell Cait that this man isn't interested. Some friend!! She should have helped her supposed best friend understand the truth so that Cait could move on with her life. Women behaving like this is exactly the reason why i am happy not to have a lot of female friends (or maybe that's because i'm not afraid to tell a friend that "he's just not that in to you". Women don't want to hear that.) Why do women seem to want to hold on to men that want nothing to do with them? It's maddening!
The good thing about this book is that it took me no more than a couple hours to read and it was well written and entertaining. If it had gone on for longer than it did, i would have been forced to pull my hair out in exasperation. But as it stands, it is an easy read to occupy yourself with if you have nothing better to do. But if you do have something better to do (or read) please do!
This book was also good because it gave me a chance to come on here and rant. Maybe some young girl will read this book or this post and realize that he's just not that in to you. Move on!
The good thing about this book is that it took me no more than a couple hours to read and it was well written and entertaining. If it had gone on for longer than it did, i would have been forced to pull my hair out in exasperation. But as it stands, it is an easy read to occupy yourself with if you have nothing better to do. But if you do have something better to do (or read) please do!
This book was also good because it gave me a chance to come on here and rant. Maybe some young girl will read this book or this post and realize that he's just not that in to you. Move on!
July 30, 2023
Caitlin is successful in her high end job and in love with her boss although he does everything he can to ignore her. He's not interested! When the office is undergoing renovations, she meets the contractor, Joe Rockwell. She doesn't recognize him but he recognizes her. He does everything he can to embarrass her, he's a terrible tease. It takes her a while to figure out who he actually is. she knew him as her older brother's best friend, Joseph.
Joe tells everyone in her office, they are married. She insists they aren't, oh, well her brother actually married them when she was eight years old and Joe was ten. But that's not real! Shortly after, Joe's family moved and the family lost contact with him. Joe is determined but so is she! She isn't interested.
This is a really cute humorous romance that will have you chuckle out loud. Something we all need to do more often!
Joe tells everyone in her office, they are married. She insists they aren't, oh, well her brother actually married them when she was eight years old and Joe was ten. But that's not real! Shortly after, Joe's family moved and the family lost contact with him. Joe is determined but so is she! She isn't interested.
This is a really cute humorous romance that will have you chuckle out loud. Something we all need to do more often!
December 15, 2024
Cait marries Joe when she is 8. He simply is not allowed to kiss her without making things official.
Zoom ahead twenty years and Cait is working as a stockbroker. Guess who is the boss of the company doing remodelling in her office . . . ding, ding, ding. It's Joe! Once he reconnects with Cait, she is determined to keep things in the friend zone. After all she is in love with Paul, her boss. She just needs to convince Paul that they are MTB (meant to be).
Insert Christmas shopping, a family gathering, and a random act of kindness. This season is a fitting time to set the romancing of Cait by Joe. The time for her to remember what they once shared.
I used to read Harlequin Romances by the stack as a teenager and the nostalgia with this read was definitely worth a star. The book is a bit dated, but Debbie Macomber does have a way of elevating the genre.
Zoom ahead twenty years and Cait is working as a stockbroker. Guess who is the boss of the company doing remodelling in her office . . . ding, ding, ding. It's Joe! Once he reconnects with Cait, she is determined to keep things in the friend zone. After all she is in love with Paul, her boss. She just needs to convince Paul that they are MTB (meant to be).
Insert Christmas shopping, a family gathering, and a random act of kindness. This season is a fitting time to set the romancing of Cait by Joe. The time for her to remember what they once shared.
I used to read Harlequin Romances by the stack as a teenager and the nostalgia with this read was definitely worth a star. The book is a bit dated, but Debbie Macomber does have a way of elevating the genre.
January 5, 2023
(Bonus Story in Trading Christmas Book - I'm handling them separately because I finished the Trading Christmas in Dec. of 2022, and didn't read Forgetful Bride until Jan. of 2023.) @ 1991, (1st published as When Christmas Comes), Read 1/4/23. Fiction, Romance, Christmas, Humor. A female stockbroker and a construction boss meet again when her company hires him to update the offices. He's a tease and enjoys telling everyone that they are married, but that she has amnesia. He was her brother's childhood friend, and they pretended to get married when she was 8 and he was 10. She is totally embarrassed, and has feelings for her boss, who is oblivious to her.
A silly Christmas Romance, but enjoyable. 3☆'s = Good.
A silly Christmas Romance, but enjoyable. 3☆'s = Good.
November 17, 2021
If I could do a negative star, I would. This was one of the worst stories I've ever read. Cait was unlikable in every way. I wanted to see her fail in every aspect of her life. Instead of an adult, she acted more like a pre-pubescent moron. Really disappointed in this one, enough so that I'm considering not reading this author again, but I have one more book from her. Hopefully that one is less painful. I think I could have written this better and I am no writer. Ugh. Honestly, if you are looking for an adult read with a main character who is not a pathetic twit, this is not the book for you.
January 22, 2021
The forgetful bride by debbie macomber Caitlin Marshall's trying to go home to Minnesota for Christmas, but at the last minute she gives her airline ticket to a stranded soldier. So Cait spends the holidays with Joe Rockwell, who was a childhood friend - and is still a terrible tease, claiming that Cait's his wife.
This book was a great concept and was perfectly executed. This is one of my all time favorite holiday reads. I highly recommend this one for the holidays. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
This book was a great concept and was perfectly executed. This is one of my all time favorite holiday reads. I highly recommend this one for the holidays. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
January 31, 2022
This book was part of a 2-in-1 I got as part of a "blind date with a book" at a local bookstore. Let me start by saying I was happy to see it was not one but two Debbie Macomber novels. I'd never read one of her books, but I'd seen many a Hallmark movie based on her writing, and I'll just say I can see why. While I was not surprised by the ending, I enjoyed being in a world like that for a few hours, and had fun with the banter between the two leads.
June 16, 2017
I actually enjoyed this companion novella more than Trading Christmas. Joe's traditional views and his sense of humor won me over before Caitlin (the title character - she doesn't remember Joe when she first meets him, even though they were "married" as children). I especially enjoyed how naturally their friendship developed into more.
August 20, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The romance was so wonderful and swoon-worthy and the characters were lovely, funny, engaging, and relateable. I found myself almost cheering out loud each time they kissed. The writing was perfect, as always for Debbie Macomber. Five stars all the way!
July 19, 2022
Revisiting a book after at least twenty years.
This should have been made into a Hallmark movie. Annoying how clueless the heroine is, but all the funny small moments between the couple shows how their relationship blossoms. A lot of times in books, you're just supposed to assume they have a connection, but in this one you see it happen.
This should have been made into a Hallmark movie. Annoying how clueless the heroine is, but all the funny small moments between the couple shows how their relationship blossoms. A lot of times in books, you're just supposed to assume they have a connection, but in this one you see it happen.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews