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Wondering Why
Wren Beckett is ready for a fresh start.
She’s back in her hometown, back at the job she loves, and finally close to family after years away. And the cherry on top? She’s living just down the street from Carson Matthews—her brother’s grumpy best friend and the man she’s been quietly in love with since the dawn of time.
Carson’s made a habit of keeping Wren at arm’s length. She’s sunshine and soft edges; he’s structure and sharp lines. But when her people-pleasing starts to take its toll, he steps in—ready to teach her how to say no, how to stand up for herself, and maybe even how to indulge the dark little fantasies she’s never dared speak out loud.
He’s supposed to protect her. Not want her.
She’s supposed to move on. Not fall harder.
But the more time they spend together, the blurrier the lines become. And when boundaries start to break, so do all the rules.
They’re just friends. They’ve always been just friends.
Until one touch turns into something neither of them can pretend to forget.
She was everything he couldn’t have.
He was everything she couldn’t stop wanting.
She’s back in her hometown, back at the job she loves, and finally close to family after years away. And the cherry on top? She’s living just down the street from Carson Matthews—her brother’s grumpy best friend and the man she’s been quietly in love with since the dawn of time.
Carson’s made a habit of keeping Wren at arm’s length. She’s sunshine and soft edges; he’s structure and sharp lines. But when her people-pleasing starts to take its toll, he steps in—ready to teach her how to say no, how to stand up for herself, and maybe even how to indulge the dark little fantasies she’s never dared speak out loud.
He’s supposed to protect her. Not want her.
She’s supposed to move on. Not fall harder.
But the more time they spend together, the blurrier the lines become. And when boundaries start to break, so do all the rules.
They’re just friends. They’ve always been just friends.
Until one touch turns into something neither of them can pretend to forget.
She was everything he couldn’t have.
He was everything she couldn’t stop wanting.
328 pages, ebook
Published August 8, 2025
3 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Bennett Rhodes
4 books24 followersBennett lives in a small town with her husband and their two rowdy boys. She still can’t decide if she’s a cat person or a dog person, so she’s declared herself both and moved on. When she’s not writing swoony, heartfelt small-town love stories, she’s probably reading one—iced tea in hand, laundry untouched, and her TBR pile threatening to topple. She loves family game nights, comfy clothes, and quiet moments at home—perfect inspiration for her stories about love, family, and finding your place in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 3, 2025
This is the last of the Beckett Family Series. I have been waiting for Wren and Carson's story since the peep appearances in Wild as Her.
Wondering Why is a sloow burn but it is so worth the wait. Wren and Carson have been friends for years and have always stayed very close just toeing the line of their friendship and nothing more. The glimpses into their past just made their f it moment even sweeter. They are always showing up for each other because things with them were always just different
Wren is a nurse and likes taking care of others but a people pleaser to a fault. Carson is the one who challenges her to do more for just herself.
Carson has always believed he isn't good enough especially for Wren and it takes him too long to realize otherwise. But once things come to for them the years of pining, tension, and the foundation they've built, their chemistry is incredible!
Wondering Why is a sloow burn but it is so worth the wait. Wren and Carson have been friends for years and have always stayed very close just toeing the line of their friendship and nothing more. The glimpses into their past just made their f it moment even sweeter. They are always showing up for each other because things with them were always just different
Wren is a nurse and likes taking care of others but a people pleaser to a fault. Carson is the one who challenges her to do more for just herself.
Carson has always believed he isn't good enough especially for Wren and it takes him too long to realize otherwise. But once things come to for them the years of pining, tension, and the foundation they've built, their chemistry is incredible!
July 16, 2025
𝑰’𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉*𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉. 𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒖𝒔𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝑰 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝑰 𝒂𝒎
I have been part of Bennett’s journey since her debut Oklahoma Sky and have adored everything she has written, so I knew I would feel the same about Wondering Why.
In this book we follow Wren Beckett (a fellow lavender lover), who has returned to her home town for a fresh start, and Carson Matthews, Wren’s brother’s grumpy best friend. Wren is a people pleaser and too nice for her own good, enter Carson who decides enough is enough and decides to teach Wren how to stand up for herself and to embrace some dark fantasies she’s been keeping to herself. Soon the lines and boundaries become blurred, but can they stop before things go too far?
I flew through this in one sitting and it is easily my favourite book in the Beckett Family series.
I loved the glimpses into Wren and Carson’s pasts and how their relationship has developed over the years. The way Carson would do literally anything for Wren and his protective side *swoon*. Wren is a total sweetheart and I LOVED her character development.
The slow burn was worth it, when they finally had their “f*ck it” moment, I was so so happy 🥰🥰
Some of my highlights? Their lunchtime tradition, the corny jokes, the (w)renovations, Donnie, Carson’s secret soft side coming out now and again, seeing the characters from the first 2 books, the TATTOO…there are too many to choose!!
Bennett you have, once again, smashed it and I am so excited for what is next in your journey and I hope I can continue to be a part of it 💜
♾️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
💜 Southern Smalltown Romance
🪻 Slow Burn
💜 Brother’s Best Friend
🪻 Grumpy x Sunshine
💜 Secret Tattoo
🪻 “Good Girl”
💜 “Teach Me”
🪻 Found Family
#newbook #teaser #bookstagram #books #booklover #bookworm #bookstagrammer #reading #bookish #bookaddict #instabook #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #fyp #bookaholic #booklove #bookreview #bookcommunity #bookblogger #instabooks #booklovers #reader #igreads #bookrecommendations #discoverunder5k
#smalltown #cowboy #romance #review #bookreview
I have been part of Bennett’s journey since her debut Oklahoma Sky and have adored everything she has written, so I knew I would feel the same about Wondering Why.
In this book we follow Wren Beckett (a fellow lavender lover), who has returned to her home town for a fresh start, and Carson Matthews, Wren’s brother’s grumpy best friend. Wren is a people pleaser and too nice for her own good, enter Carson who decides enough is enough and decides to teach Wren how to stand up for herself and to embrace some dark fantasies she’s been keeping to herself. Soon the lines and boundaries become blurred, but can they stop before things go too far?
I flew through this in one sitting and it is easily my favourite book in the Beckett Family series.
I loved the glimpses into Wren and Carson’s pasts and how their relationship has developed over the years. The way Carson would do literally anything for Wren and his protective side *swoon*. Wren is a total sweetheart and I LOVED her character development.
The slow burn was worth it, when they finally had their “f*ck it” moment, I was so so happy 🥰🥰
Some of my highlights? Their lunchtime tradition, the corny jokes, the (w)renovations, Donnie, Carson’s secret soft side coming out now and again, seeing the characters from the first 2 books, the TATTOO…there are too many to choose!!
Bennett you have, once again, smashed it and I am so excited for what is next in your journey and I hope I can continue to be a part of it 💜
♾️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
💜 Southern Smalltown Romance
🪻 Slow Burn
💜 Brother’s Best Friend
🪻 Grumpy x Sunshine
💜 Secret Tattoo
🪻 “Good Girl”
💜 “Teach Me”
🪻 Found Family
#newbook #teaser #bookstagram #books #booklover #bookworm #bookstagrammer #reading #bookish #bookaddict #instabook #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #fyp #bookaholic #booklove #bookreview #bookcommunity #bookblogger #instabooks #booklovers #reader #igreads #bookrecommendations #discoverunder5k
#smalltown #cowboy #romance #review #bookreview
August 18, 2025
This was the most healing, feel-good, and honestly, just plain cute story I've read in a while. I'm sad that the series has come to an end, but it was done so beautifully.
It was a perfect slow burn. I was desperate to see the characters give their all, but I completely understand that they needed to heal individually and love themselves first. That made their eventual love for each other so much more amazing and swoon-worthy!
Benneth did an amazing job with the writing, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
It was a perfect slow burn. I was desperate to see the characters give their all, but I completely understand that they needed to heal individually and love themselves first. That made their eventual love for each other so much more amazing and swoon-worthy!
Benneth did an amazing job with the writing, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
September 9, 2025
The slow burn is slow burning in this one and omg it was so good!! The mutual pining was absolutely top tier and I couldn’t stop reading it! Carson and Wren had such a fun and sweet story!
The spice much later in this one but the build up to it was phenomenal!!
Fair warning I am a very emotional reader and I was in tears after chapter 33 iykyk. But I would read it again and again.
Overall this was an amazing romance novel and I highly recommend this entire series!!
The spice much later in this one but the build up to it was phenomenal!!
Fair warning I am a very emotional reader and I was in tears after chapter 33 iykyk. But I would read it again and again.
Overall this was an amazing romance novel and I highly recommend this entire series!!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews