Book Review: The Re-Do List by Denise Williams

Official Synopsis: Willow experienced all her big firsts with her high school sweetheart. Now, reeling from their very public breakup, she wants to get a re-do on those important moments. While dog-sitting for her brother during his deployment, she has a chance to start over and spending time with his best friend gives her the confidence to start checking items off her “Re-Do list.”

Deacon promised his best friend two things when Cruz left for a that he’d look out for Willow, and that he’d keep his hands off Cruz’s baby sister. “Operation Re-Do” is innocent enough at Deacon likes Willow and he’s willing to help her out any way he can. But when the list of firsts turns from a first dance to first kisses and more, Deacon can’t deny the connection he feels to Willow.

As Deacon’s and Willow’s firsts turn to seconds, thirds, and fourths, this pair can’t get enough of each other—and they support each other through new challenges. But they are both aware there’s an end date to Willow’s time in town… and even if she were to stay, Deacon doesn’t know how to choose between his loyalty to his closest friend and the woman he’s fallen in love with. With no more romantic moments on her list for them to re-do, can these two still find a way to stay together?

After getting out a decade long relationship with the wrong guy, Willow Lewis is looking for a new start...or at least a re-do at the last 10 years. Her past relationship has left her with scars, and an embarrassing viral video, so when she moves to watch her brother's dog in Des Moines, IA, she hopes to get away from it all and maybe be able to try something new. When she meets Deacon, her brother's best friend who is currently out of of the Air Force, she isn't sure why her brother demands she has a babysitter. But as Cruz remains out of the country, Deacon and Willow start to grow closer together, in a way neither of them really imagined.

Now, Willow has to decide if she wants to do all of the things on her re-do list with Deacon, who is still planning on making it back into the Air Force even after being medically discharged or if maybe what she needs is someone who isn't looking for a deep connection. Deacon, on the other hand, promised Cruz to not touch his sister, who is ten years his junior, but something about Willow has Deacon changing the way he views relationships and his future in general. As they start to have more than a 're-do' of the firsts and spend more and more time together, their feelings, and guilt, grow stronger.

Something I really enjoyed about this book was how Willow moved through the motions of what happened to her. She was broken up with, very publicly, then moved to help her brother. She had a lot of 'firsts' with the same guy and is determined to do better than she did before, even if the list started as a way to move on from him. When she figures out a way to get Deacon to agree, she starts to see that maybe the goal isn't entirely getting over her ex anymore, but instead finding something, or someone, that fits into her life better. We get to see Willow figure out who she wants to be in real time, and also see her figure out why her ex may not have been the best choice. She starts to apply for internships and reapply for vet school, something she was talked out of before. We also see her figure out herself and her needs while also figuring out that sometimes the person you are with is the most important part.

For Deacon, his determination to train to get back into the Air Force is amazing, but we also see him struggle with what a future without the Air Force looks like, especially be he did have medical issues. Deacon is struggling with the idea of being a 'veteran' even though he served for a while. He doesn't have a plan that involves not re-entering the forces and joining his team, but as he experiences more and more of Willow's re-do list, we see him start to shift his thinking a bit. We also get to see Deacon grow from being kind of a fuck-boy into something else for Willow, which is a fun trope to see. I did also enjoy that 'I need to take care of her, how dare I think about her this way' thinking that took over Deacon a lot, since he was supposed to be watching his best friend's younger sister and not thinking about making out with her at all times.

One of the other parts of this book, which has been a favorite in other books for me too recently, is the best friend side characters. Willow has a really good group around her and makes friends with some of the neighbors easily. Their support for her and her goal to move on are really great. Deacon also has a gaggle of weird roommates who I really like, especially when he is too in his own head. Deacon is obviously someone who is used to having a group around him for support and it was cool to see how he had two of those groups in his life, one from the Air Force and then the roommates in Des Moines.

My first book by Denise Williams for Just Our Luck which I also reviewed on the blog, and honestly I'm really ready to go back and read the rest of her backlog. I really enjoy how she writes and the depth of the characters she creates. I also liked seeing some of the characters from Just Our Luck show up briefly in this story as well. I think that Denise Williams is really good at creating complex characters who work with each other's complexities to become something great. I really enjoyed reading the journey both Willow and Deacon took within this book. Also, there are at least two dogs and both are great, so that is some added points overall.

I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars!

The Re-Do List comes out January 27, 2026!

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