I Do is my go-to book for when I’m feeling upset. Not because I think the storyline is particularly scintillating, but because for me, it was the perfect ending to a series I’d followed and loved.The series itself follows Caitlin O’Connor and her journey as a teenage Christian girl. There are ups and downs and there are times when she questions religion and how she ought to balance her high school (and later university) life with her faith. It’s probably important to note that while my mother is very religious, I don’t have any strong beliefs when it comes to higher powers. While I fully believe I could be convinced, I don’t currently label myself as a believer of any kind.Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the series when I read it a few years ago. In I Do, the fifth and final book of the series, Caitlin is finally marrying her high school sweetheart, Josh. It’s the couple every reader knew were the end-game, but that doesn’t mean it was any less satisfying reading of Josh’s adorable (albeit a tad cliché) proposal and how happy Caitlin felt. The first four books deal with incredibly complex issues that are difficult to contemplate if you’ve been in the situation yourself. While these issues, as some issues are fully resolved, star in the final instalment of the series, it is, I think, probably the most light-hearted of the series. It’s full of wedding planning and romantic fluff. While Jenny’s anorexia and previous sexual relationship with Josh comes back to bite and Caitlin struggles to compromise with Josh’s parents with monetary issues, the main event is, in fact, the wedding. And that’s why I enjoyed this book so thoroughly. All the gooey stuff I’d wanted to happen between Josh and Caitlin finally happened. And most importantly, they didn’t forget about the past. It wasn’t as if their engagement was completely separate the relationship in the past. As I said before, Caitlin, who’s been saving herself for marriage, has to confront him about the time in high school when he’d had sex with who is now one of her best friends. It’s not a believable book, I don’t think. Not by any means. Not that I’ve ever actually been married (or I played a significant part in the planning of a wedding, for that matter), but I would be very surprised if everything managed to fall in place just so as it does in this book. And maybe Caitlin and Josh have an idealistic relationship. Maybe their journey from friends to couple isn’t the most realistic. But you have to understand that I was probably about twelve years old when I first read this book and the books before it and I was absolutely captivated by their relationship. For me, this book tied up all the loose ends of the series and gave me the ending I wanted. And well, what more can you ask for in a book? The only thing that truly bothered me about this book is something that only bothered me because I’d read the two other Diary of a Teenage Girl book series that Melody Carlson had written at the time. Because of this, I became very aware of the fact that Kim’s age, throughout the series, is constantly changing and Kim was actually an aspect of this book and the book before it (different ages in both) and that frustrated me.However, that doesn’t detract from my overall feelings for this book, which can be simply summed up when I say that this book was the ending I’d been waiting for.
What do You think about I Do! (2005)?
This is a good wrap-up to the Caitlin series, but compared to the other books it felt like that extra spark was missing. Either that or it suffered from how long ago I read the first book.It was fun to see wedding planning from her point of view once she accepts Josh's proposal. Other issues are raised (mostly anorexia and pre-marital sex), though not as deeply as readers of the series may expect. I feel like I should have more positive to say, but by book five it's become pretty standard.On the downside, their relationship is sweet, but I felt disconnected from it. The former books mentioned but didn't really delve into their e-mails, and this book didn't seize the opportunity to show why they were so perfect for each other. I recognize it's hard to do that in the diary format and certainly wasn't looking for a full-blown romance novel, but it felt stilted. Some issues seemed resolved too easily, and I didn't see as much growth in Caitlin as I expected. She remains the girl who comes off as preachy and too perfect. I appreciate the attempt to show what it's like to be "the good girl" in today's society, but Caitlin really ended up turning into a Christian stereotype. I also felt like I should have read some of the Chloe books in between, but am looking forward to doing so now.Overall, I did like the book. The mushy side of me loved what romance was there and it's certain to be enjoyable for those who invested in the first four.
—Kristine
Here it is! My favorite book in the Caitlin series! The last book is about how Josh Miller proposes to Caitlin and of coarse Caitlin says yes. Caitlin can`t forget that she still has to finish college before the wedding and she has to prepare for the big event too! How much more stress can Caitlin handle with her mean roommate Elizabeth too? In the fifth book her two best friends are out at college too. Beanie is in a fashion school and Jenny is going to a bible college and continuing her "anorexia problem." Like I said this is my favorite Caitlin book and I was very excited to start reading it too. Don`t forget to read the first four books before reading the best one! I loved the Caitlin series and the series also gives teens lessons on God.
—$hanel
It's a bunch of fluff, but a very nice end to the series. However, I know God has a way of making things fall into place (experienced it waaaaay too many times to doubt it!), but aside from the wedding, Caitlin's life had no real stress and the book just seemed to have no plot. No sooner does one thing happen than it gets cleared up. I know that's how I would be in real life, but it doesn't make for a really good story. Jenny's anorexia seemed to clear up too quickly without any backward steps, Caitlin didn't seem to get really stressed about anything... and I know I'm complaining. In truth, this was a nice book.And I managed to have time to read it in one sitting, which was very, very nice.
—Liz
