Betsy returns from Europe to marry Joe Willard—and soon learns that beloved friend Tacy is expecting a baby! It's wartime in America, but Betsy, Jo...
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Feb 22, 2010
Abigail
rated it: 
The tenth and final book in Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy~Tacy series - thank goodness for the three related Deep Valley books, as I don't think I'm ready for my reading experience to be over! - Betsy's Wedding picks up just where the previous installment, Betsy and the Great World, left off. When Betsy's ship docks in New York, her estranged sweetheart, Joe Willard, is waiting for her, and the two are soon engaged. Settling near the Rays in Minneapolis (of course!), once they are married, Betsy an
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17 comments
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(5 people liked it)
Dec 17, 2009
Elizabeth, I agree with you that this a bittersweet book. My buddy Betsy was all grown up and married. It is a sweet story and I love the struggles they face. I also belong to Shelfari and some of us started talking about the B/T books and how we discovered them.
Dec 19, 2010
Lisa
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I've been curious about the Betsy-Tacy series for years, and finally got around to reading it. I'm glad I did. The books are age-appropriate -- I could see a kindergartner reading the first one, for example -- and the prose and stories progress as Betsy and her friends do. I prefer the books in which Betsy begins to mature. They demonstrate very well the notion that no matter how things change, the more they stay the same. Even though the books are set at the turn of the 20th century, written in
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Mar 13, 2010
Anne
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So it wasn't as much like Anne's House of Dreams as I feared it would be. Really, Tacy is the one who gets the house of dreams, and the babies. Betsy and Joe are wonderful together, even though sometimes Betsy would say something about how she wanted Joe to have the final word in all things and I would be like, harumph. But then it would be all right, because until Joe felt that Betsy approved (like in the case of his Aunt Ruth coming to stay with them), everything was wrong between them. An
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Oct 24, 2011
Lawrence
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This book is a triumphant finale to Miss Lovelace's series on Betsy (and Tacy and Tib). From the beginning when Betsy and Joe meet at the dock to the very end with its sweet valedictory to Hill Street, the book is a perfect whole. Betsy at last finds a reality that grounds her affectionate and enthusiastic nature. Miss Lovelace describes very well Betsy's observant intelligence as she both learns to cook, for example, and closely examines the "first apartment's" elm tree through the
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Dec 27, 2009
Melody
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I meant to luxuriate in this, the last book of the Betsy-Tacy series. But I was drawn in as deeply as ever. Joe topples mountains and swims seas for Betsy's love, and Betsy is still making lists and trying to be a better person. I hope it's not a spoiler to say that Betsy gets married in this book, titled as it is. Her struggles as a young wife are endearing, especially that poor meat pie she tries so hard to make. She's still a little diffident for my taste, too dependent on the men in her lif
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Dec 17, 2009
This was a bittersweet read for me. Betsy grew up and got married. It was also said because this was the last book in the series and I never wanted it to end.
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Dec 07, 2010
Mona
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It kind of feels like the end of an era, but it's only been about five weeks since I first began reading the Betsy-Tacy series. I've spent those weeks lost in Deep Valley, with picnics on the Big Hill and Sunday night lunches, singing songs and pounding the piano, and generally feeling right at home in a world of warmth, friendship, and love. I didn't read the series as a child, but I wish I had. I know it would have been a great favorite then. Though I've only just finished the series today, I
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Aug 05, 2011
Another good Betsy story this time set in pre-World War I America. It's fun to read about Betsy as a young married adult. She and Joe start out their married life with much the same situations faced by young married couples of today-budgeting, jobs, setting and running of a new home etc. What was sad to me is this was the last Betsy story that I know of-I want to know if Joe comes home safe and sound. Do they have their "Bettina"? This is great literature for young girls-certain
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Oct 22, 2007
Carmen
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Lovelace ends the stories of Betsy's childhood with a warmly written story about the triumphs and misadventures of being a wife. The story continues to shows Betsy's faithfulness to her family, friends, and now her husband, while giving a glimpse of life in the World War I era. Betsy's Wedding is a young adult book with charm, period grace and accuracy (Betsy is very concerned about learning to cook for her wonderful groom Joe) but also prescient in its concerns for her budding career as a write
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Sep 06, 2011
Sandra
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One of my all-time favorite books, and one I often reread at this time of year, as summer comes to an end.
I only wish life were as simple and uncomplicated as this book presents it. With the exception of World War I, toward the end of the book, Betsy and Joe's life together seems idyllic. Of course, we all know life was never that easy, especially back in the days before such things as antibiotics!
It's nice to dream, though.
I only wish life were as simple and uncomplicated as this book presents it. With the exception of World War I, toward the end of the book, Betsy and Joe's life together seems idyllic. Of course, we all know life was never that easy, especially back in the days before such things as antibiotics!
It's nice to dream, though.
Mar 01, 2010
Eliza
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One of my favorite books EVER. If you haven't read any Betsy-Tacy, I advise you to start now. If you're not up for the "kid lit" that is the first 5 or 6 books, start with Heaven to Betsy and read on to the end. How I love Maud Hart Lovelace and would love to have been friends with her! Her semi-autobiographical character, Betsy, is one of the finest characters I have ever come across--a truly good person, loving, always wanting to be better and to be kind to others. Love Tacy too, of
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Dec 31, 2011
Miriam
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It had been a long time since I'd read this, so it was fun to read again. I think this book does a good job of writing about the early years of a marriage in a way that makes is accessible to a teenage girl. It is also interesting to see what is going on with other characters, and to see how WWI affected life in the US even before the US was officially involved.
Nov 01, 2010
I didn't want the book (and series) to end, and I'm really curious to find out what happened to Joe and Betsy after the war. And during! I really wish Lovelace had continued. It reminded me of Anne's House of Dreams, one of my favorite Anne books, as both Anne and Betsy were at the same phase of life. I also don't think I could love Joe any more if I tried.
Feb 09, 2011
Judy
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Haha, gave it a 5 star rating just because it finally gave us the conclusion that we were all waiting for. Can't say that Betsy's character was developed as well as it could have been but overall it was fun and easy series to read. Too bad I didn't find out about these until now, would've enjoyed them immensely as a child.
Sep 03, 2008
Shelley
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8/08: I love this book. It's the little details about the start of their marriage that just ring so true. I also love seeing Margaret all grown up - she became one of my favorite characters in this series. I would have loved to seen Betsy's Bettina written, though - I want more Betsy-Tacy!
The "where did they go?" section at the end was awesome and fascinating. Some of the changes Maud made were very interesting - like Bick didn't marry Charley until 1920, which was ten year More...
The "where did they go?" section at the end was awesome and fascinating. Some of the changes Maud made were very interesting - like Bick didn't marry Charley until 1920, which was ten year More...
Jul 13, 2011
Kate
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This is an old style of novel, where it chronicles life as it happens without much regard for plot. I read it because I wanted to write fanfic of it (backwards, right?), but it's not really all that interesting otherwise. The fanfic ideas would be great: How did Betsy and Joe handle their wedding night? How did they handle Joe coming back from WWI? But otherwise, disappointment.
Feb 15, 2010
Laurie
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I enjoyed this book greatly. Even though the reading was easy, I had fun reading about Betsy's and Joe adventures. It was fun to see the difference between, now and then with marriage and what they called setting up house keeping. I think we have lost that art of setting up house keeping, some where along the line.
Dec 17, 2009
Sab
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Betsy comes home from Europe to a whirlwind marriage with her soulmate, Joe Willard, at long last. And they move into a cozy apartment, where Betsy Ray finally learns to cook, and they encourage one another with their writing, and send stories to magazines that sometimes even sell! Meanwhile Joe works at the newspaper, money's tight, Tacy's raising her son and Tib, as always, is flitting around to wherever the fun's at.
And in the end, Joe goes off to fight in World War I, promising More...
And in the end, Joe goes off to fight in World War I, promising More...
Sep 13, 2011
Heather
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Liked this the best of all the Betsy books I read. I liked how unromantic the wedding was. I liked how Joe zig-zagged all over town to nab a job so that he could marry his beloved. I loved the list of marital principles that Betsy wrote out for herself.
Dec 30, 2010
Linda
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I think these coming of age books - although set in 1910 - 1918 - are as relevant today to young people as ever. Beautiful, heart-warming stories based on the author's life and friends. I read them first in high school and am rediscovering them now.
Jul 21, 2011
Emily
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I really loved all of the Betsy-Tacy books. Betsy is a great character with so much spunk, and I also love the glimpse into early 20th century life that the book provides. These are books that I will read again!
Jun 07, 2011
Tiffani
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I totally, absolutely loved this! I could relate so well to the married life. I'm officially a fan of the series. This is definitely a classic series I'll either read to my children or have them read.
Jul 10, 2009
Jan
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We get to be that proverbial fly on the wall as Betsy and Joe reunite, have a whirlwind engagement and wedding, and struggle through their first year of marriage. Oh, and the book ends with another wedding!
Jan 23, 2010
Susann
rated it:
"Joe sat up in bed, and Betsy told herself that she must never allow him to wear any pajamas but blue ones."
It's been less than a year since I last read this, but with Maud's writing that doesn't matter. This book only gets better and better for me and I continue to revel in the "rightness" of Betsy and Joe together.
3-3-09 review:
"After a while he went back to the bacon."
Chose to re-read this in honor of my sister's wedding. The older More...
It's been less than a year since I last read this, but with Maud's writing that doesn't matter. This book only gets better and better for me and I continue to revel in the "rightness" of Betsy and Joe together.
3-3-09 review:
"After a while he went back to the bacon."
Chose to re-read this in honor of my sister's wedding. The older More...
Jan 15, 2012
Jess
rated it:
BETSY AND JOE AND BETSY AND JOE AND YES. THIS WAS THE BOOK I WANTED.
Maybe I will come back here later and write actual words. Or not. Because that's a pretty accurate reaction, honestly.
Maybe I will come back here later and write actual words. Or not. Because that's a pretty accurate reaction, honestly.
13 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Feb 20, 2009
Jessica
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This book was okay, but not really the kind of book I like. It's kind of like the Little House on the prairie books or Anne of Green Gables, except without any exciting bits.
Aug 14, 2009
Brittany
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Another book from my childhood. The copy in the library was about 100 years old. It had a big, thick cover and stained pages and I loved it!
Jul 01, 2011
Ro
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Aug 05, 2011
Kerith
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Betsy returns home from her European tour at the beginning of the Great War, in time to finally marry her sweetheart Joe Willard. This takes place in the years before the U.S. enters the first World War and is also a lovely story of a young marriage in the 1910s. Lovelace is once again ahead of her time, since Betsy, while a housewife indeed, is still treated with great respect and equality by her breadwinner husband. He encourages her writing talent and she, in turn, goes off to work once Joe i
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