Member Reviews
“𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴.”
— 𝖣𝖾𝖻𝖻𝗂𝖾 𝖧𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗅𝗅𝗌 (𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗢𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁)
When the loss of a loved one has left you broken, how can you pick yourself back up and carry on with your life?
On his way to the church for their wedding, Callie's fiancé, Liam, was killed in a car accident. A year later, she's still struggling with survivor's guilt. Then she runs into Nathan, who just recently relocated from the city to trade his fast-paced life after nearly losing it. He bought a beach house on the Cornish coast & eventually hired Callie to tend to his new garden, both of which were utterly out of character. They were easily drawn to one another. Nathan was very forthcoming and truthful about his feelings. But he is content to hold off until she feels ready to get involved. Callie also finds him attractive and catches a glimpse of Liam in him. However, she's afraid of losing her heart all over again. Having once known true love, she doesn't think she can go through the same pain of losing someone.
Up until this book, I had not read anything by the author. My first impression is that I liked it, and I surely am a glutton for heartaches because, regardless of the fact that it always breaks my heart, I really get drawn into a sad or tragic storyline. Anyhow, this book deals with pain, healing, love, hope and acceptance. And in every step Callie takes towards healing, she makes us understand how difficult grieving is and how each of us experiences it differently. Even though the situation was angsty and slowly developing, it was impossible not to root for Callie to open her heart. And when she finally did, it was satisfying! Although I anticipated the twist, I loved how it added more complexity to the plot.
Thanks to the author, NetGalley & Boldwoodbooks for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for a review.
DEBBIE HOWELLS: THE SHAPE OF YOUR HEART
On her wedding day, Callie’s life falls apart.
Nathan, has moved to Cornwall for a slower pace of life, after going through his own tough time.
Inexplicably, the two are drawn together. Can they both learn to live again?
I was gripped by this book from page one. The pace is gentle, which is completely appropriate to the story.
Poor Callie, her world is totally destroyed on her wedding day. You can’t help but break a little bit for her. She is a sweet character, who deserves her happily ever after.
Nathan is lovely. He’s a thoroughly decent bloke who also deserves to find happiness.
I loved the sense of family in this book. Both Callie and Nathan have wonderfully supportive people around them.
Cornwall is a stunning setting. Debbie Howells creates enticing images in the readers mind with her beautiful descriptions of the coast and country.
There is a strong nod to the benefits of a simple life in this book. Sunsets, beach walks and gardening. You can almost smell the fresh air.
Callie and Nathan’s journey is an emotional one. There are many highs and lows that will move you.
This story is truly special. My heart felt every word.
A book I won’t forget!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for a digital arc of this title.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.
This book was an emotional rollercoaster. Makes you think of your loved ones and those you hold close.
You will need tissues for this book, it’s so beautifully written.
I recommend this book.
This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster. Made me think about all the things I hold close and who I could never life without.
Tissues at the ready because even I she'd a tear,or few, reading this beauty of a book.
My first by the author, but by no means the last
I was honestly surprised by this book. I liked it more than I thought I would, but honestly when you have a great plot with great writing I would always enjoy it.
Firstly the writing just draws you in and tugs at your heartstrings. The description, the imagery, overall just beautiful writing.
Secondly, the way Howells shapes her characters really allowed for such an in depth reading experience. I was really invested into two main characters. They were so well rounded, and their interactions with each other, if it was through their dialogue or their actions and the pacing, it really made for an enjoyable read.
Howells tackled the issue of loss and grief pretty well . Nothing about his plot felt forced and she did a wonder job molding her characters around the such negative events as well as bringing them out of it.
Overall, a fantastic read and I will be looking more into this author and her works.
Wow, what a beautiful novel. The Shape Of Your Heart is the second novel I’ve reviewed by Debbie Howells. I loved the backstory Callie and her sisters have, and their relationship is special. I felt like I was sharing in that.
Callie has endured unimaginable tragedy and her sisters and parents are there for her through thick and thin.
I liked the way Nathan was introduced within the plot and the alternating chapters between Carrie and Nathan’s story were a good way to really get inside the characters. Every chapter is detailed yet well paced and every word of the book is well thought out to create an emotional yet realistic novel about the importance of family, the difficulty moving on after loss and the uncertainty of the future as well as new beginnings.
Thanks to Debbie Howells, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
5 well-deserved stars but needs mor
thank you to boldwood books and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
the shape of your heart follows callie’s journey through grief after losing her fiancée on their wedding day. a while after his passing, callie meets nathan and helps him with his gardening in his new home. nathan has moved to a small cottage to change the ways of his life after a health scare that almost killed him.
this story was so well-written and i found myself to be so emotionally invested. it was perfectly structured and realistically portrayed the effects of grief and the importance of relationships between family and friends.
i will be recommending this book to everyone!
The Shape Of Your Heart by Debbie Howells is a charming contemporary novel that follows a character on a journey through grief.
Grief is not a linear route, there are ups and downs, good days and bad days. No one person’s journey is the same as anyone else.
The journey through grief can be lonely. We need to let others in.
Grief is closely tied in with guilt. “Is it wrong to imagine being happy again?” We fear that if we laugh, we are being disloyal to our loved one. Our loved ones don’t want us to lock up our heart and live in the past. They want us to just glance at the past in our rearview mirror and then move forwards into the future.
Within the book a character walks the Camino way in Spain. It is a journey of discovery as a life is examined along the way.
All the characters were wonderfully drawn and realistic. They had huge hearts that needed to be treated with love and care.
The heart motif is present throughout – the heart falls in love, the heart is broken, the heart suffers a heart attack, the heart is part of a transplant. Hearts that beat in tune with each other are delightful to see.
I thoroughly loved The Shape Of Your Heart. Mine is now swollen with love.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
This book started off as a romantic contemporary story with Callie finding her Mr. Right with Liam. On the day of their wedding though, tragedy strikes, and Callie is left to pick up the pieces. Now one year later, Callie meets newcomer Nathan. There are parts of Nathan that Callie finds comfort in ways he reminds her sometimes of Liam. He makes her feel safe and loved. Nathan had his fair share of tragedy and when he suffered a near miss, he decided to trade his fast-paced life for something slower and ended up in a cozy beach town. When he meets Callie, sparks fly and he hires her to do his garden. He can see Callie is still grieving and willing to wait for her. What happens though when Callie is stuck and finds herself in the part of guilt - she loves Liam and always will but she too deserves to be happy and at times it looks like Nathan can be the "new one" for her. Without giving the main plot away, this book reminded me of Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern and followed a similar storyline. I also love these sorts of reads as it does make you wonder whether memories can be stored in parts of your body and when transplanted develop in the "new recipient". If you are looking for a sweet true love romance and chick lit read, then Debbie Howell's The Shape of Heart is the read for you and fans of Cecelia Ahern and Marian Keyes will enjoy it.
I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.
This heart-warming and uplifting story is set in the coastal area of Cornwall and follows Callie and Nathan as they both make changes in their lives.
Callie was set to marry the love the love of her life, but when tragedy strikes she is left devastated. A year later she is still coming to terms with her grief but feels like it is time to learn to move on.
Nathan after having health issues moves to Cornwall. Shortly after arriving he spots Callie and eventually asks for a hand with her gardening expertise.
Will Callie learn to move on? What surprises lie ahead for Callie and Nathan?
This romance story is very heart-warming and uplifting. I love both main characters, as well as the other family members introduced into the storylines. It showed how family can help you through even the hardest times.
I felt for Callie, as I can relate to the situation she was left in with the survivors guilt when wanting to move on.
The strength she gains throughout makes the story very uplifting and gives hope.
The area the book is set in sounds beautiful too with the coastal and countryside areas, a perfect setting for this story.
Overall, a heart-warming and uplifting romance where a grieving woman tries to learn to move on and find love in heart once more.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the E-Arc. The opinions expressed are based on how I felt while reading this story. This was a solid read it was just not something that I was feeling too much. I loved the relationship that the FMC has with her sisters and the bond with her parents. There were many things I did enjoy about the book I just think it was way tooo slow burn but again this does not take away from it being a solid read. I enjoyed seeing how both the FMC and MMC grew throughout the book.
I was thankful for the opportunity to review this arc however it was not for me. The story if a young woman trying to pick herself up after a devastating loss is heartbreaking. The author did a good job of developing the characters however it just went too slowly for me. I am certain, based on other reviews, that many will appreciate this love story and encourage each reader to make their own opinion.
This novel tells the story of trying to love after losing the love of your life and maybe finding love again. I really like the realistic representation of grief and how hard it can be the people left behind. While it dealt with a lot of heavy themes there was also some lightness and slow friends to lovers romance that fit theme of life moving forward. I enjoyed this book and would definitely read more from this author. I want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and the author, as well as, NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I found this to be a cute story. I however, found Callie’s consistent running away to be annoying. As someone who has also experience grief, I know it is hard to move forward- just found that part of her moving on annoying.
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂
Callie lives in Cornwall and works part time at the local bookstore. Her fiancé Liam was killed in a car accident on the way to their wedding a year ago, and she’s spend the past year in a fog of grief. When she meets a stranger on the beach, he reminds her of Liam. Nathan is also slowing coming to life, taking things easier and changing the parts of himself that need healing. Callie and Nathan keep bumping into each other around town and they eventually bond over the garden that Callie starts maintaining for Nathan.
𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
This is the first book of Debbie Howells that I have read. It’s a truly beautiful story that captures the essence of loss and grief, and the guilt of being a survivor.
There is so much honesty about the feelings of moving on, sometimes dealing with anger, knowing that the person who passed away wasn’t always perfect. I really enjoyed Callie’s life philosophy where she consciously takes note of her surroundings and how humans impact spaces. It’s also a story about reaching a point of acceptance and the transient nature of life. ❤️
My rating 4.5/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️💫
Totally beautiful story that transported me to both Cornwall & Northern Spain. I thought I was safe from tears, a tragedy (as mentioned in the blurb) comes early on in the book. How wrong was I?
Reading how Callie faces her raw grief, portrayed so effectively here, had me almost holding my breath. Realising that everyone’s journeys through grief are unique and there is no ‘right path’ resounded firmly with me.
The strong family unit she has, with her parents and sisters, offering her support but giving her the space to find her own way through is uplifting.
Debbie Howells doesn’t just bring her characters to life, she invites you into their lives for just a while. Callie is such a beautiful character, inside and out, but faces so much grief and so many challenges before she begins to find her way. Nathan, with secrets of his own he prefers to keep hidden, as he too faces changes to his own life. There aren’t any characters who don’t draw you in easily.
I adored the descriptions throughout the book: of Callie’s garden, each area carrying its own memories; Nathan’s garden, starting from scratch, evolving and appearing; the beaches and coves of Cornwall and also the Camino del Santiago; all so clearly evoked. I wish my knowledge of plants was stronger, but the descriptions were vivid enough to transport me to them anyway.
This story has so many threads that resonated with me, the importance of family, living each day, friendships, the importance of our ecology, living with nature and not destroying it.
Honestly, words cannot describe what a joy it was to ‘live’ in this story, a strong 5 🌟 read!
I love Callie, the main character. I admire her resiliency and tenacity. This book is wonderfully put together, a story of grief, moving on mixed with a sprinkle of warm romance.
Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
The Shape of Your by Heart Debbie Howells is a heartwarming story of grief and recovery with a bit of romance. It’s charming, emotional, and a very satisfying book.
Story Recap:
Callie isn’t as ambitious as her sisters but is perfectly content living a simple life in Cornwall, until her fiance is killed in a car accident, on his way to their wedding.
Now a year later, Callie is working to put her life back together, and she still lives in the small Cornish village near her lovely parents.
Nathan got a second chance and he’s not going to waste it. He left his high-pressure high-income job in London and found a home in Cornwall. His new priorities are a less stressful life, and to enjoy the little things. When he meets a beautiful woman on an isolated beach, he feels like he knows her. But, she makes it clear she’s not ready for a new relationship. Or is she?
My Thoughts:
It’s hard not to root for Callie and Nathan in this emotional and heartwarming book. Both characters enjoy a simple life and neither needs much to enjoy life. But, there are some pretty big obstacles for them to overcome. Callie is not quite ready to let go of the love of her life and Nathan is still working to figure out what his new life is about. And yet, they keep running into each other and enjoy each other’s company.
The book has a slower pace, but I didn’t mind as that’s exactly what the characters needed too. I loved the descriptions of the Cornish shore and small village and I felt like I was walking along the sandy beach along with Callie and Nathan. Their love story is one I’ve heard before, but it’s still unique and very special.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend The Shap of Your Heart to anyone who enjoys women's fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book was sooo good. I keep picturing Lou from Me Before You as the main character. I loved how she was so resilient and how she delt with everything. I love her relationship with her sisters as well. Enter Noah who is going through some things of his own and may be just the thing the other needs. Beautiful writing, storyline and kept me engaged and eagerly anticipating what would happen next. Boldwood never disappoints. Debbie Howells is definitely been added to my favorite new author list. I’ll eagerly be anticipating her next book.
This book surprised me! It looks like a cute fluffy romance but was much deeper than I anticipated. I really enjoyed the representation of grief. And Callies family was such a big part of why I loved this so much. I'm so glad that she had such a great support system during this difficult time for her!