This is a slow-burn book that completely stole my heart. The book feels so relatable and authentic. It was such an emotional roller-coaster but I couldn't stop reading if I wanted to. I think this a beautiful book full of hope. I have read a few Debbie Howells books and she now a new favourite of 2023.

This book is a poignant tale about a woman who discovers that there are many more important truths outside her door.

Frankie is focused on building her florist business, wanting to attract celebrity clients. She works for all kinds of bridezillas, picky Moms and various venues. Little by little things start happening around her that force her to open her eyes and look at others. Her friend Honey, whose marriage is in trouble. Her faithful employee who needs more respect. A new friend whose son has a deadly disease, yet still finds a way to give back.

I loved seeing Frankie mature and grow emotionally. She learned so much when she opened herself to experience life and is a better person for it. Another great book by this talented author.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'It All Started With You' by Debbie Howells.


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Debbie Howells, Boldwood, Book & Tonic and Rachel's Random Book Tours .



Publication date 23rd June 2023..


This novel consists of 44 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


What an absolutely fantastic laugh a minute, heart warming, stunning must read!!! Absolutely loved it fairplay!!! This book has fantastic descriptions that set you straight in the scenes. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.

The storyline itself was absolutely unputdownable so make sure you clear your schedules before starting to read it!!

OMG!!! I absolutely love, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely gorgeous book!!! I must say it has got to be one of the best romances I have ever read!! It is filled with friendship, family, loyalty, love, loneliness, trying new things and so much more!! It really does go to show how one person can change so many lives and make such a big difference!! It is an emotional rollercoaster ride of emotions that will make you cry, laugh, smile and terrified plus everything in between!! Grab the tissues as you will cry with sadness and have tears of joy!!! I was absolutely absorbed in this book and just could not put it down!!! There was no chance of just one more chapter and I ended up devouring it in a day!!! The setting and atmosphere was absolutely gorgeous and I loved watching the buildings getting redeveloped, learning everyone's stories and histories and watching the characters relationships change throughout. It really is one of those feel good books that is perfect to read curled up in front of a fire or lying on the beach. There was a perfect mix of tragedy, heartbreak, Romance, laughter that it definitely the go to book if you want a pick me up!!! It is so much more than your everyday romance with the intriguing and multi layered storylines as there is more than just the one. I could go on and on but seriously just get your copy and get sucked in. You really won't regret it!! The characters were all an eclectic mix and each one of them were realistic and strong. I absolutely fell in love with all of them for different reasons and I was absolutely devastated to say goodbye. I absolutely adored watching their relationships and friendships grow and develop throughout the storyline. They each became stronger and learnt so much not only about each other but about themselves.


An absolutely stunning, page turning MUST READ!!


A MASSIVE WELL DONE to Debbie on a HUGE success!!! I loved every page of your book and I cannot wait to read more past and future amazing books. Welcome to my favourite author list!! Here's to your next success 🥂!

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue of Anita's 'The Girl I Used To Be' which promises to be just as gorgeous as this book and is one I'm definitely looking forward to reading myself!!

Overall an unputdownable, unforgettable, stunning book that will have you staying up late at night to finish it.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Sophie Kinsella, Emily Henry, Bridget Jones, Cathy Kelly, Jill Mansell, Debbie Macomber.Beth O’Leary and anyone looking for a absolutely stunning read!


313 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £9.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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A great book on self discovery and what you want in life. Great writing and in depth characters.. A great in depth read.

This is an engaging read which manages to fuse some serious subjects into the story and yet leave you with a feeling of hope and positivity. The characters are all lively, with some hilarious couples and the various families of the brides who Frankie has to contend with are all in their own way piling up the pressure on Frankie for their ultimate wedding day. Frankie undergoes something of a change as the story develops as she comes to appreciate what truly matters in life and just how 'important' the exact colour of ribbon is in the great scheme of things.

Not all the characters are likeable but they tend to get their own comeuppance. I loved the setting of the florists. The whole story has a romantic sheen because of it, offset by Mrs Orange's pithy observations on the brides and their mothers. With friends and family issues throughout, this is a packed story but well worth the read. There are some heartbreaking moments, so be warned, you may need your hankie!

In short: laughter and tears

Frankie has a lot going on, however when a situation forces her to make a decision this may be just what she needs to discover herself.

Howells gives us an emotionally thought-out read, full of friendship, a journey of self-discovery, understanding and love.

I struggled in places with this novel, but this was because of the many different characters, however, once I had gotten my head around them I enjoyed them all, so don’t let that put you off and just keep going.

Author Debbie Howells, put her on your list quickly....
I have been such a huge fan of her books with ever so long. I recommended her to my friend in work a while back and she now adores her books too...
She is an author that gives you what you want every time with her books.
I would probably describe her books as contemporary fiction with a little romance.
We meet adorable florist Frankie in this story.
Frankie's life can only be described as chaotic and heading for out of control.
A casual assumption from someone that might matter to her sends her on a quest to find out what her life is all about and who she is as a person. A journey of self discovery as such.
What author Debbie Howells has given us is a beautiful story of friendship, love and understanding. Sometimes we need to slow down or take a step back to understand what way our life is going and are we happy with that.
We meet an abundance of characters Honey, Lulubelle, Cosmo, Pete, Maria and many more. I adored them all.
An uplifting read, quite emotional in parts and one that left me with a desire to educate myself more on the ability of flowers to bring calmness to my life.
Friendship is a huge theme in this story..
Beautifully done, I adored it...

Debbie Howells - It All Started With You.

Frankie is a bit of a car crash. No real career, a poor excuse of a boyfriend and is maybe just a little to fond of a glass of wine or six!

Things need to change and this is the story of how Frankie pulls her life together.

It’s a story of enduring friendships, grabbing life by the you - know- whats when opportunities arise, finding who you truly are, where you belong and who you belong with.

Along the way, Frankie makes an unexpected friend in Lulubelle. With their friendship, comes heartache as Lulubelle’s son, Cosmo fights a brutal disease.

I did find this book a bit busy in places. There were a lot of characters and a lot of threads all fighting for attention. Please don’t be put off if you find yourself feeling the same. Stick with it, because the story is worth it.

There are so many lovely characters in this book, and a few who were a little less likeable.

Ultimately, #ItAllStartedWithYou comes together as a wonderful read. It’s charming, funny, magical, sweet, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting.
As always, Debbie Howells is an engaging writer, who captivates her readers with her solid writing and effortless style.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to #RachelsRandomResources, #BoldwoodBooks and #Netgalley for a digital arc of this title.

Not really sure why the title is called this. It seemed interesting but the writing wasn't my cup of tea so I couldn't get into the story or characters. DNF at 50%

Wanted to like this more than I sadly did. Felt like the story was bouncing all over the place in the beginning, and the dealing with bridal issues of nit-picking over colors and specific types of flowers made my eyes roll. So minor in the scheme of things to me anyway. Tended to skim a bit afterwards, which didn't help the involvement with the characters. Still though, wanted to see how things ended, so would recommend.

Join Frankie on a journey of self-discovery as she opens her flower shop business and her friendship with a very ill young boy prompts her to aim for a better life.

It all started with you by Debbie Howells was previously published as Wildflowers. It is written in the first person from the point of view of Frankie. Frankie becomes a florist by accident after stepping in at the last minute to do her best friend's wedding flowers when the florist let her down.  The book details Frankie's career, Friendships and love life alongside the heartbreaking illness of her friend's son. The book overall is lighthearted and uplifting,  but there are some very sad moments and some upsetting themes of illness, death, bereavement, loss of a child, relationship breakdown amd estrangement. I enjoyed reading about Frankie's business and her friendship with Lulubelle. I liked the theme of using flowers therapeutically and I enjoyed the character of Mrs O with her 'meddling'. There were elements of the story that I felt were s little rushed or that I didn't relate to as well as others, mainly to do with Frankie's love life. I guessed the main big reveal early on but it didn't really matter. This was a quick read by a new-to me author. It was deeper than I expected it to be and I definitely enjoyed it. Recommended if you like books about friendships and relationships and I think it would make a good holiday read.

This book was a little bit slow to start with but it soon picked up and was very enjoyable. This was full of emotion and I didn't want it to end, more please. Giving this 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgally and publisher for this ARC

If I start with any recommendation before you start to read this, it would be to make sure you have some tissues close and a brew of your choice, because this is an emotional experience,reading the synopsis should give you a heads up, but this is just a reminder because you’ll be scrambling for them when you need to.
This is a story of friendships, about growth and change, about seizing opportunities, self worth, new beginnings, but tome most of all the affects kindness has on the world. There is romance in this story too, I just felt that it’s not the main theme of this story, it takes a bit of a backseat compared to the themes I just mentioned.
This is a beautifully written, powerful and emotive story and I adored Frankie, I might not have loved her so much at the start, but I loved going on her journey , watching her grow, she gives her all and is just so kind and thoughtful of her friends and those she loves. Watching both Frankie and Honey’s characters develop was lovely.
This book is a heartwarming and ultimately uplifting story, funny and touching at the same time, reminding us to value and treasure the important things in life whilst we have them.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Frankie's best friend is getting married, bridezilla rules!
Her florist has gone, does Frankie have the tools?
She's tasked with sorting all the floral arrangements so
It proves hard work but she'll give it a go!

This challenge leads to a new role and so much more besides
New job, new skills, new friends, no place to hide!
A chance meeting with a Mum and her tragically ill son,
Lead to more changes, opportunities and fun.

However not everything goes smoothly for every one
With challenges, encounters and an ex who is better gone!
Finding that even small changes can improve what you do
And that all the changes really do start with you....

Have the tissues handy, this is a very moving read,
With friends proving the best at times of need.
This is a story of making the most of your chances
And not just settling or undervaluing yourself in life or romances.

A story of relationships, of striving to be better still
And taking opportunities to help your own dreams to fulfil.
For my complementary copy, I say a huge thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

This story gave me all the emotions I could imagine. Went from laughing to crying and everything in between. Well told story with really relatable characters

I loved this book! Had me wanting to read on to find out what was going to happen in the end.
Most of the characters were likeable though a few had me shaking my head.
I had moments of laughing and moments of getting a bit teary eyed. Definitely an emotional read full of hope and a bit of romance thrown in.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book!

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy of this book.
Having read and enjoyed The Vow by the same author, I was interested to see how I would like a different genre from this author. I need not have worried as I loved this! It is an emotional read dealing with some serious issues.
I connected with the story right from the start and it was a fast read.
I loved that it was based in a florist!
I look forward to reading more of this author's work ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book for me started out a little slow but did pickup up. We meet Frankie who has a lot of stuff going on in her life and she’s feeling a little lost but Honey her best friend has her help out in the flower shop which changes Frankie’s life.
The author does a great job in making you feel like your standing in the flower shop which I loved. The story
has romance, Drama, friendships, and the drama of life’s ups and down and what thrown at us.
Thank you netgalley for letting me read this

I couldn’t wait to get into another Debbie Howells book. I’ve reviewed and enjoyed every one of the books I have as eARCs.

Frankie, Honey, Mrs Orange and all the other characters were very well fleshed out. The town was atmospheric and I just loved the florist’s shop. I really like flowers and there were so many in the book.

If you’re already married, the flowers and wedding planning will make you reminisce about your big day (it did me, although I planned my own wedding), If you’re going to get married, it will have you dreaming of flower arrangements and all things the big day needs.

Aside from the weddings and Frankie’s life, I found Lulibelle and Cosmo’s backstories heart wrenching.

Thanks to Debbie Howells, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for my earc in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4.5 stars