ARC Review: *The Making of Us* by Debbie Howells

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)

*The Making of Us* by Debbie Howells is the kind of book that lingers with you long after you’ve read the last page. It’s a poignant and heartfelt story about love, loss, and the serendipitous moments that bring people together when they need it most.

Stevie and Ned are two strangers whose lives are forever changed when they share a fleeting, but powerful moment aboard a plane. Stevie is escaping her past and heading to France, while Ned is on his way to see his dying mother. Both are dealing with their own heavy baggage, but that brief touch of hands in the air sparks something neither of them can ignore.

Their paths continue to cross in the most unexpected ways, eventually leading them to a beautiful community garden in a small French village, run by the enigmatic Zeke. The garden, with its blooming flowers and deep-rooted secrets, becomes the backdrop to a slow, tender journey of healing and rediscovery for both Stevie and Ned.

*Microtropes:* *Serendipity*, *Strangers to Lovers*, *Grief Healing*, *Small Town Charm*, *Magical Realism*, *French Countryside*, *Slow Burn Romance*, and *Aging Mentor with Wisdom*.

Debbie Howells weaves a narrative rich with emotion and depth. The lush setting of the French village and Zeke’s mysterious garden acts as a metaphor for growth, healing, and the possibility of new beginnings. The writing is immersive and beautifully descriptive, making you feel like you’re right there with Stevie and Ned, watching flowers bloom and hearts heal.

Stevie and Ned’s relationship grows organically, just like the plants in Zeke’s garden. There’s a gentle slow burn to their romance, a sense of fate working its magic, and the beauty of two broken people finding solace in each other. But it’s not just about romance—*The Making of Us* explores themes of grief, self-discovery, and the power of community, all while keeping you deeply invested in the characters' journeys.

If you’re a fan of Lucy Diamond’s warm-hearted stories or Nicholas Sparks’ tales of love and fate, you’ll adore *The Making of Us*. It’s a book that feels like a comforting embrace, reminding us that even after the hardest of losses, life has a way of surprising us with new beginnings.

A heartwarming, beautifully written novel that will make you believe in the magic of second chances and the transformative power of love. Perfect for curling up with on a cozy afternoon. 🌿❤️🌸

Highly recommended for fans of uplifting, emotional reads!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

What a great romcom!! This is a first for me by this author but will not be my last. It was such a cute story! The writing style is great and I loved the characters chemistry.

This was one of those stories that sticks with you long after you've finished reading. Stevie and Ned cross paths on a flight and, while they both feel a connection, don't think they'll meet again. These starcrossed lovers are fated to see each other again, though. Sigh. Definitely worth the read!

Stevie is a nervous flyer, who provides comfort on a flight to France. Despite there being a connection between them, their meeting seems destined to be a one off, with Stevie still grieving for her parents and Ned dealing with a difficult relationship with his parents. But fate has other ideas! This was a gorgeous read! I loved the different character story arcs and how they weaved in and out of each other, in uncontrived ways. There was humour and sadness and poignancy and a satisfying ending, which all contributed to a delicious read!

I just truly love Debbie Howells writing. Her newest novel, The Making of Us was a wonderful book! A five star read!

I received a free copy of, The Making of Us, by Debbie Howells, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Stevie is deathly afraid of flying but she has to fly, on the plane she clutches the passenger next to her hand, and feels a spark, Ned is flying to visit his mom who is not doing well. Stevie and Ned keep running into each other in France. This was a cute story, I enjoyed the sparks between Stevie and Ned. Stevie is braver then she thinks she is.

What a beautifully written book. I really enjoyed reading this, the story had me hooked from the start, and I loved all the coincidences (fate) woven throughout the book. I laughed and cried and felt what the characters were feeling; the author really knows how to describe things so you get a sense you’re almost there in the story. I’d definitely highly recommend this book and would happily buy it for all my reader friends

I absolutely loved this book. I knew it would probably wreck me, but I didn't expect it to affect me on a bunch of different levels. I will definitely be recommending this book to others.

An emotional rollercoaster, this was a sweet story about love, loss, and healing. It was beautifully written and definitely will stay with you long after finishing.

A very pleasant surprise from an author I didn’t know but who I shall be looking out for again.
Such a lovely, heartwarming, engaging light ( but never shallow ) story, set in an idyllic setting. The writing style is smooth and flowing, the characters relatable and believable, their stories plausible and real. Most definitely recommended.

A beautiful read that kept me engaged throughout.
Will recommend to others.
Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

This is centred around a group of British strangers in France who find each other by chance and about paying things forward.
Stevie lost her parents tragically a year ago and has no-one so has come to find her happy place, one she remembered from childhood, really having nowhere else to go. Fay has a holiday home here but finds she would like to stay longer, have a garden of her own and not be dictated to by her husband. Ned has just found out about his mother and is rather lost. Zeke has lived here for almost forty years and has allotments which he rents out but no-one knows much about him. They bump into each other one way and another,, a mix of generations and find that helping others more than helps themselves.

I devoured this, there was a kind of magic between the pages, something I can't quite put my finger on rather like Madame Picard's herbs. Chapters are told from the different main characters point of view which works very well.
A dream of a read, one that restores faith in human nature and how sometimes it’s the little things that can make the biggest impact. Being kind, paying it forward are like the ripples of a pebble on water- you really don’t quite know how far they can reach. Loved it.
For more reviews please follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @nickisbookblog
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This was an interesting read - like nothing I’ve read before. However, it fell a bit flat for me.

According to the synopsis we are following Stevie and Ned and they both end up in France under less than happy circumstances. The two keep running into each other at the community garden and soon a love between them blooms.

The synopsis fails to detail this book is told through multiple POVs with little side plots that become cumbersome after some time. It just didn’t feel right to go from Stevie to Ned to Fay to Zeke and just have everything jumbled. I could be biased because I don’t really like books with more than two POVs.

I didn’t 100% feel the chemistry between Stevie and Ned, but I also wasn’t mad at the love found there. They had both been through so much that it just kind of worked.

Ultimately, the slow moving storyline and multiple POVs are what led to my low rating.

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

This book is a multi POV story told by 4 characters: Stevie, Ned, Fay and Zeke. All have found themselves in rural France and as it is a small village they constantly run into each other. Middle-aged Fay takes a plot in elderly Zeke's allotments while pondering her ailing marriage to boring Hugh who thinks gardening as a hobby is beneath his wife. Ned tries to get musicians gigs while his cancer-stricken mother is dying, and Stevie has run from the memory of her dead parents. Zeke also has trauma from the past. There's a lot of death in past and present!

In my opinion there is no story and it is boring. It's a novel in which gardening plays a big role in healing and yet we don't see much of it. The story relies heavily on telling instead of showing which means to me nothing has much impact. The romance is half-hearted, and there is no real conclusion to Fay's marriage. The chapters are very uneven in length and there is no light-hearted fun, instead there is a case of animal cruelty and a building maliciously set on fire.

The one thing I liked was that the realities of Brexit are addressed. Stevie has an Irish passport and I'm guessing Ned has dual citizenship with France through his mother. Fay has to get a visa to stay longer than three months at a time. Thank you for that. Every other romance book has people still happily move to an EU country as if Freedom of Movement had never ceased.

However, this alone doesn't make me like a book. Apparently you will love this if you love David Nicholls, Jojo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks. They are all masters of schmaltz so you know what you can expect. Unfortunately it's not for me.

2.5 stars rounded up

What a truly gorgeous book! I was taken in from page 1 and couldn’t put it down. I loved all of the characters and heart warming plot. It’s a book that will stay with me for a long time.

A book pulled me in far more than I ever anticipated. From the first page, I was immersed in the world of two broken souls who seemed destined to find each other. The way destiny wove their lives together felt like a story I had imagined in my dreams.

The author skillfully kept me on an emotional rollercoaster throughout. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, unexpected twists and turns deepened the narrative, keeping me on the edge of my seat. The suspense was gripping, and I found myself desperately hoping that the characters would find the happiness they deserved, despite the many obstacles in their path.

The ending was what truly surprised me. It was nothing like what I had envisioned—completely different from what I expected. And yet, it was perfect in its own way. The conclusion was bittersweet, surprising, and deeply moving, leaving me with a sense of closure that felt both satisfying and thought-provoking.

This book reminded me that life, much like love, is unpredictable. It's full of twists, suspense, and moments that challenge our expectations. Sometimes, the best endings are the ones we never saw coming. This story will stay with me for a long time, and I can't recommend it enough to anyone who loves a tale of fate, love, and the beautiful unpredictability of life.

Call it fate, call it destiny, but Ned and Stevie are just meant to be together.

Two broken wandering souls meet on an airplane and just are thrown together in a small town in France. They come together over a community plot, and their relationship grows from their plane ride to something more meaningful, deeper, and sweeter.

Written very well with a cast of good main and side characters and an enchanting location, this book was a good read.

#netgalley #TheMakingOfUs

The Making of Us is an absolutely captivating read that left me spellbound from beginning to end. The author masterfully creates a rich, immersive world and the depth of detail in the world-building is truly remarkable.

The protagonist, is a beautifully complex character whose journey of self-discovery and courage resonates deeply. Her growth throughout the story is both believable and inspiring, making her a heroine you can’t help but root for. The supporting characters are just as well-crafted, each bringing their own unique charm and depth to the narrative.

The plot is filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had figured out what would happen next, the author skillfully surprised me. The themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the fight between good and evil are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding layers of meaning that will leave readers pondering long after they turn the last page.

Overall, this book is a must-read for fantasy lovers. I can’t wait for the next installment!

This book hit a lot of soft spots in my heart while I read it. Tissues definitely need to be ready! It also shined a big light on the need for acceptance and the need to move on from what was lost. Overall, it was a great read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Boldwood Books for allowing me to access this ebook!
"The Making of Us" by Debbie Howells is a poignant and heartwarming story about love, loss, and the unexpected connections that can change our lives. It starts with a chance encounter on a plane, where Stevie, haunted by a painful past, and Ned, weighed down by the impending loss of his mother, find themselves momentarily connected. Though they try to push aside the spark they feel, fate has other plans as their lives continue to intersect.
Their paths lead them to a serene community garden in a small French village, managed by the enigmatic Zeke, a man whose wisdom and secrets add layers to the story. As Stevie and Ned find themselves drawn closer together, they must confront their pasts and decide if they are ready to embrace a future filled with the promise of healing and happiness.
This book was so beautifully written, I never wanted it to end! It was so emotional!