Connections

This is a story of a small town and the group of people who revolve around in it, paths sometimes crossing.

A book crafted of combining stories of people’s lives into one book. The main characters all have struggles of their own, but occasionally their stories intersect with each other. The bar, the allotment, the huge house where Ned’s family lived…these are the central locations. Stevie, Ned, Fay, Zeke, Nicole, Olivier and Madame Picard are the main characters.

I liked the book but didn’t quite gel with the individual stories. Their intersections felt a bit forced to me. I think this book would have been better as a selection of short stories. Nothing wrong with the book, just missed the mark a bit for me.

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

My favorite kind of novel is one where the author brings together a cast of broken characters to form a family or community. The Making of Us by Debbie Howells definitely fits that description. It does deal with some heart-wrenching issues, so the reader should be prepared with a box of tissues. The story is told through multiple points of view, each character dealing with grief and deciding how to move forward. I loved the way their stories intersected as well as the setting of a small French village. This author was new to me, but I will be seeking out more of her books to read. Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood and the author for a copy to read and review.

Told from multiple POV, The Making of Us is a heartwarming read that takes us through a wonderful journey through love, loss and new beginnings.

I found the characters to be likeable and realistic, with all of their stories intrinsically entwining together.

The Making of Us is a moderately paced read that runs high on emotions and the unpreditabilities life throws our way.

An engaging and enjoyable read

This book had much more depth to it than the cover and title might suggest. Full of emotions of all kinds. I did find the many points of view a bit confusing at first but once I was invested it became easier to keep them straight. The characters were well written and I enjoyed, if not liked, them all

I zipped right through this one.

Thanks to netgalley and Boldwood Books for the arc.

The story follows 4 strangers, Stevie is on a flight back home to France, struggling with grief and a huge fear of flying, not surprising given how her poor parents died. She find herself seated next to Ned who's heading to his parents to celebrate his mothers birthday.
It then jumps to Fay who's in an unhappy marriage who meets Zeke who runs the Community Garden.
I've learnt while reading this that I struggle to follow multiple POV's, I love dual but told in multiple was a bit confusing for me.
I did however enjoy the character development through the book. The metaphors surrounding the gardening really resonated with me.
My favourite quote from the blurb is "Sometimes you need to be lost, before you can be found…"
There's growth right there!
Thank you NetGalley, Debbie Howells and Boldwood Books for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

From the very first page, I was immersed in the lives of two wounded souls whose fates seemed inevitably intertwined. Their journey felt like a long-awaited dream, a story just waiting to unfold.

This was an emotional rollercoaster, keeping me on edge with each unexpected twist. Every time I thought I had the plot figured out, new surprises kept the story exciting and full of suspense. I couldn't help but root for the characters, hoping they'd overcome their struggles and find the happiness they so rightfully deserved.

It was such a poignant reminder that life, much like love, is full of unpredictability. With its unexpected turns and surprises, it proves that the best endings are often the ones we never anticipate. It's a story that lingers long after the final page, and I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates tales of love, destiny, and life's beautiful uncertainties.

Thank you so much to netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion. An absolute gripping page turner. We firstly meet Stevie and Ned, who meet by chance at the airport and fate keeps playing a part in them crossing paths. We meet several characters along the way and I love how various connections, bonds and friendships develop and how each person has their own story to tell and I think a lot of readers will resonate with them. A beautifuly told story with depth and emotion but also joy and fulfillment. An absolute must read.

Stevie and Ned meet on a plane, both struggling with pain—Stevie is trying to escape a sad past, and Ned is going to see his dying mother. Though they feel a spark, their lives are too heavy for romance. But fate keeps bringing them together in a small French village, where they meet Zeke, an old man with secrets of his own, who runs a peaceful garden. As the garden grows, so do their feelings, and they start to wonder if they can open their hearts to love again. This emotional story will have readers reaching for tissues as they follow Stevie and Ned’s journey to find hope and happiness.

This was a beautiful story full of self discovery, community, and kindness. Each of our four main characters went on their own journey that intertwined with one another along the way. The end result was a heartwarming (and sometimes heart-wrenching) story that you’ll think about again and again. I enjoyed getting to know all four leads through their individual POVs and they were written in a way that really made you root for them. Overall, I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a shorter book that will stay with you.

ARC provided by Boldwood Books via NetGalley.

This is actually a 3.75 star read for me.

Stevie and Fay are both women who are trying to discover who they are and what they want to do, or what their purpose is. Stevie is an only child, and lost both her parents a year ago. Her fiance also broke up with her. Fay is married to a man that is career driven and has no time for he. They have raised their two children, and she is drifting along, trying to figure her life out now. Both women have ties to a small village in France, and both decide (separately) to stay in this village while they figure out their lives. Meanwhile, Ned is coming home after breaking up with his fiance. He is a musician, and his parents do not agree with his choice of career. He is at a standstill in the career area, when he is summoned home for his mother's birthday. It is at this birthday that a bombshell is dropped on him- his mother is dying of cancer. He decides to stay and help her and his family.

Stevie and Fay both meet a man named Zeke. He is older and runs the "allotments"- a community garden, Each women meets Zeke on the same day, but at a different time. They are both sad, lonely and seeking what they are supposed to do with their life. Zeke is a wise gentleman, and helps each woman figure things out.

There are parts of this story that I really liked, and some parts I struggled a bit with! So I will break it down that way!

Likes:
1. I loved the development of the characters, especially Stevie and Fay! We see them at a very low time, when each of their confidence is at a low. They are struggling to figure out who they are, what they want to do, and how to leave a "legacy". The author writes an authentic and carefully developed character arc. We see how the women grow, and their discovery of what passion they want in their lives.

2. The theme of community runs strong! It is this ideal that people work together trying to give back, support and nurture the people and land around them that really drew me into the story. I love how she used gardening to demonstrate the ebb and flow of life- the struggles, sorrows and triumphs.

3. The way the author writes about relationships was well done. There is no black and white, but a lot of give and take, forgiving, love, and readjustment in relationships as time moves forward.

4. The way Ned struggles to reconnect with his parents, and especially his mother. He feels guilt and uncertainty about her cancer, and has decisions to make. The author portrayed this part of the story beautifully, and I cried a few times.

Struggles:
1. I struggled with the romance of Ned and Stevie. Both were lovely characters, but I really did not feel a strong connection between the two. They seemed more like best friends than possible lovers. There were times when the relationship seemed a bit juvenile, especially when Ned said the line, "Will you be my girlfriend?" It was a little strange for a 30 ish man to ask of a woman!

2. I liked the community and the way all the characters tied together. However, there were a few times it felt forced and overdone.

3. The constant reminder of every character that they do not believe in God. OK- I get it! I do believe in him, but have no problem reading stories where characters do not. But the reader was reminded of this over and over, I felt ike once we knew this about the characters, the author should have continued to focus on the connections between the main characters and how those relationships grew to be a big part of the community.

Overall, I really liked the story, especially when it focused on the women. I am going to check out some of here other books!

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I enjoyed reading The Making of Us by Debbie Howells. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

When Stevie's parents are killed in a tragic accident she decides to visit a village in France where she remembers having many happy holidays with her family.
She meets Ned on the flight and finds comfort in him as she's terrified of flying
Fay's children are adults now and she is holidaying at her holiday house in the village in France on her own as husband has had to go back home. Fay decides to stay on longer and not rush back home just because her husband wants her too. She meets Zeke who rents out allotments and Fay decides she wants to rent one. Fay feels like she wants to grow things and get back to appreciating the countryside around her.
This is a truly lovely story, the kind that makes you feel warm inside. I loved Zeke ,he was the star , what a lovely man.

Debite Howells has the ability to intertwine the life of four characters in a way that fills magical or due to fate. In a small town in rural France, Ned, Eddie, Fay and Zeke experience life, loss, grief, second chances, the sense of community and everything in between in a journey through life.

This is a rom-com type book, is set in France, and it follows Ned and Stevie as they meet on a plane, when Stevie is forced to fly which, she is terrified to do. During takeover Stevie grapples Ned's hand and things start to unwind from there. Stevie is learning to begin a new life, after the loss of her parents. On the flight she meets Ned, and they start talking on the flight. Ned is going to visit family for a celebration, where he will discover someone close to him is very terminal. Both characters are working hard to make a good future for themselves, and find happiness, when their paths cross again after the flight, they begin to believe its meant to be.

Will Stevie and Ned find what they need and healing in each other or will they go their separate ways? This rom com moves the reader through a variety of emotions, dealing with familial and family relationships. This book allows you into the life of other characters as well and weaves their stories together as we travel through the emotional roller-coaster of love. This novel has a strong sense of community and friendship themes throughout too, and it makes this an even more beautiful read.

Tis the season for a warm hug of a good emotional, love book, why not make this one of the ones on your TBR list this holiday season.

Thank you Boldwood books, Netgalley and the author for an advanced readers copy of this book.

First of all I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Now, wow this was beautiful.

This story takes us to a small village in France, where 4 strangers cross paths. Yes, 4. I was not expecting this book to be a multiple pov kind of story, but let me tell you I actually ended up loving it.
There’s such a beautiful sense of belonging in this beautiful village, that you just want to stay there forever. One of the most beautiful things of this book is that every character has their own moment in the story, they’re so unique.

There’s so much generosity in the people of this story that my heart really melted 😭❤️‍🩹

The author captivates us in this journey of love, grief, friendship and the complexities of relationships. The pacing starts as slow but it’s well-balanced as Debbie prepares us for a few moments of tension and sadness.

The main reason for my decision to rate this book was that it remained me, that life is unpredictable, and that you don’t have to be afraid of it, you just have to embrace it as much as you can. So thank you Debbie, great job 👏🏻

An amazing read telling the story and the challengers of the main characters, Stevie, Ned, Fay and Zeke all drawn together in a small rural village in France.

Their lives are all about to change as fate steps in, in the form of tragedy to love and everything in between!

A great read one that will have you smiling and crying at the same time!

Thank you for the opportunity to review this wonderful book!

I enjoyed the writing and the character arcs. It is beautifully written and exudes warmth but my expectations from this book was high and even though I liked this book, it felt short on some other areas.

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This moving romance is set in France and follows the lives of Stevie and Ned, along with a few other friends they make along the way.

Stevie is starting a new life, after the loss of her parents. On the flight she meets Ned, and they start talking on the flight. Ned is going to visit family for a celebration, where he will learn that someone close to his heart is ill.

Both try to work out how they are going to move forward in their future, and as their paths continue to cross when going their separate ways after the flight, they start to believe it might be fate.

Will Stevie and Ned become more than friends? Will they find what will make them happy in the future?

This romance is moving throughout with emotional drama with friends and family of both characters. I love the fate feel to the romance side of the storyline, as I’ve always believed in this myself.

You get to hear from some of the other characters too, which adds even more emotion and uplifting moments as they try to also work out their futures.

There is a strong community and friendship theme throughout too, and it makes this an even more beautiful read.

Overall, a moving romance where two people’s lives collide, helping them to work out their future.

3⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy of The Making Of Us.

Stevie is petrified of flying but is trying to face her fear and while on the plane she encounters Ned and he proves to be very comforting. They end up crossing paths with each other and both admit they are trying to deal with difficult situations. Stevie recently list her parents in a horrible accident and Ned learns his mother is dying. Can they be what the other needs?

This book had a really good premise but I feel like it really drug out. I enjoyed the characters and the writing style.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Debbie Howells and Boldwood books for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3 ⭐ - do you believe in fate or destiny?
Stevie has a fear of flying but this time she has to fly. During the flight she grips the hand of her neighbor Ned who just lost his mother. This chance encounter leads them to a small french town.

This was a cute read with likeable characters, told from multiple POV's which can get a little confusing at times.