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The Making of Us: Discover an uplifting book club pick from Debbie Howells - Perfect for fans of David Nicholls and Jojo Moyes Kindle Edition
Don’t miss this heart-wrenching, romantic book club pick from bestseller Debbie Howells – perfect for fans of Lucy Diamond, Jojo Moyes and Colleen Hoover.
Sometimes you need to be lost, before you can be found…
Stevie is on the flight back to where she lives in rural France, trying not to think about everything she’s lost, whilst also trying not panic about flying. But as the plane heads up into the clouds, she finds herself clutching the hand of the handsome stranger sitting in the seat next to her.
It is a moment that will change everything. But Ned has a tragedy of his own to overcome. Neither of them is in the right place to think about that unmistakeable flame that just flickered between them.
Their paths keep crossing though, leading them both to the same beautiful community garden in a small French village. And it becomes clear that fate is going to keep bringing them together – the two of them have to ask – if they’re ready for a happy-ever-after, then do they even know how to find it?
The Making Of Us is a heartbreakingly powerful, yet uplifting, novel set in the south of France, about two broken people learning to love. Guaranteed to have readers reaching for the tissues!
Readers love Debbie Howells:
‘Wow… this book. It’s very rare that a book captivates me from the first few pages alone, but this one definitely did. This was so beautifully written and so well thought out. I flew through it. It’s a raw story of friendship, love, grief, and so much more… Incredible.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A massive WOW!… An emotional journey of heartbreak, grief and loss… A powerful, magical and quite simply beautiful read… You will lose your heart to this wonderfully touching and bittersweet tale.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Oh boy! It’s poignant, it’s raw, it’s blooming emotional. Tissues at the ready… We don’t know what may be around the corner… A stunning read, one that took my breath away. Very highly recommended.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A beautifully written tearjerker, and worth every single one of my tears! I’m not prone to getting sentimental, so that’s saying a lot… It was sad and heartbreaking, but there was beauty… [It] reminds us of the power of love and what it can do… A five-star experience!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A book that made me cry so much… about acceptance of loss and death… about soulmates and friendship. I loved it.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBoldwood Books
- Publication dateOctober 13, 2024
- File size2.0 MB
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From the Publisher
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Hello and a very warm welcome!
Thank you so much for stopping by.
It’s wonderful to see my women’s fiction books out in the world. They’re books from my heart, about life, love, friendship, family and loss. I like to explore issues we can all relate to, about what happens as we go through life. I hope they’re books that will make you laugh and cry, but ultimately leave you uplifted and feeling hopeful.
My previously published books have been psychological thrillers, where I set dark stories in beautiful places. However, it feels as though I’ve gone full circle because before that happened, I released three women’s fiction books. It’s a genre I’ve always loved, and it’s a dream come true to be writing more of them.
If you read any of my books, thank you so much. I’ve loved writing every one of them and I hope you enjoy them too.
Love Debbie x
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Time to Take a Chance
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It All Started With You
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The Life You Left Behind
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The Shape of Your Heart
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The Last Days of You and Me
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The Making of Us
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Customer Reviews |
4.1 out of 5 stars 1,638
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4.3 out of 5 stars 2,555
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4.1 out of 5 stars 4,552
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4.4 out of 5 stars 1,279
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4.2 out of 5 stars 1,376
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4.5 out of 5 stars 305
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Price | $3.99$3.99 | $3.99$3.99 | $4.99$4.99 | $4.99$4.99 | $3.99$3.99 | $2.99$2.99 |
eBook | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Audiobook | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Paperback | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Product details
- ASIN : B0CYVW46MF
- Publisher : Boldwood Books (October 13, 2024)
- Publication date : October 13, 2024
- Language : English
- File size : 2.0 MB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 306 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 180415041X
- Best Sellers Rank: #639,450 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,648 in Friendship Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #6,145 in Women's Friendship Fiction
- #11,114 in Contemporary Women's Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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Debbie's first book was the psychological thriller, The Bones of You (2015), a Sunday Times bestseller and picked for the Richard and Judy book club.
Others have followed:
The Beauty of The End
The Death of Her
Her Sister’s Lie
The #1 Ebook bestseller, The Vow
The Secret
The House Sitter
Debbie also writes women's fiction, published by Boldwood Books:
The Life You Left Behind
The Girl I Used To Be
The Shape Of Your Heart
The Last Days Of You And Me
The Making Of Us
This Thing Called Love will be published in May 2025.
Boldwood have also republished her self-published novels:
It All Started With You
The Impossible Search For The Perfect Man
Time To Take A Chance
After working as cabin crew, a flying instructor, and a wedding florist, Debbie now writes full time in the peacefulness of the countryside where she lives with her partner and Bean the rescued cat.
Follow her on Instagram @_debbiehowells, or on Facebook @debbiehowellswriter.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonTop reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2024If there is one word that I could use to describe The Making of Us, it’s life. There is a lot of focus on the importance of life; appreciating the tiny little nuances that we often take for granted. At times struggling to accept the choices and decisions we’ve made that often change the course of our lives. For every character within this story, they are at a crossroads within their own lives, trying to figure it out and navigate what’s in front of them, the best they can.
At the center is Stevie and Ned, two people who meet by chance, even though neither of them believe in anything that is serendipitous. As their story unfolds, we discover that Stevie has been where Ned is going to be, becoming a much-needed support. Ned has a difficult time with showing any emotion or expressing how he really feels, while Stevie is unsure of whether she has the allowance to feel the way she does. It made for an interesting connection.
Another chance encounter brings Zeke into Stevie’s life, or is it the other way around? Zeke provides a simplistic viewpoint that helps to temper Stevie, and when out-of-towner Fay is looking for respite from the uncertainties of her life, Zeke becomes a grounded realist, helping Fay in making some really important decisions that could potentially change the path for her going forward.
Sometimes the primary characters become part of each other’s worlds, all connected in ways that none of them can see or even understand, and it was done so beautifully. The reflective moments that they all have at one time or another really helped to buoy me, especially because I’m feeling a little bit wayward with some situations I have going on–it was nice to gain some perspective on things. I could see a little bit of myself within everyone! The love, the loss, feeling stuck, feeling hopeful. Wanting to try to find ways to live life to the fullest, and reminding myself that it’s not so bad to take it all a day at a time, in order to fully appreciate what I have, even when it can be tough to reflect on that. The Making of Us was an inspirational, touching experience; a definite five-star read!
- Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2025The Making of us is a heartfelt story about unexpected friendships, personal growth, and finding one’s place in the world. The story begins with Stevie and Ned meeting on a plane to a small French town. Stevie, who has a deep fear of flying after losing her parents in a plane crash, is nervous and on edge. Ned, traveling for his mother’s birthday, offers a calming presence as they strike up a conversation. Their shared hometown of London gives them an instant connection, and the flight becomes the start of a unique bond.
Stevie’s story is both touching and relatable. She is learning to navigate life after loss and faces her fears head-on by boarding the plane. Ned, on the other hand, is struggling with his own challenges. As a musician, he is passionate about his career, but his parents disapprove, wishing he had chosen something more traditional. His trip to France is as much about celebrating his mother as it is about seeking acceptance from his family.
In the same French village, Fay, an empty nester from England, is working through her own struggles. Feeling unappreciated by her husband, she decides to focus her energy on a garden plot, taking a hands on approach. Under the guidance of Zeke, a wise older local with a gift for gardening and life advice, Fay rediscovers her confidence and sense of purpose. Her storyline adds a rich, reflective layer to the novel, reminding readers that it’s never too late to embrace change and take control of one’s happiness.
The author skillfully weaves the lives of these characters together, creating a story that is both warm and meaningful. The conversations between the characters—whether between Stevie and Ned, or Fay and Zeke—are heartfelt and often filled with wisdom.
Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy I am leaving this honest review voluntarily
- Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2024If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. This book was phenomenal from the very first page and I found myself reading it late at night when I was wide awake and I could not put it down. It's written so beautifully and is all about friendships, close families, love, grief .. Loved it so much!!
Top reviews from other countries
- joanneReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle and uplifting.
A slow paced story with many different characters that all come together and are intertwined. A relaxing read which, whilst it has sad parts, is also uplifting. Very enjoyable.
- Susan BeaseyReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2025
4.0 out of 5 stars Sensitive handling of a difficult subject
I really enjoyed this book. It is a good attempt to handle a subject which is frightening for us all. The author achieves this with skill and sensitivity; managing to avoid descending into mawkishness and keeping it uplifting. Overall a feel good book.
- AnneReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 26, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant read!
Great read! I’ve ordered all her others!
- AdeReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 30, 2024
4.0 out of 5 stars Emotional
This was an emotional page turner about friendship, family, farming and the fragility of life.
It is a book about different people whose lives are connected in a roundabout sort of way. I loved all of the characters and how the author has made them into something real. There are no airs around any of them. They could be friends or even your neighbours.
The village setting was good and the author captured succinctly the French’s feelings about the English and other visitors.
I loved that this book gives me food for thought and brings back memories of loved ones gone past.
This is a book I highly recommend.