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A Girl's Guide to Moving On
In this powerful and uplifting novel, a mother and her daughter-in-law bravely leave their troubled marriages and face the challenge of starting over. Leaning on each other, Nichole and Leanne discover that their inner strength and capacity for love are greater than they ever imagined.
When Nichole discovers that her husband, Jake, has been unfaithful, the illusion of her perfect life is indelibly shattered. While juggling her young son, a new job, and volunteer work, Nichole meets Rocco, who is the opposite of Jake in nearly every way. Though blunt-spoken and rough around the edges, Rocco proves to be a dedicated father and thoughtful friend. But just as their relationship begins to blossom, Jake wagers everything on winning Nichole back—including their son Owen’s happiness. Somehow, Nichole must find the courage to defy her fears and follow her heart, with far-reaching consequences for them all.
Leanne has quietly ignored her husband’s cheating for decades, but is jolted into action by the echo of Nichole’s all-too-familiar crisis. While volunteering as a teacher of English as a second language, Leanne meets Nikolai, a charming, talented baker from Ukraine. Resolved to avoid the heartache and complications of romantic entanglements, Leanne nonetheless finds it difficult to resist Nikolai’s effusive overtures—until an unexpected tragedy tests the very fabric of her commitments.
An inspiring novel of friendship, reinvention, and hope, A Girl’s Guide to Moving On affirms the ability of every woman to forge a new path, believe in love, and fearlessly find happiness.
When Nichole discovers that her husband, Jake, has been unfaithful, the illusion of her perfect life is indelibly shattered. While juggling her young son, a new job, and volunteer work, Nichole meets Rocco, who is the opposite of Jake in nearly every way. Though blunt-spoken and rough around the edges, Rocco proves to be a dedicated father and thoughtful friend. But just as their relationship begins to blossom, Jake wagers everything on winning Nichole back—including their son Owen’s happiness. Somehow, Nichole must find the courage to defy her fears and follow her heart, with far-reaching consequences for them all.
Leanne has quietly ignored her husband’s cheating for decades, but is jolted into action by the echo of Nichole’s all-too-familiar crisis. While volunteering as a teacher of English as a second language, Leanne meets Nikolai, a charming, talented baker from Ukraine. Resolved to avoid the heartache and complications of romantic entanglements, Leanne nonetheless finds it difficult to resist Nikolai’s effusive overtures—until an unexpected tragedy tests the very fabric of her commitments.
An inspiring novel of friendship, reinvention, and hope, A Girl’s Guide to Moving On affirms the ability of every woman to forge a new path, believe in love, and fearlessly find happiness.
339 pages, Hardcover
First published February 23, 2016
2298 people are currently reading
11496 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Macomber
894 books20.6k followersDebbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,953 reviews
January 3, 2016
I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank them for their generosity. In exchange, I was simply asked to write an honest review, and post it.
I teach middle school English, so I am well-acquainted with bad writing. A Girl’s Guide to Moving On by popular author Debbie Macomber is so atrociously penned, that I had to keep checking to see if I somehow had not slipped up and was reading something written by a 7th grader. Normally I really enjoy this author’s writing and have read nearly every novel and short story she’s produced which is why I was so disappointed in her latest effort.
The plot line is fairly simple; Nichole has had it with her cheating husband’s antics so when her mother-in-law Leanne leaves her philandering husband, the two women move into the same apartment building, much to the chagrin of both exs. Enter the new love interests—a rough-around the edges single dad mechanic named Rocco and Nikolai, a Ukrainian ESL student enrolled in a class taught by Leanne. Both men are grossly stereotyped (as really are all of the characters) that it is almost painful to see them interact with the “heroines.” There’s very little personal growth exhibited by either of the women and they constantly are being manipulated by their former spouses. The dialogue is trite and banal and with the exception of Leanne and possibly Rocco’s teenage daughter, there are no likable characters in the novel. I wanted to love it, I really did, but it just made this girl want to keep moving on.
Written by: Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Ballentine Books
Publication Date: February 23, 2016
Rating: 2.5 Stars
ISBN-978-0-553-39193-3
eBook: 978-1-553-39193-0
Genre: contemporary romance
I teach middle school English, so I am well-acquainted with bad writing. A Girl’s Guide to Moving On by popular author Debbie Macomber is so atrociously penned, that I had to keep checking to see if I somehow had not slipped up and was reading something written by a 7th grader. Normally I really enjoy this author’s writing and have read nearly every novel and short story she’s produced which is why I was so disappointed in her latest effort.
The plot line is fairly simple; Nichole has had it with her cheating husband’s antics so when her mother-in-law Leanne leaves her philandering husband, the two women move into the same apartment building, much to the chagrin of both exs. Enter the new love interests—a rough-around the edges single dad mechanic named Rocco and Nikolai, a Ukrainian ESL student enrolled in a class taught by Leanne. Both men are grossly stereotyped (as really are all of the characters) that it is almost painful to see them interact with the “heroines.” There’s very little personal growth exhibited by either of the women and they constantly are being manipulated by their former spouses. The dialogue is trite and banal and with the exception of Leanne and possibly Rocco’s teenage daughter, there are no likable characters in the novel. I wanted to love it, I really did, but it just made this girl want to keep moving on.
Written by: Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Ballentine Books
Publication Date: February 23, 2016
Rating: 2.5 Stars
ISBN-978-0-553-39193-3
eBook: 978-1-553-39193-0
Genre: contemporary romance
July 11, 2016
Please note that this review spoils the events that took place in "Last One Home." Also note that I gave this book half a star. I rounded it up to 1 star on Goodreads.
This is the second book in Debbie Macomber's New Beginnings series. I previously read book one and just gave it three stars, see Would Have Worked Better if Told from One POV. My main comments about that book also come into play here. Instead of us having the changing narrative of the three sisters, we now have alternating chapters told from Nichole and Leanne (Nichole's ex-mother in law) POV. And honestly I wish that Macomber had just stuck with one character and that was it. Instead I had two characters who I ended up not giving a good crap about.
Taking place two years after the events of "Last One Home" we have Nichole finally finalizing the terms of her divorce. After finding out in "Last One Home" that her husband Jake was having an affair and had gotten his latest mistress pregnant, Nichole has moved on. She and her ex mother in law Leanne have both left their husbands and are starting over. They also apparently made up a guide (that only has four points to it which I thought was freaking laughable) that they decided to follow in order to help them get on with their lives.
Apparently getting on with their lives is both of them meeting Neanderthal type men and constantly saying to themselves how much better these men are then the cheating, lying, husbands they left behind.
Nichole was an empty shell. There was honestly nothing going on there for me that made me engage with her at all. I really wish that Macomber had her interacting more with her sisters (they only make I think five appearances in the book) instead of with Leanne, her new love interest Rocoo, his daughter, and her new sassy black friend (....more on that hot mess later). Nichole has every right to be gun shy about getting involved with someone else and I hated that the way the book was written she was pushed into a relationship with a guy who didn't even want to call it dating, but also acted territorial as hell towards her.
Leanne was inconsistent and I really hated how she seemed to be overly devoted to Nichole and indifferent to her own son. Yeah it's not great he cheated, but she barely talked to him and was not really involved in his life. It's not great your son "learned" based on her marriage that he could do whatever and his wife would forgive him. But I didn't see a lot of love and infection between them at all. Leanne's love interest is a Ukrainian immigrant whose speech patterns drove me crazy (most of their dialogue was Leanne correcting him on the proper use of certain words and metaphors, super sexy). I actually did applaud her at one point for taking a step back from this highly dysfunctional relationship in order to be there for someone in her past, but Nikolai doesn't get it and runs around talking about how jealous he is all of the time.
And I am going to make a special place to discuss the lackluster as hell romantic male leads in this thing.
Rocco is blue collar. Can you guess what that also means if Rocco is a blue collar worker? Did you guess has a lot of tattoos? Did you guess goes to biker bars where his "friends" are all awful sounding and treat women like they are these rare creatures who like to be hit on all of the time? Did you guess talks about his daughter's mother who is now dead in a derogatory manner and also refers to women in less than glowing terms? Did you guess compares himself to a woman (by saying his friends would ask about him having a vagina) because he brought Nichole ice cream when she cried and then freaking flowers? Did you guess after he and Nichole break up ends up reacting violently and Nichole not thanking God for her lucky escape?
I have no idea why it feels like in most Macomber books and also a lot of other romance land books we have a stereotypical blue collar worker. I seriously don't want to do a not all blue collar workers thing here, but seriously, not all blue collar workers act like this, think like this, etc.
And good grief I loathed Nikolai with a passion of a thousand suns. Guess what, it's not cute to have a guy show up at someone's home uninvited multiple times and think to yourself awww. How about call the police? Stalking is not cute. I don't care what the heck "50 Shades of Grey" depicted.
There is a whole other level of ickyness happening because Leanne is Nikolai's teacher for his ESL class and then when he doesn't show up, she goes to find out why and he starts calling her his Leanne and saying how she is in his heart. And expresses jealously because she still talks to her ex-husband (you know the guy she had a child with) and starts trying to make a lot of demands on her about how she will go about interacting with him and what she will and won't do. There are so many red flags there, I don't even know why she was sitting around mooning over this guy.
And then we get to the lackluster secondary characters. We have both of the main characters ex's showing up to throw wrenches in these women's lives. We don't spend much time with Nichole's sister in this one. And on yeah, Leanne gets a new sassy black friend named Shawntelle who has five kids. I mean I guess it's great Macomber didn't double down on her stereotype crap and have her having multiple fathers for her kids. It was super fun though that Shawntelle talked "black" and apparently gave people a piece of her mind without anyone asking for her opinion. We black people do that shit all of the time.
Besides the lackluster main leads the writing was just not good. I feel like the book skipped over a ton of things. After a while everything just got really repetitive too. And of course we had one of the ex's doing his best Lex Luthor impression which apparently was all resolved off screen so to speak when one of the new men had a man to man conversation with him and made him see the light.
Why in the world that wasn't left in I have no idea. Especially since I was heartily sick of reading about what great bread Nikolai made and how apparently until he walked the Earth, no one had made bread that tasted as great as he did.
The flow was pretty awful. Considering the age difference between Nichole and Leanne they both tended to sound the same when "speaking" in this book. I really think only focusing on Nichole would have been better, and would have made better sense since I thought these books were following the three sisters. Not the three sisters and other people.
The setting of Portland was not well used at all. Unlike with her books that take place in or around fictional places in Seattle, you would have no idea this setting was Portland since there are no descriptions of places really. We have Leanne discussing her house, new place, and Leanne doing the same. But we don't get a great idea of layout, shops, restaurants, what makes Portland unique, etc.
The ending takes place almost three years later and I just rolled my eyes multiple times. I would hard pass on this book.
This is the second book in Debbie Macomber's New Beginnings series. I previously read book one and just gave it three stars, see Would Have Worked Better if Told from One POV. My main comments about that book also come into play here. Instead of us having the changing narrative of the three sisters, we now have alternating chapters told from Nichole and Leanne (Nichole's ex-mother in law) POV. And honestly I wish that Macomber had just stuck with one character and that was it. Instead I had two characters who I ended up not giving a good crap about.
Taking place two years after the events of "Last One Home" we have Nichole finally finalizing the terms of her divorce. After finding out in "Last One Home" that her husband Jake was having an affair and had gotten his latest mistress pregnant, Nichole has moved on. She and her ex mother in law Leanne have both left their husbands and are starting over. They also apparently made up a guide (that only has four points to it which I thought was freaking laughable) that they decided to follow in order to help them get on with their lives.
Apparently getting on with their lives is both of them meeting Neanderthal type men and constantly saying to themselves how much better these men are then the cheating, lying, husbands they left behind.
Nichole was an empty shell. There was honestly nothing going on there for me that made me engage with her at all. I really wish that Macomber had her interacting more with her sisters (they only make I think five appearances in the book) instead of with Leanne, her new love interest Rocoo, his daughter, and her new sassy black friend (....more on that hot mess later). Nichole has every right to be gun shy about getting involved with someone else and I hated that the way the book was written she was pushed into a relationship with a guy who didn't even want to call it dating, but also acted territorial as hell towards her.
Leanne was inconsistent and I really hated how she seemed to be overly devoted to Nichole and indifferent to her own son. Yeah it's not great he cheated, but she barely talked to him and was not really involved in his life. It's not great your son "learned" based on her marriage that he could do whatever and his wife would forgive him. But I didn't see a lot of love and infection between them at all. Leanne's love interest is a Ukrainian immigrant whose speech patterns drove me crazy (most of their dialogue was Leanne correcting him on the proper use of certain words and metaphors, super sexy). I actually did applaud her at one point for taking a step back from this highly dysfunctional relationship in order to be there for someone in her past, but Nikolai doesn't get it and runs around talking about how jealous he is all of the time.
And I am going to make a special place to discuss the lackluster as hell romantic male leads in this thing.
Rocco is blue collar. Can you guess what that also means if Rocco is a blue collar worker? Did you guess has a lot of tattoos? Did you guess goes to biker bars where his "friends" are all awful sounding and treat women like they are these rare creatures who like to be hit on all of the time? Did you guess talks about his daughter's mother who is now dead in a derogatory manner and also refers to women in less than glowing terms? Did you guess compares himself to a woman (by saying his friends would ask about him having a vagina) because he brought Nichole ice cream when she cried and then freaking flowers? Did you guess after he and Nichole break up ends up reacting violently and Nichole not thanking God for her lucky escape?
I have no idea why it feels like in most Macomber books and also a lot of other romance land books we have a stereotypical blue collar worker. I seriously don't want to do a not all blue collar workers thing here, but seriously, not all blue collar workers act like this, think like this, etc.
And good grief I loathed Nikolai with a passion of a thousand suns. Guess what, it's not cute to have a guy show up at someone's home uninvited multiple times and think to yourself awww. How about call the police? Stalking is not cute. I don't care what the heck "50 Shades of Grey" depicted.
There is a whole other level of ickyness happening because Leanne is Nikolai's teacher for his ESL class and then when he doesn't show up, she goes to find out why and he starts calling her his Leanne and saying how she is in his heart. And expresses jealously because she still talks to her ex-husband (you know the guy she had a child with) and starts trying to make a lot of demands on her about how she will go about interacting with him and what she will and won't do. There are so many red flags there, I don't even know why she was sitting around mooning over this guy.
And then we get to the lackluster secondary characters. We have both of the main characters ex's showing up to throw wrenches in these women's lives. We don't spend much time with Nichole's sister in this one. And on yeah, Leanne gets a new sassy black friend named Shawntelle who has five kids. I mean I guess it's great Macomber didn't double down on her stereotype crap and have her having multiple fathers for her kids. It was super fun though that Shawntelle talked "black" and apparently gave people a piece of her mind without anyone asking for her opinion. We black people do that shit all of the time.
Besides the lackluster main leads the writing was just not good. I feel like the book skipped over a ton of things. After a while everything just got really repetitive too. And of course we had one of the ex's doing his best Lex Luthor impression which apparently was all resolved off screen so to speak when one of the new men had a man to man conversation with him and made him see the light.
Why in the world that wasn't left in I have no idea. Especially since I was heartily sick of reading about what great bread Nikolai made and how apparently until he walked the Earth, no one had made bread that tasted as great as he did.
The flow was pretty awful. Considering the age difference between Nichole and Leanne they both tended to sound the same when "speaking" in this book. I really think only focusing on Nichole would have been better, and would have made better sense since I thought these books were following the three sisters. Not the three sisters and other people.
The setting of Portland was not well used at all. Unlike with her books that take place in or around fictional places in Seattle, you would have no idea this setting was Portland since there are no descriptions of places really. We have Leanne discussing her house, new place, and Leanne doing the same. But we don't get a great idea of layout, shops, restaurants, what makes Portland unique, etc.
The ending takes place almost three years later and I just rolled my eyes multiple times. I would hard pass on this book.
December 8, 2015
4 Stars * * * * All that you would expect from the talented Debbie Macomber but with an added twist. Loved the idea of a daughter in law showing the way to move on to her mother in law when son walks the same cheating path as his father.
An ode to starting over and leaving your heart open to the possibilities of a new love.
A gifted copy was provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
An ode to starting over and leaving your heart open to the possibilities of a new love.
A gifted copy was provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
February 28, 2023
This is a Romance, and this is the second book in the New Beginnings series. I have read all the books in this series. The main character in this book was introduced in the first book from this series as one of the sisters of the main characters. I am glad we get to see this character becoming strong and overcoming her husband cheating on her. I really think you need to read the first book before picking up this book because you need to get her early story that is in the first book. I also loved getting to know her Mother-in-Law in this book. I loved both the romance stories in this book, and I felt that both of them was really well written. This is a story that would bring a lot of emotions and feelings to you while reading it, and this story really touched my heart.
February 3, 2016
I have to confess that this is the first book I have read by Debbie Macomber. Now that I know what a great writer she is, I'll have to check out some of her others, including the first book in this "New Beginnings" series, Last One Home.
A Girl's Guide to Moving On has everything I love about a book...humor, heart, relatable characters, and romantic guys that give me the tingles. It was the perfect comfort read during this crazy winter weather; something I could cozy up with and feel just the right amount of warmth, like from a favorite blanket. I enjoyed reading both Nichole and Leanne's perspectives and even though they were both in first person, it never felt confusing. Their relationship reminded me of mine with my mother-in-law. (For different reasons though.) I loved the budding romances with the new men in their lives (especially with Rocco) and how they dealt with the complications that arose.
I have been recommending "A Girl's Guide..." to my friends and hope everyone will get their hands on a copy of this book soon! I found myself laughing, smiling, getting teary-eyed, and worrying about the characters when I reached a conflict and had to get back to real life before I could read what happened next. All signs of a great story. The only thing that had me worried was some religious talk, but it turns out it wasn't too heavy and they really only mentioned going church, praying, and G-d a few times. It didn't detract from my enjoyment.
Overall, I loved this story and it definitely earned its five stars. I hope there will be more in this series!
Now for casting choices....
Leanne: Bonnie Bedelia (after seeing her in Parenthood, she's perfect in this role)
Nichole: Keri Russell
Sean: Peter Gallagher
Jake: James Marsden
I think the actors playing Rocco and Nikolai would have to be newcomers, as I can't place anyone from Hollywood in these roles.
A Girl's Guide to Moving On has everything I love about a book...humor, heart, relatable characters, and romantic guys that give me the tingles. It was the perfect comfort read during this crazy winter weather; something I could cozy up with and feel just the right amount of warmth, like from a favorite blanket. I enjoyed reading both Nichole and Leanne's perspectives and even though they were both in first person, it never felt confusing. Their relationship reminded me of mine with my mother-in-law. (For different reasons though.) I loved the budding romances with the new men in their lives (especially with Rocco) and how they dealt with the complications that arose.
I have been recommending "A Girl's Guide..." to my friends and hope everyone will get their hands on a copy of this book soon! I found myself laughing, smiling, getting teary-eyed, and worrying about the characters when I reached a conflict and had to get back to real life before I could read what happened next. All signs of a great story. The only thing that had me worried was some religious talk, but it turns out it wasn't too heavy and they really only mentioned going church, praying, and G-d a few times. It didn't detract from my enjoyment.
Overall, I loved this story and it definitely earned its five stars. I hope there will be more in this series!
Now for casting choices....
Leanne: Bonnie Bedelia (after seeing her in Parenthood, she's perfect in this role)
Nichole: Keri Russell
Sean: Peter Gallagher
Jake: James Marsden
I think the actors playing Rocco and Nikolai would have to be newcomers, as I can't place anyone from Hollywood in these roles.
December 9, 2016
AGGTMO immediately pulled me in and I thought I was going to love the book. Sadly, my budding love affair with this book did not last long. I was annoyed by the black woman who was EVERY negative stereotype the media loves to focus on and showcase. She was a loud, poor, uneducated, crass, baby mama, and of course she was described as having ample hips (a nicer way of saying her booty was big, because ALL black women have big booties right Deb?) The first time Debbie Macomber adds a black character, she made sure to depict her as hyper sexualized and uncouth. As a black woman, I was offended.
Now let's focus on the older gentleman, the poor immigrant who bumbles his way through expressing his love by baking bread and butchering expressions like some sitcom character who is a constant punch line. As if reaching into her arsenal of stereotypes wasn't enough, Miss Macomber made sure the mother and daughter-in-law were written as classy, refined, and eager to teach a dumb immigrant and minority woman.
This book really got on my nerves. There was an opportunity for a great story to unfold but the author missed it entirely.
Now let's focus on the older gentleman, the poor immigrant who bumbles his way through expressing his love by baking bread and butchering expressions like some sitcom character who is a constant punch line. As if reaching into her arsenal of stereotypes wasn't enough, Miss Macomber made sure the mother and daughter-in-law were written as classy, refined, and eager to teach a dumb immigrant and minority woman.
This book really got on my nerves. There was an opportunity for a great story to unfold but the author missed it entirely.
June 27, 2016
Relationship with Nikolai is so strange, was not developed at all - they met and suddenly were in love. He is extremely controlling and speaks like a toddler. Did not care for how the author portrayed the woman from Dress for Success - cringeworthy, stereotypical. I'm all for a light and easy beach read but this was on another level. Felt as though it was written by a middle school student.
March 17, 2016
I definitely enjoyed this story. It did have a few bumps in the road but overall okay.
In A Girl’s Guide to Moving On, Nichole finds an unlikely ally in her mother-in-law when she discovers her husband has been cheating on her. Both Leanne and Nichole are devastated to have to make a choice to move on from their marriages after both experiencing the heartbreak of unfaithful husbands. As these two women begin to build a new life for themselves, they rely on each other for comfort and advice, thus coming up with a few guidelines to moving on.
Their first rule to ease the pain is to distract themselves by giving to others. When Nichole volunteers at a clothing store that helps women dress for success as they are striving for a better life, she meets Rocco and they soon become fast friends. Leanne decides to volunteer as an English teacher for adults learning it as a second language. That is where she meets Nikolai, and they immediately begin to develop a tender relationship.
Overall, I really enjoyed Nichole’s story. She was easy to relate to and her struggles and strength were applause-worthy in my book. I liked the relationship she built with Rocco because they both seemed like two sensible people that developed a believable love and romance for each other, all the while putting their own kids first.
I struggled a bit with Leanne’s story only because she put up with her husband’s cheating ways for decades and then suddenly decided to abandon the relationship. If she had chosen to stay with him for so long knowing his unfaithful ways, I would have liked to see her be more than a doormat by either trying to fix her marriage or at minimum confronting her husband. I wasn’t too keen on her relationship with Nikolai at all. He seemed so jealous and unreasonable and I could never stand to be with such a hot head of a man. I feel she went from one bad relationship to another.
If I followed the book closely enough, I only discovered two rules to this Guide to Moving On (1) ease the pain with distraction and (2) make new friends. There could have been more substance to this guide, such as (3) learn to love yourself before falling in love with someone else, (4) strive for a better relationship than your first, and (5) set yourself up for independence.
Overall, Debbie Macomber is an accomplished storyteller. I’ve enjoyed enough of her novels to know that she has a knack for capturing the hearts of her readers. Although A Girl’s Guide to Movie On is not at the top of my list of Macomber’s best, it’s definitely not my last. I look forward to finding another gem by this author.
In A Girl’s Guide to Moving On, Nichole finds an unlikely ally in her mother-in-law when she discovers her husband has been cheating on her. Both Leanne and Nichole are devastated to have to make a choice to move on from their marriages after both experiencing the heartbreak of unfaithful husbands. As these two women begin to build a new life for themselves, they rely on each other for comfort and advice, thus coming up with a few guidelines to moving on.
Their first rule to ease the pain is to distract themselves by giving to others. When Nichole volunteers at a clothing store that helps women dress for success as they are striving for a better life, she meets Rocco and they soon become fast friends. Leanne decides to volunteer as an English teacher for adults learning it as a second language. That is where she meets Nikolai, and they immediately begin to develop a tender relationship.
Overall, I really enjoyed Nichole’s story. She was easy to relate to and her struggles and strength were applause-worthy in my book. I liked the relationship she built with Rocco because they both seemed like two sensible people that developed a believable love and romance for each other, all the while putting their own kids first.
I struggled a bit with Leanne’s story only because she put up with her husband’s cheating ways for decades and then suddenly decided to abandon the relationship. If she had chosen to stay with him for so long knowing his unfaithful ways, I would have liked to see her be more than a doormat by either trying to fix her marriage or at minimum confronting her husband. I wasn’t too keen on her relationship with Nikolai at all. He seemed so jealous and unreasonable and I could never stand to be with such a hot head of a man. I feel she went from one bad relationship to another.
If I followed the book closely enough, I only discovered two rules to this Guide to Moving On (1) ease the pain with distraction and (2) make new friends. There could have been more substance to this guide, such as (3) learn to love yourself before falling in love with someone else, (4) strive for a better relationship than your first, and (5) set yourself up for independence.
Overall, Debbie Macomber is an accomplished storyteller. I’ve enjoyed enough of her novels to know that she has a knack for capturing the hearts of her readers. Although A Girl’s Guide to Movie On is not at the top of my list of Macomber’s best, it’s definitely not my last. I look forward to finding another gem by this author.
December 4, 2016
I struggled with how to rate this book. In some ways, it was very entertaining and I found myself laughing out loud in spite of the serious topic and tone of the book. However, the character development was weak, the characters were overly stereotyped, and the last thirty pages basically unravelled an otherwise good story.
Disappointing.
Disappointing.
July 18, 2016
I finished this book so that I could write a stern warning to anyone who sees higher ratings of this book elsewhere: this book is terrible. It's filled with two dimensional characters, ridiculously wooden dialog, tropes that not only include the noble savage/poor man but also the racist portrayal of the black sassy friend. If the thought of someone perpetuating dangerously misogynistic ideas, such as jealousy as a sign of love or that men and women are different species, makes you want to vomit I suggest using this to induce emesis. Please give this review and my wasted hours meaning by steering clear of this book. It is my one hope that my lapse in judgment will spare you.
On the other hand, if you're thinking of writing a book there is a good chance that whatever you write will be better than this. Obviously aim higher, but this was actually published and people have read it. So persevere, keep writing and for the love of all that is holy, please read almost anything else.
On the other hand, if you're thinking of writing a book there is a good chance that whatever you write will be better than this. Obviously aim higher, but this was actually published and people have read it. So persevere, keep writing and for the love of all that is holy, please read almost anything else.
December 19, 2019
This was a nice audiobook that started out strong. I loved the relationship between Nicole and her mother-in-law Leanne. I loved their goals for moving on from painful divorces and finding ways to feel worthy again. I would have liked this book to have had more of a feeling of female strength and empowerment and less about finding new men. The way things worked out so well was just too unrealistic. The title should have been A Girl’s Guide to Moving On In a Perfect World.
February 14, 2016
There's one thing for certain when it comes to a novel by Debbie Macomber. She knows how to write beautiful stories. Deep, thoughtful, emotional books with plenty of feelings being stirred up inside.
The author dives into the women’s head and feelings about all of the different changes they’re going through. Feeling of not being good enough, the fear of having to provide for themselves again. Fear of letting go of the past and even learning to date, with perhaps the ability to love someone again. Trusting a man again. That is a lot to go through and this story carries you right along with the women as they struggle to find peace and balance in their new lives.
Tried and true, this novel offers the same type of storyline as in her other books, but it’s a method that always works in a Debbie Macomber book. I found myself fully involved with the characters, shedding a few tears long the way as the women try to figure out how to manage their new life. With a delicate balance, these women did figure it out and with a beautiful happy ever after too.
Any book by Debbie Macomber is a pleasure to read. Warm, touching, emotional, she has a beautiful way with words that just makes you feel that no matter what, everything is still all right with the world. Clean, heartwarming, with a feel good finish that leaves a smile on your face, this author uses the power of words to change your outlook on life.
The author dives into the women’s head and feelings about all of the different changes they’re going through. Feeling of not being good enough, the fear of having to provide for themselves again. Fear of letting go of the past and even learning to date, with perhaps the ability to love someone again. Trusting a man again. That is a lot to go through and this story carries you right along with the women as they struggle to find peace and balance in their new lives.
Tried and true, this novel offers the same type of storyline as in her other books, but it’s a method that always works in a Debbie Macomber book. I found myself fully involved with the characters, shedding a few tears long the way as the women try to figure out how to manage their new life. With a delicate balance, these women did figure it out and with a beautiful happy ever after too.
Any book by Debbie Macomber is a pleasure to read. Warm, touching, emotional, she has a beautiful way with words that just makes you feel that no matter what, everything is still all right with the world. Clean, heartwarming, with a feel good finish that leaves a smile on your face, this author uses the power of words to change your outlook on life.
May 26, 2018
Debbie Macomber is a magnificent story teller.
I love every single page of A Girl's Guide to Moving On. I do love reading books about marriage and relationships. What I particularly liked about this story is the idea of a mother in law and daughter in law both going through a divorce at the same time. To help them both move on in life, they made a list. They called it A Girl's Guide to Moving On. The first on their list. Don't allow yourself to wallow in your pain. Reach out. Volunteer. Do something you love or something to help others. The second on the list. Cultivate new friendships. The third on their list. Let go in order to receive. The last on the list. Love yourself. This is my favourite novel by Debbie Macomber. A real must buy must read. I do highly recommend readers to buy and read this novel.
I love every single page of A Girl's Guide to Moving On. I do love reading books about marriage and relationships. What I particularly liked about this story is the idea of a mother in law and daughter in law both going through a divorce at the same time. To help them both move on in life, they made a list. They called it A Girl's Guide to Moving On. The first on their list. Don't allow yourself to wallow in your pain. Reach out. Volunteer. Do something you love or something to help others. The second on the list. Cultivate new friendships. The third on their list. Let go in order to receive. The last on the list. Love yourself. This is my favourite novel by Debbie Macomber. A real must buy must read. I do highly recommend readers to buy and read this novel.
February 28, 2021
Love love love this book. This book series is about new beginning and having faith to move on. A friend had recommended this series after I confinded in them about my personal life.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who is about to start a new beginning
I highly recommend this series to anyone who is about to start a new beginning
March 4, 2016
I have read several of Debbie Macomber's books before, this one seemed a little bit different to her usual style so I thought I would delve in and see what happens, most of her books have been linked to series before.
We have a Daughter in law and the Mother in law.
The daughter in law, Nichole finds out that her husband is cheating. She's not going to put up with this, although she has a young son, a job, and is a volunteer so leads a busy life, she decides that is nothing for it but to move on.
The we have her Mother in law Leanne who has been stuck in her marriage putting up with her unfaithful husband for years.
_ This made me think _
Two generations both dealing with the same problems but the difference in the generations show, don't they? The younger woman won't put up with it, so left, the older woman put up with it.
Now that Nichole has given Leanne the strength to realize that life can go on. That's exactly what they both do.
They make a girl guide list to survive.
As time goes on and things happen in both their lives and each meet a man, this can be a serious issue as both of them do not want to open their hearts again.
This is a very good story of two women moving on from a terrible relationship but showing, there is life after a horrible marriage. Why stay?
I thoroughly enjoyed this read, its nothing like this author has written before and made a great change, I hope she writes many more in this style.
* My thanks to Ballantine Books via Net Galley for an early copy to read and review *
January 23, 2019
I haven't read a Debbie Macomber in forever. Probably at least a decade. I'd forgotten how charming her characters can be. There isn't a whole lot of sexual tension...it's there, but the romance is really just romance. Sweet, tender, passionate, but rarely intense. A nice break from the salacious side of romance.
December 1, 2017
Oh how delightful this book is!! This is my first full length book by Debbie Macomber but it won't be my last. She's a fantastic author!
January 14, 2016
Four stars: An uplifting book about friendship, fresh beginnings and new loves.
Nichole and her mother in law, Leanne, are through with their cheating husbands. They have moved out, gotten divorced, and the two are in the process of starting over. Together, Leanne and Nichole make a pact to be positive, try new things and let go of their pasts. What neither expect is to find new loves in unexpected places. Can Leanne and Nichole really make a fresh new start and find happiness, or will their pasts come back to haunt them?
What I Liked:
*For those who want a nice, light chic lit read, A Girl's Guide to Moving On is a good read. I loved the strong focus on new beginnings, family, friendship and forgiveness. The romances are rather nice as well. If you need an uplifting read for winter, this is a good one to try.
*I loved the relationship between Nichole and Leanne. Leanne is Nichole's mother in law, and the two are best friends, just like mother and daughter. I loved the way they leaned on and supported one another. I especially liked the way that Leanne sided with Nichole, even over her own son when he was behaving badly. It isn't often you see a positive in law relationship, and I appreciated that this one was so loving and uplifting.
*Both women have been cheated on, but they aren't negative or bitter. I liked that both women were ready to put their cheating husbands and their pasts behind them and move forward into the future with hope. I loved that this never got ugly are revengeful, and that the women were able to forgive.
*There are two new romances in this book, and I liked watching each one unfold. Each relationship takes its time to establish a friendship before moving into something more, and there is a lot of buildup before the friendships turn romantic. I was happy that the romances were slow building and realistic.
*I was surprised at the turn of events regarding Leanne's ex husband, and I admired the way she handled everything. She was nothing but classy and kind. I loved Leanne.
*The book ends nice and neat with an Epilogue three years down the road. I loved catching up with the characters and seeing how everything worked out. No nagging questions or cliffhanger endings.
And The Not So Much:
*I had no idea going into this book that it is the second book in The New Beginning Series. It is a companion novel so it isn't an issue. The only thing that clued me in that I had missed something was when the author was recapping events that had happened with Nichole's sisters. I was a bit confused until I looked it up and realized that this was companion book. No worries, you can read this as a stand alone, but you may wonder when you get to the recap sections. In all honesty, the recap sections could have been done away with because they felt out of place since they weren't pertinent to the story.
*Even though I liked that both romances were slow burning and they took their time developing, I wasn't a fan of the all too familiar stumbles that occurred near the ending. Especially the issues that developed with Nichole's relationship. She handles it very poorly, and it all could have been avoided if she had taken the time to communicate what was going on. Props to Rocco, when he learns the truth, he handles the situation graciously and with class.
*This is a minor issue, but I felt like there was a bit too much repetition. The book is told with Leann and Nichole's alternating view points, and I found that the author would mention minor things that already been discussed in a previous chapter. Not a big deal, but I felt like I was rereading some things.
A Girl's Guide to Moving On is a nice, feel good read that has a strong focus on family, friendship, new beginnings and romance. I liked that this book had a positive vibe throughout, and I enjoyed both the main characters. If you need a light, pick me up read, this is a good one to grab. It is perfect for winter, or for when you need a reading vacation.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Nichole and her mother in law, Leanne, are through with their cheating husbands. They have moved out, gotten divorced, and the two are in the process of starting over. Together, Leanne and Nichole make a pact to be positive, try new things and let go of their pasts. What neither expect is to find new loves in unexpected places. Can Leanne and Nichole really make a fresh new start and find happiness, or will their pasts come back to haunt them?
What I Liked:
*For those who want a nice, light chic lit read, A Girl's Guide to Moving On is a good read. I loved the strong focus on new beginnings, family, friendship and forgiveness. The romances are rather nice as well. If you need an uplifting read for winter, this is a good one to try.
*I loved the relationship between Nichole and Leanne. Leanne is Nichole's mother in law, and the two are best friends, just like mother and daughter. I loved the way they leaned on and supported one another. I especially liked the way that Leanne sided with Nichole, even over her own son when he was behaving badly. It isn't often you see a positive in law relationship, and I appreciated that this one was so loving and uplifting.
*Both women have been cheated on, but they aren't negative or bitter. I liked that both women were ready to put their cheating husbands and their pasts behind them and move forward into the future with hope. I loved that this never got ugly are revengeful, and that the women were able to forgive.
*There are two new romances in this book, and I liked watching each one unfold. Each relationship takes its time to establish a friendship before moving into something more, and there is a lot of buildup before the friendships turn romantic. I was happy that the romances were slow building and realistic.
*I was surprised at the turn of events regarding Leanne's ex husband, and I admired the way she handled everything. She was nothing but classy and kind. I loved Leanne.
*The book ends nice and neat with an Epilogue three years down the road. I loved catching up with the characters and seeing how everything worked out. No nagging questions or cliffhanger endings.
And The Not So Much:
*I had no idea going into this book that it is the second book in The New Beginning Series. It is a companion novel so it isn't an issue. The only thing that clued me in that I had missed something was when the author was recapping events that had happened with Nichole's sisters. I was a bit confused until I looked it up and realized that this was companion book. No worries, you can read this as a stand alone, but you may wonder when you get to the recap sections. In all honesty, the recap sections could have been done away with because they felt out of place since they weren't pertinent to the story.
*Even though I liked that both romances were slow burning and they took their time developing, I wasn't a fan of the all too familiar stumbles that occurred near the ending. Especially the issues that developed with Nichole's relationship. She handles it very poorly, and it all could have been avoided if she had taken the time to communicate what was going on. Props to Rocco, when he learns the truth, he handles the situation graciously and with class.
*This is a minor issue, but I felt like there was a bit too much repetition. The book is told with Leann and Nichole's alternating view points, and I found that the author would mention minor things that already been discussed in a previous chapter. Not a big deal, but I felt like I was rereading some things.
A Girl's Guide to Moving On is a nice, feel good read that has a strong focus on family, friendship, new beginnings and romance. I liked that this book had a positive vibe throughout, and I enjoyed both the main characters. If you need a light, pick me up read, this is a good one to grab. It is perfect for winter, or for when you need a reading vacation.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
April 14, 2016
Big thanks to NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Chick lit really isn’t my thing. This preface should be seen as a lens through which to read the following comments. Fans of Ms Macomber, please don’t hate me.
—
I was browsing NetGalley one day, feeling rather blue from my previous read, the bulk of which I read with misty eyes and thumping heart. I needed the literary equivalent of a bottle of wine and a foot rub.
The pitch promised a ‘powerful and uplifting novel’ from a bestselling author I’d never heard of. The story of Leanne and daughter-in-law Nichole would apparently make me feel empowered and prove the power of love, friendship, and New York Times best-seller lists.
Once upon a time, Nichole was married to Leanne’s son, Jake, who is a lying cheat just like his father. At some point prior to the first page of A Girl’s Guide to Moving On, Leanne and Nichole both divorced their horrible husbands, moved into snazzy little flats across the hall from each other, and devised rules and plans to help them regain their life and their happiness.
They both meet new men. Complications ensue. The exes are horrid. Time goes on and the exes are less horrid. The new men think their women don’t love them. It rains. They all kiss and make up. The end.
Debbie Macomber seemed to be writing by numbers. There was a lack of characterisation and any personal development seemed beyond plausibility. For example, Jake receives a talking to by Nichole’s new burly truck driver boyfriend and not only does Jake accept Rocco’s views, but also immediately changes his mind, his ways, and his personal hero.
Initially I was convinced the author needed to take herself to a workshop on showing not telling but, to her credit, the writing seemed to improve as the story advanced and I did feel slightly empathic for the plight mirrored in the lives of both Nicole and Leanne.
A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is beige and mildly pleasant; it is so overtly predictable that I regressed to the days when I nicked my mums Mills & Boon just to read the sexy bits. But even the raunchy scenes were MIA here, leaving me high and dry and unrewarded for ploughing through all that sporadic pashing.
Perhaps I’m being unfair – I’d just finished A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara and with my heart in tatters, I sought solace in something lighter. Be careful what you wish for – this was so light, its flimsy words practically blew off the page in wake of my exasperated sigh.
‘It isn’t only that you’re good for my dad,’ Kaylene said, growing thoughtful. ‘You’re good for me, too. You’re teaching me how to be a woman.’
I mean, really?
Sorry Debs, I didn’t buy it. I’ve heard some of your other work is fabulous in the chick lit world but this was far from my cup of tea.
Follow me on the blog! -----> https://ponderdeeper.wordpress.com/20...
Chick lit really isn’t my thing. This preface should be seen as a lens through which to read the following comments. Fans of Ms Macomber, please don’t hate me.
—
I was browsing NetGalley one day, feeling rather blue from my previous read, the bulk of which I read with misty eyes and thumping heart. I needed the literary equivalent of a bottle of wine and a foot rub.
The pitch promised a ‘powerful and uplifting novel’ from a bestselling author I’d never heard of. The story of Leanne and daughter-in-law Nichole would apparently make me feel empowered and prove the power of love, friendship, and New York Times best-seller lists.
Once upon a time, Nichole was married to Leanne’s son, Jake, who is a lying cheat just like his father. At some point prior to the first page of A Girl’s Guide to Moving On, Leanne and Nichole both divorced their horrible husbands, moved into snazzy little flats across the hall from each other, and devised rules and plans to help them regain their life and their happiness.
They both meet new men. Complications ensue. The exes are horrid. Time goes on and the exes are less horrid. The new men think their women don’t love them. It rains. They all kiss and make up. The end.
Debbie Macomber seemed to be writing by numbers. There was a lack of characterisation and any personal development seemed beyond plausibility. For example, Jake receives a talking to by Nichole’s new burly truck driver boyfriend and not only does Jake accept Rocco’s views, but also immediately changes his mind, his ways, and his personal hero.
Initially I was convinced the author needed to take herself to a workshop on showing not telling but, to her credit, the writing seemed to improve as the story advanced and I did feel slightly empathic for the plight mirrored in the lives of both Nicole and Leanne.
A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is beige and mildly pleasant; it is so overtly predictable that I regressed to the days when I nicked my mums Mills & Boon just to read the sexy bits. But even the raunchy scenes were MIA here, leaving me high and dry and unrewarded for ploughing through all that sporadic pashing.
Perhaps I’m being unfair – I’d just finished A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara and with my heart in tatters, I sought solace in something lighter. Be careful what you wish for – this was so light, its flimsy words practically blew off the page in wake of my exasperated sigh.
‘It isn’t only that you’re good for my dad,’ Kaylene said, growing thoughtful. ‘You’re good for me, too. You’re teaching me how to be a woman.’
I mean, really?
Sorry Debs, I didn’t buy it. I’ve heard some of your other work is fabulous in the chick lit world but this was far from my cup of tea.
Follow me on the blog! -----> https://ponderdeeper.wordpress.com/20...
February 9, 2016
3 Stars
*ARC graciously provided in exchange for an honest review*
I've been a fan of Debbie Macomber for years and I haven't read one of her books in just that long. This was a story about a younger and older woman, Nichole and Leanne, moving on with their lives after a painful divorce. I found this book to have some good info for those who are going through through divorce. But I couldn't shake the feeling that this was a nonfiction book wrapped in a cloak of fiction. It was very wordy, it fell flat and I felt like I was at a divorce women's group seminar where I didn't quite fit in.
With that said, I do think this will be a helpful read for a woman who's experiencing the painful side effects of a divorce. Even though this was not my favorite, if you're a big fan of Macomber you may enjoy this one.
*ARC graciously provided in exchange for an honest review*
I've been a fan of Debbie Macomber for years and I haven't read one of her books in just that long. This was a story about a younger and older woman, Nichole and Leanne, moving on with their lives after a painful divorce. I found this book to have some good info for those who are going through through divorce. But I couldn't shake the feeling that this was a nonfiction book wrapped in a cloak of fiction. It was very wordy, it fell flat and I felt like I was at a divorce women's group seminar where I didn't quite fit in.
With that said, I do think this will be a helpful read for a woman who's experiencing the painful side effects of a divorce. Even though this was not my favorite, if you're a big fan of Macomber you may enjoy this one.
August 12, 2023
Love, growth and new beginnings.
March 9, 2016
This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
A Girl's Guide to Moving On is a sweet, tender and sometimes sad story about hope. And about love. And how to move on after a divorce.
Picking ones life back up and fit the pieces together after a divorce can be harder than it seems, and for both Nichole and Leanne, the new beginning was emotionally difficult. A Girl's Guide to Moving On started with the two of them needing something to help them get back into the world once more, and so they made a list of things they should do. Let go, help others to help themselves, love themselves so they could love others as well. The relationship between Nichole and Leanne was the most honest and balanced relationship in the story, and I loved that Leann was Nichole's mother in law. They got divorced at the same time, Nichole gave Leann the courage she needed to leave her husband of 35 years, with most of those years spent knowing he was cheating on her.
In many ways, A Girl's Guide to Moving on is an empowering story, even if both women have some set-backs both when it comes to their ex-husbands and new people they meet. I found the flow to be quite stilted in the beginning, and I think the reason is that Nichole and Leann each have chapters where they share their thoughts, their experiences and what happened in their lives lately. It was kind of like a delayed stream of consciousness, and it took me a while to get into the story. It was good to see that they were holding each other up, doing their best to move forward, even if there were many things in their lives that also tied them to their past, and their cheating husbands.
While A Girl's Guide to Moving On is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. Written in dual points of views, first person perspective, both Leanne and Nichole share their inner thoughts and feelings. The story unfolds at a fairly slow pace, and is in past tense.
Wile married, my life had revolved around Sean; I kept our home, entertained on his behalf, and managed our social calendar. Basically, I'd seen to him and the needs of his career to the point that I'd lost my own identity. I found pleasure in discovering the things I enjoyed.
I didn't know when the tears started. They came unbidden, unwelcome. I thought I'd shed all the tears I had in me over the failure of this marriage. But I was wrong.
A Girl's Guide to Moving On is a sweet, tender and sometimes sad story about hope. And about love. And how to move on after a divorce.
Picking ones life back up and fit the pieces together after a divorce can be harder than it seems, and for both Nichole and Leanne, the new beginning was emotionally difficult. A Girl's Guide to Moving On started with the two of them needing something to help them get back into the world once more, and so they made a list of things they should do. Let go, help others to help themselves, love themselves so they could love others as well. The relationship between Nichole and Leanne was the most honest and balanced relationship in the story, and I loved that Leann was Nichole's mother in law. They got divorced at the same time, Nichole gave Leann the courage she needed to leave her husband of 35 years, with most of those years spent knowing he was cheating on her.In many ways, A Girl's Guide to Moving on is an empowering story, even if both women have some set-backs both when it comes to their ex-husbands and new people they meet. I found the flow to be quite stilted in the beginning, and I think the reason is that Nichole and Leann each have chapters where they share their thoughts, their experiences and what happened in their lives lately. It was kind of like a delayed stream of consciousness, and it took me a while to get into the story. It was good to see that they were holding each other up, doing their best to move forward, even if there were many things in their lives that also tied them to their past, and their cheating husbands.
While A Girl's Guide to Moving On is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. Written in dual points of views, first person perspective, both Leanne and Nichole share their inner thoughts and feelings. The story unfolds at a fairly slow pace, and is in past tense.
Wile married, my life had revolved around Sean; I kept our home, entertained on his behalf, and managed our social calendar. Basically, I'd seen to him and the needs of his career to the point that I'd lost my own identity. I found pleasure in discovering the things I enjoyed.
I didn't know when the tears started. They came unbidden, unwelcome. I thought I'd shed all the tears I had in me over the failure of this marriage. But I was wrong.
February 18, 2016
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews, please visit Carlene Inspired.
Nichole and her mother-in-law, Leanne, are new divorcees. After confirming her husband was indeed cheating on her Nichole filed the papers and soon after Leanne followed, having lived with her cheating spouse for years. Away from the pretentious country club and with a simple list in hand, the two must learn be on their own again, all while balancing the precarious situations with their exes and the children they share.
Debbie Macomber has an easy writing style that helps you immediately connect with the characters, in this case Nichole and Leanne are more relatable than you would imagine. I enjoyed the two main characters and the relationships they find when single again, both with friends and partners. The ex-husbands were more than just background characters to bash, they brought depth to the story and a different perspective to the relationships. While I didn't like them, they did indeed make me understand Nichole and Leanne as they were before and who they became after. Both girls also have new men in their lives, though the men know they are important far before the women realize it. I really liked Nikolai and his Ukranian ways, his old fashioned outlook on love, and his attempts at wooing. There's also Rocco, the opposite of the men at the country club the women left behind. He has a past, tattoos, and belongs to a motorcycle club. However, his general enjoyment of life and willingness to bend how his life works was nice to see. On top of new relationships, I really enjoyed both women taking on new tasks, like work and hobbies. It would have been easy for Macomber to hide this hard part of divorce, but she made it shine and I appreciated that.
While the book does not revolve around the list, once you read them you can easily connect them to what the women are doing in their lives. As they grow, move on, and forgive they find themselves, happiness, and strength. I really liked A Girl's Guide to Moving On and though I haven't read the first book in the New Beginnings series I do plan to go back to it. This is a standalone and if are looking for a heartwarming story of independence, personal growth, and love this is for you.
For more of my reviews, please visit Carlene Inspired.
Nichole and her mother-in-law, Leanne, are new divorcees. After confirming her husband was indeed cheating on her Nichole filed the papers and soon after Leanne followed, having lived with her cheating spouse for years. Away from the pretentious country club and with a simple list in hand, the two must learn be on their own again, all while balancing the precarious situations with their exes and the children they share.
Debbie Macomber has an easy writing style that helps you immediately connect with the characters, in this case Nichole and Leanne are more relatable than you would imagine. I enjoyed the two main characters and the relationships they find when single again, both with friends and partners. The ex-husbands were more than just background characters to bash, they brought depth to the story and a different perspective to the relationships. While I didn't like them, they did indeed make me understand Nichole and Leanne as they were before and who they became after. Both girls also have new men in their lives, though the men know they are important far before the women realize it. I really liked Nikolai and his Ukranian ways, his old fashioned outlook on love, and his attempts at wooing. There's also Rocco, the opposite of the men at the country club the women left behind. He has a past, tattoos, and belongs to a motorcycle club. However, his general enjoyment of life and willingness to bend how his life works was nice to see. On top of new relationships, I really enjoyed both women taking on new tasks, like work and hobbies. It would have been easy for Macomber to hide this hard part of divorce, but she made it shine and I appreciated that.
While the book does not revolve around the list, once you read them you can easily connect them to what the women are doing in their lives. As they grow, move on, and forgive they find themselves, happiness, and strength. I really liked A Girl's Guide to Moving On and though I haven't read the first book in the New Beginnings series I do plan to go back to it. This is a standalone and if are looking for a heartwarming story of independence, personal growth, and love this is for you.
April 20, 2019
The second half of this book did it for me. So many emotions. The first half I don't really remember, it was pretty forgettable but in true Ms. Macomber fashion, the characters really had to work through their "stuff," before reaching their happily ever after. You really see see them having to put in the work. I didnt realize until halfway through too that this is the second book in a trilogy...(maybe) so not sure if I missed out on anything not having read the first book.
If you're looking for a sweet romance with a strong friendship that also moves quickly, I recommend.
If you're looking for a sweet romance with a strong friendship that also moves quickly, I recommend.
December 9, 2015
I was given a chance to read this from NetGalley. I absolutely loved it! At times I was furious at the characters for letting their exes control any parts of them or their lives! But overall, I thourghly enjoyed the story!
I am not one of those people who will summarize the story in a review. I'm sorry to disappoint those who like that. It was a very enjoyable read, I love Debbie Macomber!
I am not one of those people who will summarize the story in a review. I'm sorry to disappoint those who like that. It was a very enjoyable read, I love Debbie Macomber!
October 14, 2022
Really enjoying this series. Right up there with “Blossom Street”.
February 22, 2017
I have to admit it ... I originally didn't set out to read this book. My Mom and I were at the library together, and she was eyeing it in large print ( no pun intended ). I was finalizing my choices of two other books and I whispered to her, " Do you want me to check that out with mine for you? " She nodded and handed me this book. I've read and enjoyed books of Debbie Macomber in the past, but the title of this one just didn't do anything for me.
When we got home, I was curious and asked my Mom why she chose this book. She said she really didn't know. Shortly after that, I read about ten pages or so and thought, " Hmm, maybe someday. " The next day, I wasn't feeling all that great, and was able to spend the day in bed .. and I read about half the book. Last night, I stayed up late and read all but the last three remaining chapters. This afternoon, while waiting to pick Mom up from a doctor's appointment, I finished the book. I absolutely adored the story and characters.
Until I logged the book in on Goodreads, I wasn't aware that the book is second of a series. I'm not telling that to Mom, because she won't read it if it's out of a series unless she reads the books in order. This story, in my opinion, certainly can stand on it's own without having to have read the first book ... which I'm going to see if my library has or can order when I go back in a couple of days.
My absolute favorite book of Debbie Macomber will always be The Shop on Blossom Street. When I started reading AGGTMO, I thought, " Gee, wonder if the book will ' feel ' like TSOBS. ". While it didn't, AGGTMO felt very much like visiting with each of the two main female characters every few days or so and catching up with what has been going on in their lives.
Thank you, Debbie Macomber, for a great read!
When we got home, I was curious and asked my Mom why she chose this book. She said she really didn't know. Shortly after that, I read about ten pages or so and thought, " Hmm, maybe someday. " The next day, I wasn't feeling all that great, and was able to spend the day in bed .. and I read about half the book. Last night, I stayed up late and read all but the last three remaining chapters. This afternoon, while waiting to pick Mom up from a doctor's appointment, I finished the book. I absolutely adored the story and characters.
Until I logged the book in on Goodreads, I wasn't aware that the book is second of a series. I'm not telling that to Mom, because she won't read it if it's out of a series unless she reads the books in order. This story, in my opinion, certainly can stand on it's own without having to have read the first book ... which I'm going to see if my library has or can order when I go back in a couple of days.
My absolute favorite book of Debbie Macomber will always be The Shop on Blossom Street. When I started reading AGGTMO, I thought, " Gee, wonder if the book will ' feel ' like TSOBS. ". While it didn't, AGGTMO felt very much like visiting with each of the two main female characters every few days or so and catching up with what has been going on in their lives.
Thank you, Debbie Macomber, for a great read!
January 29, 2016
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
4.5 Stars
I loved this latest novel from Debbie Macomber. Macomber truly understands a woman's heart and her needs, as well as a woman's strength.The stories of Leanne and Nichole are very uplifting. They are both mothers and have gone through divorce together. Leanne is Nichole's ex mother-in-law, but both women are very close because their respective husbands cheated on them. They move downtown into apartments across the the hall from each other and develop "rules" or guidelines on how to move on from their failed marriages.
They both volunteer: Leanne at the Community Center and Nichole at a shop that dresses women who are starting over like herself. These women are looking for jobs, and we get to see a success story there. At the Community Center, Leanne meets a handsome Ukrainian baker, Nikolai. He brings her fresh-baked bread every class. He tells her that his bread says what is in heart that he cannot say. Nichole meets a handsome tow truck driver that is completely different from her ex-husband, Jake. Rocco is rough-edged and has many tattoos, but is a good father and shows interest and tenderness to Nichole's young son.
But things don't always go as planned. Guides don't always work out. In other words, life happens, misunderstandings happen, and ex-husbands interfere with a well planned guide. What happens? You'll have to read this heartwarming novel to find out!
4.5 Stars
I loved this latest novel from Debbie Macomber. Macomber truly understands a woman's heart and her needs, as well as a woman's strength.The stories of Leanne and Nichole are very uplifting. They are both mothers and have gone through divorce together. Leanne is Nichole's ex mother-in-law, but both women are very close because their respective husbands cheated on them. They move downtown into apartments across the the hall from each other and develop "rules" or guidelines on how to move on from their failed marriages.
They both volunteer: Leanne at the Community Center and Nichole at a shop that dresses women who are starting over like herself. These women are looking for jobs, and we get to see a success story there. At the Community Center, Leanne meets a handsome Ukrainian baker, Nikolai. He brings her fresh-baked bread every class. He tells her that his bread says what is in heart that he cannot say. Nichole meets a handsome tow truck driver that is completely different from her ex-husband, Jake. Rocco is rough-edged and has many tattoos, but is a good father and shows interest and tenderness to Nichole's young son.
But things don't always go as planned. Guides don't always work out. In other words, life happens, misunderstandings happen, and ex-husbands interfere with a well planned guide. What happens? You'll have to read this heartwarming novel to find out!
March 18, 2016
I want a tow truck driver all of my own after this one! Macomber has definitely created a cast that will win readers over and taken them on one heck of a ride. Nichole really drew me in. I loved seeing her come out of the situation she found herself in. The combination of strength and vulnerability was a breath of fresh air. Conversely, Leanne’s choices made me shake my head at times. Yet, her heart and soul shine throughout. This novel is extremely character driven and all the better for it. But that also means that individuals who don’t connect strongly with the characters may not find it quite as enjoyable as I did.
Once again Macomber has created a novel that is chalk full of emotion and a whole lot of fun.
Once again Macomber has created a novel that is chalk full of emotion and a whole lot of fun.
August 7, 2018
I wish that I had read these in order. But Debbie can't write a bad book in my opinion.
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