Where Our Paths Meet

by D. Wells

Evelyn Storford has returned home.

Buying a failing independent bookshop, and nursing a broken heart, she relishes the challenge to make her business successful in the sleepy Suffolk town of Taverton. With her bookshop colleagues and widower father a growing presence in her life, she grapples against the memories of her marriage and the lingering feelings towards estranged husband Ishmael.

A story about family and friendship, grief and love, Where Our Paths Meet introduces a collection of characters, all interlinked and facing various crossroads in their lives.

309 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2022

About the author

D. Wells is the author of commercial and book club fiction. She has penned the standalone novels 6 Caledon Street, The Things We Regret and The List.

She has also written the Taverton Tales Series: Where Our Paths Meet and In The Half-Light are available now and Beneath The Winter Sky is available to pre-order, publication date on the 30th September 2024.

D. Wells enjoys writing multi-generational stories which have an emphasis on family relationships and relatable characters.

She lives in East Anglia, U.K, with her family.

Reviews

[Grace Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Evelyn’s marriage breaks down she buys a bookshop in her hometown and moves in with her dad Ethan.
Her dad was widowed after nearly 35 years and he’s finding it difficult to clear out his wife Helen’s belongings.
Aimee, Evelyn’s sister is a free spirit and has been travelling but decides to come home to visit, why?
Joe and Lucie are members of staff in Taverton Tales and are attracted to each other but Lucie seems to be hiding something.
Everyone is looking for a way forward and their own path but which is the right one? Beautiful, moving and uplifting in equal parts. Looking forward to reading more about this wonderful community.

[Monica Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the title of this book is rather apt - there are a lot of characters and their paths are all interwoven. Interesting that this is book one, I will have to keep an eye out for the next one in the series then, because I would like to know what happens next for several of these characters!

Evelyn has come home, after living in London and her marriage failing. She buys a bookshop, as you do, and this book is really about her as the central character, her dad Ethan, her sister Aimee and the employees of the bookshop, Joe and Lucie.

Everyone in this book has a story and the book works its way through each one.

I did find reading this novel a bit of an effort at times, it was a bit meandering for me, but nevertheless the characterisations were on point, and Evelyn's feelings about the ending of her marriage and her ex-husband Ishmael were spot-on too. The head and the heart are sometimes different things. I really felt for Ethan and his grieving for his late wife.

I liked the book, overall, I think the author did a good job. I would like to read the next one in the series :)

4 stars from me.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review of D. Wells where our other meet

This was a beautiful poignant read. At times
It was sad and heartbreaking and in others very uplifting. I absolutely loved the setting of the bookshop and how that was the central job of the story and it’s characters. I loved how the past and the present where intertwined with Evelyn and her dads stories being interlinked with them both trying to search for the truth and over come heartbreak and come to terms with their grief.

It was also a story of self discovery and of going on a journey to find where the next path life was going to lead and of love loss and friendships and pf
Making peace with the past in order to move forwards into the future and how families can come together and reconnect

There was also a lot of community spirit involved to. I would love a sequel to this to find out more where the lives of Evelyn and her colleagues et the bookshop go next

[The Book Dragon's Hoard by A.V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was unfortunately not for me. The ending was satisfying enough that it's pulled my overall rating up from a 3 to 3.5, but the substance of the presentation was disappointing. It was a struggle to get through, but the plot was interesting enough that I finished even though it took me much longer to read than it should have.

I like the idea of a book about the ebb and flow of life; those times we get stuck followed by other times of forward motion. However, the characters seemed lackluster to me. None of them drew me in properly, and their thoughts and emotions somehow played out at arm's length. I just couldn't become invested in them.

I received a review copy of this book and am providing my honest opinion of it.

[Kayleigh Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, touching and Emotional

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really enjoyed my trip to Taverton and meeting Evelyn and her family. The story is beautifully told. Ethan was a firm favourite, such a sweet, humble man. All the characters are loveable and bounce off one another really well. There's nothing to dislike about this book. Only good vibes eminate from it, the characters, the scenery, the difficult subjects all done with warmth and compassion. I look forward to going back.

Available in ebook and paperback on Amazon

[Gail Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great easy read. Evelyn has left London and her failed marriage to return to her family home in Suffolk.
She has ploughed all of her savings into an independent book shop.
I really like the faithful characters who help to scaffold the story. Behind closed doors these characters all have a story, that slowly unravels and gels them together.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes the past and the present intertwine...and one finds themselves. That's how I found this book's story. Evelyn and her dad's stories interlinked and they both are looking for the truth and are overcoming the heartache of loss. I enjoyed the story line very much. I like the opportunity for the characters to follow their dreams.

[julie young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life, love, family. After the breakdown of her marriage, Evelyn returns home, house shares with her beloved father and buys a book shop. This is a story of people , old and young ,broken relationships, family dynamics and the ups and downs of life. A most enjoyable read.

[Anita Hodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very easy read over a weekend
Evelyn returns home after her marriage breakdown
She buys a her dream bookshop which isn't doing so well financially and employs a couple of locals who with a budding romance of their own help with the success of the shop

[Kamini Mehta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evelyn buys a bookstore when she returns to her home to deal with her failed marriage. She is home with her widower father and a cast of other characters in town and at the bookshop. It’s an easy read for lazy summer days.

[Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This proved to be a nice gentle read about a group of different characters, at different stages of their lives, all connected by a bookshop. All the characters were interesting, and the story jogged along nicely. Nothing too taxing, but a great holiday (or garden!) read.

[Susanne Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gorgeous heartfelt book, the characters touched my heart with their personal stories, and I loved the way their experiences became interwoven as the story expanded.
I’m a sucker for a story based in a book store, and I enjoy seeing characters take a chance on following their dreams. Who doesn’t like seeing others succeed?
The setting was also lovely, the community feel was wonderful, I loved seeing the community come together to support each other, it helped make this a joyful and uplifting experience.
I am looking forward to returning to this fantastic community again, to discover what other tales are to be told of the inhabitants of Taverton.

[Clare Brack]

Couldn't get into it at all...the storyline was quite long and drawn out for me

[Beccy Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cleverly crafted book that looks at the winding roads of life and the way life interacts on so many levels.
The book is full of relationships and how they connect
A cleverly engaging read

[Sarah Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - the plotlines felt like threads in a beautiful tapestry, and the writing style is delightful. Can't wait to read more tales of Taverton!