Amazon.com: Customer reviews: The Family You Make: A Novel (The Sunrise Cove Series Book 1)

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Family is what you make it

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2022

Don't you just love it when one of your favorite authors start a new series? And you feel like coming home, all the while meeting completely new characters? That's how The Family You Make felt like to me, and I have to say that the making your own family was something I really loved about the story.

Levi and Jane do not meet under the best of circumstances, it actually might be the worst of circumstances... Cue a fake relationship that becomes very real for both of them fairly quickly, where they both doubt that they deserve love, or that what they have can be something that will continue to grow over time.

Levi's family is full of nosy people, but I loved them! And Jane's found family is so amazing I want to share it with her :)

Shalvis always manages to tug at my heartstrings, and I felt all the feels reading about Levi and Jane, and how they were able to help each other because they had emotional strength in different areas.

4 people found this helpful

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KarenB

repetitive storyline

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2022

I like how this book was two couples and the way they intermingled. I liked the book and the characters but felt that it dragged on. There was a lot of repetitive storyline which drug the story on. The characters didn't seem to want to move on which drug it on.

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Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Family is what you make it

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2022

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4 people found this helpful

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NanaCav

*** Love, love, loved it ***

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2022

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I am a huge fan of Jill Shalvis. Her books never disappoint me. Levi and Jane met in an unusual way. They ended up together in a gondola at a ski resort. That wouldn't have been bad had there not been heavy winds and a near zero visibility snowstorm. As they were on their way back to the lodge the gondola stopped and they saw the gondola in front of them come off the track and crash to the ground. They were tossed around by the wind for what seemed like hours until finally things were fixed and they were back to the lodge!

This situation left a deep impression on both Levi and Jane. The two of them were very closed off to a new relationship especially Jane. She is a nurse that works around the globe with Doctors Without Borders. She never stays in any one place for very long. Because of that she never has to worry about forming any attachment to anyone or anything. She blames her childhood for all the walls she has put up.

Levi has not followed the path in life that his parents wanted him to. Because of this he always felt as if he didn't belong and was the black sheep of the family. This will be a long and rocky road for Jane and Levi. They are both hesitant to let the other in. I loved every minute of their story and did not want it to end.

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PamD

Great start to this new series!

Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2022

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The Family You Make is a great start to a new series from Jill Shalvis. Jane & Levi are two strangers trapped on a ski lift during a major storm. After Levi tells his parents that he’s engaged & Jane is the one, their terrifying ordeal comes to an end. Levi now has to figure out what to tell his parents to get out of what he thought was a death bed fib. After Jane agrees to a short stint of pretending to be his girlfriend, her feelings began to deepen for Levi & his family.

I enjoy the character development & writing style of Ms. Shalvis. As always, the first book in the series introduces us to the main characters, the location & sets the scene for the series. Her descriptions of the characters & location allow you to bond with the characters & have you emotionally involved in the outcomes. After a start like this, I can’t wait for the rest of the series!

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Lynn Butkus

Family are those people who love you, related or not!

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2022

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I absolutely LOVED this book!! I usually enjoy a Jill Shalvis book, but this one was above and beyond, in my opinion. It begins when Levi, who grew up in the area, and Jane, a traveling nurse, (our hero and heroine) are stranded in a gondolla above the moountain during a storm. The gondolla ahead of them plummets to the ground, and the entire thing is shut down. Thinking they are probably going to die, Levi decides they should call their families to say goodbye. Jane swears she has no one, and prods Levi to make his call. Levi calls his mom to say goodbye, but just can't bring himself to do it. Instead, he tells her that he has met a new woman and that's whose voice Mom just heard.
Of course, they survive (wouldn't be much of a book, otherwise), and when they get back to town, Levi's family is all about meeting this woman. In yet another attempt to make his mom happy, Levi gets Jane to agree to be his pretend girlfriend and attend his parents 4oth wedding anniversary dinner in a few weeks. Oh and they should spend some time getting to know one another, so it looks real to the family. As they do, their attraction grows and both find themselves questioning how pretend this really is.
There is also lots of substory involved here, as Jane has good reason to trust no one, but has settled in with a friend she is coming to view as a sister. Charlotte has her own issues, and when she begins to fall for her next door neighbor, Matteo, theirs is also a great story. Watching these two scarred women discover that they are indeed worthy of love is a treat, as is the entire story. Oh, and my favorite part? The 40th anniversary dinner, which had me laughing out loud!

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Family, Love, Friendship filled with hope. Phenomenal!!!

Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2022

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Jill Shalvis is a phenomenal author. I love her writing style. I love the worlds she creates with her books.

The Family You Make we are not only introduced to a new book but also a new series. We meet Jane and Levi. Jane and Levi meet under an unusual and exciting yet stressful situation. Their chemistry is undeniable. Enter a fake relationship that turns more real. I just love the Fake Relationship book trope. I really enjoyed watching Levi and Jane grow individually and together. Their journey was heartfelt.

I loved all the secondary characters especially Charlotte and Mateo. Even though Levi's family seemed very nosey and at times frustrating, I loved them. I felt as if I were actually there and not reading a book. Jill Shalvis captivated my heart and soul from page one. I cried and laughed and had many heartswooning moments. I couldn't put the book down. I became invested in The Family You Make. I felt I could relate to them personally. The Family You Make is a story of love, friendship, family and hope.

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knitplaywithfire

A perfect book for an escape on a wintery afternoon

Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2022

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There are only a few authors who when I see a new book coming out by them mentioned, even if it is a year away, make me more excited than seeing Jill Shalvis' name. And when she starts a new series, things get even better.

Levi and Jane meet under stressful circumstances. And both need a faux partner so they decide to pair up and be the person the other needs to keep others from trying to set them up. But along the way, Levi and Jane realize that they have actually fallen for each other.

Levi has a very nosy, loving family who are all up in each other's business. And Jane finally realizes that she has a family who cares about her. She has a family she has made of friends who are her real family.

"The Family You Make" is a feel good book you didn't know you need right now. It is a cold bitter January in parts of the world so grab a copy of this wonderful book and curl up with your favorite hot drink and just escape into this wonderful group of characters.

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ElaineReads

A new favorite

Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2022

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Although I always enjoy books by Jill Shalvis, I have to say this is my favorite so far. The main characters, Jane and Levi, are wonderful, but it is the secondary characters that I adore. Charlotte is my favorite with Levi's family coming a close second. Cat, aka Alley Cat, is perfect. She (spoiler alert: "he" is really a she) is a typical cat. The expectation is for all those around her to serve her needs.

Everyone in the book has issues with relating with others, but the love comes through no matter what. Even Levi's dad opens up a little. I like that it's obvious that blood family is not the only type of family that exists and is not necessarily the most important type.

My only negative response to the book is the section with the gondolas. I'm already scared of the things. I may never ride one again.

As always, I can't wait for the next book. As I said, I always enjoy them.

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Jill Shalvis has done it again! THE FAMILY YOU MAKE is a fun read about life and love

Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2022

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Whether you're new to Jill Shalvis or have been following her work for sometime, THE FAMILY YOU MAKE is sure to give you all the feels of a great read.

I love the characters that are perfectly flawed and relatable, trying to figure it out in challenging situations and just in day to day life. That is the gift of Jill's storytelling. She makes you feel a part of the experience. Though you might not have been to the physical locations, she makes you a part of the environment---and you see yourself and those you know along the way.

A great story about discovering love and what matters in life.

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Sweet Red Reader

Delightful

Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2022

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It is delightful being in another world created by Jill Shalvis. My favorite part of The Family We Make is that we get 3 strong POV’s (and a 4th secondary one) and all of them are developed well and are super compelling. Sometimes when you get multiple POV’s, you prefer one over the others. Here, I was happy to read from each of the characters’ viewpoints. I’m so excited to continue with the series and I’m hoping that the next book is about Levi’s sister!

4.5 out of 5 wine glasses.

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Granny G

Good read

Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2022

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Another Jill Shalvis hit! There is so much humor, angst, romance, some sex, and a teeny bit of danger at the beginning. The characters are great and I laughed out loud during the anniversary dinner. The two main women are strong and funny, but have a lot of baggage to overcome. The two main males are hunks, but have a huge learning curve when it comes to love and women. Very highly recommend.

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The Family You Make: A Novel (The Sunrise Cove Series Book 1)

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