This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2022/01/21/%f0%9f%8e%a7-the-family-you-make-by-jill-shalvis/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

Jill Shalvis never fails to write a story which is heartwarming, with characters I am wanting to grow and succeed.  They are often holding themselves back from any relationships either to not get hurt again or because they are guilty and feel they don't deserve love.

Jane is definitely in the first camp, having experienced hurt and not wanting to be rejected again.  Levi is slightly more in the second camp.  Both needed to get out from their families to some degree and make their own way in their career and have some success as their own person.  They can both be proud of their skills and accomplishments.

Their meet-cute is more like meet- disaster but it allowed them to get a sense of each other.  It also set up Jane as Levi's fake girlfriend. As things get real, it makes it harder for both of them to convince Jane it's real.

I enjoyed all the supporting characters. There were plenty since they both have family living in Sunrise Cove.  Levi grew up here and knows many people.  Jane has a good group of co-workers including Charlotte and Levi's childhood best friend, Matteo, who have their own budding relationship.  It's a quirky but caring group. There is a thread of humor in Shalvis' books as well.

As always,  I loved how they fought for each other, supporting the other even if they didn't get what they wanted themselves.  <strong>The Family You Make</strong> has people I want to see more of as the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/320612-sunrise-cove" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><strong>Sunrise Cove</strong></em></a> series continues.

My first book by Shavis, but it will not be my last!

Levi is super swoon worthy and definitely book boyfriend material. And the first time he and Jane kiss, hot damn. 😍

I equally loved the secondary characters story as well. It fits nicely with the main characters, and I love how it evolved the story a little deeper, and not only shown a romance but the connect between the 4 friends.

Such an incredible touching story’s and definitely gave me all the feels.

I’m looking forward to see how this series continues.

Thanks Netgalley for a arc copy of this book for a honest review

The Family You Make, did not disappoint me there are a few books that I thought were just OK.. I love Jane and Levi as I'm reading all I want is for these two to find love with each other 5 star read


Happy Reading Lisa 📚

3.5 - 3.75 stars. This was a pretty good book. The Family You Make is Levi and Jane's story. The two of them meet in a rather terrifying way. Jane is a traveling nurse working in Sunrise Cove temporarily, while Levi is visiting his family who lives there. They both happen to be the only passengers on the same ski gondola on the side of a mountain when the power goes out and the track breaks. They think they are going to die and Levi even gets injured. But that meeting leaves them feeling a connection they want to explore temporarily while they are in town. Jane also agrees to be Levi's pretend girlfriend in front of his family. And that pretend feeling very quickly starts feeling very real. Jane and Levi find they really are meant to be together.

I found this book entertaining and the story interesting. I did find the book a little slow moving and meandering at times. I liked Levi and Jane. They were sweet together and had a good connection. I just felt the romance lacked a little focus, adding in their friends Charlotte and Mateo's romance on the side. But the book's ending was cute and worthwhile. I was happy Jane and Levi were able to overcome their issues and get their HEA. I do miss the more romance focused feel of the Heartbreaker Bay series though.

Overall, this was a pretty good read. I look forward to more from Ms. Shalvis in the future.

Wow!

Anything I have to say won’t ever be able to measure up to how amazing this novel was! My heart is so dang full! After becoming stuck in a winter storm on a gondola together -Levi and Jane find themselves in a fake relationship for Levi’s family. Levi is the epitome of the perfect gentleman and Jane struggles to be in one place for too long. Levi is the “black sheep” in his family of sports enthusiasts and Jane never really had a family. Enter Charlotte. Charlotte is her best friend and her found family. The importance of family, related or not, was so prominent and heartfelt in this novel, it was amazing.

This novel had me even rooting for secondary characters, which doesn’t happen often. Charlotte and Mateo for the win?! Yes please!

I laughed. I cried. I swooned -HARD.

This is a must read for romance readers and women’s fiction fans! I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!

The Family You Make starts off with an incredibly intense moment on a gondola, if you are fearful of this, maybe skip the first few pages!

This novel, the first in the new Sunrise Cove series, has Jane a traveling nurse and Levi a data whiz meeting precariously in a gondola high above Lake Tahoe.

Jane carries a past full of abandonment from those around her, so life is just easier if she lets no one in and we can all understand that! Levi also carries a past, and while he is surrounded by some great family members, he has also chosen to shut his life off from those around him- to the point he moves to San Francisco!

As the two settle on a fake dating scenario to appease Levi’s mother, the forced proximity leads to some great conversations and growth as characters. I appreciated Levi’s personality, his patience, wisdom and unending support. Charlotte was a great supporting character to help teach Jane that sometimes the best family isn’t a blood relative at all.

We also get a glimpse of Charlotte, Jane’s BFF and Mateao, Levi’s BFF- both doctors in the hospital. I sure hope they are part of book 2!

Only thing I didn’t like was the language in front of sweet Peyton. It wasn’t necessary, nor was it cute, she’s a little girl!

Heavy on the medical field in Lake Tahoe, light on the romantic moments between Levi and Jane, this book is a great fit if you like the Lake Tahoe setting, nursing, guys that don’t fit their familial mold and characters that are lovable, whether they are blood family or friends, then grab this one. I really enjoyed it and I will definitely grab the next books in this series!

CW: heights, mentions of sexual assault, cancer

Jill Shalvis has been one of my favorite authors for years, and her newest novel, The Family You Make, was a wonderful romance set in Lake Tahoe.

Jane and Levi meet in an extreme manner - they are the only passengers stuck in a wildly swaying ski gondola during a blizzard. Nervous that they might not make it, Levi calls his mom and pretends Jane is his girlfriend. They survive (or this book would be over before it started!) and now need to fake date a bit.

Both Jane and Levi struggle with trust, guilt and more due to experiences in their younger years. Can they work through these issues to come together for real?

A side romance plot is between Jane’s best friend/coworker/landlord, Charlotte, and Mateo, who she also works with and just so happens to be Levi’s longtime best friend.

This story was heartwarming and truly a delight to read. I appreciate how Shalvis tends to weave a little community in her novel, as we get to know not only the main characters, but even some of their families and other coworkers. This is the first in her new Sunrise Cove series, and I’m very excited to read book two later this year!

Thank you to Get Red PR Books for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis is the first book in the new contemporary romance The Sunrise Cove series. As with a lot of contemporary romance series the location is the theme of the series and each book will feature new main characters. Since the characters will be changing each book of this series can be read as a standalone if choosing to do so.

Levi Cutler was in Sunrise Cove visiting his family when he decided to head up to the mountain but as he was in a gondola going up alone when a winter storm took a turn for the worse. When the gondola reached the top Levi is of course told he needs to head back down the mountain but the trip down he will not be alone as Jane is also evacuating the mountaintop and joins Levi in the last gondola down.

Jane is overly nervous as the storm rages around them and Levi does his best to try to calm her. However, the gondola stops and both Levi and Jane see the car in front of them fall scary them both. Levi decides to call home, possibly as a last goodbye, and to make his mother happy who only wants her son to find a wife he lies that Jane is his girlfriend. Well Jane and Levi survive which puts Levi in a place of either confessing to his mother or talking Jane into pretending to be his girlfriend.

The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis began like a blockbuster action movie and pulled me in right away with the tension of the storm and the precarious nature of the gondola ride. I found that I couldn’t help but fall in love with the characters getting to know them as they fought to survive a horrible situation. It probably did help that the fake dating trope is often one of my favorites too but it made it all that much more exciting with the fast and furious beginning to the book. I will definitely look forward to seeing what will come in book two of this series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is the first book in a new series, Sunrise Cove. It takes place in one of my favorite locations- the Sierra mountains of Tahoe (right on the border of California and Nevada). While there are a couple of romance storylines, I would consider this more women's fiction as there are multiple themes besides the romances. Family and friendships play a role in the storylines.

Jane and Levi meet in a dangerous storm in an even more dangerous situation. I loved the drama of the opening chapters. Somehow, much to Jane's dismay, they end up fake dating. Fake dating and forced proximity are two of my favorite tropes. Combine those with charming and steadfast friends and lovable family members, and this was definitely a winner for me.Just thinking about it makes me smile.

I"m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thanks to William Morrow books and NetGalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is not my typical genre and I went into this one hesitantly. But, it was a pleasant surprise. I took my time with reading it, enjoying the characters, the Lake Tahoe setting, and the romance. It was a fun book to pick up at the end of a long day. There were lots of lovable characters and laugh out loud lines in this one. My favorite scene being the big family dinner and all of the character dynamics at play. Overall, I enjoyed it and look forward to more stories in Sunrise Cove

The only thing that didn't work for me was that at times it felt repetitive, making some chapters move slowly. But it was still an enjoyable story.

Thanks to the William Morrow Books, Jill Shalvis, and Get Red PR for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Family You Make is another great one from Shalvis! I really enjoy her writing. This one is a Hallmark type story but also has some serious parts for the characters. In this story I liked that it was more about friends being family and really choosing those your family. This a good stand alone read, even though it's technically part of a series.

I loved it from the first page. Talk about a heart-pounding beginning. I enjoy the fake dating trope and this did not disappoint. It is heartwarming and the story unfolds beautifully. Jane's character growth was well-done. I rooted for her the whole time. Charlotte's storyline was a bonus! The epilogue was everything I had hoped for Jane. This is my first book by Jill Shalvis and won't be my last.

I felt like I got two romances in one and I was all for that! I really enjoyed this book and the connections the characters made, even unintentionally. I found myself chuckling at some points, really cute.

I've been reading Jill Shalvis for a long time. I would hazard a guess that I've probably read at least 80% of her books, if not more. Considering she's published more than 50 books, that's a lot of stories, a lot of beloved characters. Among all of those, this book - The Family You Make - is one of my favorites. It took me on a roller-coaster ride of emotions, leaving nothing untouched, tossing me out at the end with a deep, heartfelt sigh of satisfaction. I want to go back to the adrenaline-inducing beginning and read it all over again.

There are so many relationships to explore in this book. Shalvis gives readers not only Levi and Jane's romantic journey but a secondary couple as well. But that isn't all. She also explores family relationships, female friendships, and male friendships. She delves into dysfunctional family, estrangement, atonement, and forgiveness as well as the support, love, and validation within chosen family. She also balances all that deep emotion (and there's plenty) with impeccable comedic timing and laugh-out-loud humor. A word of caution: do not eat or drink anything while reading the dinner scenes at Levi's family's home. Yes, that advice comes from experience. 😂

The character development in this book is wonderful. Shalvis seamlessly interweaves the various threads without missing a beat, allowing her characters, and their respective journeys, to evolve realistically. I never felt out of step with any of them. I shared their sorrows, their anger, their fears. I rejoiced in their courage, their tentative hope, and, ultimately, their joy. And I fell head over heels in love with Levi's adorable, unfiltered niece.

This one's going straight to my keeper shelf. I loved it.

ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Release Date: January 11, 2021

📖📖📖📖📖

Going on a ski lift is safe right? Well not in a snowstorm as Levi and Jane find out. The chair in front of them crash’s to the ground and they are sure they’re next. So Levi naturally calls his parents to say his goodbyes and maybe tell his mother that he’s happily settled with Jane. The person he just met. When the storm is over and Levi and Jane go back to reality, Levi’s mom can’t wait to meet Jane. She agrees to attend one dinner, but they’re like Pringles and you just can’t stop with one.

I really enjoy Jill Shalvis style of writing. I am obsessed with her #animalmagnetismseries and this book is just as good. It’s so sweet and most of the time I just want to hug Jane. I loved the character development and felt that each obstacle felt true to real life. I highly recommend this book and the series!!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#jillshalvis #Thefamilyyoumake #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #sweetromancenovels #netgalleyreads

Ok, I’ve got to start off this by prefacing that if you read my reviews, you know I am stingy with my stars. I am very much a book snob nowadays and it is very rare for me to give out a 5 star rating but this book gets it! It made me smile, laugh, tear up and my heart swell and that doesn’t happen often. I may have just discovered a new favorite author.
Jane and Levi both struggle with feeling accepted until one day they get trapped in a gondolas on a mountaintop in the middle of a snowstorm and they think they are going to die. Levi makes a last call to his family, and rather than upset them, he gives them news they’ve been waiting for-he’s finally found someone to love and loves him back, which is all they have wanted for him after a major trauma in his past. The thin is, Jane and Levi only met that day in the gondola so they were very much not in love. But once they do end up surviving the storm, Levi asks Jane to pretend to be his girlfriend at his parents anniversary party and Jane agrees. Of course, the fake relationship turns real (which is a trope I generally don’t care for, but this time it made me swoon) and I couldn’t get enough this story.
The supporting characters were also phenomenal-I adored Charlotte! And of course, Cat, the adopted alley cat.
I will be waiting patiently for book 2 of this series as I can’t wait to revisit Sunrise Cove and these lovely characters.
Thanks to William Morrow & Company and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my review.

I haven't read Jill Shalvis' novel in the past couple of years ever since she moves more to Women's Fiction (IMHO) than contemporary romance (I did read short/novella ones). I guess I'm worried that the novels don't feel the same - I love Shalvis for her witty banters between characters and of course some sexy times. However, another favorite CR author of mine, RaeAnne Thayne, also makes this move and I still adore her recent novels. So when I saw Shalvis releasing a new series, I thought, "okay, le me try this"

Well, I'm happy to say that this is another Shalvis winner for me! While the characters have more baggage that I'm used to Shalvis' books and well, the banters are less, but the book is brimmed with friendship and family. It feels tender and sweet (despite the fact that it starts with the two main characters, Levi and Jane, ALMOST DIE!).

I love how Jane and Levi are just FIT.

Jane suffers from abandonment issue, being shoved into different family members' home when she is young, until she emancipated herself at sixteen. So she never really stays and form a root. Jane always travels to different places saving others (she is a nurse). While in Sunrise Cove, Jane stays in her best friend's house and she refuses to think of her room as, well, hers. Even if Charlotte (that is her best friend) keep saying that Jane is not simply a guest, she's family.

While Levi, having a great family always think that he is the weird "square peg in a round hole". Levi has an athletic talent but he loves science and he prefers to work with data and and computer which baffles her family. Then a tragedy struck and Levi felt guilty so he left Sunrise Cove

So yes, these two might come together after a tense event and Levi asks Jane to be his pretend girlfriend. However, they see and understand each other. Their relationship is lovely and it progresses slowly but surely (mainly because Jane doesn't want to think it's real). Heck, I even has happy sappy tears by the end.

The second added bonus of relationship happens with Jane's best friend, Charlotte, and Levi's old friend, Mateo. Mateo is probably the only character here without a trauma! I love how he handles Charlotte. They are also great together.

I guess Shalvis "new" direction works for me. I look forward to more books in this series...


The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.

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.

Sometimes, there is so much happiness in a story that I don't know where to even begin reviewing.

This is one of those stories.

Whatever boxes you like to check off in your romance / women's fiction reads, I promise you this story will have them.

My mind, my heart and my soul were all happy and cocooned in a giant bubble of hope thru this entire story. I cannot rec this story enough!

🎧︎The Family You Make is the first book in the brand new Sunrise Cove series. My expectations for this one were high and in true Shalvis form, it did not disappoint. The visit to Sunset Cove was filled with heart tugging moments, humour, awesome characters, passion and not one but two lovely romance.

The beginning of 🎧︎The Family You Make saw the main characters, Jane and Levi, stranded on gondola during a freak snowstorm. When the gondola in front falls to the ground, they knew they were in trouble. Fearing the worst, Levi calls his mom to tell her goodbye. But then he couldn’t go through it and instead led her to believe that Jane was his girlfriend. A revelation which made her ecstatic.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, one could not help the laughter that bubbled up occasionally during Jane and Levi’s interactions. These two developed a bond during their hair-raising experience and the fact they survived made it even more special.

While Levi may have survived his time in the gondola, he faces an even greater problem. His family wanted to meet Jane. If only he could convince her to be his pretend to be his girlfriend until his parents’ 40th wedding anniversary dinner.

Jane and Levi were wonderful characters. Jane fears forming relationships as based on her experience, the ones you love abandon you. So she left first. Levi is dealing with his share of pain, but after meeting Jane, he wants to take a chance on love. Then there are Charlotte and Mateo. These two were definitely made for each other. However, issues from Charlotte’s past hinder her from opening her heart. Levi and Mateo had faced many walls in the pursuit of the women they knew were meant for them.

The romances that developed between our characters were sweet and passionate. I enjoyed them both and became invested in their journey to happily ever after.

Levi’s family members were a hoot. They loved meddling in his life, but it’s all done out of love. The lengths they went through to meet Jane cracked me up. 

Narration

This is my second time listening to Erin Mallon’s narration, and it was a pleasurable experience. She has a great array of voices for all the characters. Charlotte’s southern accent sounded authentic. She did a great job with portraying the characters’ emotion, which added depth to the story.


Conclusion/Recommendation

🎧︎The Family You Make is a beautiful story that will make you laugh, cry and swoon. Its a story of healing, forgiveness, love, family and friendships. It demonstrates that family isn’t necessarily made up of blood relations. Family represents the people in your life who will stand with you through the good and the bad times. The people who accepts you the way you are. There were so many things to love about this story.  The  delightful characters, the gorgeous setting and the variety of themes highlighted throughout the story.