Love for Beginners: A Novel (Wildstone, #7)

by Jill Shalvis

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis continues her Wildstone series with the moving story of a young woman who has to start her life—and her love life—over again.

When Emma Harris wakes up from a coma, she learns that her fiancé and her BFF have fallen in love, she’s lost her job, and the life she knew is gone. Overwhelmed but grateful to be alive, she decides to start over from scratch. Not as easy as it sounds, of course. But she’s never been a quitter, even if she wishes she could quit rehab, where her hot but evil physical therapist, Simon, puts her through the wringer.  

Desperate for a new start, Emma opens a doggy day care. Unfortunately, the only space she can afford is owned by her childhood nemesis Ali Pratt. But hey, she’s been through worse, right? She tries to roll with the punches, but a friend drops his grandpa off at the doggy day care because he can’t find senior care. On top of that, she and Ali bring the term “frenemies” to a whole new level. And then another grandparent shows up. And another.

 

In the midst of all that, Emma realizes she’s accidentally fallen for her Evil PT. But the most horrifying thing of all is that Ali just might have turned into the best friend she’s ever had. And as Emma grows from the pain of her past and takes on her new path, she comes to learn that life isn’t what you’re given, it’s what you make of it.

• ISBN10: 0063025434
• ISBN13: 9780063025431
• Publish Date: 8 July 2021 (first published 8 June 2021)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 5 July 2023
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Imprint: William Morrow Paperbacks
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

The Wildstone series is a favourite of mine and I was glad for the opportunity to return to  this beautiful coastal town. The beauty about this series is that each installment is self contained, so each book can be read in any order one chooses.

In this installment we meet Emma, who recently awoke from a coma, after a horrible motor vehicle accident. She woke  to discover that her life would never be the same. Her fiancée dumped her for her best friend, and she needed to prove to everyone, including herself, that she would be on her feet in no time. Failure was not an option. Simon, her hard ass physical therapist (her private nickname for him) had every intention for her to succeed.

I had a wonderful time with this book. The friendships forged along the way, the romance, the characters and the banter made this book a joy to read. Readers who love dogs are in for a treat. We get not one but two romances. Both had their share of struggles. However, I loved how they both worked out in the end. We see Emma and Alison, her nemesis from high school, becoming business partners and in time a friendship developed. 

I loved how the characters grew throughout the story. Emma’s strength and determination shined throughout the story. She made me proud, watching her defy the odds. Simon was adorable, always willing to take care of everyone, no matter the cost to his personal life. I have to admit though, there were few times his actions showed his cluelessness in relation to his relationship with Emma.

Conclusion/Recommendation

Love for Beginners delivered a story that warmed my heart and had me smiling in the end. Readers looking for the perfect summer read should add it to their reading list.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading