Loved it. Wish I had saved it for the middle of summer as there is much talk of snow. Need snow in summer, not so much when I am already cold. Ha. Thrilled to see it is the beginning of a series. I am eager to read more about the people of Sunrise Cove.

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review. I am a huge Shalvis fan, and this book really enforced my fear of falling-oh boy! It starts off with a bang and then settles comfortably into familiar Shalvis territory. Her love for her hometown shines in this book. Lately I've felt that her heroines all have major abandonment issues, I would love to see her characters have strong family ties and still be able to fall in love.

Jill Shalvis is one of my favorite romance authors and her new book did not disappoint. I loved this contemporary romance about a woman on her own who works hard to stay unattached and a man whose family drives him a bit crazy. It’s easy to root for these two as they both come to turns with their pasts while deciding if there might be a future for the two of them - together. I loved the side characters - their friends and family- adding levity and humor to balance out the seriousness of the story. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to read and review.

Thank you Jill Shalvis for another wonderful story. I enjoyed reading The Family You Make. Treat yourself to this book. Happy Reading!

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher ~ Thank you ~ !! This is my honest and personal review.

I love reading the first book in a new series and this is a great start to a new series from Jill Shalvis.
The place and circumstances of how Jane and Levi met is a clever start to the book. The author put in just the right amount of spark and romance to keep me turning the page!
The family aspect added so much to the story.
If you are looking for a new author Jill Shalvis is exactly who you need in your life.

This was a fun read with two engaging couples. It had the signature humor I expect from Jill Shalvis but a bit less heat than a lot of her previous books. I was thoroughly entertained.

I loved this book so much! Fake fiancée and found family themes are usually auto reads for me. The steam is pretty mild but the romance is good. Levi and Jane are sweet together. I enjoyed reading about Charolette and Mateo as side stories.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for an advanced copy.

A full review and social media will be posted the week of release.

The first in this series, was a very good book.

There is focus one main couple, Levi and Jane. Mateo and Charlotte who are co-workers and friends of Levi and Jane also have an 2nd part of this story.

When Levi and Jane are stranded in the gondola and eventually are rescued, they fight to realize they are attracted to each other. This is a very sweet story, and I really like the fact that Levi lets Jane set the tone for their relationship, because, I think, he realizes he has to or else, he will never be able to have a relationship with her.

Once they realize how the both feel, and Jane finds her grandpa but finds out news that isn't good. Levi still tells her he will always be there and will always come when she needs him.

As always, I love anything that Jill Shalvis writes, and will always read. An excellent book!

This is a story about family and healing. The characters are fun and there is a bit of humor entwined with the romance. If you want a light fun and funny romance this is the book for you. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

The Family You Make by Jill Shavis
⭐⭐⭐.5

Thank you to @williammorrowbooks and @netgalley for the ARC. The Family You Make is available on January 11, 2022.

This was my first Jill Shavis and I definitely went in with some preconceived notions that were quickly shattered. I expected it to feel like a soft Hallmark movie and while there were definitely Hallmark feels it was not soft, it was not bland, and it was definitely funnier than I expected it to be (although I wouldn’t call it a romcom by any means). I had requested it on netgalley and figured I’d get through it to help my %. I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did and I’m glad I went in a little blind.

The story centers on Jane and Levi but also tells a lot about Matteo (Levi’s bff) and Charlotte (Jane’s bff – go figure) and their blossoming love story. At times I loved Matteo and Charlotte more than Jane and Levi (or at least Matteo’s fun-loving Italian family). Both Jane and Charlotte’s resistance to these men was a bit drawn out because, quite frankly, both were pretty much close to perfect. The stories felt very interchangeable, and I wish there was a little more variety between the two of them, but hey, two perfect men proudly pursuing two women isn’t a bad thing. I’d recommend this if you’re looking for a cozy, easy read or a Hallmark movie in a book.

Quote: This is not so relevant to the story, but it summed up marriage so well: “How long were you married?” Levi’s mom asked. “Since the ice age.” He smiled. “We kept things fresh by writing love notes. I saved them all. My favorite was one she’d left for me after a fight. It said: I considered smothering you with a pillow last night but didn’t.”

Song for Jane and Lexi: Make Me Wanna by Thomas Rhett: “Now baby don't you look at me that way
'Cause you know there's only so much I can take. 'Cause you make me wanna pull this truck to the side of the road. Slide on over, let me hold you close and tell you everything I'm thinking…”

This book is a great example of why I love Jill Shalvis, the queen of small town romance. This is the first book in a new series and it delivered a lot of heart and swoon. As the title suggests, this story is about how found family and how love can help heal some of th wounds of the past.

I loved the circumstances of Jane and Levi’s meet disaster. It was written so well and you could totally understand why it lead to their fake dating arrangement. I wanted to see more page time for Levi and Jane - it felt like they didn’t have much time together in the beginning, but that got better as the story proceeded. I also really really loved the story line for Charlotte and Mateo, maybe even better than the Levi/Jane story line. I also appreciated the development of the friendship between Charlotte and Jane.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

What would you do if you have a few minutes left to live? Your life is precariously teetering between life and death and only a stranger is there at your side. When Jane and Levi are thrust together to survive, they must prepare to say goodbye.

Levi called his mother and upon hearing Jane's voice pretended that she was his girlfriend. Surviving the odds, the two are skating on thin ice between the truth and lying to themselves. Will Jane realize that she doesn't have to be alone and that she can make her own family?

Thank you to #Netgally and the publisher for the early edition of #TheFamilyYouMake in exchange for an honest review. Jill Shalvis is one of my favorite authors as she pens strong women, humorous stories and flawed characters that in spite of their fears, overcome obstacles.

Jane is a feisty yet fragile character. She's afraid to trust others to avoid being hurt. Levi's family is both a blessing and a curse. They love him but are always meddling in his affairs. If Jane and Levi band together, will they be brave enough to face the future?

Rating 3.5 stars

I wanted to like this book because I’ve enjoyed Jill Shalvis’s other books. It opened up dramatically with the H and h meeting on a ski gondola that almost crashes hundreds feet into the mountain. That was a great opening, but it was all downhill from there. The heroine and her best friend have had sad histories that have made them reject getting close to others or developing romantic relationships. But there are two great guys who fall for each of these women. The guys are as nice and patient and sexy as anyone could ever wish for, but the women blow hot and cold as they have trouble overcoming their demons. So we have the same basic scene over and over again as each woman is attracted to her designated love interest and he’s absolutely wonderful to her and then she withdraws and blows him off. Rinse and repeat. It became very tedious and repetitive.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I fell in love with Jill Shalvis this summer and this latest hit the spot!

Jane, a traveling nurse with no family ties, experiences near death with Levi that leads to a fake dating situation. Of course despite their promises to not fall for each other Jane and Levi form a deep connection and both learn a lot about themselves and both chosen and blood family.

As most of Jill’s books you get romance (with some steam), family, good friends, an adorable kid and a beautiful setting (hello Lake Tahoe).

I enjoyed that Jane found a family in a good friend and learned the importance of putting down roots despite a rough upbringing.

I did think Levi’s “family drama” was a little weak and an unnecessary storyline but I still enjoyed his family as characters.

If you are looking for a sweet story that will get wrapped up with a bow at the end I recommend this one or any of Shalvis’s books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just love all the things Jill Shalvis writes. Levi and Jane's story is so wonderfully sweet. I loved every single moment! Jill is one of my go-to romance authors. I always know I am going to thoroughly enjoy it and be 100% satisfied!

Jane is a traveling nurse, never stopping to put down roots. But every winter, she returns to Lake Tahoe for ski season, where she floats around the urgent care centers to care for the injured. Levi is the black sheep of his family, more interested in computers than the family sporting goods business. He's just visiting his home in Lake Tahoe, but is forced to stay when he sustains an injury.

The Family You Make sucks you right in from the first chapter, where Levi and Jane get stuck in a gondola lift together. At first, you'll keep flipping pages to see how they'll get themselves out of the terrifying predicament, but then you'll be flipping them to see how their relationship develops. Their journey includes fake dating, meddlesome family, and lots of laughs.

We are luck enough to get not one, but TWO romance storylines and couples to root for in this story. Jane's best friend and fellow medical professional, Charlotte, gets her own HEA as well! This book has some great commentary on what family means, and includes storylines of found family, re-kindling old relationships, and healing from loss.

CW: family abandonment, sexual assault

Another book from this author with a perfect mix of lighthearted banter, endearing characters, and positive connections. The main character, Jane, guards her heart and lets very few people into her world, except for her best friend Charlotte. As the story continues, the two friends explore their relationships and what they truly desire for their lives.

I always enjoy a Jill Shalvis book and this is no exception. This story pulls you in from the start as Levi and Jane, who are strangers, are caught in a gondola trying to get off a mountain during a storm and have a near death experience. Levi has been running from his past, in part since his family is a bit overbearing and Jane does not do any type of relationship (friends (except for Charlotte) or boyfriends) I also liked there was a side story of Charlotte and Mateo. This is a very enjoyable read.

Once again Shalvis delivers a sweet, lovable story. Jane and Levi need each other almost as much as Charlotte and Mateo. Throw in a zany family, complete with a temperamental cat and capricious six year old and it’s pure warmth in Sunshine Cove. I’ve never read a Shalvis book I didn’t like. I devoured this one in just a few hours, I really liked Charlotte and Mateo. Their heat was smoking hot, enough to melt even Tahoe snow. Don’t miss out on this one.

You know that I dropped everything and started reading this book immediately. Jill Shalvis will always be my all-time favorite author to read from. I am never disappointed whenever she releases a new book. I am always the happiest whenever I read her books. And I know I will be excited when I read The Family You Make.
The Family You Make is the beginning of a new series, The Sunrise Cove, so we get to read about new characters and new settings. In this book, we get familiar with Levi and Jane. Unfortunately, they ended up in a terrible incident that made them bond in one way rather than another. But it's the perfect set-up for them to form something deeper.
I won't go into too much detail, but I will say that this book will heal you in one way rather than another. There are some complicated issues discussed in this book, so get ready for the tissues. It will be an emotional read.
Trigger Warning: death, past trauma, anxiety