I enjoyed this book so much. I don’t think I would categorize it as a romance, but as Women’s fiction. Yes, there is romance involved, but it is definitely a side story. The Best is Yet to Come involves an animal shelter, a war veteran, a teacher and counselor and some high school students, all in small town Washington state. Debbie Macomber used these characters and wrote a book that was very enjoyable.
I’m giving my honest review with thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC.

With her long-standing excellence in romance, this book does not disappoint. What is special is her inclusion of rescue pets and PTSD. Both of which are very hot topics in today's world. She handles both with her customary gentleness and understanding. From the troubled young man learning to deal with his military service to the young woman living a good life but realizing she's missing something you'll be enthralled.

The Best is Yet to Come by Debbie Macomber is about two people, Hope Godwin and Cade Lincoln. Both have their problems and demons from the Afghanistan war. Hope moves to a small town, Oceanside, Washington. She is a teacher and counselor for high school student. She decided to volunteers at an animal rescue facility. Hope finds an abused dog, Shadow, that doesn’t trust anyone. Through her love and understanding, the dog starts trusting her. Cade was in trouble and had to do community service. He also volunteered at the shelter. Cade watches Hope as she tries to befriend Shadow and is drawn to her kindness. Together they try to come to terms with what they lost in the war and to find trust and happiness.
The Best is Yet to Come is a feel good, easy read book. I always enjoy reading anything from Debbie Macomber.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, and Debbie Macomber for an advanced copy for an honest review.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME by @debbiemacomber is out now!! Thank you Debbie & @prhaudio for my gifted review copy.

I love Debbie’s writing so much. Anytime she has a new book out, I can’t wait to read it! This is one of my new favorites - Debbie at her best!

The incomparable @plummertherese narrates and it is so fantastic. Anytime Therese is a narrator I am down to listen, but hearing her bring Debbie’s words to life is so incredible.

Debbie’s stories are steady. You can always count on them. But this one was a bit more gritty and I loved it. I seriously couldn’t stop listening.

If you’re a fan of the Virgin River book or TV series, you’ll love this book! So so good!!

Three broken souls are brought together in this story. Hope is recovering from a broken heart. Losing all those who are dear to her, Hope is looking to find hope again. Cade is broken. After losing his two best friends in Afghanistan, Cade came back with not only physical injuries but mental as well. After getting in trouble, the judge recognizes his problems and gives him community service and counseling as punishment. Will he be able to regain some of his footing? Shadow, an abused dog that must learn to trust again. Will helping Shadow find love and peace help unite Hope and Cade?
I love how Debbie Macomber really brings her characters to life. Her stories are well research and bring the reader true to life scenarios. In this story, the use of a dog to bring healing for all is one I really enjoyed. I look forward to more from this author. I received a copy through Netgally. A review was not required.

If you like sweet stories about small town life, you will enjoy, The Best is Yet to Come. Debbie Macomber does a wonderful job of capturing small town life in Oceanside, Washington. In Oceanside, having a winning high school football team is everything and the entire town is always there to cheer the team to victory.

The two main characters, Cade and Hope are easy to like and connect with. They both have baggage from their pasts and are in emotional pain. They know how painful losing someone close to you can be. Until Cade and Hope meet, they are two lost souls just surviving. These two are perfect for each other as they slowly heal and fall in love.

Cade and Hope meet when they volunteer at a dog shelter. Cade has finished his military service, which has left him with scars both physically and mentally. Cade has built up walls around his heart and is happy to live by himself with little human interaction. Hope helps Cade open up and learn to enjoy life again.

This heartwarming story left me with a good feeling. It is emotional, has an interesting plot, good pacing and has a realistic portrayal of the two main characters that are layered and easy to connect with. This poignant story captured my heart.

I am a long time favorite of Debbie Macomber's books, and this one delivered exactly what I was looking for. When I want a comforting closed door romance, she is my go to author. I absolutely loved the main characters and the chemistry they had together. It was a definitely grumpy/sunshine sort of enemies to lovers type book. I absolutely ADORE the small town PNW settings that are characteristic of Macomber's novels. Occasionally some of the characters behaved in ways that seemed like they would be more characteristic of older individuals, but I never let that take me out of the story as I just really loved the atmosphere. Anyone who is a fan of Macomber's will love this book!

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hope Goodwin has moved to Oceanside Washington for a new start. The death of her twin brother made her look for somewhere new, a place to get away from the memories. She has plenty to keep her distracted now, her students, her new home, and even her landlords. She is settled in but her heart still seems to be missing something. Her landlord talks her into volunteering at the local animal shelter and that is where she meets Shadow, a dog no one else can get through to. She is also introduced to Cade another volunteer who is suffering from injuries from the war. The two become friends but start off slow, neither knows exactly how to deal with the feelings that have started to stir inside. Can they look past their own broken pieces to help the other put them back together?

Good quick read. After the death of her brother, Hope moved to Washington and wants to create a new life for herself. She isn’t looking for romance but finds friendship in Cade, a former war veteran.

The characters are likable and even though the story felt very ‘Hallmark movie-esque’ it was sweet, adorable and believable.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for the ARC. Definitely recommend!

What a beautiful story! I have to admit it tugged my heartstrings and I may have shed a few tears. I love stories by this author… they just feel so real.

What did I like? What happens to our soldiers during war is incomprehensible to many of us. With most of the wounds in there head and heart unable for us to see there plight. In this Cade drops to rock bottom with literally no one in his corner. After a judge rescinds Cade’s jail time for community service and both physical and mental therapy he gets a new chance at life. Hope is also at a low point in her life and she is also the most patient character I’ve ever read. Together these two fight beyond odds stacked against them. Just a wonderful story.

Would I recommend or buy? This can’t be the authors last book. I have so many of hers on my shelf! I’m hoping she will give us a few more despite retirement. I will definitely be getting a copy for my shelf! Such an enchanting read! Great for a beach or a sunny day at the park! Five huge stars!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and voluntarily left this opinion! I loved it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Debbie Macomber is such a comfort read for me.. and having read most of her backlist I love reading the new stories she writes just as much as her old work! The Best Is Yet to Come was a quick, sweet story that centered around healing and moving forward. The storyline did feel a little more focused on each individual, and the relationship part was definitely a smaller portion of this book. But knowing her books typically lean more towards Women’s Fiction, it wasn’t a surprise! Overall it was a sweet summer read!

I adore a Debbie Macomber book, they never fail to make me smile , this is a gorgeous romance, I liked the military connection , the way they need each other and create friendship first, a lovely read with a compelling storyline. Classic Macomber

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Classic Debbie Macomber! Set in the idyllic Pacific Northwest, Hope & Cade deal with grief, PTSD, family expectations, and rescue pets. I loved the appearance of past characters as Hope's landlords!

I really liked this book I really liked Hope and when life was rough for her she continue to rise above and try and make things better in her portion of the world. I liked Cade though even in one part of the book he came off like a toddler throwing a tantrum, he to continued to work on making a difficult situation into something better. This book follows not only Cade and Hope's story but those of Hope's students which right off the bat I thought was going to go one way and it didn't. However the author used and opportunity bring to light something I am sure is happening in schools everywhere. I loved the small town feel of the book and how you feel like you are there in the midst watching it all play out. Over all this book is a good clean read and well worth it.

Debbie Macomber is a dedicated family/romance novelist. This was a light-hearted, easy read, perfect for summer leisure time.

Hope is struggling with the loss of the last member of her family, her twin brother. While Cade has been ordered by a judge to get counseling and serve community hours in order to stay out of jail, he struggles with survivor’s guilt after his friends were killed on his last mission. When these two find each other, neither realizes how much their lives will change. I always love Debbie Macomber’s books and this is no exception. This book hooks you in at the very beginning and I could not put it down!

The Best is Yet To Come, by Debbie Macomber, a favorite author of mine. It is a really sweet, tender, clean romance.

Hope Goodwin, is dealing with the loss of her twin who died while serving in Afghanistan, and is now attempting to rebuild her life in the new location of Oceanside, Washington as a school teacher. Cade Lincoln Junior is an ex-marine who suffers with PTSD after losing his two best friends and fellow soldiers, as well as dealing with a leg injury. Additionally, Cade has not only had a falling out with his parents which has lasted for years, but he also struggles with survivor’s guilt. Hope and Cade meet at an animal shelter were they both volunteer and bond over their mutual affection for Shadow, a haunted and abused stray who slowly yields to Hope’s gentle nature, and who is perhaps my favorite character in the story.

There is an added sub-plot with two highschoolers whom Hope teaches and advises and has taken a special interest in. Their story adds an element of mystery and drama to the overall plot, which makes it even more interesting, but also rather frustrating. Some of the high school characters are either supremely immature and obnoxious, or arrogant and despicable. Aside from that, the novel is perfectly titled, and a touching story. Though I found Hope naïvely optimistic at times, her persona is inspirational and the story an encouraging, uplifting one, filled with happily-ever-afters and the extra encouragement we all can benefit from.

Hope, finding herself alone without family, begins anew in Oceanside. In addition to her teaching job, she starts volunteering at a shelter. She's able to connect with Shadow, a rescue most had given up on. As a teacher, she tries to stay out of her students' personal lives, but she takes an interest in some she feels need help.

Another volunteer, Cade, is suffering from anger issues, among other wounds related to his military service. Even though he doesn't open up much, he finds himself attracted to Hope.
Their relationship starts slowly, as they begin to open up to each other and learn to trust.

The story is wonderfully woven to include the townspeople in their lives and a blossoming romance. Each must overcome obstacles to fully open their hearts to forever.

**received an ARC from netgalley**

The Best is Yet to Come is the third book in prolific author Debbie Macomber’s Oceanside series. Hope Godwin recently relocated to Oceanside, Washington. After losing her twin to enemy fire in Afghanistan Hope is having a difficult time moving forward. Finding a teaching position in quiet Oceanside was a blessing.

However, Hope still feels like an outsider until her landlord suggests she volunteers at his animal rescue organization. In doing so she encounters two entities that belong in her future. First is Shadow, the terribly mistreated canine that only seems to respond to Hope. But maybe even more so is the hurting veteran Cade, who also seems to respond to her spirit.

This is a lovely book that may just help people understand and respond correctly to those who have suffered, canine or human. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

This was an emotional story with good main characters. Both Hope and Cade were dealing with things but they weren't the only ones.
It was well written with also a few other good supporting characters. That being, Spencer and Callie and the challenges that they were facing. The part that they played was in the high school that Hope was teaching in.
I really liked that part of the story had to do with the rescue shelter and Shadow, a dog who's luck was about to run out.
The title of the book fit well.
Although I liked the story it also felt like maybe a younger than me group of people would enjoy it more.


" I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion about it.