The Best is Yet to Come
Debbie Macomber
Macomber is a master at the small-town romance, and The Best is Yet to Come doesn’t disappoint. Her characters, both Hope, a young teacher whose twin brother has been killed in Afghanistan, and Cade, a former soldier struggling with mental and physical injuries, are complex and relatable. Adding in Shadow, a neglected and abused dog who is destined for euthanasia, and you have the formula for a romance built on recovery. That the high school where Hope teaches worships football and its heroes, and the problems that go along with blind worship, and you could be in any small town in America. Oceanside though, is a special place, and it is a great town to visit this summer!
The Best is Yet to Come will be released July 12, 2022. Thanks to the Random House Ballantine for the advanced reader copy!

Debbie Macomber returns to the small town of Oceanside, Washington, for another touching story involving two hurting souls affected by war. Hope moves from California for a fresh start to overcome the loss of her twin brother. Now she has no family left. She teaches at the high school and is a counselor for students who need someone to talk to. She also volunteers at the local animal rescue run by her landlord.
Cade Lincoln lost two best friends in Afghanistan and is dealing with physical and emotional issues. He works a part-time job, volunteers at the animal rescue, undergoes counseling and physical therapy. He is a loner estranged from his family. Hope is a nurturing soul who is touched by others' pain. She falls for an unfriendly dog at the rescue who responds only to her. She and Cade eventually become friends and tentatively spend time together. She is pulled into a conflict between some of her students. It is a battle between geeks and jocks and a smart, popular girl in the middle in a small town where football is important.
This is an emotional story with strong characters that deal with real issues. I was pulling for the main characters and was happy to see that their choices, while not always the easiest, were the best in the long run and led to growth. A tiny thread of faith is interwoven. Highly recommend for a heartwarming story about healing, forgiveness, and romance.

What a sweet read! I'm a sucker for a romance with a healing soul (or two in this case). The Best Is Yet to Come had the perfect blend of small town, adorable puppy, and two people who have overcome loss finding their way to each other.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

In typical Debbie Macomber style, this is a quick read but with a whole lot of heart. You know exactly what is going to happen, so you just sit back, turn the pages and enjoy the journey.
Hope has recently moved to Oceanside after traumatic loss in her life and when she starts volunteering at the local animal shelter she meets Cade, a disabled veteran who is angry and struggling with PTSD. Each of them are dealing with grief in their own lives, but in opening up to each other they learn to trust again and find love again.
There’s also a secondary storyline of Spencer, Callie, Scott and Ben who are high school seniors and students of Hope’s. They are dealing with some disreputable behavior and have to get to the source before it’s too late.
But my fav subplot was the rescuer German shepherd, Shadow. He was abandoned and abused and totally aggressive when he was brought into the shelter, but Hope saw something in him and didn’t give up on him, which was of course a metaphor for Cade.
I read this in one sitting while on a road trip and it made the time fly by.
Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

I received an advanced copy of The Best is Yet to Come from NetGalley and Random House (Ballantine). It will be published this Tuesday, July 12.

It isn't summer without Debbie Macomber! This novel isn't set in summer, but you breeze through the book and it would make an easy read on the beach. There are several themes threading through the novel: second chances, new beginnings, veterans' mental health and services, animal abuse, drug use, grief, and family estrangement.

Hope starts anew teaching high school in a small town in Washington, where Football is a big deal. She is also a counselor who helps students after school. Cade is starting over again after coming home injured from Afghanistan. They meet each other volunteering at an animal shelter although Cade is standoffish at first. There's a lot going on in the small town and events pull them together. No character is who they appear to be, so it's surprising and nice to see all the character development. I enjoyed reading it, and giving it 3.5 stars.

New beginnings, second chances and finding forgiveness is the theme of The Best Is Yet to Come.
Heartwarming story with engaging characters.
Loved the dog!
Overall, a enjoyable book to spend the day reading.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the third book in the Oceanside series, but can be read as a stand-alone. Cade Lincoln Jr. is a vet who is in trouble with the law due to a bar fight. Instead of sentencing him to jail time, the judge gives him community service, mandatory counseling, and mandatory physical therapy for his injured leg. Cade is angry, at his parents for not supporting him and the world for the death of friends in combat. His community service is being served at a local animal shelter where he meets fellow volunteer, Hope Goodwin. Hope is a teacher and counselor at the local High School. She moved to Oceanside after the death of her twin brother, hoping for a fresh beginning. Hope and Cade are good people with a lot of issues they have to work through. There is a secondary romance between two high school students, Spencer and Callie, and a mystery that involves the football team. Overall, an enjoyable read. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Best is Yet to Come by Debbie Macomber
This is the 3rd book from Debbie Macomber set an Oceanside Washington. Hope Goodwin is all alone in the world, she and her twin brother were raised by thier grandparents after their parents abandon them and her twin tragically died in combat in Afghanistan. Looking for a fresh start she begins to apply to high schools that will take her away from California. After settling in Oceanside and renting a cottage she learns her landlord is in charge of the animal shelter and he encourages her to volunteer there to get to know her community. Volunteering she meets Cade A standoffish veteran who is doing community service at the animal shelter. Meanwhile there seems to be some drama happing at the high school between a couple of students that Hope can’t quite figure out.
I always enjoy Debbie’s books. The relationships between the charters is always so well done and very realistic. I also like the very realistic struggles the high school kids faces in this story. This book comes out Tuesday July 12th.
Thanks to Random House-Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this title.

⭐⭐⭐
The Best is Yet to Come, Debbie Macomber
July 12, 2022, Ballentine Books

Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

The Best is Yet to Come follow the story of Hope, a high school teacher, who ran from family tragedy and finds herself volunteering at an animal shelter. At the shelter she finds Cade and Shadow. Cade and Shadow are both at low points in their lives, Cade, a human recently released from prision, and Shadow, a dog needing a home. Together, they learn to move on from difficult pasts and allow themelves to love and be loved. A bit of mystery and intrigue is thrown in for fun! A good, summer read for lounging by the pool or sitting out on the deck as the cover suggests.

@debbiemacomber #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #summerread #ARC #ballentinebooks @ballentinebooks #chicklit @netgalley
#TheBestIsYettoCome #NetGalley.

I so enjoyed this book! It was the perfect amount of romance, suspense, and teen life in it! Debbie Macomber did not disappoint me! I would definitely recommend this book!

Another heart-warming story by the master, Debbie Macomber. She knows how to draw us into the lives of people and care about them all. Some serious subjects are developed throughout. I eagerly await her next book.

The Best is Yet to Come by Debbie Macomber is a story about second chances and new beginnings. I was immediately drawn into this story. I like Debbie Macomber’s writing style. It has such an ease to it. I started reading and did not want to stop. The story moved along at a quick pace. I enjoyed getting to know Hope, Cade, Spencer, and Callie. There are three storylines that play out from three points-of-view (Hope, Cade, and Spencer). I like that the characters were realistic and relatable. The characters also had real life problems. Hope lost her twin brother who died a hero in the Afghan desert. She misses him terribly and is looking for a new start. She wanted a small town and Oceanside was the right choice. Cade was wounded in Afghanistan plus he lost his two best friends. He is estranged from his parents since he did not follow in his father’s footsteps to become a lawyer. Spencer is a high school student who is also an uber geek. He who cares for Callie, a popular girl who is dating the star of the football team. Spencer wants to take Callie to homecoming. When Callie needs help, a deal is struck. Cade and Hope meet at an animal shelter. Hope works to help a dog, Shadow who was severely traumatized (it is heart wrenching). We see that there are different types of trauma. Kindness, patience, love, and hope go a long way towards healing it along with therapy. There are good life lessons in this story. I like how everything came together into one heartwarming story. The Best is Yet to Come shows the importance of hope, healing, friendship, and faith. The Best is Yet to Come is an uplifting tale with an irate soldier, a compassionate teacher, a computer geek with a crush, a football player with a temper, a suffering Shadow, an understanding judge, a selfish old friend, and a thoughtful therapist.

A wonderful story about new beginnings and loss. Cade has hit an all-time low. He is standing in court ready to face the fact that he might do jail time. When the judge gives him a choice, he isn't sure he deserves it. Then there is his mother sitting there and he hasn't seen her in 6 years. She is there to witness is humiliation. Hope is starting over in a whole new place. Trying to deal with the death of her twin brother. He was her only family left. Hope is aptly named. She has infinite patience for a discarded dog and a used-up veteran. But will that be enough? Cade knows he is likely to disappoint her more than once and can he ever mend his relationship with his family? He and his dad are both very stubborn people, and neither are likely to give in. Hope has gotten involved in a problem with some of the students at the high school where she teaches, and it is turning very ugly. Cade feels the need to protect her, but she doesn't seem to see that she needs protecting. What will they do?

Love, loss, friendship, animals, fantastic writing. What else can we ask for!

Debbie knocks it out of the park once again for me!

Great book!

Debbie Macomber is a master of story telling and never disappoints. Her characters are like people that you might know, have interaction with and cause you to be invested in what happens to them. She keeps you turning pages without realizing that you're doing it.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭑
The Best is Yet to Come by Debbie Macomber is a sweet story of redemption and growth, that I just loved. Debbie Macomber is one of my favorite authors, and this latest book of hers did not disappoint.

Hope Goodwin needs a new start after losing her twin brother. She moved to Oceanside, Washington in hopes of making a new start. She gets a job at the local high school as a teacher. Her landlord convinces her to volunteer at a local animal shelter in order to meet people and keep busy. At the shelter, Hope meets shadow, a dog that appears to be irredeemable, but for some reason, Hope is the only one who Shadow accepts, as she takes her time with the emotionally wounded dog, they become fast friends.

Hope also meets Cade, another volunteer at the shelter, who has a stormy past and is as emotionally wounded as Shadow. He just wants to be left alone and try to atone for his past. He can’t help but notice Hope and how her kindness is helping Shadow. But, women like Hope don’t go for guys like Cade. Or do they?

I really enjoyed this hopeful book about redemption and hope. The side story of the high school kids was a nice addition to Hope and Cade’s story. I loved the dog in the story and how even the dog was working to overcome a difficult past. The book deals with grief, PTSD, mistakes, and so much more. It’s a beautiful romance full of emotion and a lovely sweet romance.

The pacing was just right, as I would expect from such a seasoned author. The romance was a slow burn, but satisfying and sweet. The author does a wonderful job of dealing with such tough topics with empathy and understanding.

I highly recommend The Best is Yet to Come to anyone who enjoys romance and women's fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Debbie Macomber's newest release, The Best is Yet to Come, was absolutely lovely. I enjoyed both storylines and especially the love and devotion to a hurting soldier and dog. As always, I enjoyed the journey through her prose and the poise of her characters.

I am so glad to hear she has another book idea, because a world without a new Debbie Macomber book would be a very sad world. The best is yet to come, indeed!

The only negative I have to say for it is that I wish there had been more. I never wanted it to end.

Thank you for this enjoyable read.

Who doesn’t like a good romance with a good lesson to learn? This book is a perfect romance between two lost souls who need to find each other. Hope is newly settled into the small town of Oceanside, teaching and counseling at the local high school and trying to make friends by volunteering at the local animal shelter. There she meets Cade Lincoln, an ex-marine who is a wounded veteran. She also meets Shadow there, a poor abused dog who trusts no one except Hope. It’s love at first sight for Hope and Shadow and Cade isn’t far behind. How they get to their “happily ever after” is an amazing trip with some unexpected turns and complications, including students taking drugs, vandalism and family drama. I really enjoyed the sub-plot about teen Spencer and his attempt at being accepted by a girl he really likes but who is so popular his chances are slim. The lessons taught include never giving up, being hopeful for the future and choosing to do the right thing in spite of obstacles and others leading the wrong way. I especially liked the inclusion of honoring veterans who sacrifice so much for our nation. This is a wholesome book that is encouraging and uplifting as well as a really good story.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

NetGalley provided me a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest book review.

The Best is Yet to Come, by Debbie Macomber, is a well written story centering around a high school teacher named Hope, a veteran named Cade, and several high school students. Ms Macomber shows her talents and experience by interweaving plots dealing with Hope’s personal and work life with Cade’s character development, all the while formulating a story in itself of a small group of high school students and their plights.

The book thrives on providing character parallels for the undercurrent story lines. Cade, a soldier who is damaged physically and emotionally after a tour of service in Afghanistan, sees a parallel of himself in a dog at an animal shelter he is volunteering at. Angry and afraid to trust anyone, the dog begins to soften and mellow when Hope, another volunteer, begins working with him. Cade views Hope as a savior for the dog, and, as he gets to know her, soon finds her as a savior for himself.

This relationship development is replicated every so slightly in the high school subplot. Spencer, an intelligent student known as a school geek/nerd, slowly becomes a rock for Callie, a well known popular girl who is on the school’s dance team. Callie’s character develops from being a popular school girl with a snotty attitude to one that seeks truth over popularity. Together, they are able to uncover a serious situation that taking place at the school with people’s lives in jeopardy.

Being one of my friend’s favorite authors, I’m glad I took the initiative to pick up this book. I really enjoyed reading what is one of Debbie Macomber’s last books. May she enjoy her retirement, and I look forward to reading more books she has written during her extensive career.

The Best is Yet to Come
Debbie Macomber
July 12, 2022


Cade Lincoln left home six year ago after a dispute with his parents about his future. He had just graduated his first four years in college. His father, John, wanted him to go on to become a lawyer. John felt that Cade could join his practice. Although his mother knew that was not what Cade wanted she followed her husband’s wishes and encouraged him to continue. Instead Cade entered the service, returning to the states after he and his buddies were shot down in Afghanistan. Although his injuries were serious with damage to his brain and legs he made it home, his buddies were killed in action. He was angry, upset. He carried the loss wondering why he was allowed to return and not them. He started drinking and with drinking came anger.
Hope Godwin left her teaching position in LA after her grandparents died. She decided to try to start over with a new job and a new location. Hope applied for several positions in small towns in Washington. She loved the ocean and wanted to be near a beach location. She ended up in Oceanside teaching computer science and US History. Additionally she was slated to use her degree in counseling. She was lonely, sometimes feeling lost but she loved her new position and wanted to find a life in Oceanside.
Macomber’s latest novel gives us a look at the lives of characters who suffer depression, angst, and loneliness. It made me feel somewhat sad reading it but gave me a clue that life could get better for them, yet that river would not be an easy one to cross. I very much enjoy her writing whether the storyline is happy go lucky or in this case isolated and much in need of camaraderie.
The Best is Yet to Come will be published on July 12, 2022 by Ballantine Books of Random House. I appreciate their allowing me to read and review Debbie Macomber’s novel via NetGalley. As always I am enthralled by her writing. I never hesitate to read one of her books. Be certain to pick this one up and enjoy!