This Thing Called Love by Debbie Howells is a heartfelt, beautifully written story that really stays with you. It dives into love, loss, and finding your way back to yourself with such honesty and warmth. The characters feel real and relatable, and their journeys are both emotional and uplifting. Howells has a gentle, thoughtful way of writing that pulls you in and makes you care deeply about what happens next. It’s the kind of book that makes you pause, reflect, and feel just a little more hopeful by the end.

3.5 rounded down

This book was a heartfelt and hopeful story about resilience, connection, and the many forms love can take. Despite a few pacing issues, it’s an emotionally rich read with relatable characters and moments that will stay with you.

It’s a “found family” trope tale full of warmth, empathy, and heart. But it’s not overly sweet or unrealistic—serious challenges are thoughtfully portrayed, such as Bee’s rocky relationship with her mother and Alex’s quiet sacrifice as a caregiver. The book handles these moments with emotional maturity and hope.

My favourite part was the Dear Universe letters and in the final quarter, where all the paths interwined.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

One of the reviews I read for this book said it was perfect for fans of Lucy Diamond and Jill Mansell, who are two of my favourite authors. So I had high hopes, and they did not disappoint, despite a blurb that didn’t come close to describing what the book is actually about.

I loved how this book started, with a letter to the Universe from 9yo Mackenzie, and how the theme of trusting the Universe recurred throughout. This book explores dementia, loss and grief in a way that is heart-warming and filled with hope, and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending me an advance copy.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars

What an emotional read that looks at human nature from so many different perspectives. Topics including dementia , grief, loneliness and friendship are so sensitively explored in this beautifully written book. When Bee loses her job, her boyfriend and home she has absolutely no idea what to do. Forced to move back home to her mum’s, who she doesn’t have a great relationship with, and never knowing who her father is she decides to find out. Little does she know that in Mallorca a little girl, Mack, is writing to the universe asking for her grief stricken dad Luke to be happy again. There’s also a young man called Alex who cares for his mum who has dementia. He is trying to get the band she used to play in back together to try and help her as he knows that music can be a great help for those with dementia. They are all linked and as the story weaves its way through their lives, reconnecting them, Bee goes through her own journey of self discovery, believing in the process and following her instincts. Wonderful characters with some absolutely heartbreaking, and heartwarming , moments this is a must read. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

They often say bad things come in threes. Bee, a social media expert with a passion for the environment, can attest to that: in one day, her boyfriend breaks up with her, she loses her job and her best friend tells her she can't rent with her anymore (meaning she has to move back in with her mother). It truly says something when the highlight of her day is a guy spilling coffee all over her. In his defense though, he is good-looking and has kind eyes.
We meet the owner of those kind eyes, Alex, in the next chapter, discovering the coffee-spill-meet-cute is a bit of a highlight for him too, as the rest of his day is spent working from home while simultaneously being the full-time caretaker of his Mum, Rachel, who has early-onset dementia.

Both Bee and Alex are on the cusp of something: Bee finally learns the identity of her father (which her Mum kept hidden from her all this time). Alex meanwhile learns his mother used to be the lead singer in a band. Bee decides to go to Mallorca to look for her father; Alex decides to attempt to bring Rachel's band back together, believing in the power of music in helping dementia patients.
And then there is 9 year-old Mack. A smarty pants little girl who sees her dad struggling every day and pleads with the Universe to do something to help. That plea may very well be the catalyst for changes in courses, crossing of paths, colliding with coffee.

This was such a sweet, sensitive story. While This Thing Called Love is a romance story, it ultimately is a story about many different kinds of love, and these love stories all shine. It's about love between Father and Daughter, Husband and Wife, Daughter and Mother. Between sisters. Between old friends (albeit reluctantly at times). Between a Son and his Mother. Even between neighbors. And if not about love specifically, there is a great deal of kindness and empathy here that just warms the heart. We all love a good Found Family story.

But this book is not saccharine sweet, it's not cloying. Plenty of believable dramatic moments happen. Besides Bee's Trifecta of Shit, there is the very strained and frustrating relationship between Bee and her mother, but Howells leaves in mature gray zones there. We of course read about Alex's responsibilites and lack of freedom as a caretaker of an ill parent. Alex: "When you're constantly caring for someone else, you tend not to think about yourself too much." It's on the nose, and something those of us in caretaker roles can relate to all too well. Howells has not written Rachel's dementia as too far advanced, so there is levity and a sense of hope, but we do see it wear on Alex. But he is that devoted to her, and it keeps him going. (Love!) Then we witness a couple of other characters go through intense grief, and it's handled with a "one step at a time" sensitivity.

This Thing Called Love showcases the power of showing up, and holding each other up, and just loving someone the best way you can, working with what you have at the moment.

Some things progress a little conveniently, or too quickly (gahhh I wish we got more on the band! The songs! Reminiscing!). Other things are repetitive. Hence the 4 stars. But it's still a book I highly enjoyed and would recommend.

I appreciated the unique approach to the romance element, letting it build slowly through little connections, almost in the background, trusting in the power of kismet. While I think some readers would like to see more emphasis on the romance, I liked how this novel allowed the other loves to shine as bright as they did. Those other love stories are so strong, they only give more power and a solid foundation to the romance at the ultimate center of it all.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

Beautifully written story of friendship, love, grief, heartbreak, and self-discovery!

from the first page, you are taken on this emotional but exciting journey with Bee. When life is at his lowest point, she goes on a journey to find her father. Here, a new chapter begins as she starts building a new life for herself.

My favourite quote is;

"The way I see it, some of our paths are intertwined long before we realise they are, only as our lives play out, bring us together with those of us who we are meant to share our journey with."

Loved this adventure. Thank you @@NetGalley_UK and @BoldwoodBooks for this advanced copy.

this was a touching read. it held topics that couldve been quite heavy in a sensitive way. there were ups and downs for all our characters and i love the authors way of creating an arc ive never seen before. it was so unique and such a beautiful way of writing our characters own story but then giving them a link.
our characters are all searching for something. all wanting someone to either help their pain or someone they love. or someone or something to help them feel like themselves matter, a belonging.
we have Bee who is struggling. life isnt handing her just lemons, right now it pelting them at her. but she has just found out the identity of her father. and goes on a quest to find him.
Luke is having his own troubles. he is a caregiver who is quickly losing who she is to dementia. but something does keep flickering and that is music. so he goes on a search for the man she played music with.
turns out these people are one and the same. its leading these two to the same person. and perhaps eachother?
we also have Luke young dirty. who is desperately searching for something to help her dad.
i could really feel the emotions each character was going through. Debbie did a great job of keeping them all individual as they slowly headed together. we learn of their own stories and i wanted to know more as the chapters went on. i also couldnt wait to see if and how they might all come together and if and how this might give them the "something" theyd were searching for. and might it be a different something to what they first thought as they set out on their journeys.
every character in this story felt just as important be it main or side. and that again i think is a major plus.
i actually did like how the romance part of the book didnt take over. i was invested in them all it felt real to keep the focus the way it did.

3.7 Stars
One Liner: This was sweet

When Bee loses her job, home, and boyfriend on the same day, she is at her lowest point. It doesn’t help that some guy spilled his coffee on her. However, she finally learns the name of her father, Luke Friday, a musician she has never met. Bee decides to search for him and find out more.
Alex is the guy who spilled coffee on her. At home, he takes care of his mother, whose memories desert her. In an attempt to help her, Alex wants to find a man called Luke Friday, someone with whom his mother played music once upon a time.
As Alex and Bee search for the same person, Luke’s nine-year-old daughter is trying to find something or someone to bring her father out of his grief. How will their paths cross? What happens next?
The story comes in Bee and Alex’s first-person POVs.

My Thoughts:
This is contemporary fiction and family drama where the lead characters are on their personal quests. Though their paths will eventually interact, it doesn’t happen until the last quarter.
The book deals with themes like dementia, being a caregiver, emotionally unavailable parent, loss of a partner and parent, loneliness, etc. While these make the story a bit heavy, the book doesn’t feel overwhelming.
It takes a little time to like Bee. However, her confusion, fears, vulnerabilities, etc., are well-presented. She is hesitant, sad, and ready to give up, much like how people react in similar situations. This elevates her character as the story progresses.
Alex is a good guy; someone easy to like, pretty much from the first. We can’t help but root for both main leads to find the ray of light in their lives.
Little Mack is adorable! God, I loved her! My heart broke for her, but she put it together with her childlike wisdom and innocence. The side characters are certainly interesting, and some of them have prominent roles.
Both main characters have careers related to nature (sort of), though we don’t actively see them at work. There’s a love track for them, which really doesn’t make any impact. It has been left too late and seems like a last-minute patch-up. Either they should have met earlier and shared a part of the journey, or their romance should have gotten a hint only at the end (like a slice-of-life ending).
Still, the rest of it is rather good, so I’m willing to look over the issues. Also, a certain character I disliked doesn’t have a 360-degree change of heart. There’s no forced ‘family comes first’ nonsense. Here, family is found family. Just the way I like it.

To summarize, This Thing Called Love is a heartwarming book about finding your people, caring for your loved ones, and the power of music and memories for people with dementia.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Tthis is a heartwarming, feel-good story that blends romance, friendship, music, and family. The novel follows Bee, who travels to Majorca searching for the father she’s never met, and Alex, a devoted son caring for his mother with early onset dementia. In Majorca, music becomes a healing force. Alex reconnects with his mother’s past as a rock band singer, sparking a spontaneous band reunion that culminates in a magical one-night performance. Both characters are at personal crossroads, and their journeys intertwine in unexpected and uplifting ways. The story is filled with laughter, emotional growth, and a celebration of love in all its forms. Through touching moments and uplifting turns, the book explores how faith, connection, and a little bit of music can transform lives.

This read was good and has an important message, it just was not for me and I sadly did not enjoy it.
I read this quickly and it was easy to read and continue. I liked the character of Bee, however Alex not so much and I found myself not looking forward to his chapters. Luke and Mack are also strong, likeable characters.
There was nothing I can pinpoint to not like, there was just something missing for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy.

Bee loses' her job, her boyfriend and her home and begrudgingly goes to stay with her mother.

She has never known the identity of her father until she reads a diary of her mothers and finds his name, Luke Friday.

Alex, who had split coffee on Bee the day before and is caring for his mother, Roxy with dementia, also is looking for Luke Friday, whom he thinks might help his mother remember the days that they were in a band together.

A wonderful written story where the characters come alive and where love, family and a few tears makes this an excellent read!

I ended up dnfing this book. The story and message were good I just didn't like the writing style.so that through me off.

My first book by this author, but definitely won't be my last! This was a lovely read. We meet Bee and she's having a terrible day! She's lost her job, her boyfriend and her home! We also meet Alex who's mum is suffering from early on-set dementia. The storyline is told from both Bee and Alex's perspectives and we get to follow their lives. Bee has never known who her father is, and when her mother refuses to tell her, Bee goes through her private diaries to find out who it might be. When she finds a name, she decides to go in search for him. Alex's mum used to be a singer in a band when she was young, and following a visit to A&E after a fall, they bump into Kevin, the ex-drummer for the band. Thinking it will help with his mum's memories, Alex persuades Kevin to help him find the other band members to reform for one final gig. Both Bee and Alex's decisions sets them on a road where their paths will eventually cross!

I really enjoyed this book! The story is told from both Bee and Alex's perspectives, swapping chapters as they go! Bee is lovely character and you can't help but feel sorry for her losing her job, boyfriend and home in one day. You also have to feel sorry for her having to go and live with her mum as her mum doesn't seem the most loving or supportive parent that she could be. Alex is also a lovely character, and you feel for him in different ways. His mum is suffering from early onset dementia and it's such a difficult time for both of them. Their storylines run alongside each other really well, and whilst you know at some point their paths will cross, they do run separately for quite a while, building up the suspense as to what will happen when it does. The other characters are all likeable, including Kevin who is the most grumpiest lawyer/drummer ever! You get to find out all their backstories though which does explain a lot as to why they are like they are. This combined with the two main stories ensures you will just keep turning those pages until you get to the end!

It's a really heart-warming read, but it does deal with some sensitive issues. These are all handled well and as it is well written you feel like you go through all their emotions with them. I did find myself wiping a couple of tears away on more than one occasion, so make sure you keep the tissues handy. There is a strong theme of family and friendships, and the author has done a great job of showing the difficulties people face when life goes wrong. She's also shown how the support and love of the people around you makes all the difference and can quite literally change lives. This book will fill your heart with love and stay with you after you've turned the last page! Would recommend.

This book was such a heartwarming read. The topics involved, including dementia and other traumas, were sensitively covered, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the characters. You couldn’t help but root for Bee and Alex, and little Mack especially. Please do give this book a read, you won’t regret it!

I am a sucker for a cute romance novel/story, and I was really hoping this would be my next favorite because I thought this book sounded cute, I just didn’t enjoy it.

I love everything about “This Thing Called Love.” The characters and the storyline filled me with joy, made me laugh and allowed me to escape to exotic locales I had only dreamed about. Our group of friends, both old and new, were surrounded by beautiful music, the magic of romance, family togetherness and the wonders of faith. Dee was at a crossroads in her life and set off to Majorca to seek out her father, praying with all of her heart that he would be happy to see her. Alex returned home to care for his mom who has early onset dementia. His days are filled with working from home and worrying about his mom, with little time for anything else. When the opportunity arose for him to also travel to Majorca, he jumped at the chance to take a little time for himself.

Back in the day, Alex’s mom was in a rock band and they had quite the following. Alex hoped that by bringing music back into her life that perhaps she would feel better about everything else that was going on. As luck would have it, they ran into Kevin, who was the drummer and Leo, who was one of the roadies. From this miraculous event came the reunion of the band, plans for a one night performance, and new beginnings for everyone. Even though I worried about Alex’s mom throughout the book, it was important to become educated about early onset dementia, and to understand that someone’s life is not over when they are diagnosed. When his mom got on stage and the lights dimmed, she sang like an angel and mesmerized the audience. Love conquered all that night and everyone’s lives were brighter because of the faith they had in each other.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

Bee, quien acaba de perder su trabajo, su casa y a su novio el mismo día, decide embarcarse en un viaje a Mallorca para buscar a su padre biológico, un músico llamado Luke Friday. Mientras tanto, Alex, quien cuida de su madre con demencia, también se ve arrastrado por el destino hacia Luke, pues cree que él puede ser la clave para recuperar algunos de los recuerdos de su madre.

A lo largo de la novela, Bee y Alex se embarcan en una aventura que no solo les lleva a descubrir más sobre sus propios pasados, sino también a encontrar nuevas conexiones, sanar viejas heridas y, de manera inesperada, experimentar el amor. Lo más conmovedor de este libro es cómo muestra que, aunque la vida nos ponga a prueba con situaciones difíciles, siempre hay espacio para la esperanza, la amistad y el amor.


Cuando leí la sinopsis, imaginé que la historia seguiría un camino predecible, pero me llevé una grata sorpresa cuando paso lo inesperado. Más que un romance, que existe en diversas formas a lo largo del libro, el verdadero enfoque de la novela es el viaje hacia el autodescubrimiento, la búsqueda de una familia y la amistad.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bea worked in an arboretum, something she loved until she lost her job and her boyfriend on the same day. Then her flatmate wants her out in order to move her boyfriend in. She moves into her mothers but knows this is only temporary as Mother isn't something that has been done. She at long last finds out the name of her father and decides to go in search of him.

Alex looks after his mother who is sadly suffering with dementia. One day he takes a break and bumps into a lovely looking woman, spilling her coffee in the process. She doesn't want to stop, however she isn't someone he can forget easily. His mother is getting worse and he thinks maybe the man she played music with may be the key to getting his mother her memories back.

A book of hope and more. We all go through changes one way or another, sometimes of the toughest type and this shows that taking that small step can make things so, so different if we try. Its drama, its friendships and a little romance all rolled in together. A wonderful read I most thoroughly enjoyed.

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