A sweet and gentle story about healing, second chances the the unexpected ways love can grow. It's a comforting read with heartfelt moments and lovable characters. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. I see a lot of great reviews so it might just "me" with my 3 star rating.

Maddie is about to divorce her reckless husband but he dies in an accident before she can proceed. Left to raise twins on her own with a meddling Mother in law, free spirited mother and her husbands well intentioned best friend, she tries to navigate through this confusing time which is made more confusing by her husbands actions catching up with her.
It feels very candid and real the way the grief and reactions are presented. The book was touching and sweet. I enjoyed almost all the characters, even though some of them felt a little like caricatures. The pets stole the show but that's probably just me.

Bigger Than Us is an engrossing and absorbing book with many layers and depth. Love and loss, misunderstandings, second chances, life-changing surprises, struggle and recovery, friends and family. There are strong characters, adorable children, a loveable dog and cat, and plenty of angst and emotion. It’s a wonderful story, one I highly recommend!

Before Maddie could divorce charismatic, troubled, unfaithful Landon, he died. Leaving her with heartbroken 5yr old twins, an angry, controlling and devastated Mother in Law; a skittish best friend and the hits keep coming.

Elenor's meddling started a chain reaction of events that find Maddie overwhelmed and lonely. After Landon's funeral, Maddie finds a condom wrapper in his car. She was no longer able to have children after complications with the twins birth, so it wasn't something she and Landon needed, not that they had been connecting before his death. He had been cheating. She knew she had wanted to leave him but this news still hurts. Then a young woman approaches her at work, with a beautiful baby boy and yet another shoe drops. Noel, the last man Maddie was involved with before Landon, is back, and as Landon's best friend and god father to the twins, seems prepared to stay. Maddie is drawn to him, even as he makes her feel inadequate.

This book is about a woman who keeps moving forward with compassion and love even as the universe seems to be trying to drown her. It is almost unrealistic, how she so easily says yes, and opens her arms to strays of every variety, when she already has sooo much on her plate.

I devoured ‘Bigger Than Us’ by Debbie Burns. It’s heartwarming, raw, and sincere.

I liked the light and humorous presence of our four-legged friends. I also appreciated the realistic and genuine portrayal of the human nature of the main characters; you can be flawed and still be caring and kind.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the e-ARC of this lovely novel.