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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
The Five Stages of Falling in Love by Rachel Higginson is a lovely romance. Elizabeth Carlson has just lost her husband Grady. He had brain tumors and tried every treatment possible before he died. Elizabeth is left with uncontrollable grief and four young children. Elizabeth will have to work through the five stages of grief in order to get on with her life and find love again.
Elizabeth and Grady had a great marriage. They were happily in love and enjoyed their life with their children. Blake, age 8; Abby, age 6; Lucy, age 4; and Jace, age 2. They are a handful, but they enjoy their children. Then Grady is diagnosed with brain tumors. They are inoperable, but they try every treatment available to get rid of them. Unfortunately, Grady's heart gives out and he passes away. Elizabeth and the children have to find a way to continue on without Grady.
It is a constant struggle for Elizabeth. She does not want to get up but knows that she has to for the children. She is constantly angry and strikes out at everyone. Abby is also acting out. Elizabeth's sister, Emma is a big help. Then enters the new neighbor, Ben Tyler. He is very nice and understanding with Elizabeth and the children. At first Elizabeth does not want to accept help, but gradually Ben works his way into the families life. Slowly Elizabeth starts to fall in love as her grief over losing Grady starts to lessen. It will be a struggle, though, for Elizabeth. Elizabeth has different emotions battling inside her that she will have to deal with and handle. Her love for Grady and her new blossoming love for Ben. Elizabeth feels guilty for moving on, but she loves the way Ben makes her feel--alive! Ben will need a lot of patience and a lot of love!
The Five Stages of Falling in Love is a sweet romance. At some points you just want to yell and shake Elizabeth because she is so steeped in grief and useless to everyone. The ending was very sweet and makes you sigh. I give The Five Stages of Falling in Love a 4 out of 5 stars! I hope you enjoy reading it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Elizabeth and Grady had a great marriage. They were happily in love and enjoyed their life with their children. Blake, age 8; Abby, age 6; Lucy, age 4; and Jace, age 2. They are a handful, but they enjoy their children. Then Grady is diagnosed with brain tumors. They are inoperable, but they try every treatment available to get rid of them. Unfortunately, Grady's heart gives out and he passes away. Elizabeth and the children have to find a way to continue on without Grady.
It is a constant struggle for Elizabeth. She does not want to get up but knows that she has to for the children. She is constantly angry and strikes out at everyone. Abby is also acting out. Elizabeth's sister, Emma is a big help. Then enters the new neighbor, Ben Tyler. He is very nice and understanding with Elizabeth and the children. At first Elizabeth does not want to accept help, but gradually Ben works his way into the families life. Slowly Elizabeth starts to fall in love as her grief over losing Grady starts to lessen. It will be a struggle, though, for Elizabeth. Elizabeth has different emotions battling inside her that she will have to deal with and handle. Her love for Grady and her new blossoming love for Ben. Elizabeth feels guilty for moving on, but she loves the way Ben makes her feel--alive! Ben will need a lot of patience and a lot of love!
The Five Stages of Falling in Love is a sweet romance. At some points you just want to yell and shake Elizabeth because she is so steeped in grief and useless to everyone. The ending was very sweet and makes you sigh. I give The Five Stages of Falling in Love a 4 out of 5 stars! I hope you enjoy reading it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
devansbooklife's review against another edition
5.0
What beautiful writing style! Rachel Higginson completely takes the reader into the stages of grief and loss. These feelings are so palpable and real I couldn't contain my anguish. I applaud this book.
melissareads7997's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! This story had me hooked from the prologue. A book hasn't made me FEEL this much in quite some time.
Liz is a 32 year old mother of 4 who has just lost her soulmate. She is understandably destroyed and has to figure out how to function in the world she and Brody built without him. In walks the new neighbor Ben. Ben is a wonderful and understanding man. He is helpful, kind and just what Liz needs. Liz's friendship with Ben grows as she works through the five stages of grief. Grab a box of tissues and enjoy!
The book is beautifully written by Rachel Higginson. I have already read several of her novels and look forward to reading more.
Liz is a 32 year old mother of 4 who has just lost her soulmate. She is understandably destroyed and has to figure out how to function in the world she and Brody built without him. In walks the new neighbor Ben. Ben is a wonderful and understanding man. He is helpful, kind and just what Liz needs. Liz's friendship with Ben grows as she works through the five stages of grief. Grab a box of tissues and enjoy!
The book is beautifully written by Rachel Higginson. I have already read several of her novels and look forward to reading more.
jmclaire's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
frenchpressbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a sweet and heartbreaking read. Well written and beautiful. The only think that killed me was I felt the ending was sudden and I needed more of them.
kkelly04's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻 Loved this book, it was amazing…….. it will break you and slowly put you back together! It was truly worth all the tears 😭♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
readfrenzy's review against another edition
4.0
This story is not about me falling in love. This story is about me learning to live again after love left my life.
This book was a nice surprise. I expected a book that deals with the five stages of grieving to be gut wrenching so I’d put off reading it until a day when I was in the mood for a good cry and when I was stocked up on Puffs Plus. Undoubtedly, there are many sad times but the first chapter was the only one I thought was truly heartbreaking (okay, and maybe another towards the end). Those occasions are outweighed by many uplifting moments throughout the book.
It’s the story of Liz, a mom of four young children, who is struggling to hold it together and simply make it through each day six months after the death of her husband, Grady. She is consumed with grief and completely overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising her children alone. Simple tasks like getting the kids to school on time and remembering to take out the garbage have become monumental. Ben moves next door and instantly irritates her. Little by little however, Ben’s acts of kindness wear down Liz’s defenses. The two develop a close friendship but eventually Ben wants more from their relationship. Can Liz ever allow herself to experience love or even happiness with another man again?
Liz is a character I could easily identify with. She isn’t the perfect mom. Her kids are late to school all the time, her son misses soccer practice, she’s horrible at helping with math homework, and her daughter is a discipline problem. Although she might want to have a pity party, she shows up for her kids and makes the effort to do better each day. Yes, she’s flawed but she’s a good mom and I admired her tremendously. Her kids are loved and they love her in return.
I loved Ben! He’s just a genuinely nice guy. I adored how gentle he is with Liz’s emotions and how willing he is to take what pieces of her affections she’s able to give at her pace. My ovaries practically ached reading about Ben interacting with Liz’s kids. They were clearly meant to be a family. The only thing holding them back was Liz.
On the downside, I felt the pacing dragged in places. And although Liz’s grief was understandable, her proclamations of love for her deceased husband seemed repetitive: Grady is the love of my life; I will never love Ben like Grady; we can never have what Grady and I had. It still wound up being enjoyable and heartwarming.
I recommend this book for those who appreciate a sweet, thoughtful and mature love story.
stormiclouds's review
5.0
Originally Posted on: http://bit.ly/2ktnvQx
I read this book without reading the description, because I had won it in a giveaway and heard so many great things about it. Needless to say, I was shocked when Liz's husband died in the prologue. I couldn't believe I hadn't even finished one chapter and I was already reaching for a tissue.
Higginson perfectly portrays the complexity and desperation behind the grief of losing someone you love and can't imagine living without. The pain and darkness caused by Grady's death was immense and tore at Liz and everyone else he touched. Higginson writes with such emotion and depth that I felt all of Liz's pain, anger, and guilt over Grady. I was a blubbering mess throughout this entire book and I probably should have bought stock in tissues before I even opened my Kindle to start Liz's story.
Ben was a God send and such an attractive man inside and out. Ben brought light and laughter and hope to Liz's story. I don't think I could have made it through the book if it wasn't for the happy moments with Ben. I would have been too sad for Liz, the kids, Katherine, and Trevor to keep reading.
I read this book without reading the description, because I had won it in a giveaway and heard so many great things about it. Needless to say, I was shocked when Liz's husband died in the prologue. I couldn't believe I hadn't even finished one chapter and I was already reaching for a tissue.
Higginson perfectly portrays the complexity and desperation behind the grief of losing someone you love and can't imagine living without. The pain and darkness caused by Grady's death was immense and tore at Liz and everyone else he touched. Higginson writes with such emotion and depth that I felt all of Liz's pain, anger, and guilt over Grady. I was a blubbering mess throughout this entire book and I probably should have bought stock in tissues before I even opened my Kindle to start Liz's story.
Ben was a God send and such an attractive man inside and out. Ben brought light and laughter and hope to Liz's story. I don't think I could have made it through the book if it wasn't for the happy moments with Ben. I would have been too sad for Liz, the kids, Katherine, and Trevor to keep reading.
briandthemoon's review
3.0
Was a very nice story. Just wish there was more about Ben and less about Grady. Only so many times you can explain missing someone and how they were everything before it gets to be too much. By 25%, I was starting to wish Grady's name wasn't on every page. I wish too that just ONE time, Liz could have made the effort and gone to Ben. Love is two sided. There was so little about their interactions. ... just his "services" to her, basically. I struggled to see what it was Ben actually loved about her. All we got to see is her preoccupation with Grady. I wish we had gotten more of Ben and Liz.