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sslovesbooks_1's review
3.0
The second book in the Dewberry Beach series and a completely different feel to this second book but the beauty and sense of community in still there.
kdurham2's review
3.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Jill Goodman was married to an older, powerful man, but she thinks she is living the best life she could have ever hoped for, with all the clothes, jewelry and things at her fingertips. But is she really living. When her marriage dissolves she is left with a beach house that was to her knowledge unable to be sold in a small beach town and this house will change her life!
Jill Goodman was married to an older, powerful man, but she thinks she is living the best life she could have ever hoped for, with all the clothes, jewelry and things at her fingertips. But is she really living. When her marriage dissolves she is left with a beach house that was to her knowledge unable to be sold in a small beach town and this house will change her life!
crolovr's review
4.0
Jill thought she married the man of her dreams who changed her life for the better. When she finds out that Marc was cheating on her, she realizes he is a snake and a liar.
In the divorce settlement Jill becomes the owner of the Dewberry Beach House on the New Jersey shore. Jill wants to sell the beach house so she can start her new life. But when she goes to sell the house, Jill unearths more secrets.
This is the perfect beach story. Jill's friend Ellie always stood by her side. Heidi describes the perfect Jersey small town and I wanted to become a part of this community. Jill realizes she lost herself during her marriage and I loved watching her grow and become her true self.
Thank you to @bookouture @lovetheshore_ @heidihostetter and @chicklitcentral for a copy of this ebook and including me in this tour this is my honest review.
In the divorce settlement Jill becomes the owner of the Dewberry Beach House on the New Jersey shore. Jill wants to sell the beach house so she can start her new life. But when she goes to sell the house, Jill unearths more secrets.
This is the perfect beach story. Jill's friend Ellie always stood by her side. Heidi describes the perfect Jersey small town and I wanted to become a part of this community. Jill realizes she lost herself during her marriage and I loved watching her grow and become her true self.
Thank you to @bookouture @lovetheshore_ @heidihostetter and @chicklitcentral for a copy of this ebook and including me in this tour this is my honest review.
thesmuttybookmama's review
5.0
Known as the Queen of Summer fiction, somebody better tell Elin Hilderbrand Heidi is out to steal her crown. This is hands down one of the top 10 summer reads of 2021!
Jillian DiFiore chanhed her whole entire life to marry Marc, a man twice er age. She was.truly in love, or so she thought, and she did everything to mold herself into his perfect woman. Doing so forced her to block out the things he did that may not have been as honorable as she would have liked. All of that comes to a head the moment she receives photos from his mistress that were undeniable. Marc was having an affair. Armed with a prenump, he wanted out within weeks. All Jill wants is her freedom. And the house in Dewberry Beach that was mortgaged in her name fraudulently.
You quickly fall in love with the Jersey Shore due to the almost artistic writing. This is a book that you fall into so easily and wether or not you've ever even been to the East Coast you feel your toes in the sand and hear the water lapping at your feet. Her writing is just that good. There's a little suspense, romance, friendship, and the feel good community all wrapped up perfectly to make this the perfect read to have in your beach bag while you spend a summer afternoon on the shore. Even if you can't go to the beach, this book is a mini holiday in itself. Five huge stars and I've already added her whole catalog to my TBR list.
Thank you to NetGalley, Heidi Hostetter, and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Jillian DiFiore chanhed her whole entire life to marry Marc, a man twice er age. She was.truly in love, or so she thought, and she did everything to mold herself into his perfect woman. Doing so forced her to block out the things he did that may not have been as honorable as she would have liked. All of that comes to a head the moment she receives photos from his mistress that were undeniable. Marc was having an affair. Armed with a prenump, he wanted out within weeks. All Jill wants is her freedom. And the house in Dewberry Beach that was mortgaged in her name fraudulently.
You quickly fall in love with the Jersey Shore due to the almost artistic writing. This is a book that you fall into so easily and wether or not you've ever even been to the East Coast you feel your toes in the sand and hear the water lapping at your feet. Her writing is just that good. There's a little suspense, romance, friendship, and the feel good community all wrapped up perfectly to make this the perfect read to have in your beach bag while you spend a summer afternoon on the shore. Even if you can't go to the beach, this book is a mini holiday in itself. Five huge stars and I've already added her whole catalog to my TBR list.
Thank you to NetGalley, Heidi Hostetter, and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
jessiewinterspring's review
5.0
This book is the kind of book that starts slow and accelerates. Before you know it, you're catching your breath for either excitement or frustration. Mine was both. I nearly stopped reading this after the first two chapters, but after chapter 3 things just keep getting exciting. It doesn't have a happy ever after on the romance side but it's a very satisfying read.
raena_reads's review
4.0
As I started reading this I knew it would be a great book. Although I had some thought of ‘ where is this story going ‘ I loved the way it panned out and the sentiment behind it. Gill had to find her feet, navigate what was right and wrong and set up a life for herself all over again. The themes of friendship and community were what held this story together and made it such a good read. The setting sounded so idilic and made me want to pack a bag straight away.
tessa_talks_books's review
5.0
The Girl I Used to Be by Heidi Hostetter is the perfect beach or pool read.
What I Loved
I loved the mystery and suspense. It is why I finished this novel in one sitting. I desperately wanted to know if the bad guy was going to get what he had coming. That is how well the characters are developed. You just want justice to prevail for all of those that were wronged. Jill, the main character, is a Jersey girl from South Jersey. Only three years after she married the man of her dreams, Jill realizes that all the changes he insists she makes for him mean she is not his dream girl. And then she is slapped with a reality that she can’t ignore, and it makes her open her eyes to the fact that she hasn’t recognized it. This just begins a string of unearthed secrets and despicable deeds that rock her to the core.
I love how Jill picks herself up and opens her eyes to what she had become and what she wants to be. The strength she shows as the story unfolds is so admirable I couldn’t help but be in her corner from beginning to end. She is well-developed with intricate layers that tell her personal story in a relatable and genuine way.
The setting is the Jersey shore, and I always love a beach setting. I wanted a house on the beach for Jill almost as much as I want one for myself. This also kept those pages quickly turning as I tried to see if she figured out a way to make her dream happen.
I loved the themes of friendship and community that hold this story together and give it a heartwarming feel. Ellie is the friend that we all should have and hopefully, do. A friend who is there by your side through thick and thin and helps you realize your dreams before you even admit that it is indeed a dream. She is someone that makes things happen without barreling over anyone in the process. And, the community of Dewberry Beach is one I wanted to join and never look back. They are slightly quirky and welcoming in all-natural ways.
If you are looking for the perfect weekend or vacation read, The Girl I Used to Be is all that and more.
What I Loved
I loved the mystery and suspense. It is why I finished this novel in one sitting. I desperately wanted to know if the bad guy was going to get what he had coming. That is how well the characters are developed. You just want justice to prevail for all of those that were wronged. Jill, the main character, is a Jersey girl from South Jersey. Only three years after she married the man of her dreams, Jill realizes that all the changes he insists she makes for him mean she is not his dream girl. And then she is slapped with a reality that she can’t ignore, and it makes her open her eyes to the fact that she hasn’t recognized it. This just begins a string of unearthed secrets and despicable deeds that rock her to the core.
I love how Jill picks herself up and opens her eyes to what she had become and what she wants to be. The strength she shows as the story unfolds is so admirable I couldn’t help but be in her corner from beginning to end. She is well-developed with intricate layers that tell her personal story in a relatable and genuine way.
The setting is the Jersey shore, and I always love a beach setting. I wanted a house on the beach for Jill almost as much as I want one for myself. This also kept those pages quickly turning as I tried to see if she figured out a way to make her dream happen.
I loved the themes of friendship and community that hold this story together and give it a heartwarming feel. Ellie is the friend that we all should have and hopefully, do. A friend who is there by your side through thick and thin and helps you realize your dreams before you even admit that it is indeed a dream. She is someone that makes things happen without barreling over anyone in the process. And, the community of Dewberry Beach is one I wanted to join and never look back. They are slightly quirky and welcoming in all-natural ways.
If you are looking for the perfect weekend or vacation read, The Girl I Used to Be is all that and more.
ceriwelshmumof3reads's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, I wasn't sure what to expect and if I'm honest, I expected a different story from reading the description.
Saying that, it was a lovely story about getting back to being yourself. I loved the character Jill and how down to earth she was, and how she took it all in her stride.
Saying that, it was a lovely story about getting back to being yourself. I loved the character Jill and how down to earth she was, and how she took it all in her stride.
chaos_and_cabernet's review
4.0
I was provided a copy of The Girl I Used to Be by Heidi Hostetter by @bookouture in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of Jillian DiFiore. Jill has changed everything about herself in order to please her wealthy, influential husband Marc. Jill dreams of building a successful photography business, while Marc is less than supportive. Jill’s world quickly begins to unravel, and she discovers Marc is not what he seemed from the beginning. We follow her on a journey from the home she shared with Marc to a cozy beach town where she begins to realize just how much of herself she has lost.
I have to say, I absolutely loved this book. It was the first Heidi Hofstetter book I have read, but I am eager to read more. It’s women’s fiction with serious heart. The story had me hooked from the first page, and I eagerly turned the pages to see how things end up for Jill. My only issue with the book is that we keep seeing mentions of Jill’s troubled past, but we never learn what exactly happened in that past. I would have loved more details on how Jill came to live and grow up with her aunt and uncle.
4 bright stars for this one. It’s going to fit quite nicely in your beach bag.
Thanks to @bookouture, @netgalley, and @lovetheshore_ for the opportunity to read this one.
This is the story of Jillian DiFiore. Jill has changed everything about herself in order to please her wealthy, influential husband Marc. Jill dreams of building a successful photography business, while Marc is less than supportive. Jill’s world quickly begins to unravel, and she discovers Marc is not what he seemed from the beginning. We follow her on a journey from the home she shared with Marc to a cozy beach town where she begins to realize just how much of herself she has lost.
I have to say, I absolutely loved this book. It was the first Heidi Hofstetter book I have read, but I am eager to read more. It’s women’s fiction with serious heart. The story had me hooked from the first page, and I eagerly turned the pages to see how things end up for Jill. My only issue with the book is that we keep seeing mentions of Jill’s troubled past, but we never learn what exactly happened in that past. I would have loved more details on how Jill came to live and grow up with her aunt and uncle.
4 bright stars for this one. It’s going to fit quite nicely in your beach bag.
Thanks to @bookouture, @netgalley, and @lovetheshore_ for the opportunity to read this one.