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A Girl's Guide to Moving On

Review

A Girl's Guide to Moving On

Leanne had more than her share of heartache during her 35-year marriage to Sean. The infidelity started early on and continued, until their whole marriage became nothing more than a façade. Leanne hoped that her son, Jake, would be a different kind of husband to his beautiful wife, Nichole, but that apple fell right next to the tree. When Jake cheats on Nichole and gets another woman pregnant, Nichole files for divorce. Inspired by her daughter-in-law, Leanne follows suit.

Newly divorced and tending to their broken hearts, Leanne and Nichole grow closer than ever --- even getting apartments down the hall from each other. Determined to make “Chapter Two” of their lives better than “Chapter One,” they compile a list of objectives titled “A Girl’s Guide to Moving On.” In it, they aim to reach out to others through volunteering, cultivating new friendships, letting go of resentment, and learning to love themselves. Feeling fragile at first, the two women soon discover their own inner strength and the resilience of the human heart.

"Whether you are in a rock-solid relationship or have faced a break-up or divorce, you are sure to connect with the joys and trials faced by Leanne and Nichole as they support each other in their individual quests for a brighter tomorrow."

Both begin their journey by attending church services, joining a divorce support group, and volunteering at places where their unique skills and passions can help others. Leanne signs up to teach English as a Second Language, where she is quickly drawn to Nikolai --- a Ukrainian baker who brings her homemade bread and clearly has feelings for her. Nichole joins Dress for Success, a gently used clothing boutique that helps out-of-work women dress for job interviews.

As Nichole struggles to maintain balance with her substitute teaching job, Dress for Success, and her three-year-old son, Owen, she meets Rocco, a handsome tow-truck driver who is the polar opposite of her wealthy, country club ex-husband. Tattooed, gruff and a little rough around the edges, Rocco soon shows himself to be a diamond in the rough. Their friendship quickly blooms into romance, and even little Owen and Rocco’s teen daughter are happy with the turn of events. Jake, however, is jealous, angry and frustrated at his inability to win back his ex-wife. Desperate to get Rocco out of the picture, he comes at Nichole with a legal threat, forcing her to make a heart-rending decision.

While Nichole is struggling to handle her situation, Leanne receives shocking news from Sean that changes her perspective on their relationship. The choice she makes will have a powerful impact on her romance with Nikolai.

A GIRL’S GUIDE TO MOVING ON is truly a story of love, friendship, hope and a woman’s capacity to make a fresh start. Whether you are in a rock-solid relationship or have faced a break-up or divorce, you are sure to connect with the joys and trials faced by Leanne and Nichole as they support each other in their individual quests for a brighter tomorrow. Readers will find the book full of the tender moments, humor, drama and emotion for which Debbie Macomber’s novels are famous.

Reviewed by Susan Miura on February 25, 2016

A Girl's Guide to Moving On
by Debbie Macomber

  • Publication Date: August 23, 2016
  • Genres: Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction
  • Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Ballantine Books
  • ISBN-10: 0553391941
  • ISBN-13: 9780553391947