A Girl's Guide to Moving On: A Novel

Nichole thought she had the perfect life - married to Jake, a job that she loved, volunteer work, and especially her young son Owen. However, that life is shattered when she discovers Jake has been unfaithful and his girlfriend is pregnant. Nichole decides to divorce Jake and build a new life for herself and Owen. Her plans didn't include meeting tow truck driver Rocco but when she does sparks fly between the two of them. Can these two seemingly opposite people find love? In the meantime, encouraged by Nichole's actions, her mother-in-law Leanne, who ignored her husband Sean’s infidelity for years, also decides to get a divorce. She too is building a new life when she meets Nikolai, a baker from Ukraine. Nikolai (and his bread) soon find a way to Leanne’s heart but devastating news challenges her feelings for both Sean and Nikolai.

“A Girl's Guide to Moving On” is a heartwarming and at times heartbreaking novel by Debbie Macomber. While this is listed as a standalone novel, and it can indeed be read as such, it is a sequel of sorts to “Last One Home”, and fans of that book will definitely want to read this to find out what is going on with Cassie, Stephen, and Amiee. Nichole is Cassie’s sister and I love her character - reeling after her husband's infidelity, determined to not be like her mother-in-law and suffer for years, instead she builds a new life for herself. Rocco is definitely rough around the edges but I just love his relationship with Nichole. Readers will cheer for the two of them as they have their ups and downs (and no doubt some readers will hiss Jake a few times!). Leanne’s story is equally compelling as she begins a new life for herself, divorcing after many years of marriage. Her romance with Nikolai is especially well done - I just love his character! Their romance will make you laugh and cry - there are truly some heartbreaking moments in store for Leanne.

Usually when I read books like this, I find I prefer one romance over the other - not so with “A Girl's Guide to Moving On”. I thoroughly enjoyed both romances in the book and was sorry when the book was over.

When Nicole finds that her husband, Jake, has been unfaithful and his lover is pregnant, she immediately starts divorce proceedings. Her mother-in-law, Leanne, has been turning a blind eye to her husband's infidelity for 30 years, but seeing Nicole take steps to end her marriage, Leanne decides to do the same thing. The two women are strong support for each other in their new, less affluent lives.

Both Leanne and Nicole find ways to get out, volunteer, and meet new people; a great way to stop feeling sorry for yourself. The volunteer activities lead to new friends and launch the women into more successful lives.

This is a very positive book about divorce. I loved the fact the the women decided to get out, increase their circle of friends and help others. Of course, the emotional impact of divorce is not easy to overcome, but the ladies in the book found ways to move ahead.

Nicole and Leanne are good characters. You can't help but like them and root for them to get their lives back on track. The men, Jake and his father, are scoundrels and not very likable, but that emphasizes how right the women were to leave them.

The book is an easy read with realistic setting and a moderate pace. The pace gives time to get to know the characters. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone going through a divorce. It's also a good read for the inspirational aspects even if your marriage is stable.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

I've been a DM fan since the beginning, who always pounces on the latest Debbie Macomber book. I was overjoyed to snag this from my library's Overdrive app yesterday,but as I read the last page an hour ago, I'm diaspooInted with the quality of AGGTMO.
Number one, as an African American woman, I dislike the stereotypical description of the main African American character, Shawntelle. C'mon Debbie, you're a better author than this. I cringed when I read her dialogue.
Number two, the vulgarities of Rocco, in particular, "grow a vagina." How? What?!
Number three, gratuitous curse words.
You became a Best Seller many times over years ago without stooping to societal norms.
This felt like a rushed, thinly developed novella.
Please give your long time readers a Novel that's worthy of you; quality one a year or so is better than several trashy books per year.

I like a quick, romantic, lighthearted read as much as the next (mostly female) person. I do however need to insist on some semblance of thought and intelligence as a prerequisite. This book was indeed a poor choice.
Nichole and Leanne are mother and daughter-in-law, both newly divorced from Leanne’s husband of 30 years and her son, once married to Nichole. They put together a quickie advice guide to navigate them through the perils moving on from two men who were clearly unworthy of their affections. They are close friends and practically roommates whose new apartments are conveniently located right across the hall from each other. They immediately meet two eligible bachelors, a Ukrainian baker for Leanne named Nikolai, whose butchering of the English language and heavy accent have him sounding like a whiny three year old instead of a grown man who is in the process of learning the English language. His immediate overbearing possessiveness of Leanne and his insistence that she behave only in the way that he deems fit makes their relationship come off as mother and toddler son.
Kind, straight-laced Nichole meets rough around-the-edges, done-hard-time, tow truck company owning Rocco. He is the stereotypical big, tough guy who don’t dance and a bit of a Neanderthal. He is obviously just waiting for a Nichole to come along and melt the iceberg lodged over his heart but not before resorting to Nikolai type tactics.
Will new love prevail even as their exes are trying to win them back? A cruel twist of fate occurs that threatens both their tentative new unions.
The characters are nauseating, the dialogue even more so. If you love mindless chick lit, then by all means indulge but unless there is literally nothing else to do and this is the only book around, skip it.

This latest book by the prolific writer is a "stand-alone" novel that fits nicely in Macomber's style of likeable characters facing common life challenges with a positive resolution.

The storyline follows the friendship between a mother-in-law (Leanne) and her daughter-in-law (Nicole) who simultaneously divorce their spouses for infidelity. Leanne turned a blind eye to her husband's trysts for over 30 years. When Nicole discovers that her husband (Leanne's son) has cheated after five years of marriage, she starts divorce proceedings and inspires Leanne to take a stand as well. The women rent apartments across the hall from one another.

The novel unfolds as each woman seeks to reclaim her self esteem by forging a new, independent life. As their friendship deepens, they develop a guide for accomplishing this daunting task with grace. The three primary guidelines include:
1) Don't allow yourself to wallow in your pain. Reach out. Volunteer.
2) Cultivate new friendships.
3) Let go in order to receive.

For Leanne this includes a volunteer position teaching English as a second language and helping Nicole care for her young son. Nicole seeks out a support group, volunteers to assist other women and take on a new job as a high school teacher. In the process both women meet men who are outside of their previous country club social circle, yet exemplify true caring and devotion.

I enjoyed the book on several levels. The story offers an inspired, if a tad idealistic, perspective with characters that are engaging and even endearing. The author explores the journey of healing from betrayal to wholeness with compassion and respect. As is often the case in life, the characters experience the dissolution of their marriages with mixed emotions and doubts, yet each woman finds a way to honor her past choices and move forward in creating a new life without bitterness or rancor.

I recommend this book as an easy, feel-good read. My one complaint relates to the title. While "A GIRL"S Guide" may have a nice ring to it, I find it hard to reconcile these two strong women with all their talents and life experiences being referred to as girls.

Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Girls Guide to Moving On was a delightful novel. I was both intrigued and skeptical when I read the premise of the book. A Mother in Law (Leanne) and her daughter in Law (Nichole) leave their husbands around the same time and move in across the hall from each other and develop a list, a guide if you will for moving on. I thought "really?" Will this story work? Yes, it did. It worked very well. Both women had unfaithful husbands. Leanne turned a blind eye for 30 years to her husband's many affairs but finally had enough when her son, and Nichole's husband, got his mistress pregnant. Both women filed for divorce and made attempts to start over.

Debbie Macomber did a good job creating strong, independent women who cared about each other and supported each other. I loved how the character of Leanne was close to her daughter in law and was a strong support system for her. She didn't pick sides in her son's and Nichole's divorce.

Nichole was a very likable character who meets Rocco after experiencing car trouble. Where her ex-husband was polished, Rocco was a little rough around the edges but had a heart of gold. I love how their story progressed and how both characters interacted with each other and their children. Rocco is like an onion and as he gets closer to Nichole we see his layers peeled away to the kindhearted man underneath.

Leanne begins her new life by teaching English as a second language. There she meets Nikolai, a bread maker. Their relationship begins slow and rocky and is put to the test when Leanne's ex-husband asks for help. I wasn't as into Leanne's story as I was in Nichole's story line.

I did like how both romances progressed at a nice pace and nothing felt rushed. The couples do not rush into bed, as it often happens in romance novels. I like that Debbie Macomber does romance without graphic sex scenes. Her romances are sweet and very readable. Perfect for those who don't like gratuitous sex in their books. I personally don't care either way, but I think Macomber appeals to a wider reader base by leaving out the sex. My only complaint about the book is that even the not so likable characters (the cheating husbands) get a little redemption at the end. We don't all get happy endings in life but this isn't life. It's a book and it's a good one.

I appreciated the epilogue. This was a nice conclusion to the book. My chief complaint with Romance books, is that we read the entire book to have the characters fall in love, only to have the book end abruptly. It was nice to see what happened down the line. I thought this was a great way to end the book.

Periodically, I try to read Debbie Macomber books. I loved her category romance books back in the 1990s. She had a wonderful touch in portraying women who were discovering their innate sensuality without going into laughable graphic descriptions. When she moved up the publishing food chain, I was happy for her but it wasn't quite the same as the stories seemed neutered of sensuality. Still, that affection is there so when I saw "A Girl's Guide to Moving On", I figured I should try it out especially with such an intriguing premise.

Nichole is married to Jake who is the son of Leanne and Sean. The novel's prologue is from Nichole that establishes that she and Leanne walked away from their respective marriages and that they had a guide or steps to move on. Nichole also starts the first chapter which doesn't go into the marriage but rather it is already at the divorce stage. I rather liked that the marriages are seen in the rear view mirror and the new beginning is emphasized. The new romances were nice enough although I wasn't as sure of Nikolai for Leanne as Rocco for Nichole. To be honest, I'd have preferred less romance and more independence but this is in the romance genre so I can't really ding the story in that respect.

It isn't a story that produced a strong reaction but there were passages that I thought were out-of-the-park great. The passage of Leanne discussing/pondering on why she never sought out friendships due to her husband's habitual infidelity was fantastic. I still miss the early Macomber touch of sensuality but the trade off of insightful bittersweetness helps make up for that.

My heart is happy and full of warm fuzzies ☺

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is book #2 in Macomber’s New Beginnings series following book #1, Last One Home. While it’s not necessary to read book #1 prior to this one in order to follow the story, I always recommend reading a series in order.

Nichole and her mother-in-law Leanne have both recently filed for divorce. Leanne has endured her husbands cheating for most of their marriage. Nichole finds out from Leanne that her husband, Jake, seems to be following in her husbands footsteps. The two women are good friends and move into apartments across the hall from one another. They create a list of goals to help them move on including meeting new friends.

And meet new friends they do. Nichole meets Rocco, who is the opposite of Jake in nearly every way. Leanne meets Nikolai, a charming, talented baker from Ukraine. I loved each character but Nikolai was my favorite. He constantly made me smile. I enjoyed watching Nichole and Rocco find love. Seeing Leanne discover love after years of a cheating husband brought a smile to my face. This was an easy and quick read showing this reader the power of friendship and love. I hope there are more books in this series. I look forward to more from these characters.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Reviewed by Amy W.
Book provided by the author for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

Cracking open a Debbie Macomber book is like coming home again. For me, there are certain author names that practically guarantee a top-notch reading experience. Macomber has been on that list since I was introduced to her writing more than 20 years ago. When A Girl’s Guide to Moving On arrived in oversize paperback form in the mail, I knew this would be a read to remember.

What sets Macomber apart from other writers is her keen sense of character development. The men and women who grace her pages are not only completely realistic (warts and all), but they are brought to life in a vivid manner. In this particular book, I could hear Nikolai’s accented English as he conversed with Leanne. I could picture Nichole putting together various outfits for women in need like Shawntelle.

The focus of the story is unique in that it takes a mother and her daughter-in-law, both of whom share a history of unfaithful husbands. The bond they share is fully explored as they unite and try to rebuild their lives. The list they develop, which is where the title originates, is a common sense approach to dealing with life challenges.

I was quite impressed with the depiction of the female characters. Rather than Nichole and Leanne dwelling on the negativity, they embraced a positive outlook and moved forward. That’s not to say they didn’t face challenges, though. While the author did a phenomenal job setting the stage for Jake and Sean as the culprits, she also wove in some redeeming characteristics. As she clearly demonstrates, there are shades of gray when dealing with relationships.

Another key trademark of Macomber’s writing is the comfortable way the storyline progresses. While each chapter alternates between the voices of Leanne and Nichole, there is a clear flow of action. It was incredibly easy to get caught up in the story, especially since there was no real way to predict the ending (even though I tried).

In the end, the reader not only gets a satisfying respite with a fantastic book, but there is an important lesson underscoring the ability for women to start over. No matter what season in life, love is always within reach. The interaction between the characters emphasizes this point, even though infidelity was the root cause of the turmoil.

I laughed, shed a few tears and when the last page was read, I reaffirmed my certainty that Debbie Macomber is a true genius in telling stories that empower women.

A Girl's Guide to Moving On is the story of two women, Nichole and Leanne, her mother-in-law and how they started over together leaving their cheating husbands. They work to support each other after Nichole finds out that her husband, Jake is cheating on her and Leanne leaves his father, Shawn after putting up with years of cheating.

The strength of the two women, their emotional support for each other and the list they make to start over make for a good basis for a new life. Leanne meets Nikolai, a charming, talented baker from Ukraine in the English as a second language class that she teaches in the local community center twice per week. The depth of the love Nikolai has for Leanne and how he shows it to her is a delightful love story although they have a rough road to finding a happy ending.

Nichole meets Rocco, owner of a tow-truck company. He is the total opposite of her ex-husband Jake with his tattoos, rough language and devotion to his daughter that he is raising on his own. Jake makes it hard for Nichole by using her young son, Owen to try to manipulate her. Owen adds the sweet humor of a young child to the story. Nichole's sisters and friends help make the importance of family and friends a great part of the story too.

A Girl's Guide to Moving On is a wonderful story of two new romances, resolution of problems in family and deep emotional commitments.

I borrowed A Girl's Guide to Moving on from my local library.

As you can see by the titles I review for this blog, I read many different genres by many different authors. It's part of my study of the craft of writing. Knowing that Debbie Macomber is a best selling author, I snapped up a free advance reading copy of her latest, A Girl's Guide to Moving On.

Leanne has suffered through 35 years of marriage to a man who didn't love her and constantly cheated on her. Her indifference in order to live the country club lifestyle, passed down the behavior to her son, Jake. When Jake's wife, Nichole calls it quits after 5 years of marriage, Leanne also decides to file for divorce. The women move into apartments across the hall from one another and try to live by the new rules set down in their guide to moving on.

I typically like to read stories with more depth. I liked the characters of Leanne and Nichole and I detested their no good ex-husbands. But the constant repetition of the backstory such as how long they'd been married, how big the houses were they had lived in, the parade of other women, got tiring. And the transformations of the character of the men involved in the story was far too abrupt for my taste. Jake went from bad guy to really nice guy in the blink of an eye.

To some readers, I may find that I'm not too popular with this review of Debbie Macomber's work. She has a very large and loyal following. I'm just not a fan of the way she tells a story. It's not my cup of tea. I have to admit however, I sprouted a little tear in my eye while reading the epilogue and the very happy ending. So my quest for knowledge about how to write a novel is better off for reading The Girl's Guide to Moving On and that's what I was looking to do from the start.

Considering that Debbie Macomber has over 170 million books in print and I read hundreds of romance novels (among other genres) every year, you'd think I would have read one of her books before now, but A Girl's Guide was the first. So everything was new to me.

What I liked:
There were no explicit sex scenes. Contemporary romance authors seem to be of the firm belief that their books aren't going to sell if they don't include lots and lots of sex, and the dirtier the better. Problem is, if you read many of these books, the sex scenes start to sound the same (after all, how many different ways are there to write Tab B fitting into Slot A?), and I've started skimming over them. So for me, the lack of sex: a plus.
Very well written and professionally edited.
Multilayered characters, very well thought out.

What I didn't like:
Though the setting was Portland, other than two or three minor references, it could have been anywhere. For instance, one of the unusual things Portland has is their streetcars; they weren't even mentioned. I like to learn something about the locations when I read a book.
I didn't much care for Nikolai's dialogue. It didn't sound quite like an ESL speaker (and I've lived in a foreign country where they're trying to speak English and can't do it well), and it got to be tiresome reading. I found myself skimming his parts.
There's not much actual plot. What I mean by that is that the story is all about the characters' relationships, not external events. Obviously, if you love entire books about the progression - or not - of relationships, this kind of book might be perfect for you. I like something... more.

Debbie Macomber has millions of fans, but I just couldn't love A Girl's Guide. 3 stars because of the quality of the writing and character development.

*ARC via netgalley*

A fan of Debbie Macomber's for many years I never pass up any of her new releases. She is a wonderful author and a woman I admire for many reasons.

This is the story of Leanne, a middle aged wife/mother divorcing her unfaithful husband of many years and determined to move on. A subject that has been done time and time again by many authors. Macomber has put a bit of a spin on it by including the relationship her only son has with his wife, her daughter in law whom she loves very much. It seems like the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree, as her son is also cheating on his wife. When the daughter in law also decides to end her marriage, the two women are drawn together and support each other through the adjustment of "single" life... not an easy road for either of them, but harder for Leanne, married a lifetime to the same man, and burying her head in the sand in an attempt to avoid the inevitable. The daughter in law has only been married a few years, but with a young child. Having found themselves living a single life was not something that either of them ever expected, but they find themselves more resilient than they thought they could be. The people that turn up in their lives will delight readers, as character-development is one of Macomber's greatest skills, always well fleshed-out and will draw the reader in.

No spoilers here, but I believe this will satisfy Macomber fans. Not her greatest work, IMHO, but good. I received an I corrected proof copy for my honest, unbiased opinion, which this is. A 3.5 star rating from this faithful reader.

I loved book one in this series, but this one fell short. Over half way though and I felt like nothing was happening. I did start enjoying it more in the second half.

I was not a huge fan of the romance between Leanne and Nichole. I felt Nichole was too jealous and never understanding of Leanne. I never bought into their romance and did not connect with them. I liked the story around Leanne and her ex-husband though. I do not know what many people would do if an ex, who treated you horribly, would do if they had to face what Leanne did.

I liked Nicole, but again just not connect with her story as much I thought I would.

I wanted more about the characters from Book one. Yes, I knew this was a companion novel about Nicole, but still wanted more! I liked the parts when hearing about Cassie and Steven again.

Overall, this was good but not as great as the first book. I am not sure if I will or will not pick up the rest of the series.

This is the first book I've read by this author so I don't know how it compares to her others. I found this book to be just okay, with a lot of repetition and stereotypes - the big burly tow truck driver, the smooth-talking cheating husbands. In Leeanne's chapters, it must have been written at least five times how no one had ever looked at her with such tenderness in their eyes and it melted her heart. Don't even get me started on Nikolai - the immigrant who falls in love with Leeanne in what appears to be five minutes and then acts like a wounded child for the rest of the book. "I no like him. He not love you. You remember you with me now." I did read the book through, even though I could see the ending coming from a mile away. Light, easy read for the romance novel reader.

I was anxious to get my hands on this book when I first heard it was coming out. Having read Debbie Macomber's Last One Home: A Novel I had already been introduced to the two main characters, Leanne and Nichole and had been given a taste of their stories. I was excited to get to know them better and to see where their journey's would take them. A Girl's Guide to Moving On is a wonderfully heartwarming story of how two women walk away from their bad marriages and rebuild better lives for themselves. I like that they took the time to heal their hearts before deciding to date again. This is a great choice if you are looking for an easy and entertaining book to get you through the last weeks of winter.

*Minor character spoilers* The only reason I gave this book four stars instead of five was because of the character of Nikolai. He was an interesting character indeed but I found his possessiveness and jealousy over Leanne to be quite immature; especially for a mature man in his 50's. Many times I would find myself rolling my eyes over some of his lines. In the end I found him enduring and sweet but I felt his behavior to be a bit unbelievable.

Although I have been meaning to read some of Debbie Macomber's books, this is my first one. A Girl's Guide to Moving On has two concurrent and intertwining story lines from two POV's. In alternating chapters, Leanne and her (ex) daughter-in-law share how their marriages ended and how they lean on each other to move on and find love again.

Because Leanne and Nichole's stories intertwine, the alternating chapters work well. I did prefer one story line to the other, but that is personal preference and probably age-related. I could relate better to Nichole's story. Had I not won this book from a Goodreads giveaway, I might not have picked it up for myself. I did enjoy it, but I kept wanting more of Nichole's story. With two story lines, I felt like there couldn't be as much depth as I would have liked. This is a writing format that many would probably enjoy since it focuses heavily on the strength and transformative healing that takes place within each woman. The book is lighter in romance and more heavily a woman's fiction story. Well written, but I think I like would have liked more focus on the romance.

On a separate note, I downloaded a copy of this audiobook, as well, to listen when I couldn't be physically reading. I'm a tough critic with audiobooks since I prefer reading book on my own and I can honestly say the dual narration was well done.

I won an ARC of this book from the publisher through Goodreads First Reads giveaway. In the spirit of the giveaway, a review is encouraged, but not required.

For those who are fans of Debbie Macomber's books will remember at the end of Last One Home , Nichole - the younger sister discovered that the husband she thought loved her actually was having affairs and one of the girls ended up pregnant . A Girl's Guide to Moving on takes place two years after Last One Home and Nichole and Jake are busy going through a long divorce process and Leanne which is Jake's mother has finally got up the guts and divorced her husband Sean as like father, like son - Sean had plenty of affairs throughout their 30+ years of marriage and until Leanne saw Nichole stand-up to Jake , she had always turned a blind eye to what was happening. Nichole and Leanne moved out and are now living in apartments across from one another and working through their list which is a guide they put together to help them move forward. The first on the list was 1) to volunteer and make sure it is a passion . For Nichole she has been working one day a week at Dress for Success which is a non-profit that helps dress women going for job interviews and Leanne has been teaching English to non-speakers at Night school. It is around their jobs that they met two people who will help them discover that they are to be treated as princesses and number ones and will help them not waver and go crawling back to either Jake or Sean. For Nichole she meets Rocco - a tow truck driver and his daughter and Leanne - Nikolai -one of her students on her English course. Can Nichole and Leanne find a way to move on or will their pasts keep coming back to haunt them and find a way to insert themselves into their present lives ? With A Girl's Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber, this is a book that all ages will appreciate and anyone who has ever had to move on from a difficult relationship and one that they often feel obliged to go back to for one reason or another will love as be honest - we have all been in that situation at one time or another and we all have that one person in our lives that we if they asked - would go crawling back to and we as women have to muster up the strength to say enough is enough and move on with our lives in order not to lose ourselves.

I chose to read this book because of the title, and then the blurb on the inside cover. Women building each other up while going through divorce is not new, but two women forming a close bond through divorce when one of those women is divorcing the other ones cheating son is. That is what drew me to this book. This book is the second in the series, which I didn’t know when I purchased this one. It can be read as a stand alone though. The first book, Last One Home, is Cassie’s story. Cassie is Nichole’s sister. So if you are a stickler for reading books in order, I would start with that one.

When Nichole finds out her husband Jake has been cheating on her, she knows what she has to do. If there is one thing she is not putting up with, it is cheating. She does not intend on waiting around for her husband to change, afterall his father has been cheating on his mother with different women for 35 years. Why would the son be any different. So she files for a divorce, and moves out.

Leanne (Jake’s mother) has known her husband, Sean, was cheating on her for over 35 years now, but she stayed in the marriage. Although they have been living together in name only for the last 25. They kept up appearances in public, and everyone has assumed they were a happy, married couple. But when Nichole files for a divorce, it gives Leanne the courage, and hope she needs to walk away from her marriage, and file for a divorce also.

Leanne and Nichole have become close over the years. Leanne thinks of Nichole as the daughter she never had. When each woman walks away from their cheating husbands they rent apartments in the same building, right across the hall from each other. They come up with a plan and a list to move forward with their lives, and call it ‘A Guide to Moving On’. On the list there is three things in order to achieve this, #1 Don’t allow yourself to wallow in your pain. Reach out. Volunteer. Do something you love or something to help others. #2 Cultivate new friendship, and #3 Let go in order to receive. I expected there to be more than those three things, but I suppose those three were enough.

Nichole starts substituting as a teacher at the local school, and volunteers a few days a week at ‘Dress for Success’. She meets Rocco when he comes to tow her broke down car, and the two form an unlikely friendship. Leanne volunteers to teach English as a second language, and that is where she meets Nikolai. He is one of her students, and fast becomes her favorite.

The story is told from each woman’s point of view, with each woman telling their story in alternating chapters. I liked that, and it worked with this story. I enjoyed seeing Nichole bloom, and get her confidence back. My favorite chapters were those of Nicholes. I liked how her and Rocco’s friendship was slow building. Rocco was my favorite character in the whole book. He is rough around the edges, and doesn’t try to be something that he is not. I like men that are a little rough around the edges, and say what they mean.

The relationship between Nikoli and Leanne was nice and sweet. The author did a great job with Nikolai’s voice. He spoke broken english, and often took what was said literally, which made me chuckle. His and Leanne’s relationship was sweet. I like how both women grew throughout the story. At times it was frustrating though, because they let their exes get away with things most would not. I kept wanting both women to get more of a backbone and stand up to these men that treated women as sex objects and nothing more. I mean who cooks and cleans for a man that cheated on her for 35 years!

The ‘cheating’ ex husbands change a little throughout the story, and there is a small amount of redemption. I won’t say anymore on that, because I don’t want to give anything away. It just seemed like for me it was a little too late.

The story was a little slow at times. I didn’t finish the book with any ‘Ah Ha’ moments or profound insight., but it was a nice and sweet read. It wasn’t exactly what I expected, and I am not sure if I will read the first book in the series. We will see. For die hard Debbie Macomber fans I am sure you will like it.

I've been reading Debbie Maccomber for years, and quite honestly, I think this is one of my favorite novels to date. It's a tale of new beginnings, reinventing oneself, and of friendship as a woman and her mother-in-law both leave troubled marriage and start over, leaning on each other as they create a "guide" to how they will move forward.

Nichole leaves what she thought was the perfect relationship when she discovers her husband is cheating on her. Her mother-in-law, Leah, finds strength in Nichole's decision and leaves her own husband after years of tolerating his affairs. They move into apartments across the hall from each other, lean on each other for support and encouragement, and come up with the titled "guide" to moving on with their new lives. Both encounter new relationships, Leah much more hesitantly, and each find those relationships challenged in some way.

Now, I'll be honest: Maccomber doesn't necessarily write the deepest of novels or the most complex of characters, and can veer towards formulaic - the last few I've read in particular reflected this. However, this felt a bit different from her usual style, and a bit deeper. Nikolai leans a bit towards a caricature, but his enthusiasm and simplicity is irresistible. If you're looking for a light escape read, (or are recovering from a breakup), this empowering story is for you.

Once again Debbie Macomber has written a wonderful and up lifting novel, that quickly became a page-turner.
As I began reading this book, I noticed that it was a stand alone, but was having flash backs to felling like I’ve read parts before, and other parts seemed so new. Finally I realized that I had been introduced to some of these characters before in “Last One Home”, and was so glad to get updates in all of their lives.
These women, whom are Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law, are very close, and the men in their lives have followed the same path. Nichole has gotten out after five years of marriage, while Leanne was in hers for almost 35 years.
You will delight when you meet the new men in these women’s lives and feel how much they deserve to be cherished. Will they be able to maintain these new relationships considering their past?
Journey along as these ladies get back on their feet and become themselves once again.
I received this book through Net Galley and Ballentine Books and was not required to give a positive review.

I had in the pass went back and forth considering reading this book. I do not like wasting my time reading boring or long drawn out books. If it starts out slow, I'll give it a couple chapters. There is potential in some slow starter. I digress. I just read The Last One Home by this author, and I had a feeling that there was a sequel or an accompanied story. This book is the extention to it. I enjoyed this book a little better with more drama angst and soul search. This is a stand along book but you will appreciate Nichole's and Leanne's story more. I enjoyed all of it.?
I also like to add that this book expresses the power of forgiveness patients and love. Even after hurt and heart break. Prayers and a guide leading the way. Happy reading.

I've read many books written by Debbie Macomber and really enjoy her writing, so when I saw A Girl's Guide to Moving On, I looked forward to reading it and I was not disappointed at all. This book focuses on two main female characters - Nichole and Leanne.

While Nichole thought she had the perfect life being married to Jake, having a job that she loved, her young son Owen and her volunteer work. Suddenly everything in her life changes when she discovers that Jake has been unfaithful and to compound the mess, his girlfriend is pregnant. Nichole decides to divorce Jake and build a new life for herself and Owen. Leanne is Nichole's mother-in-law and both women are in the unfortunate positions of having their husbands cheating on them. Both women leave their husbands and the story follows as they climb the hurdles of their new lives filled with new experiences.

After moving into their apartments, the women make up a list of ways they can get thru this betrayal and hurt, they come up with three rules. The first rule was “don’t allow yourself to wallow in your pain, reach out. Volunteer or do something you love or something that will help others.”

The second item is to “cultivate new friendships” and that means changing the things they are used to. Their circle of friends from their married "country club" lives seem to have fallen to the way side, so they need to seek out new friendships. The third and hardest is to “let go in order to receive” which is much easier said than done.

While Nichole meets a tow truck driver named Rocco, Leanne meets a Nicolai, who is a baker from the Ukraine. It is great to watch as the women grow and learn with these potential new relationships. (No spoilers about whether they make it or not.) The new men are from different worlds from the ex-husbands and each of these women are taken out of what they know.

At it's core this was a book about hope, and learning to move on. I laughed, I cried and I cheered as the women learned to navigate their new lives. They had to learn how to redefine who they were, and to find hope again. The author dives into subjects like not feeling "good enough" and the fear of having to provide for themselves, the fear of letting go of the past, and the fear of new beginnings. She leads readers through the experiences of these women, both in learning to date, and perhaps the ability to love and trust another man. Throughout this book, the women struggle to find peace and balance in their new lives. This is a great beach day read or rainy day read - a quick read and very enjoyable!

I was provided with a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and unbiased opinion.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this powerful and uplifting novel, a mother and her daughter-in-law bravely leave their troubled marriages and face the challenge of starting over. Leaning on each other, Nichole and Leanne discover that their inner strength and capacity for love are greater than they ever imagined.

When Nichole discovers that her husband, Jake, has been unfaithful, the illusion of her perfect life is indelibly shattered. While juggling her young son, a new job, and volunteer work, Nichole meets Rocco, who is the opposite of Jake in nearly every way. Though blunt-spoken and rough around the edges, Rocco proves to be a dedicated father and thoughtful friend. But just as their relationship begins to blossom, Jake wagers everything on winning Nichole back—including their son Owen’s happiness. Somehow, Nichole must find the courage to defy her fears and follow her heart, with far-reaching consequences for them all.

Leanne has quietly ignored her husband’s cheating for decades, but is jolted into action by the echo of Nichole’s all-too-familiar crisis. While volunteering as a teacher of English as a second language, Leanne meets Nikolai, a charming, talented baker from Ukraine. Resolved to avoid the heartache and complications of romantic entanglements, Leanne nonetheless finds it difficult to resist Nikolai’s effusive overtures—until an unexpected tragedy tests the very fabric of her commitments.

An inspiring novel of friendship, reinvention, and hope, A Girl’s Guide to Moving On affirms the ability of every woman to forge a new path, believe in love, and fearlessly find happiness.

--My thoughts. Debbie Macomber knows what women like to read. She makes it easy and fun to read! Leanne and Nichole find out their husbands have been cheating on them. They are daughter/MIL. So they move out into apartments across from each other and try to move on.

You will enjoy this second book in the series from her. It is fun to read and uplifting with a message of course. But I always enjoy the ride and I love finding out towards the end who might be in the next book. Always a little nugget she throws us!!

A Girl's Guide To Moving On is the 2nd book in the New Beginnings series. Nichole is a newly single women with a young son after discovering that her soon to be ex-husband was unfaithful but as she falls for a single father, nothing goes as planned. Leanne is Nichole's mother-in-law with her husband being unfaithful for years until both her and Nichole take a stand to move on, they both discover that falling in love again is something different but totally unexpected as well.

With Nichole trying to move on, she meets Rocco who is the complete opposite of her ex and who has a teenage daughter of his own. As her son would rather spend time with Rocco than her ex who then takes action against Nichole which forces Nichole to make a hard decision. After Nichole makes her decision, everything falls apart to only bring the two who are meant to be together in the end.

Leanne's ex-husband has been cheating on her for years so when she finally moves out and gets a divorce, time will bring her ex back into the picture with complications. As Leanne teach's a class for people to learn English as their second language will bring Nikolai into her life and heart. But with her ex in the picture with major health problems and Nikolai jealous of what may be happening, it will all come down to a sad point in Leanne's life that will bring her total happiness again.

I love books like this that go between two or more people that give their point of view of things and I could totally feel for what Nichole and Leanne are going through. I only wished that I read the first book in this series but you can bet that I will be reading that book in the future! I think this book is the reason why I love Debbie Macomber's books and that is that, there isn't that many Authors out there can draw you into a story that leaves you wanting more!

Thank You to Debbie Macomber for reaffirm my love of your books with this story!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley!

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber is a novel about women getting on with their life after divorce. Nichole Patterson and her mother-in-law Leanne Patterson have just divorced their husbands. They have moved into apartments next door to each other in Portland, Oregon. They have come up with what they call “A Guide to Letting Go and Moving On”. It is easier to say than to do.

Nichole was married to Jake. They have a son, Owen. But then Jake (just like his father) cheated on Nichole with another woman and the other woman became pregnant. Jake has done everything possible to delay the divorce. They are still working out the details almost two years later. Nichole just wants to get on with her life. She is a substitute teacher and also volunteers at a dress shop that helps woman gets clothes who are going into the work force for the first time. Nichole meets Rocco Nyquist on day when her car goes into a ditch. Rocco is kind, hardworking, and a good man. Can the new relationship survive the interfering ex-husband?

Leanne Patterson was married to her husband, Sean for thirty-five years and he cheated for the majority of the marriage. Leanne always looked the other way. Now she sees that it gave her son, Jake the wrong idea (that his wife would put up with it). Nichole gave her the courage to file for divorce (they did it together on the same day). Leanne is now living on her own (a first) and teaches English as a second language at the community center. It is in the class that Leanne meets Nikolai Janchenko from the Ukraine. He is a wonderful baker with a great personality. He cares very much for Leanne, but then Sean needs assistance. Will Leanne ever get happiness? She will need to have faith that everything will work out according to God’s will.

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On was a sweet (though predictable) book. It was a beautifully, crafted novel. My interest was held throughout the whole book. It is easy to read with entertaining characters (especially Nikolai). The ending was just wonderful. Fans of Debbie Macomber will love A Girl’s Guide to Moving On. I give A Girl’s Guide to Moving On 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it, but I knew how it would end). There is just the right amount of faith and God in this novel (it is not pushy or in your in face).

I received a complimentary copy of A Girl’s Guide to Moving On from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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.

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

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber is a novel about women getting on with their life after divorce. Nichole Patterson and her mother-in-law Leanne Patterson have just divorced their husbands. They have moved into apartments next door to each other in Portland, Oregon. They have come up with what they call “A Guide to Letting Go and Moving On”. It is easier to say than to do.

Nichole was married to Jake. They have a son, Owen. But then Jake (just like his father) cheated on Nichole with another woman and the other woman became pregnant. Jake has done everything possible to delay the divorce. They are still working out the details almost two years later. Nichole just wants to get on with her life. She is a substitute teacher and also volunteers at a dress shop that helps woman gets clothes who are going into the work force for the first time. Nichole meets Rocco Nyquist on day when her car goes into a ditch. Rocco is kind, hardworking, and a good man. Can the new relationship survive the interfering ex-husband?

Leanne Patterson was married to her husband, Sean for thirty-five years and he cheated for the majority of the marriage. Leanne always looked the other way. Now she sees that it gave her son, Jake the wrong idea (that his wife would put up with it). Nichole gave her the courage to file for divorce (they did it together on the same day). Leanne is now living on her own (a first) and teaches English as a second language at the community center. It is in the class that Leanne meets Nikolai Janchenko from the Ukraine. He is a wonderful baker with a great personality. He cares very much for Leanne, but then Sean needs assistance. Will Leanne ever get happiness? She will need to have faith that everything will work out according to God’s will.

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On was a sweet (though predictable) book. It was a beautifully, crafted novel. My interest was held throughout the whole book. It is easy to read with entertaining characters (especially Nikolai). The ending was just wonderful. Fans of Debbie Macomber will love A Girl’s Guide to Moving On. I give A Girl’s Guide to Moving On 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it, but I knew how it would end). There is just the right amount of faith and God in this novel (it is not pushy or in your in face).

I received a complimentary copy of A Girl’s Guide to Moving On from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is the second installment in Debbie Macomber’s heartwarming New Beginnings series. In this delightful story of friendship, Nichole Patterson and her ex-mother-in-law but best friend, Leanne, unexpectedly find love but both find it difficult to leave the past behind due to their respective ex-husbands’ interference in their lives.

When Leanne learned that her son Jake was cheating on his wife, she knew that, no matter how painful, Nichole needed to know the truth about her husband. Gaining courage from Nichole’s decision to leave Jake, Leanne decides it is time to end her thirty-five year marriage to her philandering husband Sean. Supporting one another through this tumultuous time, Nichole and Leanne leave their old lives behind and start fresh in a new town. While Leanne’s divorce goes through quickly, Jake is stunned by Nichole’s reaction and for the past two years, he has done everything he can to delay their divorce. Finally realizing she is not going to change her mind, Jake signs the divorce papers, but he continues to manipulate Nichole once he learns of her new relationship with blue-collar tow truck owner Rocco Nyquist.

Leanne, Nichole and three year old Owen have settled fairly easily into their lives. Leaving behind their pampered, wealthy lifestyles was fairly smooth and although Leanne has no financial concerns, money is sometimes tight for Nichole since she has been unable to secure a fulltime teaching position. Aided by their rules to help them regain their independence and bolster their self-esteem, both women are quite satisfied with their lives. One of their most important “rules” is giving back to the local community through volunteering and each of them have found their niche in their volunteer positions. Leanne loves teaching English as second language twice a week while Nichole is quite fulfilled by her volunteer position helping underprivileged women prepare for job interviews.

Just after Jake signs the divorce papers, Nichole strikes up an unexpected friendship with Rocco and his teenage daughter Kaylene. Rocco is unlike anyone Nichole has ever known but despite their outward differences, their core beliefs are quite similar. While she is a little unsettled by her attraction to Rocco, Nichole very much enjoys his company and she is more than willing to see where their relationship leads. But trouble arises when Jake feels threatened by their burgeoning romance and he intimidates her into making an unpalatable decision.

Leanne is surprised when her student Nikolai Janchenko expresses an interest in her outside of their ESL classes. Due to her ex-husband’s long-term infidelity, her self-confidence remains low and she is quite flustered by Nikolai’s attention. Their relationship is a bit of a slow burner due to Nicolai’s unexpected jealousy and her ex’s sudden reappearance in her life. Their budding romance is further derailed by a shocking crisis and Leanne’s compassionate response to devastating news.

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is a captivating novel of healing, friendship and love. The storyline is incredibly moving and Debbie Macomber does a magnificent job keeping the plot fresh and interesting. The characters are well-developed and likable with realistic flaws and true to life issues to resolve. This latest release is a heartfelt and gratifying addition to the New Beginnings series that old and new fans are sure to enjoy.

I received a complimentary copy for review.

There is one thing Nichole and her mother-in-law Leanne have in common: they both have a husband that is cheating on them. Nichole is determined to divorce her husband Jake, and Leanne quickly follows her example, leaving Sean after 35 years of marriage. To help each other deal with things, the two women come up with a list of things to stick to, to help them move on. When Nichole meets single father Rocco, she can hardly ignore the sparks between them. But is Rocco, with his dark past, really the right person to get involved with? At the same time Leanne also finds herself with an admirer from an unexpectant corner, namely in the form of one of her students from her English language class, a Ukranian baker named Nikolai. Are Leanne and Nichole both ready to start afresh, or is moving on from marriage not as straightforward as it may seem...?

Debbie Macomber is quite the bestselling author with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide, and after having read 'A Girl's Guide to Moving On' I am once again reminded what a wonderful storyteller she is. This novel is actually the second part of Debbie's 'New Beginnings' series, which started with 'Last One Home', but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. The book focuses on two different female characters who each have their own storyline; Leanne and Nichole. I really easily warmed to both characters and enjoyed their stories equally. It was lovely joining Leanne and Nichole on the road to starting their new lives, single and ready for some well-deserved happiness.

I particularly loved the romance element that was clearly present in the novel. Rocco and Nikolai, the two male characters, were both great and I loved seeing Leanne and Nichole falling in love again and dealing with all the things that come with that. I also want to take the chance to say how much I fell in love with Nichole's son Owen; he was just the cutest little boy. Debbie Macomber's writing style fit the story really well which turned it into a lovely comfort read. It wasn't too deep or heavily emotional; perfect if you're looking for a bit of romantic escapism. I thoroughly enjoyed 'A Girl's Guide to Moving On' and put it down with a smile on my face; it's an inspiring and touching novel about love and friendship and finding happiness; a great read!

There is one constant that I can always count on in a story by Debbie Macomber – and that is simply a story full of realistic, believable people who might populate my neighborhood or my family. While A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is the second story in the New Beginnings series, please do not let that cause you one moment of hesitation in picking up this story. Aside from some very light mention of characters or events in the first novel (Last One Home), this story could be easily read as a stand alone novel.

The “Cover Description Blurb” does give us a lot of information about this novel, so I’m not going to do a rehash tease about it. I’d much rather talk about how this story hits emotionally. Nichole and Leanne are facing some very tough, emotional decisions in their lives. A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is the dual story of a mother-in-law and a former daughter-in-law moving on from painful marriages… of finally seeing, accepting that the men they loved and married are not the men they want to remain married to. Yes, there are things much worse than cheating in a marriage, but it ranks right up there near the top. There are moments in this story when their pain just reaches out and grabs your heart. We’ve all, unfortunately, known some type of cheating or being lied to in a relationship (and if you haven’t.. God bless you and hold on to that partner!), even if it was back in high school. So, I believe we all can relate to either of these women and their decisions to finally.. move on.

Yet, the reality is… moving on is not easy. It’s scary and exhilarating. Frightening and exciting. Comforting and annoying. But it certainly is life, and Nichole and Leanne get out there and live. They didn’t leave their past behind and hide – they went out and made a new future by letting others into their lives, they took that chance that life could be good to them, eventually.

I won’t spoil your experience of reading A Girl’s Guide to Moving On by giving up every tiny detail. I will say that in this story you will find very human characters – some more flawed than others. But they will all touch your emotions in some way … annoyance perhaps but that’s an emotion too. :)

I absolutely enjoyed my time with Nichole and Leanne. I found their story to be believable, uplifting at times, wipe away a tear at others and spaced within the two extremes were some laugh out loud moments when I totally “got” a moment in the character’s life. I would gladly recommend this story to any reader who loves a good story, rediscovering what makes you strong, and most of all a story that will linger with you long after you turn the final page.

*I received an e-ARC of A Girl’s Guide to Moving On from the publisher, Ballatine Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Let me start by saying that Romance is not my genre. I’ve read some Nicholas Sparks in the past and enjoyed it tremendously. Just this year, I read my first Nora Roberts and liked that pretty well. And some would classify Outlander as Romance (though I might consider fighting them to the death on that one), and I LOVE me some Outlander. But this is my first Debbie Macomber.

In the Romance genre, she’s a pretty prolific and popular writer. She’s ranked #12 for Romance on the store, and on Goodreads nearly all of her books are ranked a 4 or better. So, wanting to expand my horizons a bit, I decided that Debbie Macomber was a good place to dive in, and how fortuitous that I was able to get my hands on her upcoming new release!

So…here goes. I enjoyed it. I didn’t love it, and I didn’t hate it. Having no previous experience reading her, I haven’t a clue if this is typical of her work. Having very little experience in the genre overall, I have little to compare to in terms of writing style, etc. It’s a light, easy palate cleanser. That should, by no means, be taken as degradation of her work.

There are all kinds of books because we need different types of books at different times in our lives, and in between the emotionally or intellectually heavy reads, we need books that make us feel hopeful, that are simple, light, easy and cheery. And this is that kind of book. The perfect thing to read when you need to let go of the emotional burden of reading A Little Life or to take your mind off your own troubles.

The writing was a little on the basic side for me, and there was a bit more cheese factor than I tend to go for, but shoving that aside, the characters were well developed, the story line was sweet and thoughtful, and I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Rocco and Nichole. Having been divorced with a small child myself, having dealt with custody issues, etc., it was very easy for me to relate to her and what she was going through. Coming from a different world than I did, there were times when I found her and her ex mother-in-law’s perspectives a bit…privileged…but they were trying and they were good, likable people. Rocco was right up my alley. What can I say? I like male characters who are a little edgy.

Overall, I enjoyed it enough that I’ll pick up a book from one of her more established series in the near term. I won’t be running out to get every Debbie Macomber novel ever written, but when I need a light feel good read, she’ll definitely be on the list of possibilities.

Note: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this story much more than I thought I would. I've read many books by Debbie Macomber and have loved most of them. This is the second book in the New Beginnings series. I read the first one and liked it OK but there were parts that I felt were a bit "preachy." I know that Ms. Macomber is very open about her faith in God but I don't recall having faith mentioned quite so strongly before in one of her stories (other than maybe her "angel" series and her Christmas stories). This book brings faith into play as well but somehow it seemed to fit better for me. You don't need to have read the first book - Last One Home - to enjoy this one but the main characters are introduced in that story.

A Girl's Guide to Moving on is told in first person POV with chapters alternating between Nichole and Leanne. I can't recall reading any other book by Ms. Macomber that was written in this style.

Nichole and Leanne are starting over. Nicole was married to Leanne's son, Jake. Both Jake and his father were serial cheaters. When Leanne tells Nichole that Jake has been cheating on her she does so out of love because she doesn't want Nichole to be like her and turn a blind eye to what Jake is doing. She urges Nichole to break the cycle and not stay with Jake like she stayed with his father which she felt set a bad example for Jake. Nichole vows to leave Jake and set a better example for her son.

When Nichole decides to leave Jake, Leanne knows that she also needs to break with her cheating husband. These two women have a close relationship - Nichole's parents are deceased - so they become each others support system in the new life they are creating. They develop a list of things to do and not do and that list becomes their "Guide to Moving On."

I've never been divorced but people close to me have so I can sympathize with what these two are going through. I was really surprised by how this book made me feel; I was in tears many times while reading this. Because this is a story of hope and love I was pretty sure that these two would find new loves during the book. The men they meet and fall for are so different from their former husbands but they are good men. Nichole and Leanne's path to happiness is not smooth - both are faced with very difficult life-changing decisions - but reading the story of how they get there was inspiring. Once I got past the first couple of chapters I couldn't put this one down.

*****Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions*****

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 Stars for this double heartbreak, double romance story.

The title is completely accurate. Leanne and Nichole are women who suffer the same ailment: cheating husbands. Leanne is Nichole's mother-in-law who suffered 35 years in a loveless marriage to a philandering husband, Sean. When she learns that her son Jake is following Sean's misguided footsteps, she informs Nichole, stay-at-home mother to her only grandchild Owen. Nichole does what Leanne never had the strength to do: walks away. And this gives Leanne the courage to get a divorce as well.

The book opens two years after this marital discord, with Leanne and Nichole having apartments in the same building and having built a close and loving relationship. Leanne dotes on Owen and assists with childcare as Nichole struggles to provide for herself. Her divorce has not been finalized because Jake has blocked her at every step, in the effort to wear her down and coax her into returning to him. Sean had no compunctions regarding the loss of his marriage; couldn't wait to get Leanne out of his life and home. They'd maintained separate bedrooms for years.

In order to stay focused on the positive, and not get mired in depression, Leanne and Nichole build a "guide" of four tenets to see them through. They have to let go of their hurt, to volunteer, to build new friendships, and be open to new experiences. These principles form a strong foundation, but can't keep out all the hurt.

That said, it is through these outreaches that both Leanne and Nichole find new love for themselves and with new partners. Men who are completely different from their suave, wealthy, cultured ex-husbands are able to turn Leanne and Nichole's heads by being kind, compassionate, honest and sincere. The road to happiness is long, arduous and littered with missteps, however. I really admired these characters and how they kept their cool amid some contentious encounters. Jake is a selfish manipulative jerk who is unsettled by Nichole's desire to start over. His double standard is classic and nearly comical. Sean's got no interest in Leanne until he witnesses another man finding her attractive. And, yet, Leanne has some unfinished business with Sean that can only be handled with time and careful attention.

This is a heavy read. There is hope and heartbreak, in roughly equal measure. The ending is well done, with characters who make positive choices for themselves and find healing and happiness again. It was interesting to notice the details that were important to these women. Having been lied to to and cheated on, how they interacted with other men was measured and guarded. That felt so incredibly real, and approachable, as a reader. The love stories that build here are very sweet and so tender. That said, it's a squeaky-clean romance, with constant attention to religious interest--so I expect this will be a bestseller for the Christian readership. I had wished for a little more intimacy, to be truthful. Part of the book read like a journal, with both Nichole and Leanne speaking directly to the reader. It didn't unsettle me, as I prefer first-person close POV, but it might be an issue for other readers.

4.5 stars

This was a good book.... I'm surprised! It's not one of my usual reads. I was looking for something different to read and I got it with this book.
The synopsis really grabbed me. 2 women one younger and one older. Trying to find their way in life after divorce. The differences they go through at different stages in their life & the choices they make.
It's was a good read!

Both women have been through a lot.
Leanne had been married for 35 years to her husband Sean. Finally getting the courage to leave her cheating husband when she finds out her son also has been cheating on his wife.

Nichole is Leanne's daughter-in-law.
Her mother-in-law just told her that her son Jake has been cheating on her.
So together they both leave their husbands and starting a new life.

The story takes you along the day to day life of both women. They both lean on each other and support each other through all the hard times and good times.

I loved reading about how both women moved on.
Finding new friendships and new love interest.
Nichole found Rocco when she least expected it. And Leanne found Nimolaj. A student in her learning to speak English class she taught at.

But... I must admit.
The Book plateaus around the 43% mark. I had to push a little bit to move on. I understood why these women were taking it slow and really thinking about things.
But also.... These women knew what they were doing. It almost felt like they were playing games a little bit with these new men in their lives.
Leanne especially with Nikolaj. I felt bad for the guy.

And Nichole...
I don't know if Rocco was the right guy for her first relationship after her divorce.
I thought I would warm up to him as I kept reading.
But... I just wasn't feeling the way he talked to Nichole. He was always so cold & rude. It was just hard to see him as the one for her. It's like he had this permanent attitude.
Yes... He was nice when he wanted to be. But it just wasn't enough for me to fall in love with his character.
After everything her ex put her through... Why would she even want to put up with someone else's attitude?

The ending of the book was perfect. Both Leanne and Nicole finally found their happiness.

I'm so glad I took a chance on this book. This is the first book that I've read by this author. I will diffidently be checking out her other books.

I've read a lot of Debbie Macomber's books over the years and liked most of them.

A GIRL'S GUIDE TO MOVING ON started out rough for me. I felt like it was telling me what to feel, rather than showing me, like most of her books. But as I got a little ways into the book I really started feeling close to the two main characters – Nichole and Leanne.

It is the story of a daughter and her mother-in-law, both getting divorced at the same time because of cheating husbands. And it is also a story of new love for both of them.

It is an emotional story. I was angry through part of it and I cried through part of it - sometimes at the same time.

This is a character-rich story. I felt like I wanted to know almost everyone in the book and felt like I would recognize them if I met them on the street.

I liked that there was an epilogue at the end of the book, tying up all the loose ends.

NOTE: I received this book from Random House through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

Debbie Macomber always delivers a sweet, heartfelt story that is almost old-fashioned in comparison to the current contemporary romance genre. While I mostly gravitate to the funny, sexy romances along the lines of Susan Mallery, Kirsten Higgins, Lauren Layne and Kimberly Kincaid, sometimes I like to switch it up with a Debbie Macomber book. This is the story of Leanne and her daughter-in-law, Nichole. Nichole had the perfect life and marriage or so she thought. One day she was happily married and the next day, she learns her perfect husband not only has a mistress, but he got her pregnant. But she doesn't find out from her husband, she finds out from her mother-in-law. That's the part that I love...Leanne doesn't choose to cover up her son's despicable behavior...she respects her and loves her daughter-in-law enough to tell her the truth. In watching Nichole stand up for herself and leave her marriage, Leanne decides to say enough is enough in her own marriage and leaves her only cheating husband. The two women then each move in to neighboring apartments in downtown Portland and support each other as they navigate there new world as single women. Overall, what really drew me to the story, was the overall message...you don't have to choose a bad marriage over being alone. It can be scary to be on your own and give up the things you had and the comfort of the familiar, but these two women showed you can respect yourself and be on your won and wonderful, beautiful things happened to them. They both found work/volunteer opportunities that fulfilled them and opened them up to the possibility of being happy and finding partners that would love them and value them. This was a sweet story and in the end, I wish I knew Nichole and Leanne. They are truly fantastic female role models.

I received a copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

We have all had “the break-up” that leaves us totaled. Sometimes, we’re lucky enough to have friends experiencing the same hardships when we need someone to understand.

But what if that someone is your soon-to-be-ex-mother-in-law? (that’s a LOT of hyphenation!)
In A Girl’s Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber, Nichole’s husband is a lying cheat. The problem is that his father is ALSO a lying cheat and has been for most of his married life. When Nichole refuses to stand by and take it when she finds out about her husband’s infidelity, her mother-in-law also finds the strength to leave a decades-long lonely marriage.

Nichole and Leanne must figure out how to leave behind their lifestyle, their homes, their friends, and everything they have known. They must also secure a loving environment for Nichole’s child, and begin the healing process.

So, to the review part….

I.loved.this.book.

I have never read a Debbie Macomber book before this one, but if they’re all this wonderfully constructed, I would be really pleased to read more! Macomber seamlessly interweaves the lives of the two women, their individual trials, potential romances and histories. The romances don’t feel forced, or contrived, which is saying a lot given this genre.

What do I mean?
I love reading romance novels, but either the female protagonists in them are desperate to find a replacement man immediately, or they have “sworn off men”. In this case, both women remain at least subconsciously hopeful that they can love again, if their list is any indicator. They have also waited several years from the horrific “ends” of their marriages, and though they aren’t looking for love, they never come off as completely closed off to it either, albeit scared and insecure.

Back to my original point, we can all relate to that lost feeling of a painful breakup, some of us to a broken marriage – or to the horror of someone you love seeking affection from someone else. We’ve all experienced changes in life, or reworking our lives. We’ve all been Leanne or Nichole at some point.

If you can say that, a book has done what it’s meant to do. I suggest you pick this one up; I finished it in one night because I couldn’t help myself and I doubt you’ll have a different reaction.

~~I received this book in exchange for an honest review on Lit.Buzz but my opinions are my own.~~

Debbie Macomber has succeeded in this novel - A Girl's Guide to Moving On, of renewing my interest in her novels. It explores the lives of two women who have or are in the process of divorcing their husbands. What makes it somewhat unique is that that Leanne and Nichole are mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Leanne put up for too long with her husband Sean's infidelity, and finally upon reaching the 'enough' stage she is devastated to see how her accepting Sean's behaviour has rubbed off on her son Josh. He has engaged in the same behaviour in his marriage. However his wife Nichole called enough first time she finds out.

Both women have written for themselves a short guide to moving on, full of wisdom and practicality. They act on it and big changes begin to happen for them. Leanne takes up volunteer teaching at a community college, teaching English as a second language. She finds it very fulfilling and begins out on an adventure with one of her students, Nikolai, that is both wondrous and who knows where it may lead. She also helps care for Owen her 3 year old grandchild who is the son of Josh and Nichole, when Nichole is working.

Leeanne has a flair for dress and helps out at the local Dress for Success shop. When her car becomes stuck in a ditch she is towed out of it by a big tatooed guy by the name of Rocco. Rocco later returns and asks her to help out with finding a dress that he can approve of for a school dance. All their lives are about to change.

The two men Sean and Josh are on the whole very unlikeable and self-centred. Sean makes use of Leanne and Josh makes it hard right through the divorce for Nichole. However as events and hearts change there is hope for something better, and love proves it can endure all things.

The friendship between Leanne and Nichole is what I loved about this book, also the way they go about starting new lives, which sets in place new doors opening and a door closing. Forgiveness and love, new beginnings and healing are strong themes in the book. An enjoyable read.

I was anxious to get my hands on this book when I first heard it was coming out. Having read Debbie Macomber's Last One Home: A Novel I had already been introduced to the two main characters, Leanne and Nichole and had been given a taste of their stories. I was excited to get to know them better and to see where their journey's would take them. A Girl's Guide to Moving On is a wonderfully heartwarming story of how two women walk away from their bad marriages and rebuild better lives for themselves. I like that they took the time to heal their hearts before deciding to date again. This is a great choice if you are looking for an easy and entertaining book to get you through the last weeks of winter.

*Minor character spoilers* The only reason I gave this book four stars instead of five was because of the character of Nikolai. He was an interesting character indeed but I found his possessiveness and jealousy over Leanne to be quite immature; especially for a mature man in his 50's. Many times I would find myself rolling my eyes over some of his lines. In the end I found him enduring and sweet but I felt his behavior to be a bit unbelievable.

Although I have been meaning to read some of Debbie Macomber's books, this is my first one. A Girl's Guide to Moving On has two concurrent and intertwining story lines from two POV's. In alternating chapters, Leanne and her (ex) daughter-in-law share how their marriages ended and how they lean on each other to move on and find love again.

Because Leanne and Nichole's stories intertwine, the alternating chapters work well. I did prefer one story line to the other, but that is personal preference and probably age-related. I could relate better to Nichole's story. Had I not won this book from a Goodreads giveaway, I might not have picked it up for myself. I did enjoy it, but I kept wanting more of Nichole's story. With two story lines, I felt like there couldn't be as much depth as I would have liked. This is a writing format that many would probably enjoy since it focuses heavily on the strength and transformative healing that takes place within each woman. The book is lighter in romance and more heavily a woman's fiction story. Well written, but I think I like would have liked more focus on the romance.

On a separate note, I downloaded a copy of this audiobook, as well, to listen when I couldn't be physically reading. I'm a tough critic with audiobooks since I prefer reading book on my own and I can honestly say the dual narration was well done.

I won an ARC of this book from the publisher through Goodreads First Reads giveaway. In the spirit of the giveaway, a review is encouraged, but not required.

For those who are fans of Debbie Macomber's books will remember at the end of Last One Home , Nichole - the younger sister discovered that the husband she thought loved her actually was having affairs and one of the girls ended up pregnant . A Girl's Guide to Moving on takes place two years after Last One Home and Nichole and Jake are busy going through a long divorce process and Leanne which is Jake's mother has finally got up the guts and divorced her husband Sean as like father, like son - Sean had plenty of affairs throughout their 30+ years of marriage and until Leanne saw Nichole stand-up to Jake , she had always turned a blind eye to what was happening. Nichole and Leanne moved out and are now living in apartments across from one another and working through their list which is a guide they put together to help them move forward. The first on the list was 1) to volunteer and make sure it is a passion . For Nichole she has been working one day a week at Dress for Success which is a non-profit that helps dress women going for job interviews and Leanne has been teaching English to non-speakers at Night school. It is around their jobs that they met two people who will help them discover that they are to be treated as princesses and number ones and will help them not waver and go crawling back to either Jake or Sean. For Nichole she meets Rocco - a tow truck driver and his daughter and Leanne - Nikolai -one of her students on her English course. Can Nichole and Leanne find a way to move on or will their pasts keep coming back to haunt them and find a way to insert themselves into their present lives ? With A Girl's Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber, this is a book that all ages will appreciate and anyone who has ever had to move on from a difficult relationship and one that they often feel obliged to go back to for one reason or another will love as be honest - we have all been in that situation at one time or another and we all have that one person in our lives that we if they asked - would go crawling back to and we as women have to muster up the strength to say enough is enough and move on with our lives in order not to lose ourselves.

I chose to read this book because of the title, and then the blurb on the inside cover. Women building each other up while going through divorce is not new, but two women forming a close bond through divorce when one of those women is divorcing the other ones cheating son is. That is what drew me to this book. This book is the second in the series, which I didn’t know when I purchased this one. It can be read as a stand alone though. The first book, Last One Home, is Cassie’s story. Cassie is Nichole’s sister. So if you are a stickler for reading books in order, I would start with that one.

When Nichole finds out her husband Jake has been cheating on her, she knows what she has to do. If there is one thing she is not putting up with, it is cheating. She does not intend on waiting around for her husband to change, afterall his father has been cheating on his mother with different women for 35 years. Why would the son be any different. So she files for a divorce, and moves out.

Leanne (Jake’s mother) has known her husband, Sean, was cheating on her for over 35 years now, but she stayed in the marriage. Although they have been living together in name only for the last 25. They kept up appearances in public, and everyone has assumed they were a happy, married couple. But when Nichole files for a divorce, it gives Leanne the courage, and hope she needs to walk away from her marriage, and file for a divorce also.

Leanne and Nichole have become close over the years. Leanne thinks of Nichole as the daughter she never had. When each woman walks away from their cheating husbands they rent apartments in the same building, right across the hall from each other. They come up with a plan and a list to move forward with their lives, and call it ‘A Guide to Moving On’. On the list there is three things in order to achieve this, #1 Don’t allow yourself to wallow in your pain. Reach out. Volunteer. Do something you love or something to help others. #2 Cultivate new friendship, and #3 Let go in order to receive. I expected there to be more than those three things, but I suppose those three were enough.

Nichole starts substituting as a teacher at the local school, and volunteers a few days a week at ‘Dress for Success’. She meets Rocco when he comes to tow her broke down car, and the two form an unlikely friendship. Leanne volunteers to teach English as a second language, and that is where she meets Nikolai. He is one of her students, and fast becomes her favorite.

The story is told from each woman’s point of view, with each woman telling their story in alternating chapters. I liked that, and it worked with this story. I enjoyed seeing Nichole bloom, and get her confidence back. My favorite chapters were those of Nicholes. I liked how her and Rocco’s friendship was slow building. Rocco was my favorite character in the whole book. He is rough around the edges, and doesn’t try to be something that he is not. I like men that are a little rough around the edges, and say what they mean.

The relationship between Nikoli and Leanne was nice and sweet. The author did a great job with Nikolai’s voice. He spoke broken english, and often took what was said literally, which made me chuckle. His and Leanne’s relationship was sweet. I like how both women grew throughout the story. At times it was frustrating though, because they let their exes get away with things most would not. I kept wanting both women to get more of a backbone and stand up to these men that treated women as sex objects and nothing more. I mean who cooks and cleans for a man that cheated on her for 35 years!

The ‘cheating’ ex husbands change a little throughout the story, and there is a small amount of redemption. I won’t say anymore on that, because I don’t want to give anything away. It just seemed like for me it was a little too late.

The story was a little slow at times. I didn’t finish the book with any ‘Ah Ha’ moments or profound insight., but it was a nice and sweet read. It wasn’t exactly what I expected, and I am not sure if I will read the first book in the series. We will see. For die hard Debbie Macomber fans I am sure you will like it.

I've been reading Debbie Maccomber for years, and quite honestly, I think this is one of my favorite novels to date. It's a tale of new beginnings, reinventing oneself, and of friendship as a woman and her mother-in-law both leave troubled marriage and start over, leaning on each other as they create a "guide" to how they will move forward.

Nichole leaves what she thought was the perfect relationship when she discovers her husband is cheating on her. Her mother-in-law, Leah, finds strength in Nichole's decision and leaves her own husband after years of tolerating his affairs. They move into apartments across the hall from each other, lean on each other for support and encouragement, and come up with the titled "guide" to moving on with their new lives. Both encounter new relationships, Leah much more hesitantly, and each find those relationships challenged in some way.

Now, I'll be honest: Maccomber doesn't necessarily write the deepest of novels or the most complex of characters, and can veer towards formulaic - the last few I've read in particular reflected this. However, this felt a bit different from her usual style, and a bit deeper. Nikolai leans a bit towards a caricature, but his enthusiasm and simplicity is irresistible. If you're looking for a light escape read, (or are recovering from a breakup), this empowering story is for you.

Once again Debbie Macomber has written a wonderful and up lifting novel, that quickly became a page-turner.
As I began reading this book, I noticed that it was a stand alone, but was having flash backs to felling like I’ve read parts before, and other parts seemed so new. Finally I realized that I had been introduced to some of these characters before in “Last One Home”, and was so glad to get updates in all of their lives.
These women, whom are Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law, are very close, and the men in their lives have followed the same path. Nichole has gotten out after five years of marriage, while Leanne was in hers for almost 35 years.
You will delight when you meet the new men in these women’s lives and feel how much they deserve to be cherished. Will they be able to maintain these new relationships considering their past?
Journey along as these ladies get back on their feet and become themselves once again.
I received this book through Net Galley and Ballentine Books and was not required to give a positive review.

I had in the pass went back and forth considering reading this book. I do not like wasting my time reading boring or long drawn out books. If it starts out slow, I'll give it a couple chapters. There is potential in some slow starter. I digress. I just read The Last One Home by this author, and I had a feeling that there was a sequel or an accompanied story. This book is the extention to it. I enjoyed this book a little better with more drama angst and soul search. This is a stand along book but you will appreciate Nichole's and Leanne's story more. I enjoyed all of it.?
I also like to add that this book expresses the power of forgiveness patients and love. Even after hurt and heart break. Prayers and a guide leading the way. Happy reading.

I've read many books written by Debbie Macomber and really enjoy her writing, so when I saw A Girl's Guide to Moving On, I looked forward to reading it and I was not disappointed at all. This book focuses on two main female characters - Nichole and Leanne.

While Nichole thought she had the perfect life being married to Jake, having a job that she loved, her young son Owen and her volunteer work. Suddenly everything in her life changes when she discovers that Jake has been unfaithful and to compound the mess, his girlfriend is pregnant. Nichole decides to divorce Jake and build a new life for herself and Owen. Leanne is Nichole's mother-in-law and both women are in the unfortunate positions of having their husbands cheating on them. Both women leave their husbands and the story follows as they climb the hurdles of their new lives filled with new experiences.

After moving into their apartments, the women make up a list of ways they can get thru this betrayal and hurt, they come up with three rules. The first rule was “don’t allow yourself to wallow in your pain, reach out. Volunteer or do something you love or something that will help others.”

The second item is to “cultivate new friendships” and that means changing the things they are used to. Their circle of friends from their married "country club" lives seem to have fallen to the way side, so they need to seek out new friendships. The third and hardest is to “let go in order to receive” which is much easier said than done.

While Nichole meets a tow truck driver named Rocco, Leanne meets a Nicolai, who is a baker from the Ukraine. It is great to watch as the women grow and learn with these potential new relationships. (No spoilers about whether they make it or not.) The new men are from different worlds from the ex-husbands and each of these women are taken out of what they know.

At it's core this was a book about hope, and learning to move on. I laughed, I cried and I cheered as the women learned to navigate their new lives. They had to learn how to redefine who they were, and to find hope again. The author dives into subjects like not feeling "good enough" and the fear of having to provide for themselves, the fear of letting go of the past, and the fear of new beginnings. She leads readers through the experiences of these women, both in learning to date, and perhaps the ability to love and trust another man. Throughout this book, the women struggle to find peace and balance in their new lives. This is a great beach day read or rainy day read - a quick read and very enjoyable!

I was provided with a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and unbiased opinion.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this powerful and uplifting novel, a mother and her daughter-in-law bravely leave their troubled marriages and face the challenge of starting over. Leaning on each other, Nichole and Leanne discover that their inner strength and capacity for love are greater than they ever imagined.

When Nichole discovers that her husband, Jake, has been unfaithful, the illusion of her perfect life is indelibly shattered. While juggling her young son, a new job, and volunteer work, Nichole meets Rocco, who is the opposite of Jake in nearly every way. Though blunt-spoken and rough around the edges, Rocco proves to be a dedicated father and thoughtful friend. But just as their relationship begins to blossom, Jake wagers everything on winning Nichole back—including their son Owen’s happiness. Somehow, Nichole must find the courage to defy her fears and follow her heart, with far-reaching consequences for them all.

Leanne has quietly ignored her husband’s cheating for decades, but is jolted into action by the echo of Nichole’s all-too-familiar crisis. While volunteering as a teacher of English as a second language, Leanne meets Nikolai, a charming, talented baker from Ukraine. Resolved to avoid the heartache and complications of romantic entanglements, Leanne nonetheless finds it difficult to resist Nikolai’s effusive overtures—until an unexpected tragedy tests the very fabric of her commitments.

An inspiring novel of friendship, reinvention, and hope, A Girl’s Guide to Moving On affirms the ability of every woman to forge a new path, believe in love, and fearlessly find happiness.

--My thoughts. Debbie Macomber knows what women like to read. She makes it easy and fun to read! Leanne and Nichole find out their husbands have been cheating on them. They are daughter/MIL. So they move out into apartments across from each other and try to move on.

You will enjoy this second book in the series from her. It is fun to read and uplifting with a message of course. But I always enjoy the ride and I love finding out towards the end who might be in the next book. Always a little nugget she throws us!!

A Girl's Guide To Moving On is the 2nd book in the New Beginnings series. Nichole is a newly single women with a young son after discovering that her soon to be ex-husband was unfaithful but as she falls for a single father, nothing goes as planned. Leanne is Nichole's mother-in-law with her husband being unfaithful for years until both her and Nichole take a stand to move on, they both discover that falling in love again is something different but totally unexpected as well.

With Nichole trying to move on, she meets Rocco who is the complete opposite of her ex and who has a teenage daughter of his own. As her son would rather spend time with Rocco than her ex who then takes action against Nichole which forces Nichole to make a hard decision. After Nichole makes her decision, everything falls apart to only bring the two who are meant to be together in the end.

Leanne's ex-husband has been cheating on her for years so when she finally moves out and gets a divorce, time will bring her ex back into the picture with complications. As Leanne teach's a class for people to learn English as their second language will bring Nikolai into her life and heart. But with her ex in the picture with major health problems and Nikolai jealous of what may be happening, it will all come down to a sad point in Leanne's life that will bring her total happiness again.

I love books like this that go between two or more people that give their point of view of things and I could totally feel for what Nichole and Leanne are going through. I only wished that I read the first book in this series but you can bet that I will be reading that book in the future! I think this book is the reason why I love Debbie Macomber's books and that is that, there isn't that many Authors out there can draw you into a story that leaves you wanting more!

Thank You to Debbie Macomber for reaffirm my love of your books with this story!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley!

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber is a novel about women getting on with their life after divorce. Nichole Patterson and her mother-in-law Leanne Patterson have just divorced their husbands. They have moved into apartments next door to each other in Portland, Oregon. They have come up with what they call “A Guide to Letting Go and Moving On”. It is easier to say than to do.

Nichole was married to Jake. They have a son, Owen. But then Jake (just like his father) cheated on Nichole with another woman and the other woman became pregnant. Jake has done everything possible to delay the divorce. They are still working out the details almost two years later. Nichole just wants to get on with her life. She is a substitute teacher and also volunteers at a dress shop that helps woman gets clothes who are going into the work force for the first time. Nichole meets Rocco Nyquist on day when her car goes into a ditch. Rocco is kind, hardworking, and a good man. Can the new relationship survive the interfering ex-husband?

Leanne Patterson was married to her husband, Sean for thirty-five years and he cheated for the majority of the marriage. Leanne always looked the other way. Now she sees that it gave her son, Jake the wrong idea (that his wife would put up with it). Nichole gave her the courage to file for divorce (they did it together on the same day). Leanne is now living on her own (a first) and teaches English as a second language at the community center. It is in the class that Leanne meets Nikolai Janchenko from the Ukraine. He is a wonderful baker with a great personality. He cares very much for Leanne, but then Sean needs assistance. Will Leanne ever get happiness? She will need to have faith that everything will work out according to God’s will.

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On was a sweet (though predictable) book. It was a beautifully, crafted novel. My interest was held throughout the whole book. It is easy to read with entertaining characters (especially Nikolai). The ending was just wonderful. Fans of Debbie Macomber will love A Girl’s Guide to Moving On. I give A Girl’s Guide to Moving On 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it, but I knew how it would end). There is just the right amount of faith and God in this novel (it is not pushy or in your in face).

I received a complimentary copy of A Girl’s Guide to Moving On from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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.

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

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber is a novel about women getting on with their life after divorce. Nichole Patterson and her mother-in-law Leanne Patterson have just divorced their husbands. They have moved into apartments next door to each other in Portland, Oregon. They have come up with what they call “A Guide to Letting Go and Moving On”. It is easier to say than to do.

Nichole was married to Jake. They have a son, Owen. But then Jake (just like his father) cheated on Nichole with another woman and the other woman became pregnant. Jake has done everything possible to delay the divorce. They are still working out the details almost two years later. Nichole just wants to get on with her life. She is a substitute teacher and also volunteers at a dress shop that helps woman gets clothes who are going into the work force for the first time. Nichole meets Rocco Nyquist on day when her car goes into a ditch. Rocco is kind, hardworking, and a good man. Can the new relationship survive the interfering ex-husband?

Leanne Patterson was married to her husband, Sean for thirty-five years and he cheated for the majority of the marriage. Leanne always looked the other way. Now she sees that it gave her son, Jake the wrong idea (that his wife would put up with it). Nichole gave her the courage to file for divorce (they did it together on the same day). Leanne is now living on her own (a first) and teaches English as a second language at the community center. It is in the class that Leanne meets Nikolai Janchenko from the Ukraine. He is a wonderful baker with a great personality. He cares very much for Leanne, but then Sean needs assistance. Will Leanne ever get happiness? She will need to have faith that everything will work out according to God’s will.

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On was a sweet (though predictable) book. It was a beautifully, crafted novel. My interest was held throughout the whole book. It is easy to read with entertaining characters (especially Nikolai). The ending was just wonderful. Fans of Debbie Macomber will love A Girl’s Guide to Moving On. I give A Girl’s Guide to Moving On 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it, but I knew how it would end). There is just the right amount of faith and God in this novel (it is not pushy or in your in face).

I received a complimentary copy of A Girl’s Guide to Moving On from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is the second installment in Debbie Macomber’s heartwarming New Beginnings series. In this delightful story of friendship, Nichole Patterson and her ex-mother-in-law but best friend, Leanne, unexpectedly find love but both find it difficult to leave the past behind due to their respective ex-husbands’ interference in their lives.

When Leanne learned that her son Jake was cheating on his wife, she knew that, no matter how painful, Nichole needed to know the truth about her husband. Gaining courage from Nichole’s decision to leave Jake, Leanne decides it is time to end her thirty-five year marriage to her philandering husband Sean. Supporting one another through this tumultuous time, Nichole and Leanne leave their old lives behind and start fresh in a new town. While Leanne’s divorce goes through quickly, Jake is stunned by Nichole’s reaction and for the past two years, he has done everything he can to delay their divorce. Finally realizing she is not going to change her mind, Jake signs the divorce papers, but he continues to manipulate Nichole once he learns of her new relationship with blue-collar tow truck owner Rocco Nyquist.

Leanne, Nichole and three year old Owen have settled fairly easily into their lives. Leaving behind their pampered, wealthy lifestyles was fairly smooth and although Leanne has no financial concerns, money is sometimes tight for Nichole since she has been unable to secure a fulltime teaching position. Aided by their rules to help them regain their independence and bolster their self-esteem, both women are quite satisfied with their lives. One of their most important “rules” is giving back to the local community through volunteering and each of them have found their niche in their volunteer positions. Leanne loves teaching English as second language twice a week while Nichole is quite fulfilled by her volunteer position helping underprivileged women prepare for job interviews.

Just after Jake signs the divorce papers, Nichole strikes up an unexpected friendship with Rocco and his teenage daughter Kaylene. Rocco is unlike anyone Nichole has ever known but despite their outward differences, their core beliefs are quite similar. While she is a little unsettled by her attraction to Rocco, Nichole very much enjoys his company and she is more than willing to see where their relationship leads. But trouble arises when Jake feels threatened by their burgeoning romance and he intimidates her into making an unpalatable decision.

Leanne is surprised when her student Nikolai Janchenko expresses an interest in her outside of their ESL classes. Due to her ex-husband’s long-term infidelity, her self-confidence remains low and she is quite flustered by Nikolai’s attention. Their relationship is a bit of a slow burner due to Nicolai’s unexpected jealousy and her ex’s sudden reappearance in her life. Their budding romance is further derailed by a shocking crisis and Leanne’s compassionate response to devastating news.

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is a captivating novel of healing, friendship and love. The storyline is incredibly moving and Debbie Macomber does a magnificent job keeping the plot fresh and interesting. The characters are well-developed and likable with realistic flaws and true to life issues to resolve. This latest release is a heartfelt and gratifying addition to the New Beginnings series that old and new fans are sure to enjoy.

I received a complimentary copy for review.

There is one thing Nichole and her mother-in-law Leanne have in common: they both have a husband that is cheating on them. Nichole is determined to divorce her husband Jake, and Leanne quickly follows her example, leaving Sean after 35 years of marriage. To help each other deal with things, the two women come up with a list of things to stick to, to help them move on. When Nichole meets single father Rocco, she can hardly ignore the sparks between them. But is Rocco, with his dark past, really the right person to get involved with? At the same time Leanne also finds herself with an admirer from an unexpectant corner, namely in the form of one of her students from her English language class, a Ukranian baker named Nikolai. Are Leanne and Nichole both ready to start afresh, or is moving on from marriage not as straightforward as it may seem...?

Debbie Macomber is quite the bestselling author with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide, and after having read 'A Girl's Guide to Moving On' I am once again reminded what a wonderful storyteller she is. This novel is actually the second part of Debbie's 'New Beginnings' series, which started with 'Last One Home', but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. The book focuses on two different female characters who each have their own storyline; Leanne and Nichole. I really easily warmed to both characters and enjoyed their stories equally. It was lovely joining Leanne and Nichole on the road to starting their new lives, single and ready for some well-deserved happiness.

I particularly loved the romance element that was clearly present in the novel. Rocco and Nikolai, the two male characters, were both great and I loved seeing Leanne and Nichole falling in love again and dealing with all the things that come with that. I also want to take the chance to say how much I fell in love with Nichole's son Owen; he was just the cutest little boy. Debbie Macomber's writing style fit the story really well which turned it into a lovely comfort read. It wasn't too deep or heavily emotional; perfect if you're looking for a bit of romantic escapism. I thoroughly enjoyed 'A Girl's Guide to Moving On' and put it down with a smile on my face; it's an inspiring and touching novel about love and friendship and finding happiness; a great read!

There is one constant that I can always count on in a story by Debbie Macomber – and that is simply a story full of realistic, believable people who might populate my neighborhood or my family. While A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is the second story in the New Beginnings series, please do not let that cause you one moment of hesitation in picking up this story. Aside from some very light mention of characters or events in the first novel (Last One Home), this story could be easily read as a stand alone novel.

The “Cover Description Blurb” does give us a lot of information about this novel, so I’m not going to do a rehash tease about it. I’d much rather talk about how this story hits emotionally. Nichole and Leanne are facing some very tough, emotional decisions in their lives. A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is the dual story of a mother-in-law and a former daughter-in-law moving on from painful marriages… of finally seeing, accepting that the men they loved and married are not the men they want to remain married to. Yes, there are things much worse than cheating in a marriage, but it ranks right up there near the top. There are moments in this story when their pain just reaches out and grabs your heart. We’ve all, unfortunately, known some type of cheating or being lied to in a relationship (and if you haven’t.. God bless you and hold on to that partner!), even if it was back in high school. So, I believe we all can relate to either of these women and their decisions to finally.. move on.

Yet, the reality is… moving on is not easy. It’s scary and exhilarating. Frightening and exciting. Comforting and annoying. But it certainly is life, and Nichole and Leanne get out there and live. They didn’t leave their past behind and hide – they went out and made a new future by letting others into their lives, they took that chance that life could be good to them, eventually.

I won’t spoil your experience of reading A Girl’s Guide to Moving On by giving up every tiny detail. I will say that in this story you will find very human characters – some more flawed than others. But they will all touch your emotions in some way … annoyance perhaps but that’s an emotion too. :)

I absolutely enjoyed my time with Nichole and Leanne. I found their story to be believable, uplifting at times, wipe away a tear at others and spaced within the two extremes were some laugh out loud moments when I totally “got” a moment in the character’s life. I would gladly recommend this story to any reader who loves a good story, rediscovering what makes you strong, and most of all a story that will linger with you long after you turn the final page.

*I received an e-ARC of A Girl’s Guide to Moving On from the publisher, Ballatine Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Let me start by saying that Romance is not my genre. I’ve read some Nicholas Sparks in the past and enjoyed it tremendously. Just this year, I read my first Nora Roberts and liked that pretty well. And some would classify Outlander as Romance (though I might consider fighting them to the death on that one), and I LOVE me some Outlander. But this is my first Debbie Macomber.

In the Romance genre, she’s a pretty prolific and popular writer. She’s ranked #12 for Romance on the store, and on Goodreads nearly all of her books are ranked a 4 or better. So, wanting to expand my horizons a bit, I decided that Debbie Macomber was a good place to dive in, and how fortuitous that I was able to get my hands on her upcoming new release!

So…here goes. I enjoyed it. I didn’t love it, and I didn’t hate it. Having no previous experience reading her, I haven’t a clue if this is typical of her work. Having very little experience in the genre overall, I have little to compare to in terms of writing style, etc. It’s a light, easy palate cleanser. That should, by no means, be taken as degradation of her work.

There are all kinds of books because we need different types of books at different times in our lives, and in between the emotionally or intellectually heavy reads, we need books that make us feel hopeful, that are simple, light, easy and cheery. And this is that kind of book. The perfect thing to read when you need to let go of the emotional burden of reading A Little Life or to take your mind off your own troubles.

The writing was a little on the basic side for me, and there was a bit more cheese factor than I tend to go for, but shoving that aside, the characters were well developed, the story line was sweet and thoughtful, and I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Rocco and Nichole. Having been divorced with a small child myself, having dealt with custody issues, etc., it was very easy for me to relate to her and what she was going through. Coming from a different world than I did, there were times when I found her and her ex mother-in-law’s perspectives a bit…privileged…but they were trying and they were good, likable people. Rocco was right up my alley. What can I say? I like male characters who are a little edgy.

Overall, I enjoyed it enough that I’ll pick up a book from one of her more established series in the near term. I won’t be running out to get every Debbie Macomber novel ever written, but when I need a light feel good read, she’ll definitely be on the list of possibilities.

Note: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this story much more than I thought I would. I've read many books by Debbie Macomber and have loved most of them. This is the second book in the New Beginnings series. I read the first one and liked it OK but there were parts that I felt were a bit "preachy." I know that Ms. Macomber is very open about her faith in God but I don't recall having faith mentioned quite so strongly before in one of her stories (other than maybe her "angel" series and her Christmas stories). This book brings faith into play as well but somehow it seemed to fit better for me. You don't need to have read the first book - Last One Home - to enjoy this one but the main characters are introduced in that story.

A Girl's Guide to Moving on is told in first person POV with chapters alternating between Nichole and Leanne. I can't recall reading any other book by Ms. Macomber that was written in this style.

Nichole and Leanne are starting over. Nicole was married to Leanne's son, Jake. Both Jake and his father were serial cheaters. When Leanne tells Nichole that Jake has been cheating on her she does so out of love because she doesn't want Nichole to be like her and turn a blind eye to what Jake is doing. She urges Nichole to break the cycle and not stay with Jake like she stayed with his father which she felt set a bad example for Jake. Nichole vows to leave Jake and set a better example for her son.

When Nichole decides to leave Jake, Leanne knows that she also needs to break with her cheating husband. These two women have a close relationship - Nichole's parents are deceased - so they become each others support system in the new life they are creating. They develop a list of things to do and not do and that list becomes their "Guide to Moving On."

I've never been divorced but people close to me have so I can sympathize with what these two are going through. I was really surprised by how this book made me feel; I was in tears many times while reading this. Because this is a story of hope and love I was pretty sure that these two would find new loves during the book. The men they meet and fall for are so different from their former husbands but they are good men. Nichole and Leanne's path to happiness is not smooth - both are faced with very difficult life-changing decisions - but reading the story of how they get there was inspiring. Once I got past the first couple of chapters I couldn't put this one down.

*****Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions*****

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 Stars for this double heartbreak, double romance story.

The title is completely accurate. Leanne and Nichole are women who suffer the same ailment: cheating husbands. Leanne is Nichole's mother-in-law who suffered 35 years in a loveless marriage to a philandering husband, Sean. When she learns that her son Jake is following Sean's misguided footsteps, she informs Nichole, stay-at-home mother to her only grandchild Owen. Nichole does what Leanne never had the strength to do: walks away. And this gives Leanne the courage to get a divorce as well.

The book opens two years after this marital discord, with Leanne and Nichole having apartments in the same building and having built a close and loving relationship. Leanne dotes on Owen and assists with childcare as Nichole struggles to provide for herself. Her divorce has not been finalized because Jake has blocked her at every step, in the effort to wear her down and coax her into returning to him. Sean had no compunctions regarding the loss of his marriage; couldn't wait to get Leanne out of his life and home. They'd maintained separate bedrooms for years.

In order to stay focused on the positive, and not get mired in depression, Leanne and Nichole build a "guide" of four tenets to see them through. They have to let go of their hurt, to volunteer, to build new friendships, and be open to new experiences. These principles form a strong foundation, but can't keep out all the hurt.

That said, it is through these outreaches that both Leanne and Nichole find new love for themselves and with new partners. Men who are completely different from their suave, wealthy, cultured ex-husbands are able to turn Leanne and Nichole's heads by being kind, compassionate, honest and sincere. The road to happiness is long, arduous and littered with missteps, however. I really admired these characters and how they kept their cool amid some contentious encounters. Jake is a selfish manipulative jerk who is unsettled by Nichole's desire to start over. His double standard is classic and nearly comical. Sean's got no interest in Leanne until he witnesses another man finding her attractive. And, yet, Leanne has some unfinished business with Sean that can only be handled with time and careful attention.

This is a heavy read. There is hope and heartbreak, in roughly equal measure. The ending is well done, with characters who make positive choices for themselves and find healing and happiness again. It was interesting to notice the details that were important to these women. Having been lied to to and cheated on, how they interacted with other men was measured and guarded. That felt so incredibly real, and approachable, as a reader. The love stories that build here are very sweet and so tender. That said, it's a squeaky-clean romance, with constant attention to religious interest--so I expect this will be a bestseller for the Christian readership. I had wished for a little more intimacy, to be truthful. Part of the book read like a journal, with both Nichole and Leanne speaking directly to the reader. It didn't unsettle me, as I prefer first-person close POV, but it might be an issue for other readers.

4.5 stars

This was a good book.... I'm surprised! It's not one of my usual reads. I was looking for something different to read and I got it with this book.
The synopsis really grabbed me. 2 women one younger and one older. Trying to find their way in life after divorce. The differences they go through at different stages in their life & the choices they make.
It's was a good read!

Both women have been through a lot.
Leanne had been married for 35 years to her husband Sean. Finally getting the courage to leave her cheating husband when she finds out her son also has been cheating on his wife.

Nichole is Leanne's daughter-in-law.
Her mother-in-law just told her that her son Jake has been cheating on her.
So together they both leave their husbands and starting a new life.

The story takes you along the day to day life of both women. They both lean on each other and support each other through all the hard times and good times.

I loved reading about how both women moved on.
Finding new friendships and new love interest.
Nichole found Rocco when she least expected it. And Leanne found Nimolaj. A student in her learning to speak English class she taught at.

But... I must admit.
The Book plateaus around the 43% mark. I had to push a little bit to move on. I understood why these women were taking it slow and really thinking about things.
But also.... These women knew what they were doing. It almost felt like they were playing games a little bit with these new men in their lives.
Leanne especially with Nikolaj. I felt bad for the guy.

And Nichole...
I don't know if Rocco was the right guy for her first relationship after her divorce.
I thought I would warm up to him as I kept reading.
But... I just wasn't feeling the way he talked to Nichole. He was always so cold & rude. It was just hard to see him as the one for her. It's like he had this permanent attitude.
Yes... He was nice when he wanted to be. But it just wasn't enough for me to fall in love with his character.
After everything her ex put her through... Why would she even want to put up with someone else's attitude?

The ending of the book was perfect. Both Leanne and Nicole finally found their happiness.

I'm so glad I took a chance on this book. This is the first book that I've read by this author. I will diffidently be checking out her other books.

This was another really heartening romance novel from Macomber that made for an easy and enjoyable read.

I was surprised initially by the bond that Nichole and Leanne forged--stories where the stepmother and the new wife get along are rare, and this type of closeness was almost hard to buy initially. It did make for a unique twist to the story.

The stories were relatively predictable from the time the girls met their respective boys; however, this didn't stop them from being incredibly sweet. I loved that class distinctions were played with and how the ex-husbands reacted to the news of the girls having new relationships. Though predictable, this was far from boring.

I really loved how this book showed the power of being a woman while showing how challenging divorce is, and what it can be like to start an entirely new life after having lived in one way for so long. I enjoyed the subtle feminism that powered this story and how though both of the characters were vulnerable and open, they were also strong and matured even as the story progressed.

It was easy to get wrapped up in this story and I enjoyed seeing the girls grow and mature. This was a lovely new Macomber book that I recommend to any romance fan.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been reading Debbie Macomber books for a long time but haven’t read one for a while now. Her books are romantic and uplifting. Now A Girl's Guide to Moving On fits that bill too. I do think that it is general women’s fiction than it is a romance book. Don’t get me wrong there is wonderful romance in this story of a mother-n-law and daughter-in-law banding together through their divorces and rebuilding of their lives. However, I felt that the “moving on” that they do is as important as the romance, which is the icing on the cake, so to speak.

Leanne and Nichole both start over making a Guide to Moving On List after leaving their cheating husbands, father and son. The romantic aspects made their lives rich and full, but also adding angst to the mix. I was cheering these women on all the way! I might have even developed a soft spot for those lying cheating husbands but I would never admit it in public.

To say that this story is filled with drama is really an understatement. I don’t remember a Macomber having so many interwoven lives that cause so much constant turmoil. I am not saying it is not well written or believable, just different from what I think of in a Debbie Macomber book. To be truthful, I found it to be a page turning, hard to put down read.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a copy.

A GIRLS GUIDE TO MOVING ON is a beautifully written novel about love lost, and love found again.

This book is an exploration of so many things – family dynamics, a second chance at romance, secrets, betrayal…a gripping read - and sometimes heart-wrenching. Ms. Macomber created well-developed characters and an emotion-packed story. The dialogue is easy to read and flows well. I love that the characters were human. They talked, felt and reacted like real people that you know. I was fascinated by the relationship between Leanne and Nichole. It is not often that you see a mother that can admit the failings of her son. It was thought provoking for me. Could I be as objective if this were my son and his wife?

Set aside some reading time before you pick up this book because it really is hard to put down. You will find yourself thinking about it. It kept me riveted to the pages. Sometimes, things are not what they seem – there are emotions present that surprise the reader – this was one of those books for me! Debbie Macomber ably draws us along to search for the answers right along with the characters. I loved this book, and definitely recommend it.

*An advance reading copy was generously provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an objective review.

This novel pairs the unlikely duo of a young woman, Nichole, and her ex-mother-in-law, Leanne, supporting each other after their mutual divorces in the aftermath of infidelity. They come up with their own guidelines to help them deal with the past and move on with their lives.

Nichole's sister Cassie was the main character in Macomber's novel "Last One Home" and Nichole appeared in that book. Those who read that book will appreciate getting an update on Cassie, but this new book stands on its own. The premise of this book and and the way the story builds from the guidelines to "Moving On" is clever and fun to read.

Part of moving on includes finding new love interests and much of Nichole's new romance with Rocco and Leanne's with Nikolai are sweet. However, the characters lack depth and both Leanne and Nichole make several immature, unbelievable choices that put unnecessary obstacles in the way of their newfound happiness. In the end, things are wrapped up in a somewhat predictable, but satisfying way. The novel is pleasant overall and I would rate it 3.5 stars.

I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Ballantine Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

An emotional read of a unique relationship between a mother & her daughter in law. This stand alone novel is a detailed account of a relationship between 2 women years apart facing the same issues. Leanne has lived with an unfaithful husband for years. The relationship comes to a head when she discovers her son Jake treating his wife, Nichole & son Owen the same way. Because Leanne always turned a blind eye, he thought Nichole would to.

Debbie writes about the journey that Leanne & Nichole travel from leaving their spouses, filing for divorce & creating a new life for themselves. This unlikely pair support each other throughout the journey. Debbie manages to make sure you feel every emotion the characters feel. With Leanne we experience her torment & guilt from going against her son & husband to her pleasure in Nichole creating a new life for herself & Owen. Nichole feels guilty for depriving her son of the life he would have had if she had stayed with Jake.

I couldn't put this book down! Just like any Debbie Macomber book I've ever read, I was so involved I stayed up until late in the night to finish it. I laughed, smiled, & cried buckets of tears! You won't be sorry if you purchase this book to read!

I really need to give up on Debbie Macomber. Cranking out tons of books a year has clearly taken precedence over thoughtful writing. I used to enjoy her books a lot, but this one is ridiculous.

This is the follow-up to Last One Home, the book that gave short shrift to the serious issue of domestic violence. Now we have a book about the tired trope of women being cheated on by their rich husbands and moving on (with a bonus side trope of son cheating because daddy cheated and his mother enabled him!). The two women themselves are rather boring ("classy," they are described but have no personalities), and frankly interchangeable. I have noted before that this author does not write young women well, and that is true here. I think the younger character was supposed to be in her 20s but she comes across as being as old as her former mother-in-law.

But then we have a whole parade of supporting characters that fill offensive stereotypes. There is a black female character (OMG, YES, Debbie has finally acknowledged that persons of color exist!) who is poor, loud, and makes crude comments. And--trope alert--has to be saved by the classy white lady! Including getting her a new hairdo, because the author has apparently not heard any of the cultural issues surrounding black hair and judgment or of the Chris Rock documentary Good Hair. I am white, but because I do not live under a rock, I cannot believe that at least the editors did not pick up on any of the issues with this character. God forbid that the black character be a professional they meet at a country club!

The next supporting stereotype is an immigrant from the Ukraine. Of course he butchers idioms because that is literally what every immigrant character ever does on TV (see: Ziva on NCIS, Balki from Perfect Strangers). TROPE. Here it is done ad nauseam, with him hacking his way through at least 5 expressions in every conversation, even though most Americans do not talk in idioms that often. He comes across the way rude Americans perceive foreigners who are learning English...like a big, dumb puppy dog. Because of course someone who immigrates here and can't speak English cannot possibly be anything but dumb and lovable (see again, e.g., Balki).

And our final stereotype is the blue-collar lunkhead. He drives a tow truck so obviously he is downmarket. He is literally stunned because one of the women eats pizza with...a FORK. He is slackjawed and drooling at how "classy" she is. Blue-collar people do leave their houses and go to restaurants, so I hardly think that a person would be so bowled over by someone using a fork to eat pizza unless they were actually raised by wolves. Again, we can't buck the stereotype and have a tow truck driver who reads Proust or something.

In short...this author really needs to get out more. I find it hard to believe that a best-selling author has SUCH a narrow view of the world. And lazily relies on the tiredest tropes in all the land to craft stories because coming up with an original storyline is too difficult.

The premise of the book is what drew me to reading this book although I don't read much romance but I gave it a chance since this author writes so many books. I wanted to like this book more due to the unique theme of daughter-in-law and mother in law going through a divorce. The first couple of chapters drew me in with their "Girls Guide" rules, but as I continued I couldn't finish the book. I stopped at the halfway point as there was little plot to compel me to finish.
The writing was a little better than the plot, which not as rich as I hoped for given this writer's many books. The story is best when the character's inner dialogue is described and the reader gets more of the emotional sense of what the women feel.
Characterization of the young son and best friends was thin relying only on dialogue to let us know who they were or how they were impacted by the divorce. I didn't feel compelled to finish the book as there wasn't much of a plot.
A reader of romance would probably rate this novel higher but for me, this wasn't the right book. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On, by the prolific Debbie Macomber is a sweet story of endings and new beginnings.

Nichole and Leanne live across the hall from each other in a downtown Portland apartment building.

They used to be mother- and daughter-in-law.

Leanne’s husband cheated on her for years and she turned a blind eye. When her son cheated on Nichole and she left him, Leanne found the courage to leave also.

When the story opens, it’s been about two years since the women have been on their own. They formed their own support group and gave themselves guidelines for learning how to move on while being mutually supportive.

Neither expected to fall in love again. And they definitely didn’t expect Rocco or Nikolai, two men completely unlike their ex-husbands. But the road to new love isn’t smooth. Language barriers, cultural expectations, and health issues are just a few of their obstacles.

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is a light and satisfying read. Debbie Macomber fans will not be disappointed.

——-

I received a free e-copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was a beautiful story about a woman and her mother-in-law's support of one another after both leaving marriages where their husbands had been unfaithful.

Leeanne had been married for almost 35 years and for most of her marriage, her husband, Sean, had been unfaithful. When she learned that her son, Jack, had been unfaithful to her daughter=in-law, Nichole, even going so far as to get the other woman pregnant, she had had enough. Gaining courage after Nichole after she left Jack, she, too filed for divorce.

Nichole and Leeanne lived across the hall from each other in the same apartment building supporting one another and Nichole's young son, Owen.

This story is about what it takes to recover from divorce and move forward with your life and find love again. I won't give away the details but this is a story that was a wonderful story of loss, recovery, and closure.

I have read other books by this author and I would highly recommend this one.

I was a given this book in exchange for an honest review.

I don't usually read general fiction because I read so many Christian fiction authors that my to read list is already really long but this author was recommended to me and this book looked good so I gave it a shot and really liked it.

I wasn't sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised that while there were some innuendos there was not any sex in the story and I never felt like I needed to stop reading because it got too worldly. Instead I got a great story about two women living across the hall from each other moving on from divorce and making new friends, starting new jobs, and meeting new guys too!

Usually when I read a story with parallel characters I like one more than the other and no surprise the same thing happened with this book. I really liked Nicole. I love how strong she is and how she both worked and volunteered with her new time. I also loved Rocco. I love how well he treated Nicole and I also loved that he never pushed her. And my favorite part was how good he was with Nicole's son!

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

"A Girl's Guide to Moving On" by Debbie Macomber. This is a story about a daughter in-law and her mother in-law.

This is a different type story than I normally read. You have a unique situation where a daughter in-law files for a divorce because her husband was unfaithful. The mother in-law feels that she has done a disservice to her son by overlooking his father's unfaithfulness. She files for a divorce too. Nichole's biggest supporter ends up being her mother in-law.

The daughter in-law, Nichole, and mother in-law Leanne end up dating very different men from the ones they had been married to. Will they be able to take a chance on love again?

There are twists and turns that were unexpected in this story. After reading the story, you see the importance of forgiveness and that people can change. This is very different from the typical romance novel, but I really enjoyed it. This novel goes much deeper plus you get two sweet romances in one story.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley/Random House Publishing Group for an honest review.

To start, i enjoy reading Debbie Macomber. Her characters, colorful settings, and fantastic realistic plots show how well she loves to write and that she loves sharing her stories with others. Now on to the review...

A Girl's Guide to Moving On is the story of two women, separated by years and a generation coming to terms with unfaithful spouses. Where the younger lets it be known quickly that she will not take the abuse of unfaithfulness, the older stays quiet with the unfaithful man for years. The twist is... there are related by marriage and together they find that moving on is as important as learning to stay up for one's self no matter the cost.

I really enjoyed the premise of this story. The one lesson was very evident, but I also liked the other message, that bad behavior is taught. Unfaithful husband brought forth an unfaithful son. The lead characters were heartwarming, funny, and full of surprises. A true masterpiece that is slightly different than Macomber's usual stories. A perfect summer time read!!

This was the first book I've read by Debbie Macomber and it was a very engaging read. The two protagonists, Leanne and her daughter-in-law Nichole, have both ended unhappy marriages with unfaithful spouses two years before. The story is told from each of their perspectives as they face the challenge of starting over, learning to trust their hearts and instincts. The friendship between these two women who decided that their lives could be more is compelling and enables each of them to assert themselves and take paths they hadn't anticipated. The author has created very authentic women with real struggles. Their courage and ability to step outside of safe yet unhappy lives are inspirational. This story will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.

A girl's guide to moving on, by Debbie Macomber
Starts out with Nicole and she's found out her spouse is cheating on her.
The book is also about her mother LeeAnne and she's filing for divorce also. Her husband had cheated on her decades ago and she didn't want to be on her own with a newborn.
They each live in an apartment in downtown Portland across the hall from one another.
Alternating chapters from each of the women. Who they thought were their friends were not.
They make a list as to what to do with their lives now as they struggled with everyday issues.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is a charming story of family, friendship and the pursuit of true happiness. The unlikely and unbreakable bond forged by these two women will warm your heart as their respective stories unfold.

Leanne and Nichole were incredibly strong women and they frequently leaned on each other as they navigated their new lives. They were resolute yet compassionate towards the men who had hurt them time and again. I admired their determination and resiliency.

Nikolai and Rocco were beautiful souls. Where Nikolai was sweet beyond words, Rocco was a little rough around the edges. But it was their unwavering persistence in their pursuits of Leanne and Nichole, respectively that completely stole my heart.

This was my first Debbie Macomber book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story was light but tender as it tackled the challenges of life on the heels of divorce. Though this is the second book in the New Beginnings series, it can be read as a standalone.

Overall Rating: 4 Stars

I had so hoped this author would finally turn out a good book but no such luck. I got this book on CD from the library. There were 2 readers who were pretty good, altho I liked the older one who read for Leanne. The one who read for Nicole kept saying "FO ward" instead of "FORward", which drove me insane. Unreal how many times this character used this word.

This should have ended 4 CD's sooner, very predictable, and the absolutely irritating thing that this author does --HEAD SHAKING, HEAD NODDING. "He shook his head." "She shook her head", "He nodded." "She nodded." The characters are a bunch of bobble heads. I really felt like pitching these CD's out the car window but since they belonged to the library, I couldn't. This author hasn't had a good book in years. She needs to retire already.

This is a really good, well-thought-out book! Author Debbie Macomber captures the heart and mind of women to whom marriage has dealt a blow. The way she writes these things makes me feel them too.

The loss of self-worth and confidence, the struggle to process a new role in life, and the hesitancy to trust one’s own judgement in matters of the heart, are all achingly familiar. The journey and evolution of Leanne and Nichole is written exquisitely.

Macomber includes emotional and unexpected circumstances that force each of the main characters to confront hidden sentiments. This book shows that life is a series of moments, each one having the potential to make or break you. The story retains its sense of humor throughout all of the ups and downs. I think this is a delightful read and would recommend it highly. 5 stars

I was given a chance by the publisher to read this book, in advance, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are solely mine.

A beautiful tale of betrayal, heart ache, friendship, compassion, death, love and life. The author wrote this beautiful story perfectly it was paste and developed at just the right speed. There are two amazing heroines, Nicole and her mother-in-law Leanne, Throughout the story you watch as both women handle their divorces, and moving on. Their list is inspiring and should be followed by all going through break ups af any kind. These two classy ladies you cannot help but fall in love with, will teach you a thing or two about life.
The "bad" guys are Jake and his father Sean. I don't want to give anything away but I will tell you that while you will start of hating both of them, in the end they both learn from their mistakes. You meet a hoard of secondary characters, including my favorites Shawnrelle, and Rocco both who play major roles in the HEA!
Absolutely recommend I received in exchange for an honest review.

I hadn't read a Debbie Macomber book in quite awhile. I was quite surprised how much I enjoyed this book! It was thought provoking the way these two women of different ages moved on to better things in their lives! The old adage that when you write something down it becomes a plan rather than a wish! These ladies made a plan how to move on. The book had some twists and turns! It is definitely a book I would recommend! I am not sure which of the two rare men in the story was more appealing Nikolai or Rocco!!!! Both caused some laughter while reading this book! What more could you ask for. Love, Laughter & fun!

I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

It has been a long time since I read a Debbie Macomber novel, but the premise for A Girl's Guide to Moving On caught my attention right away. Nichole has a seemingly perfect life until she finds out her husband Jake is cheating on her. She won't stand for it and begins divorcing him. This makes her mother-in-law, Leanne reevaluate her own life. For years she has silently sat by why her husband has countless affairs. Nichole gives her the courage to realize she deserves better. I loved the inherent message of a woman's self-worth throughout this story. Watching Nichole and Leanne get close and form a friendship because of the same heartache was poignant. My favorite character was Rocco, Nichole's love interest. I rooted for him from the first page we met him. A Girl's Guide to Moving On felt more like chit-lit than traditional romance to me, but I really enjoyed it and recommend it to old and new fans of Macomber.

“There is a grieving process because divorce is a death.”
The book focuses on Nichole and Leanne. When Leanne discovers her son has been unfaithful in his marriage to Nichole, she realizes that he is turning out just like his father, her cheating husband. Her trust shattered, Nichole isn’t willing to give her husband a second chance. Her leaving the marriage gives Leanne the strength to do so too after years of putting up with her husband infidelity. Living in apartments across the hall from each other, the two women become each other’s support group. They create A Guide to Moving On – a list to help them move on and make a new better life for themselves. The list helps them pave the way to healing and love. They embark on new experiences and relationships. They both fall in love again so the book does have romance but the book also focuses on Nichole and Leanne’s friendship, support, and how strong they can be. Leanne is thankful that Nichole had given her the courage to do what she should have done years earlier. Nichole appreciates Leanne’s insight, support, and wisdom. They left their marriages defeated, depressed, and convinced they were unlovable. Together, they conquer those feelings and discover a new path to happiness.
Well written story, developed characters, and an interesting story about a difficult time in two women’s life. Where it could have been a downer, it is instead inspiring and hopeful.
I received an uncorrected ebook file for an honest review.
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books

This is her best work yet. The storyline is refreshingly simple. Two women, one young, one old, divorcing their husbands due to cheating and finding new live, lifestyle ad friendship along the way. What sets this work apart, and shows Debbie's experience, is that the new love relationships are based in taking things slow, and enjoy getting to know the new person. Hence, no rushing into sex too fast. Though there was some drama, it was drama that many real life people go through, or will one day. It's a big deal..to find and chose a partner to love. This story is not the action packed or mad cap capers that I adore. This story made me grab a throw, get a mug of coffee and curl up on the sofa, while the TV broadcasted the horrendous flooding occurring in our neck of the woods. This story left me feeling comforted, and appreciating all the good things in life. This story made me think about the freedom and value to not have to be in such a hurry all the time. I think, Debbie is one of the greatest romance authors of our time. For those of us who grew up with Kathleen E. Woodiweiss, you will know what I mean. Clearly the best target audience for this story is the over 30s and young parents crowd. The Sex In The City, Career professionals, could be a bit bored

Debbie Macomber is one of those authors who is hit or miss for me. Sometimes I want more depth; sometimes I want more angst, and, at those times, her books seem a little bit too contrived and picture perfect for me. However, she hit it just perfectly with A Girl’s Guide to Moving On. Maybe it’s because I can relate to the subject of divorce, the importance of moving on, and the importance of letting go of bitterness, or maybe it’s because I have a special place in my heart for the rough-around-the-edges man with a heart of gold, but for whatever reason, perhaps for all of those reasons, I loved this book. It really struck a chord with me, and it seemed so real. I absolutely loved the relationship between Nichole and Rocco, and I loved how Rocco showed both Nichole and her son Owen what real love looks like. While I wasn’t quite as big of a fan of the relationship between Leanne and Nikolai, I loved Leanne’s character. I loved how completely she was able to let go of her bitterness and hurt, to the point that she was able to show the person who hurt her the most what real love looks like. The ex-husbands in this book are pieces of work, but they aren’t the story. The story is how two women pick themselves up, let go of their hurt, and move on with grace, love, and dignity. A Girl’s Guide to Moving On was a wonderful story, and one I wouldn’t mind reading over and over again.

Sometimes in life you're dealt a bad hand. You can choose to grin and bear it and sweep the cards under the rug, or you can choose to stand up and walk away from the game in hopes of finding a better hand elsewhere. This book shows a case of both situations. I really loved reading it, found it hard to put down and just kept hoping for happy endings all the way around. I highly recommend you take the journey!

Leanne put up with her husbands cheating for decades. She was heartbroken the first time it happened, but she didn't want to rock the boat and lose Sean, so she simply pretended to have the perfect life in public and turned the other cheek in private as he lived his life however he pleased.

When she discovers that their son Jake has followed in his father's footsteps and is cheating on his dear wife Nichole, she can't stand it and tells Nichole the truth. Nichole refuses to accept that behavior from her husband and leaves him immediately. Her strength guides Leanne to finally stand up for herself too and they go through the journey of moving on together after failed marriages together.

Nichole and her toddler Owen move into an apartment with Leanne living just across the hall. They both go on to stumble across a new man to welcome into their life, as they continue to deal with the lingering connections to their ex-husbands. Lots of drama filled moments of love, laughter and tears to follow.

This is the second book in the new beginnings series and what a book it is! You have LeAnne, a society woman in her 60's, who has spent her entire marriage looking the other way as she was cheated on by her husband. Then you have Nicole, the daughter-in-law of LeAnne in her 30's, who has just found out that her husband is exactly like his father and not only cheated on her, but got his flavor of the day pregnant. Nicole wastes no time, she files for divorce and heads on to start over with her child. LeAnne, taking strength from Nicole, does the same. The story follows them as they find their place in the world and taking care of themselves as they find their way. The relationships they develop with each other and the people they come in contact with. This was a very well written story of starting over and finding a place in the world after losing the only life you have known. The character development was rich and robust. I listened to this book on CD and must say the readers did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life.

This was another really heartening romance novel from Macomber that made for an easy and enjoyable read.

I was surprised initially by the bond that Nichole and Leanne forged--stories where the stepmother and the new wife get along are rare, and this type of closeness was almost hard to buy initially. It did make for a unique twist to the story.

The stories were relatively predictable from the time the girls met their respective boys; however, this didn't stop them from being incredibly sweet. I loved that class distinctions were played with and how the ex-husbands reacted to the news of the girls having new relationships. Though predictable, this was far from boring.

I really loved how this book showed the power of being a woman while showing how challenging divorce is, and what it can be like to start an entirely new life after having lived in one way for so long. I enjoyed the subtle feminism that powered this story and how though both of the characters were vulnerable and open, they were also strong and matured even as the story progressed.

It was easy to get wrapped up in this story and I enjoyed seeing the girls grow and mature. This was a lovely new Macomber book that I recommend to any romance fan.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been reading Debbie Macomber books for a long time but haven’t read one for a while now. Her books are romantic and uplifting. Now A Girl's Guide to Moving On fits that bill too. I do think that it is general women’s fiction than it is a romance book. Don’t get me wrong there is wonderful romance in this story of a mother-n-law and daughter-in-law banding together through their divorces and rebuilding of their lives. However, I felt that the “moving on” that they do is as important as the romance, which is the icing on the cake, so to speak.

Leanne and Nichole both start over making a Guide to Moving On List after leaving their cheating husbands, father and son. The romantic aspects made their lives rich and full, but also adding angst to the mix. I was cheering these women on all the way! I might have even developed a soft spot for those lying cheating husbands but I would never admit it in public.

To say that this story is filled with drama is really an understatement. I don’t remember a Macomber having so many interwoven lives that cause so much constant turmoil. I am not saying it is not well written or believable, just different from what I think of in a Debbie Macomber book. To be truthful, I found it to be a page turning, hard to put down read.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a copy.

A GIRLS GUIDE TO MOVING ON is a beautifully written novel about love lost, and love found again.

This book is an exploration of so many things – family dynamics, a second chance at romance, secrets, betrayal…a gripping read - and sometimes heart-wrenching. Ms. Macomber created well-developed characters and an emotion-packed story. The dialogue is easy to read and flows well. I love that the characters were human. They talked, felt and reacted like real people that you know. I was fascinated by the relationship between Leanne and Nichole. It is not often that you see a mother that can admit the failings of her son. It was thought provoking for me. Could I be as objective if this were my son and his wife?

Set aside some reading time before you pick up this book because it really is hard to put down. You will find yourself thinking about it. It kept me riveted to the pages. Sometimes, things are not what they seem – there are emotions present that surprise the reader – this was one of those books for me! Debbie Macomber ably draws us along to search for the answers right along with the characters. I loved this book, and definitely recommend it.

*An advance reading copy was generously provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an objective review.

This novel pairs the unlikely duo of a young woman, Nichole, and her ex-mother-in-law, Leanne, supporting each other after their mutual divorces in the aftermath of infidelity. They come up with their own guidelines to help them deal with the past and move on with their lives.

Nichole's sister Cassie was the main character in Macomber's novel "Last One Home" and Nichole appeared in that book. Those who read that book will appreciate getting an update on Cassie, but this new book stands on its own. The premise of this book and and the way the story builds from the guidelines to "Moving On" is clever and fun to read.

Part of moving on includes finding new love interests and much of Nichole's new romance with Rocco and Leanne's with Nikolai are sweet. However, the characters lack depth and both Leanne and Nichole make several immature, unbelievable choices that put unnecessary obstacles in the way of their newfound happiness. In the end, things are wrapped up in a somewhat predictable, but satisfying way. The novel is pleasant overall and I would rate it 3.5 stars.

I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Ballantine Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

An emotional read of a unique relationship between a mother & her daughter in law. This stand alone novel is a detailed account of a relationship between 2 women years apart facing the same issues. Leanne has lived with an unfaithful husband for years. The relationship comes to a head when she discovers her son Jake treating his wife, Nichole & son Owen the same way. Because Leanne always turned a blind eye, he thought Nichole would to.

Debbie writes about the journey that Leanne & Nichole travel from leaving their spouses, filing for divorce & creating a new life for themselves. This unlikely pair support each other throughout the journey. Debbie manages to make sure you feel every emotion the characters feel. With Leanne we experience her torment & guilt from going against her son & husband to her pleasure in Nichole creating a new life for herself & Owen. Nichole feels guilty for depriving her son of the life he would have had if she had stayed with Jake.

I couldn't put this book down! Just like any Debbie Macomber book I've ever read, I was so involved I stayed up until late in the night to finish it. I laughed, smiled, & cried buckets of tears! You won't be sorry if you purchase this book to read!

I really need to give up on Debbie Macomber. Cranking out tons of books a year has clearly taken precedence over thoughtful writing. I used to enjoy her books a lot, but this one is ridiculous.

This is the follow-up to Last One Home, the book that gave short shrift to the serious issue of domestic violence. Now we have a book about the tired trope of women being cheated on by their rich husbands and moving on (with a bonus side trope of son cheating because daddy cheated and his mother enabled him!). The two women themselves are rather boring ("classy," they are described but have no personalities), and frankly interchangeable. I have noted before that this author does not write young women well, and that is true here. I think the younger character was supposed to be in her 20s but she comes across as being as old as her former mother-in-law.

But then we have a whole parade of supporting characters that fill offensive stereotypes. There is a black female character (OMG, YES, Debbie has finally acknowledged that persons of color exist!) who is poor, loud, and makes crude comments. And--trope alert--has to be saved by the classy white lady! Including getting her a new hairdo, because the author has apparently not heard any of the cultural issues surrounding black hair and judgment or of the Chris Rock documentary Good Hair. I am white, but because I do not live under a rock, I cannot believe that at least the editors did not pick up on any of the issues with this character. God forbid that the black character be a professional they meet at a country club!

The next supporting stereotype is an immigrant from the Ukraine. Of course he butchers idioms because that is literally what every immigrant character ever does on TV (see: Ziva on NCIS, Balki from Perfect Strangers). TROPE. Here it is done ad nauseam, with him hacking his way through at least 5 expressions in every conversation, even though most Americans do not talk in idioms that often. He comes across the way rude Americans perceive foreigners who are learning English...like a big, dumb puppy dog. Because of course someone who immigrates here and can't speak English cannot possibly be anything but dumb and lovable (see again, e.g., Balki).

And our final stereotype is the blue-collar lunkhead. He drives a tow truck so obviously he is downmarket. He is literally stunned because one of the women eats pizza with...a FORK. He is slackjawed and drooling at how "classy" she is. Blue-collar people do leave their houses and go to restaurants, so I hardly think that a person would be so bowled over by someone using a fork to eat pizza unless they were actually raised by wolves. Again, we can't buck the stereotype and have a tow truck driver who reads Proust or something.

In short...this author really needs to get out more. I find it hard to believe that a best-selling author has SUCH a narrow view of the world. And lazily relies on the tiredest tropes in all the land to craft stories because coming up with an original storyline is too difficult.

The premise of the book is what drew me to reading this book although I don't read much romance but I gave it a chance since this author writes so many books. I wanted to like this book more due to the unique theme of daughter-in-law and mother in law going through a divorce. The first couple of chapters drew me in with their "Girls Guide" rules, but as I continued I couldn't finish the book. I stopped at the halfway point as there was little plot to compel me to finish.
The writing was a little better than the plot, which not as rich as I hoped for given this writer's many books. The story is best when the character's inner dialogue is described and the reader gets more of the emotional sense of what the women feel.
Characterization of the young son and best friends was thin relying only on dialogue to let us know who they were or how they were impacted by the divorce. I didn't feel compelled to finish the book as there wasn't much of a plot.
A reader of romance would probably rate this novel higher but for me, this wasn't the right book. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On, by the prolific Debbie Macomber is a sweet story of endings and new beginnings.

Nichole and Leanne live across the hall from each other in a downtown Portland apartment building.

They used to be mother- and daughter-in-law.

Leanne’s husband cheated on her for years and she turned a blind eye. When her son cheated on Nichole and she left him, Leanne found the courage to leave also.

When the story opens, it’s been about two years since the women have been on their own. They formed their own support group and gave themselves guidelines for learning how to move on while being mutually supportive.

Neither expected to fall in love again. And they definitely didn’t expect Rocco or Nikolai, two men completely unlike their ex-husbands. But the road to new love isn’t smooth. Language barriers, cultural expectations, and health issues are just a few of their obstacles.

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is a light and satisfying read. Debbie Macomber fans will not be disappointed.

——-

I received a free e-copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was a beautiful story about a woman and her mother-in-law's support of one another after both leaving marriages where their husbands had been unfaithful.

Leeanne had been married for almost 35 years and for most of her marriage, her husband, Sean, had been unfaithful. When she learned that her son, Jack, had been unfaithful to her daughter=in-law, Nichole, even going so far as to get the other woman pregnant, she had had enough. Gaining courage after Nichole after she left Jack, she, too filed for divorce.

Nichole and Leeanne lived across the hall from each other in the same apartment building supporting one another and Nichole's young son, Owen.

This story is about what it takes to recover from divorce and move forward with your life and find love again. I won't give away the details but this is a story that was a wonderful story of loss, recovery, and closure.

I have read other books by this author and I would highly recommend this one.

I was a given this book in exchange for an honest review.

I don't usually read general fiction because I read so many Christian fiction authors that my to read list is already really long but this author was recommended to me and this book looked good so I gave it a shot and really liked it.

I wasn't sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised that while there were some innuendos there was not any sex in the story and I never felt like I needed to stop reading because it got too worldly. Instead I got a great story about two women living across the hall from each other moving on from divorce and making new friends, starting new jobs, and meeting new guys too!

Usually when I read a story with parallel characters I like one more than the other and no surprise the same thing happened with this book. I really liked Nicole. I love how strong she is and how she both worked and volunteered with her new time. I also loved Rocco. I love how well he treated Nicole and I also loved that he never pushed her. And my favorite part was how good he was with Nicole's son!

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

"A Girl's Guide to Moving On" by Debbie Macomber. This is a story about a daughter in-law and her mother in-law.

This is a different type story than I normally read. You have a unique situation where a daughter in-law files for a divorce because her husband was unfaithful. The mother in-law feels that she has done a disservice to her son by overlooking his father's unfaithfulness. She files for a divorce too. Nichole's biggest supporter ends up being her mother in-law.

The daughter in-law, Nichole, and mother in-law Leanne end up dating very different men from the ones they had been married to. Will they be able to take a chance on love again?

There are twists and turns that were unexpected in this story. After reading the story, you see the importance of forgiveness and that people can change. This is very different from the typical romance novel, but I really enjoyed it. This novel goes much deeper plus you get two sweet romances in one story.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley/Random House Publishing Group for an honest review.

To start, i enjoy reading Debbie Macomber. Her characters, colorful settings, and fantastic realistic plots show how well she loves to write and that she loves sharing her stories with others. Now on to the review...

A Girl's Guide to Moving On is the story of two women, separated by years and a generation coming to terms with unfaithful spouses. Where the younger lets it be known quickly that she will not take the abuse of unfaithfulness, the older stays quiet with the unfaithful man for years. The twist is... there are related by marriage and together they find that moving on is as important as learning to stay up for one's self no matter the cost.

I really enjoyed the premise of this story. The one lesson was very evident, but I also liked the other message, that bad behavior is taught. Unfaithful husband brought forth an unfaithful son. The lead characters were heartwarming, funny, and full of surprises. A true masterpiece that is slightly different than Macomber's usual stories. A perfect summer time read!!

If you love Debbie Macomber she does not disappoint in this novel. It's about two women who are unlikely friends after a divorce, a mother In law and a daughter In law. Both women decide to leave their husbands after infidelity and support each other and develop a set of "guidelines" for moving on. Both must deal with their exes while remaining friends even though family entanglements sometimes makes it a sticky situation. Leanne is a likable character if not sometimes a little too weak in my opinion. Nikolai, her love interest is more complex and I loved him! Nichole I loved from the beginning and could relate to her in many ways. I absolutely fell in love with Rocco. If you are looking for a light read that will keep you turning the pages this book is for you!

This was the first book I've read by Debbie Macomber and it was a very engaging read. The two protagonists, Leanne and her daughter-in-law Nichole, have both ended unhappy marriages with unfaithful spouses two years before. The story is told from each of their perspectives as they face the challenge of starting over, learning to trust their hearts and instincts. The friendship between these two women who decided that their lives could be more is compelling and enables each of them to assert themselves and take paths they hadn't anticipated. The author has created very authentic women with real struggles. Their courage and ability to step outside of safe yet unhappy lives are inspirational. This story will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.

A girl's guide to moving on, by Debbie Macomber
Starts out with Nicole and she's found out her spouse is cheating on her.
The book is also about her mother LeeAnne and she's filing for divorce also. Her husband had cheated on her decades ago and she didn't want to be on her own with a newborn.
They each live in an apartment in downtown Portland across the hall from one another.
Alternating chapters from each of the women. Who they thought were their friends were not.
They make a list as to what to do with their lives now as they struggled with everyday issues.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On is a charming story of family, friendship and the pursuit of true happiness. The unlikely and unbreakable bond forged by these two women will warm your heart as their respective stories unfold.

Leanne and Nichole were incredibly strong women and they frequently leaned on each other as they navigated their new lives. They were resolute yet compassionate towards the men who had hurt them time and again. I admired their determination and resiliency.

Nikolai and Rocco were beautiful souls. Where Nikolai was sweet beyond words, Rocco was a little rough around the edges. But it was their unwavering persistence in their pursuits of Leanne and Nichole, respectively that completely stole my heart.

This was my first Debbie Macomber book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story was light but tender as it tackled the challenges of life on the heels of divorce. Though this is the second book in the New Beginnings series, it can be read as a standalone.

Overall Rating: 4 Stars

I had so hoped this author would finally turn out a good book but no such luck. I got this book on CD from the library. There were 2 readers who were pretty good, altho I liked the older one who read for Leanne. The one who read for Nicole kept saying "FO ward" instead of "FORward", which drove me insane. Unreal how many times this character used this word.

This should have ended 4 CD's sooner, very predictable, and the absolutely irritating thing that this author does --HEAD SHAKING, HEAD NODDING. "He shook his head." "She shook her head", "He nodded." "She nodded." The characters are a bunch of bobble heads. I really felt like pitching these CD's out the car window but since they belonged to the library, I couldn't. This author hasn't had a good book in years. She needs to retire already.

This is a really good, well-thought-out book! Author Debbie Macomber captures the heart and mind of women to whom marriage has dealt a blow. The way she writes these things makes me feel them too.

The loss of self-worth and confidence, the struggle to process a new role in life, and the hesitancy to trust one’s own judgement in matters of the heart, are all achingly familiar. The journey and evolution of Leanne and Nichole is written exquisitely.

Macomber includes emotional and unexpected circumstances that force each of the main characters to confront hidden sentiments. This book shows that life is a series of moments, each one having the potential to make or break you. The story retains its sense of humor throughout all of the ups and downs. I think this is a delightful read and would recommend it highly. 5 stars

I was given a chance by the publisher to read this book, in advance, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are solely mine.

A beautiful tale of betrayal, heart ache, friendship, compassion, death, love and life. The author wrote this beautiful story perfectly it was paste and developed at just the right speed. There are two amazing heroines, Nicole and her mother-in-law Leanne, Throughout the story you watch as both women handle their divorces, and moving on. Their list is inspiring and should be followed by all going through break ups af any kind. These two classy ladies you cannot help but fall in love with, will teach you a thing or two about life.
The "bad" guys are Jake and his father Sean. I don't want to give anything away but I will tell you that while you will start of hating both of them, in the end they both learn from their mistakes. You meet a hoard of secondary characters, including my favorites Shawnrelle, and Rocco both who play major roles in the HEA!
Absolutely recommend I received in exchange for an honest review.

I hadn't read a Debbie Macomber book in quite awhile. I was quite surprised how much I enjoyed this book! It was thought provoking the way these two women of different ages moved on to better things in their lives! The old adage that when you write something down it becomes a plan rather than a wish! These ladies made a plan how to move on. The book had some twists and turns! It is definitely a book I would recommend! I am not sure which of the two rare men in the story was more appealing Nikolai or Rocco!!!! Both caused some laughter while reading this book! What more could you ask for. Love, Laughter & fun!

I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

It has been a long time since I read a Debbie Macomber novel, but the premise for A Girl's Guide to Moving On caught my attention right away. Nichole has a seemingly perfect life until she finds out her husband Jake is cheating on her. She won't stand for it and begins divorcing him. This makes her mother-in-law, Leanne reevaluate her own life. For years she has silently sat by why her husband has countless affairs. Nichole gives her the courage to realize she deserves better. I loved the inherent message of a woman's self-worth throughout this story. Watching Nichole and Leanne get close and form a friendship because of the same heartache was poignant. My favorite character was Rocco, Nichole's love interest. I rooted for him from the first page we met him. A Girl's Guide to Moving On felt more like chit-lit than traditional romance to me, but I really enjoyed it and recommend it to old and new fans of Macomber.

To be honest, I'm still trying to figure out how much I liked this book. It seemed different than most of Debbie Macomber's books. The underlying theme is cheating husbands and just how much their wives are willing to put up with. Leanne has ignored and put up with her husband's cheating for literally decades. It's kind of hard to sympathize with her. Her daughter-in-law, pulls the plug on her marriage the first time she becomes aware of his affair. The two women try to help each other get through. They both meet very different men from their previous husbands and become involved. They are good men, but very, very different from what seemed plausible in the type of men they would be interested in. Macomber throws a wrench in the works for both women and they both risk their new relationships to kowtow to their former husbands...hard to take. Just still not sure about this one.

Debbie Macomber has always been one of my favorite authors because she knows how to tell a good story. This book doesn't disappoint. She tells an intricate story of Nichole & her mother-in-law, Leanne, & how they both get through divorcing their spouses. Nichole found out her husband Jake had been cheating on her & got another woman pregnant. She wasn't going to put up with that & filed for divorce. Leanne finally decided to divorce her philandering husband of over 30 years & be there for Nichole & her young son Owen. These women go through ups & downs along the way, as well as meet some fabulous men named Rocco (for Nichole) & Nikolai (for Leanne). They get the chance to explore who they are & what they want from life. Highly recommend this book to find out what happens on their journey & meet some fun side characters. I don't think you'll be able to put it down.

*Given ARC through NetGalley for honest review

This is the 2nd book in this series (The Last One Hone was first) and it was amazing. Nichole thought she had the perfect life job, husband, child, $ but then something happens that she cannot look past and they divorce (yea Jake her husband is real self involved know it all) almost. Leann her mother in law has already divorced Jake's dad and the 2 women move into apartments across the way from each other, they get along great and Leann helps watch Owen Nichole's son. The book flourishes telling of both ladies and how they helped each other move on from most difficult points in their lives. They both meet other men 100% complete opposites and these are my favorite parts they are funny heart wrenching and being divorced and going thru the turmoil I can relate to parts. In my opinion it was one of her best books, you can read it as a stand alone too. The wit in this book is great as well. Loved it 5*

In this latest of novels by Debbie Macomber we are introduced to two women that are connected by marriage and in the way their marriages have gone, the way of infidelity.

Where you would normally expect the mother-in-law to back her son, this story takes a different turn, and instead she also leaves her husband in a show of support for her daughter-in-law. The mother-in-law sees that the attitudes of her husband and son need to stop with them and not passed on to her grandson.

Where in most cases you would be expecting some woe is me and my life is so difficult, these two women agree to take on life with no whining and no excuses. They choose to see the positive, and that's always the story I'm looking to read as well as live.

This was a story that quickly absorbed every bit of my attention, and I was delighted to be able to read an ARC version of the book for an honest review. I highly recommend it.

This book is very well written. The characters are rich and the story is very interesting. There aren't a main couple but two women Leanne and Nichole, daughter and mother in law who decide to divorce after discovering that their husbands cheated on them. This book is about the path to rediscover themselves and learn how to trust and love again. Rocco meets Nichole and their chemistry is strong. Nichole has a little boy and Rocco is raising a teenager daughter.
Leanne meets Nikolai who is Ucranian. I must admit I didn't like this character at all,I found him too possessive, machist and jealous. But the relationship between Leanne and her husband Sean is very interesting and one of the deepest points in the book. All in all, it was a very entertaining read and I enjoyed a lot.

I was provided an ecopy by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I have most of Debbie' s books. I know I will cry and I will finish reading safely. This book is no different. She has given us a busy story line. Boy she pops some special characters! This story is written with two points of view. I don't usually like jumping all over the place but it fits the book. Leanne is married to Sean and parents to Jake. Nichols is married to Jake and parents to 3 year old Owen. Spoiler. Leanne takes with Nichols and they get divorces. Big Spoiler. It is the men's faults. Spoiler. Nichols meets Rocco when she backs into a ditch and he pulls her out. Spoiler. Leanne meets Molokai in her class for second languages. There are so many more spoilers here. Please don't pass this story over. You will be surprised in some spots and laugh and cry in others. You won't regret choosing to read this story. Enjoy! I have this book for an honest review for NetGalley.

It took me forever to finish this one. However, I must say that for as mediocre as I thought it was, I just had to finish.

Leanne and Nichole are Mother and Daughter in law who both discover at the same time that their husbands are carrying on relationships with other women. So the two of them decide to leave their husbands and set up a "guide" to moving on... I don't really know what I expected with this book, but it didn't quite make it. I have never read this author before so maybe that was part of it. But it was like reading the script for Full House. *Que tender music* Everything was quite predictable. But, as I've said, it kept me reading.

This was not my favorite book by Debbie Macomber. On her introduction, she said the words were flowing out of her faster than she could write them. This is a romance but it is also a book about recovering from divorce from an adultery situation. You get introduced to the situation that pertains to the title right in the first chapter. The "girls" each tell their stories as the book unfolds and you while it is a positive recovery, I just did not really like the content that much. Debbie rarely has strong language but this book did have some (probably not unexpected with the situations) but having seen family torn apart by divorce, this just was not my favorite content. Macomber is a good writer and so I do recommend this book if you are OK with the subject matter and some strong language related to adulterous situations.

I enjoy Debbie Macomber's writing and this book was no exception. The characters were well developed and the book kept my interest throughout.

The story centers on the lives of two women... Nichole and her mother-in-law, Leanne. Both women are recently divorced and they make a pact to move on with their lives.. thus the title of the book! They set up guidelines for taking those steps to leave their unhappiness behind and watching them move through those steps is at times funny, at times painful and at times you want to cheer for them.

As I read the book, I could picture this book being made into a screenplay for either a Hallmark or Lifetime Channel movie. Take the time to read this book.. you will not be sorry.

Disclaimer: I was gifted an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a wonderful, heartwarming story this is. Debbie MacComber has been a great writer for years. She know how to engage the reader with her characters. I feel as if I am watching a movie when I read her books, and this book felt the same way. Yes, there is romance in this book, but I would call it more Women's fiction. There is a strong element of women finding their way, alone, after many years of marriage. Both Leeann and Nicole were very likable, and even though I as the reader did not have much respect for their ex husbands, they weren't always bad men. This is Ms. MacComber's storytelling gift....to be able to show flaws and still make her characters feel real and likable. Great Read!

Thanks as always to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review!

First of all, I want to say that I started out reading the first in this series, "Last One Home." I found it helpful to begin. This way, I knew the main characters. While the background in "A Girl's Guide to Moving on" is good, it helped me a lot to have read book 1.

That being said, I really enjoyed book 2 from start to finish. This book's primary story line is about Nichole, the younger sister who was introduced in book 1. I learned so much more about the family and the circumstances of their lives. The story was lively and, while slightly predictable, really sucked me in. The characters are well developed and likable (if they're supposed to be).

I received this book from NetGalley and Random House - Ballentine Books in return for an honest review.

Nichole and Leanne, daughter in law and mother in law are both moving on from their cheating husbands. Nicole, after finding out her husband Jake has gotten another woman pregnant. Leanne has gotten up the courage to follow Leanne after 35 years of marriage because she doesn't want her Grandson to follow in his fathers footsteps. This story is about the friendship between the two women and how they help each other move on with their lives. It is also about forgiveness and having the courage to walk away from a bad marriage and move on to a new life. I enjoyed how the characters interacted and rooting for Leanne and Nichole. This is a heartwarming story with a lot of likable characters. I highly recommend it! I received a copy of this book from net galley for a fair and honest review.

While divorce, heart ache and rebuilding lives is not exactly anything new in contemporary literature, Nicole and Leanne tell their different, yet same stories. They start out as an unusual pair- ex-mother in law and former daughter in law. Each story was separate, yet intertwined and kept the story interesting. Their respective ex's were caught up in themselves, it in the end, everyone grew and lessons of love were learned. Enjoyable story! Similar topics, but shared in an interesting way. Characters nicely developed and as a bonus, the story was a continuation of Nicole, Karen and Cassie's sisterly journey.

I’ve read a good amount of her books, and this kept my interest but I had trouble with one of the main characters. (Spoiler) Nicolai, in my opinion, was too controlling for how long they were together. She couldn’t cook and clean for her dying exhusband who she was married to for most of her life??? Are you kidding me?! I haven’t finished the book but I would let him go and run as fast as I can! Just my opinion. ?

I was drawn in by the description of the story, but found the actual story predictable and formulaic. For me, the characters and dialogue were too unrealistic...I never really felt interested or invested in them and after about 10 attempts to pick up the story and go further in it I gave up and just read the final chapter to see how it all ended and it was as expected.
It could be I just wasn't the right audience for it, I'm not big on romance stories unless they have something unique to them and characters with depth.

This was a very difficult book for me to read because it pulled me back into dark memories. Many of the situations Nichole and Leanne deal with in terms of their ex-husbands could have been pulled from my own experiences. I loved watching them discover new love and also find closure with the old ones.

I thought this was a truly wonderful book. She really brought out the good (and the bad) in relationships in a way that people can relate to. The writing was excellent and really draws you in.
I borrowed the Kindle edition of this book from the library instead of purchasing it for the same reason I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5......I don't believe that publishers and writers should charge such large fee's for digital books. Greed is not an alluring quality. I'd rather support my local library.

Nichole's perfect life is gone. Her ex-husband Jake wasn't faithful so she divorced him. Starting over with her young son, new job, and volunteering, she meets Rocco. He is blunt and a little rough around the edges but a great father figure. Leanne, Jake's mom had dealt with her husband's infidelity for years. When Nichole's life unravels Leanne divorces her husband and moves with Nicole and eventually meets Nikolai. Can they both move on our will the past rise up and ruin what new love they have found?

Am I the only person that finds this book strange. I really had to will myself to finish as the story just plods along. The premise is a good one which is why I started reading in the first place. I found that the new love interests were odd; not that opposites can't attract. Ms McComber seems to promote the idea that 'real' men are blue collar. The 'meet cute' between hero and heroine seemed contrived to me. I also thought that Leanne's new love interest seemed controlling. Not a good read for me.

I love all of Debbie Macober's work. I had no idea what this novel was about and put it on hold via my library. Then...I read it. Perfect timing. I'm going through a divorce after 34 years of marriage. I had a lot of healing and laughter through this book.
Thanks Debbie Macomber for another great read!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, it was hopeful while still being complex. What I enjoyed the most was how there were two plot-lines that fit together giving the narrative greater depth. Each 'story' was interesting and made you become emotionally involved rooting for the characters. Honestly, this book has made me check out other works by this author.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the book overall, though some of it was difficult to read because she does such a good job putting you into the minds and lives of these two recently-divorced women. Overall, it was a compelling novel about learning to deal with the disillusion following divorce and how to find a deeper love. It's a sweet story overall, and I recommend it to Debbie Macomber fans.

Debbie Macomber has honestly earned herself a position as leading woman's storyteller. Her work is well above what is generally called "chick lit". She writes honestly and feelingly.

This isn't quite top grade Macomber, but it's close enough to be a must for her fans and a darn good first book for those who haven't discovered her yet. Hey, those of us guys seeking to better understand the women in our lives will do well to read this book.

I was given this book for an honest review from Netgalley. I absolutely love this emotional read about second chances. Nicole and Leane are divorced and looking to starting a new life away from cheating husbands. Leane is Nicole's mother in law who infirm her that Nicole's husband (her son) was cheating. Leane's husband is also a cheater. Together they go thru the ups and down of dealing with ex-husbands and new loves. Recommended read.

Debbie Macomber brings readers an inspiring new story of two women reinventing themselves after facing infidelity. Cheating runs in the family in this novel and readers will sympathize with Leanne and Nichole and their husbands cheating ways. Many readers will be able to relate to this novel no matter what reason they have for starting over. A great new book from a trusted author.

What I liked:

I have read so many books by this author. Debbie Macomber is one of my go to writers when it comes to heartwarming, feel good stories. She has a knack for developing characters a reader might meet on the street in their own town. They are very down to earth and accessible. These are the kind of characters readers can easily identify with and sympathize with. Macomber also excels at creating an atmosphere where her characters can grow. Readers will see a lot of growth in the ladies from Macomber's latest book, A Girl's Guide to Moving On.

Macomber's new book is somewhat of a departure from her usual style. It is the second book in Macomber's New Beginnings series. A Girl's Guide to Moving On is not as dependent on setting as was Macomber's Cedar Cove series or the Blossom Street books. This novel is more character driven and has a different feel to it. Some long time fans of the author might find that a little disconcerting, but I liked it. I thought Macomber sawed how versatile she was as a author. Proves that an author can be very successful breaking out of their comfort zone.

Macomber's characters, Leanne and Nichole are finding life outside their comfort zone as well. Both women are the victims of infidelity. Leanne has spent years with an unfaithful husband and Nichole marries Leanne's son, who also become unfaithful. I'm not going to say it... yes I am... Like father, like son. Ughh! I wasn't too sure I was going to able to sympathize with Leanne because she stayed in the marriage so long, and basically turned a blind eye to Sean's infidelity. But, I think she like a lot of women. Afraid to take that first step because of the harsh changes it might require in her life. I started to see her as a women who finally has enough. Someone who finally decides to take her life back and that was amazing.

Nichole on the other hand didn't let the grass grow under her feet when she finds out that Jake has been unfaithful and gotten another woman pregnant. What I really loved about her character was the fact that she didn't just leave Leanne to her own devices. Not many women would try to help her mother in law the way Nichole did. She hated to see her in the same situation. I loved the friendship that developed between them. Friends between women can be such a wonderful thing and Macomber just knows how to write them.

Both women have a second chance to reinvent themselves and be who they want to be. Infidelity doesn't have to be the reason for that in a woman's life. I think this would be a great book for a reader who might be like my mom. We recently lost my dad in an accident and my mom is finding herself in a position where she has to reinvent herself whether she wants to or not. For now it's hard, but I can see her eventually stepping out into the world and finding her new place in it. Any reader who is looking for a book about finding themselves or changing up their life will love this book.

What I didn't like:

This book is women's fiction. There is some romance, but that is certainly not the focus of the book. Most readers who are used to reading Debbie Macomber's books will be expecting a lot more romance than they will get with this one. It's just something they will want to remember when picking it up. Nichole meet's Rocco, a tow truck driver and Leanne meets Nikolai, a baker. Part of moving on with your life is moving on with your relationships and that was an important step for both women. But this one isn't all about the love story and I actually like it for that reason. Not really what I didn't like about the book, but what some people might not like.

Bottom Line:

If you love Debbie Macomber you are gonna love this book. It's more women's fiction than romance and for me that wasn't a bad thing, just something readers may want to consider before picking it up. I loved the friendship between the two main characters and the whole theme of reinventing themselves. There was a point where the men in their lives decided they wanted them back and I got a little worried, but I think readers will love the choices they make. A great new book by Macomber.

My Review:
If you've been reading my reviews for a while, then you know that women's fiction is not my norm. In fact, I've only read a couple of Debbie Macomber's books before, too. But something about this story description drew me to it. I'm so glad I took a chance on it. I really enjoyed this book.

The story follows the lives of two women who have just divorced their husbands...
1. Nichole who was married to Jake for five years
2. Leanne, Nichole's mother in law, who was married to Jake's father, Sean, for thirty five years.

Father and son were too much alike...cheating jerks. So the girls left using one another as their support system.

I love the way this story is set up because it's so unexpected. After Leanne found out that Jake also cheated on his wife, she suddenly realized how bad of an example she'd set for her son by accepting her husband's cheating and living in a loveless marriage for decades. She decided that she had to break that mold, before her grandson became the same as the other men in the family.

Leanne and Nichole live in apartments across from one another and are truly best friends. They set up rules for living and recovering from this devastating life change...and to make sure they don't lose themselves along the way.

Their stories are similar as they begin to live again. They are each finding their way, and that is the hope in the story. Life does get better, even when it doesn't go the way either of them expect it to. There was a lot of drama and emotion to the story. Both women meet new loves, but with that comes its own set of new risks and conflicts.

Often times when there is a dual story line like there is in this book, I'm much more drawn to one story over the other. But I thoroughly enjoyed both these stories. I didn't ever have a new chapter start and wish the story was about the other character. I was equally invested in both their lives and enjoyed reading all of the highs and lows.

It was a good story with a good overall message. I'd definitely recommend the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

A Girl's Guide to Moving on, by prolific author Debbie Macomber, is the story of two women who have left their cheating husbands and are seeking to move on with their lives. The unusual part of the relationship is that the two women are Nichole Patterson and her former mother-in-law, Leanne Patterson. Having been part of the country club set, they are now living in apartments in downtown Portland across the hall from each other.

It is now two years since they left their husbands, and the ladies have made great strides in creating new lives for themselves. Nichole is working as a substitute teacher as she proves herself to become a full time teacher. She also volunteers at a clothing store that helps women dress for success as they prepare to get into the workforce and is a doting mother to three year old Owen. It is after a day of volunteering that she has a mishap with her car and tow truck driver Rocco Nyquist comes to her aid. Tall, muscled, and tattooed, Rocco has a checkered past but has changed his life and is a good father and smart business owner.

Leanne has also found her way to the classroom as a volunteer English as a second language teacher. Her students are eager and Leanne looks forward to her classes. And she is becoming especially fond of one student who meets her before each class with fresh baked bread. Nikolai Janchenko, from Ukraine, has become a star student and is looked up to by his peers.

This story follows Leanne and Nichole as they navigate the uncharted waters of being single and on their own. Things become complicated by their exes, both of whom seem to be unnerved by the ladies' successes. One thing the ladies definitely learn is that a polished exterior may shield a tarnished heart, that looks can often be quite deceiving.

A smart, amusing, touching story, please enjoy the journey as Leanne and Nichole find their way, creating their Girl's Guide to Moving On as they go. I certainly did!

I will miss the characters, Leanne and Nichole, the author depicted real-life characters, there was a section that I connected to them so deeply, it made me cry! I wish this novel would have continuing chapters. This is Debbie’s best novel.

a story full of emotional moments. i could not put this book down. great love at any age is wonderful. so happy these two women got to live their lives with men who loved them and respected them no matter their culture or economical background!

I love books written by Debbie Macomber and this one didn’t disappoint me. The book is well written, with well-developed and relatable characters. This is an uplifting book about friendship, fresh beginnings, and new loves. This book addresses the many different aspects divorced women face … the loss of old friends, meeting new men, developing trust in a new relationships, and same being true to the person you are or want to become.

The main characters are Nichole and her mother-in-law, Leanne. When Leanne learned that her son was cheating on Nichole (as his father had always cheated on her), she was faced with the difficult decision to tell her or keep quiet. She decided it would be best to tell Nicole what she had discovered. Nichole ended her marriage and that gave Leanne the courage to end her marriage, too. Nichole was an over indulged wife and Jake, her husband, catered to her every whim. She immediately walked away from her marriage when Leanne told her Jake was cheating on her and is now juggling a job, volunteer work, and raising her son. Leanne has always known her husband cheated on her but never did anything to change her situation. When she realizes that her son has followed his father’s footsteps, Leanne can’t help but feel that she enabled her son to cheat by not confronting the situation with her husband. With Nichole’s example and support, Leanne divorces her husband and searches for the life she has always deserved. The women offer support to each other to get through this difficult time in their lives.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

I have previously read Debbie Macomber before so I knew I was in for a treat. The plot is completely different from any romance I have read. Leanne and her daughter-inlaw Nichole have both left their husbands. It seem Jake has followed in his father's footsteps and became a cheater also. The book starts with Nichole explaining how she and her mother-in law ending up single and having apartments across from each other. There so many wonderful parts to this book, one being the wonderful connection of motherinlaw and daughter inlaw relationship. Though it's Leanne son Nichole has left it does not break their unique bond where Leanne thinks of her as her daughter. So with that said Its two romance going on Nichole meets her hero Rocco when her car gets dropped in a ditch and Leanne meets her hero Nikolai when she begins teaching an esl class at the community center. I love the fact that equal time is given to the younger and older couple alike. We live in a society where being over a certain age is not look upon so it was quite refreshing to read a romance about someone whose child was an adult already. I truly enjoy Rocco who at first didn't want to seem faze by his connection to Nichole until an incident happen that showed how truly he loved her and what can I say about Nikolai or it just warmed my heart hearing how much he cared and love Leanne with every fiber of his being. I truly enjoy the storyline and love that It was a plot that was very original a mother inlay/daughter in law who finds second chance in love. It was not insta love it was over a time. I received this book to be reviewed from Net Galley.

Although this is a standalone novel, if you've read "Last One Home" you'll recognize the characters. I did not realize this book continued with several of those characters, so was pleasantly surprised! I read it over several days.

The book is told from alternating viewpoints of Nichole and Leanne, a woman and her (former) mother-in-law, who are both going through the emotional upheaval of divorce. Although the basic story is somewhat predictable, there are a few twists that keep it moving. I especially love the character Nikolai, and Ms. Macomber writes his Ukraine take on various idioms with great results.

Reading this book made me hope for future novels with these sisters and their lives.

A Girl's Guide To Moving On is almost like two books in one, but wow what a good read. It can be read as a standalone, but it is a sequel to Last One Home. The characters in this book all most seam real, once you start reading it , you can't put it down. You will fall in love with Nichole & Rocco and Nichol's X mother in law Leanne and of course Leanne's friend Nikolai. A great read Debbie MaComber!!

It is a very moving book, It reminds me so much of my problems when I got divorced and how my ex husband ended up. It is a women and her mother in law who face problems with leaving their marriage, and the hardships they have threw the divorce and afterwards as they move on with their life.
Debbie is a great author who I love her books and I am sure you will too. Once I start reading I can`t put them down. ...more

I generally love the Macomber books. The characterof Nikolai really bothered me in this book. His intense jealousy was frightening to me. He continued to put Leigh Ann in awkward spots and manipulate her with his jealousy. She should have put him in his place or run far far away from him early on in the relationship. I know the book was supposed to convey his deep love and devotion to her, but I just found it a bit over the top and almost sick.

I was given a copy of this book for an honest review by NetGalley

WOW!! Debbie Macomber has done it again!!!
This story grabbed me from the very first page and it went so fast I couldn't believe I finished it as quickly as I did. But it was no surprise, that is what a good author does. I love all Debbie Macomber's books, but thino this was her best one in awhile. It wá very well written.

I'm not sure the author could have crammed any more stereotypes about people into this book. I normally love Debbie Macomber, but good lord. There was very little about moving on, and instead was about finding new men. What.

First, let me explain that I am a HUGE fan of Debbie Macomber. I love her story telling style which totally draws me into her characters, settings & themes. I would say that the Blossom Street series along with her holiday books are my favorites. However, as excited as I was to read this book, I have been extremely disappointed. IMO, I even question if she really wrote it. I found the story line to be somewhat predictable...the setting could have been anywhere...& the characters lacked that special "oomph" that I've admired in her other books. Of course I'll continue to read her novels, but I do hope that this 1 was just a subpar ensemble of her current writing.

I really liked this book. To see Leanne stand by her daughter-in-law, Nichole, when Leanne's son, Jake, follows in his father's footsteps, warmed my soul. Both women want better for Nichole's son, so they start building a life away from their cheating husbands & find not just a new life, but contentment they wouldn't have found if they had stayed. It is an inspiring and heartwarming read.

A girl's Guide for moving on by Debbie Macomber What I like about Macomber's books is that they are down to earth about real people and real problems. Also I like the fact that Macomber brings people from previous books that we already know. This is a easy read, and moves at a fairy fast pace. I enyjoyed this book....and know that you will too! Enjoy

I have been waiting for weeks to get this book from the library .. and it was wonderful. It examines all the emotions .. love, grief, distrust, selfishness .. and take the trip with two strong women when their lives are turned upside down with divorce. Wonderful, easy reading!!

Beautiful journey of two women starting over after divorce. Their lives are connected because they were once in-laws and married to men who left them brokenhearted. They develop a list of how to go forward in life. Leaning on each other, they navigate the new lives they lead in independence, finding new careers, and enjoying life. A wonderful story!

While this was not one of my most favorite Debbie Macomber books, I still enjoyed it. I loved the idea of both a mother and daughter-in-law striking out on their own after enduring cheating husbands and having each other to lean on. The characters, especially Rocco and Nikolai, made me smile and I caught myself silently cheering them on in their conquests to romance Nichole and Leanne.

The idea of this plot was intriguing and compelling to me. How do two women move on after their husbands' infidelity and then the subsequent divorce? They come up with a list of four rules to guide them through life after a divorce. But of course, life doesn't always go as planned, and these women have to face when their ex-husbands just don't want to leave them alone. I was excited to read this ode to starting over and opening your heart to the possibilities of new love.

Even though my need to want to know how it ends kept me reading, the writing held me back from truly devouring the story. At times it was very dull. I felt like I was being told rather than the scene or story being described. Parts could have been more sensory, more developed, more intriguing which would have led to a richer reading experience. And the vast difference between the well-written sections and those that seemed to be "phoned" in were rather jarring.

Either way, I enjoyed the story of these two women, the plot twists, and the life lessons intertwined throughout the book.

Was anxious to read this book. Checked it out at my library. Found it very disappointing. It started out good, but to me, it got off course. I really did not like the character of Nikolai. I liked the parts of the story that dealt with Nichole and Rocco better. Leanne and Nikolai -- oh well. He seemed demanding and possessive. The theme of the story was good, how to move on when you need to. I found that Nichole and Rocco truly moved on and made a new life for themselves. Leanne and Nikolai didn't strike me as doing that. Leanne became exactly what Nikolai wanted her to be. The best part of the story for me was the fact that Leanna took care of her dying ex-husband and they seemed to come to a peaceful parting when he passed. That spoke highly of her character. I know this was a feel-good romance, but somehow the happy ending is always with the girl getting another man or the man getting another woman. This doesn't always happen in real life and people must move on without another mate sometimes.

This book, soon to be released, is the second book in the New Beginnings Series by Debbie Macomber. The book that came before this one in the series is Last One Home, released last year.
This novel is a stand alone novel and if you like Ms. Macomber's books as I do, you certainly will not be disappointed.
Coincidentally, two women, related by marriage, experience infidelity on the part of their husbands.
The true story lies in how these women (mother and daughter-in-law) deal with this and discover their capacity for love and for moving on in different ways.
I believe that if you enjoy Debbie Macomber's books then you are in for a treat. I have read almost all of her books and this one has been the best in my opinion.
Highly recommended

I lked this book for its reaistically drawn charaters and honesty about adultery—a subject that is tricky to write about—and the adulterer's wives that have to deal with it. Story moves right along with some wonderful plot twists and good outcomes, which isn't always the case, but in Debbie's novels, the ideal is what she goes for, and it helps women find hope. The nonfiction counterpart to this book is Adulterer's Wife: How to Thrive Whether You stay or Not by C.J. Grace, also on the store.

This is the perfect book for those who want a mindless but happy end read. Debbie Macomber wrote a book that flowed, and had lovable main characters. It was a bit predictable, I have to admit, but it was also a wonderful book for a rainy day knowing that (at least in the book) everything is going to turn out sunny.

A delightful story about friendship and second chances that I thoroughly enjoyed. The story line is wonderful and the characters are remarkable. I found it hard to put this book down, I laughed and cried with Nichole and Leanne as they each look for happiness. Don't miss this wonderful book!

Gifted a copy for an honest review.

This brought me back to when my marriage ended, and the strength these two women had was encouraging to know that you do move on. I love reading Debbie Macomber and look forward to reading more books of hers.