Making Faces

This was a surprise. A happy one. [a:Amy Harmon 5829056 Amy Harmon https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1341709289p2/5829056.jpg] has written a solid and sensitive story about life. There is a religious or rather spiritual subtext, but I didn't feel like I was being preached at, which I appreciate, since it's not my speed. What I did love were the principals: Fern, Bailey and Ambrose, whom we follow from childhood to early adulthood, and through them the ups and downs of ordinary lives. I did this as an audio by [a:Rob Shapiro 2887475 Rob Shapiro https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and I was blown away. I wouldn't recommend much listening in public as ugly crying is a distinct possibility.

Chef's kiss... Absolutely beautiful!!

Ok i did not expect to like this book much at all. Bought it in an audible sale, and since it was Amy Harmon (looooved the Second Blind Son, didn't love from Blood and Ash), i decided to give it a shot. I was delighted!

It tells the story of Fern, Ambrose and Bailey, in a very loose beauty and the beast retelling. But it's so much more. The characters feel so real, they're damaged by trauma and circumstance, but they trully want to be good people, and make the right choices with the situations they're in. It's so refreshing to see a character like Ambrose, who's made some immature choices that led to serious consequences for him and others, and still, try not to hurt anyone anymore and to recognize where he went wrong instead of being the usual brooding that hurts others because he's damaged love interest.

Fern, is a nurturer, but more than once in the book gets checked for it, and made to see that even that can be a sign of something deeper.

And Bailey, just the most inspirational and yet somehow feels real, character I've read in a while. I laughed and cried with him and it definitely leaves you with a sense of trying to be a better person, in spite of your circumstances.

A book where the parents are mostly not awful, and can be real father figures and wise advisors.

If i have one complaint, its a side storyline, with a mustache turning bad guy and a damsel in distress type. But even that is at times grounded in reality.

Overall, this was beautiful. I cried, laugh had a silly grin throughout, and i swear i left the book inspired to do better and not just take circumstances inwardly, but to make the best of things for others as well. Cannot recommend this book enough!