An irresistible friends-to-lovers novel of resilience, hope, and new beginnings from the author of The Bookshop of Second Chances
“A charming book about hope for a new life full of love!”—Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author of All the Days of Summer
After escaping a bad relationship, Jess Cavendish is running and leaving it all behind, carrying just a few treasured belongings in her knapsack. She needs to start over, but that means sleeping where she can and making the most of her slim savings. Luckily, she comes across a recently sold, unoccupied house. It couldn’t hurt to stay there while she saves up enough to get her own place, right?
Gethin Thomas is also looking to move on after the end of a long-term relationship. He’s returned to his hometown, anxious to renovate the fixer-upper he bought and move out of his sister’s cramped guest room. When he walks through the door one morning, he finds Jess, who’s ready to run again, and surprises them both by offering to let her stay. It feels like the right thing to do, but Jess doesn’t want a handout. They strike a bargain: Jess will help with the restoration, furnishing, and decorating in exchange for room and board.
While they peel wallpaper and shop for new furniture, an unexpected friendship develops as they bond over music and food, and slowly open up to each other about their pasts. When it’s time for Gethin to move in, he convinces Jess to be his official housemate and she agrees—so long as he lets her pay rent. The connection between them soon shifts to an attraction that seems both inevitable and overwhelming, and Jess must decide what she wants. With so much hurt in her past, can she risk loving again? She was brave enough to reach for a new life—and now a future she hadn’t even dreamed possible could be just within her grasp.
Genre: Romance
“A charming book about hope for a new life full of love!”—Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author of All the Days of Summer
After escaping a bad relationship, Jess Cavendish is running and leaving it all behind, carrying just a few treasured belongings in her knapsack. She needs to start over, but that means sleeping where she can and making the most of her slim savings. Luckily, she comes across a recently sold, unoccupied house. It couldn’t hurt to stay there while she saves up enough to get her own place, right?
Gethin Thomas is also looking to move on after the end of a long-term relationship. He’s returned to his hometown, anxious to renovate the fixer-upper he bought and move out of his sister’s cramped guest room. When he walks through the door one morning, he finds Jess, who’s ready to run again, and surprises them both by offering to let her stay. It feels like the right thing to do, but Jess doesn’t want a handout. They strike a bargain: Jess will help with the restoration, furnishing, and decorating in exchange for room and board.
While they peel wallpaper and shop for new furniture, an unexpected friendship develops as they bond over music and food, and slowly open up to each other about their pasts. When it’s time for Gethin to move in, he convinces Jess to be his official housemate and she agrees—so long as he lets her pay rent. The connection between them soon shifts to an attraction that seems both inevitable and overwhelming, and Jess must decide what she wants. With so much hurt in her past, can she risk loving again? She was brave enough to reach for a new life—and now a future she hadn’t even dreamed possible could be just within her grasp.
Genre: Romance
Praise for this book
"Hugely enjoyable." - Katie Fforde
"Fraser writes with a deceptively light touch to convey the fragility and convolution of modern life and relationships in a story that is moving, uplifting and witty." - Sharon Gosling
"A gorgeous, grown-up romance, packed with relatable characters and written with Jackie's hallmark warmth, wit and wisdom." - Iona Grey
"Raw, real and highly relatable, The Beginning of Everything is a keen observation on humanity and the tenuous nature of modern life. Jess and Gethin's gentle, layered friendship is at the wonderful heart of a warm, witty story about courage, kindness and love in all its forms. Uplifting, engaging and extraordinarily insightful!" - Julietta Henderson
"A moving, tender and charming grown up love story of healing, humanity and heart." - Laura Kemp
"Equal parts hilarious and sobworthy, it's a poignant tale of what it means to rebuild after losing everything." - Jessica Ryn
"A heartwarming, poignant story of kindness, friendship, hope and love, that will delight every reader. I loved it." - Patricia Scanlan
"A charming book about hope for a new life full of love!" - Nancy Thayer
"Fraser writes with a deceptively light touch to convey the fragility and convolution of modern life and relationships in a story that is moving, uplifting and witty." - Sharon Gosling
"A gorgeous, grown-up romance, packed with relatable characters and written with Jackie's hallmark warmth, wit and wisdom." - Iona Grey
"Raw, real and highly relatable, The Beginning of Everything is a keen observation on humanity and the tenuous nature of modern life. Jess and Gethin's gentle, layered friendship is at the wonderful heart of a warm, witty story about courage, kindness and love in all its forms. Uplifting, engaging and extraordinarily insightful!" - Julietta Henderson
"A moving, tender and charming grown up love story of healing, humanity and heart." - Laura Kemp
"Equal parts hilarious and sobworthy, it's a poignant tale of what it means to rebuild after losing everything." - Jessica Ryn
"A heartwarming, poignant story of kindness, friendship, hope and love, that will delight every reader. I loved it." - Patricia Scanlan
"A charming book about hope for a new life full of love!" - Nancy Thayer
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Used availability for Jackie Fraser's The Beginning of Everything