Review: The Making of Us by Lisa Jewell

Firstly I have to thank the Official Lisa Jewell Page on Facebook for running a competition which brought a copy of this fabulous book to my front door!! Secondly, let me tell you how much I loved it!!

** What the back of the book says **

In a hospice in Bury St Edmunds, a man called Daniel is slowly fading away. His friend Maggie sits with him every day; she holds his hand and she listens to the story of his life, to his regrets and to his secrets. And then he tells her about the children he has never met and never will. He talks of them wistfully. His legacy, he calls them.

Lydia, Dean and Robyn don't know each other. Yet. And they are all facing difficult changes. Lydia is still wearing the scars from her traumatic childhood and although she is wealthy and successful, her life is lonely and disjointed. Dean is a young man, burdened with unexpected responsibility, whose life is going nowhere. And Robyn wants to be a doctor, just like her father – a man she's never met. But is her whole life built on an illusion?

Three people leading three very different lives. All lost. All looking for something. But when they slowly find their way into each other’s lives, everything starts to change …

** What I thought **

This book is a heart-warming story of a journey of self-discovery and of finding completeness and identity by finding each other.  In addition to the standard life, love and friendship thread, this book addresses sperm donation, meeting previously unknown siblings and parents, death and single friends coping with the loss of their closest friends to a new life with baby and partner in tow.  I loved the unusual topic (there’s nothing worse than reading the same old storyline re-hashed over and over again but I’ve never seen this topic explored before) and despite being packed full of sadness, tragedy and emotional events, it was an incredibly enjoyable read. 

The last (and I am ashamed to say, I think only) Lisa Jewell book I read was The Truth about Melody Browne which I loved.  I found the way Jewell brings the story to life, and pieces it together bit by bit incredible and refreshing.  Jewell doesn’t provide predictable linear storylines, but builds the picture in pieces and at the perfect pace.  Jewell’s latest book doesn’t disappoint and contains the same powerful writing that pulls you in and keeps you turning the page until suddenly you find yourself at the end of the book.

Jewell’s characters aren’t in the slightest 2D.  The chapters of this book alternate between the different characters, but the book is told in the third person.  This works exceptionally well as the each person is built up in the own right, before their lives become entwined.  Jewell writes with wonderfully expressive descriptions and although it is a very sad and moving story (my eyes filled up with tears on more than one occasion), it is full of warm people who you deeply care about.  Despite the alternating chapters, I found the book to flow exceptionally well.  Often with changing points of view, I find myself frustrated or confused but this certainly wasn’t the case with this book.

As I neared the end of this book, with only a few pages left to go, I was concerned that I was going to be disappointed.  However, I was wrong and should never have doubted Jewell; the ending is perfect, satisfying and drawn together completely.  I closed this book with a smile on my face.  Whilst I eagerly wait to see what Jewell comes up with next, I’m going to delve into her back-catalogue and catch up on what I have clearly been missing out on!  I can't recommend this book highly enough, and it is certainly one of my favourite books so far this year!