It's Better This Way: A Novel

4.5 | 8,989 ratings

Price: 1.99

Last update: 06-15-2024

About this item

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • After her marriage ends, one woman’s struggle to pick up the pieces finally leads to a new beginning—but is the past truly behind her? In this poignant novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber explores the powerful intersections of love and family.

“This deeply emotional tale proves it’s never too late for love.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

It’s been nearly six years since Julia Jones had her heart broken. After her husband became involved with another woman, she did everything she could to save their marriage, to no avail. The couple’s two daughters continue to stand by Julia in the wake of their father’s behavior—and they’ve had a tough time getting along with the other woman who’s become their stepmother. Distraught after selling the family home, Julia moves into a condominium complex that offers the warmth and charm of a fresh start. Now, having settled into her new community and sold her successful interior design business, she’s embraced a fulfilling new life, one that doesn’t seem to need a man in it. Her beloved father’s trusty saying is ringing truer than ever: It’s better this way.

But when Julia meets a handsome new resident in the building’s exercise room, she can’t help but be drawn to him. Heath Wilson is a welcome change from the men she’s encountered on the occasional—mostly disastrous—dates her sister has eagerly planned for her over the years. As she and Heath, a divorcé himself, begin to grow close, their friendship blossoms into an unexpected love. However, they soon realize that combining families proves to be a challenge, even though their four children are adults.

When a dramatic revelation threatens the happiness they’ve found, Julia and Heath must reconcile their love for their children with their love for each other. If they can’t, their bright future together may be nothing but a dream.

Publishers Weekly says Macomber wows with this romance...it's never too late for love.;macomber

Embrace the magic of new beginnings.Debbie Macomber;new debbie macomber book;romance;wholesome love

Top reviews from the United States

Nanci

Another Debbie Macomber Gift

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2024

What an easy read. Unable to put it down most nights, I read longer than I should have. What a sweet, wholesome story involving wonderful people, who all got off on the wrong foot, but then found their way to produce a sweet love story, with a great ending.

Kindle Customer

Perfect read for today's world

Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2024

I recommend this story for our millions of mixed marriage families. So true "It's better this way" most of the time.

H. Lacey

A thoughtful story

Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024

I liked the interaction of the characters to heal after a divorce in two families but found the fact that they lived in a small town and didn't realize their x's had married each other hard to believe. I've read several of Debbie McComber's books and enjoy her writing.

KathyWitt

An unexpected five star novel.

Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2021

I have read over 50 Debbie Macomber novels. Most of them I really like, but there have been some recently that I only thought were "okay." (Most of the "okay" were part of the "Classics" series.) Because of this "hit and miss" response, I was not sure what to expect from It's Better This Way. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. The characters were very well developed. I found myself really getting caught up in the ups and downs of their daily lives because the plot had a sense of truthfulness. Yes, "girl meets boy," and there are the usual conflicts, but this did not come across as just a typical romance. There were times when I actually thought "I did not see that coming," which sometimes never happens in some of Macomber's other novels. Maybe it was the fact that this novel was able to take me away from the craziness of today's reality. This novel shows that love can happen even after 50 (which some novels, and people, seem to forget or think is not possible.) I recommend it to anyone who has been hurt by someone they loved because it shows that sometimes what seems like a tragedy ends up for the best. Even if a person has not had those experiences (but I would guess most people have) I would recommend it for its ability to take the reader away even for just a little while.

Shirley R Rose

Perfect Title for this story

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2023

This story that started out to be one filled with heartache and broken dreams, so sad and unbearable. The fact that anyone could survive this and still find happiness really takes a miracle. Debbie Macomber managed to bring together characters. With personalities that were so different and complicated. Yeah, she managed to work a miracle as each search down deep to find forgiveness beyond a normal human expect.

Joyce D.

Great book

Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2024

Another great read by Debbie Macomber!

Joyce H. Ackley

Meh

Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2022

I have long been a fan of Debbie Macomber, and I so wanted to love this book as much as I have some of her others. But, I just couldn't get into it. Most of the book dealt with the problems caused by the adult children of Eddie and Julia. I thought Heath's sons, Michael and Adam, were obnoxious. Julia's daughter, Hilary, wasn't much better. She came across as a spoiled brat. It was odd to me that the ex-spouses of the two main characters married, and that the two couples were involved in a stand-off because of the way Eddie's and Heath's adult children behaved. It seemed strange, too, that the seemingly insurmountable problem would be resolved after all, with everyone becoming friends at the end. To me, this wasn't one of Debbie Macomber's finest works. But that's just my opinion.

April H.

Big Surprises

Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2022

It's Better This Way
by Debbie Macomber

This is a great read with second chance romance, blended families and lots of hurt to overcome. I really enjoyed this book.

I was given this free review copy book from the author, at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Best Sellers in

The Hero She Craves (Unbroken Heroes Book 3)

4.5 712

3.99

God of War: An Enemies to Lovers Marriage Romance (Legacy of Gods Book 6)

4.5 10651

5.99

Destination CISSP: A Concise Guide

5 12

2.99

The Woman by the Lake (Misted Pines Series Book 3)

4.7 1746

5.99

Witch King (The Rising World Book 1)

4.3 4039

1.99

The Grim Reaper Gaffe (A Charlie Rhodes Cozy Mystery Book 15)

4.8 384

5.99

The Knight (The Last Horizon Book 3)

4.8 318

6.99

The Last Train from Paris: An absolutely emotional and gripping World War 2 historical novel

4.4 747

0.99

It's Better This Way: A Novel

About this item

From the Publisher

Top reviews from the United States

Best Sellers in

The Hero She Craves (Unbroken Heroes Book 3)

God of War: An Enemies to Lovers Marriage Romance (Legacy of Gods Book 6)

Destination CISSP: A Concise Guide

The Woman by the Lake (Misted Pines Series Book 3)

Witch King (The Rising World Book 1)

The Grim Reaper Gaffe (A Charlie Rhodes Cozy Mystery Book 15)

The Knight (The Last Horizon Book 3)

The Last Train from Paris: An absolutely emotional and gripping World War 2 historical novel