She’ll have to let go of the life she planned to find the one that’s waiting for her.
Maddie Trudeau’s world is turned upside down when Landon Baxter—the impulsive husband she’s on the brink of divorcing—dies in a mountain-biking accident. Needing help raising her five-year-old twins, she moves in with her free-spirited mother and her newly rescued Great Pyrenees. Maddie’s world is rocked even more when a young woman shows up at their door with shocking ties to her late husband.
Jordan Hill isn’t one to ask for favors. Her own family never did her any, so she can see no reason to wish for kindness from a stranger. Yet, she’s certain Maddie is the one person she needs in her life above all others right now.
Noel Ward hopes to be the refuge and support Maddie and her children need at this tumultuous time, but he was Landon’s best friend and, inadvertently, a long-ago source of a broken heart for Maddie. It’s a fool’s hope that she’d open her heart to him a second time, but a fool’s hope is better than none.
Amid all the chaos, Maddie faces an unprecedented battle to carve out a new life on her own terms, but if she can do it, she might just realize that sometimes life’s detours lead you right where you’re supposed to be.
Debbie Burns is the celebrated author of heartwarming romance and women’s fiction featuring both two- and four-legged stars. While her books have earned many awards and commendations, her favorite praise is from readers who’ve been inspired to adopt a pet in need from their local shelter.
Debbie lives in Saint Louis with her family, a thoroughly spoiled rescue dog, and two Maine Coon cats who ought to be named Pete and Repeat. When she isn’t writing (or reading), you can find her hiking in the Missouri woods, working in her garden, or savoring time with family and friends.
You can follow her on BookBub @AuthorDebbieBurns) and connect with her on Instagram (@_debbieburns) or Facebook @authordebbieburns).
Bigger Than Us is an engrossing and absorbing book with many layers and depth. Love and loss, misunderstandings, second chances, life-changing surprises, struggle and recovery, friends and family. There are strong characters, adorable children, a loveable dog and cat, and plenty of angst and emotion. It’s a wonderful story, one I highly recommend!
It’s rare that I read a book where certain characters provoke such strong feelings of frustration (or even outright hatred) as they did in this one. Every time Landon, the husband of our heroine Maddie, was mentioned, I found myself thinking, What an absolute bastard. With each chapter, I discovered new reasons to dislike him, and to feel increasing sympathy for Maddie.
Maddie, a woman in her early thirties and mother of five-year-old twins, is suddenly forced to navigate not only her own grief but that of her children. Trying to create a sense of stability, she moves back in with her mother and must also contend with the weight of her in-laws, including her mother-in-law Eleanor, who, unbelievably, managed to provoke even more fury in me than Landon himself.
Thankfully, Maddie isn’t entirely alone. She can count on the unwavering support of her mother, Charlotte, her best friend, Saanvi, and Landon’s best friend, Noël — who also happens to be someone she once shared a passionate night with before her relationship with Landon began. It quickly becomes clear that her feelings for Noël have never entirely faded.
Debbie Burns’ writing is smooth and emotive, drawing you in with ease. While the focus is clearly on character and emotion, the pacing is steady, with well-placed twists and quiet moments that feel earned.
I was surprised by how quickly I became immersed in the story. I genuinely couldn’t put the book down. I needed to know how Maddie would find her way through it all, and what the future would hold for Jordan, for Noël, for the whole patchwork of characters that had pulled me in.
The novel delves into themes of betrayal, grief, mental health, and the weight of our choices, and yet, it’s also a story filled with hope. Maddie is incredibly strong and compassionate (far more than I think I could have been, had I found myself in her shoes).
The ending took me by surprise. Not because of what happened (the gathering of chosen and blood family to scatter Landon’s ashes felt entirely fitting) but because of what it made me feel. I didn’t expect to be moved. I didn’t think I’d feel sadness, pity, or even a flicker of compassion for Landon or his mother, Eleanor. And yet, it was impossible not to be affected by the sorrow and by the undeniable impact Landon had left on all their lives.
Thanks to NetGalley and JC & Burns Publishing for allowing me to review the ARC of this book!
Bigger Than Us effortlessly pulled me into its story. It is both raw and heartwarming as the FMC, Maddie, deals with one huge life change after another, all the while somehow maintaining her grace and inherent kindness.
Maddie's relationship with her charismatic, yet difficult husband, Landon, was already pushed to the limit. She was about to ask for a divorce when he died in an accident, leaving her with their twin 5 year olds to raise without a financial security net unless she's willing to accept the job that her controlling mother-in-law offers her. On top of that, she receives a further blow as she learns that Landon had a big secret that he was concealing from her. She also has to figure out how to navigate a new relationship with Landon's best friend, Noel, who she has a romantic history with, and who is determined to step up and be a father figure for her children.
Although she's risk averse and much prefers to follow an orderly plan, Maddie comes to realize that life is messy and chaotic and the best way forward is to embrace the uncertainty. She could have become bitter and angry, but instead she always chose kindness when dealing with all of the changes in her circumstances and never failed to open her heart, whether it was to her kids, her mom, a stray dog, even her difficult MIL. She's a character that you can't help rooting for and I was happy to see her make her way through all of those challenges.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
Me alegre que Maddie tuviera el final feliz que merecía. No todo fue maravilloso y hubo algo que no fue de mi agrado:
Me choca cuando la mujer es la que tiene que ser la más grande, la más madura y la que actúe como se debe. En este caso, no me gustó que Maddie tuviera que ayudar a Jordan. El descaro de la chica al querer apoyarse en ella y dejarle la responsabilidad de sus actos fue demasiado. O sea, ¿ahora no solo debe soportar su dolor y ser fuerte por ella y sus hijos, sino también hacerse cargo de la amante y del hijo del marido muerto? Además, Maddie quería tener otro hijo, pero le realizaron una histerectomía y enterarse que su esposo tuvo u hijo con otra fue super doloroso.
Yo soy de las que piensa que si alguien me hace daño, aunque me duela, me alejo, y por eso me cuesta entender por qué hacer que Maddie sea tan buena. Para mí, más que bondad, fue una tontería, porque no tenía ninguna obligación de ayudar a la amante ni de encariñarse con ese niño. Y para colmo, además de cargar con la amante, tiene que soportar a la insoportable suegra que pensaba que su hijo era lo mejor y que Maddie no estaba a su altura, cuando en realidad el que no valía nada era él.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Before Maddie could divorce charismatic, troubled, unfaithful Landon, he died. Leaving her with heartbroken 5yr old twins, an angry, controlling and devastated Mother in Law; a skittish best friend and the hits keep coming.
Elenor's meddling started a chain reaction of events that find Maddie overwhelmed and lonely. After Landon's funeral, Maddie finds a condom wrapper in his car. She was no longer able to have children after complications with the twins birth, so it wasn't something she and Landon needed, not that they had been connecting before his death. He had been cheating. She knew she had wanted to leave him but this news still hurts. Then a young woman approaches her at work, with a beautiful baby boy and yet another shoe drops. Noel, the last man Maddie was involved with before Landon, is back, and as Landon's best friend and god father to the twins, seems prepared to stay. Maddie is drawn to him, even as he makes her feel inadequate.
This book is about a woman who keeps moving forward with compassion and love even as the universe seems to be trying to drown her. It is almost unrealistic, how she so easily says yes, and opens her arms to strays of every variety, when she already has sooo much on her plate.
Wow. This one completely stole my heart. Bigger Than Us is a beautiful story of betrayal, forgiveness, and second chances…a powerful reminder that life, even when messy and painful, can still be deeply meaningful.
Maddie has just asked her husband, Landon, for a divorce when he suddenly dies, leaving her to raise their five-year-old twins and untangle the secrets he kept hidden for years. With the help of her fiercely loyal best friend Saanvi, her compassionate mother Charlotte (who I absolutely adored), and Landon’s best friend Noel — the man Maddie once shared a passionate night with — she begins to rebuild her life and her heart.
I was completely immersed in this story from page one. I loved Maddie’s strength, grace, and quiet resilience. She chooses kindness over bitterness again and again, even when life gives her every reason not to. I loathed Landon (and his mother, Eleanor) for much of the book, but by the end, I found myself feeling something I didn’t expect: compassion. Debbie Burns did a wonderful job portraying grief, growth, and the complexity of forgiveness, especially when it comes to mental health and emotional healing.
It’s raw, tender, and deeply human — one of those books that reminds you just how strong love (and people) can be.
Bigger Than Us is an incredibly moving and beautifully written women's fiction novel that completely captured my heart. Debbie Burns has crafted a tender and absorbing story about navigating life's unexpected detours and finding second chances when you least expect them.
The story follows Maddie, a woman on the brink of divorcing her husband when he tragically dies. Her world is turned upside down as she has to move in with her mother, raise her five-year-old twins, deal with a mysterious young woman from her late husband's past, and potentially reconnect with a long-lost love interest, Noel. The plot is full of layers—grief, love, loss, forgiveness, and life-changing surprises—that feel incredibly real and raw.
What sets this book apart is the depth and humanity of the characters. There are no "bad guys," just complex people who have gone through tough situations and are trying to find their way. The multiple perspectives give a rich, rounded view of the story, and the heartwarming animal sidekicks (including an adorable Great Pyrenees rescue dog) add the perfect touch of charm.
I adored this book and the history behind it. Just as Maddie has had all she can take and is ready to divorce her cheating husband, he dies in an accident. Just when she thinks she knows all he has done, more and more horrifying things come to light all while she is trying to figure out how to move forward with all of the deceit, how to metabolize her grief, how to support herself and the twins, how to deal with the myriad of emotions about Noel, her husbands best friend and twins godfather and what he knew and when he knew it, her truly duplicitous mother in law all while trying to make life normal for the twins. Talk about an overflowing plate. She’s smart, well written, honest and wants what is best for herself, the kids and is no longer willing to suffer fools or take any emotional abuse from anyone. Maddie becomes the hero of her own life and it makes for a wonderful read.
And don’t skip the acknowledgements in this one. Or any of them. And watch all of the credits when watching a movie. Some wonderful info in there for those of us who take the time.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Maddie's story in Bigger Than Us had me interested from the beginning. It's a story about love, loss, grief, secrets, and second chances.
Maddie is the widow of her late husband, Landon. Landon suddenly passes away after a mountain biking accident, leaving Maddie and their young twins behind. During the course of the story, we learn more about Landon and Maddie's rocky life together, including a major secret that comes to light after his passing. Through it all, we see the strength and reslience of our FMC shine through, even when the odds are stacked against her.
The unraveling of everything fell a little short for me at the end. I'm a big fan of literary fiction and romance genres, but prefer a little more detail and believability in the resolution/ending. Everything came together little too perfectly and clean. This was a great story though, with characters that were interesting and lovable. It would be interesting to see where they go after this.
Thank you to NetGalley and JC & Burns Publishing for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I just adored Maddie in this book. I obviously felt for her given she lost a husband and is now a widow and is left with twins. But then when someone from her husband’s life shows up she’s completely knocked off her feet. I was fascinated to see how she handled ALL of this. Of course this book has to include a mix of love so her late husband’s friend hopes for a second chance at Maddie. Navigating a new life and all of these new things is an enormous battle but I truly enjoyed this plot and seeing how Maggie would cope with everything. Many parts of this book were relatable for me too. This book is definitely an enjoyable consuming one that you can read in a weekend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Bigger Than Us is a story with a meaningful message and some touching moments that shine through. The author brings forward themes that are important and worth reflecting on. The characters have their struggles and growth which gives the book a heartfelt quality. There are parts that kept my attention and made me think about how people face challenges in different ways. At the same time the pacing felt uneven and some sections dragged which made it harder to stay engaged. I also felt that certain characters could have been developed more fully to leave a stronger impact. While the book did not completely pull me in it still had value and offered insights that readers may appreciate. Overall it was a decent read that landed in the middle for me.
This is the story of a woman with a big heart and an amazing ability to forgive. Her husband dies tragically leaving her with 5 year old twins and a witch of a mother-in-law. Maddie has a quirky mother, but she is oh-so wise. You can see where Maddie gets her strength. There is anger, betrayal, a husband's infidelity, love, forgiveness, and in the end very much-deserved happiness. I think this is a good karma story. Maddie gives so much of herself to others and in the end, she is rewarded with great joy both professionally and personally.
Thank you to NetGallery and JC & Burns Publishing, LLC for supplying me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Bigger Than Us is a heartwarming story involving so many emotions. In order to make ends meet after her estranged husband dies, Maddie and her adorable five-year-old twins move into her mother’s house. After discovering life-changing secrets, she exhibits strength as she learns to navigate her life going forward. This is a story of misunderstandings, secrets, second chances, forgiveness, family, and friends. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to others.
I would give this book a 4.75. The writing was beautiful and it was definitely a book I would pick up again.
In some ways it was predictable such as who Maddie would end up with but there were surprises on how we got to that moment. The hardest part of this book was seeing Maddie getting taken advantage of over and over again and having a hard time sticking up for herself.
Thank you NetGalley , the publisher, and the author, for the ARC of the book.
I devoured ‘Bigger Than Us’ by Debbie Burns. It’s heartwarming, raw, and sincere.
I liked the light and humorous presence of our four-legged friends. I also appreciated the realistic and genuine portrayal of the human nature of the main characters; you can be flawed and still be caring and kind.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the e-ARC of this lovely novel.
I received a copy from NetGalley for a honest review
Bigger Than Us by Debbie Burns was wonderful and I didn't want it to end. I really loved all the characters in this story but Maddie was my favorite, she's been through some much but she is resilient and kind. Her story grabbed me and I did not want to let go. I will definitely be rereading.
Most would probably put this in the "Romance" category, but it is really so much more than that. It focuses on family, disappointments, grief, manipulation, and parenting. This is really much deeper than it may seem and first glance, and is really worth your time. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review.