This Is How It Started

by Stacy Finz

No marriage is perfect, but in Rachel Ackermann’s eyes, hers came close. From the very start, her love story with Josh was wonderful. There’s just one problem with stories: no matter how great the beginning, there’s also an ending. For Rachel and Josh, it comes suddenly and far too soon.

Trying to move on without Josh feels impossible, and it’s tempting for Rachel to cocoon in the dark with the reminders of the life they should have shared. But her quirky, sometimes exasperating family won’t let that happen, and as Rachel is nudged back into the sunlight, she uncovers a trove of surprising secrets—and an opportunity to save a family legacy—and maybe save herself in the process.

But it will mean forging an unexpected alliance with her late father’s unpopular young “trophy wife.” And then there’s Rachel’s renewed bond with Campbell Scott, the boy who another lifetime ago broke her heart. Just when Rachel thinks she’s got everything figured out, she learns that in between beginnings and endings lie new chapters.

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Grief, Womens Fiction, Contemporary

254 pages, Paperback

Published February 7, 2023

About the author

Stacy Finz is an award-winning former newspaper reporter. After more than twenty years covering notorious serial killers, naked-tractor-driving farmers, fanatical foodies, aging rock stars and weird Western towns, she figured she finally had enough material to launch a career writing fiction. She is the author of the Nugget Romance series (Kensington/Lyrical Press) about a small mountain town that has a strange way of giving people unexpected reasons to start over--and find the most irresistible chances to fall in love. Look for her Garner Brothers series (Zebra) in 2017.

Visit her website www.stacyfinz.com.
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Reviews

[Melissa (Hiatus due to Death in Family) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"People change, circumstances change. It doesn't mean we don't cherish the past, but we move on to the future."

This book was a huge surprise to me. I really connected with the characters, it is a story of family, loss, grief, and learning how to move forward.

Rachel's husband Josh dies, and it comes not too long after her father passed away. Reeling from the losses, she's mired in grief. She decides to move back to her childhood home, but the catch is, she has to live there with her stepmother Brooke. After thirty years of marriage, her parents split up when her doctor father had an affair with his nurse and they ended up getting married. Rachel had held out hope that her father would see the error of his ways and go back to her mother at some point, because their relationship had always been good. As Rachel and Brooke both find their ways through their grieving, they come to learn things about themselves and each other.

The book goes between the past and the present, when Rachel met Josh and through to what happened to him. I felt like everything in this book was incredibly realistic. The conversations, the various situations, and the family drama all felt so authentic. All of the characters are flawed, but redeemable. Although I was rooting for Rachel to find love again, that wasn't the whole premise of the book. The premise is as I mentioned--a story about grief and loss and moving on, both as a widow and as a part of a family.

I really connected with the characters in the book and was sad to see them go. The ending is a bit open-ended for my liking, but it was realistic enough that I can imagine what happens and that they all continue on with their lives after the book's conclusion. Beautiful writing and a much deeper story than I was expecting. I'll definitely read others by this author in the future.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is how it started really grabbed me and shook the life out of me. All the feels with this one. Happiness, sadness, anger, worry, joy, uncertainty, etc.—- The author is good- real good and she has a way with words that made me not want to put this one down.
Beginning, we meet Rachel who is married to Josh. Sadly and suddenly, Josh dies (not a spoiler- this happens in the beginning and is the basis of the story) and Rachel decides to move back home to her childhood house. Except her father left her mother while she was in college and married his nurse- and her father passes away and leaves the home to his new young wife, Brooke. Everyone hates Brooke, obviously, she was the younger more attractive wife who stole her father from her mother- but Rachel needs a fresh start so she must ask Brooke to look past their harsh relationship and allow her to move in
From here we meet several family members, friends and exes. The story takes on such a deep but simple storyline.
I can’t help but compare this story to a TJR book. The writing is similar and I think that’s why I enjoyed it so much.
I absolutely loved this book! This is not my normal genre but it had a cool vibe that said “I’m
serious” without being Young Adult. I was grieving with Rachel I felt like. The author knew how to make you feel like you were right there with her! That takes talent! Absolutely recommend This is how it started!
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC book in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars!

Release date: 2/7

[Destiny || readingisyourdestiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you looking for the perfect heartfelt Valentine's Day read this year? Look no further!

This is How It Started really surprised me. This story is half romance and half family drama. After the sudden loss of her husband, Rachel is left alone as a young widow trying to navigate loss and new love on her own. She finds comfort in the least expected relationships along the way and learns more about love and why we do what we do than she ever thought possible.

I loved the sibling relationships and drama in this one, it gave me major We Are the Brennans vibes! This book would be perfect for fans of:

- Family Drama
-Second Chance Romance
-Love After Loss

Thank you to Kensington Books, Lyrical Press for the e-ARC and to TLC Book Tours for a physical ARC.

This book will be available Feb 7th.

[Quickbeam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new book by a favorite author of mine. I would call it contemporary urban romance, if that’s a thing. It has a warm plot tone of Jewish culture which I find rare in the genre. It has funny, flawed and seeking characters. There is a deep theme of forgiveness and moving forward. I found it very refreshing and well written. I was so happy to have read it and find myself hoping that Finz has just started her next series. Highly recommended.

[Jenn the Readaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s so much to this story. Love. Loss. Hope. Despair. The discovery that maybe spouses aren’t truthful at best or faithful at much worse. The realization that parents aren’t perfect and that dream, love, and desires change. And the fact that maybe moving forward means revisiting the past.

Rachel’s husband is gone. And that’s where we start. We spend some time learning about their meeting, courtship, love, and life together, but that’s not the whole story. Or even most of it, really. It’s more like the beginning of Rachel getting to know herself and those around her for real. An ex who once held all of her secrets and her heart, a surprise about her dead husband that may not be nefarious but still stings all the same, the truth of who her parents were to each other and why they fell apart, and best of all the realization that maybe her sister could do a lot better than the jerk she’s married to spur Rachel onward in her reluctant process of figuring out who she is now and what she wants in life. Her stepmother is far from the person she thought, her mother is growing and learning, her brother is a stalwart support, and Rachel finds herself along the way. This is so much more than chick lit, or romance, or even grief. This is a story of life and the odd ways it ebbs and flows to take the next turn or step to grow into something more. And while Rachel made my heart hurt, as did Brooke, I found myself unable to put this one down because it just felt real. And natural. And…well, like life happens. So enjoy the ride and hope for something good to accompany the end of this one. You won’t be disappointed.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars

This book really spoke to me. It pulled me in, made me fall in love with the characters and then I couldn't help but feel all the feels. It follows the main character, Rachel as she tries to move forward after the death of her husband. For every step forward, it seems she takes two steps back. She is so caught up in her grief and how she "should be" feeling that she refuses to let herself truly see what is in front of her.

The story is told in different time periods. You get the past - - life before Rachel met her husband, Josh. Life with Josh and life after Josh's death. It's important to see all these different pieces because they all combine to make Rachel who she is.

Even though you would think the story would be a downer given the topic, it's also quite uplifting and hopeful. As Rachel finally comes around and begins living her life again, you can't help but celebrate with her.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC . I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read many of the author's books, enjoying them all, especially the cowboy ones. But as an orthodox Jewish woman, I cringe when I start reading a novel and find "Jewish" characters, who are sadly ignorant about their heritage and how to live like a Jew , are simply "kosher style" and have to wonder, what was the purpose of having them Jewish at all? That is how I felt reading this book. I like the characters, the story and the dialogue, but if Rachel had actually sat shiva for Josh, the proper way, with her comforters allowing her to speak her feelings, telling her stories about him or just sitting in silence, whatever she needed, she would have found it a catharsis, as she did much later with the bereavement group. Second changes is my favorite trope and almost every one of the characters got that as well.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

[Linda Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about family, loss, relationships and moving forward. Rachel had a wonderful marriage with Josh. His unexpected death just a year after the death of her father leaves Rachel in despair. The characters were believable and I could identify with
A great read.

[Pamela Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about relationships and the impressions we form about individuals that aren't always right until we bother to look beneath the surface. I won't go into the story. You can read the blurb.

What I likes about the book was the main character's transformation from grief-stricken to questioning to acceptance. Stacy Finz is an excellent writer and her character arc for her heroine is spot on.

What I didn't like was the first 20 per cent of the book that seems tedious and makes you ask, "why am I reading this." But stick with it. The book warms and then roars to life and you'll be glad you didn't put it down.

[Love_booksforlife Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

CoHo fans, step right up for your next heartbreaking obsession! Read it!! Trust me!!

💔❤️‍🩹 Newly widowed Rachel must deal with moving back to her childhood home with her “trophy wife” step mother, moving past her husband Josh’s death while finding out some of his buried secrets, and getting closer to first love Campbell who is engaged to be married.

This was a heart wrenching look at the meaning of love, loss, family, and friendship. Here’s what I LOVED:

❤️‍🩹 The realness. Even though I’ve never experienced loss like hers, I felt like Rachel’s journey was extremely realistic. She approaches coming to terms with Josh’s death slowly and organically. It will pull on your heartstrings. I also just adored her. She was so down to earth.

❤️‍🩹 The family. This book isn’t just about Rachel, it’s also about her family. Her mother, brother, and sister all had me laughing and crying as I read, but her stepmother Brooke really stood out for me. I loved the relationship her and Rachel formed after they moved in together.

❤️‍🩹 Second chance love, wrong time, healing after loss, missing out…I could go on. This book had it all. It really felt like a Hoover book with the amount of angst and bad timing. I could not put this down. Don’t miss out!!

All in all, a great book about recovering from loss and finding yourself and love again!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC book in exchange for an honest review.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A young widow’s journey through grief, rediscovering herself and painful secrets forever hidden, “This Is How It Started”, by Stacy Finz (Kensington Books, Lyrical Press), is also a sweet love story about surprising second chances.
I liked the depiction of the grieving process, neither too slow nor too fast.
Revealing an unknown, passionate relationship in Josh’s past was really intriguing and added other dimensions to Rachel’s pain, accentuating the anguish and desperation.
This is a lot about family, friends and new relationships and I liked the development Rachel and other characters went through.
I also liked that not everything is what it seems in this story regarding some characters, and how Rachel slowly realizes and accepts that.
Rachel sometimes felt like being a bit rigid person. Campbell is the perfect, swoony hero, a solid presence and friend.
I wish we had more of him and of the romance; he remained a bit opaque. But the romance (or the promise of it) Rachel/Campbell is natural, always there, like they never broke up.
I liked the secondary characters, how each have their own personality and background. Even Josh and David felt like real people.
The San Francisco setting was interesting, too, as was the Jewish background.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel is a widow; the story begins at the funeral and unspools through backward glances and current commentary. Adding to her trauma, only the previous year, her beloved father died, leaving his “child bride” Brooke, whom Rachel, her mother, and siblings have not treated particularly well. Despite, or perhaps because of, the obvious parallels in their situation, Rachel decides that in order to begin to climb out of her grief spiral, she will move into her childhood home – which Brooke now owns. The development of their relationship is richer and more interesting even than what we see of Rachel’s interaction with Campbell, the man she once thought she’d spend forever with. Her siblings and best friend Josie provide interesting perspectives, action, and occasionally hysterical commentary. I’m still not quite certain what to make of Shana, Rachel’s mother, except to say that while in some regards she really is “Mommy Dearest”, it becomes clear that she truly loves her children in her own way, and has a very large and wise heart.

I “met” Stacy through her Nugget books, which are absolutely terrific. I’ve enjoyed most of what she’s written since, but it’s clear that all of her back catalog was simply preparing her to tell this story. This is more women’s fiction than romance, but mostly it’s a story about love. Love of family and tradition, self and other, love of the past and what it takes to begin loving the future when life gets really shaken up. There are so many revelations, but it comes to this: life never moves in a straight line, and we rarely end up where we expect to, but the vagaries and devastation need to be embraced as much as the joy and triumphs.

Ultimately this book travels a path from devastation to hope, and the character growth and complexity of their stories is brilliant. I honestly can’t think of a thing I would change. The end is convincingly happy, without a definitive answer to every question – very much like real life. I feel certain, however, that Rachel will be secure in celebrating the happiness she finds, and will hope that life treats her a bit more gently in the future. I received an advance copy in return for my honest review. Brava!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is How It Started by Stacy Finz is a lesson in grief disguised as a romance. Rachel Gold was at the funeral of her husband, Josh Ackerman. Really, she was in a fog. She couldn’t quite comprehend it all. She had wanted him cremated so she could spread his ashes somewhere beautiful. Instead he was being lowered into the dirt in an ugly place, because that is what his parents wanted. The reception after the funeral was at her childhood home, no longer her home as her step-mother, Brooke had gotten it after the death of her father. It was all a nightmare. She just wanted it to be over so she could go home, curl up in a ball and cry, and sleep for weeks. It was all her fault. They had been driving to Campbell’s engagement party. He didn’t like Campbell because he was her high school boyfriend, and didn’t want to go. They had been t-boned. His side. Killed instantly. For months she went nowhere, then she started just a little bit, and then, some more. She moved out of their apartment into a different one. She didn’t like it. She wanted to go home so she called her step-mother and asked if she could come and stay in her childhood room for a while. Brooke said that would be fine. It was then that things started happening. So many things.

This was about grief, but not only Rachel’s. It was also about acceptance, communication, finding your place in the world, insecurities, and so much more. It was truly a lovely book. The characters were wonderful: Rachel’s consummate Jewish mother, Sasha; her flakey brother, Adam; her step-mother, Brooke, who she discovered really had loved her dad; her best friend, Josie, who kept a big secret from her, and so many others along the way. All well done. It was beautifully written, the first part mostly memories but it eventually caught up to present time. I made me laugh, made me cry, and made me cheer. It was a totally enjoyable read.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of This is How It Started by Kensington, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Kensington #StacyFinz #ThisIsHowItStarted

[Janina (whatjaninareads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of This Is How It Started in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this opportunity.

This Is How It Started was a very well-written book about recently widowed Rachel who moves back into her childhood home that is now owned by her stepmother, Brooke, after her father‘s slightly less recent death. The reader follows along on her journey towards learning to deal with the grief, finding a job she is truly passionate about and maybe even falling back in love.

Rachel is absolutely convinced that Josh and her were a perfect match, that he was the one for her and that she will never find someone she will love as much ever again - or at least, that‘s what the reader is told. From the things that are shown, however, even before the whole previous-girlfriend thing that Rachel gets way too worked up over for no reason at all, I didn’t see their special bond at all. Especially the part where Rachel says that sometimes she felt like Josh was glad she sucked at her job rubbed me the wrong way.

But the whole stand-offish, pointing fingers, petty animosity was a constant throughout the book. All the siblings hate Brooke because they can‘t wrap their head around the fact that Brooke might have loved their dad who simply fell out of love with their mother, whom they are siding with when they don‘t seem to like her much either most of the time. I think Brooke was actually my favourite character, she seemed very sweet, kind and generous.

The whole story developed at a rather slow pace. Much of it was just Rachel trying to live day to day, and I guess that’s a good representation of what life feels like after losing one‘s partner. It was good to see her process, the way she learned to move on and grow and let others into her heart, and to forgive Brooke.

I wasn’t very invested in the story as I didn’t really like Rachel or care for either Josh or Campbell, but the writing was good and the book was a quick read. I guess I had hoped for more depth to both the characters and the plot.

3/5 stars.

[Love_booksforlife Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
This is How it Started by Stacy Finz
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

CoHo fans, step right up for your next heartbreaking obsession! Read it!! Trust me!!

💔❤️‍🩹 Newly widowed Rachel must deal with moving back to her childhood home with her “trophy wife” step mother, moving past her husband Josh’s death while finding out some of his buried secrets, and getting closer to first love Campbell who is engaged to be married.

This was a heart wrenching look at the meaning of love, loss, family, and friendship. Here’s what I LOVED:

❤️‍🩹 The realness. Even though I’ve never experienced loss like hers, I felt like Rachel’s journey was extremely realistic. She approaches coming to terms with Josh’s death slowly and organically. It will pull on your heartstrings. I also just adored her. She was so down to earth.

❤️‍🩹 The family. This book isn’t just about Rachel, it’s also about her family. Her mother, brother, and sister all had me laughing and crying as I read, but her stepmother Brooke really stood out for me. I loved the relationship her and Rachel formed after they moved in together.

❤️‍🩹 Second chance love, wrong time, healing after loss, missing out…I could go on. This book had it all. It really felt like a Hoover book with the amount of angst and bad timing. I could not put this down. Don’t miss out!!

All in all, a great book about recovering from loss and finding yourself and love again!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC book in exchange for an honest review.

Release date: 2/7

[Yolanda | yolandaannmarie.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is How It Started releases February 7, 2023

3.5/5

This story focuses on family dynamics and working through the loss of loved ones and the grief that comes with it.
Through Rachel’s pov, we experience her life as a young new widow, while also getting insight of her past relationship and how it shaped her into the person she is today. Alongside her intimate connections, there’s also the familial dynamic that comes with multiple siblings, divorced parents, the loss of her father, and turning a new leaf with her step-mother who frankly, was judged too quickly as being a ‘gold digging trophy wife’.

This was written really well! I enjoyed the self-discoveries made and the new business ventures that were explored. This was missing that certain spark feeling I was hoping to find while reading to push me to a solid 4 star rating, but I think this would translate extremely well to screen.

The endgame while ultimately nice, was also hard for me to wrap my head around. I personally would not have been able to stay friends like that with someone for so many years who played such a huge role after everything that happened, and essentially being a catalyst to a fatal event. It felt weird and a little unfair to third-parties like Jess.

Read if you like:
- San Francisco setting
- Jewish rep
- large and slightly complex family dynamic
- real estate
- second chances

CW: mentions of past miscarriage + fatal car accident.

[Rona Nimmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is how it started by Stacy Finz

Rachel Ackerman is suddenly widowed from the love of her life who was killed in a car accident in the prime if his life. It’s been six months and she is still struggling to get out of bed. Her family and friends are trying to get her to try and start living and try to get back to her job as a realtor which she hates and isn’t really suited to. Her life is in crisis and she has to get out of their flat to cope with her life as all she thinks about is her husband and their life together. The only place she could regroup is her former family home where her father’s widow
lives but the issue is the family don’t speak to Brooke as she is not much older the her and her siblings. Rachel asks Brooke if she could return to her former home to get her life on track as it’s the only place she can find comfort. Not expecting Brooke’s acceptance as the former family have not been particularly friendly since their father remarried. After agreeing to Brooke’s conditions Rachel moves back to her former home. A brilliant book following Rachel’s journey to normality and how nothing is every really as it appears about herself or her friends and family as she find her feet .

The Gold family have all their got trials and tribulations and the many twists and surprises in all avenues of her life .

A page turner right to the end ,great read many sensitive issues dealt with beautifully and will Rachel find another love or even be prepared to try. I recommend you read this and seem a definite 5/5

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book insightful and engaging book illustrates the hold grief that can have on someone. Rachel has just lost her husband and is confronting grief once again. She is no stranger to grief having lost her baby years ago and her father in the past year. This time, though, her grief takes her under to a place where the passing of time and life outside of herself has no meaning. Her friends and family do their best to support her, rally her interest and force her to move forward, but she is still struggling. Then she makes a decision that surprises even herself. She lets go of the apartment she shared with her husband, and asks her father’s widow, her stepmother, if she can stay in her childhood home, a place that holds no memories of her husband. This sets off a variety of reactions in her rather dysfunctional family. Her mother sees it as a betrayal, her siblings don’t understand, and her stepmother not only unsterstands her grief, she is still grieving herself. Rachel’s journey through grief involves a great deal of introspection, examining relationships, sorting through memories, learning coping skills and letting go of the intense pain in order to move forward in life. She discovers so much more about herself, her late husband, her own father and his widow. As she begins to heal, Rachel finally takes her first steps forward toward the future.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is How It Started is a women’s fiction story by Stacy Finz. The is an author that I know better as a romance writer but while there is some romance it is not a romance. This is a lot about loss, recovery, family, friends and new relationships. The loss and recovery take up an emotional chunk of this story, including coming to terms with events that she just finds out about. Some of that weighted this story down a bit but mostly weighing Rachel down from moving on in her life.

An interesting read especially the developed relationship with Rachel and her late father’s much younger wife. That may have been the most surprising and intriguing part of the book for me. The characters are believable, mostly likable and the flow smooth if not fast. Hey, life is not always save the world, sometimes it is just getting yourself up and living another day. Realism, right.

Does end with on the upbeat side which is how I like what I read to be. So that’s a win in my book.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jennifer Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is How it Started, by Stacy Finz, is a beautifully told story of love, loss, and recovery. Rachel Gold Ackermann’s life has been laced with these things. Finding a special someone has taken Rachel on a wild ride. Her first love, her father, broke up the family while she was in college. Her young love, Campbell, was her other half from 12 on, but then they had the miscarriage and grew so far apart.

After college, Rachel met Josh Ackermann and married him not too long after. But half a dozen years later she lost him due to a texting driver. Now her Dad is gone, her teenage love is history, and her husband is dead. And her future looks bleak.

In the most unlikely turn of events, Rachel moves in with her father’s widow in the family estate so everywhere she looks she isn’t haunted by memories of Josh. The months that follow, the things she learns about herself and her stepmother, and the path that unwinds before her make for a most original story. As this story comes to a close, it may just come full circle to a new beginning. This book is well plotted and written with heart. I very much enjoyed this novel and do recommend it!

[Gillian Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest

No marriage is perfect, Rachel thought from the start, that her marriage and her love story with Josh was more than perfect. Unfortunately the love story ended much to soon and Rachel is consumed by grief and loss. Rachel finds herself in dark despair unable to find a way out. Rachel is surrounded by a loving family and friends who won’t let her wallow in her own misery for too long. The family is as annoying as loving and they take it in turns to care for Rachel each in their own quirky ways.

Rachel makes a drastic decision to move back into her old family home with her young recently widowed step mother who herself is very unpopular with the rest of the family. . This move sets Rachel on a journey of self discovery and leads to new beginnings including a renewed friendship with her teenage boyfriend Cambell who broke her teenage heart.
Read this book to find out what happens next 5 stars

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Ackermann lost her father a year ago, and now her husband has died. Rachel is struggling to even get out of bed, and she finally decides she has to do something. She wanted to go home, where she grew up, and she asked her stepmother if she could come back to her childhood bedroom. The family never liked Brooke, because she was only a few years older than they are, and she was the reason, her parents got divorced.
Brooke tells her she can move into her childhood bedroom, and things begin to change. Rachel, not only learns a lot about herself, but about her father, her stepmother, her family, and how to move forward in life.
Her journey, takes her through, loss, grieving, hope, discovering that she let hurt, cloud her judgement, taking the first step to moving forward, and discovering that what she thought about some things was holding her back. It isn't easy, but she moves forward, and discovers, life goes on, and she has to move forward, discovering who she is now.
I received an ARC from Kensington Books-Lyrical Press through NetGalley.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A poignant story of love, loss, and what comes next.

It took me a bit to get invested in this book, but once it started moving for me it went fast. Rachel and her family have experienced loss in different ways over the years, but no one is prepared when he husband, Josh, is suddenly killed in an accident. Rachel is devastated, of course, and doesn’t know how to move forward.

No one expects her to move back to her childhood home, now owned by her stepmother after her Dad’s death. But she does, and finds herself getting to know Brooke and forming a real connection with her. She is also supported by her family and her former high school boyfriend, Campbell.

I think that the author captured the grief process well, and I admired Brooke’s character for her selflessness, despite having been treated badly by Rachel and her siblings. Overall, I would read other books by this author as well.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

[Lori R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was all about relationships, love, loss, romance, the past, finding oneself, healing, moving on, and new beginnings.  I could not put this book down.  The characters, their complex relationships, and the story kept me turning the pages and I was so sad when I reached the last page because I did not want to say goodbye to Rachel or any of the other characters.
I liked how the story started with the present day and Raqchel's loss in Part I but then in Part II the story went back seven years providing an interesting background on how Rachel and Josh met.  It also provided a rich look into Rachel's family and her parent's divorce and how she disliked Brooke, her step-mom.
I was so glad that Rachel eventually found herself after Josh died.  She found something that made her happy and it was surprising that Brooke took her in and was responsible for Rachel's happiness.  This is a book that I will read again. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is How it Started is a novel centered around a young widow named Rachel. She and her husband Josh had what she feels was a near perfect relationship, after she experienced a devastating breakup. The novel alternates timelines, including when Rachel and Josh met, their wedding and present day. Centered at this story is Rachel's family and her relationship with her parents, sister and brother. Losing her dad suddenly and then Josh shortly after has a profound impact on all of them. The family house, where dad's "trophy wife" lives, was their center of gravity. The house was lovingly put together and renovated by her parents and the family has a hard time with their dad's young widow maintaining their family home. When Rachel unexpectedly finds herself living back in her childhood home, complete with the trophy wife as a roommate, Rachel discovers there is much more here than meets the eye. Exploring her grief and new beginnings, Stacy Finz's latest is a wonderful, emotional read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Carly Hardwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to think about how I felt about this book once I’d finished it. Although there is one important event that takes place, nothing else major happens throughout the rest of the book but I still really enjoyed it.

I felt gripped by Rachel’s journey following the loss of her husband Josh and experienced literally all of the emotions with her - grief, heartache, uncertainty and eventually hope. This book felt comforting and I think that’s down to the author’s way with words, the story just flowed and it was so easy for me to be consumed. I loved the variety of relationships, in particular those between Rachel and her siblings.

Overall this is a heartwarming story that is beautifully written and hard to put down!

Thanks to Kensington Books & Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a sweet story of loss, figuring out how to live after loss, and interesting family dynamics. The author did a superb job of telling this story, her vernacular is great. The story is told through the eyes of Rachel, the MC, and she is one of those characters that you feel like you are wearing the shoes of as you read the book. Her husband, Josh, who she had a wonderful relationship with dies in a sudden accident and Rachel is then left to figure out life without him. She ends up moving in with her stepmom and learning more about her family than she had ever known before. Her past boyfriend, Campbell, is a big part of the story and one of my favorite characters. I hope Stacy writes a sequel to this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

[Amy (amysbooked) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis: After Rachel loses her husband, she's left to pick up the pieces of her life. This includes reevaluating relationships with people in her life, her career, and even her husband.

Review: I loved this book. Loved it. I could not put it down. Finz handled the fallout of losing a spouse expertly, empathetically, and honestly. Rachel's pain, confusion, and loyalty to her husband and her marriage gripped me. The journey the characters take in this book are equal-parts heartbreaking and heartwarming. I will definitely be recommending this to all my friends, and it is the newest member of my "must read" list.

[Jg · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only complaint about this book is it’s too short as I became so invested in each characters life I hated to leave them. I think the author should continue with this story because what happens next to Adam, to Jess and Hannah, to Brooke, and to Rachel’s mom. Each character was so richly created I want a separate book about each of them.. This book pulled on my heartstrings but not in a maudlin way. It takes the concept of grief and unwraps its many sides. It’s about new beginnings and forgiveness, and love of family, even one as crazy as the Golds.
A wonderful story that I hope is only beginning.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story about change and coming to terms with loss.
Rachel deals with her the loss of her husband for a good portion of the book, including the extreme interest of her former boyfriend.
I liked how Beth was an entrepreneur and involved Rachel.
Even Rachel’s mom, and I loved how her kids referred to her as Mommie Dearest, wasn’t so bad and offered really sage advice at the end.
I spent the entire book pretty sure Rachel would act the way I wanted her to, but the ending was a bit of a let down. Yes, it ended the way I wanted, but it left me hanging. I wanted an epilogue so I could see about Edinburgh and the house.
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the early read.