From the Bookshelf of Turning Pages At Midnight…

Making Faces

Amy Harmon

Start date: January 15, 2015

Finish date: January 31, 2015

Discussion: Buddy Reads

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* September 2025 Buddy Reads
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What Members Thought

May 04, 2014 V rated it it was amazing

Shelves: love-drama, favorites, young-college-romance, navy-war-soldier

Uh. Just….uh! I’m at a loss for words. Well this certainly snapped me out of my funk. I wanted a book with an actual story, something that I could connect with, enjoy, want to read and forsake everything else going on around me. And that’s what this book did. The story was brilliant and the writing even better. The way the author told the story, moving between present (senior year at high school in 2001-2) and the past (early 1990s) to provide some background on how the two MCs met and how the h Uh. Just….uh! I’m at a loss for words. Well this certainly snapped me out of my funk. I wanted a book with an actual story, something that I could connect with, enjoy, want to read and forsake everything else going on around me. And that’s what this book did. The story was brilliant and the writing even better. The way the author told the story, moving between present (senior year at high school in 2001-2) and the past (early 1990s) to provide some background on how the two MCs met and how the heroine (Fern’s) love for Ambrose develops over the years. I was captivated by the characters. Really, they were just so likeable and my heart went out to Fern so many times throughout the book, with her ‘UGS’ or Ugly Girl Syndrome and ability to write beautiful poetry/books. Ambrose had so much more to him than most other 18 year old boys. No, he doesn’t have a dark past, but he just has something about him, other than his looks, that make him stand out, and Fern sees this. I loved how the two got to know each other through love letters, much to Ambrose’s ignorance – he doesn’t know that Fern is actually writing them on behalf of her friend who also has a crush on him.
After the clever, yet haunting reference to 9/11 (still 13 years later I get chills thinking about this), I saw where this story was going and how Ambrose ends up with the facial disfigurement described in the blurb. At this point I was at full speed, trying to get to the end of the book because I just couldn’t stand the thought of what the two would face in the coming chapters. And yes it is every bit as emotional as I thought it would be. My respect for Fern grew as she accepted Ambrose and his broken personality, proving she really does love him and not his outer shell. She does this with the help of her cousin – Bailey, who was an awesome secondary character. Usually, in the books I tend to read, the secondary characters have their own story as part of a series, but I knew this wasn’t the case with Bailey. His circumstances (i.e. his illness) make for yet another emotional facet to the book, one which I dreaded since it is pretty clear what was to come for him. Yet I was excited at the same time, especially when one of his last goals in life was to be a hero and save someone. Sigh. I thought I knew how this was going to play out, something on the lines of his input in Ambrose’s recovery and/or getting the two MCs together. What I wasn’t expecting was the actual way in which Bailey achieved this goal. My heart was beating so fast as this part of the story unfolded and I was torn between not wanting it to happen, to not wanting the alternative either. Sounds cryptic I know, but I don’t want to elaborate otherwise it’ll spoil the story. Needless to say, I was heartbroken. Truly.

But as with everything, things happen for a reason and this bittersweet tragedy had a purpose, which is explored in the last 20% of the book. The ending. Perfect. The last word sending tears to my eyes.

This is a must read, i cant emphasise how this book has made me feel. You have to experience it for yourself.

5+ stars. Amazing! ...more

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May 23, 2014 Amanda rated it really liked it

My first Amy Harmon read and I enjoyed it very much. The characters were very different from what I have normally read and the storyline was unlike anything I've read before. I adored Fern and thought she was a breath of fresh air and I loved all the references to classic literature. Her letters and the either/or questions were wonderful. I loved watching Ambrose evolve throughout the novel. My heart broke in several parts and I found myself crying through some portions. I have to say Bailey was ...more

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Nov 03, 2013 Mandy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Oh My God! I don't and won't post spoilers, but: Please pick up this book! Fern and Ambrose are a wonderfully real couple and Bailey stole the book. Amy Harmon wrote a touching and poignant book that will suck you in and leave you gasping in shock and sadness and smiling in joy. Please -- I cannot stress this enough -- read this. ...more

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Oct 22, 2013 Jessica rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ebooks

Amazing!!!!!! Just amazing!

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Feb 23, 2014 Jennifer rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved this book. I have to say that this book has become one of my favorite reads of 2013 and it was so worth the tears. Amy does an outstanding job grabbing your emotions...I cried a lot, I laughed, I was anxious, I was frightened, and over all happy. An author who can do that in one book is really an outstanding author. You all have to read this in order to get it. I highly recommend this book.

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