The Beginning of Everything

A Novel

By: Jackie Fraser

Narrated by: Hannah Curtis

An irresistible friends-to-lovers novel of resilience, hope, and new beginnings from the author of The Bookshop of Second Chances

“A charming book about hope for a new life full of love!”—Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author of All the Days of Summer

After escaping a bad relationship, Jess Cavendish is running and leaving it all behind, carrying just a few treasured belongings in her knapsack. She needs to start over, but that means sleeping where she can and making the most of her slim savings. Luckily, she comes across a recently sold, unoccupied house. It couldn’t hurt to stay there while she saves up enough to get her own place, right?

Gethin Thomas is also looking to move on after the end of a long-term relationship. He’s returned to his hometown, anxious to renovate the fixer-upper he bought and move out of his sister’s cramped guest room. When he walks through the door one morning, he finds Jess, who’s ready to run again, and surprises them both by offering to let her stay. It feels like the right thing to do, but Jess doesn’t want a handout. They strike a bargain: Jess will help with the restoration, furnishing, and decorating in exchange for room and board.

While they peel wallpaper and shop for new furniture, an unexpected friendship develops as they bond over music and food, and slowly open up to each other about their pasts. When it’s time for Gethin to move in, he convinces Jess to be his official housemate and she agrees—so long as he lets her pay rent. The connection between them soon shifts to an attraction that seems both inevitable and overwhelming, and Jess must decide what she wants. With so much hurt in her past, can she risk loving again? She was brave enough to reach for a new life—and now a future she hadn’t even dreamed possible could be just within her grasp.

©2023 Jackie Fraser (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A charming book about hope for a new life full of love!”—Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author of All the Days of Summer

Learning to trust

It’s the kind of book you snuggle up with on a rainy day. I kept worrying that something else bad was going to happen to Jess so I went back and read the other reviews. When I found that nothing would, I stopped worrying and settled back into Jess’s journey. I enjoy the way Jackie Fraser writes dialogue, especially the tougher conversations. It’s a story of an intelligent woman learning to trust others and value herself after escaping a bad relationship. It’s a slow and sometimes agonizing process. Something many can relate to. The narration was excellent. I’m not familiar with a Welsh accent but loved listening to Curtis’ performance.

Great romance

Such a GREAT story!! I love romances but get tired of EVERYONE being strikingly good looking and RICH by the time they’re 30 years old. This story is of 2 ordinary people who fall in love over a series of things bring them together.

Endearing

Nice story with interesting characters. A little slow at first, but soon picked up, so stick with it, for it is so worth it. Lovely story and narration.

Lovely Read. Not a Great Listen.

I absolutely loved Bookshop of Second Chances and love to re-listen to it. Ell Potter is one of my favorite narrators, and that is how I found Jackie Fraser. After finishing the first, I had high hopes for this story, but I couldn't even make it through the first chapter. The narration is just so off, and I initially thought the main character, Jess, was a much older woman because of it. I decided to read this one instead and got hooked straight away. The characters are lovely, engaging, and believable. What a fresh take on love/romance. I returned to the audiobook at the end as I was excited to finish the book, but I had a drive ahead. It was easier the second time since I already had a picture of Jess in my head, but I still couldn't help but be distracted by the narrator's voice again. I hope Ell Potter returns for Jackie's next book.

A rare gift

Adults finding their way with kindness and patience: imagine! well-matched narrator, engaging, unusual, and fun.

Lovely Story Awful Narrator

This was a nice love story although slow at times. The narrator however was awful. She makes the characters sound significantly older than they are and she does a poor job of distinguishing her voice between characters so at times it’s hard to tell which character is the one speaking. This makes the story dull and confusing.

It was a tedious slog….but I’m a sucker for a sweet and happy ending

I take it all back. I was glad I made it to the end. A sweet story. I ended up committing to these two people and was genuinely happy for them. Does this happen in real life? Well, that’s what books are for, aren’t they?

Sweet but boring

This was a nice story, but it was predictable and boring. I kept waiting for drama or a twist that never came. It’s like a Hallmark book.

Beyond the happy ending

I loved this story and that it tells a little beyond the happy ending. I love the way the characters speak to each other, with so much warmth and humor

Loved it

I loved The Bookshop of Second Chances, and I loved this story as well. Better, really.