I had absolutely no idea what I was going to read for this prompt, and then one day in the library The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis was on the quick choices stand. That was my quick choice made!

What it’s about?

From Goodreads:

During the snowstorm of the century Levi Cutler is stranded on a ski lift with a beautiful stranger named Jane. After strong winds hurl the gondola in front of them into the ground, Levi calls his parents to prepare them for the worst…but can’t bring himself to say goodbye. Instead, wanting to fulfill his mother’s lifelong wish, he impulsively tells her he’s happily settled and Jane is his girlfriend–right before his phone dies.

But Levi and Jane do not.

Now Levi’s family is desperate to meet “The One.” Though Jane agrees to be his pretend girlfriend for just one dinner, she’s nervous. After a traumatic childhood, Jane isn’t sure she knows how to be around a tight-knit family that cherishes one another. She’s terrified, and a little jealous. But an unexpected series of events and a host of new friends soon show Jane that perhaps this is the life she was always meant to have.

As Jane and Levi spend more time together, pretend feelings quickly turn into real ones. Now all Jane has to do is admit to herself she can’t live without the man she’s fallen in love with and the family she has always dreamed of

What I think:

This is a quick fun book that is easy to read.

The characters are all lovely and you want them to find happiness. This book is all about how they get to their happy endings.

The accident at the beginning of the novel is pretty dramatic. Both Jane and Levi truly believe that they are facing imminent death. Sadly Jane has no one she wants to call to say goodbye. Levi  lies to his mother and tells her he has met the woman he loves so that she can believe he died happy and in love.

Except they survive!

This is a fake relationship trope done really well. Jane agrees to pretend to be his girlfriend temporarily so he doesn’t have to explain his lie. But the more time they spend together the clearer it becomes that they are meant to be together.

Jane is soon fully adopted into Levi’s family. They even go so far as to create accidental scenarios to meet her before the are formally introduced. For someone so independent who is used to traveling around the world, finding that she actually has roots sends her into a panic. Her brish woth death also means she rebuilds some bridges with her own family which is a sweet moment in the book.

There’s also found family in the hospital community. Jane’s best friend, Charlotte. Like Jane she is independent and afraid of live. She hides her feelings for coworker Matt, until her reveals he feels the same way. Charlotte is swiftly adopted into his enormous family herself. I actually liked Charlotte more than Jane.

This is a life-affirming, heartwarming read – a perfect easy romantic comedy and I’m please it caught my eye.