The Family You Make: A Novel

Jill Shalvis

Jan 2022 · The Sunrise Cove Series Book 1 · HarperAudio · Narrated by Erin Mallon

About this audiobook

USA Today Bestseller

“Fall in love with Jill Shalvis! She’s my go-to read for humor and heart.”— Susan Mallery, New York Times bestselling author

Beloved New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis begins a new series—Sunrise Cove—set near beautiful Lake Tahoe, with a heartwarming story of found family and love.

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.

Ratings and reviews

4.5 stars — I don’t know if it was the contrast with the previous book I read, but I was immediately captured by Jane and Levi’s story. Part of that is the situation at the start, talk about intense!! And part of that was just the easy depth and dimension of our characters from the start, and the natural chemistry. I switched between reading and listening to this one, and I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Mallon’s narration as I usually do. Great voices, great emotion, great pacing. She’s a fave. J

This new series truly reminds us that frequently the family and bond we make with dear friends, are sometimes stronger than blood. In this story we have two women, Jane and Charlotte, whose past has molded their present and they believe their future. Neither expected to have men like Levi and Mateo come into their lives. Men that “get them”, “see” them and love them for who they are. Can these men help the women they come to love, see that they will always have a someone who will love them no matter what? Can Levi and Mateo show Jane and Charlotte that taking a leap of faith could be the best decision they can make? Not only are these four characters well developed, but also the secondary characters, especially those in Levi’s family, are a great addition to the plot. At times heartbreaking, it was also heartwarming. A reminder that life and love can be messy but so worthwhile. I am looking forward to more books in this series by this talented storyteller. I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

The Family You Make is the first in the new Sunrise Cove series. This story is heartwarming, emotional, humorous and encompasses not just the romance between Jane and Levi, but also the relationships with their friends and family. Jill Shalvis does a wonderful job of bringing all of the characters to life. I can't wait till the next book in this series.

About the author

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning novels wherever books are sold and visit her website, jillshalvis.com, for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.