
Jill Shalvis is one of my go-to authors. She writes about sexy, caring heroes and the independent, sassy women they can’t live without.
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What would you change if you had to start your life—and love life—over again?
When Emma Harris wakes up from a coma she learns that her fiancé and her BFF have fallen in love, she’s lost her job, and the life she knew is gone. Overwhelmed but grateful to be alive she starts over from scratch. Not as easy as it sounds, of course. But she’s never been a quitter, even if she wishes she could quit rehab, where her hot but evil physical therapist, Simon, puts her through the wringer.
Eager for a new beginning, Emma opens a doggy day care. Unfortunately, the only space she can afford is owned by her childhood nemesis Ali Pratt. But hey, she’s been through worse, right? She tries to roll with the punches, but a friend drops his grandpa off at the doggy day care in desperation then on top of that, she and Ali bring the term ‘frenemies’ to a whole new level. And then another grandparent shows up. And another.
In the midst of all that, Emma realizes she’s accidentally fallen for Evil PT. But the most horrifying thing of all is that Ali just might have turned into the best friend she’s ever had. And as Emma grows from the pain of her past and takes on her new path, she comes to realize that life isn’t what you’re given, it’s what you make of it.

Multiple New York Times and USA Today 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 … mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning heartwarming and full of humor novels wherever books are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. Her most recent book, ALMOST JUST FRIENDS, was just published last month and her next book, THE SUMMER DEAL, comes out in June.
http://www.facebook.com/jillshalvis
http://www.twitter.com/jillshalvis
http://www.instagram.com/jillshalvis
http://jillshalvis.tumblr.com/
or email her at contact@jillshalvis.com
My Review
While training for a 5k marathon, Emma Harris steps off a curb and is hit by a car. She wakes from a coma two months later to learn her fiancé is sleeping with her ex-best friend, she’s suffered life-changing injuries, and the passenger of the vehicle that hit her died- not her best day.
Stubborn pride won’t let her give up, and neither will her annoying, hot, slave driver of a physical therapist. If she can survive his exercises, she might just get her life back on track.
Simon loves his career as a PT but his father’s stroke means he doesn’t get to do it as much as he’d like. His days are filled caring for his dad’s property management business and nights making sure his father doesn’t burn down the apartment or take the garbage out in his boxers- again. Though his therapy client, Emma, sparks a range of feelings from compassion to lust, he tries to retain a professional distance between them, but she sneaks under his guard with her determination and passion. Trouble is, Emma’s been burned before and refuses to let her emotions rule her heart. Can Simon change her mind?
Emma is stronger than she thinks and proves it with new milestones achieved like climbing stairs, buying a business, and making some unexpected friends, but her developing relationship with Simon after thinking she could never trust a guy again, scares her to death. Will he leave her, too?
This book has all the feels. I love Simon’s acerbic cousin, Ali. She and Emma have a history that plays out over the story and adds another dimension to what is already a 5 star read.
If you haven’t read Jill Shalvis yet, try Love for Beginners, it’s a keeper!

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Great review and all the best to Jill. This looks like a fun read! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Jacquie 💕🙂
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Fun, heartwarming, goosies, she knows how to produce the feels, Harmony 🙂
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Thanks for sharing your wonderful review, Jacquie. Gosh, my TBR pile just grows and grows. I’m looking forward to this one!
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Lol, you can’t go wrong with a Jill Shalvis book!
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Great review, Jacquie. Sounds like there’s some depth to these characters. Thanks for sharing.
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She’s an excellent writer, Staci. I’m sure I could pick up one of her books without seeing who wrote it and be able to tell within the first few pages it’s a Jill Shalvis story.
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I like the addition of a frenemy. Sounds like the book has multiple layers for an engaging plot. Great review, Jacquie!
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Her books are well worth the try, Mae. I’m sure you’d enjoy the sassy heroines 🙂
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Great review,
Jacquie! You tempted me with this one 🙂
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Have you read any of Jill’s books? All are great, you’ll be hooked 🙂
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I have and yes, very hooked!
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🙂
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What a start to this book. It sounds like a great read, Jacquie. And thanks for mentioning Simon’s acerbic cousin. I love a little snark in the mix. 🙂 Great review and a really cute cover too. Congrats to Jill!
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It’s easy for characters like Ali to take over the story but Jill gives us just enough that we want Ali to have her own story 😊
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🙂 That works!
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This sounds like a fun read. Talk about starting your day off on the wrong foot—waking up from a coma to find your BFF has run off with your guy. It doesn’t get much worse than that. Despite that beginning, it sounds like it would be a very uplifting read, understanding we can either wallow in self-pity or pick ourselves back up and try something new.
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Exactly, Pete. She’s suffered a horrible accident, lost her support system, her job, her home, and yet she finds the will within to fight back. I love this story for its message ❤
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HI Jacquie, the idea of waking up form a coma to a whole new life intrigues me. It is very likely, although 2 months is on the shorter side for a coma. A great review.
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Scary stuff, for sure!
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Excellent review, Jacquie! Congratulations, Jill! I love the video with the Saint Bernard. 🙂
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Lol, my nephew had one. They’re super friendly 🙂
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This sounds like a great read, Jacquie! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it!
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Jill has an impressive backlist, and I have them all, lol
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That statement alone is enough to send me scrambling for one of her books, Jacquie!
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It’s not easy to move forward after a deep emotional hurt and physical injury. What a fabulous review, Jacquie! Congratulations to Jill!
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This story has a wonderful underlying message, Miriam- a worthwhile read.
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I’m sure some readers can relate the the message, Jacquie!
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This does sound like a fun read, Jacquie. What a great review. Toni x
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Thanks, Toni. I loved the characters!
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This sounds so good, Jacquie. Such difficult circumstances, all around. My go-to emotion is I couldn’t do it so I’d love to read how she gets through everything.
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I agree. I’d wallow in self-pity, for sure.
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Loved this, thank you Jacquie!
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She’s a wonderful writer, Saania. Well worth trying!
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