| Title | : | Making Faces |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 405 |
| Publication | : | First published October 12, 2013 |
Making Faces Reviews
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Here's my casting for Ambrose^^^
** FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED **
Absolutely breathtaking! 5 stars!! ★★★★★
This book blew me away!! It was beautifully written and deeply moving, with a very powerful message about true beauty, silver linings, and second chances. A poignant and unconventional tale about heroism, courage, love, loss, friendship, and self-acceptance.
Every once in a while a book comes a long that, from the moment I first hear about it, takes over my mind and heart and doesn't let go until I've read it, lived it and immersed myself in the story. Making Faces was such a book. I read the blurb and shivers just went right through me and I immediately knew that this book was a must-read.
“Making Faces is the story of a small town where five young men go off to war, and only one comes back… It is the tale of one girl’s love for a broken boy, and a wounded warrior’s love for an unremarkable girl. This is a story of friendship that overcomes heartache, heroism that defies the common definitions, and a modern tale of Beauty and the Beast, where we discover that there is a little beauty and a little beast in all of us.”
See?? Tell me that doesn't make you want to drop everything and read this?!
Once I started reading, I could not put this book down and it kept me riveted to the page until I finished at 4AM. It captivated me from start to finish and stayed with my heart long after I had turned the last page.
The heroine, Fern, had been in love with Ambrose from the time they were kids. Problem was, he barely knew she existed - at least, not in the way she wanted. He was the school's star athlete and she was just a shy, forgettable girl who never imaged that anyone as handsome as him would ever take notice of her.
“If God makes all our faces, did he laugh when he made me?”
When Ambrose enlisted following the crushing events of 9/11, he left with four of his best friends but was the only one to come home alive and even so, a part of him wished he'd died with them. Broken, permanently wounded, and guilt-ridden he hid himself from the world. But it was the love of a quiet but fiercely strong girl that helped bring him back to life and learn that there is always a silver lining and that everyone deserved a second chance.
"I used to be afraid of going to hell. But now that I'm here, hell doesn't seem so bad."
"Sometimes you can't take your life back. Sometimes it's dead and buried and you can only make a new life."
Part of what struck me about this book was that it felt completely 'different' than anything else I'd read. Unique. Fresh. This was not a story I'd already read twenty times and despite the fact that it did carry some well-known themes, it's delivery was heartfelt and original.
It's more than just a romance too (in fact, there is no graphic sex in it) and it's just as much about friendship as it is about love. I don't want to spoil things for you but the balance between all the different elements of this story were perfect. Many parts were so heart breaking that I just read with tears pouring down my face, while others filled me with such happiness that I'd read page after page with a huge smile.
"How did you know I needed you?"
"Because I needed you too."
The book brought out emotion after emotion from me. It's such a strong, character driven story and it's the kind where every single section has a little message or life lesson or something that just makes you take a step back and think about it for a minute. It's not only beautifully written but it's also very well crafted and even the simplest of phrases carry rich, multi-layered meaning.
Everything about this story is somehow connected. As a result of it taking place over so many years, we got to see how little seemingly insignificant details came into play later on in a powerful, life-changing way.
"We all fit together to create this experience we call life. None of us can see the part we play or the way it all turns out. Maybe the miracles that we see are just the tip of the iceberg. And maybe we just don't recognize the blessings that come as a result of terrible things."
It brought up so many questions and things to ponder... Why was someone born a certain way? Why did someone survive? Was there a grand design? Or was it all just random chance handed out by the universe?
There is so much more to the story that I've decided not to talk about in my review because I didn't know any more than I've told you at this point when I started reading and I absolutely loved the process of just watching the story unfold and not fully knowing what to expect. Just know that I do not have a single complaint about this book. Not one. Just trust me and read it. I promise you will not be disappointed.
By the end of the book, tears were streaming down my face - a true testament to the overwhelming emotions it pulled out of me. The ending, the last line in particular, was just perfect!!! Like I said.... breathtaking!
This is now one of my favorites of the year!
Everyone should read this book. This is the kind of unforgettable story that sinks into your heart and doesn't let go. I can't recommend it highly enough.
5 stars!!
This is a standalone (complete with epilogue).
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Let Me Just . . .
The end of this book broke my heart and made me rage. Okay, the very end was a good ending. But before that I just, there was, WAIT . . .
So in this book I loved many characters but my favorites were Fern, Bailey and Ambrose. Fern and Bailey are cousins who live next door to each other. Bailey has muscular dystropy and Fern helps him in anything he needs. They are wonderful characters and funny and smart and dorks and I loved them. I wanted to be their best friend. Yes, I say that a lot in books! I get really involved in my books and the characters. Don't judge me!
Anyway, so Fern falls in love with Ambrose for the first time when she meets him as a child. He came over and crushed a spider outside that Fern and Bailey were watching. He thought they were afraid of it and didn't understand why Bailey went inside crying.
"Bailey has a disease. It makes his muscles weak. It might kill him. He doesn't like it when things die. It's hard for him," Fern said simply, honestly. She actually sounded kinda smart. Suddenly, the events at the wrestling camp earlier that summer made sense to Ambrose. Bailey wasn't supposed to wrestle because he had a disease. Ambrose felt bad all over again.
As you have guessed, Ambrose is on the wrestling team at school. He ends up being a star and wins a scholarship to go to college. But he has other plans. He talks 4 of his teammates so sign up for the military and that is what they do. They were in school when 9/11 happened and Ambrose wants to do something other than try to be a star for everyone.
Fern has been reading romance books since she was young and she has been writing her own books in private for just as long. Only Bailey knows that she's trying to get a book deal, well until Ambrose finds out later on.
Fern has another best friend named Rita and at one point in their school days Rita wants to get together with Ambrose. She doesn't know that Fern is crushing on him so she asks her to write some notes to Ambrose - because Fern can write good stuff. Well, we all know that backfires when Ambrose starts to care for Rita, writing back beautiful things and then finds out Rita and Fern were tricking him. He didn't talk to them much after that!
So off to war they go and the book goes back and forth from the present to some things that happened in the past but it's not confusing at all. When Ambrose returns home a year or two later from a horrific tragedy, he's not the same. He goes back to work in his father's bakery which is in the grocery where Fern works until midnight. She tries to become friends with him again.
In black letters she wrote KITES OR BALLOONS across the whiteboard, and she taped a red balloon, his favorite color, to the side. He would know it was Fern. Once upon a time, they had asked each other a million questions just like this. In fact, Ambrose had been the first to ask this particular question. Kites or balloons? Fern has said kites because if she were a kite she could fly, but someone would always be holding onto her. Ambrose had said balloons: "I like the idea of flying away and letting the wind take me. I don't think I want anyone holding onto me." Fern wondered if his response would be the same now as it had been then.
Gradually, Fern and Bailey bring Ambrose out of hiding. He didn't want the world to see him. He felt like a beast and he felt it was his fault for a lot of things that happened. But the three started having a wonderful time together. How could you not with Fern and Bailey!
But there are more tragedies and the book just broke my little heart. I don't want to do any spoilers for this book because this is one that you should read for yourself. The feels and just . . . the everything. Even though there were things that brought me to my knees in this book, I did love it. Just know that if you read it, bring the tissues and if you have no reaction to some of the stuff then I wonder if your human?
Oh and there was one thing at the end that had me happy crying too ♥
MY BLOG:
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*5+++ Stars!*
A touching portrayal of not only finding beauty within, but of finding the beauty within the ugly...
There's so much beauty to be found in this story, and not nearly enough words to adequately honor it. This book starts off simple — discreet even — with an undeniable depth and wisdom that slowly sneaks up and consumes you. Its incredible insight is gently suggested, but powerfully received. With an expertly smooth execution, this author makes it all seem entirely effortless as she strips down life to its bare components, revealing the grace from within. I fell in love with these lovingly broken and perfectly flawed characters, who each represented a unique piece of the same puzzle.
Fern is the girl who feels her plain and unattractive physical appearance renders her insignificant. She clings to the comfort of being "invisible", until she finally decides she WANTS to be seen. Her character has a quiet strength that was just as endearing as her vulnerability. She's genuinely easy to love, but had difficulty recognizing her worth. She's also in love with Ambrose—the boy who doesn't seem to "see" her at all.
Ambrose is the competent, gorgeous star athlete who's drowning in the pressures and expectations of always having to win. When his need to escape lands him in the military during war, Ambrose suffers a tragedy as well as an injury that permanently deforms his beautiful face ... leaving him forever changed as he hides from the people back home.
I'm not ashamed to be seen with you. I'm ashamed to be seen.
Bailey is Fern's cousin who suffers the crippling effects of muscular dystrophy. His love of life and ability to live freely in the moment overshadowed his physical shortcomings to the point where I was drawing strength from his character. But the one thing Bailey desperately wanted was to be a hero ... like Ambrose.Victory is in the battle...
The love story of Fern and Ambrose was on another level than most. It didn't rely on angst or steam as its motivation, but gradually came alive through a deeper, more meaningful connection. There were strong religious and spiritual undertones that strengthened this story's messages without becoming preachy or judgmental. The writing was phenomenal, symbolic, fresh, and original — and I loved that poetry so heavily influenced this plot.
I must admit that this story's raw power and heartbreaking scenarios had me in an almost constant fit of tears. But it was a beautiful cry fest. I cried for a Fern — for believing she was so incredibly insignificant because of her unremarkable appearance. I cried for Ambrose's quiet strength, humility, and decency—which was all I saw in both his beautiful and "beastly" state. And for Bailey — who so desperately craved becoming a hero, never realizing he was one all along.
All of that being said, this book honestly made me happy. It truly exemplified how beauty is not found with the eye, and how strength is not only measured by physical endurance; How we can often become more perceptive as a result of what we lack rather than what we have. It showed that even heroes falter, and proved how tremendous tragedies can be transformed into the greatest of blessings —depending upon on how you perceive them.
I'll end with a poem, written by Fern — felt by many:
If God made all our faces, did he laugh when he made me?
Does he make the legs that cannot walk and eyes that cannot see?
Does he curl the hair upon my head 'til it rebels in wild defiance?
Does he close the ears of a deaf man to make him more reliant?
Is the way I look a coincidence or just a twist of fate?
If he made me this way, is it okay, to blame him for the things I hate?
For the flaws that seem to worsen every time I see a mirror,
For the ugliness I see in me, for the loathing and the fear.
Does he sculpt us for his pleasure, for a reason I can't see?
If God makes all our faces, did he laugh when he made me?
Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: Romance/NA
▪ Steam Caliber: Clean but passionate and sexy.
▪ Romance: Beautiful and angst fee. Slow build.
▪ Characters: Layered. Flawed. Unique and beautiful.
▪ Plot: Centers on finding and loving the beauty within.
▪ Writing: Unique, engaging, fluid, flawless. Weaves through past and present.
▪ POV: 3rd Person Perspective.
▪ Cliffhanger: None/Standalone
▪ HEA?
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This book had been on my radar for a long time. Let me say that I have never read an Amy Harmon book that I didn't love. So why did I put off reading this one for so long? Well, I honestly just wasn't ready to suffer another heartache at the hands of this incredibly talented author. Her books are always beautiful, but highly emotional. I have to be in the right frame of mind to dive into one of her books, with my tissues handy and ready to shed a few tears.
As expected, 'Making Faces' was exactly the type of emotion-evoking read that she is so well known for. It was equal parts tragic and inspirational. It was a breathtakingly beautiful journey, with a lot of loss and heartache along the way.
Ambrose Young is the kind of guy that everybody loves. The guys want to be him and the girls just want him. He's the high school wrestling star, destined to do great things. On top of that, he's extremely attractive and popular. Yet, there is a softer, more romantic side to Ambrose that few people ever get to see.
Fern Taylor is the daughter of a pastor. She's somewhat sheltered and definitely not the life of the party, like Ambrose. Fern shies away from the spotlight, choosing to spend her time reading and hanging out with her cousin, Bailey, who suffers from Muscular Dystrophy.
Despite their differences, Fern and Ambrose form a strong bond when Fern begins penning love letters to her long-time crush. However, Fern isn't honest with Ambrose, pretending to be her best friend. When her deceit is revealed, Ambrose feels betrayed and shuns Fern.
As their high school years come to a close, Fern and Ambrose eventually find their way back to one another. However, their relationship is over before it ever has a chance to take off. Ambrose is enlisting in the armed services, along with several of his friends, and is set to leave town soon.
When Ambrose returns, he is permanently changed. After an attack that left his closest friends dead, he lives with severe facial deformities and scarring. He is haunted by the traumatic events day and night. To make matters worse, he is the object of scorn for some of the parents that lost their children. He has become the target of their anger, a role he embraces.
Eventually, Fern and Ambrose cross paths again. Fern is initially shocked by the appearance of the boy that she spent so many years fantasizing about. Getting over the initial surprise, she is determined to reach out to Ambrose and find the goodness that she knows lives within him. As determined as he is to fade into obscurity, she is persistent and gradually works her way back into his life.
As Fern and Ambrose grow closer, the lives of their friends grow more complicated. Bailey lives with the pain of watching the girl he loves endure a living hell. His light-hearted presence in Fern and Ambrose's lives is in direct contrast to the sadness he lives with.
While this book was not particularly surprising, I absolutely loved it. It was everything that I expected from Amy Harmon. I fell in love with these characters and could not stop listening to this story. I listened to the entire book, straight through, in one day. I was absolutely consumed by it. Hands-down, this is one of my best reads for the year! I loved it!
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More than 5 Stars!
Wow... just wow! This is one of those special books I wish I could give extra stars to- 5 stars, it just doesn’t seem adequate. When I read a story like this, it’s hard to put it into words how I feel. This book blew me away. One of the very best books I’ve read this year!
Fern Taylor and Ambrose Young...
Fern is that awkward girl. Red hair, freckles, glasses, braces. She loves to read, takes care of her best friend and cousin, Bailey, and remains closed off to most. Those who know her, those who she opens up to, know that she is one of the most beautiful people on the inside.
Fern has been in love with Ambrose Young since they were children. Ambrose is the opposite of Fern. Even from a young age, he is beautiful, he is popular, he is kind. Everything about Ambrose is perfect to Fern, but like most people, he never really notices Fern.
Could you belong to someone who didn’t want you? Fern decided it was possible because her heart was his, and whether or not he wanted it didn’t seem to make much difference.
Fern and Ambrose connect in highschool in an unexpected way. Through letters. Ambrose doesn’t know that Fern is replying to his letters. He opens up to her more than he ever has with anyone.
‘Nobody or Nowhere?’
Fern: ‘I’d rather be nobody at home than somebody somewhere else.’
Ambrose:‘I’d rather be nowhere. Being nobody when your expected to be somebody gets old.’
Fern: ‘How would you know? Have you been nobody?’
Ambrose: ‘Everybody who is somebody becomes a nobody the moment they fail.’
When Ambrose finds out it’s Fern, his feelings are conflicted. Although Ambrose appears to have it all, most popular guy in the school, star wrestler with a full scholarship to college, he feels all of that weighing on him much too heavily. After 9/11, Ambrose has felt he needed to do something. He wants to enlist. He talks to his four best friends, and they decide to go along with him. Five boys, from the same small town leaving for the Army. Fern stays in town after graduation. She works at the same store, continues reading and writing and hanging out with Bailey, but she always thinks of Ambrose.
Now that I’ve mentioned Bailey, let me talk about this very special character.
As much as I loved Fern and Ambrose, Bailey was the very best part of this story. Bailey was so strong, so resolved to live his life to the very fullest. He was full of laughter, love and beauty. He was sweet, funny, and was exactly the person Fern needed in her life. I really agree with Fern’s mother and aunt. Fern and Bailey were brought into this world around the same time for each other.
I loved Bailey’s interactions with Fern:
“Do you think there’s any way someone like Ambrose could fall in love with someone like me?”
He also had a special relationship with Ambrose.
“Only if he’s lucky.”
“Fern doesn’t have a clue how pretty she is. That makes her priceless. Make sure you snatch her up before she clues into her good looks, Brosey.”
Ambrose comes back from the war a changed man. He is different on the inside and the out. He has went through things, seen things he just can’t get past.
As Fern comes into her self, she wants to help Ambrose come back to himself. Fern is resilient. She has such strength. She is lovely, has a way with words and has this passion to help those she cares for. Ambrose is drowning in guilt and sorrow. He is not the same man he once was. Fern (and even Bailey at times) bring him back.
We all fit together to create this experience we call life. None of us can see the part we play or the way it all turns out. Maybe the miracles we see are just the tip of the iceburg. And maybe we just don’t recognize the blessings that come as a result of terrible things.
‘Victory is in the battle.’
I can’t tell you how many times I cried while reading this...
“I’ll add you to my list.”
But I also laughed, smiled and was just overwhelmed by the love I had for this story and these characters. One of my favorite parts towards the end...
‘When you get tired of looking at me, I promise I’ll sing.’
Making Faces was heartbreaking and heartwarming. Although there was sadness and loss, there was also much love, laughter and beauty. After reading A Different Blue by Amy Harmon, I knew when this came out I had to read it right away. What I didn’t know was how deeply it would effect me. This book moved me. Inspired me. Made me think, made me hope, made me feel. The writing was phenomenal, the story- one of a kind. Amazing, beautiful, the best kind of book. A story I will never forget. And it had the best message- true beauty, the kind that lasts comes from the inside of a person. I’ll leave you with this thought- Don't wait... if you haven't read this one yet, drop everything and pick it up!!!
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4.5 Stars
Ambrose …. But imagine him with longer hair!
Nobody or Nowhere?
Fern: I’d rather be nobody at home than somebody somewhere else.
Ambrose: I’d rather be nowhere. Being nobody when you’re expected to be somebody gets old.
Fern: How would you know? Have you ever been nobody?
Ambrose: Everybody who is somebody becomes nobody the moment they fall.
BEFORE OR AFTER?
Saw a review for this book and it sounded fantastic so started it yesterday.SMART OR BEAUTIFUL?
Fern… Sweet, Sweet Fern
The whole storyline was very moving, the characters were interesting.
It follows the lives of the characters over a number of years.
It has twists and turns which I did not see coming.
"Maybe everyone represents a piece of the puzzle. We all fit together to create this experience we call life. None of us can see the part we play or the way it all turns out. Maybe the miracles that we see are just the tip of the iceberg. And maybe we just don’t recognize the blessings that come as a result of terrible things."
I LOVE BAILEY!Ambrose turned and walked into the bakery without a backward glance. Barry Manilow cried for a girl named Mandy and Fern felt like crying along with him.
Some of the stuff Bailey says is so funny."My mom took us to a farm for my birthday and Fern and I each got to pick one from the litter. I named mine Dan Gable and Fern named hers Nora Roberts."
"Nora Roberts?"
"Yep. Apparently she’s some writer. Fern loves her. Unfortunately for Nora Roberts, she got knocked up and died giving birth."
"The writer?"
"No! The cat."
"I have no pride left, Ambrose!" Bailey said.
“No pride. But it was my pride or my life. I had to choose. So do you. You can have your pride and sit here and make cupcakes and get old and fat and nobody will give a damn after a while. Or you can trade that pride in for a little humility and take your life back.”
VICTORY IS IN THE BATTLE
FIREWORKS OR PARADES?
AW BAILEY!
"I understand what you are saying . . . and I appreciate it. I do. But I would really like it if, just for once, I could be beautiful to you on the outside."
"Death is easy. Living is the hard part."
I wrote my name across your heart
So I would not forget
The way it felt when you were born
Before we’d even met
I wrote your name across my heart
So your heart beats with mine
And when I miss you I trace
Each loop and every line
I wrote your name across my heart
So we could be together
So I could hold you close to me
And keep you there forever
"True beauty, the kind that doesn’t fade or wash off, takes time. It takes pressure. It takes incredible endurance. It is the slow drip that makes the stalactite, the shaking of the Earth that creates mountains, the constant pounding of the waves that break up the rocks and smooths the rough edges. And from the violence, the furor, the raging of the winds, the roaring of the waters, something that would otherwise never exist. And so we endure. We have faith that there is a purpose. We hope for things we can’t see. We believe that there are lessons in loss, power in love, and that we have within us the potential for a beauty so magnificent that our bodies can’t contain it."
THAT BOOK WAS JUST ….
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HEART-BREAKING OR HEART-MENDING?
The answer is always the same when it comes to
Amy Harmon's books. Both. I am not sure anything I'll say will do justice to
Making Faces. It was a contradiction, sunny days swimming in a lake and nights full of nightmares, a song of mourning and hope that stirred a whirlwind of emotions that could be released only through tears, a lament and an ode to beauty. Beauty that can be found within, in caring, and giving and sharing. And honoring those you left behind by living life to the fullest. It was inspirational. Devastating. And undoubtedly, soul-gripping.
“Death is easy. Living is the hard part.”
In a small Pensylvania town, a tight-knit community, remarkable things rarely happened. Until a September morning that paralyzed the U.S.A. and the entire world. The terrorist attack that left ruins, ashes and the blood of innocents was the trigger for Ambrose Young, the most promising wrestler, the pride of Hannah Lake, to be enlisted. To serve his country, and to avoid the burden of everyone's expectations. He didn't leave to war alone. He had his best friends by his side. But he did come back alone. Disfigured, drowning in guilt and sorrow. The man he was Before was gone.“If God made all our faces, did he laugh when he made me?”
Fern Taylor never stood out. She was just the daughter of the local pastor with fiery hair and a deep love for romances that everyone overlooked. But her heart was full of kindness. Her best friend and cousin, Bailey, was paralyzed due to a rare disease, but that didn't prevent him from enjoying life as best as he could, even though he was aware that death was waiting in the corner. Fern's days were simple. Take care of Bailey, read, write, and love Ambrose Young. Even when he ignored her. Even when was adamant he didn't deserve to be loved.
SORROW OR JOY?
Sorrow and joy, pain and love, all of them are interwined in
Making Faces. For there can be no pain and sorrow if you haven't experienced love and joy. That's what Amy Harmon tries to tell, through her deeply endearing characters, the tragedies and the small and big moments of carelessness. Making Faces is not about one love story. It's about many love stories, for love is endless. When I read this book, with reverence, with passion and compassion, I was not Katerina. I was Ambrose. Fern. Bailey. Rita. A mother mourning for her son. A pastor consoling his fold. A town burying her children. All that I was, all that I am, simply ceased to be. Amy Harmon shaped and reshaped me, poured her heart out on my empty canvas, and when my cheeks were wet and my heart slowly shattering, she wiped my tears with a tender caress and sang with a soft voice.“I wrote your name across my heart,
So we could be together
So I could hold you close to me
And keep you there forever.”
War. Survivor's guilt. Post traumatic stress disorder. Grief. Illness. Death. Pain. Amy Harmon did not spare her characters. As if narrating a tale to a child, she crafted the lives of Ambrose, Fern and Bailey. Ambrose lost his friends. His self-esteem. His face. How do you get used to being ugly, meeting pity when you once were Hercules? When you were admired and worshiped and now you're just a pathetic shadow of your former self? But in his loneliness and devastation, Ambrose got closer to Fern and Bailey, two adorable dorks, the dying boy in the wheelchair and the girl who secretly loved him since they were kids and buried a spider in the yard. Fern thought that she was too plain, too ugly for Ambrose to notice her. Ambrose thought Fern was too good for him. But despite their doubts, a beautiful relationship blossomed between them, with the potential to lead to acceptance. Healing. The concept of beauty was thoroughly explored. Faith was questioned. Why God keeps sharing burdens and illness and death to people who don't deserve them? Are some lives more worthy than others? Are we all a piece of a puzzle, a greater picture we cannot see, or are we simply heading towards the ultimate end with no hope for something more?
UNDERSTANDING OR BELIEVING?
In
Making Faces, I understood the insecurities of a plain girl, a former demigod and a wannabe hero. And I believed in friendship. In love. In eternity, the eternity that Amy Harmon gifted with this little blessing, this beautiful and ugly book. I cannot thank you enough, Amy Harmon.“Victory is in the battle.”
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GUUUUUUUUUUUUYYYYYYYYYYYSSSSSSSSSS
Harmon sensei is the best writer ever! She couldn't write a bad book even if she wanted to.
You need to read this. It took me months but finally I recommended this book to every single one of my friends.
Now be polite and treat my heartfelt rec with care. I poured my soul and heart into it.
You don't want to read it? Shelve as "not now" or "nope" or something. I can't recommend a book you have in your shelves. And I will recommend this book again in a month or so and you don't want to receive the same rec twice? do ya? uh?
You aren't sure yet? Borrow the book from the Kindle Unlimited library. FOR FREE
For all of us in the Kindle unlimited Elite it's
We look so so so so smug now!!
SMUG 'cuz it's FREE for us!!
Join the KU elite!!! We're the elite group in goodreads, we read the best books for a small monthly fee, discover new authors all the time and we still have money to purchase more and more books.
You read and didn't like it?WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU... Ahem. I mean everyone has different tastes right? Okay, it'll hurt my feelings but I can accept that. Just take into account I'm in love with this book, please don't be mean in your review, you can always say why you didn't like it without being mean.
You loved it? Yay!!!! Please recommend a similar book. I love when people recommend similar books 'cuz GR recommendations suck big time!
♥♥♥♥ORIGINAL REVIEW♥♥♥♥
I'm speechless.
People this is a #mustread
♥♥update 4/4/20♥♥
Guys!! This is a tear-jerker but at this particular moment, with the current situation it wouldn't hurt to read something uplifting that reminds us that we survived 9/11 we have the strength to overcome other things. I recommend this book more than ever. -
If I could give this 10 stars, I would. How do I explain the emotions that this book evoked? Dear Lord.
Reading
Making Faces felt as if I was in a movie theatre, one that had a three sixty degree high definition screen, where each character was portrayed in bold and vivid colours. I felt the pain, joy, sadness, victory, serenity; emotions that were pulled almost effortlessly.
It's difficult to write a review that could even remotely explain how this story decimated my heart.
From Fern to Ambrose to Bailey, Rita, the Sheens, Paulie, Jesse, Bean, Grant, et al. Each character was depicted with such depth, such heart, such love. A love that also brought much pain and changed lives completely. I ached for Fern yet I loved how fearless and selfless she was. Such a beautiful soul.
Then there was Ambrose, our male protagonist, whom I loved because Fern loved him and when his life tragically altered, I broke and wept for him.
Ms Harmon adroitly mixed profound sadness with enough levity, weaving a balance many authors fail to achieve. This is going on my list of favourites, absolutely. -
***2.8 stars***
- WARNING, VERY UNPOPULAR OPINION -
I'll try to make it short.
This book didn't work for me for few reasons, and to be honest, I think I'm being too generous giving 2.8, but I loved Bailey that much.
Fern:
There was no debt to her character and no growth. From the flashbacks from her childhood to present day, she stayed the same mellow character throughout the whole book. At first, I though she was cute and sweet, but after couple of hundred pages of reading the same thing over and over, I got bored. She was a character that could do or say no wrong, one of those characters that rides unicorns and farts rainbows.
I didn't buy her being ugly. Quite frankly, If I was a readhead, I would have felt insulted by this book. She was ugly as a kid because she had read hair, freckles and bad teeth, when she was little. Are you f-ing kidding me? You show me a kid age 5 to 10, who's teeth look nice. And braces? How ugly did those look? She wasn't born in the 60's! When kids at that age start loosing their milk teeth, they all look weird-ish, like miniature zombies :). But that doesn't make them ugly.
And seriously, since when is red hair and freckles ugly? According to my dictionary ugly means: unpleasant or repulsive, unattractive, ill-favoured, hideous. That part pissed me off a bit. How ugly could she have been if she managed to grow into a beautiful 'swan', a hot chick that everyone oohed and aahed when they saw her?
Then, she was giving Ambrose pep-talks about knowing how he felt, being insecure about his looks, because she went through the same thing. Like he will grow out of it or something. Give me a break.
Ambrose:
At the beginning I liked him a lot. That scene where teacher came into his classroom and turned the TV on was absolutely heartbreaking. I admired him for wanting to join the army. His reasons were very heroic. But, and it's huge one, I didn't like how he convinced his friends to join the army. That particular scene where he tried to talk his friends into coming with him made me sooo mad. Especially when later . I understand he was young and there was a lot of things he didn't know about what it's like to fight in a war, but he did signed up for the right reason. What got me all worked up was how he convinced his friends to join him. I would have loved for him to have told them the reasons why he signed up, maybe take more patriotic approach in trying to convince them. He thought it would be fun to hang out with the guys, and that Iraq was the place to do it!!! You must be freaking kidding! They all were "Sure, why not, I have nothing better to do, and chicks dig solders, so let's do it" Like they were talking about some fun camping trip.
In the parts where they were in Iraq, all they did were talk about girls. I never got the feeling that they were actually fighting in a war, up until the last scene in Iraq where road-side bomb exploded. And even that was a very short scene.
I did sympathized with Ambrose for what he was going through later, I just wished that some of the parts with his recovery were explored more. After a while it felt like his main concern was the fact that he looked ugly. Author barely scratched the surface of PTSD. I kept wishing to read more about his recovery and how he came to terms with what happened, but all I got was more quotes from Hamlet and Shakespeare and passages from the Bible. And endless talk about wrestling. Don't even get me started on that. If I never hear word 'wrestling' again, it will be too soon.
A&F together:
Fern was in love with Ambrose long before the book started. She loved him this vanilla-baby-love. She always looked at him with those big puppy-eyes. And it was fine, when she was younger, but when she got older, that little girl crush just felt weird.
Throughout the book it was said, numerous times, that Ambrose never thought that Fern was ugly. But he never approached her, never asked her on a date, or to a dance. He was chasing a school slut's, Rita's tail.
They were adults when they finally got together, but their love felt so juvenile and teenage-like. Yes, there were couple of cute moments, like the kiss in the park, but it wasn't enough to connect me to them. And I don't mean that I wanted explicit sex scenes. I wanted for their love to grow and develop, to turn into something profound and bigger than life. Their constant quoting of Hamlet and Shakespeare wasn't doing it for me.
Bailey:
Now him, I loved. Such a sweetheart. I could not get enough of his character. I think I marked almost everything he said. Such wonderful and smart kid. His story was heartbreaking. That little, weak body had such an enormous soul. He was the voice of reason. And a nice break from those two whiners "me, me me, boohoo, I'm ugly, my life is over". And I'm not trying to make fun of either F or A for what they went through, I just felt like those two were way too self-centered, and I liked that he pointed that out. And that scene where he asked Rita to dance was so precious. His character gets 5 easiest stars I have ever given.* * *
I remember reading a review where it was said that just because characters can quote Hamlet and Shakespeare doesn't mean they are deep. I completely agree. There was quote, upon quote, upon quote. Sometime, after I passed 50% mark, I remember rolling my eyes every time I read name Hamlet or Shakespeare. The quotes were beautiful and somewhat romantic, but there were sooo many of them. I wished they would have stopped quoting someone else and would have come up with something interesting and original, something of their own, to say. If I wanted to know what Hamlet's or Shakespeare's opinions were on this or that subject, I would have gone and read their work. I thought author overdid with quotes.
Then we have God and Jesus. Before I say anything else, I want to say that I understand that when 9/11 happened a lot of people turned to God. Some to look for answers, others to blame Him for what happened. Because nothing seemed fair. It still doesn't.
This book has a very strong christian theme, and I wished it was mentioned in the blurb. And after I read the book, I thought that the cover didn't make much sense.
Constant quoting from the Bible was just too much for me. I felt like author was trying shove God and Jesus down my throat. He said this and he did that. And to top it all of, her father's favorite t-shirt had the writing "what would Jesus do" on it. I mean... pfff... Seriously? I get it, he's a pastor, but come on.
Then there was the Rita-character. She spend most of the book f*cking around, and then suddenly, at the end, I read "I always had feeling for Bailey." Whoa..t? Spare me the bull! I did feel bad for what she went through later in the story, but I still didn't like her. I didn't wish her ill, but she didn't deserve Bailey, he was too good for her. And I didn't buy her having romantic feeling for him.
So there you have it, my thoughts on this book. So much for my review being short :).
---------------------------------------------------------------
BR with
Alex aka Image Ruiner :-D
-
This isn’t just a military book,
this isn’t just a romance book,
this isn’t just a new adult book,
For me, this is “the book” of 2013!
”Victory is in the battle.”
Amy Harmon hit it out of the park with this story. The writing is PHENOMENAL the storyline UNIQUE and the characters UNFORGETTABLE!!
This story is brilliantly told in a narrative format of Fern, Baily, Rita, Ambrose and the friends and families of Hannah Lakes, PA.
The writing had me continuously highlighting quote after quote. The story brought smiles and tears and I dare a reader not to FEEL when they read this story.
I just loved the depth of the author’s writing, the feelings, the friendships. I could go on and on but simply put..
”Terrible things happen to everyone. Brosey. We’re all just so caught up in our own crap that we don’t see the shit everyone else is wading through.”
It was absolutely beautiful!
"But maybe you see me because your beautiful, not because I am."
This story is so much more than it's description and the characters are the type that stay will you forever.
"Everbody is a main character to somebody." -
![Carol [Goodreads Addict]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1626057011i/10717098._UX200_CR0,33,200,200_.jpg)
Making Faces is the first book I have read by Amy Harmon. Even though I knew what it was going to be about, I wasn’t prepared for the beauty of the words. I wasn’t prepared for the impact the words would have on me. And I wasn’t prepared for the raw emotions this book would make me feel.
Fern Taylor is a red headed waif like girl that maybe took a little longer than some to blossom. She had curly crazy red hair, was small and wore braces until her senior year in high school. Her father is a pastor and her best friend is her cousin, Bailey, that lives next door. Bailey suffers from muscular dystrophy and is bound to a wheel chair. Fern has learned about love, passion and romance from her addiction to romance novels. Fern is an aspiring romance novel writer. Even though Fern has never had a boyfriend, she has been in love. She has loved Ambrose Young since she was ten years old.
Where Fern was tiny, Ambrose was big. He was always large for his age, and strong. He learned early that he had a natural talent for wrestling. He soon became the town wrestling star but along with that came the responsibility not to let his town down. He was always expected to win. Ambrose was also beautiful. His face was beautiful, and Fern loved him. But someone like Ambrose would never notice someone like Fern.
In their senior year, the year was 2001, and on September 11, their world was changed. Ambrose felt like he wanted to forge his own path, be his own man. So he convinced his four best friends to come along with him and they enlisted. And as so many of the young men who went off to war to defend our country, four of those young men did not come home. But Ambrose did. Except the Ambrose that came home was not the same man that left. His face was badly disfigured. But the changes were more than what you could see on the outside.
Ambrose did notice Fern back in high school and she stayed on his mind all the years after he left. But now, he can’t stand for her to see him like this. Fern doesn’t see his scars though. She sees the beauty of Ambrose’s poetic heart. But can she break through the protective walls Ambrose has built around him? Can she convince him that the scars don’t matter?
“News flash, Fern Taylor! Everything has changed! You are beautiful, I am hideous, you don’t need me anymore, but I sure as hell need you!”
“You can have your pride and sit here and make cupcakes and get old and fat and nobody will give a damn after a while. Or you can trade that pride in for a little humility and take your life back.”
This was such a beautiful and heart breaking book. It was a story of three people, Fern, Ambrose and Bailey. Bailey, in his wheel chair, was perhaps the strongest of them all with his eyes that missed nothing. He had the courage of a lion. Ambrose who was big, strong, athletic, a natural leader. But he had a poetic heart, a love of Shakespeare, of beautiful words. And Fern, little Fern with the biggest heart of all, who sees something in Ambrose that perhaps Ambrose didn’t even understand.
Ambrose doesn’t feel worthy of Fern’s love. She could have any man. Why would she want him with his scarred face and scarred heart?
“No, Fern. I’m not ashamed to be seen with you. I’m ashamed to be seen.”
But slowly, Fern and Bailey together break through Ambrose’s walls and he opens to them, slowly regaining his self confidence, re-entering society.
“She was right. He was partially blind, but in spite of that, maybe because of that, he was seeing things more clearly than he ever had before.”
Their happiness is short lived, as tragedy enters their lives once more. Will this bring them closer together or tear apart the tentative bonds they have built? This book will make you smile, break your heart, and put it back together again. The words are so beautiful, the quotes breathtaking. It is my first Amy Harmon book but will not be my last. -
Re-Read (8/5/2015)
I actually listened to this one on a couple family car trips. Even though it's been two years since I originally read it I still experienced all the same feels.
My teens verdict -> they loved it. Thumbs up all around.
*******************************************************
P.R.I.C.E.L.E.S.S.
I feel inadequate to write a review that will do this story the justice it deserves.
Absolutely my favorite book of the year! I deliberately read Making Faces slowly to make it last as long as possible. Being immersed in the beauty of this story allowed me to go from laughing to crying to giggling and back to bawling my eyes out. It's a rare find when a book can make you FEEL.
Reading Making Faces reminded me of how I felt when I read
Painted Faces. It evoked all the insecurities I have about the question, "Could I be with someone who didn't fit the mold of what society considers 'normal'?" Am I strong enough like Fern and Freda to love men who aren't physically perfect?"God has given you one face and you make yourself another."-Hamlet
Can society stop seeing the exterior and see the interior of a person?"When you really look at them, you stop seeing a perfect nose or straight teeth. You stop seeing the acne scar or the dimple in the chin. Those things start to blur, and suddenly you see them, the colors, the life inside the shell, and beauty takes on a whole new meaning."
Three main characters graced the pages of this book each one equally important."Everybody is a main character to someone." -Bailey
Fern has become one of my favorite heroines. The other day a friend asked me if I could be any female book character who would I be...I would be Fern. I loved her grace and passion and her ability to love unconditionally.
Bailey is going down as one of my all time favorite characters. His ability to make me laugh and cry has not been out done by any other character yet.
Ambrose has so much deep beauty that you can't help but love him. His strength and sense of duty is unmatched.
I'm going to be thinking about this story for a long time. When I saw that Amy Harmon had a new book coming out I quickly recommended it to my friends. I knew Ms. Harmon wouldn't disappoint. This story is one I will continue to encourage my friends to read. I know I will read it again. After my husband gave me a funny look for laughing like a crazy person (Bailey had just announced, "You gonna tell me I can't have my seeing-eye cat with me?") I decided I'm going to read this book to him like I did
On the Island and
Easy. I, for one, am a better person for reading it.
**Pre-review Personal note from the author**
Standalone
175th book of 2013 -
Going in to this book, I thought I new what to expect. I new it had a military theme because I'd read the blurb and I thought I new what was going to happen.
So imagine my surprise when I read it and discovered that it wasn't at all about what I expected. This is Fern and Ambrose's story, but it's about so much more than that. It's a story about loss, pain and self acceptance.
Making Faces sends a messages to the reader. For me the one word that came to mind is Perception. We all have our own perceptions, when you look at someone how does your perception of them differ from someone else. What constitutes beauty and is our understanding of it flawed.
Ambrose, is the town's pride. He's handsome, athletic, he has the perfect life. At least on the outside that's how it seems, until one day an event that changed the world forced him to look at his own life differently.
So five friends just out of high school go off to war but their time is cut short when and Ambrose comes back by alone. Broken and filled with guilt he lives inside of himself, until a girl he never paid much attention to forces him out of the shell he's built around himself.
Fern, an extraordinary soul that came in an ordinary package. She's loved Ambrose for as long as she can remember. When he left he took a little bit of her heart with him, so when he comes back she's elated and filled with guilt at the same time.
Fern has "ugly girl syndrome", she doesn't see the beauty she has, both inside and outside. But as she and Ambrose slowly begin to discover each others secrets, she slowly comes out of her own shell.
This book touched my heart, I honestly have no clue what else to say besides READ THIS BOOK I cried so much, but it was bittersweet, I was heart broken I was over joyed. This isn't one of those books where death or disease is used as trigger for the reader, the author doesn't force you to feel a certain way. The story tells itself and because of that you feel a part of it.
This book will leave you with an egg sized blob of emotion in your throat, it's really beautiful. I'm sitting here writing this review trying to find something I didn't love about it and I can't. I love to feel and this book allowed me too.
ARC kindly provided by author and appreciated by me :) -
5 Stars!!
“Making Faces" was hands down the most emotional book I have read by this author. Once again Amy Harmon bewitched me with her beautiful story, captivating flawless writing and her fantastic storytelling. I was so hooked from the beginning that I couldn’t put it down. This book was everything I was expected and everything I wanted. “Making Faces” is a touching, though-provoking, beautifully written story about life, love, family, self-acceptance and friendship. Is a story about what it means to be a hero, about courage, war and loss. Is a story about what true beauty really means.“If God made all out faces, did he laugh when he made me?” - Fern
Fern has red hair, freckles, braces and glasses. She’s a little odd and she loves to read. She’s smart, sweet and she loves to care for her cousin and best friend, Bailey who’s in a wheelchair and has Dushenne muscular dystrophy. She believes she has forgettable features and that she is that kind of girl who’s easily overlooked and ignored. She 's sure the boy who had loved since she was ten years old will never notice her.“To Fern, Ambrose Young was absolutely beautiful, a Greek God among mortals, the stuff of fairy tales and movie screens.”
Ambrose is the opposite of Fern in every single way. He’s handsome, popular and a the star wrestler of the town. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know Fern exists.
“Could you belong to someone who didn’t want you? Fern decided it was possible because her heart was his, and whether or not he wanted it didn’t seem to make much difference.”
Some events make Ambrose open his eyes and he eventually finds out Fern is special, different from any other girl he met. He’s not ready for college and since he always dreamed of being a different kind of hero, dreamed of being a soldier, he enlists in the army, persuading his four closest friends to come along with him.
Three years later, Fern still lives in the small town. While not many things had changed in her life, Ambrose’s life changed irrevocably during his service. He’s damaged in more ways than one, scarred inside and out and he’s ready to give up on life than to start over.
“What scares you the most, son?” his father asked quietly.
Ambrose wanted to laugh. He wasn't afraid of anything. Not anymore. “Not a damn thing, Dad. I used to be afraid of going to hell. But now that I'm here, hell doesn't seem so bad.”
Ambrose is changed and suffers from PTSD. There are days when the guilt he feels is too much for him. Fern never forget Ambrose. She never stopped loving him and now all she wants is to help the boy who always had her heart.
This was such a compelling, emotional read! I absolutely loved the storytelling which was quite different from the author’s other books. This book made me feel so much! It was equally heartbreaking and heartwarming and deeply moving from the start. It was refreshing, unique and it made me smile and grin and cry.“You read smutty romance novels and quote scripture. I'm not quite sure I have you figured out.”
Fern is a heroine you will fell in love with from the beginning. She's a heroine you will want to be friend with, a heroine that will make you feel and think about life, family and friendship and maybe a heroine you will connect with. She was such an endearing character and her character’s development was pure and simple stellar. She is genuinely a good person, with a heart of gold. She’s sweet, caring, protective, thoughtful and honestly she’s one of the greatest heroine I had the pleasure to read about. Seeing her come out of her invisible shell was heart-warming. Her “transformation” was in some way satisfying, believable and overall really well done. She had all my admiration for sacrificing her future to be with her cousin, Bailey and later for being persistent in showing Ambrose that people who cared about him still care, despite the fact his appearance changed.“…maybe her love would simply loosen the strings, freeing him to walk away.”
Ambrose is a hero in every possible way. His journey broke my heart. You can feel at times how lost and lonely he his, his despair, his guilt, how much he struggles to accept his new reality. He is kind and sweet and a great friend for both Bailey and Fern.
A character I absolutely loved is Bailey. Bailey melt my heart. He made me smile more times than I can count. He was such a sweet soul and he truly felt like breath of fresh air. He was sweet and so protective with Fern and such a great friend for both his cousin and Ambrose. I loved his strength, his honesty and also his determination to live his life at the fullest despite the fact he was so sick. I loved his connection with Fern and I adored their closeness.
Fern and Ambrose’s relationship unfolded slow, but sure. Their bond was powerful, real and I simply loved it. They were so good for each other and their connection was really beautiful. They gave each other everything and I loved how they became more.
All in all, “Making Faces” was a wonderful, moving tale with a powerful message that I loved – beauty comes from the inside – characters that will touch you deeply and a story line that will give you many life lessons.“Maybe everyone represents a piece of the puzzle. We all fit together to create this experience we call life. None of us can see the part we play or the way it all turns out. Maybe the miracles that we see are just the tip of the iceberg. And maybe we just don't recognize the blessings that come as a result of terrible things.”
**Highly recommended!** -
(More than) 5 Stars!!!
Talk about an amazing book at its most extreme! This book is a rare gem. You know it's crafted to tear your heart into a million pieces but you still read it anyways 'coz it's beautifully written and heartfelt!
"Maybe everyone represents a piece of the puzzle. We all fit together to create this experience we call life. None of us can see the part we play or the way we see are just the tip of the iceberg. And maybe we just don't recognize the blessings that come as a result of terrible things."
Making Faces is a story about a girl named Fern Taylor. She's one of those protagonists people call an 'ugly duckling' because of her frizzy wild red hair, crooked teeth, a million freckles on her face, and huge eyeglasses. But even though she grew up with a knowledge that she's not physically attractive like the rest of the girls in Hannah Lake, she was well-loved by her parents and her cousin and best friend Bailey. While in high school, she developed this infatuation to Ambrose Young, Hannah Lake's golden boy and the most popular guy and most looked-up to. Ambrose has all the things young girls will fall in love with. He's beautiful, strong, smart, talented, athletic, perfect. But when 9/11 happened in the U.S. which urged him to sign up for military together with his close friends, his life changed and he returned home with a tortured soul and a ruined physicality.
I can't believe I haven't read it sooner.
Amy Harmon is such a genius and a talented author and I knew it just by reading the first few paragraphs of the book. She did a wonderful job in this novel because of the way she chose words that absolutely hit home. All throughout the book I found myself hanging on to every word because I'm afraid I'll be missing out a tiny detail.
What struck me most about this book was how the author inspired everything based on real life. The characters she featured were so raw and without any pretense. The main setting she chose was also peaceful and quiet and in a way, very comforting. I also loved the fact that the book tackled some inspiring and religious concepts which made me ponder my own reality. It also gave us the glimpse about the experiences military men face outside the country and what it would be like to work in those areas away from home and from loved ones.
I cried a lot of times all throughout the book because of the deep and meaningful messages it instilled and how it portrayed the importance of being close to God as much as being close to your family and friends. I also learned from this book that inner beauty is more important than physical beauty and what matters most is the good things you impact to someone's life."I think sometines a beautiful face is false advertising too, and too many of us don't take the time to look beneath the lid."
The book also has a good romance in it. Ambrose and Fern's romantic development-- from childhood strangers to friends to lovers-- was so remarkable. It developed naturally and beautifully. Their love was so inspiring I don't think I would ever forget it. I am forever thankful that authors like Amy Harmon exist. An incredible book like this deserves the spotlight. It's one that I wouldn't trade for any book.
In Making Faces, the emotions emanating from the pages and the overall impact was truly worth the ride. So if you're looking for a book that will provide you a good cry, do yourself a favor and put this on top of your tbr! :')"Thank you for making even ugly things beautiful."
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what a surprise this book was. the kind of quiet surprise that ever so quietly draws closer to you, step by step, until its staring right back at you, making you realise and say, ‘oh, there you are. i didnt know how much i needed you.’
this was such a tender love story, as all love stories should be. but where the surprise came from was not the fondness i felt for the romantic and healing love between two people who desperately needed it, but seeing the importance of a strong and resilient love between friends and family. that, to me, was the greatest gift of this book.
even though i appreciated the message ambrose and ferns romance represented - the importance of finding beauty in all things, even the ugly - what really moved me was the unwavering bond shared between a group of boys and also the ties between two cousins that transcended familial affection. i think sometimes stories about love tend to focus so much on romantic relationships and forget that other relationships are just as influential, just as noteworthy. i love how this story showed that, and how that love for friends and family also has the power to get you through the devastating loss of those people.
if i could change anything about this, it would probably be the way the story was told. i found the constant transitions between the present and past to be a little jarring, especially with the lack of transitions. i think had this been told in a chronological fashion, it would have been much more effective. there were also some events towards the end that felt a little out of place.
but overall, this was a beautiful and moving book. i can definitely see why so many praise amy harmon. her writing and stories are definitely ones to pick up!
↠ 3.5 stars -
5 BEAUTIFUL STARS
"And so we endure. We have faith that there is purpose. We have hope for things that we can't see. We believe that there are lessons in loss, power in love ...
"... and that we have within us the potential for a beauty so magnificent that our bodies can't contain it."
Well readers I could not resist going straight into this book, everywhere I turned this book was all over my Goodreads feed. So like the dutiful addict I am and with several recommendations thrown my way I picked up my kindle, the obligatory handful of tissues and prepared my book heart for a good old weepy work out, and it was worth every single tissue and every heartfelt five stars. Here are my 'Making faces' thoughts ...
What's it all about?
Please go into this book with an open heart and I guarantee you will be changed. I haven't got the words to sum up what this beautiful story is about. But I will say that this book is a story of love, life, tragedy and finding the beauty inside those we meet in our lives. There's a lesson to be learned from this book, go be taught.
What did I love?
The book is not over dramatic in its presentation it tugs at the heart strings in all the right ways, I applaud the author for tackling such sensitive and tragic subjects in a way which was realistic and heart felt, I never felt emotionally black mailed by this story but I was gripped by every page and turn of events. It felt like the author had a personal story to tell and she delivered it with sensitivity and heart. The friendships in this book were the glue to this story for me, this author obviously has hands on experience of what it is like to have honest to goodness love in your life. I was touched to the core with the way she described the relationships in this book. The characters all had their own spot light and even though there was lots to be told by this story it always flowed well and the writing style was nothing short of poetic. The characters were out of this world. I loved the heroine and hero in equal measure and in actuality the book delivered two heroes; Ambrose Young and Bailey, These two strong loveable characters filled my reading time with delight and heartache I could not have anticipated how these fictional characters could find a place in my heart so easily. I was floored at the authors ability to bring both their lives into the limelight and weave a blend of tragic and endearing into the pages. Every book needs a dutiful heroine and this author delivered to her readers, Fern Taylor what a sweet, unassuming, wonderfully put together character, Fern is a readers dream, her selfless action and larger than life heart leapt out from each page. These characters were lovingly created by an author who obviously spend time and effort drawing together a story that it's wonderfully beautiful. I'm not convinced I have words to express all the things I loved about this story one things for sure it's going to stay with me for some time to come.
Rating further explored ...
As well written and put together this story is, it was blanketed with a melancholy and tragic feel to it and whilst I appreciated that the author was setting the tone for a heartbreaking tale it dampened the enjoyment factor somewhat for my reading experience. This book is clearly a five star diamond but aspects of this tragic story shook my reading time. But make no mistake this rating comes with a recommendation and a feeling that I will never forget this original story and consequently the author.There were times throughout this book that I battled with my rating sometimes it felt five star, sometimes it felt less there were times of devastation and times of elation but there is one thing that remained there are some stories that need to be told - making faces is one of them, this story will stay in my book heart for time to come and that is why it can't be anything but a soul changing five stars.
Final thoughts ...
Making faces is a book that demands to be experienced not explained, so with that thought in mind if you don't mind a story that will squeeze your heart to its end and fill you with hope and love then I have nothing else to say but go grab it readers, enjoy ... Kisses. -
WARNING: Do not read this book while flying on a plane sitting next to a judgy, disapproving man who is giving you no elbow space and who has no Kleenex tissues because:
1) YOU WILL NEED TISSUES
2) YOU WILL NEED SOME SPACE
3) JUDGY, DISAPPROVING MEN SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON PLANES (or in public)
This book was recommended to me by Jenny the Book Sojourner (
http://booksojourner.blogspot.com/) and now I have to add her to my Festivus card list and send her a thank you bouquet of flowers.
This.
Book.
Is.
Awesome.
But, this book (I feel) is misclassified as a romance. This is actually literary fiction. Yes, there is a romance in the book. But this book is so much more. It is about families, a community, coming of age, relationships, death, sickness, unfulfilled desire, suspense, acceptance, God and faith.
Needless to say, Amy Harmon is an outstanding writer. She is a story teller, my favorite kind of author.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantastic books. If you don't like fantastic books then maybe this isn't for you. -
➦This is definitely a book that makes you feel and think about things like your own mortality, standards of beauty and dealing with the loss of loved ones. It's not just a love a story, it's a story that will have you experience emotions while you go through the journey with the characters.
➦Fern is a girl who experiences an "ugly girl syndrome." She in not particularly pretty and she is awkward. That, however, does not stop her from loving Ambrose, a beautiful boy and a wrestler at her high school. She knows that someone as beautiful as him would never be with someone like her.
➦The main characters get re-united years later after Ambrose comes back from Iraq with half of his face disfigured. He survives, while four of his best friends do not. Ambrose struggles to find a way to live with his guilt and his new image. And here begins the journey of Fern and Ambrose, where they help each other heal and fall in love. It's beautiful, really.
➦In this novel there is also a story of a boy who is wheelchair bound because of a disease. It's a boy who is Fern's best friend and who she cares for throughout his life. It's a heartbreaking story of someone who accepts that his days are numbered but stays positive despite it and tries to experience as many things as he can until he dies.
❤All the poems and the references to Greek mythology incorporated into the novel were wonderful. I will definitely remember this book for a long time. I loved the characters, the beautiful words and the strong messages they delivered.
➦I could have totally lived without Bible quoting and references to God but they were few and didn't bother me as much.
➦If you still haven't read this book and you love romantic novels that will make you feel, you should definitely pick this book up. If you enjoyed
then you will probably enjoy this book as well. Please have a box of tissues ready.
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Ambrose Young is a handsome, popular and a talented athlete. He's the kind of guy you see on the covers of romantic novels (according to Fern). Sure, he's beautiful on the outside - but also on the inside, only he doesn't show it... 💥
Fern Taylor knows she's the kind of girl you ignored because of her wild red hair, freckles, crooked teeth and thick glasses - but Fern is an ugly duckling who turns out to be a swan. She's beautiful inside and out. ❤
📚 𝐈𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞���, 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞? 📚
Fern has loved Ambrose since she was 10, but he never saw her. After graduating from high school and even though his future was planned, Ambrose joins the army - but another person returns instead. 💔
Ambrose is no longer the god he was and Fern is no longer an ugly duckling, but despite the darkness he lives in, when Fern shines her light on him, he becomes the hero he always wanted to be... Hercules. 💪
While Fern and Ambrose were the main heroes, Bailey (Fren's cousin) was a hero too. He was the glue of the story and helped them understand that a hero is not only measured by his external power - and beauty is not just what you can see. 💥💥💥
📚 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭. 📚
WOW, what an amazing book! I have no other way to describe it other than a TRUE ROMANCE - full of insights, the kind you can't help but fall in love with. ❤😭
It's an emotional story about friendship, courage and unconditional love... But also death, war and trauma.
The characters crawled into my heart, the plot touched my soul and the writing left me speechless. GO READ IT!!! 👑
• I listened to the AUDIO version. 🎧 - Rob Shapiro (the Narrator) did an amazing job! He managed to make me feel like I was reading, not hearing it - and thanks to him I was fascinated from start to finish. ❤
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📖 ᖴOᒪᒪOᗯ ᗰE Oᑎ IᑎᔕTᗩGᖇᗩᗰ:
https://www.instagram.com/the_romanti...
📖 ᐯIᔕIT ᗰY ᗷᒪOG ᖴOᖇ ᗰOᖇE ᖇEᐯIEᗯᔕ:
https://books-romance.com/
📖 GOOᗪᖇEᗩᗪᔕ:
https://bit.ly/3acMRMP
💕 לקריאת הסקירה בעברית, כנסו לבלוג:
https://books-romance.com/ 💕 -
This one has been on my TBR list for years. For whatever reason it just kept being pushed aside. 🤷🏼♀️ It’s a very emotionally heavy read. Lots of heartache in this one. 💔Read with tissues!! 😭🤧
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5 COMPLETELY AMAZING STARS!!! (And only because I can’t give more than 5.)
In a town when everyone knows each other and things don’t remain hidden for very long, Fern is love with Ambrose since she was a little kid and he helped her with a spider’s funeral. But Fern never thought that she could be pretty enough for him and so she kept her feelings secret.
But then the September 11th came and it changed a small town’s life. Ambrose got to war and when he came back, he was different… he was seen too much dark.
And he no longer was the beautiful boy he once was, he has scars… and not only physical ones.
And within the dark that he is now… Fern is the one who surprisingly can make him see the light.
Don’t let the simplicity of the plot fool you… this story is utterly amazing and so perfectly written that you’ll never want to leave their world… and that will make you hope for Fern and Ambrose’s love so much as if it was your own.
If there are books with such a beautiful story, such amazing characters and that will stay in your heart for a long…LONG time, this is definitely that book.
Don’t waste any more time, go read this. -
4.5 Stars
Overview:
“It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that you aren’t ever going to be loved the way you want to be loved.”
I knew I would love this book.
I don’t know why. This book is so far out of my usual comfort-zone it’s ridiculous. I never read NA. Usually my cynical brain gets bored half-way through a romance.
But somehow I gravitated towards this title, and wished for it on Netgalley late one night. So imagine my surprise when my wish was granted—four years after the publication date? Thanks to Amy Harmon for the opportunity!
Pros:
“How did you know I needed you?”
“Because I needed you.”
If you listen real carefully, I’m pretty sure you can still hear little shards of my heart bouncing on the floor somewhere.
This feels so genuine.
It’s sad. It made me cry(a lot)but it didn’t feel manipulative. It wasn’t some contrived plot I was supposed to feel sad about.
Every character was developed and interesting, so I FELT for them.
The writing is just gorgeous. Harmon has a mastery over words and I will definitely be reading more of her books. Overall, it flowed very quickly and I was completely engrossed. I really didn’t want to put this down, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since I finished.
I went into this very blind. (I didn’t even read all the blurb, tbh) Because of that, I really never knew where the plot was going. I had ideas and suspicious, but the way everything played out was interesting.
Even the side characters are interesting and feel genuine. Everyone’s family was different and impactful, and I love the way it all came together.
Fern and Amrbose were beautiful. They woke up my cold-cynical heart and I was so invested. I just wanted them to be happy. Their healing was gradual and precious and I literally don’t know why I loved it so much, but I did. (Even if there were a few points where I thought it might be a bit much, I still loved them.)
“Caring about someone doesn’t [always] mean taking care of them.”
^This ^Part ^Killed ^Me
It’s smart. It’s realistic. It fits her development and his. It’s overall just a really good mentality and not one I ever see.
I knew this was going to be sad. From the prologue you get an idea and spend half the time preparing yourself. But then it all plays out in a completely different and devastating way.
Cons:
My heart says five stars, but my brain had a few little issues.
Mainly, that as much as I loved Fern and Ambrose’s relationship, I wanted more focus on Fern herself. It seemed like Amrbose had a fully formed arc, but Fern’s mostly revolved around him. She was a very interesting character, but I wish there’d been more focus on what she plans outside her relationships. Does she want to school? Leave Hannah Lake? Work at the grocery store forever?
Other than that, my other issue was:
“Fern doesn’t have a clue how pretty she is. That makes her priceless.”
“And because she was unaware, she became more appealing still.”
Why? Why is Fern more beautiful simply because she’s unaware of it? Why does her lack of confidence make her more desirable?? Was Ambrose less desirable when he was aware of his good-looks? Because the story certainly doesn’t indicate that.
I dislike this ideal that women need to just look beautiful effortlessly and act blissfully unaware. I'm not saying every character needs fantastic self-confidence, and this wouldn't have made sense for Fern's character. But why romanticize a lack of self-esteem??
In Conclusion:
Beautiful and captivating. -
Such a beautiful, quiet novel. The type that drips into your heart slowly, and takes it over. Rich with emotion and character driven stories and their lives that'll teach you something.
I felt like I was living in an alternative universe whilst reading this.
The best part about this book is how it challenges the notion of beauty and what matters. What is long-lasting. What is beauty anyway and why when the word is mentioned it is reduced to it just meaning the outer body?
There's a feeling in my heart now that I can't make sense off, but this book will be staying with me for a while. -
Making Faces is the story of a small town where five young men go off to war, and only one comes back. It is the story of loss. Collective loss, individual loss, loss of beauty, loss of life, loss of identity. It is the tale of one girl's love for a broken boy, and a wounded warrior's love for an unremarkable girl. This is a story of friendship that overcomes heartache, heroism that defies the common definitions, and a modern tale of Beauty and the Beast, where we discover that there is a little beauty and a little beast in all of us.
This book has called to my heart❤️
I don't even know where to begin ! How can you review a book that has left you speechless ?!?! The messages encrypted in this book have my mind reeling a mile a minute. The love expressed in this book has left me breathless. Gorgeous gorgeous chapter titles .... When I could see through my tears .... Each word took on a new meaning ❤️
read or not read?
READ. Read NOW !!!
FERN
"Do you think there's any way someone like Ambrose could fall in love with someone like me?"
Broisey or Bailey ? BOTH!!!!
Ambrose
To Fern, Ambrose Young was absolutely beautiful, A Greek God among mortals, the stuff of fairytales. Fern loved Ambrose since she was ten years old.
I loved Ambrose and Bailey both! HARD!!!
Bailey
Its hard to come to terms with the fact that you aren't ever going to be ......
This book was so moving and inspirational. I was such a weepy fool. My heart was filled to the brim. As this book spanned years we were able to see how events of yesterday plays into the intricate future.
"How did you know I needed you? "
"Because I needed you too."
Sometimes you can't take your life back. Sometimes it's dead and buried and you can make a new life.
*I wrote your name across my heart, so we could be together , so I could hold you close to me, and keep you there forever.
*She walks in beauty.
Love is not love which alters when alterations finds, or bends with the remover to remove.
*Everybody is a main character to someone.
"You've been in love with Ambrose your whole life. Now he's home with a messed up face and I don't see you doing the hard thing!! "
*maybe we don't recognize the blessings that come as a result of terrible things.
"You act like beauty is the only thing that makes us worthy of love. I didn't just love you because you were beautiful!"
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5 Overcoming Stars!
”Victory is in the battle”
Wow this book… What can I say other than it just moved me in ways that I didn’t expect… I laughed, I cried, my heart broke for the characters. I as well as most every other girl has felt a case of UGS growing up. I knew a boy who suffered from MD. I was 18 and just starting college when the September 11, 2001 attack happened. I know how that day affected me. I know people who joined the military and went off to war as a result of the attacks and I have seen the effects is has put on people who have return as well as their families. It's like I just felt everything that happened in this book......
This is one of those books that it breaks your heart but is so worth reading!
Fern suffers from Ugly Girl Syndrome (UGS) but has a heart made of gold. She is awkward but funny and so pure at the same time. She’s just a great human being in general.
"If God makes all our faces, did he laugh when he made me?"
She takes care of her cousin, Bailey, who unfortunately suffers from Muscular Dystrophy (MD) and is wheelchair bound. Bailey is hands down one of the BEST supporting characters ever! LOVED HIM! He has an absolutely wonderful sense of humor and you put him and Fern together and they have the best time…
"I’ve got Rocky Road Ice cream. It looks a little like poop. Can we become one with Rocky Road instead?”
“It does look a little like shit. Nuts and everything. Count me in.”
They assist Bailey’s dad Coach Sheen with his wrestling stuff and that’s how they grow up with Ambrose Young. Ambrose is a superstar in the wrestling world as well as hot stuff around the school.
Fern is in love with him and has been since they were 10. Unfortunately he isn't attracted to her.
After high school is out, Ambrose (aka Brosey, Brose, Hercules) decides to enlist in the army.
He comes back from the war a changed person.
”The lucky ones are the ones who don’t come back.”
Fern along with Bailey, help Ambrose accept who he is and remember who he was.
"She liked the option of flying without responsibility of saving the world"
"What good was flying if there was no one on the other end of the string?"
Because this review needs some humor, here ya go! Go read it!
Big props to my BBB, JAnne there with me to hold my hand when I was boohooing like a baby! Now on to my funny book…. -
5 Stars and Beyond (2013)
* * * * * Spoiler Free-Thank you to all of the previous reviewers and a special shout out to Mo for personally recommending this book to me.
Books provide a lot of purposes for us, in my opinion.
Some educate.
Some take us to a place of fantasy with the use of otherworldly places and characters; allowing us to experience things not possible in this existence.
Some present sweet concepts of love, happiness, and family with very little hardship and a perfect ending.
All of the types mentioned allow us to be in the moment consumed with the story... becoming as involved as we wish.
Then there is the type of book which forces the reader to pay attention. To feel deeply what the characters are feeling. To relate to hopes, desires, dreams, and pain so sincerely, you feel as if it is actually happening to real people, not characters in a book.
Making Faces was that type of book for me.
Using the backdrop of Small Town America; creating people whose lives intertwined and developed over years; having the collective hope of the community rest on the shoulders of heroic boy/man and him feeling the burden and responsibilities... all of these elements and so much more made for a perfect storm of emotions.
I really feel this is a book that has the ability to cause a person to think about what is important - what really counts in life and how we regard one another.
There is tremendous beauty in this story and my true desire is for you to read it fresh. If you wish more, my updates express my feelings while reading this amazing book. These updates are so descriptive, I was moved so.. they are like a review chapter by chapter.
Please see all of the detailed reviews out there; they are so personal and descriptive, I know you will find the one which will connect with you.
Don't be put off because you may feel while reading it. Sometimes, that is what called for in our lives... here's to feeling without reserve.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
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Un libro maravilloso sobre la superación y aceptación de lo diferente basado en el cuento de La Bella y la bestia, con el que reí, lloré y me indigné mucho por lo injusta que es la vida con los que menos se lo merecen. Un auténtico canto a la vida por lo que es, un regalo que merece ser vivido en plenitud y no como algo que se da por supuesto. No le doy más estrellas porque no se puede.
Es el segundo libro de Amy Harmon que leo, tras The Law of Moses, y puedo decir ya que es una de mis escritoras de romántica favoritas por lo inusual de los temas que trata y cómo los trata. -
I'm gonna start this review off with an embarrassing confession... I read the first 10% of this book at home, then the next 89% of it at work, and then the last 1% of it in the car on the way home from work... I had like three pages left and I just had to know what happened so as soon at I hit the red light near the EarthFare I knew it was my chance to read the last three pages... Bad move on my part. As I read the last few sentences I started balling my eyes out and completely forgetting I was at a stop, until the guy behind me honked his horn at me bringing me back to life.
Making Faces was just that amazing. It makes you want to read between red lights and at any chance you can get. Making Faces surrounds three main characters. Fern is the girl who is forever overlooked. She's the bookwork, small, sweet, with red hair. Bailey, Ferns cousin and best friend, is the sweet caring boy who is suffering from muscle dystrophy. And Ambrose Young, school's star athlete and overall talented guy. Fern has admired Ambrose from afar for as long as she can remember, and he only notices her after an odd event plays out. But even after that things seem to go back to the way they were. That is until 9/11 happens and it hit Ambrose in a way he didn't see coming. Even though he is so gifted he still feels like he needs to do more. He decides to sign up for the military and to serve in Iraq and talks his four friends into coming with him.
That's where the story will takes off, because Ambrose is the only one who returns, but even he doesn't come back in one piece. Ambrose and Fern's relationship is the definition of hope. Their relationship is sweet, playful, and deep. Harmon again writes such strong leading characters and gives them so much depth. Fern, though shy is far from weak. Ambrose who to the eye is strong is so weak. Them being opposites gave this book such balance. I liked that Fern shows him that there is more to life and a person than what meets the eye. That you can either run and hide or face things head on. That it's okay to let people in. That looks might be the thing that originally draws you to a person, but it's not the thing that keeps you there. Their relationship shows you that being together is a give and take situation but you both have to be willing to do both. You have to know when to push and when to ease up. Their relationship is such gold.
"You are still beautiful," Fern says softly "I think that statement is more a reflection of your beauty than mine."
Even with these two character being as amazing as they are there is no doubt who stole the show... Bailey. His and Fern's friendship is probably, if not, my favorite friendship I've ever read. There aren't even words to describe how amazing it is. Everything that comes out of his mouth is written with such a force. He is unlike any character I've ever had the pleasure of reading. He alone would be a reason I would recommend this book. The characters in Making Faces are flawless.
The plot of this book is so different. At first with how everything was laid out I didn't think I would like it. The timeline bounces around from the past the present, and I didn't think thing would come together... But when they do, and everything is reveal, it is mind blowing. Everything from the flashbacks, the old stories, the current events, the title of the chapters are so well thought out. When I started too figure everything out I was taken back by how incredible this truly was. Even when there were a few moments towards the end when I knew what was going to happen next, and things were playing of cliche, the ending itself made up for anything that could have happened. The last few paragraphs made up for anything that would ever be lacking.
I think writing reviews on books you love is so much harder then doing to for ones you hate. You can never seem to perfectly put into words how it made you feel. Making Faces is heartbreaking and heartwarming. Making Faces will probably be one of my top reads this year. This book broke my heart in the best way possible.
It's a book with so many layers, and so many lovely messages. This is a book that is tattooed on me and will forever leave a lasting impression.
"True beauty, the kind that doesn't fade or wash off, takes time. It takes incredible endurance. It is the slow drip that creates the stalactite, the shaking of the Earth that creates mountains, the
constant pounding of the waves that breaks up the rocks and smooths the rough edges. And from the violence, the furor, the raging of the winds, the roaring of the waters, something better emerges, something that would have otherwise never existed. And so we endure. We have faith
that there is purpose. We hope for things we can't see. We believe there are lessons in loss, power in love, and that we have within us the potential for a beauty so magnificent, our bodies can't contain it."
