She’s got the whole world in her hands. But can she find true love?1967. Julie Jensen needs a fresh start. Fleeing an abusive father, the determined young woman leaves Michigan for a job with a church in England. Falling quickly for a tall and handsome guitarist, she’s devastated when she’s sent to Spain for training and returns months later to find him gone.
After a transfer to San Francisco, … transfer to San Francisco, Julie throws herself fully into the psychedelic decadence of the Haight-Ashbury scene. But her return to Britain darkens when she discovers she’s with child…
With her whirlwind life suddenly spiraling out of control, can Julie build a future?
Better To Have Loved is a stirring women’s fiction novel. If you like touching characters, stunning surprises, and stories based on true events, then you’ll adore Christy Nicholas’s epic journey of the heart.
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5 Star
Better To Have Loved by Christy Nicholas is a beautifully written story that once I started reading I couldn’t stop till I finished. This author has an amazing talent and I absolutely loved this book. My emotions were all over the place as I read about these two characters Kirsten and Julie. Julie’s journey starts in the 60’s as she leaves her current life behind and goes on to follow her dream. Kirsten’s is in the 80’s and follow her as she searches for her father. I don’t want to give away to much. This is a absolute must read and its based off a true story. Find out what happens next. I can’t wait to read more from this Author.
Better To Have Loved by Christy Nicholas – Review by Gail Guerrero
Four stars
Better to Have Loved was a good read. The story flowed nicely though you do have to get used to the timeframe jumps. I really enjoyed the characters especially Julie. Her adventures and journey through life are interesting. I found the story to be emotional and beautiful. The author really put a lot of thought into this book. The fact that it’s based off her parents makes it even more wonderful. The emotions you will feel will have you sitting up reading all night. The story doesn’t drag on. It’s a very original plot and the author executes it phenomenally. I recommend you pick this up if you’re looking for a smooth read that is beautifully written.
Better To Have Loved: A True Story by Christy Nicholas was a great 5 star read.
I was pulled in right from the beginning, we do shift past to present as well.
This is the journey of Julie through many life adventures and life lessons. When she ends up pregnant she decides to keep the baby. We also get Kirsten’s story (Julie’s daughter) as she tries to find her birth father.
Overall this story pulls you right in. Each of these ladies journeys tug at your heartstrings as you hope for the best. We get adventure, love, loss, mystery and so much more. The author does a great job of pulling you in with her writing and you feel like you’re right there with them. The author’s note at the end is a must read. Jumping between the two in the story was pretty easy to keep up with. If you’re looking for a great read, 1-click and get started today.
Nicholas is proving to be an author that cannot be pigeonholed into one genre. I’m more familiar with her fantasy works (which I love) but knew from the synopsis of this book that I would enjoy it. And I was so right. I love the way Nicholas weaves her stories together and makes them feel so real and relatable. This is just a fantastic book. If you are a fan of Nicholas and/or just a fan of really well written tales, this book is a must read.
Better To Have Loved by Christy Nicholas. This story was definitely not what I’ve come to expect from this author and I’ll be honest I loved that! This book is emotional and relatable and so very real. The author captured every single emotion felt in this story. I definitely felt a part of this story, the words just playing out in movie form in my mind. It’s hard to do reviews sometimes because there’s so much I want to say but you don’t want to give anything away or you just can’t find the right words. So I’ll tell you it’s a wonderful story that captured a piece of my heart and you should definitely go add it to you reading list. Four strong stars and highly recommended!
Better to Have Loved by Christy Nicholas is a beautiful story based on true stories of love lost and found. Starting in the ’60s, this follows the story of Julie Jensen and her growth in romance and herself. I will not speak further about the story because I do not want to ruin this for anyone. This is a well-written book and I really enjoyed the historical side of the story. I have read some other books by this author and this is very good and hard to compare to the other stories, I enjoy how she is able to write in different styles depending on the story she is telling. I really look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
I have previously enjoyed Nicholas’s fantasy and sci-fi novels so this was one I was eager to get my hands on and read. I was even more elated when I discovered this was a very real and raw book written as a memoir of sorts on the author’s life and her parents. This book was fun to read with the bouncing back and forth between decades, that is something I don’t often find myself saying because I dislike these types of novels usually because they just get plain confusing. This one was easy to find that flow with and I had no problems following along. I loved the way this read like a fictional story as well, it really drew me in and had me invested in these characters and the struggles and triumphs they enjoy. I would be interested to see more of these types of novels from Christy Nicholas again!
Better To Have Loved
By Christy Nicholas
4 stars
I really enjoyed this story and I think it obvious that the author has personal ties to the story as it’s written with such emotion. It flowed really well and I was completely absorbed in what I was reading. I think at times early on in the story the multiple pov’s and the switching made it a little confusing but once I settled in to the story and got to know the characters I had no problems at all. I really liked all of the characters and following their stories.
I’ve read a few books by this author previously so it was really nice to read something different from her, and I do like real life stories there’s just something extra to them knowing that these things really happened.
Overall a really lovely read and one that I would recommend.
I loved how sweet this story is for the time it’s set in. The story itself sets you on an emotional rollercoaster with unexpected twists and turns. I’ve been able to relate to Julie in this story in more than just one way. This one is a cozy and special read anyone would enjoy!
I found this book a little slow to start and was a little confused with the chapters jumping around at first. Once I settled into though I enjoyed it. The main character Julie developed into a strong woman whom I came to admire. The plot was sometimes predictable ,but at times veered in another direction, which was fun. As a whole I felt the book came together nicely and was well worth the read.
Better To Have Loved by Christy Nicholas
4 of 5 Stars
Based on the author, Christy Nicholas’s own parents love story and also Christy’s journey to find her father this fictionalised memoir was a touching and heartwarming read. Set in a changing America during the Summer of Love in 1969 this novel has a sixties feel about it and due to the authors wonderfully descriptive narrative the era is bought to life through the sights, sounds, smells and emotions of the time. The storyline centres around Julie Jensen’s escape from her “hide-bound world” and midwestern family as she embarks on her own adventure to find her independence whilst in the background America is full of cultural revolution and new freedoms. Following her dreams of art and travel Julie leaves the charming town in southern England and journeys into the decadent realm of Haight-Ashbury and then on to the exotic Barcelona coast. It is on the coast that Julie finds love but then a phone call one night has the opportunity to change her life forever as she has to make a choice between family duty and her own needs. Ultimately she must decide if the love she has found is worth all those she may loose. “Based on a true stories of love found and love lost, and one woman’s discovery of what matters to her”, this story is full of faith, free love and the freedoms of the 1960’s but also family drama and betrayal.
A wonderfully written novel with family and love at the heart of the storyline, the narrative flows well and the characters are likeable and relatable making this an easy read. I felt immersed in the settings described due to the detailed descriptions of time and place. I was fascinated to discover this was based on a true story and the authors personal investment in the novel does come across in the writing making this an engaging read. An enjoyable romantic love story which is all the more poignant for being based on a real couples romance.
Better to have loved by Christy Nicholas is a beautiful story of love, life and decisions. Once I started reading, I was hooked. This book brings out all the feels, is sweet and touching. Knowing that is was based on real people just makes it so much more. This is my first book by this author and I will be looking for more!
Better To Have Loved by Christy Nicholas is a touching romance that is vastly different to her other books as this one is based on her family. Christy has bravely shared the story of her parents. The story does jump backward and forward between the past/present and memories and can be a bit confusing but once that is under control you get lost in the story and the real life characters. It is a story of self discovery and fighting between your own needs and those of family. It is two stories of two women one from the past and one from the present and the search for answers on who they are and what makes them, them.
Better To Have Loved by Christy Nicholas is a great story that I found to be very emotional. I was drawn into the story from the moment I started reading it and really fell in love with the characters. For me this was made even better knowing than it was based on true people, it just added a different depth to the story.
The author did a brilliant job of letting this story almost tell itself. The journey the characters went through really came through. I felt connected to both them and the story line and really did lose myself in this book entirely. I would highly recommend this book.
This story follows Julie in the 60’s who follows her dream and ends up finding love and tragedy. There is also Kirsten mixed in the story in the 80’s and her search for her father, whom she’s never met. This is actually a true story as told by the author. Julie works for the church and this job sends her all over. I loved the back and forth between characters, it kind of gives some perception as to what happened and when and they got where they are now. Great character descriptions and it touched on a lot of emotions. A must read!
I enjoyed this romance story. This is a little different book for this author than what I normally read by her. It is a great story of love lost, found and finding out what really matters in life. This is a well developed story that is engaging and easy to read. I had no problems connecting with the characters as they made the story pop. I found them taking me on an emotional roller coaster ride that I wanted to continue. This story is made up of strong characters that made the story entertaining and pulled me in right from the beginning. Julie leaves her current life to find a better one. On her journey she finds love but is also faced with choices that could make her lose her family or the love she just found. You will have to read to see what happens to her but you don’t want to miss what happens next. I highly recommend this book and this author.
This story begins with Julie Jensen writing to her sister to tell her that she has moved to England with the family of the children that she looks after. It is a surprise to herself that she made the decision to go and that she is looking forward to the challenge of living somewhere completely different to her life in the midwest of America. We join her as she moves into her accommodation in East Grinstead at the Saint Hill mansion which holds the international headquarters of the Church, who the family work for.
She is signed in and told where she will be living, which turns out to be one of the outlying cottages and not the mansion, as she hoped, once she has lugged her enormous suitcase of belongings there, she meets Sheila who she will be living with, Sheila helps her to settle in and takes her on a tour of the grounds.
As Julie settles into her routine of childcare during the day and her artwork for the church at night, she slowly gets used to the changes and differences she is encountering, although, she is enjoying meeting the people who pass through from all around the world and learning about their cultures and personalities, be that during work, where they enjoyed meals, in the old ballrooms where they could enjoy hobbies and leisure time, or at the parties which the Church throw on weekends she makes friends and flirts with some of the men, but only one really catches her eye. She was also enjoying the freedom to walk around the surrounding countryside, villages and scenic areas, as well as exploring the mansion and the surprises it hid.
This is where these relationships all start to develop and other opportunities come Julie’s way, however, not all of these opportunities are equal, some good and some bad, but all are things which turn her life around and as she continues life with the church and the new places she visits because of this, her life changes in ways she could never have imagined.
This is a story which leads you around the world in a flurry of emotions and excitement, where choices are made, relationships develop and break down, love and loss cause disruption and all of these things create a journey worth reading and exploring.
Better To Have Loved
By Christy Nicholas
5 out of 5 stars
I loved reading the book Better To Have Loved by Christy Nicholas. It is a beautiful story that pulled me in from the beginning. I love the character of Julie Jensen. She is a young woman who is making her way in life. She is a wonderful artist and has a passion for life. This story chronicles her adventures, her loves, and events that change her life. Julie’s character is one that I grew to love with each chapter that I read. You can’t help but want her to be successful and happy. The book is an emotional one and mine went up and down the entire time I was reading the story. This is a book that I found myself getting lost in. The author has an amazing talent in making both the storyline and the characters come alive. I also enjoyed the secondary characters and their interactions with Julie. Don’t miss out on a story that you won’t want to put down until the final page. I highly recommend reading it.
4 Stars
Better To Have Loved: A True Story by Christy Nicholas was a great read. It is a little different from the other books of hers that I have read- but still had all the touching and emotive qualities that I have come to expect from her books.
As the title would suggest, this is a true story- based on her parents love- and as the author tells it, this is the story that inspired her to begin her writing career.
This is a story of love, family, growth, a little mystery, adventure, memories, hope, and faith. I won’t reveal any of the details- as I really think this is one story that you should go into without knowing too much- and let Ms. Nicholas and her story, surprise you.
Well done!
Thank you, Christy Nicholas!