This Thing Called Love by Debbie Howells - Book Review

Publication Date: 05th May 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fiction  

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: This was sweet 

When Bee loses her job, home, and boyfriend on the same day, she is at her lowest point. It doesn’t help that some guy spilled his coffee on her. However, she finally learns the name of her father, Luke Friday, a musician she has never met. Bee decides to search for him and find out more. 

Alex is the guy who spilled coffee on her. At home, he takes care of his mother, whose memories desert her. In an attempt to help her, Alex wants to find a man called Luke Friday, someone with whom his mother played music once upon a time. 

As Alex and Bee search for the same person, Luke’s nine-year-old daughter is trying to find something or someone to bring her father out of his grief. How will their paths cross? What happens next? 

The story comes in Bee and Alex’s first-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

This is contemporary fiction and family drama where the lead characters are on their personal quests. Though their paths will eventually interact, it doesn’t happen until the last quarter. 

The book deals with themes like dementia, being a caregiver, emotionally unavailable parent, loss of a partner and parent, loneliness, etc. While these make the story a bit heavy, the book doesn’t feel overwhelming. 

It takes a little time to like Bee. However, her confusion, fears, vulnerabilities, etc., are well-presented. She is hesitant, sad, and ready to give up, much like how people react in similar situations. This elevates her character as the story progresses. 

Alex is a good guy; someone easy to like, pretty much from the first. We can’t help but root for both main leads to find the ray of light in their lives. 

Little Mack is adorable! God, I loved her! My heart broke for her, but she put it together with her childlike wisdom and innocence. The side characters are certainly interesting, and some of them have prominent roles. 

Both main characters have careers related to nature (sort of), though we don’t actively see them at work. There’s a love track for them, which really doesn’t make any impact. It has been left too late and seems like a last-minute patch-up. Either they should have met earlier and shared a part of the journey, or their romance should have gotten a hint only at the end (like a slice-of-life ending). 

Still, the rest of it is rather good, so I’m willing to look over the issues. Also, a certain character I disliked doesn’t have a 360-degree change of heart. There’s no forced ‘family comes first’ nonsense. Here, family is found family. Just the way I like it. 

To summarize, This Thing Called Love is a heartwarming book about finding your people, caring for your loved ones, and the power of music and memories for people with dementia. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #ThisThingCalledLove