Making Faces

When Ambrose Young returns to their small town as a shadow of his former self—scarred and broken from war—Fern Taylor finally has a chance with the beautiful boy she's always admired from afar, even though he no longer sees himself as worthy of love. What unfolds is an achingly tender story about how real connection has nothing to do with perfect faces and everything to do with seeing someone's soul, scars and all. Amy Harmon crafts a devastating yet hopeful exploration of loss, trauma, and the quiet heroism it takes to let someone love you when you've lost yourself. If you're a sucker for small-town romance that prioritizes emotional depth and genuine healing over happily-ever-after shortcuts, this modern Beauty and the Beast retelling will absolutely wreck you—in the best way.