The Making of Us is a novel written by Lisa Jewell, a British author known for her contemporary fiction works. Published in 2011, the book explores the lives of three individuals who are connected by an unconventional circumstance – they were all conceived through sperm donation.

The story begins with Lydia, a single mother in her late thirties who decides to search for her biological father after her own father passes away. She discovers that she was conceived through a sperm donor and embarks on a journey to find her half-siblings. This leads her to Dean, a young man struggling with his identity and purpose in life. Dean’s search for his biological father intertwines with Lydia’s quest, and together they uncover the existence of another half-sibling named Robyn.

As the narrative unfolds, the reader is introduced to the individual lives of Lydia, Dean, and Robyn. Each character has their own unique struggles and personal issues that they must confront. Lydia is dealing with the loss of her father and the challenges of raising her teenage son. Dean is a talented artist who feels disconnected from his adoptive family and yearns for a sense of belonging. Robyn, on the other hand, is a successful businesswoman who appears to have it all but harbors deep-seated insecurities.

Throughout the book, Jewell delves into themes of identity, family dynamics, and the impact of secrets on relationships. The characters’ journeys towards self-discovery are intertwined with their efforts to connect with one another as siblings. As they navigate their shared past and present circumstances, they learn valuable lessons about acceptance, forgiveness, and the true meaning of family.

The Making of Us is a heartfelt exploration of human connections and the complexities of family relationships. Lisa Jewell skillfully weaves together multiple storylines, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged until the very end.

• The Making of Us

• A Novel
• By: Lisa Jewell
• Narrated by: Helen Duff

Lydia, Dean and Robyn don’t know each other yet… Each faces tough challenges: Lydia still carries the scars from her traumatic childhood. Rich and successful, she lives a lonely and isolated life. Dean is a young father, unemployed, single and life going nowhere. Robin is 18 years old. Beautiful, famous and smart, she entered her freshman year of college with the conviction of her dream of becoming a pediatrician. Now she fails her classes. Now she is in love for the first time.

Lydia, Dean and Robyn live very different lives, but each of them, independently of the other, always feels something is missing. What they don’t know is an incoming letter that will turn their lives upside down. It’s a letter containing a secret – the secret that will bind them together and show them what love, family, and friendship really mean.

A literary gem, The Making of Us will remind listeners of the miracles that happen when we bring life to the world and share our lives with those we love.

I’m probably not Lisa Jewel’s target demographic, but I love her stories. The characters are relevant and real. Helen Duff’s narration is amazing. The Making of Us is my 5th consecutive hearing from Lisa Jewell with Duff narration. I Found You, The Third Wife, Before I Met You and Then She Was Gone are all great. Let them go to Lisa Jewell, this 54-year-old American will continue to listen.

I was hooked within the first 30 minutes. There are so many characters and the narrator is excellent at differentiating them all. It’s not a romantic idea, (the basis of the book) but somehow I still feel drawn to the storytelling. This is the second book I read by Lisa Jewell. The first version, “I Found You” is also very catchy, but I think this one is better. Highly recommended!

I found this book to be quite calming and enjoyable. I really had to slow down because I didn’t want to finish the book too soon. I had to get used to all the characters and couldn’t choose a favorite. It makes me think of my years in London 🙂
I LOVE Helen Duff!!! It was hard to switch from her voice to anyone else’s.

Audiobookss audio player

Hi everyone, please be noticed that the Audio player doesn't play next track on IOS version < 15.6. If you are facing that issue, just upgrade your IOS to version 15.6 to fix it. Enjoy!