Book Review: On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins

Title: On Second Thought
Author: Kristan Higgins
Source: Publisher

Goodreads Summary:

Ainsley O’Leary is so ready to get married—she’s even found the engagement ring her boyfriend has stashed away. What she doesn’t anticipate is being blindsided by a breakup he chronicles in a blog…which (of course) goes viral. Devastated and humiliated, Ainsley turns to her older half sister, Kate, who’s struggling with a sudden loss of her own.

Kate’s always been the poised, self-assured sister, but becoming a newlywed—and a widow—in the space of four months overwhelms her. Though the sisters were never close, she starts to confide in Ainsley, especially when she learns her late husband was keeping a secret from her.

Despite the murky blended-family dynamic that’s always separated them, Ainsley's and Kate’s heartaches bind their summer together when they come to terms with the inevitable imperfection of relationships and family—and the possibility of one day finding love again.

My thoughts:

I was so excited to receive this book from the publisher, as I loved her previous book If You Only Knew. This book is not really a sequel, although the characters are mentioned in passing, and know each other. I always love that.

This book was delightful, yet also very poignant. Sisters Ainsley and Kate were not particularly close, until life intervenes, and they begin to realize they need each other more than they knew. Ainsley's fiancee is real putz. She stood by him when he needed her, and then, he throws her away when he feels he no longer does - in a very public way. Kate is a newlywed, only four months married after a whirlwind romance, and is dealing with her grief on top of learning that her husband had been harboring a secret.

This book has its heavier themes - cancer, death, guilt, grief. How should people deal with these things that happen, these unexpected major blows, who do we turn to? We have all been knocked for a loop at least once in our lives;  what do we do? Kate and Ainsley turn to each other, overcoming a few other hurdles left from their past. I shed a few tears for these gals. But it's not all sadness. Ainsley is a delight, full of fun and sparkles and unexpectedness. I loved her positivity and upbeat nature. I also adored her boss Jonathan..and of course Daniel the Hot Firefighter.

This book was both complex, exploring deeper themes, yet tempered with good times and humor. Much like life. How many times have you smiled through tears? It's a book that believes that although things are bad now, there is always hope.

I can't wait to read Higgins' next book!

"Quick to the point, to the point no faking" book reviews

Feeling very white rabbitlike with my book reviews lately. They are piling up behind me, and as today is a snow day (no therapy for my little guy) and my husband is home sick, I am going to take a few and try to do some catching up! 

Bonus points if you can tell me what song my blog post title is from! Lol.

Crystal Kingdom by Amanda Hocking:

I love these books. They are like a self-indulgent box of chocolates with a big glass of red wine. Or whatever floats your boat. The covers are pretty, the heroines are tough, savvy, independent, and the love interests are actually interesting. I also love the fact that Hocking introduced trolls to the line up of supernatural beings in YA. Pretty trolls but trolls. This is the third book in the Kanin Chronicles and I was so excited to read it - I wasn't let down. Action and adventure, love, mysteries revealed - it was a fun read! This is my favorite series that Hocking has written - I feel she just gets better and better.

If You Only Knew by Kristan Higgins:

A slight departure from Higgins' usual fare, this book has a little more meat and substance to it than the usual romance. And I loved it. This book was more complex, and explored the relationship of sisters, mothers, fathers - and how we view them in comparison to how they may really be, as the humans that they are. As we all are. It deals with infidelity, divorce, the death of a spouse - and while this seems like a whole lot for one little book to handle, Higgins pulled it off masterfully. I loved Jenny and Rachel, and of course, Leo, the tortured musician downstairs. I loved this book, and I hope that Higgins writes more like this one! 

~ Thank you to my friend Mary, who picked this for book club! 

The Final Reveille by Amanda Flower:

I checked this out from the library after reading the second book in the series, The Final Tap, which I received from NetGalley. I really liked The Final Tap, and was just interested enough to see what I had missed in the first book. I am glad I did! I love living history museums, and this book really speaks to that history loving wannabe museum director inside me. The series is fun and escapist - although this first book was a bit slow and dragged on just a tad. I wanted to kind of rush through bits of it, or tell the characters to hurry up. Despite this, with a whole pile of books to choose from and some hopscotch reading, this was the book that held my interest, and this was the book that I finished. I think that speaks more than anything else I could say. I think the characters are interesting and I look forward to seeing them grow with the series. 

Book Review: In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins

Title: In Your Dreams
Author: Kristan Higgins
Source: My friend Mary's library

Goodreads Summary:

Emmaline Neal needs a date. Just a date—someone to help her get through her ex-fiancé's wedding without losing her mind. But pickings are slim in Manningsport, New York, population 715. In fact, there's really only one option: local heartthrob Jack Holland. Everyone loves Jack, and he won't get the wrong idea…. After all, Jack Holland would never actually be interested in a woman like Em. Especially not with his beautiful ex-wife creeping around, angling to reunite ever since he rescued a group of teens and became a local hero. 

But when the wedding festivities take an unexpectedly passionate turn, Em figures it was just one crazy night. Jack is too gorgeous, too popular, to ever end up with her. So why is she the one he can talk to about his deep, dark feelings? If Em is going to get her dream man, she'll have to start by believing in him…

My thoughts:

This is only the second Higgins book that I have read, and both books were in the Blue Heron series. I have to say, I really did enjoy this book! I loved the setting, the Holland family, and although I had to cringe sometimes over the awkward moments the main character Emmaline Neal found herself in, I liked the basic plot of this book. It was certainly original!

Emmaline Neal's ex-fiancee is getting married. They broke up over a particularly strange turn of events, and Emmaline wants to prove that she is over him and the hurt and anger that went along with their break-up. Jack Holland, local hero and hot guy is enlisted to be her date. Unexpected sparks fly between the two, and while certain things are good, Emmaline is left wondering why her? Matters are further complicated when Jack's delicate ex-wife rolls back into town.

One thing I have loved about both Higgins' books I have read: they both included animal stories, which touched my animal rescuer's heart. The story of Jack's cat is particularly touching.

Overall I really enjoyed this book! It had tension, and some awkward moments for the character which are always hard for me, and an interesting plot. Not necessarily a holiday read, but it does take place in the winter.