Sometimes you have to break a family to fix it.From New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins, a new novel examining a family at the breaking point—in all its messy, difficult, wonderful complexity.The Frosts are a typical American family. Barb and John, married almost fifty years, are testy and bored with each other…who could blame them after all this time? At least they have their … them after all this time? At least they have their daughters– Barb’s favorite, the perfect, brilliant Juliet; and John’s darling, the free-spirited Sadie. The girls themselves couldn’t be more different, but at least they got along, more or less. It was fine. It was enough.
Until the day John had a stroke, and their house of cards came tumbling down.
Now Sadie has to put her career as a teacher and struggling artist in New York on hold to come back and care for her beloved dad–and face the love of her life, whose heart she broke, and who broke hers. Now Juliet has to wonder if people will notice that despite her perfect career as a successful architect, her perfect marriage to a charming Brit, and her two perfect daughters, she’s spending an increasing amount of time in the closet having panic attacks.
And now Barb and John will finally have to face what’s been going on in their marriage all along.
From the author of Good Luck with That and Life and Other Inconveniences comes a new novel of heartbreaking truths and hilarious honesty about what family really means.
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I had a really hard time getting into this book. I’m a Kristan Higgins fan. I’m not a fan of having multiple POV’s. While the premise of the book was intriguing, the angst of all the women in the book kind of put me off. I stopped and started multiple times, until I just sat down and powered through. The ending was nice, although predictable, and I admit shedding a few tears as things began to change.
I’m usually a big fan of women’s fiction. I’m afraid I just didn’t connect with any of the women in this book. I’m not a woman who feels like life has passed me by and no one appreciates all the sacrifices made. I’m not a woman who has made my way up the corporate ladder, has the spouse, kids, and house, but still feels like a failure. I’m not a woman who has chased a dream then realizes that maybe the dream didn’t need to be chased.
Ms. Higgins is still an auto-buy author for me. I enjoy her writing style and have been reading her for years. This one just wasn’t my favorite.
I’m giving this book 3.5 stars. It wasn’t horrible, but it didn’t have the spark I enjoy in other books by this author.
A real-world, real-issues story facing women of all ages.
4 1/2 STARS!
An emotional journey of strength, love and family connections. ALWAYS THE LAST TO KNOW by Kristan Higgins delivers a poignant story of a family coming together over a health crisis and picking up the pieces of how to move forward. There’s a bit of a disconnect in the layout because it switches between character points of views and goes back in time periodically, but as long as you pay attention to the details, you will keep track nicely.
When a family is faced with the patriarch of the family having a debilitating stroke, they must put aside their own lives to come together to be by his side. His wife has to rally to his side though their 50 year marriage is in crisis, their oldest daughter has to force herself to muster through the panic attacks her life has turned into as her job is being overtaken by youth and their youngest daughter must put aside her art teacher job and life as a struggling artist to return home to her beloved father … and encounter the man that got away.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a delve into family dynamics with honest interpretations of the ups and downs of life along the way.
I really liked this book. I liked how it built and how you thought you knew the characters and then you got to see a whole different side of them as it went back in to their past. I really did not want it to end.
I have always liked this author’s books and looked forward to each new release. I did not care for this one, it was far more dark than Higgins previous books.
Barb and John Frost have been married for fifty years and live in a small Connecticut town. During their marriage, they raised two daughters, Juliet and Sadie, who are now adults. Barb has been contemplating divorce for some years now and is going to move forward with her plans. Their marriage has been stale for many years while she kept herself busy as the town selectman. Her plans are put on hold when John suffers a massive stroke.
Their youngest daughter, Sadie, is single and teaches art in New York City. She always had a close connection with her father and decides to help care for him when he returns home from the hospital. Juliet Frost remained near her childhood home after college and always seemed to gravitate to her mother for support. She is a successful architect with two children and a doting husband. These two sisters have never gotten along and diverged into different lifestyles. All three women are now forced into close proximity and each must work through their issues.
Always The Last To Know by Kristan Higgins is the second book that I have read by this author. This story depicts the complex relationships among family members during a crisis. It includes sibling rivalry, emotional outbursts, sadness, regret, and the powerful bonds of love. This book will touch your heart while validating the family dynamics that exist for us all.