From the author of Happiness for Beginners comes the instant New York Times bestseller (May 2018), an unforgettable love story about finding joy even in the darkest of circumstances. Margaret Jacobsen is just about to step into the bright future she’s worked for so hard and so long: a new dream job, a fiancé she adores, and the promise of a picture-perfect life just around the corner. Then, … around the corner. Then, suddenly, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, everything she worked for is taken away in a brief, tumultuous moment.
In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Maggie must confront the unthinkable. First there is her fiancé, Chip, who wallows in self-pity while simultaneously expecting to be forgiven. Then, there’s her sister Kit, who shows up after pulling a three-year vanishing act. Finally, there’s Ian, her physical therapist, the one the nurses said was too tough for her. Ian, who won’t let her give in to her pity, and who sees her like no one has seen her before. Sometimes the last thing you want is the one thing you need. Sometimes we all need someone to catch us when we fall. And sometimes love can find us in the least likely place we would ever expect.
How to Walk Away is Katherine Center at her very best—a masterpiece of a novel that is both hopeful and hilarious; truthful and wise; tender and brave.
Praise for How to Walk Away:
“A heartbreak of a novel that celebrates resilience and strength.” —Jill Santopolo, bestselling author of The Light We Lost
“If you just read one book this year, read How to Walk Away.” —Nina George, New York Times bestselling author of The Little Paris Bookshop
“Warm, witty, and wonderfully observed.” —Emily Giffin, New York Times bestselling author of First Comes Love
“Sympathetic and refreshing!” —Elinor Lipman, bestselling author of The Family Man
“I can’t think of a blurb good enough for this novel…poignant, funny, heartbreaking.” —Jenny Lawson, bestselling author of Furiously Happy
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Maggie has been in a plane crash. The plane was piloted by her fiane, Chip. She is paralyzed from the knees down and suffers burns on the neck and face.She ends up in the hospital for six weeks undergoing phys!cal a occupational therapy. Her sister returns after a three year abscene. She helps Maggie deal with her life changes. Her physical therapist, Ian helps her deal with her changes, while she helps him with past tragedys. There’s some drama going on with Maggie’s parents too. Very good story with wonderful characters.
My first with this author and I will look for others. This was definitely a good read. Needing a diversion during the stay at home orders during the coronavirus. This was definitely a good one. I did not want it to end.
Liked the characters…different plot
Loved this book thought it was inspirational.
When I started to read the book the first 50 pages were extremely difficult for me to read. As I got further into the story I really appreciated the characters but wasn’t really sure there was going to be a happily ever after ending.
This book could easily have fallen into the “poor me” whining as so often happens. Instead it tells the story of triumph over adversity in an entertaining and completely believable way.
I enjoyed the characters and their interactions in this book. I don’t think the title, How to Walk Away, really fits the story. The main character seemed to find new ways to interact with her family while adapting herself to a new way of life. A good read
I loved the book but I did feel it veered off from the original idea. It would have been so much better to stick with the original idea and let them go through all they did during that year but in the end find out they did truly love each other despite everything and meet up at the designated place and that have been the end. I felt that the end didn’t end and it went the route of a typical romance book.
it was ok. I only got about 1/2 way through before I decided I had had enough. Pretty sure I know how it ends.
Loved this book – woman triumphs over tragedy
Great message about moving on in life no matter what hand you get dealt.
Sometimes a person needs a story to help forget their worries. How to Walk Away by Katherine Center is a prescription for getting lost in a story, realizing that things could be worse. I enjoyed the character development, unraveling personalities like a box in a box as the story went deeper with complex issues. A memorable story.
How to Walk Away is a realistic fiction novel about a woman’s life after surviving a tragic accident. Emotional, humorous, and romantic. This story pulled me in and didn’t let go until the very end.
I loved this. The book won out over my to-do list and I read most of it in a day. I loved Maggie and Ian, and Kitty was a fabulous character who I would have loved to see have her own book. This is my third Katherine Center book and I’m pretty sure I’ll read anything she writes because they’ve all been fab!
Thought-provoking, moving and inspiring story of someone who has hit rock bottom and manages to rise up and above, despite being surrounded by people who don’t encourage or believe in her ability.
Loved this story of healing from tragedy in unexpected, unorthodox and believable ways. A beautiful book.
This one has been so well-reviewed that I’m going to skip my normal summary and get right into how I felt about this book. I had received an ARC of Things You Save in a Fire over the summer and enjoyed it enough to want to give this one a go.
Margaret’s devotion to her then-fiance drives me nuts. He put her in a position she didn’t want to be in and then took no responsibility for the accident. He couldn’t even bother to visit her to see how she was doing from the devastation she caused. I felt that despite her drive to succeed in life, she let people walk over her too much and I would have liked to see her find her gumption a lot sooner.
I thought Margaret’s injuries and recovery were very well-researched. Center did a great job of showing Margaret’s pain and the struggle not only physically but mentally as well. I loved the overall journey of this book. Watching her evolve, watching her find her strength and drive, and finding love was heartwarming.
I loved this character’s never say die attitude. And the hero was soooo wonderful. Another great and original story from Katherine Center!
OMG, I must have told five friends about this book within five minutes of finishing it. When the offer to read an ARC came from St. Martin’s I almost deleted the email after reading the blurb. This line right here is what had me hesitating, “Then, suddenly, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, everything she worked for is taken away in one tumultuous moment.” I mean that sounds like a tissue box or two kind of read, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but did I want to put myself through that kind of emotional turmoil? Then I kept reading and the answer was yes, and I’m so glad. I’ve read a lot of great book lately, but this has been my favorite.
Maggie and Ian are still with me even though it’s been a couple of weeks (I wanted to let the story settle before I wrote this review). I miss her crazy sister and I want to read it all over again — something I never do.
This was the first book of Katherine Center’s that I’ve read; it most certainly won’t be the last. Do yourself a favor, read this story. It will break your heart a little, maybe even curse at the fates, but it will make you smile and laugh and be awed by the strength of the human spirit.
Oh, how I enjoyed this book! A tragic, realistic plot that is made beautiful by the wonderful characters and storytelling. A tear-jerker–in a good way–that shows there are all kinds of happy endings.