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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I loved the changes the main character went through from the beginning of the book until the end. The relationships she had with her family could be those of any of us. Her determination and courage were also realistic. This was a great, fast read!
I think I read the first chapter of this book with one eye closed. I mean, you know what’s coming, and you can’t stand the thought. Then it happens, but that’s all setting the scene. The story is really about the aftermath. Despite a horrific situation, Maggie’s unique voice kept me laughing and rooting for her through the entire story. There were many interesting characters in the book. The first night, I read 124 pages and didn’t want to go to bed. The author is adept at writing emotional dialogue that makes you want to slap certain people, or cry…she’s really good. The only slight ding on this novel was that the ending seemed a bit too contrived, but if you close one eye…Anyway, five stars. Highly recommended.
“I know that you just have to choose to make the best of things. You get one life, and it only goes forward. And there really are all kinds of happy endings.”
I truly enjoyed every page of this book, it is a fast read and I was hesitant to put it down. When I did, I couldn’t wait to pick it back up! This is a story that will make you laugh, cry and cheer!!! You never know where you will find love.
Maggie, a 28 year old with a big bright future ahead. She had it all, the boyfriend, condo, dream job until one unfortunate day. Valentines’ Day. An event that turns Maggie’s life upside down. Showing the true colors of the people in her life. Her boyfriend, her Mom and Dad and her estranged sister. They all play a part in who Maggie is and who she is to become.
You will find yourself laughing as Maggie faces the struggle of a lifetime with her humor still intact. You will cry for her losses and her sadness for the life that has been shattered. You will cheer for her strength in every moment she becomes who she is meant to be. A wonderful story of love, hope and dealing with what life has given you.
I would give this book more than 5 stars! I can not put into words how much this books means to me. Honest characters who will stay with me.
*I won this book off of BookishFirst.com for my honest opinion*
This book was depressing yet inspiring at the same time. It kept me enticed and rooting for the main character. Maggie went through something horrible and she had to find a way to live with it. On top of a scumbag fiance and insurmountable odds.
Without giving away too much, you’ll cry and laugh while reading this book. Your heart will soar at different parts and your heart will plummet with hers. If you want a book that is out of your element and makes you think, pick this one up.
What a delightful book! A thoroughly enjoyable story with interesting, well-crafted characters. The author does a good job of walking a fine line between what could have been maudlin and self-absorbed and what could have been trite and unfeeling.
My husband read How to Walk Away through BookishFirst and raved about it. Publisher’s Weekly gave it a ‘thumbs up, buy it’ rating. I grabbed my hubby’s ARC and dove in.
Katherine Center’s novel begins with Margaret living the dream: she has the perfect boyfriend, Chip, and the perfect job lined up.
Except Chip isn’t so perfect. He knows Margaret is terrified of flying when he decides to get his pilot’s license. And he is positive he can cure her fear by proving his skill as a pilot. Chip cajoles Margaret into joining him on a surreptitious night flight before he passes his last test, intending to propose to her during the flight. Margaret gives in.
But perfect fiancee’ Chip can’t handle the plane during a gust of wind and the plane crashes.
Chip walks away with some scratches. Margaret is trapped in the plane, her legs pinned, the jet fuel burning.
I would call the novel a romance and women’s fiction, a page-turning beach read, except for one little thing: the theme is really about overcoming life’s challenges, rolling with the punches, and flourishing when you have lost everything.
For Margaret, it is her disability and scars and the realization that Chip can’t commit to ‘better or worse.’ Margaret’s estranged sister Kit shows up to be her cheerleader. Kit must hash out some unfinished business with their mother, which leads marital stress for their parents. Love blooms and is repressed and blooms and, well, there are happy endings for all.
I found Margaret to be a little too chipper and perky in light of her injuries, and her attraction to a new man in her life suspect. Because I would be depressed and mean and hating all men in her shoes. But that is the point: Kit finds research proving that we are happy or unhappy regardless of what life throws at us, according to who we are. If we have courage and spirit and attitude we make it through anything. The rest of us get drunk, like Chip, or depressed and suicidal, or mean and angry.
How do you walk away from a crushing defeat?
How to Walk Away is a poignant and emotional story of accepting one’s life after a devastating accident. The book is beautifully written, it’s an emotional roller coaster ride that will break your heart at first and will mend it back together by the end. The characters of the story are complex and interesting. Margaret is such a great heroine, she is honest and funny. I loved her sense of humor, which she used quite a lot as a coping mechanism during her recovery. And, of course, there is Ian, a brooding Scottish physiotherapist, who works with Maggie after the accident; Maggie’s funny and eccentric sister, Kitty, and their parents. I loved these characters so much and I loved following their journey of healing and acceptance, not just Maggie’s but her whole family.
If you are looking for an incredible story of courage and resilience that will make you cry and laugh from one page to next, pick up How to Walk Away immediately.
Read this book in one day. No mystery to it but was still a page turner. Kept my interest. Loved the insight of the characters.
I absolutely loved this book. It really made me realize how important it is to enjoy life and cherish every single day. The main characters were strong, funny, inspiring, and all loveable. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.
THIS should be everyone’s beach read ofthe summer!!!
This novel was wonderful! I enjoyed the way that the story was told from the beginning that leaves you breathless to the very end. Margaret is engaged and about to start her dream job. Then one day, there is an accident, and everything changes. Margaret’s emotions and feelings are depicted as her story is told about what happens during the days after the accident. At the same time, we get to know the stories of the people closest to her. Author Katherine Center has written a powerful and emotional novel. She details the difficult days of Margaret’s recovery, with some humor and inspiration along the way.
Love her writing style!
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center is a fabulous book about finding hidden strength and hope within oneself when faced with tragedy and the loss of all things familiar. The future seems bright for Margaret. She is newly engaged and is about to embark on a lucrative career. All seems lost after a devastating accident but she realizes that she must persevere if she is ever to live a normal life. Once she begins to change her perspective, amazing things begin to happen. This book takes you through all the feels!
This book is truly a winner! Easy to read, a great and believable story. Katherine Center has hit the nail on the head with this one.
This was a fun, easy read. I loved the way Katherine developed the characters, it was easy to relate to them.
One of the BEST books of 2018! This is the first book I have read from #KatherineCenter and it definitely won’t be my last. From Chapter 1 it is a page turner that opens all your emotions and shows you that “You get one life, and it only goes forward.” Life is full of challenges, struggles and triumphs and hope; but live it to the fullest. A wonderfully refreshing, motivating and inspiring novel that is about starting over, resiliency and finding happiness in life…sometimes where you least expect it. Thank you @StMartinsPress and @SheSpeaksUp for allowing me the opportunity to read the ARC and provide my honest review. #HowToWalkAway is the perfect summer read.
Hard to set down. The true feelings and emotions we all have. Love and loss, ups and downs. Brilliant
I won a copy of this book and it came in the mail today. As I was putting it away, I opened the cover and read the first page. I honestly had no idea what this book was about and went in blind. Five hours later, I came up for air as I read the last word. I absolutely loved this beautifully written, heartbreaking story!!
I loved this book! What should have been the best day of Margaret’s (aka Maggie’s) life turns out to be the worst when an accident leaves her broken, both physically and emotionally. Throughout the book, Maggie experiences loss, but she also finds a determination to make the best with what life has thrown at her. The author did a great job with the character development of Maggie- you could really feel her go through the various stages of grief and acceptance. I also really enjoyed Ian (Maggie’s physical therapist) and Kitty (Maggie’s sister) and their roles in the story. I received an ARC of this book – my opinions are my own.