The drama, hilarity and tears of sisterhood are at the heart of the thoroughly captivating new novel by New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins–a funny, frank and bittersweet look at marriage, forgiveness and moving on
Letting go of her ex-husband is harder than wedding-dress designer Jenny Tate expected…especially since his new wife wants to be Jenny’s new best friend. Sensing … be Jenny’s new best friend. Sensing this isn’t exactly helping her achieve closure, Jenny trades the Manhattan skyline for her hometown up the Hudson, where she’ll start her own business and bask in her sister Rachel’s picture-perfect family life…and maybe even find a little romance of her own with Leo, her downstairs neighbor, a guy who’s utterly irresistible and annoyingly distant at the same time.
Rachel’s idyllic marriage, however, is imploding after she discovers her husband sexting with a colleague. She always thought she’d walk away in this situation, but her triplet daughters have her reconsidering her stance on adultery, much to Jenny’s surprise. Rachel points to their parents’ perfect marriage as a shining example of patience and forgiveness; but to protect her sister, Jenny may have to tarnish that memory–and their relationship–and reveal a family secret she’s been keeping since childhood.
Both Rachel and Jenny will have to come to terms with the past and the present and find a way to get what they want most of all.
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I laughed and I cried. I didn’t want this one to end.
I love Kristan Higgins books and this one is no exception even though there are some differences from the others I’ve read, mostly because the story’s focus isn’t necessarily on the romance and it’s told using a different structure technique. This one is a little longer and has been classified as women’s fiction.
Good read. Halarious
I would recommend it very much
Loved it!!
Loved this book, well written loved how it made me laugh and want to strangle someone! Kristan at her best once again, if you need a go to author then Kristan Higgins is one who you can buy the book without worrying about how it will be, it will be Great!
I can’t believe how much I loved this as I think of Kristan Higgins as big time Chick Lit, and I am not a huge fan of much of it or of KH’s books in the past.
This is Jenny and Rachel’s, two sisters, stories about surviving relationships and men.
Jenny is a wedding dress designer and is still friends with her ex-husband and new wife. It was an easy divorce and they’re all trying to be sophisticated and civil. In fact, she helped deliver their baby unexpectedly. Rachel is married with triplet girls and just saw a text to her husband she is both too naive and in too much denial to identify. It’s a crotch shot that she thinks is a picture of a sick tree. The situation is both funny and kind of pitiful.
I loved the details about Jenny’s store and the brides as she actually works unlike so many fictional characters. The sisters relationship is strong without being perfect, and I enjoyed both characters. A sweet bride with a horrible future MIL in tow provides some humor as well as the two sisters’ half-glass full mother. The pretentious lifestyle of superior Manhattanites and Mummies in the ‘burbs is satired nicely. Snarky with and banter add spice.
“my phone rings.
I sense my hard-won optimism is about to get a smackdown. The Angel of Death, also known as my mother, Lenore Tate, long-suffering widow and professional pessimist.
Best to take the call; otherwise, she’ll call the police to check on me.
“Hi, Mom,” I say, making sure I sound chipper.
“I’m just checking in. Honey, I’m so sad for you. Horrible that you have to move,” she says in her trademark tone—mournful with a dash of smug.
“I don’t have to, Mom. I chose to.”
“You sound so depressed. Well, who can blame you?”
My eye twitches. “I’m not depressed. I’m really happy. I’ll be closer to you, and Rachel, and—”
“Yes, but these aren’t exactly ideal circumstances, are they? It should’ve been you and Owen, not him and Ana-Sofia. Though she is quite beautiful. The baby, too. Did I tell you they had me over last week?”
“Yes. You’ve mentioned it nine times now.”
“Oh, you’re counting. Poor thing. I can only imagine how hard it was, delivering the baby who should’ve been yours…”
“Okay, I’m hanging up now.” She’s not exactly wrong, and she knows it. Such is her evil power.”
I’m not doing the book justice, but it has satisfying resolution to some big issues while letting others stay unresolved as sometimes happens. Jenny struggles with moving away from her ex and dealing with a new guy who may or may not be a jerk as her sister struggles with how to resolve an unfaithful husband when he’s a wonderful father and makes protestations of love. As much as I hate the adultery theme in a novel, I thought it was well done and believable.
In trademark Kristan Higgins style, If You Only Knew delivers a truly original tale about sisters, family, commitment, devotion, and finding love in the absolute last place you ever expect to find it. The characters are fresh and vibrant, the prose is witty and touching, the storyline unexpected. Can’t say enough good things about this book!
One of my all time favorite authors!