Read the book that has book clubs everywhere falling in love From the New York Times bestselling author of If You Only Knew comes an irresistible, heartbreaking novel. Praise for On Second Thought “Higgins has perfect pitch when it comes to her upstate New York protagonists and their expanded worlds that even extend to Brooklyn. Emotional depth is seared into every page along with wry banter, … seared into every page along with wry banter, bringing readers to tears and smiles. Another hit for Higgins.”–Library Journal, starred review
“A captivating read about two sisters dealing with love, loss and new beginnings. What sets this book apart is how one event changes both women’s lives. Kate is refreshingly frank in her inner monologue, and Ainsley is charmingly self-aware and wry.”–RT Book Reviews, *5 STARS* Top Pick
“Higgins’ complex, witty characters will seem like close friends, and readers will savor each and every page as they find that love comes in many different flavors and forms. Demand will be high for the latest from this women’s-fiction star.”–Booklist, starred review
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.
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This story pulled all the emotions from me to the front and center and it mesmerized my mind. I was so connected to the characters I couldn’t put the book down, reading it until the wee hours of the morning, and not being ready to let them go as ‘the end’ was in front of me. I know it is only the end of January but I believe this will be one of ‘the’ books for me this year because this story made me think, it made me evaluate, it made me feel, and it made me want to change some things. It lured its way to my heart and made itself comfortable there, and I know I will carry it with me for a long time.
The story is told in the first person (I know, not my favorite, but it really works here) from both of the sister’s point of view. It also is written in a little retrospect at the beginning, giving away the tragedy about to hit the characters, yet it still comes as a sort of a surprise, that just telling you how well the story was crafted.
The constant flow of subconscious thoughts, the awkward thoughts, the forbidden thoughts, those thoughts that we are never going to act upon or say out loud, as the sisters fumble with life and try to survive, those are the ones to carry the tale forward and made it so easy to relate to them, to understand them, to love them like they are your own sisters. The thoughts are morbid, sad, hysterical, humorous, loving, horny, and angry and everything else you can imagine and feel. They take the reader into the journey the ladies are on, the journey to learn about love, life, themselves, their family, their relationships, their destiny in life, their career goals, their friendships, everything that is important to grow to be you in the fullest sense of the word.
Kate’s struggle to understand that the man of her dreams, whom she married only four months ago and has known less than a year, is dead, it is heartbreaking yet liberating in an odd way. Her relationship with her in-laws, the struggle to accept that most everyone in town knew more about her dead husband than she did, and would naturally, most likely, mourn for him much longer than she would, was an uphill battle filled with guilt, worry, x1band fear. The way the author paints the mind of a person in mourning was eye-opening and intense, from the mismatched shoes to crying in the closet, the hysterical laugh at the most inappropriate times, to the moment when you finally are ready to let go and accept your grief, it is a raw and emotional road, but it is drizzled with such delicate and tender humor, the angst level doesn’t eat you up but you end up smiling when life finally wins.
Ainsley has sought acceptance since she was a little girl. She never fit in with the family, so she made sure she would be unreplaceable part of her boyfriend’s life. Or so she thought until the very public breakup after eleven years. She is lost, with herself, her career, her life, her direction, her family, life, in general, x1bis a mess. Yet from that absolute zero-moment in her life, she builds something solid, something beautiful, something that works for herself. She grows, she flourishes, she matures, she learns to accept herself and stand up for herself, and embrace the person she is.
The new chances with life, love, and family the sister get are beautifully twined into the tale, into their lives, from the ashes of their old life they thrive and gain something different, lasting, beautiful, and unexpected.
I am still in awe, and feeling a bit raw, with this story and from the life and love filled transformation it has on the characters, and on myself as I read it. From the effortless flow of the tale to every single feeling, the step forward and then three back, to the change and revelation of life, the story made a lasting impact. Definitely a book I wish every woman had a chance to experience!
~ Five Spoons!
Five stars…loved this book!! Awesome characters and you fall in love with the sisters and the whole backstory. Highly recommend!
This is my favorite Kristan Higgins book.
For a Romance novel, this one is really quite sad, but also very real. The author explores family dynamics, and problems both men and women have in finding their other half, when there are so many dysfunctional and selfish people out there. Yet she tackles the subject with a compelling plot, and endearing characters written in a witty manner.
Photographer, Kate O’Leary, at the age of 29, had pretty much given up on ever finding a mate. She has tried all the recommended avenues to no avail. Then Kate meets Nathan, and after a short courtship they marry and move to his small town of Cambry-on-Hudson, where her parents and sister, Ainsley live. Her sister keeps waiting for her boy friend, of 11 years, Eric to decide it is time to marry. She has helped him manage the people around him to build up his career, and nursed him when he had cancer. She finds an engagement ring in his drawer and anticipates the proposal at a party to celebrate his recovery. However, just as he is getting ready to propose, Nathan, trips, bangs his head against the granite counter and dies. Aside from making Kate a widow after only 5 months of marriage, Eric decides that it is a sign to “live large” and breaks off with Aisley in his blog, a blog only published in the magazine that Aisley works for, because she pushed it so hard. Since Eric also never put her name on the title of the house, despite promising to do so, he tells her to leave. Aisley moves in with Kate and the sisters discover a lot about each other, their parents and coping with life. I especially, like Aisley and her ability to make friends with everyone she meets and wish I was more like her.
Enjoyed the read!
Upon reflection, bumping it to four stars.
Another contemporary fiction set in the fictional town of Cambry on the Hudson, more a companion piece to If You Only Knew than a sequel.
This follows two half-sisters and their travails with men and relationships. One sister is caught up figuring out how to recreate her life after her boyfriend of ten years decides to explore life (amusing side of the story) while the other tries to recover from losing her husband of four months.
Some of the banter and inner dialogue of the two main characters was too familiar to the ones in If You Only Knew, but I still stayed up until 2:45 A.M. to finish this, and it’s been a while since I’ve done that.
What surprises me is when an author can write in one setting and be mediocre then change to up and hit it out of the ballpark or the reverse. Maybe it’s me, but I love these KH’s novels set in Cambry on the Hudson. Funny, poignant and relatively believable.
First of all I will warn you, you will cry, and if you do not, I feel bad for you. This was a wonderful story of loss and love and finding that life will give you those lemons to make the lemonade. I love Kristan Higgans books, haven’t found one that disappoints and this one certainly did not.
Wonderful women’s fiction about two sisters whose life situations resonate with authenticity and emotion. Ms. Higgins had me hooked from page one; I just ripped through the book. She even managed to surprise me with the ending…and that’s not so easy to do. I just loved this story.
She’s one of my favorite authors whenever I’m looking for a funny, enjoyable read. This book was not her best… but not the worst either. I enjoyed it but doubt I will read it a second time.
As usual, loved her book. Couldn’t put it down. Yeah, it has a HEA but that’s ok. I always feel better when finish one of her books.
Great book to give you some light reading. I tend to read more dark books and every now and then I need a light read. Good read.
this book is why i enjoy reading so much..it has humor, tragedy and inspiring emotion..love this author she makes you feel that her characters are real that you could know in real life
Loved This book – part women’s fiction, part romance. Definitely recommend
½
On Second Thought is a standalone, women’s fiction novel written by the fabulous Kristan Higgins. In my opinion, this would be an ideal read after experiencing the perfection that is If You Only Knew – at least this is the order I followed due to publication dates and the fact that we get a few cameos from the former’s MC’s. Yay!!! But other than that, On Second Thought stands on it’s own and it’s just as good (well a close second place at least). It features alternating POV’s from two half-sisters who are both facing individual heartbreaks. Their grief is real! …and one thing I loved about these parallel portrayals is that Ms. Higgins shows that loss is loss whether the person you’re mourning is still alive or gone. The grief, confusion, and anger (and all the underlying stuff) are the same and all are valid.
Similar in style to If You Only Knew, Ms. Higgins takes these heavy emotions and incorporates hilarity, family issues, romance, a villainous “other woman”, and another mysterious hero. This familiar setup is in no way repetitive or distracting, but again shows that Ms. Higgins wins at her storytelling capabilities. It’s got laugh-out-loud scenes, a memorable man-hungry grandma, an eye-rolling narcissistic ex, some super sweet moments, sexy times, and soul-splitting heartbreak. Without the dark, we’d never see the stars, right? Check it out.
My favorite quote:
“Sometimes, a smile was the bravest act of all.”
Just finished reading this book, and I truly enjoyed it. Two half sisters must find their way, after both of them lose their loves around the same time. Kate’s husband of three months suffers a freak accident and dies, while her sister’s boyfriend of 11 years decides she isn’t good enough for him. Bonded together, they each must find a new path to take.
I enjoyed this book but at times it got alittle hard to follow and went on n on but overall a easy fun story.