Margaret’s biggest fear came to life on happiest day of her life.

This is one of the most charming and lovable book I ever read. Just as blurb said it touch my heart and made me feel all kind of emotions at every page. How to Walk away is a women fiction revolved around Margaret, her life and family. It was about the courage, hope, and love. About how to move on in life after losing everything, walk through darkness towards light and joy, how to walk away of grief, grudge and things that are holding you back from being happy. It was utterly motivating and inspiring book that you should read at least once in life.

Characters-
Margaret– I simply adore her. As blurb said she had everything in life- great job, picture perfect boyfriend, the future she imagined but nothing had prepared her for what she going to face after valentine day. She was smart, strong, resilient, relentless, lively, calm, good hearted and so practical woman. She was everything I want in character.

Family dynamic was so awesome. I loved her family specially her elder sister- Kitty. She was another character I would prefer to be in book. She was strong, did what she want to do, confident, full of life and oh my, her sister love was so charming that I wish she was real my sister. Her father – Cliff– was most adorable parent. He was practical and supported his both daughters in their ups and downs. Her mother- Linda– she was both likable and thoughtless or irritating. Both sisters described her perfectly but at the same time she was great mother and I loved her at the end.

Chip– (can we skip this character?) I seriously didn’t want to know him after what he did and how he behaved when Margaret needed him most. He turned out exactly opposite of what I thought in initial chapters.

Ian– Scottish guy, Margaret’s Physical Therapist. He was different from all other PTs in hospital. Reticent, not encouraging or motivating, not interested in any chat, lost in his thoughts but was also was very professional, caring, and attentive one. He didn’t open up to anyone or let his good side to see. He was just great.

What I liked-
I so loved that cover, isn’t it eye catching and beautiful?

The book was narrated by Margaret and so it made me to feel all her thoughts, what she was going through and what she felt. It literally touch my heart. If it was third person narrative, I don’t think it would have the same effect. Her monologues and emotions were heartfelt. Plot was great and it was written phenomenally by author. I can say it was book club worthy book.

Author did really good job on research. All she mentioned about research in acknowledgment I could clearly see in the book. Medical terminology, description of injuries and recovery was thorough and was remarkably represented. It was not that difficult for me, in fact I loved this part, but some readers who are not from science field may have little difficulty in these portion but I’m sure you won’t feel like it is going over the head or boring.

All characters were great leaving few exceptions. They were realistic, practical and felt true. One can easily put themselves in their shoe and find that they would have done the same. Their development was mind-blowing especially of Margaret and her mother. They became so wise and even more adorable towards the end.

The family secret and past of Ian were unpredictable. Those portion were intriguing. I view them with different eye after that, though it never made me be judgmental specifically on family secret, which was good because usually in such case I instantly decide I don’t like this character. I was feeling exactly like Margaret.

This I can say was emotional roller-coaster. It had the sadness that made me cry, I was angry at characters, happy to see Margaret growing, admiring at resilient relentless efforts of characters, goofy on reading the romantic part, funny and sarcastic side of character made me laugh freely. Without a doubt it had all kind of emotions. Though it was sad at points but definitely had feel good factor throughout the book.

Chemistry between Ian and Margaret was charming and romance was clean. What can I say about the love and marriage proposals in the book? It was so beautiful. I was speechless and it made me smile like maniac. Climax was just great and let’s just say it had lovely feel good ending and epilogue.

Ahh, after a long time I read such amazing book! Overall, it was lovable, refreshing, inspiring and motivating Women’s fiction with clean and beautiful romance. I highly recommend this book to all readers of all age.

It’s hard to imagine a book so light about such a heavy subject — I mean, a beach read about a plane crash and becoming paralyzed — but somehow it just works. Margaret is a compelling heroine whose story is told very realistically in some ways — you feel the emotion that she’s experiencing — and even though other aspects of her story are a little predictable, the book wouldn’t have worked any other way.

I’m just happy I read this book. It was interesting and inspiring, and fun and rewarding, and light and substantial. I realize the author has written a few other books — including one I’d forgotten about reading — and this book makes me want to read some of her other books.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Margaret Jacobsen had everything going for her the fateful night she unwillingly stepped into the plane with her boyfriend, Chip. She had a visceral fear of flying, but Chip was close to getting his pilot's license and insistently coaxed Margaret into the plane. Whilst in flight, Chip proposed to Margaret with his grandmother's 2-carat engagement ring. Margaret had the promise of a prime job she had applied for post college, had just purchased a condo, and the icing on the cake was this proposal. Life literally all came crashing down within minutes as Chip encountered technical difficulties landing the plane.

Chip walks away with barely a scratch while Margaret's injuries are much more serious and potentially life-altering. While hospitalized, Margaret is paired with a physical therapist named Ian who hails from Scotland. He's not one for many words, smiles or small talk; he's all business. Then again, he's also quite attractive. He's very passionate and dedicated in his field, but some interpret his manner as cold and clinical...and even mean. He has his own backstory that forms his stony and non-communicative veneer, and Margaret is on a mission to draw him out. He's my favorite character in the book, and I'm sure he will be for many.

In a nutshell, this book is about how people around you react when a tragedy occurs. Who will truly be there for you? It can bring estranged family members together as they rally around the patient. Then again, there are other people that will sadly disappoint you. This story has a lot of emotional pull. You will be invested in the severity of Margaret's injuries, cheer for her recovery, mourn for her losses and salute her strength. I enjoy books where a character triumphs over adversity, and this is certainly one of them.

Woman (Margaret) triumphs after tragedy.

After forcing Margaret—who was terrified of flying—to take a ride in his small plane so that he could propose, boyfriend Chip crash landed. While Chip escaped without a scrape on him, Margaret was left burned and paralyzed. How will the couple cope after the happiest moment of their lives was immediately followed by the most tragic?

As if that wasn't enough for Margaret to deal with, she was also still wondering why her older sister, Kitty, hasn't talked to her family in 3 years, and if she would return now. What happened between her and Margaret's mom? And, what's up with Margaret's physical therapist, Ian? Why was he so mean and uncaring with his patients?

How to Walk Away was a beautiful, heartfelt story of resilience and finding hope in the darkest hour. It was a quick and easy read that made me feel like I was hanging out with friends. I especially enjoyed the banter between Margaret, Kitty, and Ian. A few parts brought tears to my eyes as I simultaneously empathized and sympathized with Margaret's experiences. This was my first book by this author, and I look forward to more!

"When you don't know what to do for yourself, do something for somebody else."

Thank you to the author, the publisher, BookishFirst, and The Girlfriend for advance copies of this book! One of the hard copies was passed along in a giveaway on my book blog. All opinions are my own.

Location: Austin, Texas

#BookMail #WalkAwayGirlfriend #HowToWalkAwayBook #BookSparks #SRC2018

I LOVED this book! At first glance, I thought this might be a sad, tear jerker. boy was I wrong! It was beautifully written, romantic & inspiring! I found myself cheering for Margaret the whole time & not only smiling, but giggling throughout the whole book! And the characters were oh so lovable! I especially loved the sisterly banter & humor between Margaret & Kitty! Loved the ending and was sad to be done with it- crying happy tears! I loved it so much I ordered another book by this author. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC that I SO enjoyed!!

5 utterly uplifting stars to How to Walk Away! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I was gobsmacked by Katherine Center’s previous book, Happiness for Beginners. She almost writes in her own genre. Not too light, not too heavy, elicits just the right about of emotion, loving characters, and completely uplifting at the end. I found out there is a genre that is exactly this- UpLit. How to Walk Away is another rendition of UpLit.

Margaret is in the prime of her life, when it all may have been taken from her in an instant as the result of a tragic accident. Waking up in the hospital, she has choices to make. Just how will she move forward after the devastation she has experienced? Will her life ever be normal?

I admired Margaret’s journey towards a new self. She leaned on others and allowed them to help her. All of the expected and authentic emotions were present when one recovers from a serious accident.

How to Walk Away is a charming, witty, heartbreaking, and affecting story of love and family, and it cheered me up when I needed it most. Savor the joy!

Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for the ARC. How to Walk Away will be released on May 15, 2018!

My reviews can also be found on y shiny new blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com

I really enjoyed this book - really 4.5 stars! Katherine Center’s best one yet! It was an inspiring story and two quotes have really stayed with me - “when you don’t know what to do for yourself, do something for someone else” and we should “carry the sorrow when we have to, and absolutely savor the joy when we can.” A great read! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

HowToWalkAway by @katherinecenter release is this coming Tuesday. Sending a great big THANKS to both @stmartinspress and @netgalley for providing me with a reader advanced e-copy. I seriously read this book in two days. #HowToWalkAway has all the feels, , some characters will make you mad, some will make you swoon, and some will make giggle with delight. The main character Margaret is a pure delight. She took me on the most delightful adventure, and you can’t help but cheer her on along the way. If you are looking for that perfect weekend read, one that’s inspiring, relatable and heartwarming, then I highly recommend treating yourself to a copy on May 15th. ❤️📕🙌🏼 #stmartenspress #netgalleyreads

4.5 Stars

Maggie Jacobsen hates flying. Her boyfriend Chip decides that his big marriage proposal should include a serving of what she hates most, as he shows off his almost-licensed piloting skills to give her his grandmother's ring. (Gee, can you tell I dislike this guy?) And if you can't see looming disaster you need to stop lying to yourself about needing glasses. Maggie goes up in his Cessna. Maggie's life is never the same.

This is the story of Maggie's resilience in the face of losing almost everything, her hopes for her future and even some of her ideas about her family's past. If disaster can bring about anything positive, Maggie's disaster at the hands of the feckless Chip turns out, in some ways, to be the best of misfortunes. She doesn't lose her sense of humor, and she finds reserves of courage with the help of her sister Kit, her parents, and her dour and laconic physical therapist, Ian. There are no simple solutions to her problems and she occasionally wallows in her grief and misery but always finds the courage to move forward.

Center has done a great job of giving us characters who are believable and flawed, who evolve and find ways to move beyond the adversity of their situation. Maggie's journey is poignant but never grim. I think my favorite part of the book was her relationship with her older sister Kitty, which was, after it resumed, playful and a pleasure to read. This book is filled with an abundance of quotable quotes ("When you don't know what to do for yourself, do something for someone else." "You have to live the life you have.") and characters who affirm that there are all kinds of happy endings.

If you are looking for a book that will leave you feeling truly upbeat, look no further. Katherine Center will show you how to walk away.

This book starts off with a bang, specifically a plane crash. Despite Margaret’s fear of flying, her fiance coerces her into a flight in his Cessna before his certification test. An unexpected storm causes the plane to flip, trapping her inside as it explodes. The story reads like a memoir, such is the detail of her learning process about the extent of her injuries and medical procedures. The shocking revelations don’t end with her body and its new needs, as Margaret / Maggie spends more time with her family than she would have expected, or chosen. She discovers the true nature of her beloveds: suddenly absentee fiancee Chris, estranged sister Kitty, and distant mother—secrets bursting bubbles right and left. Some of those bubbles are burst by her recalcitrant physical therapist, whose already wobbly professionalism crashes at the charm of Maggie. Center brilliantly leads the reader through a labyrinth of complex emotions and clashing dynamics on two continents to a hilarious and painful climactic scene, where Maggie cannot escape a situation more awkward than she could imagine. Then the story goes a bit over the top, ala Harlequin romance style, with the love interest taking a dangerous leap literally, and gushing about his feelings for her as though the rest of the world stopped for this moment. It’s difficult to see what is happening around them as they open up to each other in a completely inappropriate place and time.

That life constantly takes Maggie by surprise is an endearing trait that makes her relateable and encourages readers to cheer her on through her physical and emotional struggles. There was a cringe-worthy scene early on where her professor tells her to “act like a man” for her interview, and she promises to do so. It’s very much her character, though, and Center maintains the integrity of all characters as they face secrets exposed and emotions unleashed. The denouement ends up being summarized, a bit of a disappointment in such a captivating tale, but leaves the reader with a sense of humanity restored as life exceeds Maggie’s expectations. This is a novel that reminds readers fiction often has much truth, in showing unspoken, understandable motives behind seemingly hurtful actions and how communication can resolve even long-held conflicts.

I was fortunate to receive an ARC from St. Martin’s Press of this beautiful story by Katherine Center.

4.5 heartwarming stars for How to Walk Away
This is one of those books that makes you feel a little bit of everything. There were tears, laughter and even romance. Although it focuses on a heavier topic, the quirky prose and the upbeat characters keep the tone of the story lighter and at times humorous The reader is invited into the life of Margaret - a type A individual who appears to have the perfect life. She is on the cusp of marrying the perfect man, securing her dream job after getting her MBA and walking happily ever after into the sunset...that is until she is paralyzed when her fiancé crash lands his plane while proposing to her.

The story is plot driven so moves along at a good clip. The protagonist is determined and feisty. Even when she's going through despair and depression, she exudes an element of hope. Some of her unspoken thoughts made me giggle. I really liked Margaret and her sister Kit so found myself easily absorbed into their lives. If I had one criticism, it would be that there were instances in which the plot strayed from believable to "hard to believe" - particularly during the last quarter of the story. It was still highly entertaining but a little bit contrived. Overall, however, it was a book that kept me guessing and wanting more. It was a touching and emotionally uplifting story that is perfect when looking for something on the lighter side.

I really enjoyed this book. Sometimes your life is on track; you have everything - love, family, good health and a clear career path. And then sometimes it crashes down and burns around you. This is what happened to Margaret and as she tells her story you feel her pain, but you also laugh, you root for her, and you pray for a happy ending.

How to Walk Away has everything I love in a book: love, drama, a few shockers, sadness, laughter, family, siblings, tension, romance, silliness, and the inspiration of overcoming life's curve balls. It sucked me in fast and I couldn't put it down. It was nice, it was easy, and it was just what I needed.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I was amazed! I had a hard time putting the book down. It is such a touching story of strength and love. I was cheering for Margaret the entire book. I can’t say enough good things about this book!

A Must read!

A heartbreaking story that shows us how we really are stronger than what we think we are.... And most importantly, NEVER give up! Highly recommended!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Katherine Center for the opportunity to read this wonderful book - 5 glowing stars - I loved it!

Margaret's world is full of possibilities - a promising job opportunity, a new condo, a boyfriend who is getting ready to propose. What could go wrong? Pretty much everything. When faced with the prospect of a life that looks totally different, she has to figure out how to move forward. In doing so, she also has to deal with all the people in her life, including family feuds and secrets and old boyfriends.

This is just a wonderful, heart-warming, hopeful book - fans of Jojo Moyes will love this book. I couldn't put it down and found myself laughing, crying, and cheering everyone on - highly recommended!

HOW TO WALK AWAY is touching story about how to find joy in the darkest of places. It's about taking the broken pieces of your best laid plans and building a beautiful mosaic with your life.

Margaret Jacobson had her entire life ahead of her and she knew exactly where she was headed. Her future looked bright with a promising job offer on the horizon, and things only seemed brighter when her boyfriend proposed on Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, her plans for the future crashed and burned on what should have been one of the best days of her life.

In the hospital's ICU, Margaret must face the realization that her life will never be the same again. She must also face an estranged sister and the secret she's been hiding, a fiance drowning in guilt and self-pity, and the brutal physical therapist who refuses to give her false promises and fake cheer.

We don't always get what we want, but sometimes we get just might get what we need.

HOW TO WALK AWAY is equal parts hopeful and heartwarming, brave and courageous, and witty and wise. I loved it!

*A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion written in my own words.

When Jordan Hanley at St Martin's Press offered me the chance to read an arc of this new book that she called 'the feel good read of 2018,' I wrote back to say that I don't usually read romantic fiction, but it did sound good so I would accept. I'm very happy I did.

Margaret has always had a fear of flying but her boyfriend Chip insists on taking her up in a plane he's just learned to fly as a surprise for Valentine's Day. She is hoping he will pop the question...and he does, mere moments before he crashes the plane. He walks away unscathed but Margaret is both burned and paralyzed. Will she be able to recover and pick up the pieces of her dream life?

She has a grumpy Scottish physical therapist who demands a lot of her. He tells her, "It's the trying that heals you. That's all you have to do. Just try." Nothing goes smoothly--for Margaret or her family--but lessons are learned along the way.

This is an utterly charming, well-written story that is a nice change of pace from some of the heavier things we all read. The characters are interesting, likable, and flawed...in other words, real people.

Thanks again to Jordan @St Martin's for nudging me to take a chance on this book.

I finished this book last night; this morning I awakened with tears on my pillow as I was dreaming and thinking about it all night. It is simply heartbreaking as well as lovely. It is Margaret's story of overcoming the worst kind of adversity--both physical and mental--her broken engagement, her family troubles and new love. But more than that it addresses themes of faith, family secrets and resilience in living a life full of purpose. Told from Margaret's perspective, the novel is full of humor and pathos, laughter and tears. Quite simply, it's a gem of a book!

Thank you NetGalley, Bookish and St Martin’s Press for letting me read such an awesome book.

From the very first this book will pull you in and you won’t want to do anything else but keep reading. It’s a very sad story with lots of happy mixed in. It will certainly make you appreciate your own life so much more. The little things that get you don’t won’t seem quite so bad anymore.

You can only reach out so many times before you stop trying.
You get one life, and it only goes forward. And there really are all kinds of happy endings. Those are my two very favorite lines from this book.

Margaret had everything. A perfect boyfriend who had just asked her to marry him. A life that she worked very hard to get. College, future, everything. But in a few seconds it was all taken away. She would never be the same again. She had a terrible fear of flying...

Chip was a good looking young man who was in love with Margaret and wanted to marry her. He asked her while flying and of course they were going to have the perfect life together. Until one tragic moment when it was all taken away.

Kitty, Margaret’s sister, had been gone for three years when the accident happened. She came back to be close to her sister. To help in any way she could. She’s a very strong determined young woman with a mind of her own and a will to match.

Their mother, Linda, I didn’t like at all for a long time in this story. She was overbearing and controlling. Her best friend was Chip’s mother and I didn’t like her either. She was just plain mean and should have stayed home and out of Margaret’s business.

I loved Ian, the physical therapist. He was one of my favorites in this story. The nurses didn’t want him to be Margaret’s PT at first but he was so good for her. He brought out a side of her that needed to be. A part that made her fight and want to get better. He was just good for her.

Tragedy is something that I hope no one that I’m close to ever has to endure. But if you do keep on fighting. Never stop.

This book made me cry more than any book I have ever read. It was a very emotional story filled with lots of ups and downs. It had happy parts to, but the story itself will leave you breathless. From the start to the very last word you will be hooked. You’ll root for Margaret to find happiness and to have a fulfilling life. You will want her to find that one special person.

This book was beautifully written. It’s definitely one I won’t soon forget. It’s a big 5 stars and would be many many more if I could. Loved it...

Margaret Jacobsen has the world at her fingertips...recent MBA college grad, a dream job, a “perfect” boyfriend (soon to be fiancée)...and then, a devastating accident that changed it all in a split second.
When I first looked at the book, How To Walk Away by Katherine Center, I thought it would be about how to walk away from a relationship. Yes, the book was partly about that but it was about so much more than that. Margaret had to learn to walk away from the life she knew before the accident and learn to adjust and; more importantly, be happy with the life that was handed to her after the accident. She goes through all the emotions that a person with debilitating injuries has to deal with...despair, anger, hope, failure and depression. She also has to deal with her family, her friends and any new relationships who feel they need to treat her differently. The author does an amazing job describing all of these emotions.
If you’ve never read a book by Katherine Center, I suggest you purchase this book and her other books, as well. You won’t be disappointed.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.