All the tears for this book. Margaret has a great life and a bright future, but a jackass of a boyfriend. He knows she hates to fly, but decides even though he doesn't have his pilot's license, that a small plane if the best place to propose. Ugh, he was a tool from the beginning. I'm trying not to give too many spoilers, but it must be said - Chip is a creep. His name sums him up perfectly.

As Margaret begins her healing, she is surrounded by her family, her estranged sister makes a sudden reappearance, and she gets the crabbiest physical therapist ever.

Margaret's story is unpredictable, and you'll want the miracle, but then you have to try to decide, what do you really consider the miracle?

If you've ever read any of Katherine Center's books before, you know that you'll get a great story with just enough reality to make you feel like there are happy endings available for everyone. Definitely read The Bright Side of Disaster or Everyone is Beautiful - they are both great books.

I LOVED this book. I really liked the main character and how she dealt with everything. It was a good love story...was afraid it would be sappy but really wasn't. Be still my heart for Ian!

This book reminded me a little of "Me Before You" with the paraplegic story. However, the details and story are very different.

Maggie has everything going for her. The perfect job is said to be hers, she's got a great boyfriend, and a very rosy future. Then on the same day she gets engaged, she is involved in a plane crash. The results are life changing, forever.

I loved going on this journey with Maggie as she tries to figure things out during the 5 1/2 weeks of hospital stay that the insurance will pay for. Her whole life has changed and she's not really in the best of moods or abilities to consider what will happen in the future.

I laughed, I cried, I was thoroughly entertained. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the aforementioned book and to anyone who likes to read a really good story.

As for the fiancee, Yuck, is the only nice word I can think about calling him right now. Ha!!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This year, I have been reading a LOT of romance novels. It is a genre I don't have a lot of experience with, so one of my reading goals for the year was to try to explore the genre a bit more.
This novel was such a lovely romance. I found myself cheering for the main character constantly and wanted so badly for her to come out on top.
I think my only complaint about How to Walk Away is that I would have liked to get to know some of the side characters a bit better. In particular, Margaret's Dad, Ian and Kit's boyfriend. I would have loved to see more of their personality. Those three men seemed to be sort of glossed over, in spite of being vital to the story. I would also love to see an entire novel about Kit and her story. She would be such a fun character to read more about!
I liked reading about a character with fears that play such a major part in the story rather than what is becoming the typical fearless woman. It was nice to see someone with such a human fear/flaw. While I do appreciate reading about strong women, this book shows that you can have fears and flaws and still be a strong woman.
Overall I enjoyed this story. It is definitely a book I would pull out again on a cold rainy day, or any day I'm craving something light and cozy.

I'm surprised by how enjoyable a book about the aftermath of a horrible personal tragedy can be. The main character experiences a plane crash, paralysis and disfiguring burns in the beginning of the story and the rest of the book discusses how she deals with this unimaginable tragedy. It also includes being dumped by her fiance, the pilot of the downed plane. Sounds like a giant bummer, right? Somehow, this book made a really dark topic palatable by focusing less on the severity of her injuries and depths of her misery, and more on how she learned to "walk" away from them. She remained herself, even though her outward appearance and functional abilities changed dramatically. I found myself wondering if the tone was even too lighthearted at times, glossing over some pretty significant hardships, but ultimately I let myself enjoy this one.

This is a great, quick read. I love romancey-family novels that include topics that I don't know much about, and this book fits the bill. It is about courage and resilience, forgiveness and recognizing what really matters. It's inspiring and thoughtful. I enjoyed the characters, the story and the themes.

Margaret Jacobsen is on the verge of having it all: the perfect job, fancy condo, gorgeous fiance. But seconds after her boyfriend, Chip, proposes, her life is changed forever. 



Her whole life, Margaret has been afraid of flying. Those fears are realized when Chip crashes the small plane he was flying, leaving her paralyzed and badly burned. 



Margaret now has to learn to rebuild her entire life. She has six weeks in the hospital to pull herself together and no idea where to begin. 



With most of the book taking place in one setting: a hospital room, it would be easy for "How to Walk Away" to feel claustrophobic, but it never does. Margaret's injuries are horrific, from a major spinal cord injury that prevents anything below her knee from moving to second and third degree burns across her upper body. 



As she deals with her altered life, a whole cast of characters moves through her hospital room, both helping and hindering her. Her overbearing mother, guilt-ridden fiance, cheerful father and bad-sheep sister all descend upon her, with advice, hope, take out meals and their own baggage. 



She also ends up saddled with a gorgeous, surly Scottish physical therapist named Ian who refuses to engage with her at all beyond PT work, leaving her feeling adrift. 



Margaret has always tried to be perfect but with her life suddenly far from where she ever imagined it would be, she has to learn to give up what she thinks her life should be and accept what it is now.



I really enjoyed this book. Margaret is a traumatized, broken character who keeps getting hit after hit, but she manages to learn how to trust herself and figure out what will make her happy in her new life. Her relationship with her sister, Kitty, is so realistic, it had me yearning to see my own bad-sheep sister. I liked how her parents and sister had their own dramas too, which opened the story up beyond what was happening in the hospital room. 



Some of this story focuses on romance. Romance lost and romance found, but I didn't think it was overly cheesy. At one point, early on, I groaned to myself, thinking this was going to veer off into Nora Roberts territory, but it really didn't. I ended up rooting for two of the characters to find their way to one another. 



Two gripes: I would have loved to see Margaret interact more with people in the hospital. At one point, she mentions saying goodbye to fellow patients, but we never saw her interact with anyone beyond her own family, Ian and a few other members of the hospital staff. 



Also, eventually Margaret does find a purpose, which is a very worthy one, but I wish the seeds for that had been planted earlier. When she comes up with her big idea, she comments that she had told her sister about it a couple of days earlier, but we never saw that scene, which I think would have been a nice touch.



I got close to the end last night and tore through the final pages this morning while trying to do the dishes. I know I'm completely engrossed in a book when I risk getting my kindle wet! 



Margaret was a character I could really root for as she learned to handle her new future. Her experience, though tragic, was portrayed realistically (author Katherine Center really did her homework on spinal injuries and paralysis). This is a great summer read, the perfect book to devour on the beach one day. Don't miss it!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley and Katherine Center for the free digital copy! I really enjoyed this book! The writing was excellent and pulled me right in from the beginning. It was a book about hope, strength and family. Although I wasn’t surprised and predicted some of the things that happened, the story just naturally flowed. My favourite part was the epilogue, because it just beautifully tied everything together. Overall I rate this book 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading other books by the Author!

HOW TO WALK AWAY by Katherine Center has it all and lives up to all the hype I’ve heard about it. It has a good plot, well developed characters, and runs the emotional gauntlet. It also has family, love, forgives, pain, despair and joy. It’s so damn believable that you feel like an additional character, tagging along to all the PT sessions and hoping beyond hope that Margaret gets a happy ending. The evolution of Maggie and Kit was even better than imagining Ian in his plaid mountainman shirt. Seriously, this book made me laugh, get teary, and exhale. Do yourself a favor and don’t start this one if you can’t spend the night reading it – you won’t want to put it down!

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was the perfect chick lit. It was incredibly predictable, it was easy to see where the story was going early on, but it didn't take away from enjoying it.

This is the first novel I’ve read by Katherine Center and it won’t be my last - I loved everything about this engaging book! The strong characters, their dynamic interactions and the author’s fresh approach to overcoming fears and obstacles drive a beautiful and compelling story. I loved the relationship building, the snappy interactions between courageous plane survivor Maggie and her exuberant estranged sister, Kitty, who barges back into Maggie’s life like a freight train after a 3-year absence. The ebb and flow relationship between Maggie and Ian I felt deep in my heart - those scenes were pure magic! A great killer ending was the cherry on top.

My Rating: 3.5 stars



I have mixed feelings about this book. While I can’t say I didn’t enjoy reading this (I actually enjoyed alot of it, very much so in fact!), there was something about the way the story was written that made it difficult for me to connect with the story and its characters as much as I think I was supposed to. Don’t get me wrong – I did like majority of the characters, of course some more than others. Margaret’s sister Kitty, for example, was one of my favorite characters – I loved her personality and how unconventional she was, yet she was there for her sister when she needed her the most. Unlike most of the readers out there who were probably more touched by the special relationship that Margaret and Ian shared, I actually found the sisterly bond between Margaret and Kitty to be the most moving and also the part of the story that I enjoyed most. Perhaps it is because I am a generally cynical person and so a “fairytale romance” like the one Margaret and Ian had in the story just didn’t feel realistic to me (the ending didn’t help either with the way it was so neatly packaged in shiny wrapping paper with the most beautiful bow on top). The relationship that Margaret had with her sister Kitty on the other hand, did feel realistic and the way they interacted – constantly bickering on the outside yet showing through their actions how much they actually loved and cared about each other on the inside – felt more genuine than all of the romantic relationships within the story. Aside from Kitty, I felt that most of the other characters were a bit stereotypical (yes, including Margaret, who was at the center of the story), yet despite that, at the end of the day, I couldn’t help liking these characters even though I didn’t connect as much with them on an emotional level as I typically would have.

In terms of the story itself, I actually found the plot a bit too contrived and predictable, with too many coincidences and in some sections, it felt like too much drama was created unnecessarily – by the end especially, it felt like the author was trying to pile as much drama on as possible, which, to me at least, had the unintended effect of causing confusion and contradiction with some of the plot points. There are some books out there that are written expressly to convey a particular message and to me, this book felt like it fell into that category, as the message that was being conveyed through the story – a message about hope, resilience, love, courage, etc. -- seemed to matter way more than the actual plot and maybe even the story itself. Perhaps this is why, despite the fact that I felt the story was a bit cliched, the plot a bit too predictable, and some (not all) of the characters were somewhat stereotypical, I still found myself drawn to the story and not wanting to pull myself away. Indeed, this was a quick read, one that I was able to plow right through in more or less two days.

Basically, I would say that I liked the story overall as well as the characters (most of them at least), but unfortunately was not keen on the execution. While it’s true that from the getgo, I had some understanding that this book would be a relatively lighthearted, “feel good,” uplifting read and I guess from that perspective, this book did its job and then some – though to be honest, I felt the author went a little “too light” in some places that perhaps should have been more serious. Also, there were some consistency issues where it felt like some things were overexplained while others that should have been explained more were glossed over. I think if this book had been more tightly written, less cliched, less predictable, it would have been a more emotional read for me, and a more memorable one as well.

Overall, I did enjoy this one – parts of it at least – but felt like it could have been so much more. I would still recommend this book, though more for the “feels” rather than the plot or the writing, as I felt that both these areas were definitely lacking. With that said though, this is one of those books where it’s best to set aside judgement and just go into without overly high expectations and see where the story leads you.

Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley

This is a wonderful book! It's hard to imagine how you would cope with the horrible circumstances that befell Margaret but reading this book is a good blueprint. Did she handle everything perfectly? No. Did other people in her life understand and deal with her situation in an ideal manner? Not at all. But the way the people around her behaved seemed real and truthful and how it really would happen. Even the characters I didn't like seemed real - and that is better than just cardboard cutouts of characters.

This very well-written book is an inspiration for everyone no matter what their circumstances. Not everyone in this position will get a fairy-tale ending and neither did Margaret. Not totally anyway. But close enough!

It seems wrong to use a term like fun to describe this book so I am going to go with lighthearted.  Despite the grim nature of the story, Center manages to keep the story engaging and hold interest throughout.  Margaret Jacobsen is a young woman who has everything she wants basically.  She has a great job offer following college graduation and she has a boyfriend who she thinks is perfect.  Then an accident changes everything for Margaret.  Everything. 

The author was astute in her choice to show that a life changing incident does not just involve person who is the patient but also has a huge impact on the rest of a person's loved ones.  For example, Margaret struggled to accept her new reality.  Her mother took much longer to come to acceptance and stop pushing her daughter past her realistic expectations.  While the novel did have divisiveness in it, there was also reconciliation.  

Overall this novel was a quick and enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel

I adored Center's Happiness for Beginners, so I was eagerly anticipating this new novel! I didn't know much about this story before starting (and won't spoil it), but I was surprised by the direction it took. My mom often reminds me that you can't change what happens in life but can control how you react to it. This book exemplified that idea! Despite the heavy story, Center managed to infuse it with a lot of humor (without downplaying the tragedy). I loved the family relationships, the heroine's mindset, and the loveably gruff romantic interest. It felt a bit predictable, but it was engaging and I So Enjoyed It.

What an unexpected little treasure. I had no idea about this book until it popped up on my radar on the rec of a fellow blogger on Instagram. I was in the right mood for an emotional read and from the blurb I could tell this would be that kind of journey. And it delivered exactly what I wanted.

HOW TO WALK AWAY is an emotionally gripping and thought provoking story of a woman’s’ journey in self discovery and reinventing herself after a tragic accident changes everything she knew about her future, her past and her identity. Katherine Center does really a wonderful job at making the reader feel immersed in the story and it was such a fast read for me. It often made me wonder what my reaction would be if in the same situation. I loved how complex the story was as well as we are dealing with more than the physical implications from the accident. There’s the obvious self esteem issues. And also so many family secrets that come to the surface. The relationship between our main heroine and every member of her family was an added treat that added something I really enjoyed to the story.

I don’t want to spoil the story at all so I think with the blurb you know enough to know if you’d like to check it out. If I had to compare this to something else, the obvious choice for me would be ME BEFORE YOU but done in a much happier way. There’s a better outlook on life and relationships, and definitely a lot more romance 😉 So if that sounds like something you’d be into, then give this book a shot. I’m glad I discovered it and will be on the lookout for more books from this author.

Thank you Netgalley, publisher and the author Katherine Center for this beautiful book.
How to Walk Away is one of the best book, absolutely phenomenal. It drew me in from the get go, could not put it down. Beautiful writing , touching story. I loved the main character Margaret and her sister Kitty.
Highly recommend. I will definitely read books from this author.

I loved this! It was a great story and a positive message of overcoming adversity from within one's self and those around you. This was a nice palate cleanser from the thrillers I've been reading. I will definitely read Katherine Center again!

Margaret Jacobsen had her whole life planned out. Who she was going to marry, kids, home and job. Then it all came crashing down. Who will she turn out to be? This is the story of her strength and courage. It is about family coming together. Time for secrets to come out and the family to heal. It is also about falling in love. I didn't like Chip because he didn't respect her fear. I however, did like Ian. Different from everyone she has ever known. He is also her biggest champion. I loved the end of the book. How everything comes together.

This book is more than a love story. It is about courage, strength and overcoming all which life throws your way. And believe me, Margaret has just taken a huge hit. She has just been in a plane crash. And yes she survived, but her back and her life as she knew it, did not.

There is a double meaning in the title of this book. Margaret has been paralyzed, so she can't just "walk" away. But she learns to deal with walking away from all she knew and discovering the new path her life is now headed.

I love this book! I love Margaret and her family, especially her sister, Kitty. Kitty is a straight shooter, rough around the edges and she definitely has her sister's back plus, she has her own little story line through out this read. Then, there is Margaret and Ian, her Scottish physical therapist. These two have a chemistry not to be ignored. I enjoyed the way the author intertwined all these story lines. There are several running through this read and they all intersect to create a sad, courageous, love-filled tale.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.