Life and Other Inconveniences by Kristan Higgins is another one of her wonderful contemporary stories revolving around Women’s fiction. We meet our heroine, Emma London, who is a therapist, with a teenage daughter. Emma receives a phone call from her grandmother, whom she hasn’t talked to in 17 years. Emma lost her mother when she was 8 years old, her father dumped her to live with her grandmother, but when teenage Emma became pregnant and decided to keep the child, she was told to leave. Now 17 years, her grandmother wants her to come home and bring her teenage daughter, Riley. At first Emma refuses, as she had to struggle as a pregnant teenager, living with her grandfather (from her other side) in Chicago, and manage to go to college and have a career, and bring up a wonderful sweet daughter. Why does she need to see the grandmother who threw her away?

Genevieve London, is a wealthy, well known and successful business women; her fashion designs have made her very famous, but now Genevieve is older and life is changing for her. She decides she wants to meet the great granddaughter she never knew, and try to make amends with her granddaughter. She knows she is sick, and time is of importance. Can she convince Emma to come home?

Emma decides perhaps she should go for the summer with Riley, and offers her grandmother a deal. Help pay for Riley’s college education, maybe leave Riley her rightful inheritance, and allow her to be the guardian for her mentally ill half-sister. When Genevieve agrees, Emma, Riley and Paul (grandfather) go to Connecticut for the summer.

What follows is a wonderful heartwarming story revolving around Genevieve, Emma and Riley, as they slowly come to terms with the past, and find love and forgiveness in a summer that brings them together. Emma will learn the truth about Genevieve’s illness (dementia), and despite her original misgivings, she acknowledges her love for her grandmother, and is determined to be there for her throughout the eventual decline.

It was wonderful to watch Riley win over her great grandmother and over the summer become such a wonderful strong young girl, who not only loved her mother, but also Genevieve. I also thought it was heartwarming to see Genevieve open her eyes to how wonderful Emma did in bringing up Riley, as well as making her own successful career. There was also a nice slow build background romance for Emma and Miller. Miller, who lost his wife to childbirth three years ago, is struggling with bringing up their wild nasty rebellious child, and I loved when Riley and Emma were the only ones who seem to be able to calm and control the little girl (Tess).

Kristan Higgins has created another wonderful story, with three great main characters, but also some wonderful secondary characters. Life and Other Inconveniences gave us an emotional look at a family that needed to rise from past mistakes and tragedy, and find a way to bring them together. It was a heartwarming, emotional, sweet and sad story revolving around three very strong women. I suggest you read this book now.

Touching, a little romantic, and sometimes laugh out loud funny; Life and Other Inconveniences is a wonderful novel about the nature of grief and affection in a complicated family.

This is my first book by Kristan Higgins and she's one of those authors I've wanted to read for the longest time. I have several of her books, but I've never made the time. That will be changing soon because I really liked her writing style.

Life and Other Inconveniences is a story that follows 3 women. Emma, her daughter Riley, and her grandmother Genevieve. I loved the generational aspect of the story and the familial bonds. I did, however, expect a little more humor and a little more romance. This very much read to me more like a women's fiction book and I was expecting a little more romance/chick lit, but I still liked it.

This was a great summer read and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the near future!

Kristan Higgins' book Life and Other Inconveniences was a good read about family dynamics and relationships. Genevive London retired from her own fashion design company where she was a superstar. But in life, her relationships with her family are not as successful. She has only herself to blame. Those that cared about her she held at arm's length. She controlled all aspects of her life until her health starts to decline. Is it too let to make amends? Will her granddaughter, teen-aged great-granddaughter (who she has never met) and her son allow her to mend their relationships. Great characters, loved the settings and enjoyed the book.

Kristan Higgans' books are a no-brainer in terms of readers' advisory. They are quick, satisfying reads with a wide appeal.. I was initially drawn to the description because of the almost Girlmore Girls-like plot. I don't know that it felt like Gilmore Girls but I did love the multi-generational story. I may not have been the perfect audience for this story but I can think of so many of patrons who will absolutely love it and I will be recommending it to them for sure.

Thirty-five year old Emma receives a call from her fashion icon grandmother, whom she has not spoken to since the day she threw the pregnant teen Emma out of her manion 17 years earlier. Now Emma must decide if she will honor her grandmother's dying wish to see her great-granddaughter. What seems to be the set up for a familiar plotline is totally fresh in Higgin's complex story of family, love, regrets, and new chances. Higgins's newest book is bound to be a women's lit and book club favorite this fall. I received an advanced copy of this title from Netgalley and recommend it to those who have read other books by Kristen Higgins or similar authors. All opinions are mine.

Life and Other Inconveniences is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. It has a little bit of everything. Family drama, perseverance, mystery, tragedy, love story, young love, witty dialogue, well developed characters who were all so, so easy to love. My only criticism is that some characters and situations just toed the ‘slightly unbelievable ‘ line.

I was late the the Kristan Higgins bandwagon but I'm happy I finally jumped on! I really liked this multi generational story about redemption and forgiveness.

at the age of 18, Emma's paternal grandmother Genevieve (Gigi) evicted her when she announced her pregnancy. Emma raised her daughter, Riley, while living with her maternal Grandfather, Joe. Now, 18 years later, Gigi calls Emma to announce she is dying of a brain tumor and wants Emma and Riley to return to Connecticut to see her and care for her. Reluctantly, Emma agrees, feeling the summer away will help Riley adjust from a difficult year in High School. Clearly, this is a story involving family relationships and drama. Told in chapters alternating between the three women's voices, <i>Life and Other Inconveniences</i>is an enjoyable read with good character and plot development. Each woman (and a select few additional players) relates her story and reactions to events as the summer unfolds and the reader develops a sense on each personality and how they became the people they are. As they are drawn together and solidify the family bonds, I did find the resolution of Gigi's missing son (Emma's uncle) a bit too sudden and pat, as if inserted in book to wrap up a plot point before the ending to suddenly. It wasn't unbelievable, but it wasn't really foreshadowed well. Still, highly recommend.

This book was fine. I think I had unrealistically high expectations? I've never read one of Higgins' books before and I had heard good things and this was... adequate. I read it on an airplane and by the time I sat down at my computer to review it, I had nothing to say.

I actually though Genevieve was a really interesting character, but Emma left me unmoved, and Riley wasn't really a person. I did enjoy the parts about Emma realizing the truth about her relationship with Jason - that dynamic was well done. I actually struggled most with the Clark bits, though. I know there are people that horrible, vapid, and shallow out there but I strongly believe everyone has a least some sort of inner life and his didn't right true. The resolution of the disappearance also fell flat.

Still, this was fine!

***Thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

Kristan Higgins is one of my favorite authors! I will automatically read anything she writes. Her newer style of books have been a happy surprise. The romance isn't overt, but the theme of family is strong. The characters are complex and there's a nice hint of mystery added to this newest Higgins novel.

How do you review a book that moved you beyond words time and time again? How do you do justice to a story that you never wanted to end and nearly cried that you had to say goodbye to these characters? I'm going to do my best...

[author:Kristan Higgins|317354] was a new to me author last year when [book:Good Luck with That|36950133] was recommended to me. Upon finishing this book (and naming it to my top 10 of 2018 list), I immediately ran out to read her backlist, loving each one more and more. When I heard comparisons to Gilmore Girls for Life and Other Inconveniences, I knew I was going to love this one.

Emma has returned home at 35 to care for her ailing grandmother - the grandmother who tossed her out and cut her off when she became pregnant at 18. Genevieve, a former high end fashion designer, is unwilling to accept her life is reaching its sunset and refuses to apologize to Emma for past behavior. The one person Genevieve does soften to is Emma daughter, Riley - who is Genevieve's great granddaughter - who she is meeting for the first time.

Told in alternating perspectives from Emma, Genevieve, Riley and a few other neighbors, we get to know this family and we feel for them. We want to scream with them, cry with them and most of all, hug them and tell them everything is going to be okay. Higgins has such a way with words that bring her characters to life entirely, a special quality that is rarely replicated.

My only sadness is that I now have to wait another year for more! Luckily, I still have quite the backlist to devour.

Thank you to Berkley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

A wonderful read! Heartwarming and emotional featuring great characters and a beautiful setting. Old family secrets have a way of worming their way into the present, and with that, a chance for healing. The story is told from multiple points of view, letting the reader understand the story of each character.

I have loved everything Kristan Higgins has ever written, and recommend her books often at the library - and to those in my life who are looking to purchase books, as well. But there is a first time for everything, and I did not care for this latest novel. I kept waiting for it to get better, but each chapter introduced a character, or a situation that was depressing and, to me, not realistic. So many of the characters didn't like their children, and though I know this must happen, it's not what I really expect in women's fiction. I will buy multiple copies for our collection, because she is a popular author, but this isn't one I would probably recommend.

Life and Other Inconveniences was such an enjoyable summer read! Kristan Higgins is one of my favorite light (but still substantive) authors, and this one was one of my favorites of hers. Genevieve London, a renowned fashion designer, is nearing the end of her life and she invites her niece and grand-niece to her Connecticut estate to spend her last summer with them. There is A LOT more to the story than that, and there is much family drama that they all need to get through during that summer.

Kristan's writing, even though the topics were very serious, still had a very light hearted and hopeful feel to it. I found myself really invested in the character development, which was really strong, and I desperately felt like I needed to know how they all ended up. The book was not predictable (at least I didn't think so) which made it fun to read and also fast! Definitely pick this one up this summer!

Emma hasn’t heard from her grandmother since she was kicked out of the house as a pregnant teenager. Now, she has been asked to bring her 16 year old daughter for a visit. ARC fromNetGalley.

A multi-generational family full of dysfunction and emotional wounds attempts to tackle some of their long-held grudges and spectacular issues in Higgins' latest novel, which approaches without actually addressing any number of social questions.

Kristan Higgins came into power as a master of humor and real life problems. In Life and Other Inconveniences, though she attempts both, the effort falls dismally flat. Here is a story with so many characters who have so many issues that you can't count them on both hands. Half of the characters have some horrible (and rare!) illness. Many of them are dead and/or missing, though their presence is constant throughout the novel. No one actually confronts any of their problems, despite one of the primaries, Emma London, being a therapist (which took her eleven years, as she keeps harping in her pity-party about single parenting).

There's an awful lot going on here, and none of it really ever comes to fruition. I don't need Harlequin-esque sex scenes, but otherwise, I kinda wish Higgins would go back to her hilarious romances and leave the heavy hitting to the heavy hitters.

Higgins has a tendency to evoke very strong emotions in all of her books. Life and other Inconveniences is not an exception. Centered on Emma, who was raised by her grandmother, Genevieve, and tossed out when she got pregnant, the book finds a way to provide a satisfying conclusion to their relationship. Not wanting to give away the plot, you can pretty much figure out a few secrets along the way, but this is a very satisfying read. Fans of Higgins will not be disappointed.

Kristin Higgins is a prolific writer and I usually. Heck out any of her new titles that I see. This is a multi generational story of Genevieve London trying to mend her family. She calls her granddaughter out of the blue and asks her to come home to the family estate. This is after she kicked Emma out after learning she was pregnant. Now she wants Emma and her great granddaughter Riley , now a teenager back. Emma is hesitant but when Genevieve offers to make Riley her heir with enough money to pay for college she de ides to accept. A wonderful story binding 3 generations with some truth, some lies and some forgiveness. I received a copy of this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I love author Kristan Higgins books and this one was no exception. I loved Life and Other Inconveniences, the cover and title alone had me hooked. I couldn't wait to read this one. I really enjoyed the characters and the plot and of course the writing style.