A little on the light side for my taste, but overall a nice read. I liked the elements of family drama but found some aspects to be a little predictable.

Barbara Frost knew that her marriage was over long ago. Ever since the birth of their daughters, an invisible wall has been erected between them. They’ve been existing in the same house and living different lives. But within hours of making up her mind to finally tell John that it's over, he suffers a debilitating stroke. What she then discovers about the man she thought she knew will change the course of the lives of each of the Frost women – for better or for worse.

“And meanwhile, John just wouldn’t die. No sir. He kept on keeping on, leaving his daughters in misery, leaving me to stare at him as he slept in the hospital bed. For fifty years, I’d accepted his flaws. I knew I wasn’t perfect. I knew I had to work at life, not one of those people like Sadie, who seemed to have people falling into her lap. Yes, I wanted to divorce him. I deserved a divorce.
John, on the other hand, had been sneaking around, becoming an athlete at seventy-five, having sex with another woman for God knew how long, all the while wearing me down with his neglect until I felt like a ghost in my own marriage.”

Even though they grew up in the same family, Juliet and Sadie Frost couldn’t be more different.

Juliet is truly her mother’s daughter. She seems to effortlessly balance her career as a successful architect with her picture-perfect family. But at forty-three, she hides in her closet and is terrified that she’ll never be good enough.

Sadie’s dream of being an artist was always nurtured by her father. She left her quaint hometown for the big lights of New York City as soon as she was old enough. Now at thirty-two, she’s still searching – searching for affirmation and for a connection to someone special like one she had so long ago.

“We. A person forgot what a beautiful word that was when it had been you for so long.”

I can always count on Kristan Higgins to create stories where the characters somehow become a part of me and Always the Last to Know is yet another extraordinary example.

She masterfully captures every nuance of love – for friends, family and that one-of-a-kind soul deep devotion - in a way that makes my heart ache in the best of ways.

Her characters are equally inspiring in both their strength and their fragility. I understood each of them on every level. They made me laugh. They made me cry and they made me proud. But for me, it was Sadie and Noah that really made this book so remarkable for me. What can I say? I’m a sucker for wild boys with Heathcliff hair.

This is a story for every woman who has ever doubted herself. Remember that you deserve the world and a friend just like Caro…

Talk about miserable timing! Barb has a 50th anniversary surprise for her husband, John. She plans to tell him that she's filing for divorce. Their marriage has been boring and empty for years, and she's tired of being invisible in her own home. And then she got the phone call. John has a been injured in a bike accident, and his injuries triggered a stroke. Knowing that she will be taking care of him for years, she is further shocked to find out he's been having an affair with their dance instructor -- and the lady has no intention of being saddled with a shall of the man she chased.

Now Sadie (the youngest daughter, and John's favorite), has to put her career as a teacher and struggling artist in New York on hold to come back and help care for her beloved dad--and face the love of her life, whose heart she broke, and who broke hers.

Now Juliet (the older daughter, and Barb;s favorite), has to wonder if people will notice that despite her perfect career as a successful architect, her perfect marriage to a charming Brit, and her two perfect daughters, she's spending an increasing amount of time in the closet having panic attacks.

And now Barb and John will have to face what's been going on in their marriage, and their daughters will have to figure out what they really want in life. Filled with humor and pathos, this family saga will touch the hearts of readers everywhere. Highly recommended.

Full disclosure: I love Kristan Higgins. I have all of her books. She’s my favorite! I was lucky enough to get an ARC from @netgalley of her newest book is Always the Last to Know. It comes out tomorrow on June 9th! This book centers around the Frost Family: mom Barb, older sister Juliet, younger sister Sadie, and dad John. When John has a stroke, the Frost women come together. Barb is planning to divorce her husband of 50 years - the day after he has a stroke. Oh, and Barb checks John’s phone to discover he is having an affair. Juliet is living the perfect life, but she recently started having panic attacks because of a much younger coworker. Sadie moves home from New York to care for her dad; she hasn’t made it as an artist, unless you consider “couch paintings” painted for decorators art. The book alternates chapters between the three (and occasionally John). It was a quick read for me - I started and finished it today! Big Fan!

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review. I am a huge Kristin Higgins fan and she did not disappoint with this book! I really enjoyed the multi-character format and the pacing of the story. I hate the term chick-lit because it always sounds so vapid and degrading. This is true women's literature-a story about women and how we all have different wants and experiences. It was uplifting and hopeful!

Kristan Higgins is fast becoming one of my go-to authors when I’m in the mood for a moving read that focuses on family. That’s exactly what I was in the mood for when I picked up her latest novel, Always the Last to Know, and wow, does it deliver! I just finished reading and I’m sitting here with tears in my eyes as I’m writing this review.

Always the Last to Know follows the Frost family. Barb and John have been married for five decades but have gradually drifted apart over the years. They have two daughters, Juliet and Sadie, who are night and day in terms of personality. Juliet is an Ivy League graduate and a brilliant and successful architect, while Sadie is a struggling artist trying to make it in New York, currently working as an elementary school art teacher to make ends meet. Juliet is also happily married with two beautiful children, while Sadie lost the love of her life when she moved to New York to follow her dream. Because they’re so different, the relationship between Sadie and Juliet is somewhat contentious at times. Sure, they love each other; they just don’t necessarily like each other very much. Their lives all come to a screeching halt, however, when John suffers a stroke and ends up unable to care for himself or even speak.

I have to admit that the novel did start off a little slow for me, but thankfully it picked up as soon as Sadie moved home to help with her dad. I loved that the story is presented in alternating chapters between Barb, Sadie, Juliet, and John, and Higgins does a wonderful job of conveying what each of them was thinking and feeling as they are trying to navigate John’s recovery. It’s an emotional journey for everyone, as they are all dealing with personal and/or professional dramas as well. John’s chapters are of course moving since we’re the only ones who know what he’s feeling. My heart also went out to Barb as she is forced to really examine her relationship with John and where it went wrong over the years, as well as to Juliet, who is starting to cave under the pressure of always having to be the “perfect” one.

For me though, it was Sadie who is actually the heart and soul of Always the Last to Know. I was in her corner as soon as I realized she was the underdog in her family, and her journey is the one that I found myself the most emotionally invested in. Even before her dad had the stroke, Sadie has already gone through so much, being rejected repeatedly in terms of her art, and then having to choose between her art and Noah, her first love. When Sadie moves home and comes face-to-face with Noah again, I felt their chemistry so hard and was immediately rooting for them to find their way back to each other.

I don’t want to give away any major spoilers, so I’m just going to say that Always the Last to Know was an emotional roller coaster for me as I followed each of these characters. The family dynamics, the secrets revealed, and the ensuing drama all felt very realistic, not over the top at all, and everything about this family just really got to me. I cried several times the closer I got to the end of the story and even though I was still in tears when it was all over, I was very content with the way the story ended. If you’re looking for a moving story about love, family, self discovery, and second chances, look no further.

I have been a Higgins fan from book one and her latest does not disappoint. Family is what we make of it and Higgins demonstrates that in a variety of ways. Though I had trouble with a main character at the start the character arc was believable and layered so that I no longer actively disliked her by the end. Higgins is a character rock star.

This is a family drama which covers 50 years of marriage. And it was not a happy fifty years. Now the characters are in their 70's and their lives are falling apart. this book is told from different points of view and each chapter is about a different character. It also jumps from present to scenes from their early years. I am not fond of this type of story line as ,to me, it is distracting. But the book was well written and fans of this type of story line will love it

There are several authors that I will automatically. read anything they write and Kristan Higgins is one of them. Always the Last to Know revolves around the Frost family of Stoningham, Connecticut- Barb and John, married 50 years (although not very happily), their daughter Juliet and her family, and their youngest, Sadie. Told from all of their perspectives, the story begins when John has a debilitating stroke while riding a bicycle, causing a concussion as well. From that point, we see them as they navigate relationships, both familial and romantic. Higgins really knows how to write characters at all ages, whether it was 70-year-old Barb looking back on her marriage, daughter Juliet trying to manage panic attacks and middle age, or daughter Sadie trying to determine which path she wants to follow. This is a family drama with a little humor thrown in for good measure.

Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "Always the Last to Know" by Kristan Higgins, Berkley Publishing, June 9, 2020

Kristan Higgins, author of "Always the Last to Know", has written an entertaining, witty, and memorable book. The genres for this story are Contemporary Fiction, Woman's Fiction, Domestic Fiction, and Humor. The story takes place in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The author describes her colorful and dramatic cast of characters as complex, complicated, quirky, dysfunctional, and flawed. The characters have their own set of problems. 

The Frosts are a family that seems like they have everything together until they realize that they really don't.  Barb and John Frost will be married 50 years, but more often than not, Barb thinks of divorce. Their two daughters manage to sometimes get along. Juliet works many hours and is very successful, is an architect has a husband and two daughters. Sadie is very easy going. artistic, and seems to be more free-loving.

When John has a stroke, life will certainly change for the Frosts, in some ways they that never would expect.  I appreciate that Kristan Higgins discusses the importance of communication, honesty, family, friends, love, and hope. The author also talks about understanding, listening,  forgiving, accepting, and learning from mistakes. I would highly recommend this thought-provoking novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Kristan Higgins for the opportunity to read and review her latest novel - loved it! 4.5 stars for a great look into what makes a family.

John and Barb have been married 50 years but they have grown distant and Barb is preparing to ask John for a divorce. Then he has a stroke. While he's in the hospital, Barb discovers he's been keeping secrets. They have two girls - Juliet and Sadie. Juliet is the golden child and clearly her mom's favorite. She's a famous architect, married to Oliver who adores her, and the mother of two daughters. But Juliet feels like she's failing on all fronts. Sadie is an artist living in NYC and definitely her dad's favorite. She's working as an art teacher to pay the bills while trying to break into the art world. The family comes together to help take care of John and all those feelings come out to play!

I just enjoyed losing myself in these characters. As always with Kristan Higgins' books, she is great at making us see whole characters - ones that have flaws and strengths. Plus, there are lots of life lessons in here as to what constitutes a family and how we need to stay true to ourselves in the process.

A wonderful character driven novel, Higgins three main characters are all at a turning point in their lives. Barb, the mom, is deciding what to do about her 50 year marriage when her husband has a serious accident. Juliet is the older daughter, Barb’s favorite, a wife, mother and successful architect, insecure about her relationship and career. Sadie is the youngest daughter, her father’s favorite, returning home to help with her Dad, doubting her choices in life. I recommend this novel for the characters and the themes of love, love lost, and family. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book! It's not what I typically read, but it's a great book to start off for the summer season. The book reads like a typical woman's fiction book, following each member of a family as they deal with sudden tragedy. Through each lens, we get to piece together their family history and the cracks that have built over time.

I enjoyed each character in this book, as Higgins does a good job of making their voices unique. Together, they paint a picture of their family, one that a lot of people will be able to relate to. There are points where you get angry with what's happening, the circumstances that Juliet, Sadie, Barb, and John find themselves in. But Higgins allows them to grow throughout the book, and allows them to grow with each other.

The overall message is also one that hits home with me; the fact that no matter how much you can plan, life never goes the way you expect it to. And accepting that (and yourself) is where you can start to find joy and happiness. Honestly, a great message for everything that's been happening in the last year or so. 2020 hasn't gone the way anyone has expected it to, so this overall message is extremely timely.

While there were aspects of the plot that were easy to predict, this is an overall enjoyable read that will make a perfect beach companion.

3.5/5 stars

Always the Last to Know is a perfect summer read. We follow the Frost family - parents Barb and John and sisters Sadie and Juliet. When John suffers a stroke, the Frosts come face to face with issues and uncovered secrets that will test their strength as a family.

Told from different perspectives (mostly Sadie and Barb, with some chapters from Juliet and a few chapters from John) Higgins is able to give each character a distinct voice and personality. Always the Last to Know felt very realistic for a family drama - it covers some tough topics but never feels heavy. The characters deal with their issues in very authentic ways, often using humor (and oh boy, did this book make me laugh!)

None of the Frosts are perfect - you'll be rooting for a character in one chapter, and wanting to yell at them in the next. But that's what makes this book so good. It's a lighter family drama without a lot of baggage. There are some sugary sweet moments, but they don't feel forced.

Thank you Berkley for sending me a NetGalley ARC of this book!

I have always enjoyed the family relationships in Kristan Higgin's books and this book is no exception. The Frost family has many complex characters of which the women seem to be the most at the forefront. I like the way the mother has to totally re-evaluate her priorities, find forgiveness and compassion for a man she was intending to divorce. The favouritism in this book while I don't agree with, believe it happens in many families. The mother and oldest daughter have an uncommonly close bond to the exclusion of everyone else. The father and the second daughter have a very strong bond as well. It is interesting how each daughter due to her closeness or lack there of deals with the father's healthy issues. I also like the way Ms. Higgins shows the perspective of the stroke victim from his life. The fact that he knows what to say but can't get it out or get the rational thoughts together, I feel are probably what a lot of stroke victims deal with. Once again Ms. Higgins has written a detailed book with a wide variety of family relationships with compassion and grace. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read that finds you cheering for each character in a different way. I highly recommend this book!

Barb and John Frost are about to celebrate fifty years of marriage which is no small thing. Celebrate might be the wrong word because this is a far from happy marriage. They are intimate strangers living together but no longer really knowing each other. Barb’s happiness centers around her perfect daughter, Juliet, and Sadie whom she never really clicked with plus that daughter was John’s special girl. When John has a devastating stroke, the whole family is thrown in turmoil. Barb has devoted her recent years to being on their town council. Her beloved daughter, Juliet, is a stellar architect with a handsome husband and lovely daughter. Sadie bolted from their small Connecticut town for the bright lights, big city of New York years before leaving the love of her life brokenhearted. Sadie’s dream of being a famous artist has fallen far short leaving her doing “couch” paintings and teaching school to make a living.

As everyone circles around John who was a less than stellar husband especially after Barb finds out exactly what he has been up to, lives start to unravel. Juliet has been having panic attacks because her perfect career, marriage, and motherhood seems to be nothing but a struggle. She has poured so much energy into being successful at everything and so many elements of that life appear to be falling apart. Juliet’s self-esteem is wrapped up so much in work that when it is threatened, she does not have a clue how to cope.

Sadie had big plans to be a famous artist devoting all her energy to figuring out the secret to being discovered by all the right people. Sadie gave up all she had including the man she has loved since childhood to pursue that goal; however, the reality has fallen far short of the dream. Back in Stonehaven to help out, Sadie faces the difficulty of dealing with her ailing father, a prickly distant mother, and the man, Noah, who truly loved her. Clearly neither Sadie nor Noah have ever gotten over their mutual heartbreak and loss.

This book is an intimate portrait of a family in crisis faced with all the trials and tribulation that goes with the trauma of an aging parent failing ill as well as each member dealing with their own loss and disappointments in life. While in the midst of this difficult time, each one has a chance to reassess, to look back on their failures and successes which leads to the question for Barb, John, Juliet and Sadie: what do they want from life and how much is each responsible for where they are now. Like a lot of Women’s Fiction, this book in a hard read in places especially Barb’s pregnancy and delivery of Sadie. Ms. Higgins always does a very skilled job of drawing deep emotions from her characters and subsequently the readers. The characters’ situations are relatable; readers at this point in the series of these interconnected books should know by now that the hard parts and difficult issues are more plentiful than the happy ones.

Barb is unhappy in her marriage of 50 years but when her husband suffers a stroke, she discovers he's been having an affair. Their two daughters have their own challenges and readers receive a book full of the struggles and joys of relationships.

This was a sweet story of two sisters and their mother coping with their father / husband having had a stroke and the discovery that he wasn't all that he seemed to be. By featuring women in a variety of ages and stages of life, everyone will be able to identify with one of the characters - Sadie, a single artist who reconnects with her first love, Juliet, a married architect dealing with work situations, and Barb, the wife whose husband had a stroke. I enjoyed the chapters told from John's viewpoint as well, as he recovered from the stroke that left him with a brain injury.

I love family drama stories, and at it’s core this book is exactly what this is. A story told in multiple points of views from the Frost Family. I really thought going into this, this be a very light read, but instead I found a thoughtful book, about the dynamics of family.

The book opens when John Frost has had a massive stroke. This happens the day before his 50th anniversary to his wife Barb. Soon Barb is standing vigil over her husband along with their two daughters Juliet and Sadie. Juliet has always been a mama’s girl and Sadie, a daddy’s girl. While they all love each other, their differences really do shine in this story.

There are secrets, philosophical differences, but all are trying to do what is right for John, even though he may not actually deserve it. Every once in a while you get glimpses of John’s inner monologue that I appreciated so much. The support cast, Caro, Oliver, Noah and many others make this story shine. They do add a lightness to this story that makes it only more readable.

This was may first Higgins novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was heartwarming, comical but had so much meat to this story. If you love stores and families and their dramas this will hit that spot.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I look forward to Kristan Kiggin’s early summer releases every single year and this year was no different. Like all of her books, Always The Last to Know had so many unique relationships, and each was relatable in its own way- marriage, sisterhood, friendship, parent/child, and more. The multiple points of view gave four nuanced perspectives to this heartfelt and riveting family drama.

I’m a huge fan of Kristan Higgins- her writing is full of complexity but light and funny at the same time, they are just the perfect reading balance. This was definitely a favorite of hers and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for an advanced copy.