I love all of Kristan Higgins books! They’re all beautiful and heart wrenching, and make you feel like you’re completely in the story. In the lives of all of her characters. Again, she did not disappoint. I could not put this book down. It was beautifully written and I need it for myself.

Lark loses her spot as a resident in oncology, her dream job, and on the same day gets a message from Dr. Santini to meet him at an oyster bar. She has no idea why “Dr. Satan” would want to meet her, but it turns out he needs a fake girlfriend so that his grandmother can die in peace. While it may feel like every rom-com we have ever seen, it surely isn’t. There are no sparks flying….at least not between Lark and Satan.

I have read most of the other books by Higgins so I already knew some of Lark’s family, which I enjoyed. She has such a way of tugging on those heartstrings and sometimes just straight stomping on your heart. This book was no exception and I enjoyed it immensely!

I just realized that I had a this in the "left feedback" file. I received the audiobook and left my review there.

In short, it wasn't my favorite Kristan Higgins novel, and maybe it was due to the narrators. I found one of them very monotone. I ended up not finishing the audiobook for that reason.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

I must say right off the bat – Kristan Higgins never ceases to amaze me with her storytelling. From the beginning I was engrossed in the story, becoming sympathetic with Lark and her challenges during her residency and Lorenzo’s summer proposition with Lark. Basically, I was hooked from the very start!

The story begins with Lark Smith having major challenges with her rotation working in Oncology – her chosen speciality. In fact, she is sent down to the ER … because she gets too emotional with her patients. She feels that this change will impede her getting to practice medicine in oncology, so when an opportunity arises where she can get a much needed recommendation, Lark grabs the opportunity. Now this opportunity is “odd” (in my opinion) … Dr. Lorenzo “Satan” Santini needs a date for the next few months to persuade his 99-year-old dying grandmother that he is not alone. If Lark says yes, Dr. Santini will call his connections to get Lark nearer to an oncology position. Of course what happens is that Lark fall’s for his family and more specifically, his brother Dante.

The reader gets settled into learning why Lark wants to be an oncologist so badly (I shall let you learn that yourself!). And then we end up with the story also being told with two other points of view (PoV). One – Lark’s mother, Ellie and the other is Joy, Lark’s landlady. Both of these other two PoV’s add a unique perspective and depth the individual story’s regarding these two women’s lives, but Lark’s as well.

I must say the personal growth that Lark shows while on the ER rotation was well told, I felt like I was right there along with Lark as she gained experience in the ER. This allowed herself to shine as a doctor and give her a bit more confidence in her profession as well as in her personal life.

The “fake” relationship must last for three months, until Lorenzo’s sister’s wedding. This relationship tests Lark’s ability to remain positive and convince his family (well – at least his Noni!) that this truly is a real, loving relationship. Once she meets the rest of the family, things are much smoother. Of course, they all seem to wonder why Lark has partnered with Lorenzo. It does become a bit more difficult as time goes by as Lark becomes interested in Lorenzo’s firefighter brother Dante. As the story continues, the reader becomes aware of the past (brief as it might have been) between Lark and Dante. Interesting is all I will say. I must say though that Lark’s life story was an emotional rollercoaster of a ride as we find out more of the “why” of oncology. Be warned and note that tissues may be needed!

The other two major storylines involving Lark’s mother and her landlord add another dimension. Ellie (the mom) is having mid-life issues in her marriage and feels the only way to shake things up is to move out of the family home. She ends up moving into the big mansion that Joy (Lark’s landlord) owns. Joy is a woman who never married and was involved with her brother’s life, but is adrift since he passed). Joy was married previously and is well to do and does not need to work. And this certainly can lead one to wonder what they are doing with their life. Ellie and Joy strike up a friendship and both, throughout the story, learn about themselves from each other and eventually find their path in life. It was a fun and interesting journey!

The storylines were engaging -> heart wrenching at time, the storytelling wonderfully written, progression of character development believable, descriptions of the locations were interesting and made me wish I was there. Truly a book I could not put down.

If you would like to read a book with heart and soul, wonderful descriptions written by a truly gifted author, then Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins is your book.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

I look forward to a Kristan Higgins book every summer, and this one didn't disappoint. I didn't love it *quite* as much as I loved Out of the Clear Blue Sky, but it was still very enjoyable and made me cry!

Lark is an oncology doctor that can't control her tears, and gets moved to the emergency department. She starts fake dating a completely retched doctor named Lorenzo (aka Dr. Satan) so his 99 yer old grandma thinks he's found his person before she dies. Lark hasn't dated in 7 years, since her fiancé died of leukemia, but agrees to do this to try to make the grandma happy. Throughout the book, she realizes a lot about herself, mainly that she needs to let go of the past, and embrace the fact that her life might not go according to her initial plans, but that's okay.

Joy is Lark's landlady and friend, and lives alone is a big house with a ton of money. She doesn't have any hobbies except shopping and plastic surgery, but is a sweet soul and just doesn't know herself beyond her 4 marriages. She realizes she wants to help people, and finds a surprising job that she is perfect for.

Elsbeth is Lark's mom and discovers a secret her husband is hiding. She goes to live with Joy for a bit while she tries to figure out her next steps and if her marriage is worth saving.

Lark's plot line was by far my favorite, and made me cry more than once. The flashback chapters to her story with her fiancé were so emotional, and made me understand Lark as a character and her choices much better. I appreciated her growth throughout the book and realizations about herself personally and career wise. I've always wanted to be a hospice volunteer, but like Lark, I feel like I'd get so attached to the patients, I'd end up causing more emotional harm than good.

I honestly think Ellie's plot was my least favorite, and didn't bring much to the story. She did help Joy by being her friend and suggesting a hobby, but I'm not sure that her plot really did much for the story overall.

Now to wait a whole year(?) for another book by Higgins!

A Kristan Higgins book is guaranteed to touch all of my emotions and Look on the Bright Side certainly did that. First of all, how did I not know the Smith family (from last year's A Little Ray of Sunshine) would also be at the center of Look on the Bright Side? It was like walking into a room and being greeted by old friends, complete with hugs, huge smiles, and snide asides (every family has one).

Three women, with intersecting storylines, all at a significant crossroads in her life, are at the heart of this book. Funny, sympathetic, flawed women reeling from grief and betrayal, questioning their life choices. In other words, relatable women. Real. Higgins skillfully guides them along their journeys, giving them opportunities to grow, discover new pathways, repair broken relationships, and heal their hearts. Maybe, even fall in love, repair a broken love, or discover the beauty of friendship. Higgins then surrounds them with a rich supporting cast who are much more than a character backdrop, offering up heartache and hilarity. *I feel compelled to add a reader warning here. Do not read Chapter 11 while consuming liquids or with a full bladder. You can thank me later.

How could I not toss my schedule out the window and spend an entire day losing myself in this story, in these characters? I couldn't resist. That's exactly what I did, sobbing on one page, snort laughing on the next, sighing with delight, then off to the races again until I emerged, grinning and heart happy, ready to go back to page one and do it all over again. That's the brilliance of Kristan Higgins. It's what she does. Every. Single. Time.

I should note that you don't need to have read A Little Ray of Sunshine to enjoy Look on the Bright Side though it will give you additional insight into some of the characters if you have. I enthusiastically recommend both books, in whichever order you choose to read them.

Content Warning: death, cancer, emotional affair

Kristan Higgins’ latest novel, “Look on the Bright Side,” is a heartwarming and deeply moving story that beautifully balances humor, romance, and emotional depth. Here we will meet Lark Smith, a relatable and endearing character whose life takes unexpected turns, leading her on a journey of self-discovery and growth.

Lark’s meticulously planned life unravels when her career as an oncologist is derailed due to her emotional nature, her parents’ seemingly perfect marriage falls apart, and her love life remains stagnant. Enter Dr. Lorenzo Santini, a renowned surgeon with a gruff exterior, who offers Lark a deal: pretend to be his girlfriend for family events in exchange for professional favors. What follows is a delightful exploration of fake relationships, family dynamics, and the unexpected joys that come from life’s detours.

Higgins excels in creating multi-dimensional characters, and “Look on the Bright Side” is no exception. Lark’s interactions with Lorenzo’s warm and chaotic family, especially his estranged brother, adds layers of complexity and charm to the narrative.

The novel’s themes of resilience, love, and the importance of embracing life’s unpredictability are conveyed with Higgins’ signature wit and warmth. The emotional moments are balanced with lighthearted humor, making it a compelling read that will resonate with fans of contemporary romance and women’s fiction.

I felt “Look on the Bright Side” was a testament to Kristan Higgins’ storytelling prowess. It’s a book that will make you laugh, cry, and ultimately leave you with a sense of hope and optimism. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a feel-good read with substance.

Thank you to Elisha Katz from Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book.

The novel "Look on the Bright Side" is about friendship, loss, and change. This is a story of three ladies who are at a crossroads in their life and are going through severe and drastic transformations. We begin to learn Lark's story and the reason behind her fascination with oncology chapter by chapter. Have your tissues ready since there are plenty of humorous moments to balance out the intensely emotional parts.

Oh my gosh, Higgins just literally ripped my heart out and shredded it. Thank you @berkley for my early copy of LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, by Kristan Higgins

Fair warning: the cover looks like an easy, breezy beach read with little emotional involvement, but what you get is a literary ripping of your soul.

Lark is a new doctor who has worked tirelessly and is released from her spot in Oncology for being too emotional. You learn she has a past pretty early on, but you really don’t know what/why until much later in the story (thus starts the soul shredding).

Lorenzo is basically the world’s greatest doctor (he’s also referred to as Dr. Satan, so there’s that). He drives a fancy car and checks off all the typical boxes. He needs a fake date though, so his grandmother doesn’t have to worry he will never marry. I can see where you’d suspect this is going to be a rom-com from this…but it isn’t.

This novel sits with me as a truly Women’s Fiction. The storyline is not just about Lark, but it includes her mother and her own struggles within her marriage, and I appreciate the multi-generational aspect of the story. It also includes Lark’s landlady’s backstory and her struggles + growth as well.

Lark’s mother encounters an unexpected struggle within her long-time marriage. A road she shows grace and strength with as she walks through it for herself.

I also LOVE Lark’s landlord- her story is BEAUTIFUL and she is just a ray of light to so many characters, even while dealing with her own loss and sadness.

Lark’s past comes full circle by the end of the novel, and while it ties itself up nicely, I was literally crying my eyes out. So be warned, ha!

There are definitely some warnings that come with this novel: heavy mentions of cancer, death of a loved one, extramarital relationship, first responders. Reach out if you have questions and I will give more details.

Definitely found myself crying for more than one of these characters by the end of the novel.

3.5🌟
This book had a heavier feel to it than I expected.

Lark is an oncology resident flunking out of her program because she can’t stop crying for her patients. She’s quickly relocated to Emergency medicine. Fix em and move em out. No time for tears!

Her only way back into her coveted oncology position is if renowned surgeon Dr. Santini puts in a good word for her. All she needs to do is pretend to be his girlfriend through the summer and attend his sister’s wedding.

Ultimately, with the goal of convincing his dying grandmother he won’t be alone. Nothing more, just a few dinners. Sounds easy enough, right?! But there’s a good reason everyone refers to him as Dr. Satan!

Well this premise sounded sweet enough. A nice, contemporary novel to give me a break from all my thrillers. But then…

There was so much heaviness and sadness radiating off of EVERY character in this book (except maybe Connery, the dog.) I believe every reader will find something triggering. I know I did.
So, reader beware.

A buddy read with Susanne.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.

This was so good and somewhat sad with a hopeful ending. This is a romance! If you have someone who has been through a cancer journey this one might or might not be for you as it could trigger some difficult feelings. The dialogue is fantastic and I loved the characters and how they interacted with each other. Another winner from Kristan Higgins, one of my favorites.

We all know there are two sides to every coin. Even the luckiest coin flipper will occasionally get the dark side. It's what you do with that dark side that will determine how bright the bright side will be on the next toss.

This recording was perfect in every way. Great voices, great quality.

The story was truly delightful. The reader may need a tissue a time or two, but do Look On The Bright Side, because it's always there!

Kristan Higgins pulls an emotional punch in this novel. Lark is a medical resident, intent on specializing in oncology, when she is removed for getting too emotional with her patients. When Dr, Santini offers to get her back in oncology’s good graces if she will pose as his girlfriend for his family, particularly his terminally ill grandmother, Lark accepts. Lark and Lorenzo are from large families, which adds humor to the heavy parts of the book. Higgins successfully merges sorrow with laughter, as well as hope. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

When I first starting reading romance again, I loved Higgins’s contemporary romances, especially Catch of the Day. I love a fisherman hero. I left off reading Higgins because she, like other favourite Sarah Morgan, went the way of women’s fiction. But this publisher’s blurb felt more romance-y than usual for WF fare and I took a wild chance. I was wrong and right. I was wrong because Look On the Bright Side really is more WF than I care for and yet, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it.

Centred around the Lark family, its focus, at firstl, is Lark Smith, an oncology resident sent packing to work ER because she’s too “sympathetic” towards the patients. And weeps…a lot. The narrative extends to also tell the story of Lark’s mother, Ellie, whose perfect marriage goes wonky when she discovers her husband of 38 years is messaging a woman on Facebook. And again, the narrative extends to Joy Deveaux, Lark’s landlady, who moved to the Cape after losing her brother. Divorcée of three marriages and recipient of sundry “beautifying” plastic surgeries, Joy has more money than she knows what to do with and nothing to do but feel lonely.

The Smiths and Joy are soon entwined with the Santinis when Dr. Lorenzo Santini, aka Dr. Satan, not a mere adorable grump, but devoid of adorableness and made of arrogance, rudeness, and a thorough lack of humour, asks Lark to be his fake girlfriend for his sister’s wedding and the sake of his dying Nona. Lark agrees, hoping “Dr. Satan” will help her make her way back to oncology’s good graces. And there be sad, serious reasons: Lark lost her fiancé to cancer and wants to dedicate her career to working with its patients.

Higgins’s Look On the Bright Side unfortunately proved me right…again, about WF’s most pernicious elements: sisters (Lark is a twin; thankfully, this didn’t get too much page time), cancer, truly its most unbearable convention (reaching its height in the goshawful My Sister’s Keeper), marriage on the rocks, family dynamics, and romance-lite. Yup, not a fan of these essential WF themes; they bore me to tears and then some.

Nevertheless, there are saving elements to Higgins’s WF: humour and banter, I assume left over from her romance-writing days. It won me over and it, in places, also in its favour, surprisingly delighted me. Particularly strong was Lark and Dr. Satan’s anti-banter: when they go on their first fake-date, Lark tells him about her family; his response: ” ‘Did I indicate interest in your family?’ ‘No, but someone has to fill the silence.’ ‘Why?’ ” And it goes on like this…and my Kindle note: “I love Lark. And this is too funny to be WF! Yippee!” Lark stays sharp and funny and is still a WF-weeper, over cancer and family…I never once rolled my eyes or disliked her. When she joins the ER, the supervising Dr. Unger is a hoot as well.

Look On the Bright Side suffers when it flashbacks to Lark’s fiancé’s cancer: these chapters went on too long, werebtoo detailed, but I guess they had to be so to give Lark her full healing HEA. Lark’s mother, Ellie, and her fury at her husband emotionally straying also had a witty, funny streak in her contempt and anger (but, hey, still romance-influenced, an HEA here too), though again, the exposition in the backstory fill-ins dragged on. The funniest exchanges are with Nona: old, bald, suspicious, and nasty Nona, who takes an instant dislike to Lark and spits hilarious venom at her for the duration. Nona-Nasty is foiled by Lark’s dog, Connery (yes, after Sean) whose adorableness and affection can make up for Noni’s deathly snark and Dr. Satan’s grim, arrogant, emotional cluelessness. And then there’s the firefighter brother, Dante Santini…romance sigh-worthy and with a lovely twist in how he’s connected to Lark. All around, I can’t say Look On the Bright Side made me a WF reader, but it may have again made me a Higgins reader.

Kristan Higgins’s Look On the Bright Side is published by Berkley and released on May 28. I received an e-galley, from Berkley, via Netgalley. The above is the honest AI-free expression of my opinion.

“We all die, Lark, he said quietly. “The last months of our lives can matter as much as all the months that came before.”

Lark Smith’s life has never gone as planned. First she lost the love of her life, and now she’s being booted from her chosen field of livelihood, a career in Oncology. Dubbed too emotional, she’s reassigned to the ER where she hopefully will develop a thicker skin.

Around the same time she’s approached by the successful yet stoic surgeon, Lorenzo “Satan” Santini with an interesting proposal. His grandmother dying, he wants to borrow Lark as his fake girlfriend for his sister’s wedding, hoping to provide some false hope for the ailing elder. Initially appalled, Lark eventually agrees when the doctor offers to pull some strings to get her back in the department she desires.

All of Lorenzo’s family immediately warms to Lark and vice versa, except, ironically, the grandmother she is there to please. But even more surprising are the warm feelings Lark has for Lorenzo’s firefighter brother, Dante. While Lark attempts to reconcile her life both personal and professional, her landlady and mother go through their own sets of soul searching, reminders that even the best laid plans can come undone.

Look on the Bright Side was an entertaining book albeit a little bit busy. Lark’s story is the main focus, but the detours taken that focus on others tend to seem a bit out of place. I think the story would have been better served, and better received, as one just about Lark and her journey. Instead I could see the plethora of characters each getting their own stories in a bright side series rather than trying to cram so much into one book.

Kristin Higgins’ latest novel Look on the Bright Side follows three women whose lives each take an unexpected yet rewarding detour. This moving story explores the unexpected good things that can happen when your life doesn’t go exactly as planned.

Lark’s dream is to be an oncologist, but she gets too emotional around her patients & gets transferred to work in the ER. Dr. Santani (or Dr. Satan as he is known) is the ER attending doc and he knows Lark wants to get back to oncology as soon as possible. He makes a deal with her - if she will pretend to be his girlfriend for the summer to make his dying grandmother think he has someone special in his life, he will help her get back to oncology. Lark unexpectedly ends up falling for Dr. Satan’s sexy firefighter brother. How does one keep up a fake dating ruse when you’re attracted to the wrong guy?

Lark isn’t the only member of her family going through it though. Her mom Ellie has recently separated from Ellie’s dad, and she moves in with Lark’s landlord, Joy. Ellie and Joy are both going through some things and end up forming the most unlikely of friendships. I loved following their POVs and seeing their friendship blossom, while also getting the story from Lark’s perspective as she navigates her way through both a fake relationship and the possibilities of a real one.

Higgins’ writing is top notch as always, and her characters are just so beautifully developed and easy to relate to. As I mentioned earlier, Look on the Bright Side is also a moving read. It made me laugh at times, but it also had me shedding a few tears along the way.

I recommend this book if you enjoy women’s fic, found families, & female friendships.

I am a Kristan Higgins fan girl! I will buy every book she puts out. She is a master at writing books that are like butter to sink into. Her characters are fun, round, and people that you want to root for. Fans of romance where there is also a bigger plot in play will love her stories! Oh, and there is always a very good dog!

In Look on the Bright Side, readers follow Lark, sister of Harlow from A Little Ray of Sunshine, as she navigates her residency and her life without her fiance who passed away several years ago. Lark has always wanted to be an oncologist, but she is shipped over to the ER after crying too much with the families of her patients. She also gets a surprising offer from "Dr. Satan"-- a mega-rich, mega-mean doctor at the hospital. He needs her to pretend to be his girlfriend for some family functions so that his ailing grandmother can die knowing he has found someone. In most romance novels, this would signal that we are in for Lark falling for Satan himself. However, Higgins flips the trope on its head! We also hear from Lark's landlady and Lark's mother-- all of whom speak with a unique voice and have very different experiences.

Overall, I loved it! Summer reading is for Kristan Higgins books forever!

I received an ARC of this book. I highly recommend. You will go through all the emotions for the characters. It has twists and turns, keeps you on the edge of your seat. Leaves you wanting more, but also wraps it up in a good way.

Another hit for Kristan Higgins that follows the family that we were introduced to in her last book. Lark has had tragedy in her life and her memories of her life were very moving. I don't usually get very upset about people, but their story really touched me. I'm glad Lark found how to look on the bright side and live life. The dog sounds darling too!

What a terrific book! Romance fans who love to read about a protagonist overcoming her own obstacles, look no further.