this is my first kristan higgins book, and I swear it will not be my last 🫡 I went through every single emotion reading this story!!! I bawled my eyes out, my heart broke for the characters, I squealed in happiness, I laughed out loud, and I actually sat there and hugged the book when it was done (like a psycho I know)

needless to say, this was easily a five star read for me!!!

lark is going through a crisis in her life as she was let go from her long term job and has absolutely no idea what to do about her love life. and honestly me too lark 🥹 I love stories that make you relate to the feelings and thoughts of the character!!!

I wasn’t expecting my heart to be ripped to pieces as we found out more about lark’s backstory but THAT’S OKAY 😭😭😭 it was so beautifully written!!! I loved all of the side characters and having insert POVs of joy and ellie (lark’s mom and second mom) was such a nice touch to really give the family a full circle moment!

this was such a beautiful tribute to those working constantly in the medical field too 🤍 their work never goes unnoticed, but stories like these really bring their lives and emotions to the forefront too. I loved watching lark blossom in her new team!!!!

I could spend hours just raving about this story and how it touched me, but y’all should just pick it up and read it instead… a HUGE thank you to berkley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: niagara on the lake riesling

But it is time to share Look on the Bright Side! It is the story of a doctor who agrees to fake date a successful surgeon in exchange for his recommendation of her into the field of medicine she prefers. I do love a good fake dating so long as the miscommunication is kept to a minimum. This book was heavy. Much heavier than I was prepared for. Lark’s life was full of sadness, grief and guilt. Lark’s mom’s life was hitting a bumpy patch. And these two women had to find the strength come out of a dark place.
I may have been exhausted from a long weekend at a soccer tournament and working in between and after the games but I cried. A lot. But in the midst of the sadness and despair was so much love, hope, joy and resilience. So be prepared to get consumed by this book and feel every emotion possible.

4.5 stars

More than anything, this book is about three women going through big changes in their lives. The brunt of the story is about Lark, a young oncology resident who doesn’t know how to live her life for herself. She lost her childhood love and best friend and has lived her life for him, his parents, and her own family ever since. She may not see it that way, but that is the way it is. Being forced to switch departments at the hospital, and then entering into a strange deal with a man her coworkers call Dr. Satan, has Lark finally opening her eyes to the world around her and how much she has been holding back.

While Lark’s story is heartbreaking yet ultimately inspiring, her mom Ellie’s story filled me with the most emotions. Ellie finds out her perfect marriage actually went through a blip recently without her even realizing it happened. She is devastated and has to figure out how much forgiveness her heart holds. While she figures things out, she befriends Lark’s landlady Joy. Ellie and Joy learn a lot from one another and help each other through the changes going on in their lives.

Joy is so interesting. She’s treading water after losing her beloved brother. Although she’s been married multiple times, Joy’s brother is the only person who ever loved her unconditionally. Yet that love also seems to have enabled her to flit through life without aim. Now firmly in the senior citizen demographic, she spends her days online shopping, sleeping, and playing with her dog.

This story is beautiful all around. There are a lot of tough times. The depths of what Lark and her deceased fiancé went through broke my heart over and over. Yet her deal with Dr. Satan brings a whole new family into her life and she starts to see light in her life once again. I loved how carefully Dante dealt with Lark throughout the book. He’s such a great guy I kept hoping he would find a way to be with Lark. Yet I also ended up sympathizing with Dr. Satan. His story isn’t an easy one and I hope to see another book where he can find his HEA, maybe with Lark’s sister?

I laughed and cried throughout this book, just how I like it. I always remember that I love this author, but somehow forget just how much I get immersed in her stories.

Kristan Higgins is unmatched in the literary fiction and romance genres for me. Her books always make me feel feelings and laugh and fall in love. Kristan is also such an incredibly kind person so it makes it even easier to shout from the rooftops about her stories!

Look on the Bright Side centers around three women experiencing a crossroads in their lives - Lark, her mother, and her landlady.

Lark has been transferred out of her dream job (oncology) for being too emotional. When a colleague proposes that she pose as his girlfriend at several family gatherings in exchange for an introduction that could get her back into her dream field, she can’t say no.

This book has a grouchy elderly woman (always a yes from me), so many laughs, and moments that pull on your heartstrings. Kristan whisked me away to Cape Cod and made me believe in the power of love and family. I recommend this book SO highly.

Grab your tissues and pick up a copy of this book. Just do it.

Thank you to Berkley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Lark’s dream of pursuing a career in Oncology is placed in jeopardy when she is told that it isn’t a good fit, but she isn’t about to give up so easily so when one of the surgeons suggests an arrangement she can’t say no. If she will help him appease his ailing grandmother, then he will help her get back into the specialty she wants.

Lark isn’t sure what to make of Lorenzo as he appears arrogant and self-centered except when it comes to his family. His family and especially his brother Dante couldn’t be more different from him which only makes it that much more difficult to pretend to be dating Lorenzo.

This is a story of self discovery for Lark as with the help of Lorenzo, Dante and his family she learns to make peace with the past and discover what will make her happy in the present and the future. This story takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions from humor to heartbreak to love and everything in between.

I wanted to love this, because I am a fan of Kristan Higgins.. but this was not it for me. I struggled reading this, often times would actually fall asleep while reading. I found myself skipping over Ellie's and Joy's story because I was just focused on Lark. I understand that this is a story about 3 women who are at a crossroads in life. They all are learning to grieve and to live again after tragedy strikes- and in a way their stories are connected but also completely opposite. I just feel like with the back and forth POV's it took away from the story. I think I would have enjoyed this if each person had their own "part".

Reading this book was a complex experience for me. On one hand, it delves deeply into profound themes of life, death, and grief, capturing the emotional turbulence that accompanies these experiences. The narrative is rich with conversations and secrets, adding layers of intrigue and depth to the story. I found myself engrossed in the intricate relationships between the characters and the way they navigated their personal struggles.

However, I struggled with certain aspects of the plot, particularly the portrayal of infidelity. Cheating is something that I personally detest, and it overshadowed my ability to enjoy other elements of the story. It’s difficult for me to connect with characters who think it's acceptable to explore relationships outside of their commitments. This aspect made it challenging to fully appreciate the book, as it constantly pulled my focus away from the other, more profound themes being explored.

Despite my discomfort with the infidelity, I cannot deny that the story is deeply moving and thought-provoking. It captures the complexities of human emotions and relationships in a way that is both raw and real. While I may not have loved every part of the book, I acknowledge its depth and the skill with which it tackles difficult topics. The author evokes strong reactions and provokes thoughtful reflections on life and the choices we make.

I REALLY enjoyed this book! We, the reader, meet Lark on a bad day. Her life is getting thrown upside down again and she’s struggling with the change. Lorenzo hears about her plight and offers her a chance to meet someone else who can potentially turn things back around for her. If she helps him out. She agrees. Dr. Satan has zero personality but Lark adores his family. I enjoyed all the dynamics of these characters. These people felt realistic and I could have been friends with them. I didn’t want this book to end! Do yourself a favor and don’t let this one pass you by!

I loved this book so much. If you’re looking for the perfect beach read this summer, look no further! Higgins hit it out the park with her new book. It truly had it all and brought me tears, swoons, and smiles. I had big, fat, ugly tears during those flashback chapters.

We follow three POVs: Lark, an Oncology resident who lost her childhood sweetheart 7 years prior; Ellie, Lark’s mother who sees cracks in what she believed to be a perfect marriage; and Joy, Lark’s eccentric wealthy landlady. The book is primarily in Lark’s viewpoint and she’s definitely the main character, but Ellie and Joy were delightful to read about and I enjoyed each woman’s story. Very smart choice for the audiobook to have a different narrator for each POV! Made all the difference and made it so easy to keep track of who was narrating. Definitely recommend the audio if that’s a format you like.

If you enjoy books that make you sob, heartwarming stories about navigating tough situations, and resilient characters then I highly recommend this one. Lark is one of those one-in-a-million characters that you find yourself rooting for every step of the way. I personally liked it more than Higgin’s popular read, Pack Up the Moon.

Lark Smith is a resident Physician who has a dream of becoming an Oncologist; the tricky thing about that is she is too emotional for the job and gets kicked out of the Oncology department. Lorenzo Santini, better known as Dr. Satan at the hospital, has a proposal for her; be in a fake relationship with him to make his Noni happy in the last months of her life in exchange for Lorenzo's endorsement to the Oncology department head. All Lark has to do is attend a few family events with Lorenzo and she will be back where she belongs. Look on the Bright Side is told in alternating POVs: Lark (past and present), Ellie Smith (Lark's Mom), and Joy (Lark's landlady and friend).
Review:
Wow! Look on the Bright Side is not your typical fake dating love story; it is actually the exact opposite. It is filled with hard emotional stories of Lark's life and the loves of her life, Ellie's marriage hardships, and Joy's life reflection and finding the joy in her life again after loss. I was not fully prepared for the emotional depth and rollercoaster that Look on the Bright Side had in store for me. It is beautiful and it is gut wrenching. I cried many times throughout reading it. The story telling in this book is absolutely fantastic! I loved the way these stories interconnected and how deeply invested I was in these characters. I highly HIGHLY suggest reading Look on the Bright Side! 4.5 stars
Look on the Bright Side publishes on 5/28. What are you waiting for? Go pick up your copy!
Thank you NetGalley, Kristan Higgins, and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC of Look on the Bright Side in exchange for an honest review!

Look on the Bright Side
By: Kristan Higgins
Berkley Publishing Group
General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Women's Fiction
Pub Date: May 28, 2024

Author Kristan Higgins writes the most emotionally compelling stories, in a style all of her own. She deftly blends humor, romance, and family dynamics into the story of oncology resident Lark, in a setting of Cape Cod.
Lark didn't picture herself as someone who could fake date someone, but she finds that the unexpected can happen in both her personal life and career path.

Lark's mother and landlady also have prominent roles in this lovely, emotionally charged book. Higgins smoothly carried me from giggles to tears, and I care about her characters.

I received a gifted advance reader's copy from Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group. My review is my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(4.25)

Thank you @berkleypub @recordedbooks @NetGalley for the free books #BerkleyPartner #netgalley

Lark Smith's dream of becoming an oncologist is derailed when she's transferred to the ER for being too emotional with patients. Renowned surgeon Dr. Lorenzo "Satan" Santini offers her a deal: be his fake girlfriend for three months to reassure his dying grandmother, and he'll help her career. Unexpectedly, Lark falls for his family and brother. The story also explores the lives of Lark's mother Ellie and her landlady Joy, as they all navigate personal crossroads.

Every now and again women’s fiction catches my eye and this one did not disappoint! Though I usually hate the undertone of grief, this story pulled at my heartstrings in a way that both kept me on the edge of my seat and gave me empathy for the characters. Lark’s crushing sad memories are mixed with snarky comments and a distinct determination to fulfill her dream of being an oncologist despite her unruly emotions. Though I don’t think the POVs from Ellie and Joy were necessary, their struggles added to the heartfelt sentiment Kristan Higgins was clearly after. By the ending you’ll understand why Lark can’t help but shed a few tears.

I primarily read the physical book because after a few chapters of the audiobook I realized the primary narrator (Lark’s perspective) wasn’t for me.

Perfect for you if you like:
Dealing with grief
Multi-generation family POV
Women’s fiction with a mix of romance
Unexpected second chances

Similar to:
Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
The Switch by Beth O’Leary

⛔️vague cracked door romantic intimacy
⚠️explicit languarge, grief, death of a loved one, mentions domestic abuse, fatphobia, car accident, chronic illness

I loved this book. It follows three women Lake, Ellie and Joy and their struggles through life. There was a lot of medical things going on so at times it was a tough read. I do hope she writes another book about “Dr. Satan”. I would love to see him meet his match.

Kristan Higgins writes characters, relationships, and families that are so rich with authenticity, it’s hard to believe they aren’t real people.

If I could describe to someone why they should read her books, I’d tell them how she writes about the messiest parts of people but also about the love that surrounds people through the good times and bad. Her books may make me cry, but by the end I’m crying with happy tears. They’re cathartic and beautiful stories and characters who work their way into my heart.

Look on the Bright Side centers primarily around a woman named Lark, but also has parts of the story that center around her mother, Ellie, and her landlady (this honestly undersells her role in the story, but it is technically true), Joy. Lark is in her medical residency in oncology when her attending physician calls her into his office. It’s not good news—he’s transferring Lark to the E.R. for the remainder of her residency. She’s a good doctor, but she cries too much to work in oncology. Lark can’t even defend herself without bursting into a new round of tears.

A renowned surgeon, Dr. Lorenzo Santini, eviscerated Lark when she was a student. The people around the hospital refer to him as “Dr. Satan”. When he unexpectedly asks Lark to dinner, she learns the staff at his favorite restaurant refer to him by the same nickname. It turns out that he needs a favor. His grandmother is dying and she wants to see him happy. He asks Lark to pretend to be his girlfriend at several events that summer, leading to his sister’s wedding.

This premise may sound like a classic fake-dating, laugh-out-loud trope, but that actually isn’t the story at all. Lark soon learns how much she loves his family, one person in particular. His brother. But it isn’t as soapy as it sounds. The Santini’s are a dynamic family full of love, and Lorenzo so clearly doesn’t fit in. Lark could be good for him, if he’d open up to her advice. Alongside Lark, I fell in love with the Santini family as well. Which brother may she end up with? You’ll have to read to find out!

The storyline with being removed from oncology and Lorenzo offering to connect her with another hospital in exchange for their fake relationship may be where the story starts, but it isn’t the scope of what this book is about. The reader learns about a relationship from Lark’s past. So many things in her life have led her to where she is now. But this summer may change everything for her. Does she really want to be an oncologist, or did she convince herself of that because she has so much love to give? Can she let go of the past and be open to new experiences?

Lark’s family is another wonderful part of the story. Even more than the Santini’s, you will fall in love with the Smith’s. Lark has a twin sister, two other sisters, and a brother. But the real focus on Lark’s family drama centers around her parents. I won’t spoil what happens, but Lark’s mother Ellie has her own story throughout the novel. As Lark is going through a summer of change, it seems Ellie may be as well. I didn’t relate as much to Ellie’s story, but I loved it all the same.

Then there is the story of Joy. Joy is wealthier than she can possibly imagine, but she’s also lonely. When she met Lark, she immediately loved her and offered her to move into her guest house for free. Joy thinks of Lark as a unicorn that galloped into her world, but Lark is busy and Joy is still lonely. Joy’s backstory is heartbreaking at times, and intriguing at others. She is quite a character and the more I learned about Joy, the more I liked her.

Joy has spent her life trying to find security, both physical and financial. She’s never been happy though, except for a brief period of time when she was ironically in a loveless marriage. Lark and the Smith family may be the exact people who can save Joy from a life of loneliness. Watching Joy emerge from a life of hiding in opulence was one of the most uplifting parts of the story.

I could go on and on but I don’t want to spoil it! I encourage you to read this book. It is full of love start to finish, and left me with a warm feeling in my heart after turning the last page. Another wonderful novel from Kristan Higgins that will have you appreciating the messiest parts of your life and the beauty that comes from the imperfect moments as much as the perfect ones.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.


Lark was valedictorian so it’s no surprise she had a checklist for her life. Become an oncologist, have a loving marriage and become a mom, but nothing is going to plan. When her emotions consistently get in the way she is moved out of oncology and her parents are splitting up. She feels totally lost but when Dr. Satan, excuse me Dr. Santini offers up an arrangement she accepts. He wants her to come as his “date” to his sister’s wedding so his Noni (grandmother) sees him happy and he will help get her back to oncology. Lark immediately falls in love with his entire family.
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I don’t want to say too much because I have read a lot of fake dating and they typically go one way but this one didn’t! Also, don’t let the cover fool you this is not a lighthearted rom com. This focuses on the lives of three women, Lark, her mom and Lark’s landlady Joy. This is a story about growth, forgiveness, and love all done in one beautiful summer!
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Look on the Bright Side had me tearing up by the end!

Lark Smith is rotating through oncology when she's told she will be sent to rotate through the ER instead because she gets too emotional with her patients. Yet, the only thing she wants is to become an oncologist, so when Dr. Lorenzo "Satan" Santini offers her an exchange she decides to accept it. Dr. Satan needs a date for the next three months to convince his dying grandmother that he is not alone. If Lark says yes, he will call his connections to get her closer to an oncology position. The last thing Lark was expecting was to fall for his family and for his brother, Dante.

Chapter by chapter, we start discovering what happened to Lark and why she has an obsession with oncology. At the same time, we also get two more POVs. One is Lark's mother Ellie. The other one is Joy, Lark's landlady.

The summer will be a summer of growth for all three.

Look on the Bright Side is a woman's fiction novel with a side of romance. It is also about loss, healing, and self-discovery.

As always, Kristan Higgins writes an emotional ride that I can't help but enjoy.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE captured me from the beginning. It was very relatable. Each one of these ladies were struggling but clearly Lark's story touched me the most. Higgins really knows how to pull your heart strings. I was both sad and happy at the same time. I'd recommend grabbing a cozy blanket because once you start this book you won't want to stop.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) shortly.

LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE by Kristan Higgins is filled with family and friends, jobs and careers, angst, turmoil, illnesses and death. There are so many layers to the story and to the characters. There are some laugh out loud moments but also tears in this emotional read that had me turning the pages to see what would happen next.

This is Lark and Lorenzo's story but also about Justin, Lark's first love, and how it shaped her. There are twists and turns in this story that is filled with extended family and their hierarchy and roles.. There are multiple stories being told and all had a realism to them. There are vivid descriptions and attention was paid to details, all which had an importance in the telling of the tale. There are wonderful supporting characters who added a richness to the story as well. There is closure that was not what I was expecting but the happily ever after I was rooting for. The epilogue was too short but heartwarming and I would have liked if some of the in-between moments that must have occurred from the end of the story to the epilogue had been included..

LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is a heartwarming tale of love in this multigenerational story set on the Cape and in Boston with vivid descriptions and lots of emotions. If you are a fan of contemporary romances and haven't read any of Ms. Higgins books, run don't walk to your nearest bookstore or library. You'll be glad you did!

I rated the book 4.5 stars but rounded to 5 stars here and on other sites.

What happens when a girl meets love of her life in kindergarten? Both fall in love and plan to get married in college….only for life or death to interrupt the plans…
Lark decided marriage is not for her anymore. Her goal is to get through her forced residency rotation in ER, toughen up, get back into oncology and spend her life saving lives of cancer patients.

“It was frustrating, how the worst times seemed to have so much more power than the good times.”

Ok I need a minute here. I am not sure I even have the words to do this book justice. It feels like it was written FOR me. Look On The Bright Side had me falling in love with my native New England through someone else’s eyes.

Full of both genetic and found family, this story is what I look for every time I open a new book. That can’t put it down and get utterly lost in it feeling. All of the stars, man. All of them.

And on a side note Kristan Higgins…“‘We can always hit Kream ’n Kone after,’ Sofia said, smiling at Lark. ‘You’re from the Cape, right?’ ‘Yes. Wellfleet,’ she said. ‘I’m happily familiar with Kream ’n Kone.’” 🤫 don’t be giving away our secrets!! This hidden gem on the Cape is always my first stop any time I’m down there.

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.