I just adore the authors books, she never misses for me and her style of writing books that both lift you up and break your heart just really works for me. I was pleasantly surprised to see some characters from A Little Ray of Sunshine and if you’ve read that one too, I’m sure you’ll be just as delighted as I was. If you haven’t read it yet, you should! Especially if you like messy families with larger than life characters and just wonderful storytelling. But I digress, I immediately connected with Lark, she’s a tender hearted little angel who I felt protective of, I seriously wanted to tuck her into bed with some tea and a good book after learning more about her backstory. That’s the thing about this author, (and this book) is that one minute you’re laughing at some witty dialogue and the next I’m crying and didn’t even realize it. The characters here are larger than life, they leapt off the page and right into my heart. I know that’s cheesy but it’s true! Besides Lark you hear from her mom, Ellie and her landlady, Joy in alternating chapters and I just adored all three of these women. Each was struggling individually with some aspect of their life and the way they helped and supported each other was everything. Per usual this is one of the best books I’ve read this year, an emotional read with characters I won’t forget and a story that was heartfelt and beautiful.

With characters from A Little Ray of Sunshine-Kristan Higgans returns with a new story. This one is about Lark, an oncology resident, who has been moved to the ER department because she can’t handle the sadness that oncology brings. Cancer is not a new subject for Lark, as she has faced incapacitating grief with losing her finance to the disease. However, can she find love again? This cast of characters is lovable and interesting. I hope Kristan writes more books with them in it. I’m really going to miss them.

I love this authors books and her sense of humor. This book is much more serious than her past few touching on death of a loved one, cancer and some seriously gut wrenching moments. I can see this being a total tear jerker for many. It’s a bit of a combo of while you were sleeping plus higgins’ book Pack up the moon. Not my absolute fave of hers but I still gobbled it up and recommend for those that like rom cons with serious topics.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this advanced reader copy. I discovered this author last year and quickly blew through all of her books. I was thrilled when I was approved for this ARC. This book did not disappoint and really packed a punch. This book made me feel rage, humor, sadness, and happiness all at the same time. This is a must read!

Kristan Higgins is one of the only contemporary romance authors that I read and I absolutely adore her books! This new one continues in the same town and family as her last (A Little Ray of Sunshine). Wonderful characters, heartwarming story, just beautifully written and compulsively readable!

I am such a fan of this author. Her storytelling tugs at your heart and gives all the feels. If you read "A Little Ray of Sunshine", you will love this story and you'll recognize many of the characters, too. This is also a standalone story.

Lark is an Oncology Resident and has been informed that she will be working in the ER because she is too emotional. She wants to change a be a better doctor and believes her time in the ER will be for a short time. However, the top surgeon in the hospital (and everywhere else according to him) Lorenzo Santini, learns that Lark has been transferred and sees an opportunity to ask her for a "favor". Lorenzo has a reputation in the hospital, he is arrogant, obnoxious and rude. He also needs a date for three months as his sister is getting married and he wants to assure his 99-year-old grandmother (who is as cantankerous as Lorenzo) that he will be okay. According to Lorenzo, she is in hospice care, and he wants her to go peacefully with the knowledge that he will live a full life. Lorenzo's nickname at the hospital is "Dr. Satan" and the banter throughout the story highlights his personality. But Lark is not a pushover, and she gives as much as she gets. If Lark agrees, Lorenzo will introduce her to Oncologists that can possibly get her back to where she belongs. Lark shares with her family that she has a fake boyfriend and what her motivation is. She meets Lorenzo's family and cannot believe how likeable they are. She wants a relationship with all of them because they are wonderful, especially his brother Dante.

As she spends more time with Lorenzo's family, she soon realizes how she knows Dante and it brings back some difficult memories that she thought were behind her. She is forced to deal with some unfinished business, and it is painful, but Lark is a strong woman and she is determined to get her life back.

This was a wonderful story that I could not put down. These characters were so engaging and there were other stories intertwined with Lark's story. I did not want this to end and I'm hoping this author can find more to tell with these characters.

#NetGalleyARC This was a fun spring read and it’ll be a great summer read. I loved the way each MC was written and the grumpy:sunshine aspect. The relationship dynamics were well written and made the characters endearing and likable. There were some twists I didn’t expect but I found the book to be very enjoyable.

This is more women’s fiction than romance but I still liked it. I liked the Cape Cod setting and the family dynamics. The beach setting really got me in the mood for summer.

This is a story about starting over. What do you do when the thing you’ve worked towards your whole life doesn’t pan out? That’s what this book tries to answer. I liked how the author explored this and I think she did a good job portraying the characters struggles.

There is a romance here but it isn’t a huge part of the story. It was still enjoyable and entertaining.

This reminded me of Jill Shalvis’ latest series.

There’s a reason Kristan Higgins is one of my favourite authors. She tackles heavy and emotional topics, like grief, but still manages to make me smile and laugh along the way.

There’s no shying away from the emotions here, you’re right in the thick of all of these heavy and deep scenarios, yet somehow you still come out feeling like you read a heartwarming, perfect for summer - type of book.

I loved the main character, Lark, right from the start. You really get to know her and get inside her head and her heart.

There’s a sprinkle of fake dating, fun families, healthcare workers, beach town setting - really - I can’t find anything not to love.

If you’re looking for something to make you both laugh and cry - this is it!

Kristan Higgins has a talent for seeing and understanding the complexities of life. I enjoyed reading about the struggles and heartaches of 3 women from different generations and walks of life. At times I got frustrated with the characters, but when I put myself in their shoes, I was able to see and appreciate their struggles.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#LookontheBrightSide #NetGalley

Lark Smith is finishing her residency at a hospital on Cape Cod. She has had her future mapped out for a long time; marry the love of her life, become an oncologist, have some kids, and live happily ever after. Her carefully made plans are not working out. The love of her life is no longer in her life, and her emotional nature isn’t working out so well in the oncology department. She is trying to find a way to get herself back on track when a surprising offer from one of the most talked about surgeons at the hospital turns her life upside down.

Lorenzo Santini is an incredibly gifted surgeon who is also incredibly pompous and rude. He is known as Dr. Satan amongst the hospital staff. He needs to find a date for his sister’s summer wedding, not because he cares about meeting someone, but to make his beloved grandmother happy in her final days. He makes Lark an offer she can’t pass up, and she quickly becomes ingrained in his large family, much to his displeasure, and to Lark’s surprise, much to her enjoyment.

I really liked all of the characters in Kristan Higgins latest book, even Dr. Satan himself. His personality flaws did not make him a lovable character, but his background made the way he conducts himself somewhat understandable. Lark’s siblings are interesting, especially her relationship with her identical twin Addie. Lorenzo’s siblings and parents are warm and welcoming, and it is easy to see why Lark enjoys being around them so much. The secondary relationship storyline between her parents is engaging as well. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Look on the Bright Side, and would recommend it to any fan of contemporary romance who is looking for a fun, funny, smart, thoughtful story to read over the summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review will post May 21 on blog, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Look on the Bright Side is a feel-good romance about second chances, family, friendship, and finding oneself again.

Things for Lark Smith haven’t been going so well. After losing the love of her life, she throws herself into her career determined to be the best oncologist you can be. But, when she finds herself continually getting attached to patients and crying at the drop of a hat, she gets transferred to the ER. If that wasn’t enough, she just learned her parents had split up and foul-tempered surgeon, Lorenzo Santini (aka Dr. Satan) wants to fake date her to get his family off his back. What else could possibly go wrong?

I’ll be the first to admit, I didn’t really like Lark in the beginning. She cried about EVERYTHING and she was definitely in the wrong profession. Don’t get me wrong, doctors should be emotional and compassionate, but they can’t be constantly losing their composure and sobbing. Despite my initial reaction to Lark, I am happy to report that she grew on me. There was so much more to Lark than meets the eye. She’s been through a lot and I LOVED seeing her character grow and find herself again.

Look on the Bright Side isn’t just Lark’s story. It also follows Lark’s mother, Ellie, who is going through a crisis of her own. She’s at a crossroads in her life and only time will tell if she can forgive the surprising betrayal she’s encountered. And then there’s Joy. She’s Ellie’s friend and Lark’s landlord. She’s been lost since her brother passed and is trying to move past her loneliness and discover happiness once again.

Look on the Bright Side is one of those stories that you don’t see coming and will leave you utterly captivated. At first, I thought this story was going to be your typical fake relationship-type romance and was pleasantly surprised to discover it was so much more. It’s a story of love and of friendship. A story of loss and self-discovery. A story filled with second chances and the mistakes we make along the way. And I loved every single second of it.

All in all, Look on the Bright Side is an emotional, yet beautifully captivating read. I look forward to checking out more of this author’s books in the future.

Kristen Higgins never disappoints. This was a great book. it was about, love, loss, and family. Navigating the trials of life and finding your happy ever after.

Look on the Bright Side was full of surprises. As I was reading, things began to change. Family members think they know each other, but sometimes it takes an outsider to help you see what you haven't been seeing. My perspective changed from the beginning of the book to the end of the book, as the people began seeing themselves through the eyes of someone else. Sometimes books change me, and this one did change me and the way I see things now.
I received an ARC from Berkley through NetGalley.

Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins does not disappoint.

A tale of family, of list love, of friendship, of trauma, of empathy, of.... fake dating? Wait, that can't be right? Huh. Lookie that. A fantastic, emotional drama with a solid fake-dating plot. And *dayum* does she ever stick the landing.

To be honest, it might have been easier to read if I wasn't crying my eyes out much of the time but wow, did I need that! This is absolutely artful storytelling-layer after layer, brushstroke by brushstroke until the whole story is revealed.

Look On the Bright Side is a Contemporary / Womens Fiction read with some romance woven within. The main character is Lark, a medical resident in her early 30s as she attempts to navigate her life after a series of setbacks, but also features some pov and storyline of Ellie (Lark’s mother) and Joy (friend and landlady). Each woman presents a unique story and road to navigate forward, though it is interesting to watch their journeys intersect along the way.

While there are romantic storylines woven throughout and some fun elements that add levity, this is definitely not a romance read. Prepare rather for some heartache along the way. It was a well written and beautiful story and I definitely felt the distinct voice and personality of each of our mains. I read the book on a day, really invested in the pasts and futures of each woman and wanting them to find a way forward.

The characters and the challenges they faced felt very real and authentic. You wanted to see them overcome and achieve some happiness and contentment. While the story does feature moments of levity, the story deals with the realities of life and has plenty of thought provoking and tear-jerking moments too.

Overall, another wonderful Kristan Higgins read, and one I’d definitely choose or recommend for a book club read. I wish I had read this with a group as it definitely provides some great moments of reflection and would lend itself to some great discussions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read an early copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely offered.

I absolutely loved this book!! If you read anything this summer, read THIS!! There’s family drama, with a dash of comedy, and a sprinkle of some teary eye moments. Lorenzo is so pompous, he can’t see how much his family actually loves him and he tries to fit in by trying to pay for everything he can, but his good will is undone by no other than himself—so he’s never truly satisfied. He is the kind of person who does a good thing but wants everyone to know what he did, which in turn has the opposite effect of what he was trying to accomplish.

Lark, she is just so freaking passionate, and what a well rounded character. After a big failure, she realizes her passion is not exactly in the specialty she chose but rather where she ends up, which at first she sees as a demotion but it really isn’t. Her love for Justin was just too sweet and too unbearable (in a good way) at times. I couldn’t hold back the tears when I read their story, and understood what drove her to pick the specialty she had.

Dante, best fire fighter ever!!! Turn on the A/C please!

Joy—she was hilarious. Her story was kind of sad but I could see how Lark and Ellie helped her find herself. The things she did could’ve made her un-relatable and yet she wasn’t. She found a purpose for her life finally. It was so good.

Seriously…READ THIS book!
This would make a fabulous movie.

Book Review

Look On The Bright Side
By: Kristan Higgins

This book!!!! Kristan Higgins has quickly become a favorite for me and this book is a perfect example why. She grabs your attention from the first page and writes some of the most wonderfully real stories I’ve ever read.

From the very first page I knew this was going to be another winner. She had me laughing one chapter and then crying the next. That’s the best type of book…one that hits all the emotions! So much fun and so many laugh out loud moments to keep you entertained.

I absolutely loved the main character, Lark. Really, every single character…even Dr. Satan! The families were huge bonuses for me and brought so much to the story.

If you love heartwarming stories that will have you laughing out loud…definitely pick this one up. Filled with great characters, a fake dating plot, two big families, lots of humor, and tons of heart! Bravo💕

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All the stars!!!

5/5⭐️

I adore Kristan Higgans books but this was not my favorite. It was only just ok for me. I think that was mostly because of the other storylines thrown in, that had way too much background given, and were not ultimately very important. If the story had stayed with Lark it would’ve been stronger. As it was, even Larks story had too much backstory given for my interest.

Wow did I really read this in 2 days? Look on the Bright Side was a beautiful story about love, loss, healing, purpose, forgiveness and family.

As a child, Lark was the quiet and kind one, a conscientious and good student, devoted friend and then girlfriend. These personality traits were central to her identity and her goal of being an oncologist her singular focus and purpose. As she encounters professional challenges and her path doesn’t unfold exactly as she planned, she learns more and more that her formative childhood relationships and early identity markers will always stay with her as strengths but don’t have to constrain her from growing and evolving and discovering new parts of herself and new people to share them with…

I devoured this book, highlighted so many amusing passages, rooted and cried for the complex and relatable characters who all grow and change over the course of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley, Berkeley and Kristan Higgins for giving me the chance to review this book in advance of publication in exchange for an honest review.