In this engaging novel, the author skillfully blends themes of loss, ambition, and unexpected romance through the journey of Lark Smith. After a tragic turn of events shatters her dreams of a fairy-tale wedding, Lark dedicates herself to a noble goal: becoming the best doctor she can be. Her determination and resilience are both inspiring and relatable, making her an instantly likable character.

Lark's unexpected twist of having to pose as the girlfriend of renowned surgeon Lorenzo Santini, known as "Dr. Satan," adds a delightful and comedic element to the story. The chemistry between Lark and Lorenzo develops gradually, and their banter is both entertaining and endearing. The juxtaposition of Lorenzo's serious demeanor with Lark’s vibrant personality creates a compelling dynamic that drives the plot forward.

The introduction of Lorenzo's brother, Dante, adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. Lark’s past connection to Dante enriches the storyline, creating tension and intrigue as she navigates her feelings for both brothers. This tension keeps readers engaged and questioning who she will ultimately choose.

However, the story does have a few pacing issues, particularly in the middle where some plot points felt rushed. A deeper exploration of Lark's medical aspirations and how her relationship with Lorenzo and Dante influences her path might have added an extra layer of depth to the narrative.

Overall, this novel is a warm and uplifting exploration of love, healing, and the importance of family and friendships in overcoming life's challenges. The author has crafted a story that resonates with readers long after the last page, making it a great choice for those seeking a heartfelt romantic tale. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys stories about personal growth wrapped in romance.

Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins is a heartwarming and witty exploration of love, loss, and unexpected second chances. Lark Smith had it all planned out: a fairy-tale wedding and a future with her high school sweetheart. But when tragedy strikes, her life takes a drastic turn, and she resolves to prevent others from facing the pain she endured. Fast forward five years, Lark is on the verge of achieving her dream of becoming a doctor when she is suddenly fired, leaving her scrambling to get back on track.

Enter renowned surgeon Lorenzo Santini, a man known for his icy demeanor and ominous nickname, “Dr. Satan.” In exchange for his help getting back into the program, Lark must pretend to be his girlfriend for the summer. As the two navigate the charade at his family’s wedding in Cape Cod, Lark unexpectedly reconnects with Lorenzo’s brother, Dante—the firefighter who was present on the worst day of her life. Despite their obvious chemistry, Lark is determined to guard her heart and avoid falling in love again.

With humor, charm, and a touch of romance, Look on the Bright Side shows that life has a way of surprising us when we least expect it. Lark’s journey of healing, laughter, and self-discovery makes this novel an uplifting read, perfect for fans of Kristan Higgins' signature blend of humor and emotion. If you're looking for a feel-good story with a mix of romance and life lessons, this one will not disappoint.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC of this book. This one was a great read if it still felt sad at times. Having read others by this author, I knew it would be heartfelt and realistic. Nurse Lark meets Doctor Santini, called Dr. Satan behind his back, and there is a "girl friend for hire" scheme. Each of them trying to keep their interactions limited and directed to keeping Nana from finding out the truth. All readers know this won't work, but alas, they try. Set in beautiful Cape Cod, with flashbacks to time before Lark becomes a nurse. The dual timeline is critical to the story and will help you see just how our world can be so connected. You'll cringe at Lark's weepiness in the beginning, but by the end you'll be the one weeping. Have tissues handy. I very much enjoyed this one.

Kristan Higgins’ *Look on the Bright Side* is a heartfelt and humor-laden tale about the unpredictability of life and the beauty that emerges when plans go awry. With her signature blend of warmth, wit, and relatable characters, Higgins delivers a story that is as touching as it is laugh-out-loud funny.

Lark Smith is an endearing protagonist whose life has veered far off course from the well-laid plans she clung to so tightly. Her emotional vulnerability and sharp humor make her a relatable and engaging narrator, as she navigates heartbreak, career setbacks, and family upheaval. The premise of a fake relationship with the grumpy Dr. Lorenzo "Satan" Santini is both entertaining and heartfelt, particularly as it thrusts her into the orbit of his big, boisterous, and flawed family.

Lark’s interactions with Lorenzo’s family, especially his estranged brother, are full of warmth and charm, offering a rich subplot of familial healing and connection. The romantic elements unfold naturally, with a slow burn that allows the chemistry to simmer before reaching a satisfying conclusion. The themes of forgiveness, second chances, and unexpected love are beautifully woven throughout the story.

The novel also shines in its exploration of female relationships, particularly the surprising bond between Lark’s recently divorced mother and her landlady, Joy. These secondary characters bring depth, humor, and poignant life lessons to the narrative, emphasizing the importance of self-discovery and the strength found in unconventional friendships.

While the story is uplifting and enjoyable, it occasionally juggles too many subplots, leaving some elements—like Lark’s career struggles—less fully developed than others. Additionally, the pacing can feel uneven, with certain moments of introspection slowing the otherwise engaging narrative.

Overall, *Look on the Bright Side* is a delightful read that celebrates the messiness of life, love, and family. Kristan Higgins’ ability to blend humor and heart ensures readers will be both entertained and emotionally moved. Fans of contemporary women’s fiction with strong romantic and family themes will find much to love in this charming, feel-good story.

I love Kristan Higgins! Her books are so real and funny! I loved this book and the one that followed Harlow. She is quickly becoming an automatic buy author for me!

This story grabbed my heart right away and didn’t let go! I love that author Kristan Higgins writes with such a way to pull all the emotions out of me while reading.

Featuring flawed characters with a marriage in crisis and strong female friendships, I loved it so much!

*many thanks to Berkley, RB Media and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

This book was really cute! I always love books by Kristan Higgins! The main two characters, doctors were great!

I really enjoyed this book! It was a captivating read that held my attention from start to finish. The story was well-paced, and the characters felt real and engaging. I’m grateful to the publisher for providing an early copy—it was a pleasure to read!

This was my first audio book from Netgalley. I'm new to audiobooks, only having read a few. I've also read a vew Kristan Higgins books, so I thought this was a great combination. This book was cute and a summer vibe...though not needing to be read in the summer. Quick and easy and I hope you enjoy it.

I'm a big Kristan Higgins fan, but I found Look on the Bright Side a bit slow to start and almost gave up on it. While the narrator is talented, she didn't pull me into the story. Overall, I'm glad I listened to the audiobook, but I wish I had read it instead.

Thank you @kristan.higgins @recordedbooks @berkleypub & @berkleyromance for the ALC & E-ARC!

My second book by this author and yet again she sure knows how to tug at my emotions. This story follows three woman. All dealing with their own things. Stories of friendship, loss, trauma, and healing. I felt this leaned more towards women's fiction. However it had romance sprinkled in with a little fake dating and marital struggles. I just felt the focus was more on their life's journey as a whole and not heavily focused on the romance, which I enjoyed. I loved that the audio narration helped me follow each of the main characters stories easily. I felt they matched their personalities to a T.

I have no doubt that at least one of these characters will be relatable to you when you read it!

I adored this story. It is full of emotion and love. Lark is a character you can’t help but fall in love with and root for. The plot is extraordinary. I laughed, I cried, but most of all I was swept up on a journey. Kristin Higgins never disappoints.

I listened to the audiobook of Look on the Bright Side. Lark was a likeable character and her story was touching and emotional. Overall I liked the story but had a difficult time with the fake dating premise in this storyline. Joy was a very likeable character and brought some needed lightness at times.

I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had read it instead of listening to it. The narrator did a fine job of reading the book - but her voice made me feel that Lark was older than she was. There was a maturity in the tone of the book that distracted me from the storyline.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for an unbiased review.

Larkby (Lark) Smith is a 33-year old resident at Hyannis Hospital. For reasons that developed based on something in her past, she wants to be an oncologist, it is her dream. Because of her emotions and that she gets emotionally involved with her patients, she has just been transferred to emergency medicine from oncology. Her goal is to get back, so when Dr. Lorenzo Santini (aka Dr Satan) makes her an offer, she accepts. Dr. Satan's 99 year old grandmother basically raised him and he will do whatever he can to make her happy. She is dying and her wish is that he be in a relationship with someone who will care about him. He askes Lark to be his fake girlfriend for his sister's wedding, and he will introduce her to people who will be able to get her back to oncology. What can she do, but accept? Things don't go as planned. Nonni doesn't like her, her mother doesn't want her to do it, and she falls for Lorenzo's brother.

I really enjoyed this story. I was not a fan of Lorenzo, he was called Dr. Satan for several reasons, but he is an amazing surgeon, saving lives others might not have saved, and he loved his nonni. His past was not a happy one and it helps show why he is the way he is. Lark's past was heartbreaking. As we learn more about it, I found myself close to tears a few times. She is such a caring person, and I love that she got emotional with her patients. Dante is a firefighter and is nothing like his brother. A secondary storyline deals with Lark's parents. Her mother finds out that her father has betrayed her, and she moved in with Lark's landlady, Joy. Joy also has a sad background that we learn about. There are a lot of secrets, emotional moments, forgiveness, moving forward and more. This is pure Kristan Higgins with wonderful and relatable characters, a great plot with intersecting stories and a happy ending. I definitely recommend this story. The audiobook was narrated by a trio of wonderful voice actors; Susan Bennett, Christina Moore and Xe Sands. They gave each of the narrators their own voice and their storytelling was wonderful. If you enjoy listening to audiobooks, I recommend you listen to this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance audio copy. I really enjoyed the story. It made me laugh. It made me cry. I really enjoyed the Smith and Santini family dynamics. I think Lark was relatable as a character and very likable. I liked that the story had multiple POVs. I think it was interesting how the author wove them together. I enjoyed the setting as I grew up going to the cape every summer. I think the ending was a nice way to wrap up the story. I’d give it a 4 out of 5!

I typically love Kristan Higgins books but this book was too slow and drawn out for me. It had potential but just didn’t hit the landing for me, thanks for the arc.

This was the first book I’ve picked up from this author. I wanted to read it because of the dog cover. It looked like a westie, in the story it’s a Carin instead. The story was good and it’s an emotional so have tissues ready. There’s some bad language, a f/f relationship, and some sex talk even though there’s no sex scenes. There’s also sprinkles of feminism and politics throughout. I thought the story was good but I think she’s the author for me.

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

Kristan Higgins writes such heartwarming novels with flawed, lovable characters. I really enjoyed the unique stories and perspectives of the three women in this one. Thankfully, it wasn’t as sad as some of her recent reads and even had some humor, especially with the fake dating scenario. I also loved the subtle While You Were Sleeping vibe involving the brother. Cancer is a trigger warning in this book if you tend to avoid that topic.

As far as the narration. Lark's narrator was kind of muffled and I had to slow down the speed of the audiobook to hear her parts better. The other narrators I found to be crisp and clear, and I preferred their performances better.

Such a delightful read. I loved the characters and Lark not only was likable but I found myself hoping she would find true love. There were so many different emotions throughout the book and I found myself - sad - happy — hopeful and amused. This will not be my last Kristan Higgins novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you netgalley for this copy .I loved the narrator and she kept me interested.This was my first book by this author and it will not be the last .Being in love is tough no matter what .Having a broken heart and healing takes time .A very relatable book .