Had the pleasure of reading “Look on the Bright Side” by Kristan Higgins. It was a heartwarming story of love, family, and the relationships that exist within all our lives.

Kristan did an amazing job bringing each character to life and making you feel like they could be someone you know. The quick-witted comments between characters had me laughing out loud. I’m sad that the story is over!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read the book in exchange for my review!

I need an uplifting and easy to read book at this point and this book fit that bill. It was a great story with character backgrounds that made you want to crawl into the book and get to know them. There were a lot of characters but by the end you understood all of them and their place in the story. The crux of the story was a grumpy physician who thinks he is above the world and a down to earth intern who is still struggling with loss. He asks her to play at being his girlfriend for a family wedding. She agrees and falls in love with this family and even starts falling for his brother. This was just a heart warming book that really did make you experience all of the "feels." Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC and audiobook. The narrator was great too.

Lark has been transferred out of oncology after losing a patient and having a major meltdown, but being an oncologist is her dream.In comes Dr Santini (Satan) who wants her to be back on oncology rotation so they can fake date for three months to convince his grandma, who is dying, that he has someone in his life. Things get crazy when she meets Dr Santiniś family, including his brother Dante. When the reason Lark is obsessed with being an obstetrician is revealed, it definitely pulls at your heart strings.

This is an emotional rollercoaster of a read. From smiling, to tears, to laughing, it gave me all the feels. It is full of romance, heartache, grief, and the best of all, second chances. I definitely recommend this book and I gave it a strong 4 stars  .

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the audio ARC.

This was such a beautiful book about healing after loss. I instantly loved Lark’s character and her story. Kristan Higgins did a wonderful job of portraying grief, while still including light moments that made me laugh. In addition to Lark’s heartfelt story, I loved the friendship that developed between Joy and Ellie, and being able to see their POVs. The audiobook was also well produced, and I enjoyed all 3 narrators. I highly recommend this book, and audiobook, for those looking for a beautiful story that will make you both laugh and cry. I can’t wait to read more by Kristan Higgins.

Read if you like:
- Emotional romances
- Multiple POVs
- Multiple timelines
- Some fake dating

Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Kristan Higgins fan here…this one was no exception. It was a little slow to begin and I had trouble figuring out who the different points of view were at first, but caught on after awhile. Heart wrenching story of loss and love again. As usual there’s a character who has a gay story and that’s getting difficult to avoid in books now. I loved the story though and it was well written. I wanted more at the end! Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

4 ⭐️. What a beautifully heartbreaking book. If you’ve ever read a Kristan Higgins book you know to expect some emotional depth, some laughs and some tears - this was no exception. It was not as humorous as previous books I’ve read by her but it hits square in the feels. This story takes place in Cape Cod and tells the story of 3 women, Lark, an oncology resident who starts to fake date her mean surgeon co-worker (not the rom com you’d expect it to be) and is suffering from trauma in her own past, Lark’s mother Elle who finds out some not so great news about her decades long marriage and Joy, Lark’s land lady who is dealing with the death of her brother and learning how to make her own path. Each of these stories is told in past and present and weaves together a story about finding your own path when life gets tough. I’d categorize this as women’s fiction with a touch of romance and family drama. For some it may feel slow but I was never bored in this touching story. It was a tad predictable but it was the emotion and details that carried this story for me, even when I knew what was going to happen.

I listened to this audiobook and the 3 narrators did an amazing job - I highly recommend the audio version. The narrator of Joy reminded me of a Jennifer Coolidge impersonation but it was kind of spot on for the character.

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media and Kristan Higgins for the advanced listeners copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a big fan of the author, and I really liked this newest book. I wasn't expecting the stories of the Smith family to continue, but they are a rich group of characters to draw from. Lark's story has a lot of the bittersweet in it (readers who are sensitive to cancer or hospice story lines be advised that these are a big part of her story), but there is enough charm balanced with the story to enjoy it. I felt like the narrator for Lark's storyline felt a little "older" than I interpreted her character, but the other narrators were excellent.

Five stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I received the audiobook which is great! There are three narrators - one for each of the three main characters. This makes it easy to follow. This is a book about families and relationships. For the most part, this is a light, fun read but there are a couple of tear jerker moments. The book reminded me of Elin Hilderbrand's Nantucket books. (This one takes place in Cape Cod.) I highly recommend this book - especially the audiobook to anyone who enjoys family drama.

Higgins writes the most amazing stories that are impossible to put down. She has this beautiful way of telling a story that envelopes you. This new release is one of those stories. 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. This is one story that definitely will pull on your heartstrings. You could be laughing and smiling on one page and tears rolling on the next page. This book has a few triggers in it especially surrounding the death of a loved one and chronic illness. It’s also filled with love and life. It’s a story of family and permitting yourself to open your heart. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

I’m fairly new to Kristin Higgins’ books but once I listened to one I was hooked. I’m slowly making my way through her past books. This is the first one that there is more than one story going on although the three ladies are all in each other’s lives. This was a beautifully written look into each woman’s point in life where it’s time for change. Lark’s story was heartbreaking at first but I was really pulling for her to have her happy ending. I’m not familiar with the other two narrators but Xe Sands always delivers for telling a great story. Thank you to NetGalley and RB media for this free advanced copy

I was thrilled to receive this audiobook as my first ever ARC!

This book transported me right to the beach which is something I love.

The way the characters were written and how they grew throughout the story was really heartwarming. It felt like I was becoming friends with the characters as the story went along, especially Lark.

I also enjoy a good fake dating trope, so this book was definitely right up my alley.

For a beach read, I did feel this book dealt with some pretty heavy topics and emotions, so I recommend checking triggers on this one if that's something that could possibly impact you. Ultimately though I feel like this is a story of learning to love after loss and overcoming life's curve balls.

The story's engaging nature kept me hooked until the very end, making it a highly recommended read. While some found it predictable, I found the characters so well-crafted that I couldn't help but be drawn into their lives. The variety of emotions the book elicited, from sadness to joy and everything in between, made it a truly immersive experience. Additionally, the narration by Jerod, Susan Bennett, Xe Sands, and Christina Moore added another layer of depth to the storytelling, enhancing the overall listening experience. Whether you're looking for a heartwarming summer read or simply a captivating story, this audiobook delivers on all fronts. Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and RB Media for providing an advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

I knew going in that this book would likely have a few POV's, past/present scenes, a dog and a lot of character growth and finding themselves because that is what this author always gives us and I was not disappointed.

I enjoy past/present scenes in a story because it helps me feel like I know the characters so much more but I have to admit with this one I was a little confused a few times when a new POV was introduced because I didn't know who it was or how she tied into the story but it all came together. I loved how all 3 women were so completely different. That made this story so much more enjoyable for me. I really liked how each of them figured out what they wanted and chased it in the end. The romance was meh for me because I didn't really feel the chemistry but that is ok because this is listed at general fiction not romance.

The narration was good, I am glad there was 3 different narrators, I love when each main character has their own voice. I have listened to Susan Bennet & Xe Sands hundreds of time so I knew I would like their work but I had not heard of Christina Moore before but as soon as she started speaking I was sure I had actually listened to her in a PNR book that I loved. I can't confirm it is a pseudonym but I am convinced it is and I loved her narration in this book.

This was a DNF for me at 20% - It changed POVs and I didn't even know who's POV I was listening to and am incredibly bored. I thought this was a faking dating romance but it seems the description was a bit misleading. I don't really understand the decision behind the formatting for this book. It doesn't make sense to me.

Thank you NetGally for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review. I just can't continue with whatever this is.

4.5 🌟

Although technically a standalone, I recommend reading A Little Ray of Sunshine first, as two of the main characters are related to the FMC from that book. As someone who really enjoyed A Little Ray of Sunshine, it was fun to read a story that was connected to that world.

This story primarily centers around Lark Smith, an oncology doctor who is sent to work in the ER because she gets “too emotional” with her patients. A dinner out with the renowned “Dr. Satan,” though brings about a unique arrangement that may be her ticket back into oncology.

The other two plot lines, which are certainly important to the story but somewhat secondary to Lark, involve Lark’s mom and Lark’s landlord. Both women are coping with various hardships and end up helping one another.

I’d say that this book is more of a women’s fiction read, rather than a true romance (though there is absolutely romance involved). The more prominent themes are around healing, grief, and family.

I listened to this book and found the audio to be a great option!

Higgins is great at making the reader feel big feelings, and this latest novel does that very well. The bulk of the story centers on Lark, who wants to be an oncologist but is bumped out of the program to work as an ER doctor instead. Lark is dealing - or not - with a past tragedy, and has yet to really move forward with her life. When a grumpy surgeon asks her to pose as his girlfriend for the summer to pacify his dying grandmother, Lark finally starts opening her life up to possibility and growth, though not in the directions you would assume with a typical fake dating trope. At the same time, Lark's mother Ellie leaves her husband and moves in with Lark's landlady, Joy. All three women undergo a summer of change, friendship, and love, and Higgins really brings the women, and the Cape Cod setting, to life on the page. There is one scene with a falcon, a pigeon, and the aforementioned grandmother that had me laughing the whole way through, and then just a chapter later I had tears in my eyes at a heartbreaking scene. I love a book that can make me both laugh and cry. The audiobook is really well done, with a different narrator for each of the three women. If you need a lovely, heartwarming summer read, look no further. Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for an audiobook review copy.

Rounded up from 3.5
I have a feeling this book did not know what it wanted to be. In the first 15%, I was super excited, thinking this was going to be a grumpy sunshine, fake dating romance. Yay! However, there are other characters mixed in with different POVs, and although there is some romance, this is much more of women's fiction than a romance, which I thought was misleading and disappointing. Although the story revolves around three main characters, it goes much deeper into Lark's POV. The introduction of each character was so painfully long, it took too long for the story to really set into motion, by which point I didin't care anymore. It's sad, really, because Lark was annoying at first, but it got better as we got to know her better. Why not try to make her more sympathetic by introducing more of her backstory in the beginning, given that the author spent so much time introducing her? I liked the exploration of grief and forgiveness and self-acceptance. I really liked when the story focussed more on Lark and her love interest, so I definitely would've liked the story to lean more into the romance and solely on Lark's POV. The narrators did an amazing job in the audio book, but I would recommend other books by this author before I'd recommend this one.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you NetGalley RB Media and Kristan Higgins. I’ve been so excited for this latest novel and it didn’t disappoint. Get your tissues ready!

Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins is another winner from one of my auto-buy authors.

I know going in that I'm going to sob at some point and holy moly the narrator brings the tears on in full force at certain points in the story. She is so believable and has narrated a lot (all?) of Ms. Higgins books and they make a great team.

The story is about Lark, a doctor who wants to be an Oncologist, but she cries too much, so she is kicked down to the ER. Enter Dr. Santini aka Dr. Satan who provides Lark with an offer of money and a shot back in Oncology if she does him a favor. (no spoilers)

There's a subplot with great secondary characters too.

I always think that these books will turn formulaic, but they never do. I know I'm going to enter whatever New England setting Ms. Higgins puts us in and have a good time, a good cry, and a sense of satisfaction when done.

Don't miss this audiobook if you like Kristan Higgins books, you won't be sorry.

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

Another heart-wrenching summer beach read from the absolute Queen of the tear-jerker women's fiction romances! This book sees Lark and Justin, two high school sweethearts torn apart from a cancer diagnosis just before their wedding.

Fast forward seven years and Lark is working towards becoming an oncologist and gets asks by a gruff big shot surgeon to be his fake girlfriend to help make his daying grandmother happy only to have her falling for his estranged brother.

Moving, perfect for fans of While you were sleeping and great on audio. This is going to make you feel ALL the feels as you soak up the sun on the beach. HIGHLY recommended but take care for readers who are sensitive to books about grief and loss from cancer.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review. There is also a secondary timeline featuring an older woman in the book and of course the author's trademark canine companions. Fans won't want to miss it!