A feel good women fiction read, about love, loss, second chances, grief and growth of three women at different stages of their lives. The story mostly surrounds Lark, a medical resident in Oncology who gets very emotional taking care of her patients. She is transferred to ER just for that teary reason. There are flashbacks with Lark that explains why and gives one background on Lark and her family.
Dr. Santini, alias Dr. Satan, is no nonsense but will do anything for his dying beloved grandmother. Even if that means talking Lark into being his pretend girlfriend for a family wedding.
Lark’s mother is also prominent in the book with her own story line. A workaholic to help her large family make ends meet, now is facing the empty nest with her retired husband. Although that is not the only change.
A smaller part is Joy, dealing with her recent brother’s death and finally finding herself.
There were a few choked up moments and tears. Which tells you how well the author wrote this story. Love the narrative by the three ladies, truly make it very compelling and enjoyable. Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are mine own. #LookontheBrightSide. #KristanHiggins

Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins
Audiobook on NetGalley
Narrated by Susan Bennett, Christina Moore & Xe Sands
Overall: 4
Narration: 5
Spice: 1

Three women spend a summer questioning their life choices and learning about themselves in this heart wrenchingly beautiful story.

Lark is thrilled to finally be working in her dream job in her residence in Oncology when she’s suddenly removed from the program and plopped into Emergency Medicine. Oncology is her dream thanks to her personal history, so she makes a deal with cranky Dr. Lorenzo Santini (Dr. Satan for short) to be his fake date for his summer of family events in exchange for his putting in a good word for her return to Oncology. Meanwhile, Lark’s mother Ellie has discovered something that questions her decades old happy marriage and moves in with the eccentric and lonely Joy, who is also Lark’s land lady.

As they say, never judge a book by its cover. I did not heed that advice when I started this audiobook and expected a cozy, coastal, summer love story. It is a coastal, summertime love story, but I would not consider it cozy. The conflicts of the three women – Lark, Ellie & Joy – are thought provoking and heart breaking. Higgins does a masterful job of providing just a slow drip of the back story that has brought the three women to their current crisis. It keeps you listening to know the whole story. It did feel like Higgins had done such a good job of slowly developing the story that the ending then felt a bit rushed in comparison. I was questioning how one love could develop after only five interactions, but the chemistry was there to support it. Overall the character development of the three women was very good and provided the reader time to consider what they would do in the same position. The three narrators for the women was very enjoyable and the voice actors perfectly suited their characters. The book should come with a trigger warning as there are many depictions of injuries, death & cancer as Lark works in the ER and a hospice house.

I love love love Higgins!! This story was super sweet. But was lacking in the “connections” of the characters for me. I wanted MORE between Lark and Dante, or more angst between Lark and Lorenzo. I loved Joy and the storyline of Elssie was THE VERY BEST and I wanted SO much more of that.

3.75 stars

I’m a total baby when it comes to sad books. Not unlike the main character in Kristan Higgins’s new novel, Look on the Bright Side, I cry very easily. I feel empathy so deeply in my soul, I often can’t control it when I see others suffering or even sometimes think about them suffering. But it can be a super power, right? This book has it all!

Why should you read it?
Kristan Higgins writes characters, relationships, and families that are so rich with authenticity, it’s hard to believe they aren’t real people. I mentioned that I struggle with sad books, and Higgins’s books have moments that make me weep. My throat closes, my eyes tear up, but I also can’t put her books down.

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.

What is it about?
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.

Audiobook review

Books with alternating narrators can be hit or miss with audiobooks. If they use a single narrator, the person needs to be able to narrate in a way that the reader can keep straight. With multiple narrators, they need to match the character whom they are narrating. Look on the Bright Side fell in the latter camp, with Susan Bennett, Xe Sands, and Christina Moore bringing the central characters to life. I enjoyed the audiobook, and the narrators brought the emotion that the story demands. However, I thought that Xe Sands wasn’t the right choice for Lark’s narrator. Xe Sands is talented (I’ve read other books narrated by her), but her voice sounds older and too wry to capture Lark the right way. Otherwise, an outstanding performance!

Thank you to Recorded Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and RB Media for the ARC in return for my honest review of this audio book.

I was thrilled to listen to this one because I'm a huge fan of Kristan Higgins, but I'm sorry to say that I had to DNF this. I found the narration very monotone, uninteresting, and it just didn't work with the storylines.

The first storyline of Lark, a physician resident who starts in oncology, but is too sensitive so she is told to pick a new area, is developed a bit slow. The story then goes into the next character who is an artist, and the story with her retired husband. I felt like I was reading two different books and that's when I had to end listening. I love reading books that take place in Massachusetts, where I live, so I was disappointed that I didn't click with this one for that reason as well.

I will maybe try reading the book at some point, but the audio just didn't work for me.

Lark experienced so much sadness, I enjoyed her learning more about herself and forging new relationships. The family dynamics were fun and I loved that she had a twin sister. Aside from Dr Satan and Grandma, the cast was full of truly likeable characters.

I often recommend Kristan Higgins' books to friends looking for a well-rounded read - something not too heavy, not too light, with a good story and likeable characters, some romance but also some meat to the story. I always say "She hasn't disappointed me yet." After reading her latest book, that still holds. This is really the story of three women, all of whom find themselves navigating some of the detours that life loves to throw at us all. Lark wants to be an oncologist, but has a tendency to get too emotionally attached to her patients. She's been transferred to working in the ER for a while, to try to develop some of the detachment she needs. Ellie, Lark's mother, has a marriage that's been the envy of all who know her. But suddenly she finds herself in need of a break. Joy is Lark's landlady who's been unlucky in love and in family, aside from her beloved brother. What she does have is a lot of money and a beautiful home - but she's feeling a bit lonely and adrift when Ellie asks if she can stay with her while she sorts out her life. In the end, perhaps one of the things I like best about this book is how well it illustrates what I often say about life, and my own life in particular - sometimes when you look back at your life to date, the things that seemed to be a big detour/hurdle/obstacles can end up leading to some of the best parts of your life.
I listened to this as an audiobook - Xe Sands is the perfect narrator for Kristan Higgins' books, she always voices her characters perfectly. She narrates the parts that focus on Lark. In this instance she's joined by Susan Bennett and Christina Moore, who provide wonderful narrations for the other two women in the story.
Thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

I loved this book. Each and every moment of it. Wonderful well developed characters all trying to live their best lives, warts and all. Lark met her soul mate as child and thought they’d be together for their rest of their lives when tragedy strikes. She is emotionally stuck, even with the love and support of her crazy, real wonderful invasive nose loving family. When she is sent to work in the ER to toughen up after being booted from her oncology rotation for being “too soft” she knows things have to change, but what and how is the real question. All she wanted was to be an oncologist so others don’t suffer the loss she did. Then she has renewed hope when the worlds worst person, who happens to be an incredible Dr offers her a deal. Be his fake girlfriend to appease his beloved, yet truly awful grandmothers mind and he will introduce her to his contacts in the oncological world. He is nicknamed Dr. Satan for a reason and yet, he and his truly awful personality is what finally give her the strength to take charge of her own life, move forward knowing she is not disappointing anyone or their memory, opening her heart and figuring out what kind of medicine she wants to practice. The cast of characters is wonderful as well as the other side stories woven into the main plot line. Again, I loved every moment of this book that was narrated beautifully.

The narrators were okay. I kind of just got used to them, but I can’t say I thoroughly enjoyed them. The book was good! The Lark/Dante story was a little predictable. As was the fact that she chose to stay in emergency medicine. Overall, a good read. Enjoyable summer novel.

Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins and narrated by Susan Bennett, Xe Sands, Christina Moore is an enjoyable, feel-good audiobook that is equally heartbreaking and inspiring, moving and uplifting

Lark Smith has suffered great tragedy in her life, when the love of her life was taken from her in an instant, her life crumbling around her. But Lark is not the type to stay down and she chooses to work through her grief by becoming the best Doctor she can be. Well, that is until life decides to throw a sucker-punch and she loses her job. Can things get any worse?

The story follows a Summer in Cape Cod, a fake relationship, the most wonderful friendship and a highly engaging and relatable cast of characters. The brothers are a great dichotomy, Lark is the sweetest bean, but the star of the show was for me, Joy. Joy is a great touch because she adds a wonderful comedy dimension to the plot that balances the book out so very well

A very enjoyable listen

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media | Recorded Books, the author Kristan Higgins and the narrators for this ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Oh. My. Gosh. I couldn't love this book more! The audio version was absolutely fabulous. There are multiple storylines in this book, which can be confusing at times. But I thought that each character played a vital role in the storytelling and they all came together so well. Highly recommend this book to everyone!

Look on the Bright Side is the story of Lark, a doctor, who wants to be an oncologist, but is forced to step back and work in the ER. While working in the ER her life will be turned upside down, once again.
I enjoyed most of the characters and even Dr. Satan starts to grow on the reader. There is some heartache but in the end Lark overcomes the trauma she has faced and is happy.

Okay, this kills me to say, but I came really close to DNFing this one after being indebted to Kristan Higgins for introducing me to my love of romance. I was thrilled to received an ALC (because of the aforementioned) and love that there were multiple narrators. But there were two things that almost had me stopping. This book relies heavily on the past. The synopsis gave me the idea that it would be a fake dating romcom, but instead it felt like at least a quarter to a third of the book dealt with events from Lark’s past involving her fiancé Justin and his cancer diagnosis. The reader should be aware that this book deals heavily with grief and on page cancer suffering even if it is all described from Lark’s POV in the past. I didn’t want to feel sad! I’m not opposed to crying over my romances, but the grief and sadness of Justin’s diagnosis overshadowed a lot of the light-heartedness.

The second thing that initially threw me was the side stories of Joyce and Ellie. Again, I wanted to read more about Lark and Dr. Satan (aka Santini), but felt thrown for a loop listening to Lark’s landlady’s story and her mother’s story. Once again, the former takes place mostly in the past and I just kept wanting to be in the present. I did ultimately enjoy these characters stories—Ellie’s especially, but was under the impression that Lark’s story would be the central one.

What did I enjoy? Lark’s fake relationship with Lorenzo was really funny. I kept waiting for him to change and soften towards her, but nope, he was truly awful which made for great comedy. XE Sands did a great job narrating their banter and I liked her voice for Lorenzo. I also surprisingly liked Joy even if I felt like I knew way too much of her history. I will also say that as someone in the medical field, Higgins has really done her research and wrote authentic physicians. Did I ultimately end up enjoying the book? Yes, but I think I miss Higgins’s older family series where one couple is the main focus with less diversions. Fun fact: the voice of Siri is one of the narrators and I kept thinking how familiar this voice sounded…turns out I hear her all the time! All narrators were great and I enjoyed all three. Please check your trigger and content warnings before reading this one if you are only expecting light and fluffy. I received an early ALC of this book. All opinions are my own.

CWs: grief, death of a significant other, multiple descriptions of someone dealing with cancer, verbal abuse, emotional affair, cheating (off page), emergency room trauma, car accident involving injury

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I must admit when I first saw this title on Netgalley, I thought it was another author that I have previously read and really enjoyed so I requested the audiobook ARC. I am so glad for the mistake as I really enjoyed this read. It was touching, funny, heart breaking, and also so joyous. I loved the characters and the family support around each of them. I loved their honesty and vulnerability as they overcame great trials and sadnesses and still looked for goodness in others and in themselves. The narrator did a great job with the story and really made me feel a part of it. I would happily share this title with friends and look forward to reading more by Kristan Higgins.

Her decision to switch from Oncology for being too emotional left her with two choices: pose as Dr. "Satan's" girlfriend, an ER attendant, at his sister's wedding to ease his ailing grandmother's concerns, or face a permanent ER assignment. She falls for his brother unexpectedly, which complicates things.
My timing for reading this was perfect, just when I needed it. Narrated from three perspectives, each character grapples with their isolation in friendships, romantic relationships, or the loss of a partner. Throughout the story, we witness the blossoming of these vital connections.
Kristan Higgins crafts beautifully intricate and emotionally charged stories featuring robust yet believably imperfect characters who feel like old friends. This tale introduces us to not one, but three vibrant main characters, each with their distinct voice and backstory, enriching the narrative's tapestry. As a fan of the 'found family' motif and the strength of friendship, I found myself deeply connected to Lorenzo's and Lark's families and the evolving bond between the other main characters.
The audiobook features a full-cast narration that deepens the emotional resonance and clarifies the shifting perspectives, a signature of Higgins's storytelling style.
I recommend this book to readers of Women's fiction, multigenerational sagas, themes of found family, depictions of female friendships, and emotionally charged stories with multiple points of view.
I want to thank NetGalley, Berkley Pub, and Recorded Books for the complimentary copies.

I absolutely adored PACK UP THE MOON by Higgins so couldn’t click request quick enough when I spotted this on netgalley! Did I expect it to be this emotional from the sunny cover? No I did not. Should I have known better? Absolutely🤭

This was an emotional, compelling + authentic story that flicked between three women, all at a crossroads in their lives, and all working through emotional trauma—— Lark, her mum Ellie + Lark’s landlady Joy. The multiple perspectives + timelines made this a gripping plot that held my attention throughout + I enjoyed all the storylines equally.

I really related to Lark as a character… I mean, she literally got fired from her job in oncology bc she was too emotional and if that isn’t me then idk what is🥲 I loved the whole Santini family, especially Noni + Dante, but even Lorenzo as he finally let his walls come down around him.

Lark’s past with Justin made me BAWL. I had to switch to the radio multiple times on my drive just to give myself a breather bc Higgins knows JUST how to pull on your heartstrings. The twist around how Dante + Lark knew each other was SO perfectly done (and ofc also made me bawl) and the way the plot played out was flawless.

If you’re looking for an emotional, captivating tearjerker of a book, pick this one up!

𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝐵𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠 & 𝑅𝐵 𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑑𝑣𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤. 𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑜𝑤𝑛.

Story: 4.5 ⭐/ 5 ⭐
Narration:5 ⭐/ 5 ⭐
General: 4.5 ⭐/ 5 ⭐

Kristan Higgins, once again, delivers an engaging and heartwarming story.

NO SPOILER SECTION

Main Points Summary:
-> The concept of a fake relationship is a charming and engaging plot.
-> The theme of moving on from grief is compelling and well-executed.
-> Despite some predictability, quirky elements and characters keep the story fresh and interesting.
-> Standout characters like Lark, Joy, and Dr. Satan add depth and enjoyment to the story.

An Enjoyable Emotional Journey:
"Look on the Bright Side" by Kristan Higgins is an emotional yet uplifting story that kept me entertained from start to finish. The idea of a fake relationship provided an interesting framework, while the underlying theme of moving on from grief added emotional depth. Despite being somewhat predictable, the quirky elements and unique characters kept me engaged and entertained throughout.

Character Highlights:
Lark, the main character, stood out as particularly endearing. Her journey was relatable and heartwarming. Joy, the lady who had never held a job, brought a unique charm to the story, making her one of my favorite characters. Dr. Satan added another layer of interest.

Joy's enthusiasm for helping people and her idea of hosting a slow-motion volleyball event was infectious and a highlight of the book. It's moments like these that showcase Higgins' talent for creating memorable and relatable characters.

Narration Praise:
The narrator's unique voice significantly enhanced my listening experience. The delivery was engaging and brought the characters and story to life. This book is an excellent example of how a talented narrator can elevate storytelling, making it even more enjoyable.

Final Thoughts:
"Look on the Bright Side" is a delightful and heartwarming listen. With its engaging plot, relatable themes, and well-developed characters, it stands out as a testament to Kristan Higgins' storytelling abilities and why I like her books so much. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable and emotionally resonant audiobook.

Conclusion:
If you're in search of a well-narrated, emotionally engaging audiobook with a touch of humor and charm, "Look on the Bright Side" by Kristan Higgins is a fantastic choice. It's an enjoyable listen that will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart.

Audiobook length: 12 hours, 34 minutes / Publishing June 4, 2024

Thank you NetGalley, RB Media, and Berkley Books for allowing me an early audiobook read of Look on the Bright Side by author Kristan Higgins. I was really anticipating Ms. Higgins latest novel. I enjoyed several of her previous light-hearted, endorphin boosting stories. Look on the Bright Side did not meet my expectations for a number of reasons. The glaring issue was the horrible audio: something is wrong with the narrator/audio quality. I tried in the NetGalley app, purchased the book on Audible, and borrowed a copy from my library in order to complete and review it. I also tried listening on several different devices. The incoherent audio makes it impossible to enjoy this book. The narrator cast for this book did not suit the characters well. I listened to the audiobook read by Xe Sands, Susan Bennett, and Christina Moore. Xe Sands was the dominant narrator, and I have enjoyed some of her other readings. However, the narration quality for Look on the Bright Side was incredibly disappointing, especially the scenes in the hospital in Chapter 5. I cannot believe how poor the reading in that chapter is. Xe Sands (Lark) mumbled frequently, which made it hard to understand large parts of the book. In addition to the poor quality of the narration, the speed between the three narrators was also off. This story is set in Cape Cod and told from the POV of Lark, Ellie, and Joy. I love Cape Cod and was really hoping there would be more imagery, but alas. I found the slow pacing made this novel longer than it needed to be. The chapters were too long and excessively drawn out. The plot was just okay, and I think part of that was due to the additional storylines of Ellie and Joy that were introduced. They didn't contribute significantly to the overall storyline, and felt like insignificant filler. This book was also far more melancholy than I had anticipated. I love the cover and the title 'Look on the Bright Side,' yet there was very little brightness. The majority of the book was too heavy with family drama, loss, grief, cancer, and death. I did not enjoy the ending, and I do not consider this to be a Cape Cod beach read. I say this after listening to more than half of the audiobook on a Cape beach. Hopefully the publishers remedy the quality of the audiobook narration. 2/5

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book was a feel good romance that also touches on grief. I really enjoyed it but had to take a star away for the overdue of the work wicked since it takes place in the northeast

Kristan Higgins always delivers a contemporary novel that blends humor and heartfelt moments! Her latest, Look on the Bright Side is no exception!

A vibrant cast of characters, each with their own unique quirks and challenges makes this book feel like you are in the moment with each one. Lark Smith has always had a plan for her life: find a fantastic guy, create a marriage as blissful as her parents’, pop out a couple of kids and build a rewarding career as an oncologist. But things aren't going so well. Fired from her oncology gig, Lark is forced to reevaluate her life plan. When she's approached by renowned, yet narcissistic surgeon Lorenzo Santini to be his plus one for his upcoming wedding events she falls for his family, especially his firefighter brother Dante.

The family dynamics woven throughout the story were beautifully written. If you love books with challenging family relationships check this one out!

Special thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for allowing me an ALC. All opinions are my own.