mrs_mander_reads
Written on Sep 17, 2019
From the author of Happiness for Beginners comes the instant New York Times bestseller (May 2018), an unforgettable love story about finding joy even in the darkest of circumstances.
Margaret Jacobsen is just about to step into the bright future she's worked for so hard and so long: a new dream job, a fiance she adores, and the promise of a picture-perfect life just around the corner. Then, suddenly, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, everything she worked for is taken away in a brief, tumultuous moment.
In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Maggie must confront the unthinkable. First there is her fiance, Chip, who wallows in self-pity while simultaneously expecting to be forgiven. Then, there's her sister Kit, who shows up after pulling a three-year vanishing act. Finally, there's Ian, her physical therapist, the one the nurses said was too tough for her. Ian, who won't let her give in to her pity, and who sees her like no one has seen her before. Sometimes the last thing you want is the one thing you need. Sometimes we all need someone to catch us when we fall. And sometimes love can find us in the least likely place we would ever expect.
How to Walk Away is Katherine Center at her very best--a masterpiece of a novel that is both hopeful and hilarious; truthful and wise; tender and brave.
Praise for How to Walk Away:
A heartbreak of a novel that celebrates resilience and strength. --Jill Santopolo, bestselling author of The Light We Lost
If you just read one book this year, read How to Walk Away. --Nina George, New York Times bestselling author of The Little Paris Bookshop
Warm, witty, and wonderfully observed. --Emily Giffin, New York Times bestselling author of First Comes Love
Sympathetic and refreshing! --Elinor Lipman, bestselling author of The Family Man
I can't think of a blurb good enough for this novel...poignant, funny, heartbreaking. --Jenny Lawson, bestselling author of Furiously Happy
- ISBN10 1250149061
- ISBN13 9781250149060
- Publish Date 15 May 2018
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 30 July 2024
- Publish Country US
- Imprint St Martin's Press
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 320
- Language English
Reviews
Sam@WLABB
Written on Aug 27, 2019
Katherine Center may make me a lover of women's fiction. I immediately ran out to get my hands on this book after being blown away by Things You Save in a Fire, and once again, she told me a story that messed with each and every one of my emotions.
She really made me reflect on how I would feel, if my whole life was changed in a heartbeat. Margaret was facing a future, which was drastically different from what she had planned, and Center took me through her ups and downs, which were understandable, but I was so proud of every step she took towards learning to navigate her way through this new life.
Margret was fortunate to have family rally around her. Her parents were pretty wonderful. Her mom's approach wasn't always perfect, but she meant well. But, I really adored her sister, Kitty. She hadn't seen her sister in three years, and Margaret was angry with her, but Kitty slowly worked her way back into Margaret's life, and it was really heartwarming to see them renew their bond.
Center really knows how to blend the happy with the sad, when to give us those light hearted moments, and when to bring on the pain. I absolutely loved every second of this, and have now added Center to my list of auto-reads.
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kymmiejournals
Written on Mar 13, 2019
This is my first impression based on the excerpt provided by the publisher and author. Full review will be posted once I'm done reading the whole book.
I have to know what will happen to Margaret and Chip! Knowing Margaret, she has issues flying or riding a plane, contrary to his long-term boyfriend's job which is a pilot - well still working on his license. On Valentine's day, Chip surprises Margaret by showing her the plane he wants to fly, then the next thing she knows, she's on the plane with Chip as the pilot. Scared isn't the best way to describe what she's feeling but a mix of emotions - terrified, excited, adventurous - all wrapped in one. She knows it's time to face her fear of heights but she can't hide the fact that she's trembling with fear of what might happen to them.
Chip's surprise involves asking her to marry him and it was the most romantic and sweetest proposal Margaret experience, being with the man she trusts and loves while facing her fears. And then something happens, it's so fast that it only happened in a matter of seconds. I really like Chip, he's good to Margaret and I hope they'll survive the turbulence that hit their plane.
The writing style is actually engaging. I really like it! It was easy to read and really had my eye glued on what will happen next.
bookperson
Written on Jan 9, 2019
chymerra
Written on Feb 27, 2018
Margaret was terrified of flying. Had been ever since she was a little girl. But she wasn’t one to let her fears dictate her life. When Chip, her boyfriend, asks her to go flying with him, she goes. Her worse fears come to life when the plane crashes during landing. Chip is not hurt but Margaret suffered a devastating spinal cord injury and burns. With the help of a grumpy (but cute) Scottish PT, Margaret starts to put her life in order. But it isn’t easy. There is heartbreak that will set her back. There is also the emergence of a deep dark family secret that will shake the foundation of her family. But there is also good, but only if Margaret is willing to go to any lengths to get it.
I liked Margaret. Her attitude was what I expected someone who suffered a traumatic injury to be. One of disbelief and grief. I wouldn’t go as far to say that she accepted what happened to her. It was more like she came to terms with it. Of course, everything hits the fan in the weeks afterward. She definitely wasn’t likable in the first half of the book. I actually liked that. I liked that I had to learn to like her. I liked that her true personality came out while in the hospital. It was refreshing.
I wanted to smack both Chip and Margaret’s mother. Chip, I could kind of understand why he acted the way he acted….up to a certain point. What ticked me off is that he didn’t even bother to defend Margaret when his mother commented on her face. That is when I wanted to reach through my Kindle and smack him upside his head. Don’t get me started on Margaret’s mother. She was a witch with a capital B!! I couldn’t believe the fuss she made over Margaret’s face. The things that were said was unbelievable. When Kitty arrived, she acted like such a jerk. Of course, there was a reason for it but didn’t change that she acted like a class A jerk for most of the book.
I thought that the romance part of the book was a bit slow to start. So slow that there was one point in the book where I thought it fizzled out. Of course, I enjoyed that Ian was Scottish. I read all his dialogue in a Scottish brogue. I did think that his back story was tragic. I could understand why he was so grumpy all the time.
I do think that the whole Kitty/mother storyline was a bit overplayed. While there needed to be an explanation for them not talking for 3 years, it felt drawn out. Like I stated above, it made Margaret’s mother look bad when everything was revealed.
The end of the book made me laugh. The lengths that Margaret went to do what she did made me cheer and laugh. Of course, I liked the epilogue. Who doesn’t like a happy ending?
Pros of How to Walk Away:
A) Great storylines
B) Realistic characters
C) Ian and Margaret’s romance
Cons of How to Walk Away:
A) Chip
B) Margaret’s mother
C) Kitty/mother’s storyline (the strife that went along with it)
I would give How to Walk Away an Adult rating. There are sexual situations, language, and mild violence in it. I would recommend that no one under the age of 20 read this book.
There are some triggers in this book. They would be: traumatic injuries, plane crash, long-term hospitalization, family/work strife, and talk of murder. I would recommend if any of these trigger you then to please not read the book.
I would recommend this book to family and friends but I would add a warning about the triggers. I would reread this book.
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review How to Walk Away.
All opinions stated in this review of How to Walk Away are mine.
**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy*