4.5 Stars!

HOW TO WALK AWAY by KATHERINE CENTER was an extremely uplifting, kind, and heartwarming novel that captured my heart and drew me in almost immediately. There is so much goodness within the pages of this book! This is a story filled with romance, forgiveness, hope, courage, love, and resilience.

KATHERINE CENTER delivers a well-written and engaging read here with interesting, honest and believable characters. I absolutely loved the voice of our main character, Margaret “Maggie” she was so strong-willed and at times comical. The witty banter that ensued between the characters was extremely enjoyable and made me smile quite a few times. Maggie’s sister, Kitty was also such a great character and I absolutely loved her resourcefulness and the love and support she showed to Maggie through her recovery.

This book was definitely an inspirational, entertaining, enjoyable, and unforgettable story that was a most welcome and refreshing read for me. The ending was bittersweet and very satisfying. This was my first novel that I have read by Katherine Center and it won’t be my last. Would recommend!

Publication Date: May 15, 2018

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Katherine Center for the opportunity of reading an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!

So... funny for some reason I got the idea in my head that this book was about walking away from a break up? Well... not really haha.

How to Walk Away was my first read by Katherine Center and I can definitely see why so many readers love her books!

How to Walk Away is a very uplifting and powerful story about learning to move on from things that cannot be changed. I remember going through a very tough time in my mid 20's and I bought a journal that had the following quote on each page "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference." This book I think goes by this quote very very well.

Margaret has the ultimate dream job and her perfect fiance in tow. Unfortunately, this all comes crashing down by a terrible accident which resulted in her fiance Chip taking Margaret flying. Margaret is ultimately paralyzed by the accident and her fiance Chip doesn't even have a scratch on him. Margaret's world as you can imagine is turned upside in a matter of seconds.

The story explores Margaret's journey of growth, forgiveness, and healing. Even though the story is focused mainly on Margaret, I enjoyed the dynamics of Margaret's sister, her father, and mother that the author nicely weaves into the plot. And of course we can't forget Ian... who is assigned to be Margaret's physical therapist through her journey of healing.

This was a nice change of pace for myself... due to typically reading thrillers. It was a nice fluffy and easy/quick read for sure! I read this along side my lovely traveling sisters.

I wasn't over the moon in love with this story because I found some of the story to be pretty unbelievable especially with her injuries.

Overall, it was a nice fluffy feel good read.

3.5 stars for me :).

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc.
Published to GR: 4/22/18
Publication date: 5/15/18.

This was a traveling sister read... please check out their blog! :)

Lovely little read. Quick, emotional and satisfying. Plus romance, how can you go wrong!

In the new Katherine Center novel How the Walk Away, everything looks perfect in Margaret Jacobsen's life - she is on the verge of having the perfect job, dating the perfect guy, and living the perfect life until she isn't.  While her long-time boyfriend is surreptitiously taking her on a joyride to show her the sights, he proposes, and all hell breaks loose.

While Margaret is left to pick up the pieces with her parent's help, she meets Ian, a no-nonsense, unsympathetic, and unconventional therapist that forces her to quit feeling sorry for herself and to take her life into her own hands.  While she goes through the grieving process of the life she loses and starts the process of healing from the inside out, others are starting the heal from their wounds as well.  Lives are changed, relationships healed, and new friendships take hold.  

As a person who works with medical records, I appreciated the time that Center took to really learn about Margaret's condition, the injuries she could and would have sustained in an accident of this type, and the availability of treatment to deal with those injuries.  

How to Walk Away was a page-turner and I had a very difficult time putting it down once I started.  Center is a compelling writer who pulls the reader in from the start and makes them love (or hate) the cast of characters.  Knowing what was going to happen next, you want to warn Margaret to go with her gut but once the damage is done, you also want to see her find happiness in her new normal.  

I highly recommend How the Walk Away as your next fictional read.   It's available for pre-purchase now!

Wow, what a fantastic book! I wish I could give it ten stars! "How to Walk Away" was not what I expected, and I absolutely loved every single page of this motivating rom-com style novel. The novel begins with Margaret celebrating Valentine's Day with her WASPy boyfriend, Chip- she just knows that this is the time, and he is going to propose. He is currently in training to get his pilot's license, and so instead of the proposal she was hoping for in a restaurant, he has set up a test of trust. Margaret's biggest fear is of flying, but she is willing to put all that aside and trust Chip on this day.

Although she gets the expected proposal, what she doesn't expect is the plane crash that follows- leaving her severely injured and Chip somehow unscathed. The word Margaret hears the most in the days following is "lucky," but she cannot feel lucky when her legs won't work and much of her body is burnt. Add that to the fact that Chip has fallen into a depression and won't come visit- and people are telling her to feel sorry for HIM, and Margaret has a tough road to recovery ahead of her. If she would listen to her mother, all she would need to do is "try" and then somehow everything will be OK- all the miraculous recovery stories her mother dug up off the internet say so.

Margaret knows that things will not be as simple as her mother wishes to believe, but this is her life, so she has to do what she must. The hospital assigned her to the only surly and unpleasant physical therapist, Ian- a Scottish man who makes Margaret's life harder- and insists on calling her Maggie. As time goes on, Margaret finds the cracks in his armor and finds her own reasons to push herself forward. While I was hesitant about the potential for relationships with the therapist-client dynamic, it really works here, and it is a slow build... just wonderfully written!

However, the best part of the book was the familial relationships that develop throughout the novel. Margaret's relationships with her mother and sister in particular really shine in the novel. Kit has been estranged from the family for 3 years after an intense party where she pushed their mother into the pool and then left for New York and saying she needed a break from the family. Margaret has tried to get in touch with her since but never gets a reply- so when Kit shows up to her hospital room at night and wants to hang out with her in the evenings (when their mother isn't around), Margaret gives an emphatic no. However, their relationship and that with their mother really develops as the book goes on, and they all become such real and wonderful characters. I loved reading the journey.

The book is an interesting combination of tragedy, comedy, and relationships- romantic and familial- that I found absolutely captivating. I could not put this book down; it definitely became one of my favorites! I would love to see this adapted for a movie, as I think it would be amazing as a rom-com! This book touched my heart, made me laugh, made me think, and made me want to reread it immediately! I can't rave enough about this fantastic story!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Loved this book - uplifting and inspiring, not to mention funny. That combination is something that you do not find every day. Margaret Jacobsen is an interesting and memorable character to finds that she is stronger than she knew, after her life changes in a split second. Highly recommended.

I absolutely loved this novel, it was lighthearted and engaging.

Margaret's life is almost perfect. She has a wonderful boyfriend, recently finished her studies and has just  (unofficially) landed her dream job. Her life falls apart when she suffers an accident that causes her to end up in the hospital with a life-changing injury and facing difficulties she never imagined.

I was captivated from the beginning. The characters are likable, interesting, and made me smile throughout. This is a novel about overcoming obstacles, family relationships, and hope. 

Overall, I loved this book and recommend it to readers of contemporary fiction. 

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley

How To Walk Away by Katherine Center is a beautiful book about loss, love, courage and hope that has a lot to offer to its readers apart from an exceptional story.

I am so glad that I read this book! It is a really, really good book and has taught me a lot of things about forgiveness – which definitely doesn't come easy, loss – which does hurt a lot, and hope – which, even though difficult to hold onto, can turn around one's life.

This book had a delightful mixture of a well thought-out storyline, a string of not only believable and realistic but also very relatable characters, very engaging yet simple writing with an exceptional sense of humour and an excellent ending.  

What I really loved about this book was that the author didn't sugarcoat things, she put things forward the way they are in real life, but she did it so without being overdramatic. I generally shy away from reading books with illness/medical situations because most of the authors present the pain in such horrific (sometimes honest, sometimes not) details and the overall experiences, more often than not, leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth. That said, if done right, these books are nothing short of magic because they have a lot of lessons and takeaways along with a good story (which, as a reader, is always the main thing for me.) For example, I loved John Green's The Fault In Our Stars, but I didn't really like Nicola Yoon's Everything, Everything.

I'd recommend this book not only to all the contemporary fiction readers but to anyone and everyone who wants to read a really, really good book.

3.5 lovely to read stars

There was so many things to like about this tale of a young woman, Margaret, who has everything going for her. Unfortunately life was about to hand her a basket full of lemons. Sometimes when everything seems so very sweet, things can and do turn sour in a heartbeat. For Margaret that moment has come when the sweetness of life becomes a nightmare of tragedy.

Magaret Jacobsen has it all, a gorgeous fiance, a soon to be dream job, and a loving family. She is beautiful, successful, and the world as they say is her oyster .What could be better really? The one thing Margaret (Maggie) fears is flying but when her soon to be fiance decides to pop the question while taking her flying, she acquiesces and reluctantly boards the plane. Chip is a new pilot, well almost a pilot but he is confident, he knows what he is doing and he has a plan. Things seem to be going ever so well and then turn and as life often does, and this dream becomes a nightmare.

Margaret finds herself in a hospital and as time progresses, she learns the extent of her injuries. It is devastating but her missing for three years sister. Kitty, arrives along with her free spirit nature, and endeavors to help Margaret cope. There is heartbreak in this journey for Maggie, a long road to recovery, a secret within the family , and a person Margaret felt was in a corner deserting her.

She is helped by not only family but also the hospital staff. In rehabilitation she to assigned to a therapist, Ian, a Scottish young man who is unfriendly, evasive, and bordering on mean. However, there is something about him that makes Margaret or as he calls her Maggie look to him for guidance and help. The sparks fly between them and one of the very positive things about this novel is the dialogue, attitudes, and feelings, and wit that are displayed by Maggie, Ian, and her sister. They make quite a trio! Her mother, a take charge person, tries to lead and direct, but Maggie's sister, a definite asset in the story,, wants Maggie to take charge of her own life, no matter which way it goes. We all need a sister like Kitty in our lives! She is the spark that ignites Maggie into action and Ian is the man who makes things come together and gives Maggie a reason to push forward.

Told with humor and a spirit of I can do, this story is a quick, fun read, one that surely will be a hit. My one criticism for this book which I truly did like is that the medical issues that Maggie went through seemed to be painted in a trivial manner. I know this was suppose to be lighthearted fun story, but at times the suffering, that one could be sure Maggie was going through, was pushed to the background.

However. I did enjoy this book and want to thank Katherine Center, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this touching novel.

This book wrenched my very soul with the persistent, hard line look at the emotions the3 main character felt and experienced. Imagine being cajoled into flying when you deathly fear it and then being seriously injured in a fiery crash and the cajoler walks away unscathed. Plus, he is your just new fiancé and he cannot cope with your injuries or prognosis. Imagine your utter and complete devastation and then try to find a way to recover and regain some semblance of normalcy. This is what faces Margaret and this heart hitting book paints no rosy picture but one of grit, determination, desolation, and, ultimately, a form of success and new normalcy.

My Review of “How to Walk Away” by Katherine Center St. Martins Press Publishing Date, May 29,2018

“How to Walk Away” by Katherine Center is an amazing, captivating, riveting, intriguing and intense novel. I appreciate Katherine Center’s detailed descriptive writing, that makes this story feel so very real.

The Genres of this story are Fiction, Women’s Fiction, with an essence of Romance. The timeline for the story is mostly in the present, and goes back a few years when it pertains to the characters of events.

The author describes the characters, their problems and their emotions vividly. A few of the characters are not likable, but shallow, and capable of betrayal. A few of the characters are courageous, strong, loyal, and brave. There are some deep secrets that can destroy everyone involved.

Margaret Jacobson, seems to have everything in life that she has wanted. Margaret has recently graduated college, and has a fantastic job, a fiancée, and all great things to look forward to. Until she doesn’t. The night that her boyfriend proposes to her becomes the best and worst night of her life.

After a tragic accident, Margaret realizes that nothing is the same at all. As she fights for her life, she realizes that she will have to have hope, faith, and be strong in her journey to get well. I love the way the author describes the importance of family , love, emotional support, hope, faith, and forgiveness. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review. I would recommend this heart-breaking , and heartwarming novel for readers of Women’s Fiction.

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4.5 stars for this one.

When you can accurately predict nearly the entire plot of a book, yet you still can't tear yourself away from it—that's when you know you've found a good one.

Margaret Jacobsen has always been an overachiever. She worked tirelessly to get good grades and succeed in school. She has been dating her handsome, steadfast boyfriend, Chip, for several years now, and she just landed her dream job, even though she wasn't quite qualified. Everything is leading her up to the moment she's been waiting for—she knows Chip is going to propose and they'll begin their journey to happily ever after.

Yet how often does everything turn out just as you've planned it? In a split second, perhaps the most magical moment in her life to date turns into her biggest nightmare, and she's powerless to stop it. The next thing she knows, she wakes up in the hospital, having to face obstacles like she'd never imagined.

"We were the very definition of helpless, and as I realized that, it also hit me that everything I'd been looking forward to was over before it even began. Chip and me—and the lakeside wedding we'd never have, and the rescue beagle we'd never adopt, and the valedictorian babies we'd never make. They say your life flashes before your eyes, but it wasn't my life as I'd lived it that I saw. It was the life I'd been waiting for. The one I'd never get a chance to live."

Suddenly, the woman for whom everything has worked out perfectly has her whole life turned upside down. Yet at the very moment when all she wants to do is wallow, she has to deal with those around her as well. Chip is drowning in self-pity and wants Margaret to forgive him and give him the easy way out, without an ounce of sacrifice on his part. Her mother has taken on this challenge as she's taken on every other obstacle in life—full steam ahead—and will stop at nothing to make her daughter fight to get every ounce of her life back and believe that is possible. Margaret's sister Kit returns after a three-year absence, and tries to help her with her quirky sense of humor and her unflagging sense of enthusiasm.

And then there's Ian, Margaret's physical therapist. The one the hospital staff thinks is too mean for Margaret's wounded psyche. The only PT who doesn't encourage or laugh with his patients, but instead just pushes them harder. The one who seems as if he feels nothing for anyone, except rage for his boss and the situation he's found himself in.

Margaret wants some semblance of her life back, but doesn't know what that entails, and she doesn't know how to handle those who purportedly know better than she does. How can she look forward to a life that will never be the same, never be what she had dreamed of? Will she even be able to have the things that "normal" people want—love, a family, a job, a future?

"I kept things calm, I stayed pleasant, I took my medicine—but the truth is, I had woken up in a dystopic world, one so different that even all the colors were in a minor key, more like a sour, washed-out old photograph than anything real. It looked that way, and it felt that way, too."

From the very first pages, How to Walk Away drew me in. As soon as I figured out what was happening, I knew where the plot would go, and while at first I was a little frustrated, this book won me over almost immediately. These characters seem familiar yet they are so appealing, even when they're acting selfishly, headstrong, impetuous, or insensitive. It didn't matter that I knew what would happen from start to finish—I cared about these characters and needed to be part of their story.

This is a book about finding hope and courage where you think you have none, about how you need to be the person to motivate yourself and buoy yourself through tough times—you can't depend on those around you. It's also the story of how it's always great to have family and supporters and loved ones around, but you have to learn to do things for yourself, too.

I'm being a little evasive with the plot even though many reviews explain just what happened to Margaret. I thought it was better to let the story unfold for you, even though you might very well predict it, too. This is tremendously appealing and so winning, that even when you wonder just how likely it would be that certain things would happen, you tell yourself to stop overanalyzing and keep enjoying.

A book that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you talk to yourself: how can you ask for anything more? I can see a lot of people really loving this one.

NetGalley and St. Martin's Press provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!

3.5 stars
I wish I could break my rating up for the first 85% of the book...5 stars...and the last 15% 3.5 stars because I really enjoyed almost the whole story. Almost. I was immediately drawn into the story when we are first introduced to Margaret and quickly discover her intense fear of flying along with her inability to say no to those she loves. That's how she ends up in a teeny tiny plane with her boyfriend Chip, who doesn't actually have his pilot's license yet. I'm not sure that's entirely realistic but it's definitely pertinent to the plot. If you've read the blurb, you know the plane crashes and while Chip walks away with barely a scratch, Margaret isn't so lucky.
This is her story for sure and it's one of resilience, recovery, love and forgiveness which I thought made for super engaging storytelling. This is a very fast paced read and honestly I couldn't put it down. I felt bad for Margaret, yet at the same time wanted to shake her often for not to standing up to her mother and Chip. I can't imagine being in that situation though and the author did an amazing job of putting me right in the room with Margaret. The supporting characters were all awesome as well...I really enjoyed her sister, dad and of course Ian, her sexy, Scottish Physical Therapist. I've seen many other reviewers on Goodreads mentioning their issue with the ethics of the relationship between Ian and Maggie, as he called her, but I didn't find it troublesome and It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. Now, I know I can't and won't give away spoilers so all I'll say is the plot left the rails for me in the last 15%. The characters did some things I just can't believe based on what we already knew about them and I spent the majority of my time eye rolling and wishing the author wouldn't have taken that path. It ruined what otherwise would've been a 5 star read. I do still recommend it and a final positive thought, I'm so glad we got an epilogue.

I highly enjoyed this book. My heart broke for Maggie as she went through such a devastating event. Center did an amazing amount of research, so all of the life altering changes Maggie had to made were well written. The supporting cast of characters was also well done and I did not feel bogged down with plot lines or characters. Highly recommend!

One of the best books I’ve read. Story was written with such emotion. I loved some characters, hated some. Excellent interaction of family drama.

This story brilliantly depicts the fact that nothing and nobody is perfect and the trek to seek that perfection is a lesson in futility.

How to Walk Away had everything you could ask for in a book. The plot was at times sad, funny, heartbreaking and wonderful. The writing was so good that you didn't realize you were reading, but felt like you were sitting there with Maggie and her parents, Ian, Kit, Fat Benjamin, Chip, the whiner and all the others who help round out the story.

Maggie has always had a fear of flying, or rather crashing, but agrees to go up with her about to be fiance just in time to realize her fears. Life after is nothing like how she had planned her life. At some point she gives in to the realization that this IS her life and works to get better, physically and emotionally.

I loved the dialogue, especially with her sister Kit, but also with Ian. I just can't say enough good about this book and the author, Katherine Center. Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

OW TO WALK AWAY - NetGalley - 4 Stars




COURAGE.

HOW TO WALK AWAY is a multi-layered story....with a wham-bang of a start....about the turbulent life of Margaret "Maggie" Jacobsen, her darkest fears, disappointments and courage to overcome adversity.

Author Katherine Center creates interesting characters...especially a resourceful big sister Kitty, and gives our protagonist a strong will and witty voice to keep the reader engaged while the story moves right along.

More here than your usual chick-lit fare. Read in a day and REALLY enjoyed it!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC COMING MAY 15, 2018 in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the free review copy of this novel. All opinions are my own. 

Wow, I think this is going to be one of my favorite novels of the year. I couldn't read quick enough. This is a story of strength, courage, and overcoming. Margaret's struggle after her accident was so real. This book didn't sugar coat recovery, it made it seem like a real process. The reader was able to feel the depression and despair that comes with a life-changing injury. 

Center wrote a real family with real problems. Each character felt like a normal person, which made it so easy to become involved in all the different conflicts in the novel. Her writing made it so that I rooted for Margaret the entire time. 

I also loved the way the narrator is talking to the reader in this book. This style isn't seen often, and I think it added an extra enticement. This also is why the novel felt so real. It felt so personal, which made it so that you want nothing but the best for Margaret.