Katherine Center’s novel, How to Walk Away is a great romantic comedy on making the best of life in all circumstances.   It encompasses not just one character’s experiences but the entire family.   Center provides memorable characters and a story line that keeps the reader engaged until the very end.   How to Walk Away is a must for the beach bag this year!   Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this novel, as evidenced by the fact that I read in a single day. Maggie is such a great protagonist, who is very easy to relate to. A lot of her feelings about her situation were similar to mine when I was an a similar, but significantly less serious, situation. I also really liked Ian, both when he and Maggie first meet (when he's a grumpasaurus) and as their friendship progresses. 

There are several side plots, so there is a lot going on, but I never felt like it took away from Maggie's story.

I’ve enjoyed all of Katherine Center’s novels and her newest, How To Walk Away, was no exception. The story is about a young woman dealing with life after a plane crash in which the pilot, her fiancé, walked away without a scratch and she was left unable to walk. It’s about learning to deal with a new normal, learning to look for hope and joy in places you wouldn’t have expected to find them. I loved all of the characters and how Center brought them through their challenges. Recommended to fans of novels about families who aren’t as perfect as they might seem to the rest of the world. I love those novels.

I didn't know what to expect from this book, but with the first chapter I felt like Maggie was my friend.  Various aspects of a tragedy are addressed and it all came together beautifully.  There was only one storyline towards the end that I thought likely would not have happened (no spoilers.....why did the whole family travel to that event?), but overall the book was well researched and I enjoyed reading it.  
I think so many families in Maggie's situation would have done the same thing and I can only imagine how much a traumatic injury affects life for all involved.  I also liked Ian's character and how he grew and changed with her through her PT.   Kit sounds like an amazing sister and I liked seeing the growth in that relationship as well.  Overall a great book that I highly recommend.  While it deals with a tragic topic, the book isn't a depressing book and I enjoyed the bits of humor too.  Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Neutrally for the opportunity to read this book.

"You can't fix everything. Not even close. But you can look for reasons to be grateful."

This is one of those books that you won't put down once you start reading it. It's extremely well written with characters that are easy to love (and a few who are easy to dislike). The author did extensive research and I learned new things as well as enjoying this novel. 

Margaret has the perfect life - a new MBA, a great chance at a dream job and a wonderful boyfriend, Chip, who she is sure will propose to her any minute. The only sad part of her life is her estranged sister but she refuses to think about her. Margaret's perfect life is torn away from her in a tragedy that almost kills her. She has to learn to negotiate a completely different world than the one she had planned for. As the reality sets in, her moods change from hopeful to despair over and over. How she handles her new life and how the people in her life help her will cause some tears (have tissue close) and you'll be rooting for her success on every page.

I loved Margaret and Ian and the way they worked together. I didn't like Chip or his mom and at times, I didn't like Margaret's mom but realized that she was trying to fix things for her daughter, even when she was being difficult. 

This is a fantastic book and one of the best that I've read all year. Thanks to Bookish Firsts for a copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

When you initially read the blurb for this book, it sounds like it's going to be a downer. Hospitals, a tragic accident, heartbreak....but I'm so glad I read this book!  The author does a brilliant job of turning a tragic story into a page turning, engaging novel. I couldn't stop reading it and read more than half of it in one day. Margaret struggles in all aspects of her life and the author portrays her feelings in a very real, honest way. Not only does she struggle with how her life will change, there is also family drama to deal with that existed before her accident but was magnified after it.

The characters in this book was what connected me so much to this story and kept me reading. In addition to Margaret, I also loved her sister Kit. Oh and Ian, the Scottish psychical therapist? SWOON. I literally want to hang out with them all for an afternoon! This book has so much depth and emotion but also makes you laugh while exploring serious topics.  What defines happiness? What defines a happy ending?

There were a few things I didn't like about the book that knocked a star off the rating. I won't spoil anything, and I can't say exactly what they are without spoilers, but the general idea is that I felt there were some choices made int the name of making a good story/romance aspect of it all (in my opinion) and took away a bit of how realistic the story was. BUT it didn't take away from the writing style and likeability of these wonderful characters! I definitely recommend this book!

Very good book. Hope, love, family, real life all together

This is an easy to read story that was interesting enough to keep me turning the pages; it was a good beach read (I only wish I was on the beach when I read it;) I found myself rooting for and protective of the main character. There was enough medical detail to keep it real and a good romance threaded throughout the story. 

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Up in the Air

Margaret has her entire life figured out. She has been unofficially hired for her dream job and is about to be proposed to by the perfect on paper boy next door. She is young, smart, and beautiful.

So what happens? 

Life usually has a few surprises in store and a big one is in store for Margaret who must overcome a life re-defining accident and learn to metaphorically stand again on her own two feet. 

Told with warmth and humor, Margaret as well as her entire family are lovable people who are hiding a few secrets that in the wake of a traumatic event pop to the surface and wash upon life’s shore. The story’s framework is relatively familiar and the reader will easily be able to anticipate all the twists and turns so no real surprises but it is still a thoroughly entertaining read nonetheless. 

Margaret’s sister Kitty is a riot and easily my favorite character. Her relentless cheerfulness and ability to draw Margaret out of her shell left me wishing for a Kit for all of us. Imagining the book made into one of those horrendously sappy Hallmark movies did not appeal. This is one story that is meant for print medium only.

The story is a well-researched in terms of the accident and rehabilitation. It's an entertainingly fast-read novel that will leave you uplifted.

BRB Rating: Read It.

Katherine Center remains one of my favorite authors of women’s fiction. This one is solid and portrays the fact that life happens and it can still all be okay even if not perfect—a sentiment we can all relate to in one way or another. I’m anxious for my next Center read!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Things do not always go as planned. When faced with tragedy and difficult decisions, some people become stronger and learn to cope and others just walk away. This novel deals with a young woman and her soon-to-be-fiancée and the after effects of the horrible plane crash that changes both of their lives forever.

I particularly enjoyed seeing how Margaret adapted to her situation and was determined to live her life to the fullest.

How to Walk Away is an excellent book. I couldn't put it down. It begins with a lot of tragedy. Margaret, who is on the cusp of having her dream life, traumatically has it all taken away. She has to reconfigure her life. Along the way, her family dynamics shift, and everyone has to adjust. It's a great story about learning how to live from different angles, The ending was so good, I slowed my reading, to make it last longer. Don't walk away from this read.

Wow! I enjoyed 'How to Walk Away' so much. It really has a bit of everything: tragedy; family drama; humor; romance. It is a very well-written, satisfying story that I found I just couldn't put down. 

I just loved Margaret in this book. She is faced with a horrific situation, but she shows so much resilience, determination, and humor. I was cheering her on every minute, hoping that she wouldn't give up on herself and would find the strength to make a new life for herself. Kit and Ian are also both complex, well-developed characters. Oh, and I loved to hate Chip. 

I will definitely be looking for more to read from this author, and highly recommend 'How to Walk Away'.

How to Walk Away. Katherine Center

On the day that should have been one of her happiest, Margaret’s worst fears are realized.  This book is about a brilliant young woman with her future laid out like stair steps to the stars and then literally crashes. It illustrates resilience in its most powerful form. As Margaret’s sister tells her at the beginning of the book, “Dying is easy, it’s the not dying that’s hard.”

I loved the resilience.  Ever hopeful, Margaret, her family, even her medical professionals, face and overcome challenges that ordinary people would find difficult or impossible.  Katherine Center’s wry and funny characters may whine a bit, but in a way where the reader knows they will just “do it” …whatever the “it” may be.  And the characters don’t just deal with obstacles, they overcome adversity in unique and personal ways that resists foregone conclusions of a happily ever after format.  Satisfaction with outcomes will be there, but her characters may not get everything they want, or think they want. 

This book benefits from extensive and interesting research on flight, spinal injuries and rehabilitative therapy. The characters teach the reader; there are no sidebar lectures on what needs to happen. We understand what we should expect and what is possible. These are people we care about, with some appropriate exception for the characters you will come to love to hate.   Even the main character’s mother has her moments.

Katherine Center’s books don’t shy away from controversial subject matter. How to Walk Away is filled with difficult topics but is a pleasure to read. Any group that is ready for a heroine they can cheer for, without reservation, will love it.

I got this pre-release copy from Net Galley with no strings attached.  How to Walk Away will be released by St. Martin’s Press on May 15, 2018.

This was a nice book, well-written with well-drawn characters ... a few of whom I wanted to punch in the face at times, so I guess that means they were realistic enough.  I definitely liked the connection between the two sisters.  Kit's voice was strong and very funny.  I really enjoyed the dialogue in this book--the author has a gift for conversation.  I will buy this for my library, because I know we have a lot of patrons who will enjoy it.  It did not shake my world, or anything, but it was good.

A life changing accident changes Margaret’s life for ever, you cannot imagine how you would feel if it happened to you but this story takes you on Margarets journey to recovery. It’s not only her body that needs healing but her heart too and both take time and knockbacks. I loved some of the wisdom in this book especially “It's the trying that heals you.” 
It’s the first Katherine Centre book I’ve read and will definitely read more

This book shows how to get up and move on from a tragedy. And behind every sadness, and tears there is always a silver lining. A rainbow after the storm. 

The main character is really likeable, we will be rooting for her since page 1. With enough spice of romance, a spoonful family drama, lots of self perseverance, this book is enjoyable to read.

How to Walk Away should be the title of all reviews regarding this book. You simply cannot put it down. It's brilliantly written, with characters most of us can connect with on one level or another. Such a perfect read.

This was a unique book. Golden girl Margaret Jacobsen is sure her boyfriend Chip is about to propose to her on Valentine's Day. Margaret has always followed the rules and life has been easy for her, bestowing upon her the gifts of beauty, kindness, a fabulous new career, and her relationship with Chip. When Chip drives them to the airport and begs Margaret to fly with him, she does, but not without serious doubt and trepidation; fear of flying has been her biggest fear all of her life. All goes well until a storm comes up as they are landing, causing the small plane to crash, and Margaret's life shatters to a million pieces.

Chip escapes unscathed, but can't even look at Margaret with her severely burned neck and severed spine. Margaret discovers that her perfect life was only perfect on the surface, and most everything she thought was real was truly shallow. Through the love and support of her family and her stoic, irritable physical therapist Ian, Margaret slowly rebuilds her life one small accomplishment at a time.