Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center was a top book of the year for me when I read it. I even reread it recently in one sitting and fell in love even more. When her newest book showed up on NetGalley I had to snatch it up! I, again, read this in about one sitting. This story was a difficult one to read as the heroine suffers a horrific accident that changes her life forever. What was so refreshing, if not a little awkward at times, was the attitude of the heroine Margaret. While it felt completely realistic for her to have bad days and bouts of depression, overall I found her positive attitude incredible and not an attitude I could personally have. The family dynamics were taut with clashing personalities and family secrets of past. The overall arc of Margaret's story was hopeful and uplifting but nonetheless real. I thought the conflicts were great and, again, realistic. The only gripe I have is sometimes the dialogue felt awkward and the epilogue was very weird to me. It had this odd sense of poignant reflection that did not fit with the rest of the story. It didn't really affect my feelings about the book but was just kinda bizarre to me. The story and characters are what really stole the show for me and if you're looking for a difficult but inspiring character-driven story, this book is for you!

I was able to read How to Walk Away by Katherine Center for free from Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is one of those books where you can related to the heroine. When you stop reading you still think about what will happen next. As you read you will be able to see how Margaret and Ian's relationship develops. You will not be disappointed. Everyone should read this book and great read for book clubs.

I found this novel to be both predictable and disturbing. From the moment I began reading, I knew where this was going. I found the struggle to regain normalcy very disturbing. Ultimately I found the sense of closure very unrealistic. This was not a fulfilling experience.

I don't know what took me so long to read this book because when I finally did get down to it today, I couldn't part with it, not even to take lunch!
It's a chronicle of Margaret's life. One minute she's with Chip, he's flying and proposing to her, the next they're crashing and she wakes up with third degree burns and with time learns that she's paralyzed. She goes from getting the dream job and man to never being able to walk, and learning that he's cheated on her with his ex.
I loved the fact that this is a family story. Maggie's sister, Kit, swoops in and she refuses to leave her sister's side inasmuch as she's being sent out. There's of course, Ian, who helps with the physical therapy. He's dashing but not very comforting, or so it seems, but with time...like Ian says "it's the the trying..." that gets Maggie to focus on what's before her.
I loved the process of healing for Maggie and her family and Kit's an awesome sister to have!
Thank you Netgalley for the read. PS: The irony of the title is also not lost on me. Physically, well, Maggie would challenge that but Emotionally and psychologically, I guess she'd drink to that.

Absolutely stunning work! I adore the main characters, the story is well developed and fascinating. Even the characters you are kind of not supposed to like are likeable.

Very moving novel about the unexpected turns your life can make. The characters were so warm and the dialogue was brilliant. Wonderful read

Definitely want to read more from Katherine Center,

I was really drawn to the cover of this book, but the story was enjoyable as well! I have never read a book by this author before, but I will change that in the future. Her style was easy, but eloquent and her characters well-developed. The plot moved at a good pace, and I was invested in the story, eager to see how Margaret handled the challenges thrown her way. Recommended!

I had extremely high expectations for this book because I absolutely adored Happiness for Beginners and though I haven't read all of Katherine Center's books yet, I have enjoyed others as well. This book was just as great as I expected it to be. I think it claims my second spot out of her books because I just have such a strong adoration for Happiness for Beginners but this was still so great.

I am not ashamed to admit that I read it in one sitting on a rainy Sunday evening and loved every minute of it. It was more emotional (for me, at least) than Happiness for Beginners because the reality that the main character finds herself in is so devastating and hope seems to falter for quite a bit there.

As with many of her books, I loved the cast of characters. Her writing is so great and I found myself laughing and crying and deeply rooting for the characters. And of course, I was quite happy with the ending and all the feels :) But it was really the family dynamics and the strong character building that made this book so enjoyable for me. I thrive on feeling close to characters.

Despite the book being a bit predictable at times, I actually sometimes really enjoy that in these kinds of books and I didn't mind it one bit. There were a few realities that I definitely did not see coming and that made me all the more invested in finishing the book.

I will absolutely be re-reading this one and adding a paper copy to my bookshelf in addition to this advanced copy provided to me by St. Martins Press and Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book and share my opinions before its May publication - I follow Katherine Center on Instagram and I had been following her progress with this novel and waiting with bated breath to have these words in my life.

How to Walk Away is an amazing book... Combining tragedy, personal growth, family drama, friendship, romance, and reality into a single book is alot to ask, and Katherine Center delivers. Margaret has always had a great of flying and when boyfriend Chip wants to take her flying, it's a test of her faith in him. When things go wrong and life changes in a moment, it becomes test of her own. With life taking a much different turn, How to Walk Away explores how Margaret handles the challenge of the accident and changing expectations for her life. Her family's approach to life both entertained and made me consider how my own would respond if I was in Margaret's shoes. Center does a wonderful job with realistic dialogue and events and this book both entertained and continues to stick in my mind long after reading. I wholeheartedly recommend How to Walk Away and will be checking out more of Katherine Center's work.

Heart breaking and uplifting, How to Walk Away drew me in from the very first page. The characters are complex, real, and lovably quirky and the plot masterfully crafted. The family dynamics take this book over the top and make it one that I will remember for a long time.

Katherine Center's books have never disappointed me and this book was no exception. I am a long time fan and follower of her work, so the moment I hear she has a new piece in the works I get excited. I love all her books but this one was exceptional and its clear an incredible amount of detail and research that went into this story. I was blown away by all the preciseness her medical terminology and how even on a subject I know little about- I could completely understand.
The story follows Margaret (Maggie) and her journey to recovery after a horrific plane crash (piloted by her fiance) and how the crash not only changes her physically, her relationships and her emotionally as well. This beautiful story is more than just a book about physical healing... it's about resistance, perseverance, determination along with heartbreak, loyalty, trust all mixed in with love, family and most of all, hope. Dedicated time to read this because you will not be able to put it down. Bravo Ms. Center! You have done it again! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early read of this novel.

How to Walk Away is the sweet uplifting story of Margaret, a young woman whose life takes an incredible turn just as she gets engaged to be married. This tale is light and refreshing. It's somewhat predictable, but in a good way. The story includes interactions with sometimes dysfunctional family members, and there's a thread of light romance included, as well. I would recommend this book for a vacation read, as it's chapters are short and manageable, and it's easy to pick up the story if one must put the book down for a day or so.

This is an engaging story about a woman whose whole world changes after an accident. While it's not bleak, it's realistic and filled with humor and hope. I couldn't put it down. And the title is perfect!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

How To Walk Away
Katherine Center
Available: May 15, 2018
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.com for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
You know how you sometimes purchase books by the authors you know are going to be good without even reading the back cover? This was one of them – and when I started reading it I was like Oh Em Ghee, where did this come from? About 7-8 years ago, our good friends’ son woke up paralyzed from the waist down and reading this was remembering all that he and they had to endure – not only the OT and the PT, the changes to the home, cars, but the emotional adjustments for all. Its been a tough journey..
I think this book has potential to be my 2018 Book of the Year – or at least in the top 5. The feeling I had when I finished the book – if only I could bottle it..
What I loved: This was a romance, without being a romance novel. My favorite part was the Epilogue – not because I knew the book was coming to an end or everything was wrapped up neatly – but the confidence, and happiness that was in Margaret’s point of view made me smile. She was content.
What I didn’t love: My eyes usually glaze over when faced with graphically “icky” passages and I usually skip over the medical terms and procedures so of course that will be my least favorite part of the book.
What I learned: Perfect on paper doesn’t always translate to perfect in real life.
Overall Grade: A

www.FluffSmutandMurder.com

Wow! I don't know how to describe reading How to Walk Away by Katherine Center without sounding like a major fangirl. I picked it up in the afternoon thinking I could just read a chapter or two and get on with my day... never happened. The story of Margaret Jacobsen, a recent business school grad on the fast track to the perfect life with a dream job and a boyfriend who's going to propose, as she navigates life after a horrific tragedy. Center's books always seem fluffy and light on the surface, but go so much deeper than that. Her writing is absolutely gorgeous and she tucks great truths within the story that just stick with you for a long time. This is one of those novels that will become a part of my "desert island library"- books I read and reread over the years because they are comfort food to my soul. I HIGHLY recommend this one.

Besides a stunning cover, this is a fantastic story. Wow. I don't know where to begin.

Yes, this is a sweet touching love story about a woman and a man but it is also so much more. There is a story about a daughter and family and all the messiness that is involved in being a family. But even deeper than the stories about the characters, there is so much wisdom in this book. The author has a way of writing a rich and eloquent story but there are nuggets of truth and wisdom given.

Just a few of these nuggets are:

"But you can look for reason to be grateful. More than that, you can work to create them."

"They learn through experience- kind of the only way you can- that taking care of others is a way of taking care of yourself."

And probably my favorite of all
"I would never say the accident was a good thing. I would never, ever claim that everything happens for a reason. Like all tragedies, it was senseless. But I knew one thing for sure: The great our capacity for sorrow becomes, the great our capacity for joy."

I didn't want to put this book down but at the same time I didn't want it to ever end. I know easily this will be one of my favorite books of 2018.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's the trying that heals you........

Perfect days lack perfection when life leaves its oppressing thumbprint. We can spin out of control in a nano second and all that we have come to know is left in shambles in the whirlwind.

Margaret Jacobsen knows only too well of the ridges and the swirls of that thumbprint. With a freshly earned MBA and a handsome fiance in tow, Margaret reaches new heights. But those starlit heights have taken her on a flight with tragic consequences.

Chip wanted the perfect setting high above the clouds when he presented Margaret with his grandmother's ring. That was not in the flight plan and neither were the serious injuries that Margaret would sustain while Chip walked away from the crash unscathed.

A question for the doctor........

Katherine Center creates a storyline surrounded, at first, with the robust energy of youth and an open highway of opportunity. Her main character, Margaret, will wake in a hospital bed with a very dreary prognosis. Nurses and therapists refrain from giving Margaret any insight into her condition. They pipe up time and time again: "Now that's a question for the doctor."

Although we eye Margaret as our main concern, Katherine Center lines her story with interesting characters including an unpredictable sister, Kitty, that she hasn't seen in three years, and a mother who refuses to address this. Her father sits mostly on the sidelines, but his character will come to the fore when a "family situation" comes to the surface. Center weaves other noted characters throughout who may have a great impact on Margaret as she goes through the healing process.

I was impressed with the research that Katherine Center must have done in order to address Margaret's injuries. Be aware that it's not all encased in a clinical environment. Center taps mightily into the emotional side as well giving us a fully rounded main character. There is an ease to the flow of her writing style and the humorous dialogue is edgy with the flavor of our own familiar conversations and comebacks. There's a lot of "human" going on in this one, folks. And that, I believe, is at the essence of the draw.

I received a copy of How to Walk Away through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Katherine Center for the opportunity.

I almost felt guilty for loving this book as much as I did, for laughing out loud throughout. After all, this book is about a woman whose life is tragically changed beyond repair. How could I laugh at someone in a wheelchair? But laugh I did. This story is just wonderful, filled with such dark humor and hope. Very well written with characters that were perfection. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I will be looking for more from this author!

This reminds me of Me Before You. A well-researched charming tale about second chances. Second chances from a terrible accident, between mothers and daughters, between sisters, and between spouses. This is a feel good story about love and struggling and courage.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

After suffering a major injury in a plane crash, Margaret must face life in a new way. Will her fiance Chip ever look at her the same way again? Will she recover? Will the injury open an opportunity to mend fences with her sister? These and other questions are charmingly answered in this new novel.

Considering the grave nature of the injury and the devastating effects it has on Magaret, there was a surprising amount of humor in the story. It felt *almost* light-hearted but not in a flippant way.

Thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc to review.