Margaret Jacobsen is working on the perfect life she's always dreamed of: ideal job; handsome fiance, Chip; beautiful condo; and more. But that all changes in the blink of an eye, and Margaret wakes up in the ICU. Once there, she realizes how bad things really are. She's assigned a physical therapist, Ian, that even the nurses do not want her to have. He's gruff and unpleasant and barely speaks a word--the exact opposite of Margaret. The crash also brings back her wayward older sister Kitty, who hasn't spoken to the family in three years. However, Margaret recognizes she needs all the help she can get to heal--physically and emotionally-and move on with her life.

This was a fascinating and fun book, despite its serious subject matter. It had the unique ability to draw me in, even when I knew where it would go and wind up from practically the beginning. It reminded me how much I enjoy women's fiction, which I feel like I have pushed to the wayside a bit lately for thrillers and psychological fiction, the "it" genre du jour.

Anyway, it took me some time to warm up to Margaret, whose outgoing and chatty self is the complete opposite of me. However, I could identify with her need for perfection in her life, her unwillingness to fail, and her desperate desire to please those around her, especially her parents. She was a very real character, with her ability and need to fantasize about ideal situations and coming out on top when she wasn't in the best position. She was funny at times, but also serious, and it was so easy to root for her.

The other characters in the novel were dynamic, especially Ian and Kitty, if not a bit polarizing. The mothers (Margaret's and Chip's) are just awful, to the point where I wanted to shake them at times. I know Margaret's probably meant well, but good grief! There's a lot of sideline drama with Margaret's family, most of which proves a good accompaniment to Margaret's issues. It's a very emotional read, making it easy to grow attached to the likeable characters (and to dislike the "bad" ones). I was definitely along for the ride and caught up in Margaret's life, health, and drama.

Overall, this was a touching read with interesting and fun characters that hooked me immediately, even if I could see where it was heading.

How to Walk Away is the first book I have read written by Katherine Center. In fact, this is a new author for me to have even heard of. With that in mind, I looked her other books up. Tragedy, despair, hope and resilient seem to b theme that Ms. Center explores in many of her books. 

 How to Walk Away is a serious look at all of the above. There is a life changing, almost life ending tragedy and then there is the slow rebirth of the main character, Margaret Jacobsen. Along with her are a cast of hospital workers, family and friends. Like real life some are helpful, and some should have stayed home, which would have been more of a help to Margaret. 

Being in a professional field where ethics is a great concern these days, I have some questions about Ian’s behavior. Not so much with the hospital staff since having recently spent several weeks at the hospital in a supportive role for a family member. There I did find that there are many levels of professionalism just as there are in this book. 

What stood out to me was the author’s ability to turn a phrase, to give words to feelings that we all have felt but have been unable to explain and to portray a character that is stronger than she thinks she is. Beautifully written even if you know where the story is going you simply want to keep reading.

This is one of the most outstanding books I have read this year. I found myself unable to put it down. I laughed, I cried and i kept turning pages to the end.  This story will touch your heart, make you rethink your life and appreciate what you have. it is a poignant journey of starting over with a new reality one day,  of family and believing in yourself. I recommend it quite highly . 
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC. My review opinions are my own. 
This book gave me a terrible book hangover from lack of sleep!  I truly was unable to put it down. 
How to walk away  is  about surviving and finding meaning after a terrible accident . Margaret , 26 years old , has a life ahead planned that will never happen. Now she must reconstruct  life in a wheelchair after a terrible accident caused her to be paralyzed by her reckless boyfriend. She goes through all stages of grieving her ‘before ‘ life . The book describes in a  heartwarming thoughtful way how this brave young woman puts her life back together to some semblance of a life she wants as a disabled person. 
There are some funny , even hilarious moments where I laughed out loud . She has a dysfunctional family  that annoys her to no end and shows up to butt into her new life. They cause her endless anguish as well as humor.  The story is very well written and very true to life. We can all relate to dating men that are a disaster and useless as well as dysfunctional family.  Being newly handicapped brings those problems to a entirely new level of dysfunction.  The beauty of this book is the author makes the reader think, to contemplate and appreciate our lives.  I found myself re reading pages and not wanting this books to end. 
 I would highly recommend this novel as it leaves the reader with a awakening for your own life and appreciating every day that we can walk this earth on our own two feet. 
 Cross posted to Amazon.
I look forward to further work by this fine author.

Margaret Jacobsen has never liked flying but her boyfriend convinces her to go with him as he takes her for a surprise flight during which he proposes to her. That would be life changing enough but he then loses control of the plane on landing, leaving her with truly life changing injuries . . . . changing what should have been one of the best days of her life to one that is a living nightmare.

Told from Margaret’s point of view, this emotive story explores her hopes, dreams, fears, struggles and victories as she becomes aware of the impact of the crash on her life. It also shows how different people react to the effects of it, some being supportive, others avoiding her and her Mum – well, you’ll have to read about her yourself! It also shows how Margaret’s attitudes and relationships change as she discovers more about herself, her abilities and makes decisions about her future. The hospital team supporting and treating her are brought to life and I particularly liked witnessing how one of her physical therapists, Ian, was changed by their interactions.

 Don’t assume the story is doom and gloom, it is anything but! Yes, it does show readers how such injuries make patients go through all the stages of grief whilst mourning the loss of their previous life plans but it also shows how they can move on, learning how to walk away from their old life to move on to a possibly even more fulfilling future, despite their injuries. It has a liberal dosage of humour, too!

The research the author must have done to write this books is tremendous. The emotional rollercoaster of life after severe injuries is portrayed brilliantly, making it easy for the reader to empathise with all the characters – well, all except one of them! It is a thought provoking, poignant story with family secrets and a new love added to the mix making this a story that I suspect will stay with me for years to come. It is a well paced story, a real page turner and one that I have absolutely no hesitation in highly recommending – I’ll definitely be looking out for more by this talented author in future.

I requested and was given a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.

I just turned the last page in this very special book and my head and my heart are just so full of all of its loveliness. 

This is the reason I read - for books like this, that carry me away to someone else’s world and leave me feeling like a better person for having entered it. 

I will never forget Maggie and her life experience. She gave Courage new meaning to me, and I will remember her and this book for a very long time. 

I highly recommend this one to lovers of books about personal struggle and triumph in the face of adversity. And to lovers of beautifully written characters who you will just fall head over heels in love with. I adored every page.

Margaret is on the verge of great, exciting things: a new, high profile job, an expensive condo, and a proposal of marriage from her longtime boyfriend Chip. Everything seems to be going well for her, until an airplane crash changes everything. Margaret finds herself in the hospital, burned and paralyzed from the knees down. She is ready to give up now that all of her plans have been taken away from her, but her family and physical therapist Ian refuse to let her give up. As Margaret starts to put the pieces of her life back together, she will learn that there is a life beyond her accident and that she can embrace it with enthusiasm if she chooses to. Along the way, her family and Ian will also learn how to walk away from disaster.
This book made me cry and laugh often, sometimes at the same time. I was cheering for Margaret as she stood up for herself in the face of extreme selfishness (like Chip and his mother, who were absolutely despicable), and as she tried to put the pieces of her life back together. I liked how the book explored different relationships and the effect a life changing incident has on them, as well as the struggles that paralyzed people go through. We can definitely use more books like this! The only thing that bothered me was the frequent use of profanity, especially the f-bomb. I really enjoyed the ending of the story, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Margaret's boyfriend Chip ignores her fear of flying and takes her for a ride in a Cessna to romantically propose even though he hasn't earned his pilot's license yet (WTF, CHIP?). A strong storm blows the plane arse over teakettle. Badly injured, Margaret has a long road to recovery in the hospital, where in addition to attempting to walk again she will have to deal with her sister Kit's antics, trying to figure out if she still has the dream job she just landed, and her demanding but handsome Scottish physical therapist. And of course Chip, who escapes uninjured, will have to deal with the consequences of his dumbassery.  How much can Margaret endure, and how will she put her life back together?  How to Walk Away by Katherine Center is chicklit at its best.

I don't want to dig in too much on the plot, because you should discover it for yourself. It's a worthwhile read for anyone who enjoys reading about family relationships, finding your feet again after trauma, and hot Scottish physical therapists. It's also quite funny, and wraps up with some hilarious and sweet escapades in Belgium. The theme of recovering after trauma is heavy, and Center doesn't flub it or make it saccharine-sweet. Being in the hospital sucks, and it's hard, and that is all there in the book. Center also handles the issues of disability very well, and is not complimentary to her characters who engage in ableism. I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to say that we have a happily ever after in this book.  It's a 5-star chicklit book.  Pick it up! It's romance but it is totally closed door.

This book is fantastic! It is witty, heartbreaking, and so charming I could not put it down. How does one have the best thing and the worst thing happen to them on the same day? That is what Margaret Jacobsen wonders as she wakes up in a hospital after what she thought would be the best night of her life. It was and it wasn't. Unsure of what her future holds, she is resilient, tougher than she thinks she is, and just an overall warm and loving woman. I loved her and cheered her on. I feel I can't say too much about the book as I don't want any spoilers for other readers. I just have to say that the writing was so very well done. It touched my heart and had me laughing and crying. This one is definitely going on my Favorites List for 2018. It's just a wonderful, wonderful book and one I will be recommending to everyone. 

I received an advance reader's copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This book is very different than previous Katherine Center books, but I mean this the best of ways.  I wasn't prepared for the emotional roller coaster Maggie would take.  I was shocked by the accident she had, every detail pulling at my heart, wanting to cry out, this feels wrong, don't get in that plane.  I believe my anger at her current boyfriend was bigger than hers.  I wanted to pummel him!  What must it be like to be in shock, to not know the pain and horror of your injuries?  Katherine Center has dug down and found those answers, as we the reader experience what Maggie realizes bit by bit, it's gut wrenching.  
Day by day she learns how she's going to refocus her life, rebuild it, or try to.  Her family which is loving by slightly dysfunctional is there for her, and there are laughs along the way, unexpected smiles and nudges for Maggie to try, try anything.  
I truly loved this book, it made me feel sad, and then hopeful but with reservations.  I loved the journey I was able to travel with these characters and I won't soon forget them.  
I highly recommend How to Walk Away.

Margaret is a good and kind person and so far life has treated her well. She is young, educated, beautiful and in love. She is about to start a dream job and envisions a happy life with her boyfriend Chip. Unfortunately, fate has other plans and Margaret's entire world changes in ways she could never have imagined. 
This was a heartbreaking life-altering story. I personally don't know if I possess the inner strength and fortitude that Margaret demonstrated, but I do know I was rooting for her every step of the way. I have a good friend who suffered a similar injury and I witnessed first hand the absolute best and the absolute worst behaviors from his family and friends. Every word and every page of this story felt real and I didn't stop reading until the last page. This isn't the type of book I've been reading lately, but I am so glad I did read How to Walk Away. It was a beautifully written reminder that even when everything you know changes in the blink of an eye, a meaningful life is still possible.
I first read an excerpt from this book in Buzz Books 2018 Spring/Summer addition and immediately put it on my TBR list. Thank you Katherine Center, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the complimentary digital ARC. This is one book that really made me think about life and I won't forget Margaret's story.

Fans of women’s fiction novels will find a lot to like in <i>How to Walk Away</i>. 

Margaret Jacobsen’s fiancée crashes the small plane he’s piloting after coaxing her into a flight she didn’t want to take. He walks away without a scratch, but she’s left with third degree burns and a fractured spine. Faced with the possibility that she might never walk again, Maggie has to figure out how to pick up the pieces of her life. Chip turns out to be useless. Instead, it’s her estranged sister Kit who becomes her strongest supporter. Also in her corner is Ian, her physical therapist, who challenges Maggie both physically and mentally.

Women’s fiction novels are built around the transformative journey of a main character dealing with life changes, and Maggie is certainly goes through a big change. It’s not just a physical one, either, although a lot of the book has to do with rehabilitation from her injuries. I really liked the way the author handled that aspect of the story, giving Maggie a form of paralysis that I wasn’t familiar with and detailing the ins and outs of coping with that kind of injury. But I also liked the way the author handled the mental aspects of her journey. Maggie has always lived her life striving to succeed, to overcome every obstacle and be the best, but her paralysis is not something she can power through. She has to learn to accept that she may not ever have the picture-perfect life she imagined, but she can still find the good in living. 

Obviously there’s a lot of pain in this novel, but it’s not all sad. In fact, it’s quite funny at times, and Maggie’s relationship with her sister is a definitely a bright spot. And there’s also romance, in the form of Ian, who just happens to be a handsome Scot as well as a PT. 

Recommended for anyone who enjoys well-written women’s fiction.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

An engaging contemporary romance about a young woman whose life is turned upside after an accident. While some developments were a bit predictable, I enjoyed the characters, especially main character Margaret and her outlook after learning her life would be much different than she'd expected. Recommended for fans of family dramas, romance, and overcoming adversity.

I fully went into this story expecting it to be dark and depressing but it is actually quite funny any many places! There are sad times but it is also a great story about courage, love and family that will make a great summer read.
     I really liked Margaret, the main character, and many of the other characters are just as enjoyable and funny.  Chip, the boyfriend, and Margaret's mom were super annoying and I really wanted to smack both of them but everyone else was great. But sister, Kit? She is a long lost breath of (hilarious) fresh air that the family needs.
     There were times when a new secondary plot line would pop up that I would stop and think "really? this might be too much" but honestly, I ended up not caring. This book was touching, hilarious and will give you just the right amount of romance for your summer reading.

I absolutely loved this charming, witty, uplifting story! This is the story of Margaret, a young woman on the cusp of her dream life. Until a tragic accident, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, turns her world upside down. Margaret's world will never be the same again and she must figure out how to move forward. While this is a heavy topic, this book covers it in a light and witty way. I loved the characters, I loved the witty rapport, I loved watching Margaret find her way. This was my first book by the author and Ive already put library holds on her others. This was a fantastic, heart warming story. For me, this was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. A truly delightful read. Thank you @stmartinspress for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

that will capture reader’s hearts with every page.

“There are all kinds of happy endings.” – Eve Lapin

Margaret Jacobsen’s life seems perfect: she’s about to start her dream job, she has a boyfriend who loves her and is about to propose, and everything she’s ever wanted is within her reach. That is, until a devastating accident changes everything. Suddenly Margaret is fighting to hold on to the barest semblance of normalcy, and the perfect life she thought she would have is gone.

Margaret spends long weeks in the hospital healing and trying to recover, and faces challenges she never expected. She learns things about herself and her family that are surprising, in good ways and not-so-good ways. She develops connections that may be painful to break.

“I would never tell you that the life you wanted couldn’t have been exactly as great as you planned. But you have to live the life you have.”

How to Walk Away was delightful from beginning to end. Although Margaret’s story is one of struggle and pain, she is funny, compassionate, and brutally honest. Her relationships, especially with her parents and her estranged sister, Kitty, are an especially bright spot in an already beautiful novel. Their quirks and banter bring humor and levity into Margaret’s life when things seem bleak.

Margaret’s challenge is evident pretty early in the book, and normally that would prove to be boring. But Center has crafted a novel full of subplots, romance and intrigue that keep the reader turning the pages. This is one that was hard to put down!

I thoroughly enjoyed How to Walk Away. It proved to be a sweet, easy read that was just what I needed after a few “heavier” novels. I think you’ll love Margaret, her family, and her story just as much as I did.

If you love stories of survival and overcoming challenges, with plenty of funny moments and a sweet love story thrown in, then this one is for you.

Katherine Center gives us a book so full of life, it’s blinding and tragic and beautiful.

I often read books that can’t be put down and this was a 1am finish. We are invited to watch the journey of Margaret “Maggie” as she adjusts to life that just took a drastic turn and a completely different path than she ever expected or dreamed. With the help of her family, who are dealing with their own issues aside from Margaret’s situation, and her therapist Ian, Margaret finds unbelievable resilience and strength. While this is a contemporary romance, it is definitely a slow-burn and within the confines of physical limitations. The beauty of this book is watching Margaret realize her own potential when others around her knew she had it all along.

I also greatly appreciated the ugly truths about physical limitations following accidents. Most of the book is set in a hospital and Katherine does not shy away from the difficulties with recovery and the mental anguish that often follows. Margaret’s confidence was shaken to her core and she has to find reasons to fight for her own strength and mental stability.

This was an amazing book and a perfect summer read. Thanks to NetGalley and Book of the Month.

this book tells the story of Margaret (Maggie) Jacobsen who has had a lifelong fear of flying.  However, one fateful day she allows her boyfriend talk her into taking a short flight with him.  The flight goes smoothly until it’s time to land and a weather event causes the plane to crash.  While her boyfriend walks away without a scratch, Maggie is left paralyzed.  We are then taken on the high and lows of of her adjustment to her new life; a life of grueling physical therapy and moments of despair, thoughts of suicide and the loss of the man she once thought she would spend the rest of her life with.  Ultimately, she is able to triumph and create a new life for herself.  I could not put this book down on e I started it.

To say that I enjoyed this book would be a major understatement.  How to Walk Away had my complete attention right from the first page and didn’t let me go until the end.  Actually, that’s not quite true, I continued to think about the story, the characters, and the inspiring message that this book had long after I finished reading it.

How to Walk Away was the whole shebang.  It was tragic, heartbreaking, hopeful, witty, and romantic.  A good book is an enjoyable diversion for an hour or so, but a great book pulls the reader in, immediately invests them in the lives of the characters, and doesn’t let them go.  This was a great book!  I was in Margaret’s corner right from the beginning.  I felt as though I was right beside her, feeling all of the emotions along with her, rooting for her, and cheering her on.  The life that she knew was pulled out from under her.  She was on a new course, a bumpy path to learn her way down, and it was anything but easy.

When Margaret gets paired up with a less than encouraging physiotherapist to help her in her recovery, he is nothing but distant and all-business.  He certainly wasn’t blessed with the warmest bedside manner.  Despite his cool, standoffish demeanor, they end up establishing a rapport that seems to benefit both of them.  And I’m sorry, but it doesn’t hurt that he has a Scottish accent!

I can best describe this book as being well-rounded and multi-layered.  The author did a fabulous job of tapping into the relationships in this book.  Along with Margaret’s story, we also get an understanding of her family dynamic, and we get to know her fiancé, Chip.  From the easy-going dad, the pushy, perfection-driven mother, the outcast sister, and good old Chip, there was never a dull moment with this cast of characters, and the story propelled forward at a very quick pace.

How to Walk Away is an addictive reading experience that is filled with so much heart, hope, and healing.  It made me take pause to reflect on my own blessings in life.  To, perhaps, enjoy some of the smaller things that we all tend to take for granted on a daily basis.

This book has definitely earned a spot on my list of favorite books for the year.  This was my first novel by Katherine Center, and I’ve since added all of her other books on my to-be-read list. 

*5 Stars

I quite enjoyed this new novel from Katherine Center. I read Everyone is Beautiful a few years ago and was blown away by her ability to tell realistic, human, and hilarious stories. How To Walk Away displays that same humanity and humor. Margaret is sure that today is the day her boyfriend is going to propose. She’s ready for romantic evening out, but instead she is faced with her fear of flying. And when her worst fears become reality, she has to learn how to rebuild her life. I devoured this book, rooting for Margaret (and her family) the whole way.

Katherine Center will take your tender heart and wring it like a wet dishrag in this book. So prepare yourselves for that.

Maggie loses everything, yet not quite all at once. You sense, before she does, that everything she thought about and planned for is over and that she needs to find new thoughts and new plans. There will be times when you wonder why she ever had those first thoughts and plans in the first place.

There are some tender moments in this book, some sweet, some hilarious, and some that are hopeful. Katherine Center forces Maggie to face facts, and some of those facts are painful and require honest self-examination. How much do we choose to believe what we want to believe? What happens when we stop believing? What happens when we find something new to believe in?

The title is a play on words, one with several levels. Maggie desperately wants to walk away, but she can't. And when she finally decides she will, she does so because she thinks she has something to walk toward. What she has to learn, though, is that she must walk away for herself and toward herself.

Parts of this book are utterly delightful, and parts are a bit predictable. I did tear up more than once, despite Maggie occasionally really getting on my nerves. You just care about her, and you want her to learn how to walk away.