I absolutely loved this book!! If you read anything this summer, read THIS!! There’s family drama, with a dash of comedy, and a sprinkle of some teary eye moments. Lorenzo is so pompous, he can’t see how much his family actually loves him and he tries to fit in by trying to pay for everything he can, but his good will is undone by no other than himself—so he’s never truly satisfied. He is the kind of person who does a good thing but wants everyone to know what he did, which in turn has the opposite effect of what he was trying to accomplish.

Lark, she is just so freaking passionate, and what a well rounded character. After a big failure, she realizes her passion is not exactly in the specialty she chose but rather where she ends up, which at first she sees as a demotion but it really isn’t. Her love for Justin was just too sweet and too unbearable (in a good way) at times. I couldn’t hold back the tears when I read their story, and understood what drove her to pick the specialty she had.

Dante, best fire fighter ever!!! Turn on the A/C please!

Joy—she was hilarious. Her story was kind of sad but I could see how Lark and Ellie helped her find herself. The things she did could’ve made her un-relatable and yet she wasn’t. She found a purpose for her life finally. It was so good.

Seriously…READ THIS book!
This would make a fabulous movie.

Book Review

Look On The Bright Side
By: Kristan Higgins

This book!!!! Kristan Higgins has quickly become a favorite for me and this book is a perfect example why. She grabs your attention from the first page and writes some of the most wonderfully real stories I’ve ever read.

From the very first page I knew this was going to be another winner. She had me laughing one chapter and then crying the next. That’s the best type of book…one that hits all the emotions! So much fun and so many laugh out loud moments to keep you entertained.

I absolutely loved the main character, Lark. Really, every single character…even Dr. Satan! The families were huge bonuses for me and brought so much to the story.

If you love heartwarming stories that will have you laughing out loud…definitely pick this one up. Filled with great characters, a fake dating plot, two big families, lots of humor, and tons of heart! Bravo💕

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All the stars!!!

5/5⭐️

I adore Kristan Higgans books but this was not my favorite. It was only just ok for me. I think that was mostly because of the other storylines thrown in, that had way too much background given, and were not ultimately very important. If the story had stayed with Lark it would’ve been stronger. As it was, even Larks story had too much backstory given for my interest.

Wow did I really read this in 2 days? Look on the Bright Side was a beautiful story about love, loss, healing, purpose, forgiveness and family.

As a child, Lark was the quiet and kind one, a conscientious and good student, devoted friend and then girlfriend. These personality traits were central to her identity and her goal of being an oncologist her singular focus and purpose. As she encounters professional challenges and her path doesn’t unfold exactly as she planned, she learns more and more that her formative childhood relationships and early identity markers will always stay with her as strengths but don’t have to constrain her from growing and evolving and discovering new parts of herself and new people to share them with…

I devoured this book, highlighted so many amusing passages, rooted and cried for the complex and relatable characters who all grow and change over the course of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley, Berkeley and Kristan Higgins for giving me the chance to review this book in advance of publication in exchange for an honest review.

Another wonderful Kristan Higgins book. I look forward to reading er work, and try to only start her books when I know I can spend the time reading it and not being interrupted by things like "life".

I feel oddly proud of myself for only ugly crying once during this read, but when I say it was ugly crying, I mean that I'm glad I didn't open this on a flight last week. Whoa. That would have been uncomfortable for my row mate.

This is the story of Lark, who you might know from a previous book by this author. She is a doctor in her oncology residency, an identical twin, and part of a large and glorious family. She makes a deal with the devil doctor at her workplace to be his "girlfriend" to keep his old school Italian grandmother happy. Of course they aren't in love, can hardly even call it like. Do they fall in love? No. Lark is still reeling from the loss of her fiancé and all of the guilt associated with that.

You will laugh, you will cry, you will want to move to Wellfleet.

I loved PACK UP THE MOON by Kristan Higgins so was excited to check out LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE as her new release.

There were a ton of great themes including love, loss, forgiveness, and finding yourself and I really enjoyed the MC, Lark’s, story and how it all came together. I loved the last half of the story, but thought the first half was a litttle harder to get through. I’m really glad I kept reading because once the storylines all came together, it was an incredible and really enjoyable read.

I felt like the multiple POVs could be a little hard to follow since some of the sections were a bit long-winded, and I think some of the storylines were left a little unfinished. Overall, I did really enjoy this and found it to be a really heartwarming and cute Cape Code based read!

Kristan Higgins is a must-read author for me. This one focuses on Lark, but the supporting characters almost steal the show. Joy might have been my favorite character and I hope she shows up again in a future Kristan Higgins book. I will recommend to readers who enjoy women's fiction with strong characters. I look forward to the next one from Kristan Higgins!

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Kristan Higgins never fails to delight with her wit, warmth and humor.
Look On The Bright Side takes us back to Wellfleet, Cape Cod to reunite with the Smith family.
The novel follows three women ( two are mother and daughter) as they navigate love, loss, betrayal, grief, and ultimately, hope.
Told in alternate chapters in each woman’s point of view, the storylines are well thought out and never rushed, considering the wealth of past and present plot lines to underscore each woman’s journey.
It was great to see characters from previous novels and to spend time with the family and their quirky dynamics.
Well worth your time. Kristan Higgins has grown into a fabulous women’s fiction writer.
I would recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre of literature.

Life doesn’t always work out the way we dream it will. But it often turns out better. Lark opts to help a surgeon known for his lack of people skills to navigate his family. Life events change the trajectory of her life’s goals and ambitions in ways she never dreamed. Ever since I read Four Winds and The Women by Kristin Hannah I can’t get enough of her books!

Lark Smith is temporarily relieved of her oncology duties and reassigned to the ER, much to her disappointment. She believes oncology is where she is meant to be. On a whim, Lark Smith agrees to fake date Lorenzo Santini, a prominent surgeon who needs someone to help convince his grandmother that he’s happily settling down. It was supposed to be a few family events leading up to his sister’s summer wedding, but Lark and Lorenzo’s family immediately hit it off and begin doing other things together, which doesn’t make Lorenzo happy. The only family member he’s close to is his grandmother, who raised him. Lark tries getting Lorenzo to open up and be more of a likable person, but she’s got her work cut out for her. Then she meets his brother. Dante, and there’s an instant attraction, but she can’t let anything happen when she’s supposed to be dating his brother, Lorenzo.

There are glimpses of a tragedy in Lark’s past, as well as trouble in her parent’s marriage, and a developing friendship between Lark’s landlord and Lark’s mother.

I loved this story! This book should come with a box of tissues.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Kristan Higgins does it again. "Look On the Bright Side" delights with the tale of Larkby "Lark" Smith, an oncologist resident who just got kicked out of oncology for....being too emotional. Lark's super power is also her weakness in that she emotes and empathizes deeply with her fellow human beings. But, as a doctor - is this welcomed? She's given time to think about it, and practice toughening up while being what everyone thinks as demoted to the Emergency Room.

Fellow colleagues notice Lark's absence, and one in particular decides to take advantage of her situation. Dr. "Satan" Santini, the hotshot, handsome surgeon who has no people skills asks Lark to be his date, ala that 80's rom-com "Can't Buy Me Love." Yes, he wants to pay her to pretend to be his girlfriend for just a few family functions so his dying grandmother can rest knowing someone in the world loves him. But, not only will he pay her, but also he promises to connect her with the right people to get back into oncology.

Meanwhile, Lark's mother is going through her own personal crisis, having found out her husband of decades has been having an emotional affair. Completely shocked and heartbroken, Ellie Smith moves out of her beloved, ramshackle home and into Lark's landlady's multi-million dollar home. Little did Ellie know that her stay with Joy would serve her just as much as it would Joy, who is lonely and grieving for the loss of her brother.

In true Kristan Higgins fashion, "Look On the Bright Side" is a warm, funny story that gently leads its reader through several journeys of grief, but does it in a surprisingly beautiful way.

My first book by this author and i really enjoyed it. A true page turner. Can’t wait to try other books she has written! Thanks for the opportunity to review this one.

Lark has a problem, a pretty big problem. She has been asked by a very prominent surgeon to pretend to be his girlfriend for an upcoming wedding and family celebration. She had already found the love of her life year’s ago and he had died. So it is with a heavy heart that she begins this charade. Her mother and father are having troubles of their own. As is Joy, her landlord. Can they each find their way. What a fun journey to find out. And remember, love always finds a way. Look On The Bright Side- Kristin Higgins- Four stars. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I am so lucky to have received this book by Kristan Higgins. I haven't been sucked into a book the way I was with this one over the weekend, and yes I read it over the weekend, I could not put it down! The story is about a young lady, Lark who was lucky enough to have met the love of her life at the age of 5. They have a beautiful love story, with a tragic ending. Lark goes through the grief of losing that relationship and has been busy with school and her career as a doctor. She's been single for many years, until a handsome surgeon comes her way. I loved this story so much, and loved the ending. Definitely one of the best books I have read this year, and so far my favorite by Higgins, loved it even more than Pack up the Moon.

Lark is a medical resident that struggles to not get emotionally attached to her oncology patients. When she is told she may not be cut out for oncology and is sent to continue her residency in the ER, Dr. Santini (or Dr. Satan as he’s known) reaches out with an offer she can’t refuse. She fake dates him to make his dying grandmother happy, and he helps her get back into oncology. Although the plot is predictable, the characters and the storytelling kept me engaged.

There are a couple different subplots that make this book a unique experience. As the reader, you are also a part of the evolution of Larks landlady, Joy, and her mom, Ellie. Joy is dealing with grief of her own and isn’t really sure who she is without her brother, or what she is good at. Ellie is wondering for the first time if her marriage is really rock solid.

Higgins manages to write a book that covers some heavy topics, while also having some laugh out loud moments. I loved and was invested in each character, even Dr. Satan.

I love all of the books by Kristan Higgins with the exception of Pack up the Moon. I only read a few chapters of that before deciding it was too sad. This was another great story involving the Smith family. I loved Lark and Dante and both of their families. I kind of wished there wasn’t so much detail about Lark and Josh and their sad story. I found myself trying to speed read through their perfect childhood romance and the cancer details. I hated Lorenzo. His character seemed so unbelievable, I was expecting the author to reveal that he was on the autism spectrum…Asperger’s?? Overall a good story. It didn’t have as much humor as her earlier books. She seems to focus a lot more on death and dying and cancer and aging in her more recent books. I miss the witty romantic banter.
Thanks to NetGalley for the early release.

Received an early edition via NetGalley. Let me start by saying that I LOVE the Smith Family. I pray that Kristan Higgins continues to highlight one sibling in her novels. This family is pure literary gold. Being from Massachusetts, I enjoy reading about the landmarks, towns, language and habits of this great state. Look on the Bright Side is a gem of a novel. I laughed and I cried. I would change nothing in this novel. Eager to recommend this novel when it is published. I feel honored to have read an early copy. Thank you to Kristan Higgins for the wonderful story.

Thanks to #Netgalley for the opportunity to read the ARC. I absolutely loved this story. I hope that we continue with the characters from the Smith family. This was a companion novel to A Little Ray of Sunshine. I loved seeing what some of the characters had been up to since then.
This story follows Lark Smith and her journey with grief and finding love again.

Kristan Higgins is officially on my list of MUST READ AUTHORS for every year now. I really enjoyed A Little Ray of Sunshine last year and the delightful Smith family but this year I’m obsessed with them. Santini family included. Grandpop might be my favorite character in any book! I’m praying that there are more of these books in the works because I must have more. I’m stingy with 5 star reviews and this for sure earned them.

This is the 2nd novel I’ve read by Kristin Higgins that takes place on Cape Cod. I love reading about places in a place I call home. I loved the backstory on Lark and how she was finally able to move on. I feel that I could have done without the “infidelity” of Lark’s father Gerald and how her mother Ellie dealt with it. Joy, Lark’s landlord had her own issues and it was nice to see her come into her own. All in all I enjoyed the book.