4-4.5⭐️ After being transferred out of Oncology for crying too much, Lark Smith is faced with a choice - pretend to be the girlfriend of Dr. “Satan” (an ER attending) for his sister’s wedding to alleviate his dying grandmother’s worries in exchange for an oncology recommendation at a different hospital, or be permanently remanded to the ER. However, things quickly become complicated when she develops an instant attraction to his brother.

This was just the book I needed at the time I needed it. The universe has been sending me book after book about the importance of human connections, and I found this book offers the same. At its core, this story is about how pivotal those connections are to the human experience. Told from three view points, each character is facing their own lack of connections, whether it’s friendships, love, or losing the connection or a spouse. And as we progress through the story, we see those connections begin to blossom.

Kristan Higgins writes these gorgeous, complex emotional stories with strong, but realistically flawed characters who you end up feeling as though you know. In this story, we get not just one dynamic MC, but three - each with a very distinct voice and set of experiences that make them wholly unique. As someone who loves the theme of found family and the power of friendship, I was emotionally invested in both Lorenzo’s family and Lark’s, and in the friendship that develops between the two other MCs.

🎧 I read this via audio, in addition to the physical book. The full cast narration made it easy to follow along with the changing points of view, and each of the narrators added that extra bit of emotion Higgins books are so well known for.

Read if you like:
•women’s fiction
•multi-generational stories
•marriage in crisis
•found family
•female friendships
•emotional reads multiple POVs

Thank you Berkley Pub and Recorded Books for the gifted copies.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I have enjoyed the new style this author has written for the past years, probably a decade. They are not romances but Life Fiction. The characters are more realistic and well developed along with all those around them, their families and friends. The settings and emotional situations are also well built for a deep connection.

The main character in Look on the Bright Side is Lark. At present, she is a medical resident. She has wanted to be an oncologist for a long time and was moved from that program to ER. She is a twin and has 3 sisters and a brother. She is close to her family. Lark has not taken the time for very many friends or dating, focusing on her medical education.

The other characters, where the other narrators come in for their point of view, are Lark's mother, Ellie, and her landlady, Joy. All three women have growth and development in this story, but primarily Lark.

Lark is asked by Dr. Satan to be his fake girlfriend since his grandmother wants to see him settled for the events around his sister's wedding this summer. Lark was close to her grandmother and has a soft spot for older people so she ends up agreeing. She loves his family but hates not telling them the truth.

Lark has a summer of personal growth with more social events, trying out an ER doctor position, and volunteering at hospice. For us, this is interspersed with flashbacks to her history of her life starting when she was 5, and how she got interested in oncology. It's as real as it gets, no wonder she is a weeper.

I loved Lark's strength and kindness, her love of others. I appreciated her practicality and no nonsense intelligence. It's a joy to go on this life journey with her.

Her mother and landlady's stories are equally touching and realistic. There is everything to love in Look on the Bright Side.

Kristin Higgins knows how to bring on tears, laughter and joy. This latest book centers around three women who are faced with some tough challenges. Those challenges include grief, anger, change and acceptance. This definitely is more of a work of women's fiction than romance as it is packaged. There is a lot of drama but also a lot of humor. I laughed out loud several times. Let’s just say I will never look at a renaissance faire the same again! There are also some heavier topics that include death and cancer that are emotional and heart breaking.


Standard Higgins book that I have grown to love over the years and look forward to them. Always a comfort read for me.

4 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @berkleyromance & @netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

I cried reading this. Twice. I took a picture of it for proof and.... Let's just say I'm not a pretty crier and it was promptly deleted. 😂 I've read - and oftentimes reread - her whole backlist so you better believe a new one is always an auto-read.
Lark is kicked out of the oncology program because she cries. A lot. Meeting with Dr. Satan... Er... Santini... gives Lark hope that getting back in maybe won't be impossible. She just has to pretend to date him for the sake of his crotchety grandmother. It's not what you know but who, after all.
Once I cried, I couldn't stop reading. Sounds like I'm an emotional basket case, but fair! I loved going back to some of these characters so much and seeing them from Lark's point of view. And the way things circle back? It's perfection. I already added this to my re-read pile.

4 Pulling My Heartstrings Stars!

Surprisingly this is my first book by Ms. Higgins and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. We get a book that is told from three different view points, Lark, her Mom and her Landlady Joy. And between all three of these ladies my heart was fully invested in each and every one of them.

Lark is an Oncologist which has been her lifelong dream, and we find out why as we get deeper into the book. Unfortunately, Lark has been transferred to the ER because according to those above her she gets too emotionally involved with her patients. For me, this would be a huge favorable factor if I was seeing an Oncologist because cancer is hard. What she wasn’t expecting when she got to the ER is that the one man everyone in the hospital is NOT a fan of, Dr. Satan has a proposition for her that could get her back to where she knows she’ll be the happiest.

Because Lark wants that more than anything in the world, she agrees to be his fake girlfriend for the summer to appease his Nonni. Little did she realize that this bargain would introduce her to a family that she immediately falls in love with. This also brings back someone from her past which she now has to deal with.

When it comes to Lark’s Mom and Landlord Joy they form an unlikely friendship and it added a wonderful dimension to this story. We get to relive their pasts as well in flashbacks and there are some surprises in store us.

This book may be classed as a romance, because there are moments of romance in the book, but I think it’s a great women’s fiction book. There are moments of snarky comebacks, especially between Lark and Dr. Satan, heartfelt moments that had me tearing up and three women that have to come to terms with not only their pasts, but their futures as well. All around this was an exceptional reading experience for me!

A multi-generational story that filled my heart with joy!

Lark, a thirty-something oncology resident that’s just been kicked out of the specialty for not being able to hack the emotional impact. We find out how her happily-ever-after was shattered, which was heartbreaking. She gets a bit of fun with an offer from “Dr. Satan” which was so fun! It ends up being instrumental in her moving on from her grief.

Ellie, Lark’s mom has a marriage and career everyone envies, but she encounters a bump in the road that has her spiraling and hopping mad! I loved her story and rooted for her marriage and career-in-crisis situation. She had wonderful support from Joy, Lark’s landlady.

Joy, an older, rich, glamorous woman with little going on in her life. She had a hard beginning. Awful parents but an amazing brother! Until Lark and Ellie came into her life, she was kind of directionless. I loved that as she helped them, they also helped her find purpose and self-esteem!

Look on the Bright Side was so utterly wonderful! It brought out so many emotions! I laughed, I cried, I was ticked! By the end my heart soared with joy!

Every time I picked up "Look on the Bright Side", I went on an emotional journey with this story.

Firstly, this cover is so sweet!

Kristan Higgins writing so full of so much heart, and her storytelling truly leaps right off of the page! Her characters all feel like such real people, and I was pulled in to this beautiful story from the first page to the last.

This novel centers around three women, Lark, Ellie, and Joy. Throughout this novel, there is truly so much: family, friendship, heart-wrenching moments, hope, romance, heartwarming moments, connection, healing, and so much more. As the stories intertwine, I truly found myself unable to put this heartfelt and moving novel down, and so look forward to reading what Kristan Higgins writes next. There are so many powerful and poignant messages throughout this book.

I highly recommend this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of this novel, and to Berkley Publishing Group for having me on the blog tour! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

this is my first kristan higgins book, and I swear it will not be my last 🫡 I went through every single emotion reading this story!!! I bawled my eyes out, my heart broke for the characters, I squealed in happiness, I laughed out loud, and I actually sat there and hugged the book when it was done (like a psycho I know)

needless to say, this was easily a five star read for me!!!

lark is going through a crisis in her life as she was let go from her long term job and has absolutely no idea what to do about her love life. and honestly me too lark 🥹 I love stories that make you relate to the feelings and thoughts of the character!!!

I wasn’t expecting my heart to be ripped to pieces as we found out more about lark’s backstory but THAT’S OKAY 😭😭😭 it was so beautifully written!!! I loved all of the side characters and having insert POVs of joy and ellie (lark’s mom and second mom) was such a nice touch to really give the family a full circle moment!

this was such a beautiful tribute to those working constantly in the medical field too 🤍 their work never goes unnoticed, but stories like these really bring their lives and emotions to the forefront too. I loved watching lark blossom in her new team!!!!

I could spend hours just raving about this story and how it touched me, but y’all should just pick it up and read it instead… a HUGE thank you to berkley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: niagara on the lake riesling

But it is time to share Look on the Bright Side! It is the story of a doctor who agrees to fake date a successful surgeon in exchange for his recommendation of her into the field of medicine she prefers. I do love a good fake dating so long as the miscommunication is kept to a minimum. This book was heavy. Much heavier than I was prepared for. Lark’s life was full of sadness, grief and guilt. Lark’s mom’s life was hitting a bumpy patch. And these two women had to find the strength come out of a dark place.
I may have been exhausted from a long weekend at a soccer tournament and working in between and after the games but I cried. A lot. But in the midst of the sadness and despair was so much love, hope, joy and resilience. So be prepared to get consumed by this book and feel every emotion possible.

4.5 stars

More than anything, this book is about three women going through big changes in their lives. The brunt of the story is about Lark, a young oncology resident who doesn’t know how to live her life for herself. She lost her childhood love and best friend and has lived her life for him, his parents, and her own family ever since. She may not see it that way, but that is the way it is. Being forced to switch departments at the hospital, and then entering into a strange deal with a man her coworkers call Dr. Satan, has Lark finally opening her eyes to the world around her and how much she has been holding back.

While Lark’s story is heartbreaking yet ultimately inspiring, her mom Ellie’s story filled me with the most emotions. Ellie finds out her perfect marriage actually went through a blip recently without her even realizing it happened. She is devastated and has to figure out how much forgiveness her heart holds. While she figures things out, she befriends Lark’s landlady Joy. Ellie and Joy learn a lot from one another and help each other through the changes going on in their lives.

Joy is so interesting. She’s treading water after losing her beloved brother. Although she’s been married multiple times, Joy’s brother is the only person who ever loved her unconditionally. Yet that love also seems to have enabled her to flit through life without aim. Now firmly in the senior citizen demographic, she spends her days online shopping, sleeping, and playing with her dog.

This story is beautiful all around. There are a lot of tough times. The depths of what Lark and her deceased fiancé went through broke my heart over and over. Yet her deal with Dr. Satan brings a whole new family into her life and she starts to see light in her life once again. I loved how carefully Dante dealt with Lark throughout the book. He’s such a great guy I kept hoping he would find a way to be with Lark. Yet I also ended up sympathizing with Dr. Satan. His story isn’t an easy one and I hope to see another book where he can find his HEA, maybe with Lark’s sister?

I laughed and cried throughout this book, just how I like it. I always remember that I love this author, but somehow forget just how much I get immersed in her stories.

Kristan Higgins is unmatched in the literary fiction and romance genres for me. Her books always make me feel feelings and laugh and fall in love. Kristan is also such an incredibly kind person so it makes it even easier to shout from the rooftops about her stories!

Look on the Bright Side centers around three women experiencing a crossroads in their lives - Lark, her mother, and her landlady.

Lark has been transferred out of her dream job (oncology) for being too emotional. When a colleague proposes that she pose as his girlfriend at several family gatherings in exchange for an introduction that could get her back into her dream field, she can’t say no.

This book has a grouchy elderly woman (always a yes from me), so many laughs, and moments that pull on your heartstrings. Kristan whisked me away to Cape Cod and made me believe in the power of love and family. I recommend this book SO highly.

Grab your tissues and pick up a copy of this book. Just do it.

Thank you to Berkley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Lark’s dream of pursuing a career in Oncology is placed in jeopardy when she is told that it isn’t a good fit, but she isn’t about to give up so easily so when one of the surgeons suggests an arrangement she can’t say no. If she will help him appease his ailing grandmother, then he will help her get back into the specialty she wants.

Lark isn’t sure what to make of Lorenzo as he appears arrogant and self-centered except when it comes to his family. His family and especially his brother Dante couldn’t be more different from him which only makes it that much more difficult to pretend to be dating Lorenzo.

This is a story of self discovery for Lark as with the help of Lorenzo, Dante and his family she learns to make peace with the past and discover what will make her happy in the present and the future. This story takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions from humor to heartbreak to love and everything in between.

I wanted to love this, because I am a fan of Kristan Higgins.. but this was not it for me. I struggled reading this, often times would actually fall asleep while reading. I found myself skipping over Ellie's and Joy's story because I was just focused on Lark. I understand that this is a story about 3 women who are at a crossroads in life. They all are learning to grieve and to live again after tragedy strikes- and in a way their stories are connected but also completely opposite. I just feel like with the back and forth POV's it took away from the story. I think I would have enjoyed this if each person had their own "part".

Reading this book was a complex experience for me. On one hand, it delves deeply into profound themes of life, death, and grief, capturing the emotional turbulence that accompanies these experiences. The narrative is rich with conversations and secrets, adding layers of intrigue and depth to the story. I found myself engrossed in the intricate relationships between the characters and the way they navigated their personal struggles.

However, I struggled with certain aspects of the plot, particularly the portrayal of infidelity. Cheating is something that I personally detest, and it overshadowed my ability to enjoy other elements of the story. It’s difficult for me to connect with characters who think it's acceptable to explore relationships outside of their commitments. This aspect made it challenging to fully appreciate the book, as it constantly pulled my focus away from the other, more profound themes being explored.

Despite my discomfort with the infidelity, I cannot deny that the story is deeply moving and thought-provoking. It captures the complexities of human emotions and relationships in a way that is both raw and real. While I may not have loved every part of the book, I acknowledge its depth and the skill with which it tackles difficult topics. The author evokes strong reactions and provokes thoughtful reflections on life and the choices we make.

I REALLY enjoyed this book! We, the reader, meet Lark on a bad day. Her life is getting thrown upside down again and she’s struggling with the change. Lorenzo hears about her plight and offers her a chance to meet someone else who can potentially turn things back around for her. If she helps him out. She agrees. Dr. Satan has zero personality but Lark adores his family. I enjoyed all the dynamics of these characters. These people felt realistic and I could have been friends with them. I didn’t want this book to end! Do yourself a favor and don’t let this one pass you by!

I loved this book so much. If you’re looking for the perfect beach read this summer, look no further! Higgins hit it out the park with her new book. It truly had it all and brought me tears, swoons, and smiles. I had big, fat, ugly tears during those flashback chapters.

We follow three POVs: Lark, an Oncology resident who lost her childhood sweetheart 7 years prior; Ellie, Lark’s mother who sees cracks in what she believed to be a perfect marriage; and Joy, Lark’s eccentric wealthy landlady. The book is primarily in Lark’s viewpoint and she’s definitely the main character, but Ellie and Joy were delightful to read about and I enjoyed each woman’s story. Very smart choice for the audiobook to have a different narrator for each POV! Made all the difference and made it so easy to keep track of who was narrating. Definitely recommend the audio if that’s a format you like.

If you enjoy books that make you sob, heartwarming stories about navigating tough situations, and resilient characters then I highly recommend this one. Lark is one of those one-in-a-million characters that you find yourself rooting for every step of the way. I personally liked it more than Higgin’s popular read, Pack Up the Moon.

Lark Smith is a resident Physician who has a dream of becoming an Oncologist; the tricky thing about that is she is too emotional for the job and gets kicked out of the Oncology department. Lorenzo Santini, better known as Dr. Satan at the hospital, has a proposal for her; be in a fake relationship with him to make his Noni happy in the last months of her life in exchange for Lorenzo's endorsement to the Oncology department head. All Lark has to do is attend a few family events with Lorenzo and she will be back where she belongs. Look on the Bright Side is told in alternating POVs: Lark (past and present), Ellie Smith (Lark's Mom), and Joy (Lark's landlady and friend).
Review:
Wow! Look on the Bright Side is not your typical fake dating love story; it is actually the exact opposite. It is filled with hard emotional stories of Lark's life and the loves of her life, Ellie's marriage hardships, and Joy's life reflection and finding the joy in her life again after loss. I was not fully prepared for the emotional depth and rollercoaster that Look on the Bright Side had in store for me. It is beautiful and it is gut wrenching. I cried many times throughout reading it. The story telling in this book is absolutely fantastic! I loved the way these stories interconnected and how deeply invested I was in these characters. I highly HIGHLY suggest reading Look on the Bright Side! 4.5 stars
Look on the Bright Side publishes on 5/28. What are you waiting for? Go pick up your copy!
Thank you NetGalley, Kristan Higgins, and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC of Look on the Bright Side in exchange for an honest review!

Look on the Bright Side
By: Kristan Higgins
Berkley Publishing Group
General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Women's Fiction
Pub Date: May 28, 2024

Author Kristan Higgins writes the most emotionally compelling stories, in a style all of her own. She deftly blends humor, romance, and family dynamics into the story of oncology resident Lark, in a setting of Cape Cod.
Lark didn't picture herself as someone who could fake date someone, but she finds that the unexpected can happen in both her personal life and career path.

Lark's mother and landlady also have prominent roles in this lovely, emotionally charged book. Higgins smoothly carried me from giggles to tears, and I care about her characters.

I received a gifted advance reader's copy from Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group. My review is my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(4.25)

Thank you @berkleypub @recordedbooks @NetGalley for the free books #BerkleyPartner #netgalley

Lark Smith's dream of becoming an oncologist is derailed when she's transferred to the ER for being too emotional with patients. Renowned surgeon Dr. Lorenzo "Satan" Santini offers her a deal: be his fake girlfriend for three months to reassure his dying grandmother, and he'll help her career. Unexpectedly, Lark falls for his family and brother. The story also explores the lives of Lark's mother Ellie and her landlady Joy, as they all navigate personal crossroads.

Every now and again women’s fiction catches my eye and this one did not disappoint! Though I usually hate the undertone of grief, this story pulled at my heartstrings in a way that both kept me on the edge of my seat and gave me empathy for the characters. Lark’s crushing sad memories are mixed with snarky comments and a distinct determination to fulfill her dream of being an oncologist despite her unruly emotions. Though I don’t think the POVs from Ellie and Joy were necessary, their struggles added to the heartfelt sentiment Kristan Higgins was clearly after. By the ending you’ll understand why Lark can’t help but shed a few tears.

I primarily read the physical book because after a few chapters of the audiobook I realized the primary narrator (Lark’s perspective) wasn’t for me.

Perfect for you if you like:
Dealing with grief
Multi-generation family POV
Women’s fiction with a mix of romance
Unexpected second chances

Similar to:
Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
The Switch by Beth O’Leary

⛔️vague cracked door romantic intimacy
⚠️explicit languarge, grief, death of a loved one, mentions domestic abuse, fatphobia, car accident, chronic illness

I loved this book. It follows three women Lake, Ellie and Joy and their struggles through life. There was a lot of medical things going on so at times it was a tough read. I do hope she writes another book about “Dr. Satan”. I would love to see him meet his match.