On Second Thought is one of the most tender and hopeful stories I have read. It's character-driven by women of incredible strength.

Thanks NetGalley for the Advanced Reading Copy of this one! I read it back in January, but am a little behind on my blogging. Spring has been busy this year!

This book made me feel all the feels! It features two sisters Ainsley and Kate, and although it's a romance it could also be called women's fiction because it heavily features the relationship between the two sisters who have never been close. However, some pretty big life events bring the two sisters together, closer than ever.

Kate, who found her husband later in life, tragically loses him at the beginning of the book. Readers follow her story of getting over the loss of her whirlwind romance and marriage, and then navigate a surprise that she never saw coming. Watching Kate rebuild her life was addicting, and I had trouble putting the book down.

Ainsley's romance is completely the opposite of whirlwind. She has been waiting for 11 years for her boyfriend to propose. Instead of proposing her boyfriend, Kate's husband has an accident and Eric ultimately dumps her instead. And writes about it online, in his blog. Ainsley must also find her way after loss, and moves in with her sister (with her adorable dog) while she does. The relationships that the sisters have with each other and the rest of the family and friends is fascinating and such a good story. If you haven't read this one yet you should do it right now!

Rated 5/5 on Goodreads...

I loved this book I was a bit hesitant in the beginning. It didn't come across like some of the other titles she's written. It wasn't quite as lighthearted with the death right in the beginning. I loved it and after I finally got into it stayed up half the night finishing it!

This is the 1st Kristen Higgins book I have read. It will not be the last. I really really enjoyed this book. I loved how the book involved the whole family. I really enjoyed how the sex scenes were left to your imagination and were not all spelled out for you. I recommend this book for young and old and everyone in between.

This book leans towards women's fiction, although not as hard as the previous book. I enjoyed the cameos from the characters in the previous book though. Umm... this one made me cry a lot, which isn't something I'm always looking for in my romance novels. But I still enjoyed it.

I am a huge Kristan Higgins fan, have read everything she's written, and it pains me to say this was a DNF for me. As with her previous book, IF YOU ONLY KNEW, I could not connect with any of the characters and I didn't enjoy the story. I would love to see her go back to her small town romance roots. That's what pulled me in and what, in my humble opinion, she does best!

Thank you for the opportunity to read ON SECOND THOUGHT, however, I will not be reviewing it at this time.

Gotta say - starting this book with a death and grief was not an easy thing to dive into but I'm so glad I persevered - great book!

On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins was a read that I couldn't put down. I came back to it any time I had, other things I thoroughly enjoy were put aside. I was totally hooked into this book, I laughed and at times a few tears slipped down from the sheer perfection of some of the relationships and how they worked out.

The book is told from the point of view of two sisters. Kate the older one, not long married to Nathan has found the love of her life and is hoping for a child, until the unthinkable happens and a freak accident takes him from her. She becomes the widow, encased in a grief locked inside her. Nathan's family are very much part of this story and the way the relationship with Kate develops is very interested - especially Kate's mother-in-law.

Ainsley is the younger sister, they share the same father but not the same mother. However Candy has raised Ainsley and while Ainsley doesn't quite feel the love there, she finds a few surprises along the way. Ainsley has been in a very long term relationship with Eric, the guy with the size of an ego that blinds him. He is a total ass. Ainsley is so kind and caring and loving she hasn't really seen him for who he really is. When it all turns to custard it turns out Ainsley and Kate begin to share things never shared before and the development of their relationship is deeply satisfying.

I warmed very much to both sisters, perhaps Ainsley a little more at first, but both of them are wonderful women, finding their way together through tough times. There extended family provide extra entertainment and Gram Gram - Candy's mother and the girls grandmother is totally incorrigible and a load of fun.

While this book is more than romance there are a couple of wonderful guys also in the story who really 'get' the women and are there for them.

On Second Thought was a delectable, delightful read - it hit all the right buttons for me, I was captivated by every part of it.

Told in alternating viewpoints, from step-sisters Kate and Ainsley, each of whom loses an important relationship in shocking fashion. This is a book about finding self and reconnecting with family.

Unlike most of the books I have read by author Kristan Higgins, I did not connect to the characters. I did not dislike them, but I was not in love with any either. Well, of course the adorable dog and there were many positives about several, even the cool, stand-offish Kent and somewhat mother Candy. It was just not an extreme love 'em or hate 'em, rooting for you above all others type feeling.
I even found a section of the book just before midway that dragged a bit for me. I am very happy I stayed with it as overall this is a wonderful story.

I appreciated that the protagonists were women "old enough" to make mature decisions.
None of us ever does make the right choice one hundred per cent of the time.
It is how we handle the consequences of our choices that truly matters

Kate is a 39 year old photographer who became a wife and widow within a 4 month time span. She and her husband, Nathan, had a whirlwind romance and decided to marry after a brief dating period. After 4 months of marriage, Nathan dies suddenly at a party being thrown by her sister, Ainsley, and her boyfriend, Eric. Kate's whole world changes instantly and she isn't always sure how she is supposed to cope and/or react to Nathan's death. She has always been self-assured and confident but she begins to question her life and marriage after finding that her husband has been keeping a secret from her.

Ainsley has lived with her boyfriend Eric for 11 years. She wants marriage and is elated when she finds an engagement ring in her boyfriend's belongings. On the evening of his party, it appears that Eric is going to propose to Ainsley when tragedy strikes. While she is helping her sister, Kate, deal with a recent loss, Ainsley is blind sighted by Eric breaking up with her. What is even more upsetting is the fact that Eric journals about their failed relationship in a blog that goes viral. On top of all of that, she is constantly late for work and is often getting reprimanded by her Supervisor.

Kate, still grieving, is happy to have her sister Ainsley move in her with after Eric breaks up with her. Both sisters help each other cope with the end of the relationships becoming closer in the process. I liked how both sisters and stars of this book and nothing felt forced between them. I also liked that this book dealt with many subjects: death, cancer, grief, loss, family secrets, falling in love, and starting over.

I liked how the book explored the sister's past relationship, the family dynamic of being step sisters, with a turbulent family life. They really begin to grow close and depend on each other after heartbreak and loss occur for them both. I liked that both characters are likable and I cared about them both. They have some interesting interactions and funny moments with each other and with other characters in the book.

Both sister's stories are told and I enjoyed them both. Usually when more than one story is told in a novel, I tend to like one more than the other. That is not the case with this book. I really enjoyed both story lines. I liked how both women went through a journey and began to heal. Both women work on healing and living. Will love find them again? How long should someone grieve before moving on? When is enough...enough?

The other characters in the book are also likable - maybe except for one. I want to say more about this book, but I fear I will give away spoilers. So I will say, that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was like a sweet escape on a dreary rainy day. Although there are themes of cancer and death in this book, the book in not heavy. It is light and sweet. I wanted to know what was next for these characters and liked when they both grew closer, grew as people and found the strength to move on.

I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars.

Kristan Higgins gets better and better with every book she writes.

Her characters are so thought provoking because they could be your friends or not so much. They are likeable...Kate, Nathan, Ainsley and even quirky Jonathan. They are very unlikeable...Eric, Madeline, Paige. Either way you were invested, her writing is real, it's deeply personal. And most of all it's about the messiness of family, friends and love. It's about when you love someone they can still drive you nuts. And sometimes when you love someone they break your heart and you need to love yourself more and move on. It's about loss, it's about getting what you wanted from someone unexpected and finding out that you will be ok with the new plan. I mourned when Kate mourned. I yelled obscenities with Ainsley when her ex acted like a... these two women had flaws and were perfect in them. Sisters that each in there own grief found solace and a much deeper connection that they ever knew they could have.

Life is messy...this book shows us the resilience of the human heart and its abilities. I LOVED this book so hard. I say this with every new book I read from this author but damn these stories touch a spot in your heart and give it a twist. The characters stay with you long after you close the book. You yearn to know more, you miss the interaction with the characters and the family they created in your mind. I can't wait to see what's next for this amazing author!

From my blog: Always With a Book:

My thoughts: I am a big fan of Kristan Higgins' books and was thrilled to hear she had a new one out!!! She does such a great job blending family dynamics with romance, comedy and real people.

This story deals with some heavy issues but blended with Kristan's trademark sense of humor - not too light, not too heavy - it doesn't come off as a downer of a read. Rather, it is one that inspires hope and a sense of finding yourself after what may seem to be the worst thing to happen in your life.

And let's talk about the characters - these are always the highlight of Kristan's books for me! She creates such real, richly drawn, yet highly relatable characters. They are complex and flawed, yet ones you would hope to have as friends and in your corner should the need arise. I loved the relationship that grew between Ainsley and Kate as the story progressed. Having two sisters, I could totally relate to this bond between them and how it isn't always roses, but when the situation arises, they are there for you. And then there's Gram-Gram - everyone needs a grandmother like her! She is spunky and always good for a laugh!!!

While this is a stand-alone book, if you've read Kristan's previous book, If You Only Knew, a few characters might be familiar as this book is also set in Cambry-on-Hudson, NY. But, rest-assured, if you didn't read that book - no worries. They are not connected in any way - though I do recommend it, as it was also an enjoyable read!

Kristan Higgins is always a favorite author to read and I cannot wait to see what comes next from her...will it be another book set in Cambry-on-Hudson or will it be something entirely different? I guess only time will tell!

I really loved how the author focused on the sister's relationship and how they became stronger by relying on each other. Sure there was romance but it wasn't the focus but a nice subplot.

From Book Riot: "The best part of Kristan Higgins’ romance was always the networks she built around her characters, so it’s no surprise that her venture into more family-focused adult fiction has been a smooth one. On Second Thought is the story of two sisters – half-sisters, actually, which is an important distinction in the book – who suddenly find themselves in need of each other’s support like never before. In Higgins’ typical style, the characters are charming but imperfect, the town is small and quirky, the humor is ubiquitous, and yes, there is some romance. In other words, On Second Thought was exactly what I was looking for. For four evenings in a row, I curled up with a blanket, a glass of wine, and my e-reader and dropped out of my life and into the fictional world of the O’Leary sisters. Despite their grief and struggles, it was a lovely and mostly happy place to be."
-Trisha Brown

Nearly perfect novel! Well-balanced and well-written. A good story with easy-to-root-for characters.

Thirty-niney-year-old Kate was still a giddy newlywed when her husband died. She thought she would ever get married, but here she is 102 days into her marriage to Nathan, the best man she had ever met. They are at her sister's, Ainsley, house for a party when there is a freak accident and after 102 days of marriage, Kate is a widow. She is absolutely devastated and at a loss of how she goes on.

Ainsley and her boyfriend of eleven years are celebrating his beating cancer when Nathan had his tragic accident. Shortly after Nathan's death, Eric dumps Ainsley on the night she was expecting to get a ring. She moves in with Kate as she tries to pick up the pieces of her life.

The O'Leary sisters haven't always been close, the family history is dysfunctional, to say the least. Their father is clueless at best and their mother has a passive-aggressive streak that is worthy of it's own book. But it isn't until they are both healing from heartache that they really start to get to know each other. Ainsley and Kate both have help healing, but will they ever truly be happy again?

It has been a long time since I devoured a book in one sitting, but it was easy to do with On Second Thought. From the very beginning, I could relate to Kate because she was an older bride, like me. I could relate to the feeling of giddiness she had as she sent him off to work in the morning. I get it. I was like that. The sudden death of her beloved left her so stricken it was hard to not feel the tug of emotions. On the other hand, when Ainsley and her boyfriend split up, I practically cheered. He was such a gigantic ass. But Ainsley's emotions leaped off the pages just as Kate's did. I enjoyed watching the sisters strengthen their relationship and start to emerge from their respective haze of grief. I found myself crying the ugly cry at the end of the book - I won't tell you why - but I dare you to read it with a dry eye.

Bottom line - Kristan Higgins is such a talented author. She has successfully made the leap from romance to mainstream women's fiction. I so thoroughly enjoyed On Second Thought that I am " adding it to the "Best of 2017" list. It was that good.

Details:
On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins
On Facebook
Pages: 480
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication Date: 1/31/2016
Buy it Here!

Reading this book was just one of those perfect reading experiences. I was sick in bed and wanted something to distract myself from the fact I felt terrible. I didn't really expect it to work but before I knew it I was sucked into the world of Ainsley, Kate, Nathan, Eric and the rest of their world. Sore throat, runny nose, and headache disappeared and I finished this book in a day. It was exactly what I needed - entertaining without being silly, emotional without being melodramatic and full of characters that felt so real I could picture them.

I found the family dynamics interesting in their super messed up blended family situation. Being part of a blended family myself I found the confused loyalty issues that Kate suffers from to be very true and the distance between her and Ainsley felt very natural. As well Ainsley's desire for a closer relationship felt true to form. This feels like a real family with history, hidden jokes, and the regular irritations that occur in any family.

I loved Ainsley. I loved how hard she tried just to be happy and to take care of those around her. She desperately wanted to be close to her sister but had never really been sure how to make that happen. It's easy to understand that her desire to belong is one of the things that keeps her with Eric despite everyone around her knowing he's not worth her effort. I loved how her story line progressed and that not only did her relationships with those around her develop but she got a better handle on what she herself wanted. It was really a joy to watch and I'd really like a few of her outfits!

I didn't connect with Kate's story as much as I did Aisnley's. I liked Kate and my heart broke for her multiple times as she struggles to figure out just what her life has become and what she's going to do. My main problem was with the way her story developed. It always felt more like things happened to her versus her taking control of her life and I wanted better for her.

The dual narration really worked and I loved seeing through the eyes of both women. I loved both stories and I loved seeing their thoughts on each other and the people in their lives. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read with characters I won't forget any time soon.

Life throws curve balls and this book reflects it well. The characters are relatable, each with their own flaws. The bits of humor throughout helps to relieve some of the darker issues. Gram Gram is quite the character! It's a little predictable but very enjoyable.

Kristan Higgins is one of my favorite authors of all time. I've read every book that she's written and she's just so great at writing brave, honest, heart-breakingly wonderful characters. In this particular one, she utilizes a dual POV which I normally hate, but she just pulled it off so well. I love the sisterhood connection between Kate and Ainsley, and how they're there for each other through grief, heartbreak, and joy. And I also adore how she writes the love interests- she's a master of the slow burn... you know that a particular couple is going to be end game but the way she writes it, you're loving every minute of it rather than getting frustrated and thinking "get on with it already!" (something I often think when I read romance books by other authors). I just loved everything about this book and will definitely recommend it to others. Bravo Ms. Higgins on another wonderful book!

A set of sisters are both going through some changes in their lives and for the first time they are finding solace in each other. Ainsley and Kate may have grown up in the same home, but sharing a dad and two different mothers, they had unique childhoods and finally as adults they can find common ground and help each other through their own tragedies.

I loved how Ainsley and Kate told their own stories and they wove back and forth. I love me a dual narrative! I loved that it didn't take long for the girls lives to be upended and then to find solace in each other so the majority of the story could be them helping each other move forward.

Of course Kristan Higgins is also known for romance books with long series, but this one is the perfect stand alone with just a little romance on the side. I loved that this book had enough story to satisfy the storyteller in me and the relationship between the sisters was really the star of the show.

I am and will always be a fan of Kristan Higgins. I am almost more of a fan of these stand alones than the series.