To say that I loved this book is an understatement.. It's everything you could want in a book. It's intense and emotional. You will be cheering for Margaret from the beginning up until the very end. If you haven't discovered Katherine Center's books yet my advice is that you run to preorder this book and then do what I did which is to download her previous books. You will not be disappointed. This is a book that will stay with you long after you have finished it. I call that a well deserved book hangover. Make sure that you leave plenty of time to devote to this book because I read it in less than a day. Happy reading!

When lightening strikes your world can change in an instant. This story was very well written and uplifting. . This is a new author for me and I need to read more of her work.

I read a free copy from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center's How to Walk Away was phenomenal! I was surprised at how quickly I empathized with the heroine, Margaret. Her constant cheerleader, I could not wait to see what obstacles she might face next. This is a fabulous book to drop everything and just read from cover to cover! Katherine's pen worked some real magic with emotions. WOW! I laughed out loud. I cried. (Several times.) I went to sleep at night thinking about Margaret and the object of her affections. I loved the unexpectedness of it all--resolution included. I loved the resilient and inspirational nature of this novel. Thank you, Katherine for an enjoyable experience!!!

The novel ’ How to walk away’ is about surviving and finding meaning after a terrible accident . Margaret , 26 years old , has to reconstruct a new life after a terrible accident caused by her reckless boyfriend. This is not easygoing as she goes through all stages of grieving her ‘before ‘ life . The book describes in a realistic and heartwarming way how she pierces her life together. It is never all tragedy and there are some funny , even hilarious moments . Very interesting is that all relationships have to be re examined and reconstructed. The author describes well how people are very often at a loss how to react or how to deal with Margaret after her accident. The story is fast paced, well written and very poignant. I would highly recommend this novel as it leaves the reader with a lot to think about.

From the author of Happiness for Beginners comes an unforgettable love story about finding joy even in the darkest of circumstances.

Katherine center writes a beautiful novel How To Walk Away. Emotional, lovely and even comical even in the reality of tragedy that could change her entire life with a family that has it's own secrets and emotional charged ties. You will know the characters from page one. You will love Margaret and relate to her and her situations. Katherine Center writes as if she is telling you a story that is truly happening while gulping down some strong coffee with close friends or sisters. I highly recommend this beautiful book. I savored it and look forward to reading more from this talented author. 5 STARS!!

Book Description:
Margaret Jacobsen has a bright future ahead of her: a fiancé she adores, her dream job, and the promise of a picture-perfect life just around the corner. Then, suddenly, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, everything she worked for is taken away in one tumultuous moment .

In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Margaret must figure out how to move forward on her own terms while facing long-held family secrets, devastating heartbreak, and the idea that love might find her in the last place she would ever expect.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for my review. I have never read any of Katherine Center's books, but after finishing, How to Walk Away, I immediately downloaded her other novels. What can I say about this story? Margaret Jacobson knows that her fiancé is going to propose. He doesn't know that she knows, just like he doesn't know just how clearly she has mapped out their very bright future. The only thing she doesn't know is that life she has planned is about to get ripped apart in a blink. Margaret now has to try to make sense out of the senseless pieces of what is left of her life. What she doesn't know is that by repairing her life, she is helping to fix the lives of those who think they are helping her.

This story is tender and bittersweet most of all hopeful. I devoured it in one sitting and I can't wait to tell all of my friends to read it!

Touching and poignant. A very well thought out as well as an emotional read. I enjoyed it immensely. I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

How to Walk Away is Katherine Center’s best book yet. She has crafted a beautiful, heartbreaking, and thoroughly romantic novel that is sure to be a hit with everyone who reads it. Soon after the book opens, Margaret Jacobsen’s world changes in an instant, and she must learn to forge ahead while trying to move on from the past. Margaret is tougher than she thinks and with the help of her sister and her physical therapist Ian, she slowly begins to create a new path for herself while learning to adjust to newly discovered family secrets and heartbreak. The story is clever, unpredictable, devastating, and ultimately unforgettable. Center has crafted fabulous, genuine characters that I loved and rooted for (Margaret, Kit, and Ian) and others that I wanted to throttle (Chip and his mother). And most importantly, the ending is outstanding.

How to Walk Away is thought-provoking and handles a tough subject effectively and realistically, refusing to sugarcoat Margaret’s predicament which I appreciated. I find it frustrating when an author includes a tough topic only to downplay or gloss over the difficulty of the situation. Moreover, Center has clearly done her research on Margaret’s condition which adds depth and authenticity to the story – I learned so much that I didn’t know. I think my favorite part of the book is Center’s message that people do not always control what happens to them, but they do control how they handle the issues that arise, whether the issues are significant or simply a blip on the screen of life. That message certainly resonates with me and is a good reminder that while certain things cannot be changed, I can alter how I approach responding to those things.

How to Walk Away is a fantastic book that I will continue thinking about for a long time. I highly recommend it, and when you sit down to read it have tissues ready. Clear your schedule before you start it, because you will not be able to put it down. I received a copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Fantastic book! I would give it more stars if I could. One of the most inspiring books I have read. I loved Ian and Maggie and the love story that developed between them. I will definitely read more by this author.

One of those novels that render you speechless. After a near-fatal accident, our heroine finds new meaning in life. Is this just another one of those conquer all despite the odds novels? Definitely not. A new twist because you feel the pain and you know there is no magical solution waiting around the corner, but still you can't wait to turn the page. Highly recommend!

How To Walk Away is as charming as it was difficult (subject) to read. I couldnt wait til evening when I could continue reading it—Maggie had too much at stake not to see her through to the end. I find myself thinking about this character still, wondering what I would have done in her shoes. Though this would make a terrific movie, I would not like to see them change the story!

Pilot. Small aircraft. Fiery crash. For the rest of her life, nothing will be the same for the heroine.

I pass over a lot of synopses and book pitches, but that one caught my eye, despite the category, "women's fiction," which some take to mean "literary," while I tend to fear over-used tropes of the romance genre.

The medical information was the best part of the story, for me. But that's just me. It's very evident that the author paid her dues and put in a lot of time and effort researching what her heroine would go through after that crash.

This one came with some tropes, yes, but also with some surprises. Some may stretch credulity, but it allows scenes to unfold with Hollywood clarity and drama. E.g., crashing a wedding, overseas: I'm trying to avoid SPOILERS, but I have to say this kind of thing is what I like least about women's fiction or chick flicks.

One of the tropes I hate most is in here. Let's just say it's kinda like when Edward told Bella in "Twilight" Book Two he didn't love her anymore, not because it was true, but because he figured the heartbreak and devastation of being rejected was better for her than being with him.

I hate that noble sacrifice.

It's a testament to a storyteller's power when I keep reading, in spite of an annoying trope. The characters must seem real or I won't keep turning the pages.

We have all heard platitudes about what to do when adversity strikes: when life hands you lemons, make lemonade, etc. , but none of us really know what we'd do when faced with a life-changing situation. Margaret Jacobsen is faced with this dilemma after what should be the best day of her life turns upside down. Does Margaret get the happy ending she originally sought? Or does her idea of a happy ending change along with everything else?

I've always had an aversion to anything hospital-related. Seeing people suffering with sickness or injury is especially difficult for me. And reading novels or watching movies with related subject matter is something that I usually decide very early on that there has to be something else, anything else that I would rather be doing. But this novel was so impacting that it got me past all of that. It was that slim thread of hope that kept me reading until I reached the point where I could not put this down. I read it straight through.

This is one of those very poignant novels that causes the characters to become deeply and intricately introspective about their lives; it also causes the reader to become equally introspect about their own lives. And I think this is just one of the reasons that this novel is amazingly successful.

Will not reveal anything more, other than that it is an incredible read, well written in all aspects: plot, characterization and substance. So believable that it feels as though it is a true story. And full of hope . . if this does not inspire you and lift you up, nothing will.

It is the rare book that has impacted me as much as this one.

Margaret and her fiance Chip go for a plane ride, with Chip as the pilot. He has not passed his flying test yet and Margaret doesn't want to go, but Chip talks her into it. Suddenly they are flying in bad weather and the plane crashes. Chip gets out without a scratch but Margaret is paralyzed and burnt. I read this book because I was rooting for Margaret and wanted to see what she would do with her life. What would happen with Chip? Was she attracted to her new physical therapist Ian, what was the secret between her sister Kit and her mother and why Kit disappeared for 3 years? A good novel with interesting characters that you will root for again and again.

A plane crash has left Margaret with a life she doesn't recognize. Is Chip her fiancé or isn't he? What exactly is her prognosis? Why does her mother insist on redecorating her hospital room? Why does everyone insist on framing this in how it affects them rather than her?

I think this last question is the most interesting to me in the novel - when you're a good girl, when you have always done what is expected, then there is this ability for people to expect that you'll always defer, to be nice, to put their needs above theirs. I loved that Margaret figures out ways to change expectations. With everything that she's lost in this crash, she gains the ability to see people more clearly, to self-advocate and to think more about what she needs and wants, rather than what will make others happy.

Beyond this....initially this felt like a fairly typical (if well-written) chick lit book where our heroine is overcoming adversity, finding herself AND also, the perfect guy. However, it moves beyond those tropes and stretches into a deeper and more complex story. While the book holds some predictability, it also gets you there in an unexpected series of events, draws a family of complex characters and makes the book a fantastic, interesting and soulful experience.

How to Walk Away is a powerful, poignant, heartfelt story of one woman's tumultuous journey from being on the cusp of a perfect life to losing it all in a heartbeat to clawing and scratching her way out of the depths of despair while desperately searching for the courage, determination, and motivation to live again - whatever that might mean for her. I started this book late one afternoon and finished it before midnight in one sitting. From cover to cover, I remained ensnared in the web of a story I simply couldn't stop reading. Katherine Center's brilliantly written book engages a range of human emotions - the giddy highs of hope, anticipation, and happiness to the dark lows of despair, utter hopelessness, and uncontrollable grief and loss. From tears and an aching heart to smiles and a ray of hope, this book moved me. I can never ask for more than that from a book or author.

I'm not discussing details of this story as there's no way to do that without completely spoiling it for future readers. Instead, I'll share the beautiful job Center does in delivering characters that are realistically depicted given the devastating situation they find themselves facing. Love them or hate them, every character's role is portrayed flawlessly - in color - vivid and rich with emotional turmoil - either degrading and condescending or supportive and loving. I found myself wanting to hug some and strangle others, but either way they felt real. The genuine, thought-provoking plot line that was so obviously researched in minute detail is conveyed through a writing style that flows and ebbs like an ocean wave at all the right times, portraying the highs and lows of this story with an emotional punch to the heart and a serious reality check to the brain. As the story unfolds, several beautiful, life messages emerge from Center's gripping telling of Maggie's agonizing journey, but none ring truer than the importance of summoning the will to try again - to reach for your new happy ever after. We must recognize, embrace, and accept that there are many different kinds of happy ever after. You may not get the one you once dreamed of, but you can achieve another that is just as beautiful if you dare own it. Katherine Center's How to Walk Away is a captivating, breathtaking story of hope, courage, perseverance, and the never-ending power of true love. A Page-Burning, Must Read!

I could not put this one down. Really enjoyed the family dynamics, especially once Kit came on the scene. The building tension with Ian was well portrayed. And the suspense of Maggie's recovery from her gruesome injuries was riveting. This was a winning combo of family healing, personal healing and growth, and romance. Plus Camp Hope sounded fantastic. THIS IS HOW WE ROLL!

This is a coming of age story laced with tragic events, romance, and family relationships.

Margaret had a bright future, everything a young woman like her would ever want. Just when she thought she was at the top of the world, her world collapses after an accident. Being partially paralyzed and losing everything she treasured before took a tool on her. She almost lost her grip on life and decided to give up. Luckily, she found someone with their one burdened past. Her crisis also became a turning point for her already dysfunctional family, they all learned a lot about their family during this time.

In the end, this is a story about being beaten down by life, and finding another way to be happy. The story line isn't crazily original, but it's entertaining and readable. Would recommend to New Adult romance lovers and women's fiction readers. This is kind of a happier version of Me Before You meets Stronger (movie) in my opinion.

Margaret Johnson has the perfect life, with a job she loves and an amazing fiancée. All that change sin a heartbeat when the plane her fiancée is piloting goes down. He walks away without a scratch, while she is seriously injured. Now, lying in a hospital bed, she has to find the courage and the strength to literally start over. With a little help from her friend and family and a brilliant physical therapist, she’ll do her best. The only question that remains is, does she really want her life back as it was before the crash? Center creates characters readers will love (and hate ) in this lovely story

I was so happy when the publisher sent me a copy of this book!
Margaret is a young woman that survives a plane crash, leaving her with spinal cord injuries and third degree burns. After losing her job, fiancé and the ability to walk, the journey to rebuild her life is captivating, she will make new discoveries and family secrets, and finally she will find love.
My favorite quotes:
“You have to live the life you have. You have to find inspiration in the struggle, and pull joy out of the hardship”.
“Carry the sorrow when we have to, and absolutely savor the joy when we can.”
“The crash all those years ago shattered the life I had, but the pieces wound up making a pretty good mosaic”.
Thank you, Katherine for writing such an inspiring book.
How to walk away is definitely one of my favorite books by Katherine Center.

Prepare to be blown away by How to Walk Away, just one of Katherine Center's beautifully, often comically written, bittersweet novels of overcoming tragedy and persevering. I was hooked on the first page, and everything else had to wait while I delved, completely absorbed, into this fantastic book.

Margaret Jacobsen has just finished an M.B.A. and been told "unofficially" that she has a great new job. Her finance, Charles Philip Dunbar ("Chip") has not yet completed the requirements for his pilots' license.
 
Knowing she is terrified of flying, he coerces her into getting into a small plane that doesn't belong to him. While in the air, he proposes to her, but the weather turns ugly. Chip walks away without a scratch.  Margaret is seriously injured.
 
This is a story of the love of a family, warts and all. Margaret's sister, Kitty, and their mother have never gotten along, and have been estranged for three years. Mom has a deep, dark secret, that will devastate the family, but it has to come out. While hospitalized, Margaret learns that enduring, romantic love can be found in the most unexpected times and places.
 
This is a book I will not soon forget. It's one I am likely to read again in the future -- there aren't too many of those. I think I may have found another favorite author. This book is an absolute must-read.
 
What Makes This Book Reviewer Grumpy?
 
There are the usual things: a few split infinitives, a few incomplete sentences, and a lot of sentences beginning with conjunctions. Mostly, though, there were a huge number of single-sentence paragraphs. That is a huge no-no. Every time, those single sentences could have been included in either the preceding paragraph or the following one. Still this is an outstanding book. Look for me online as The Grumpy Book Reviewer.

I really enjoyed this novel. I was sucked in right from the beginning. I loved the family dynamics and how they dealt with everything with a bit of humor as our family is the same way. As an RN I found it rather unlikely that the nurse would spend over an hour transferring a patient from the ICU to acute care, but I was able to overlook that. I would absolutely recommend this book.

An unexpected delight, "How To Walk Away" is a punchier-than-average tale of romance. Margaret Jacobsen loses everything in a plane crash - her career, her fiance, her looks and the use of her legs. As she works through these life-changing events in her hospital bed, she struggles to find the will to go on as her emotions rollercoaster from "I will conquer this and walk again" to eventual acceptance of her new situation. At her side are her loving parents, her estranged sister and her Physical Therapy coach, a handsome but surly Scot, all of whom are dealing with their own personal traumas but trying to set them aside to support Margaret in her hours of need.
Center does an awesome job of blending just the right amount of inspiration, humour, highs & lows and subplots to create an engaging whole. The characters are all vividly created and equally lovable and frustrating as the plot unfurls. Margaret is an excellent heroine, strong but with moments of weaknesses, positive with moments of despair, loving with moments of anger.... And while some of the aspects of the denouement aren't really a surprise, it's an extremely satisfying read from start to finish. Highly recommended.

Gripping, absorbing story about how a woman turns a personal tragedy into a new life. From the clinical perspective, I found “How to Walk Away” very realistic, well researched and detailed. The heroine’s feelings and the way she deals with her new reality sound authentic and kept me interested throughout the book (I’ve read it in one setting).
The tortured hero, with just the right amount of aloofness, was alluring. And that Scottish burr…
I also loved the heroine’s relationship with her sister and the family drama added some interest to the story.
The ex-fiancée was just a bit too evil for my taste.

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.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the free review copy of this novel. All opinions are my own. 

Wow, I think this is going to be one of my favorite novels of the year. I couldn't read quick enough. This is a story of strength, courage, and overcoming. Margaret's struggle after her accident was so real. This book didn't sugar coat recovery, it made it seem like a real process. The reader was able to feel the depression and despair that comes with a life-changing injury. 

Center wrote a real family with real problems. Each character felt like a normal person, which made it so easy to become involved in all the different conflicts in the novel. Her writing made it so that I rooted for Margaret the entire time. 

I also loved the way the narrator is talking to the reader in this book. This style isn't seen often, and I think it added an extra enticement. This also is why the novel felt so real. It felt so personal, which made it so that you want nothing but the best for Margaret.

I read the first chapter of this book as part of Bookish First and when I got to the end of that I was hooked. Luckily I was able to pick up a copy on Netgalley and won a print copy from Bookish First. This book is incredible and is a must read that needs to be on everybody's list.

Margaret had everything she ever wanted within reach and one fateful night and a plane crash is all it took for it to be gone. Now she has to face her new reality and put everything back together. But how well do the pieces fit when literally everything has changed, including yourself?

How to Walk Away is well-written and will give you an emotional ride. It was so good that I couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end. The amount of research the author did was obvious in how well she covered the topics. This will be a book I will talking about for a while.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this novel. I loved it! Beautifully written!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also, thank you so much to Katherine Center and her publisher for being at TLA in Dallas this last week, where she spoke about the book and I was able to get a signed ARC as well. The book moved right up to the top of my must read list after hearing Katherine speak.

I loved this book with every fiber of my being. It kinda shattered me then put me back together. Margaret, the heroine of the book, is someone I connected with immediately. I especially loved her sense of humor and related to how she handled her situation. She is relatable and just real. The situations presented in the book and relationships between the characters are very realistic. So many things that could be overdone or veer into being cheesy by a less skilled writer are done just right in this book. The book brought me to tears a few times, but it was often more from hope and joy than from being utterly destroyed by the book. I do love a good tearjerker, but I think I much prefer this blend of bittersweet and comedic that this author is known for.

I very highly recommend this book, especially for those who love Jojo Moyes, Emily Giffin, and similar authors. I have found a new-to-me author to watch, and I am looking forward to reading her backlist now. The book will be out May 15th, so be sure to pre-order or put on your must read list and watch for it.

How to Walk Away is a poignant and emotional story of accepting one's life after a devastating accident. The book is beautifully written, it's an emotional roller coaster ride that will break your heart at first and will mend it back together by the end. The characters of the story are complex and interesting. Margaret is such a great heroine, she is honest and funny. I loved her sense of humor, which she used quite a lot as a coping mechanism during her recovery. And, of course, there is Ian, a brooding Scottish physiotherapist, who works with Maggie after the accident; Maggie's funny and eccentric sister, Kitty, and their parents. I loved these characters so much and I loved following their journey of healing and acceptance, not just Maggie's but her whole family.

If you are looking for an incredible story of courage and resilience that will make you cry and laugh from one page to next, pick up How to Walk Away immediately.

Katherine Center’s novel, How to Walk Away is a great romantic comedy on making the best of life in all circumstances. It encompasses not just one character’s experiences but the entire family. Center provides memorable characters and a story line that keeps the reader engaged until the very end. How to Walk Away is a must for the beach bag this year! Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this novel, as evidenced by the fact that I read in a single day. Maggie is such a great protagonist, who is very easy to relate to. A lot of her feelings about her situation were similar to mine when I was an a similar, but significantly less serious, situation. I also really liked Ian, both when he and Maggie first meet (when he's a grumpasaurus) and as their friendship progresses.

There are several side plots, so there is a lot going on, but I never felt like it took away from Maggie's story.

Very good book. Hope, love, family, real life all together

I didn't know what to expect from this book, but with the first chapter I felt like Maggie was my friend. Various aspects of a tragedy are addressed and it all came together beautifully. There was only one storyline towards the end that I thought likely would not have happened (no spoilers.....why did the whole family travel to that event?), but overall the book was well researched and I enjoyed reading it.
I think so many families in Maggie's situation would have done the same thing and I can only imagine how much a traumatic injury affects life for all involved. I also liked Ian's character and how he grew and changed with her through her PT. Kit sounds like an amazing sister and I liked seeing the growth in that relationship as well. Overall a great book that I highly recommend. While it deals with a tragic topic, the book isn't a depressing book and I enjoyed the bits of humor too. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Neutrally for the opportunity to read this book.

"You can't fix everything. Not even close. But you can look for reasons to be grateful."

This is one of those books that you won't put down once you start reading it. It's extremely well written with characters that are easy to love (and a few who are easy to dislike). The author did extensive research and I learned new things as well as enjoying this novel.

Margaret has the perfect life - a new MBA, a great chance at a dream job and a wonderful boyfriend, Chip, who she is sure will propose to her any minute. The only sad part of her life is her estranged sister but she refuses to think about her. Margaret's perfect life is torn away from her in a tragedy that almost kills her. She has to learn to negotiate a completely different world than the one she had planned for. As the reality sets in, her moods change from hopeful to despair over and over. How she handles her new life and how the people in her life help her will cause some tears (have tissue close) and you'll be rooting for her success on every page.

I loved Margaret and Ian and the way they worked together. I didn't like Chip or his mom and at times, I didn't like Margaret's mom but realized that she was trying to fix things for her daughter, even when she was being difficult.

This is a fantastic book and one of the best that I've read all year. Thanks to Bookish Firsts for a copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Things do not always go as planned. When faced with tragedy and difficult decisions, some people become stronger and learn to cope and others just walk away. This novel deals with a young woman and her soon-to-be-fiancée and the after effects of the horrible plane crash that changes both of their lives forever.

I particularly enjoyed seeing how Margaret adapted to her situation and was determined to live her life to the fullest.

How to Walk Away is an excellent book. I couldn't put it down. It begins with a lot of tragedy. Margaret, who is on the cusp of having her dream life, traumatically has it all taken away. She has to reconfigure her life. Along the way, her family dynamics shift, and everyone has to adjust. It's a great story about learning how to live from different angles, The ending was so good, I slowed my reading, to make it last longer. Don't walk away from this read.

How to Walk Away. Katherine Center

On the day that should have been one of her happiest, Margaret’s worst fears are realized. This book is about a brilliant young woman with her future laid out like stair steps to the stars and then literally crashes. It illustrates resilience in its most powerful form. As Margaret’s sister tells her at the beginning of the book, “Dying is easy, it’s the not dying that’s hard.”

I loved the resilience. Ever hopeful, Margaret, her family, even her medical professionals, face and overcome challenges that ordinary people would find difficult or impossible. Katherine Center’s wry and funny characters may whine a bit, but in a way where the reader knows they will just “do it” …whatever the “it” may be. And the characters don’t just deal with obstacles, they overcome adversity in unique and personal ways that resists foregone conclusions of a happily ever after format. Satisfaction with outcomes will be there, but her characters may not get everything they want, or think they want.

This book benefits from extensive and interesting research on flight, spinal injuries and rehabilitative therapy. The characters teach the reader; there are no sidebar lectures on what needs to happen. We understand what we should expect and what is possible. These are people we care about, with some appropriate exception for the characters you will come to love to hate. Even the main character’s mother has her moments.

Katherine Center’s books don’t shy away from controversial subject matter. How to Walk Away is filled with difficult topics but is a pleasure to read. Any group that is ready for a heroine they can cheer for, without reservation, will love it.

I got this pre-release copy from Net Galley with no strings attached. How to Walk Away will be released by St. Martin’s Press on May 15, 2018.

Wow! I enjoyed 'How to Walk Away' so much. It really has a bit of everything: tragedy; family drama; humor; romance. It is a very well-written, satisfying story that I found I just couldn't put down.

I just loved Margaret in this book. She is faced with a horrific situation, but she shows so much resilience, determination, and humor. I was cheering her on every minute, hoping that she wouldn't give up on herself and would find the strength to make a new life for herself. Kit and Ian are also both complex, well-developed characters. Oh, and I loved to hate Chip.

I will definitely be looking for more to read from this author, and highly recommend 'How to Walk Away'.

A life changing accident changes Margaret’s life for ever, you cannot imagine how you would feel if it happened to you but this story takes you on Margarets journey to recovery. It’s not only her body that needs healing but her heart too and both take time and knockbacks. I loved some of the wisdom in this book especially “It's the trying that heals you.”
It’s the first Katherine Centre book I’ve read and will definitely read more

This book shows how to get up and move on from a tragedy. And behind every sadness, and tears there is always a silver lining. A rainbow after the storm.

The main character is really likeable, we will be rooting for her since page 1. With enough spice of romance, a spoonful family drama, lots of self perseverance, this book is enjoyable to read.

This was a unique book. Golden girl Margaret Jacobsen is sure her boyfriend Chip is about to propose to her on Valentine's Day. Margaret has always followed the rules and life has been easy for her, bestowing upon her the gifts of beauty, kindness, a fabulous new career, and her relationship with Chip. When Chip drives them to the airport and begs Margaret to fly with him, she does, but not without serious doubt and trepidation; fear of flying has been her biggest fear all of her life. All goes well until a storm comes up as they are landing, causing the small plane to crash, and Margaret's life shatters to a million pieces.

Chip escapes unscathed, but can't even look at Margaret with her severely burned neck and severed spine. Margaret discovers that her perfect life was only perfect on the surface, and most everything she thought was real was truly shallow. Through the love and support of her family and her stoic, irritable physical therapist Ian, Margaret slowly rebuilds her life one small accomplishment at a time.

What an incredible range of emotion! I closed the book with a smile and appreciation of life. Courage and adversity. Strong character development. Excellent book.

Luckily, I had seen only the blurb - no reviews - when I began How to Walk Away. The story grabbed me from early on, but I had no idea what direction the story would go. I encourage you to get several chapters into the book before looking at these reviews (like I did) because a lot happens in the beginning that I didn't see coming. I expected plot tension, but not the tension we got. Also, I didn't expect the level of emotion we got. This novel was hard to read at times, but it's also a book whose ideas have re-framed the way I see things.

The story revolves around Margaret, who is high-achieving and attractive, has recently earned an MBA, and is engaged to her dream man, Chip. Then, of course, things change. Massively. Margaret is a fantastic main character who faces many different obstacles, and her evolving reactions were nuanced and felt real. Also, at many points, I found it difficult to predict what would happen next, which made the book hard to put down. I had to several times, since my own real life was intervening, and I had dreams about Margaret each night until I finished; that's how compelling she is.

Some novels and movies have had the power to educate me about topics beyond my experience while simultaneously telling a great story (Boys Don't Cry, Brokeback Mountain, This is How it Always is, etc.), and How to Walk Away was such a book. Again, to tell you what this book educated me about would be to give a spoiler that the main character herself never saw coming, but for most people, there is something to learn in this book from the research Katherine Center did.

I highly recommend How to Walk Away.

How to Walk Away is "The Power of Positive Thinking" wrapped in a sweet love story. Maggie is engaged to the man of her dreams and about to start the job of her dreams when her world literally comes crashing down in a ball of flames. Left with life changing injuries and abandoned by her fiance (Katherine Center's next book should be about the bad karma that comes Chip's way for being such a cad), Maggie has to rebuild her life one small step at a time. Learning her insurance company will only pay for six weeks of in patient rehab, and with a mother who keeps telling Maggie her recovery is "mind over matter," Maggie is ready to chuck it all. The two bright spots in Maggie's life are the return of her estranged sister Kit, and the sessions with her brooding but gorgeous physical therapist Ian. Even though Maggie is physically damaged, and Ian seems to be sleep walking through his life and job, there's a definite "vibe" between them. But Ian tells Maggie his feelings for her are strictly platonic, leaving her heartbroken again. How To Walk Away is predictable-but in a delightful way-making the journey just as important as the destination. The last few chapters and the "epilogue" are where the story really shines- the writing is breathtakingly beautiful and filled with emotion. How To Walk Away is a fast read, but the messages about the power of love and the resiliency of the human spirit are so powerful it's a story you won't forget.

What an unexpected surprise this book gave me! I, typically, do not read these types of romancey, feel good, lovey-dovey types. WELLLLLLL, this really isn't any of that. It is a story about a woman that must do a lot of hard work to get back to what she is meant to have/be. I laughed right out loud and cried without shame (sometimes at the same time).

My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced readers copy.

Great and inspiring book. The author has a wonderful way of writing that makes you feel like your living in this book. Margaret is in a horrific plane crash. The saying goes “when life gives you lemons make lemonade. Margaret tries to do this but with many ups and downs. Thank goodness there are people along the long road to help if Margaret will accept the help. This book has given me a new way of looking at disabled people.. it really is a must read.

I have read all of the books by this author and love, love her style. Solid writing, interesting plot, believable characters. I read this book within 48 hours... highly recommend!

An inspirational story that kept getting better and better as the story progressed. I loved Maggie and her attitude throughout. Her voice was honest and believable. The story itself felt real... no prefectly tied bows. ‘You get one life, and it only goes forward. And there really are all kinds of happy endings.’ 5 stars.