From the author of Pack Up the Moon comes a funny, romantic, and deeply moving novel about the unexpected rewards that come from life’s detours.
Lark Smith has always had a plan for her life: find a fantastic guy, create a marriage as blissful as her parents’, pop out a couple of kids and build a rewarding career as an oncologist.
Things aren’t going so well.
For one, the guy didn’t work out. Theoretically, she’d love to find someone else, but it hasn’t happened. Two, she’s just been transferred out of oncology for being too emotional. (Is it her fault she’s a weeper?) Three, her parents just split up.
Deviating from the plan was…well, not in the plan. A potential solution comes from the foul-tempered and renowned surgeon Lorenzo Santini (aka Dr. Satan). He needs a date this summer for his sister’s wedding. His ancient Noni wants to see him settled. In exchange, he could make a few introductions and maybe get Lark back into the field of her choice.
As a sucker for old people and fake relationships, Lark agrees. Teeny problem—she instantly falls for his big, warm family. Especially his estranged brother.
Meanwhile, Lark’s mom has moved in with Lark’s colorful landlady, Joy, and an unlikely friendship blossoms. The three women have a long summer and a big beautiful house on the ocean to figure out what’s next…and quite possibly learn that the best things in life aren’t planned at all.
I’m not saying anything new when I type Kristan Higgins is a wonderful author, and this is just another release that I loved. Lark is such an easy character to fall for, to root for, to cry with. As an overly emotional person myself, I could relate to her struggles of crying on the job but her backstory is such a layered one that you can’t help but tear up when you understand how she got to be where she is now in life. The fake dating angle isn’t new but for Lark and Lorenzo it was fun to watch two very different people attempt to show they were in a relationship, and the dynamic of Lark and Dante, Lorenzo’s much-friendly brother, was quite the one to watch unfold. I was also a big fan of Lark’s mom and landlady Joy, and the depth both their stories brought to this novel. I could understand how some readers can get overwhelmed by how much is going on, but Lark’s mom was really going through it and Joy had an insanely fascinating backstory that I was all for learning more about. It also showed how three very different women could rely on each other for strength in the areas they felt weak.
An emotional story that still provided plenty of laughs and heart-warming moments, Higgins delivers another sold 5 star read that would be worthy of your TBR.
