About the Book
From New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins comes a funny and surprising new novel about losing it all—and getting back more than you ever expected.
Lillie Silva knew life as an empty nester would be hard after her only child left for college, but when her husband abruptly dumps her for another woman just as her son leaves, her world comes crashing down. Besides the fact that this announcement is a complete surprise (to say the least), what shocks Lillie most is that she isn’t heartbroken. She’s furious.
Lillie has loved her life on Cape Cod, but as a mother, wife, and nurse-midwife, she’s used to caring for other people . . . not taking care of herself. Now, alone for the first time in her life, she finds herself going a little rogue. Is it over the top to crash her ex-husband’s wedding dressed like the angel of death? Sure! Should she release a skunk into his perfect new home? Probably not! But it beats staying home and moping.
She finds an unexpected ally in her glamorous sister, with whom she’s had a tense relationship all these years. And an unexpected babysitter in, of all people, Ben Hallowell, the driver in a car accident that nearly killed Lillie twenty years ago. And then there’s Ophelia, her ex-husband’s oddly lost niece, who could really use a friend.
It’s the end of Lillie’s life as she knew it. But sometimes the perfect next chapter surprises you . . . out of the clear blue sky.
My Review
It’s hard for me to not enjoy a Kristan Higgins novel, and Out of the Clear Blue Sky stole my attention from the first chapter. I adored the Cape Cod setting and learning about the nuances and players of the town. Lillie was easily likeable, a mother, wife and mid-wife getting ready to start the next phase in her life as her only child goes off to college. But the night before his high school graduation, her husband abruptly says he’s on a mission to “find joy” – which includes having an affair with a younger woman and oh yes – marrying her.
While I of course empathized with Lillie, it was kind of fun to see her little ways of revenge. While she comes across so sweet, motherly, and helpful it was a hoot to see this different side of her and added a lot of humor to the book. There are so many layers here – from Lillie’s car accident in high school, her estranged relationship with her mother and sister, and getting “the other woman’s” POV was quite enlightening as well. The underlying themes of family, community and overcoming heartbreak – in love and simply life in general. The touches of humor brought a lightness to this story and I had a hard time putting my Kindle down, yet at the same time I wanted to stretch on the story longer. One of my favorites, and perfect for an end of summer read.
5 stars
