Review: If You Only Knew by Kristan Higgins

Title: If You Only Knew   

Author: Kristan Higgins        

Published: August 2015, HQN Books  

Format: ARC Paperback, 416 pages   

Source: Publisher  

Sisterhood in all its drama, hilarity and tears is at the heart of New York Times
bestselling author Kristan Higgins’s thoroughly captivating new novel,
featuring the wit and romance that readers have come to expect from the
much-loved creator of the Blue Heron series…

Wedding-dress
designer Jenny Tate understands the happily-ever-after business, yet
somehow she’s still involved in her ex-husband’s life. In fact, Owen’s
new wife may—inexplicably—be Jenny’s new best friend. Sensing this,
well, relationship isn’t helping her move on, Jenny trades the Manhattan
skyline for her hometown up the Hudson, where she’ll be able to bask in
her sister Rachel’s picture-perfect family life…and hopefully make one
of her own.

Her timing couldn’t be more perfect, since Rachel
will need her younger sister. Her idyllic marriage has just fallen to
pieces in spectacular fashion after she discovers her husband sexting
with one of his colleagues. Second chances aren’t in Rachel’s nature,
but the desire for an intact family has her rethinking her stance on
adultery, much to Jenny’s surprise. Rachel points to their parents’
“perfect” marriage as a shining example, but to protect her sister Jenny
may have to tarnish that memory—and their relationship­—and reveal a
secret about their family she’s been keeping since childhood.

During
this summer of secrets and lies, temptation and revelation, Jenny and
Rachel will rely on each other to find the humor in their personal
catastrophes, the joy in their triumphs…and the strength to keep hanging
on.

My thoughts: I’ve been a fan of Kristan Higgins for a while now, having read quite a few of her books. I was thrilled when I saw that she was going to be at BEA this past spring with her latest book – it was definitely on my must-get list. Not only did I pick it up, I got to meet the lovely Kristan Higgins and get a signed copy. She is so nice and while I didn’t get to talk to her for long – she was signing with a bunch of the other Harlequin authors – it was still nice saying hi and chat for a few minutes.

I really enjoyed this book – it definitely has a different feel to it than Kristan Higgins’ other books and that’s fine with me. I like when authors take a different approach with their writing – nothing says they always have to write the same-old all the time. Stepping more into the women’s fiction side of things that just the romance/chick lit but still pulling romance and chick lit aspects into the book, I think it all works to create a fun, emotional book that I hope continues in some way in the future.

I loved the way the story was told, alternating back and forth from Jenny and Rachel’s point of view. They each had their own issues and were trying to make the best of things. They were sisters to the truest extent – there for each other, willing to go to battle for each other, wanting to take away the other’s pain, but also not understanding when the other wouldn’t take their advice. My only issue with the story being told this way is that the switch from one chapter to the next would sometimes come at a point when we had just found something out and emotions were running high – the last thing I wanted was to switch to the other sister, but it all worked out in the end. It was these little cliffhangers that kept me glued to the pages, among other things.

This book will have you laughing out loud and then reaching for the box of tissues as tears are streaming down your face. Be prepared for a roller-coaster ride of emotions as you rip through the pages of this book – happy, sad, angry, frustrated, etc. But it’s so worth it – this story will captivate you and not let up until you see it to the end, and while you might not guess the end, it is a satisfying end nonetheless. It really does send the message that things aren’t always what they seem. I really do hope we get to see these sisters in some shape or form in a future book.