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Out of the Clear Blue Sky
A funny and surprising new novel about second chances--and why the lies we tell ourselves are the most dangerous.
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 20 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.
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 20 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.
496 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2022
1623 people are currently reading
31088 people want to read
About the author
Kristan Higgins
60 books12.8k followersKristan Higgins is the New York Times, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than twenty novels, which have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. If you want to receive a free short story and be notified when Kristan releases a new book, sign up at kristanhiggins.com.
Kristan enjoys gardening, mixology, the National Parks and complimenting strangers on their children. The mother of two entertaining and wonderful humans, and the grandmother of one perfect child, Kristan lives in Connecticut with her heroic firefighter husband, cuddly dog and indifferent cat.
Kristan enjoys gardening, mixology, the National Parks and complimenting strangers on their children. The mother of two entertaining and wonderful humans, and the grandmother of one perfect child, Kristan lives in Connecticut with her heroic firefighter husband, cuddly dog and indifferent cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,550 reviews
June 8, 2022
Beach Read Alert!
Out of The Clear Blue Sky is a laugh-out-loud women’s fiction novel about a woman whose husband leaves her and the other woman.
Lillie, a nurse-midwife, thought her marriage to Brad was solid until the day he tells her that he is leaving her for someone else. Left alone after her 19-year marriage implodes, she struggles to find herself. Then there is Melissa, Brad’s mistress, a young rich widow who has relied on her looks to get ahead. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants, even stealing another woman’s husband, but when she has to take in her niece, a wrench is thrown in her plans.
The chapters alternate between Lillie and Melissa. It’s easy to root for Lillie, but I was surprised by the end how much Melissa grew on me, especially since I hated her character in the beginning. Both characters are well-developed and go beyond the cliches of their roles. Lillie’s revenge tactics against Brad and Melissa were hilarious, but the relationships between all of the female characters were my favorite.
I had so much fun reading this! Some parts had me laughing out loud. My favorite character was Ophelia, Melissa’s niece. She has some snappy one-liners, and her nickname for Brad made me smile.
It’s a little too long, and I could have lived with fewer midwifery-focused chapters, but overall, I was immersed and wholly entertained!
After Higgin’s last book, Pack Up the Moon , which had me crying my face off, it was nice to read a lighter book from her. I can’t remember the last time a book made me laugh so much. It also explores themes of family, friendship, and love. I highly recommend this for a summer read or for any time when you need a pickup!
Thank you to Elisha Katz and Berkley Books for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Out of The Clear Blue Sky is a laugh-out-loud women’s fiction novel about a woman whose husband leaves her and the other woman.
Lillie, a nurse-midwife, thought her marriage to Brad was solid until the day he tells her that he is leaving her for someone else. Left alone after her 19-year marriage implodes, she struggles to find herself. Then there is Melissa, Brad’s mistress, a young rich widow who has relied on her looks to get ahead. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants, even stealing another woman’s husband, but when she has to take in her niece, a wrench is thrown in her plans.
The chapters alternate between Lillie and Melissa. It’s easy to root for Lillie, but I was surprised by the end how much Melissa grew on me, especially since I hated her character in the beginning. Both characters are well-developed and go beyond the cliches of their roles. Lillie’s revenge tactics against Brad and Melissa were hilarious, but the relationships between all of the female characters were my favorite.
I had so much fun reading this! Some parts had me laughing out loud. My favorite character was Ophelia, Melissa’s niece. She has some snappy one-liners, and her nickname for Brad made me smile.
It’s a little too long, and I could have lived with fewer midwifery-focused chapters, but overall, I was immersed and wholly entertained!
After Higgin’s last book, Pack Up the Moon , which had me crying my face off, it was nice to read a lighter book from her. I can’t remember the last time a book made me laugh so much. It also explores themes of family, friendship, and love. I highly recommend this for a summer read or for any time when you need a pickup!
Thank you to Elisha Katz and Berkley Books for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 10, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Outstanding! I never wanted this book to end! And that’s saying a lot as it comes in just shy of 500 pages. Though I prefer my books considerably shorter, I savored every single page. I desperately wanted it to go on…and on.💞💞
Shortly, Lillie’s life will drastically change forever. As her son prepares to travel cross-country to begin college, she too is preparing for the next stage of life with her husband as empty nesters. But he has plans of his own…and they sure don’t include Lillie.
“You plan and the universe laughs.”
That’s right, Mr. Wonderful has left her for a wealthy, young extremely attractive woman who recently arrived in their quaint Cape Cod town. Can Lillie manage to get over the shock and move on?
“People can be ripped out of your life for all sorts of different reasons. Sometimes you’ll never see it coming…”
This book provides all the feels we want and hope for. I adored Lillie and how she so bravely handled the devastating turns in her life. Her husband was an absolute 💩, but his obnoxious behavior begrudgingly made me laugh. Oh, and lest we forget “the other woman.” Well of course I hated her outright! But, that may have softened (just a tiny bit).
Once again, Kristan Higgins hit it out of the ballpark for me. Hands down a five-star contemporary novel. Yup, that’s right…Straight to my favorites shelf it goes!🤩
A buddy read with Susanne
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing
Outstanding! I never wanted this book to end! And that’s saying a lot as it comes in just shy of 500 pages. Though I prefer my books considerably shorter, I savored every single page. I desperately wanted it to go on…and on.💞💞
Shortly, Lillie’s life will drastically change forever. As her son prepares to travel cross-country to begin college, she too is preparing for the next stage of life with her husband as empty nesters. But he has plans of his own…and they sure don’t include Lillie.
“You plan and the universe laughs.”
That’s right, Mr. Wonderful has left her for a wealthy, young extremely attractive woman who recently arrived in their quaint Cape Cod town. Can Lillie manage to get over the shock and move on?
“People can be ripped out of your life for all sorts of different reasons. Sometimes you’ll never see it coming…”
This book provides all the feels we want and hope for. I adored Lillie and how she so bravely handled the devastating turns in her life. Her husband was an absolute 💩, but his obnoxious behavior begrudgingly made me laugh. Oh, and lest we forget “the other woman.” Well of course I hated her outright! But, that may have softened (just a tiny bit).
Once again, Kristan Higgins hit it out of the ballpark for me. Hands down a five-star contemporary novel. Yup, that’s right…Straight to my favorites shelf it goes!🤩
A buddy read with Susanne
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing
June 28, 2022
When my favorite romance writer writes a novel, I request it. But not only do I request the ARC (thank you Berkely and NetGalley!) I also preordered the e-book and preordered my signed physical copy from her local bookstore too.
Why? because I like to have all of it. If Kristan Higgins writes it, I buy it.
Although I mentioned earlier that she is my favorite romance novelist, in the last few years, she has transitioned to women's fiction. Do I mind? not in the least! Why? because her stories are always interesting and they leave me with a smile.
In Out of the Clear Blue Sky, we meet two very different women.
One is our main protagonist, Lillie Silva. She is of Portuguese descent and loves her family, cooking, her little town on Cape Cod, and her job as a nurse-midwife. She feels like she has it all. She is perfectly happy although sad that her son is leaving for college in Montana. Soon to be an empty-nester, Lillie is planning to surprise her husband with a trip when he tells her that he wants a divorce and he is in love with another woman. He wants to have joy back in his life. This statement hits Lillie like a ton of bricks. She had no clue her marriage was dying. She never knew he was unhappy. Worst, he decides to tell her this when her son is leaving her too.
Then, Kristan Higgins throws me a curveball. The other woman's POV is Melissa's. The woman responsible (in part since we can't forget the douche ex-husband) for upending Lillie's life as she knows it.
At first, it was so easy to root for Lillie. She was a nice person who loved her family and was helpful to others. Definitely, someone, who deserved better than the hand she got played. What shocked me is how I learned to like Melissa too. Yes, she had been manipulative and superfluous but as the story progresses, we get to see another side of her. We get to know her motivations for the way she behaved. Not that it excused what she did but she didn't do it alone.
The one constant in this book is how much of a moron the ex-husband was. I had zero sympathies for him. Talk about selfish and egotistical. Good riddance!
As always, Kristan Higgins can make me smile and cry on the same page. Lillie had me laughing with her antics. I adored Zeus (her dog) and liked the other secondary characters including Beth, Hannah, her dad, and of course, Ben.
Even though this book was awesome, I wouldn't have minded seeing more of Ben on page....just saying (romantic at heart-point finger towards herself).
Now, I just have to wait for my next Kristan Higgins fix in 2023.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Why? because I like to have all of it. If Kristan Higgins writes it, I buy it.
Although I mentioned earlier that she is my favorite romance novelist, in the last few years, she has transitioned to women's fiction. Do I mind? not in the least! Why? because her stories are always interesting and they leave me with a smile.
In Out of the Clear Blue Sky, we meet two very different women.
One is our main protagonist, Lillie Silva. She is of Portuguese descent and loves her family, cooking, her little town on Cape Cod, and her job as a nurse-midwife. She feels like she has it all. She is perfectly happy although sad that her son is leaving for college in Montana. Soon to be an empty-nester, Lillie is planning to surprise her husband with a trip when he tells her that he wants a divorce and he is in love with another woman. He wants to have joy back in his life. This statement hits Lillie like a ton of bricks. She had no clue her marriage was dying. She never knew he was unhappy. Worst, he decides to tell her this when her son is leaving her too.
Then, Kristan Higgins throws me a curveball. The other woman's POV is Melissa's. The woman responsible (in part since we can't forget the douche ex-husband) for upending Lillie's life as she knows it.
At first, it was so easy to root for Lillie. She was a nice person who loved her family and was helpful to others. Definitely, someone, who deserved better than the hand she got played. What shocked me is how I learned to like Melissa too. Yes, she had been manipulative and superfluous but as the story progresses, we get to see another side of her. We get to know her motivations for the way she behaved. Not that it excused what she did but she didn't do it alone.
The one constant in this book is how much of a moron the ex-husband was. I had zero sympathies for him. Talk about selfish and egotistical. Good riddance!
As always, Kristan Higgins can make me smile and cry on the same page. Lillie had me laughing with her antics. I adored Zeus (her dog) and liked the other secondary characters including Beth, Hannah, her dad, and of course, Ben.
Even though this book was awesome, I wouldn't have minded seeing more of Ben on page....just saying (romantic at heart-point finger towards herself).
Now, I just have to wait for my next Kristan Higgins fix in 2023.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
April 2, 2023
This is a Women's Fiction. This book follows two women (one newly divorce and the other is the other woman). I loved this book so much, and I was pulled into the story and characters so quickly. I loved getting the different points of view, and I also loved seeing the changes in the characters throughout this book. This is not a short and quick read, but this is a well written book. The characters in this book feel like real people. Great Book and Great Read. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Berkley Books) or author (Kristan Higgins) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
June 17, 2022
the setup…
Lilliana (Lillie) Silva is married to Brad and mother to son Dylan who will soon be graduating from high school and moving far away from home to attend college. Though she has a thriving and fulfilling career as a nurse and midwife, she’s first and foremost a mother and is not looking forward to being an empty nester. What she definitely wasn’t prepared for was her husband announcing to her the day before Dylan’s graduation that he not only was leaving her but was moving in with his new love, a woman significantly younger (and rich!). Yes, Lillie’s shocked, hurt and never had a clue. But what she’s mostly? Red hot angry. As she struggles to come to terms with Brad’s duplicity and abandonment on top of Dylan’s departure, she cannot shake her rage at the indignities that come along with being dumped and having her home being broken apart.
the heart of the story…
Okay, a lot of what Lillie does to Brad and his new lover Melissa is over the top, outrageous and maybe against the law. But deep down, what she does, very cleverly I might add, is what most of us wish we could do but our conscience won’t let us. I could identify with her sense of loss, not just her marriage, but her family, dignity and living standards. At the same time, Lillie is desperately trying to shield her son from this mess and not interfering with his relationship to his father. I laughed, cried, and got angered right along with Lillie, feeling every emotion she felt while enduring every indignity Brad showered upon her (he really was a piece of work). Surprisingly, we also get Melissa’s point of view! Though it was helpful to gain an understanding of this woman who deliberately wrecked Lillie’s marriage, it didn’t make me any more sympathetic to the woman. Her circumstances growing up answered lots of questions about her motivations and though I was sympathetic, they didn’t justify her choices and behavior as an adult.
the narration…
I listened to the story and Sands was magnificent as Lillie. She fit like a glove. I also enjoyed Bloom’s performance as Melissa, especially since she was able to simultaneously have her come across as self absorbed and sympathetic!
the bottom line…
I was mesmerized by Lillie’s journey, an emotional smorgasbord that felt so honest and true to life. There were times I was saying, “No, don’t do this!” as she exacted her revenge in extremely creative ways, never dangerous, but they were pretty satisfying afterward. It’s a small community so everyone is privy to what should be her private affairs, which just makes it even tougher. I loved how that same community respected the boundaries but provided support in subtle but meaningful ways. While entertaining, this story perfectly illustrated the emotional disruption caused when someone violates a marriage and a child takes his or her first steps away from home towards adulthood. Yes, there were the obvious things but what struck me most were the little and more nuanced things that chip away at you over time. It was one of the best listening experiences I’ve had all year, one that will stay with me for a long, long time.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
Lilliana (Lillie) Silva is married to Brad and mother to son Dylan who will soon be graduating from high school and moving far away from home to attend college. Though she has a thriving and fulfilling career as a nurse and midwife, she’s first and foremost a mother and is not looking forward to being an empty nester. What she definitely wasn’t prepared for was her husband announcing to her the day before Dylan’s graduation that he not only was leaving her but was moving in with his new love, a woman significantly younger (and rich!). Yes, Lillie’s shocked, hurt and never had a clue. But what she’s mostly? Red hot angry. As she struggles to come to terms with Brad’s duplicity and abandonment on top of Dylan’s departure, she cannot shake her rage at the indignities that come along with being dumped and having her home being broken apart.
the heart of the story…
Okay, a lot of what Lillie does to Brad and his new lover Melissa is over the top, outrageous and maybe against the law. But deep down, what she does, very cleverly I might add, is what most of us wish we could do but our conscience won’t let us. I could identify with her sense of loss, not just her marriage, but her family, dignity and living standards. At the same time, Lillie is desperately trying to shield her son from this mess and not interfering with his relationship to his father. I laughed, cried, and got angered right along with Lillie, feeling every emotion she felt while enduring every indignity Brad showered upon her (he really was a piece of work). Surprisingly, we also get Melissa’s point of view! Though it was helpful to gain an understanding of this woman who deliberately wrecked Lillie’s marriage, it didn’t make me any more sympathetic to the woman. Her circumstances growing up answered lots of questions about her motivations and though I was sympathetic, they didn’t justify her choices and behavior as an adult.
the narration…
I listened to the story and Sands was magnificent as Lillie. She fit like a glove. I also enjoyed Bloom’s performance as Melissa, especially since she was able to simultaneously have her come across as self absorbed and sympathetic!
the bottom line…
I was mesmerized by Lillie’s journey, an emotional smorgasbord that felt so honest and true to life. There were times I was saying, “No, don’t do this!” as she exacted her revenge in extremely creative ways, never dangerous, but they were pretty satisfying afterward. It’s a small community so everyone is privy to what should be her private affairs, which just makes it even tougher. I loved how that same community respected the boundaries but provided support in subtle but meaningful ways. While entertaining, this story perfectly illustrated the emotional disruption caused when someone violates a marriage and a child takes his or her first steps away from home towards adulthood. Yes, there were the obvious things but what struck me most were the little and more nuanced things that chip away at you over time. It was one of the best listening experiences I’ve had all year, one that will stay with me for a long, long time.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
June 16, 2022
Kristan Higgins at her best. One of my top 5 books of the year. I loved the intertwined relationships between the characters. One of those books where you’re still thinking about them long afterward. A feel good read!
August 26, 2022
Audiobook….read by
Xe Sands
…….14 hours and 9 minutes
WOW……okay …..
—when the funnies finally got funny,
—a light inside me went off like a bang!!!!
I was a little slow to catch the full tone of this book in the beginning…(we can blame it on my own moody space lately),
but once I really saw the satire-ish play going on—‘everything’ became hilarious and I couldn’t see it any other way.
Pathetically hilarious!!!
What a kick this audiobook turned out to be.
A little long — with the occasional sappy sentimental sentences— but overall an engrossing ride.
Since I’m not the first one on the block to read this book,
I’m sure there are dozens of other reviews that share the content.
To all those who gave this a 4 or 5 star rating — and was completely hooked, captivated, fully involved and enjoying yourself—
I’m in full agreement!!!
GREAT FUN!!!!!
4.5
Xe Sands
…….14 hours and 9 minutes
WOW……okay …..
—when the funnies finally got funny,
—a light inside me went off like a bang!!!!
I was a little slow to catch the full tone of this book in the beginning…(we can blame it on my own moody space lately),
but once I really saw the satire-ish play going on—‘everything’ became hilarious and I couldn’t see it any other way.
Pathetically hilarious!!!
What a kick this audiobook turned out to be.
A little long — with the occasional sappy sentimental sentences— but overall an engrossing ride.
Since I’m not the first one on the block to read this book,
I’m sure there are dozens of other reviews that share the content.
To all those who gave this a 4 or 5 star rating — and was completely hooked, captivated, fully involved and enjoying yourself—
I’m in full agreement!!!
GREAT FUN!!!!!
4.5
April 20, 2022
Highly Relatable and Emotional!
The moment Lillie’s marriage falls apart, she can’t help but be shocked. After all, she thought her marriage was perfect, then her husband took up with a much younger woman. Lillie, of course, plots just a teeny, tiny bit of revenge. To say that she had me laughing (and crying) is an understatement!
Out of the Clear Blue Sky is about marriage, divorce, empty-nesters and moving on. A novel that will give you all the feels, I adored this novel and found it fairly relatable even though I’m not a mother myself.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey that we both really liked.
A huge thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group for the arc via NetGalley.
Review posted to Goodreads, and Twitter
The moment Lillie’s marriage falls apart, she can’t help but be shocked. After all, she thought her marriage was perfect, then her husband took up with a much younger woman. Lillie, of course, plots just a teeny, tiny bit of revenge. To say that she had me laughing (and crying) is an understatement!
Out of the Clear Blue Sky is about marriage, divorce, empty-nesters and moving on. A novel that will give you all the feels, I adored this novel and found it fairly relatable even though I’m not a mother myself.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey that we both really liked.
A huge thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group for the arc via NetGalley.
Review posted to Goodreads, and Twitter
June 10, 2022
-Kristan Higgins is one of my favorite authors and she has another winner with this book!
-Don’t be intimidated by the size of this book (496 pages), it is a delightful, funny, sometimes sad, and quick-moving read. When you get to the end, you’ll wish there were more pages left.
-The setting takes place in Cape Cod and makes for such a perfect summer read.
-The story follows Lillie as she goes through the pain of a “surprise” divorce and copes with life as a first-time empty nester.
-I loved Lillie, the MC, and enjoyed reading about all the ups and downs of her life and her positive attitude through it all. I especially found “my joy” in her little avenging escapades against her ex-husband. She had such a creative and devious mind and she had me wishing I would have thought up some of these ideas during my last break up!!! Duly noted for my next break up!! She will have you laughing out loud.
- I loathed Lillie’s ex-husband Brad who is a horrible and mean human being and deserves nothing but the worst life can offer (harsh, but you’ll see what I mean when you read the book).
-I despised Melissa (the other woman) during most of the book, but towards the end, she shows her true self and even though I didn't want to, I found myself liking her. I, especially, enjoyed her “word of the day” comments throughout the book. I actually learned a few new words to use!!
-Higgin’s character development is a masterpiece!! She writes believable characters and she takes you on an emotional journey with each of them. This book is also full of so many fun secondary characters to get to know!
-I highly recommend Out of the Clear Blue Sky for your summer reading list.
-Don’t be intimidated by the size of this book (496 pages), it is a delightful, funny, sometimes sad, and quick-moving read. When you get to the end, you’ll wish there were more pages left.
-The setting takes place in Cape Cod and makes for such a perfect summer read.
-The story follows Lillie as she goes through the pain of a “surprise” divorce and copes with life as a first-time empty nester.
-I loved Lillie, the MC, and enjoyed reading about all the ups and downs of her life and her positive attitude through it all. I especially found “my joy” in her little avenging escapades against her ex-husband. She had such a creative and devious mind and she had me wishing I would have thought up some of these ideas during my last break up!!! Duly noted for my next break up!! She will have you laughing out loud.
- I loathed Lillie’s ex-husband Brad who is a horrible and mean human being and deserves nothing but the worst life can offer (harsh, but you’ll see what I mean when you read the book).
-I despised Melissa (the other woman) during most of the book, but towards the end, she shows her true self and even though I didn't want to, I found myself liking her. I, especially, enjoyed her “word of the day” comments throughout the book. I actually learned a few new words to use!!
-Higgin’s character development is a masterpiece!! She writes believable characters and she takes you on an emotional journey with each of them. This book is also full of so many fun secondary characters to get to know!
-I highly recommend Out of the Clear Blue Sky for your summer reading list.
June 21, 2022
3.75, rounded up. Yay, Higgins is back in form! Really enjoyed this tale of an older woman, who's ex dumped her for a younger one & all her character growth (and the doggo!). Only quibble was at times it felt a bit derivative & I actually checked to make sure I hadn't read it before. Still enjoyed it a lot & recommend if you like the genre.
May 21, 2022
This story has so many qualities, it is hard to list just one thing that captured my attention.
Like other Higgins books, this mid-life crisis is full of deep feelings and emotions all over the place. Higgins creates her characters with flaws and all so you are captivated by them.
This book follows the story of two women, the wife – soon-to-be ex-wife, and the soon-to-be wife. Anger can make you feel and do many things. Out of character things that may be funny, which we have in this story, but underneath, you can feel the heartbreak through Higgins’ depiction of the truth.
At first, I didn’t like Lillie but reading between the lines, you see the hurt and anger and then the slow growth she goes through. Finally realizing there is a life beyond what she ever thought there could be.
An eye-opening look at life changing events and life changing people that come together for a heartwarming fresh story that has you laughing, crying, and smiling along the way.
* copy received for review consideration
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/out-of-the-c...
Like other Higgins books, this mid-life crisis is full of deep feelings and emotions all over the place. Higgins creates her characters with flaws and all so you are captivated by them.
This book follows the story of two women, the wife – soon-to-be ex-wife, and the soon-to-be wife. Anger can make you feel and do many things. Out of character things that may be funny, which we have in this story, but underneath, you can feel the heartbreak through Higgins’ depiction of the truth.
At first, I didn’t like Lillie but reading between the lines, you see the hurt and anger and then the slow growth she goes through. Finally realizing there is a life beyond what she ever thought there could be.
An eye-opening look at life changing events and life changing people that come together for a heartwarming fresh story that has you laughing, crying, and smiling along the way.
* copy received for review consideration
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/out-of-the-c...
July 20, 2022
I read 100+ books a year and since I have been tracking my books on Goodreads, I have only not finished three books. Unfortunately, this will be number four. At 30 percent, I give up. Kristan Higgins is usually a must-read author for me, but her last book and this book are not for me.
Reasons I didn't finish:
–Lillie is immature and way too obsessed with her son. Your son is going to college, Lillie, not dying. Congrats to you for creating a self-sufficient adult. Sorry you won't be able to smell his pillow when he's not around anymore.
–Brad is an ass and I don't care to read about him for 400 more pages.
–Her mom, and most of her family, suck as well.
–As soon as I got the first Melissa chapter, I was like "oh no". I don't care to feel empathy for the woman who would willingly take someone else's husband and the introduction of Melissa does not help at all. Way to go for getting out of your hometown. Thank goodness you were born pretty or you might have had to develop a brain and a conscience.
– SO MUCH BACK STORY. If you need to do all of that explaining, maybe set some chapters in the past? I skimmed a lot (like the description of Brad's newly decorated office) because it DOES NOT MATTER.
– I might have pushed through, until I got to the birthing scene. As someone who is currently pregnant, I don't need the preachy "the best birth is with no medicine or medical intervention. Let nature take its course." As my doctor has said, no one gives you a medal for dealing with a painful birth. Also, if someone called me "goddess" during childbirth, I would punch them in the face.
The five-star reviews of this book genuinely baffle me, but maybe at the end of hours and hours of reading, it gets better. I'm not willing to waste my time finding out.
Reasons I didn't finish:
–Lillie is immature and way too obsessed with her son. Your son is going to college, Lillie, not dying. Congrats to you for creating a self-sufficient adult. Sorry you won't be able to smell his pillow when he's not around anymore.
–Brad is an ass and I don't care to read about him for 400 more pages.
–Her mom, and most of her family, suck as well.
–As soon as I got the first Melissa chapter, I was like "oh no". I don't care to feel empathy for the woman who would willingly take someone else's husband and the introduction of Melissa does not help at all. Way to go for getting out of your hometown. Thank goodness you were born pretty or you might have had to develop a brain and a conscience.
– SO MUCH BACK STORY. If you need to do all of that explaining, maybe set some chapters in the past? I skimmed a lot (like the description of Brad's newly decorated office) because it DOES NOT MATTER.
– I might have pushed through, until I got to the birthing scene. As someone who is currently pregnant, I don't need the preachy "the best birth is with no medicine or medical intervention. Let nature take its course." As my doctor has said, no one gives you a medal for dealing with a painful birth. Also, if someone called me "goddess" during childbirth, I would punch them in the face.
The five-star reviews of this book genuinely baffle me, but maybe at the end of hours and hours of reading, it gets better. I'm not willing to waste my time finding out.
June 5, 2022
Review coming soon.
January 6, 2023
“Sometimes, your life shatters when you least expect it. Car accidents, lost pregnancies, divorce, loneliness. People you loved could disappoint you, and other people came through when you never expected it. And sometimes, happiness just rains down on you out of the clear blue sky.”
I totally knew I was going to start this review with something along the lines of “my only complaint is it felt really long” – and NO WONDER. I just looked at the stats and noticed this sucker was brushing right up against 500 pages. You all know I’m a dumb bunny who really wants a 350 pager every single time and as I said, I could feel the excess on this one. It didn’t help that things jump off right from the start with taking a sedated skunk on a road trip to the ex’s house only to then backpedal to Boringville. I’m fairly certain the details were meant to be an homage to parenting and the fact that families come in all different formats, etc., but there was a whole lotta NOTHING going on aside from hearing how the sun rose and set on young Dylan’s tiny butthole while he was growing up for awhile there.
But then things did pick up and now that I’m done I’m sad. To Lillie, Melissa and the rest of the gang, let me say . . .
I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much out loud while reading. I’m really going to miss these people.
And to Kristan Higgins: I know there’s a lot of readers out there who fall over another Kristin’s books, but I’m telling you that YOU are the queen of Chick Lit to me. I was so bummed to leave these characters behind, but low and behold I discovered I have Pack Up the Moon on my Kindle too. #cluckcluckmuthafugga.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
I totally knew I was going to start this review with something along the lines of “my only complaint is it felt really long” – and NO WONDER. I just looked at the stats and noticed this sucker was brushing right up against 500 pages. You all know I’m a dumb bunny who really wants a 350 pager every single time and as I said, I could feel the excess on this one. It didn’t help that things jump off right from the start with taking a sedated skunk on a road trip to the ex’s house only to then backpedal to Boringville. I’m fairly certain the details were meant to be an homage to parenting and the fact that families come in all different formats, etc., but there was a whole lotta NOTHING going on aside from hearing how the sun rose and set on young Dylan’s tiny butthole while he was growing up for awhile there.
But then things did pick up and now that I’m done I’m sad. To Lillie, Melissa and the rest of the gang, let me say . . .
I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much out loud while reading. I’m really going to miss these people.
And to Kristan Higgins: I know there’s a lot of readers out there who fall over another Kristin’s books, but I’m telling you that YOU are the queen of Chick Lit to me. I was so bummed to leave these characters behind, but low and behold I discovered I have Pack Up the Moon on my Kindle too. #cluckcluckmuthafugga.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
June 8, 2022
I was expecting to like Out of the Clear Blue Sky more than I did. I had a lot of problems with the characters, especially vindictive and childish Lillie, who practices martyrdom while also acting like an absolute witch after learning her husband is having an affair and wants a divorce. Rather than rising above the events, she does several incredibly immature things to get back at him and his fiancé. She slightly redeemed herself in the end, but I still couldn’t get over my initial dislike for her.
And Melissa (aka, the husband stealer) was no better. She was as self-centered as you would expect. While she tried to overcome her poor upbringing through improving herself, she was still a con artist at heart, doing whatever was needed to get whatever she wanted, including someone else’s husband. I had no sympathy for her or her situation.
Ophelia was the one character I enjoyed. While she initially was fostered by Melissa to improve Melissa’s social media image when Melissa’s sister was incarcerated, Melissa did come to redeem herself through her desire to keep Ophelia and provide her a good and stable home. And Ophelia provided a link between the two women that was unexpected.
The writing was as compelling as Higgins’s other books. I only wish I had liked the characters or the story more!
And Melissa (aka, the husband stealer) was no better. She was as self-centered as you would expect. While she tried to overcome her poor upbringing through improving herself, she was still a con artist at heart, doing whatever was needed to get whatever she wanted, including someone else’s husband. I had no sympathy for her or her situation.
Ophelia was the one character I enjoyed. While she initially was fostered by Melissa to improve Melissa’s social media image when Melissa’s sister was incarcerated, Melissa did come to redeem herself through her desire to keep Ophelia and provide her a good and stable home. And Ophelia provided a link between the two women that was unexpected.
The writing was as compelling as Higgins’s other books. I only wish I had liked the characters or the story more!
July 27, 2022
Out of the clear blue sky, I decided to
listen to "Out of the Clear Blue Sky".
And I was glad that I did.
I usually stay far, far away from pure chick-lit books......
but Kristan Higgins' witty, endearing, and compelling book about Lillie, a wife/mother whose husband blindsides her by dumping her for a younger woman (just days before their only son leaves from college!),.....completely won me over.
"Don't get mad, get furious" was Lillie's new mantra and life strategy.
Lillie's decision to "go rogue" and retaliate when her world came tumbling down never failed to make me smile.
One of my GR friends Kaceey said "I never wanted this book to end," and that was exactly the way I felt.
Unfolding from the two POVs of the first wife and the second wife, the audiobook was narrated by Xe Sands (first wife) and CJ Bloom (second wife).
I always love it when a publisher uses multiple narrators and the dual narration significantly upped the quality of this audiobook.
This was my first book by best-selling author Kristan Higgins and I look forward to listening to more books by this talented author.
listen to "Out of the Clear Blue Sky".
And I was glad that I did.
I usually stay far, far away from pure chick-lit books......
but Kristan Higgins' witty, endearing, and compelling book about Lillie, a wife/mother whose husband blindsides her by dumping her for a younger woman (just days before their only son leaves from college!),.....completely won me over.
"Don't get mad, get furious" was Lillie's new mantra and life strategy.
Lillie's decision to "go rogue" and retaliate when her world came tumbling down never failed to make me smile.
One of my GR friends Kaceey said "I never wanted this book to end," and that was exactly the way I felt.
Unfolding from the two POVs of the first wife and the second wife, the audiobook was narrated by Xe Sands (first wife) and CJ Bloom (second wife).
I always love it when a publisher uses multiple narrators and the dual narration significantly upped the quality of this audiobook.
This was my first book by best-selling author Kristan Higgins and I look forward to listening to more books by this talented author.
September 4, 2022
It's hard to put a Higgins book down once you get started and this is true for Out of the Clear Blue Sky. In this one, Higgins draws you into the life of Lillie, Brad and Melissa. Won’t say more so you can read it yourself. Enjoy it while sipping your favorite drink and sitting in your favorite chair. 4.5★s!
March 23, 2022
Lillie is a nurse midwife on Cape Cod. She's just getting used to the idea that her son will be graduating from high school and going to Montana for college when her husband of nearly 20 years informs her that he has met someone else and wants a divorce. She finds out that his new flame is a wealthy widow who is not much older than their son. Lillie isn't sad--she's angry, and out for revenge. Would she really spirit a skunk into their multi-million dollar mansion? Kristan Higgins is known for her humor and well-drawn characters, and both really shine here. Sometimes her characters reappear in future novels--I really hope Lillie will be back again. I just couldn't put this book down--highly recommended! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
June 13, 2022
Solid read ⭐️
August 30, 2022
What a great read! "Out of the Clear Blue Sky" is a perfect representation of a well developed family drama with lots of funny, sweet, and "oh my GOSH" moments. Reading this book was fun.
I admit I was a bit intimidated by the size of this one (480 pages on the Kindle version) but it went by easily. I was so engrossed in all the drama, the emotion, and the really well done storytelling. This was my second read by Kristan Higgins and I'm beyond impressed how well she makes drama and tenderness blend together. Both books I've read by her have gotten 5 stars from me!
At first I was a little uneasy about how the two women we follow, Lillie and Melissa, seem to be sort of pitted against each other. And I cringed at bit at how superficial and shallow Melissa was. But that was sort of the point after all. A character doing things that makes us roll our eyes doesn't mean they're poorly written. And in fact, Melissa's development wound be being one of my favorite parts of the book. She doesn't have a full transformation and come out squeaky clean, but she does have her own redemption arc where we see the curtain pulled back on the deeper parts of her personality. And the women with relation to each other grow, too. In the end I think it was all worked out.
There's also a ton of scenes and info in this book about birth and pregnancy. Wow, I hadn't been expecting that! But it was a unique and in-depth aspect of the story with Lillie being a dedicated and educated nurse midwife. I love when careers that aren't normally involved in fiction make an appearance. It adds an extra "something" to a story when the MC isn't a writer, bookstore owner, lawyer, accountant, generic businessperson, etc.
There is so much I could say about all the dynamics between everyone in this novel; Hannah, Ben, Beatrice, Pedro, Anne, Wanda, Dylan, Beth, Ophelia, and Zeus! Every secondary character felt real and brought something to the table. Lillie's world was filled with eccentric and lovable people.
And then there was the dreadful Brad (Bradley!) Fairchild! It's been awhile since I loathed someone like that... Hats off Ms. Higgins; he was truly infuriating.
A solid page turning addition to the genre of "women's fiction." I'll be back to read more Kristan Higgins soon!
I admit I was a bit intimidated by the size of this one (480 pages on the Kindle version) but it went by easily. I was so engrossed in all the drama, the emotion, and the really well done storytelling. This was my second read by Kristan Higgins and I'm beyond impressed how well she makes drama and tenderness blend together. Both books I've read by her have gotten 5 stars from me!
At first I was a little uneasy about how the two women we follow, Lillie and Melissa, seem to be sort of pitted against each other. And I cringed at bit at how superficial and shallow Melissa was. But that was sort of the point after all. A character doing things that makes us roll our eyes doesn't mean they're poorly written. And in fact, Melissa's development wound be being one of my favorite parts of the book. She doesn't have a full transformation and come out squeaky clean, but she does have her own redemption arc where we see the curtain pulled back on the deeper parts of her personality. And the women with relation to each other grow, too. In the end I think it was all worked out.
There's also a ton of scenes and info in this book about birth and pregnancy. Wow, I hadn't been expecting that! But it was a unique and in-depth aspect of the story with Lillie being a dedicated and educated nurse midwife. I love when careers that aren't normally involved in fiction make an appearance. It adds an extra "something" to a story when the MC isn't a writer, bookstore owner, lawyer, accountant, generic businessperson, etc.
There is so much I could say about all the dynamics between everyone in this novel; Hannah, Ben, Beatrice, Pedro, Anne, Wanda, Dylan, Beth, Ophelia, and Zeus! Every secondary character felt real and brought something to the table. Lillie's world was filled with eccentric and lovable people.
And then there was the dreadful Brad (Bradley!) Fairchild! It's been awhile since I loathed someone like that... Hats off Ms. Higgins; he was truly infuriating.
A solid page turning addition to the genre of "women's fiction." I'll be back to read more Kristan Higgins soon!
June 17, 2022
A solid read - it kept me entertained and I actually finished the book in less than a week - that is a record for me this year. Typical Higgins tale, set in Cape Cod, surly male lead, not a lot of romance, a dog, a few comedic moments. Nothing really to complain about. I like her books - her heroines come across as "normal" individuals, living their everyday lives. She is always an automatic buy for me - don't think any of her books have ever disappointed me ...
June 28, 2022
For all the mamas out there, especially those who have children ready to step out into the world, Kristan Higgins’ words will break you. Oh boy, did I cry with knowing. Both my boys will be heading off to college in 2 months, and the time is ticking relentlessly. Thinking about their absence in our home is crushing. There are so many raw truths in this novel, not just about motherhood, but marriage and family. It was all so incredibly touching.
May 23, 2025
Told in two POV's, you'll fall in love with Lillie, especially when she acts out all the things we might have wanted to do as a jilted wife.
April 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely loved reading this book it took me through a gauntlet of emotions.
I absolutely loved reading this book it took me through a gauntlet of emotions.
May 29, 2022
Out of the Clear Blue Sky by Kristan Higgins is a delightful, humorous, and emotional look at a broken family and their path to healing. I was highly anticipating this book, and it met all my expectations and then some!
Lilly is just about to become an empty nester. She has a happy life in a small town on Cape Cod and works as a nurse-midwife at a local clinic, she’s been married for years and they have one son, who is about to leave home to attend college in Montana! She’s proud of her son, but, it’s still hard for her to know he’ll be so far away. Having her only child move so far away is bad enough, but when her husband suddenly announces that he is moving out to be with his mistress, Lillie just can’t take it anymore. Of course, he moves in with his mistress in the very same town on Cape Cod, where she grew up, and they raised their son.
Lilly becomes justifiable angry, and she isn’t one to sit at home and dwell on her life, so she pulls a few hilarious stunts in her anger, but eventually decides to focus on her family and friends. And she makes a very unlikely ally in the process.
I’ve read many books with the overall plot about a woman who was blindsided by a cheating husband. But, what makes Out of the Clear Blue Sky different than the other books are the characters, the writing, and the humor.
First is the characters. Lillie is one tough cookie, and I thought the way she handled having her life uprooted so unexpectedly was funny. Instead of getting sad and heartbroken, she gets angry. And her anger doesn’t always make sensible choices, but they do make her start to live her own life, on her own terms. Her emotions felt real to me, she went a little crazy, but it helped her to understand her own feelings. What also made this book different was reading the point of view of Melissa, the Other Woman. I thought that hearing her story made this book really special. I never grew to like her character, but at least I understood her motivations, and I got to understand her. I always wonder what drives a person to do awful things, and this helped me to understand Melissa, and the reasons behind this marriage’s break up.
Second is the writing. Kristan Higgins can make me laugh, and then cry all on the same page, and that is a very special talent. She writes just enough backstory so we understand the characters, and it’s all spread out throughout the book so we never get that info dump that can bog a book down. I felt like I lived in the little Cape Cod town, and enjoyed her descriptions of this special place.
And third is her humor. She combines some really funny physical scenes, along with more subtle humor in the banter and dialogue. And add a big floppy, drooly dog, and you have a fun book, without being over the top. There is enough emotion between the humor to make it all work together. It’s not too sad, and not too campy and over the top, it’s just right.
I highly recommend Out of the Clear Blue Sky to anyone who loves women's fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Lilly is just about to become an empty nester. She has a happy life in a small town on Cape Cod and works as a nurse-midwife at a local clinic, she’s been married for years and they have one son, who is about to leave home to attend college in Montana! She’s proud of her son, but, it’s still hard for her to know he’ll be so far away. Having her only child move so far away is bad enough, but when her husband suddenly announces that he is moving out to be with his mistress, Lillie just can’t take it anymore. Of course, he moves in with his mistress in the very same town on Cape Cod, where she grew up, and they raised their son.
Lilly becomes justifiable angry, and she isn’t one to sit at home and dwell on her life, so she pulls a few hilarious stunts in her anger, but eventually decides to focus on her family and friends. And she makes a very unlikely ally in the process.
I’ve read many books with the overall plot about a woman who was blindsided by a cheating husband. But, what makes Out of the Clear Blue Sky different than the other books are the characters, the writing, and the humor.
First is the characters. Lillie is one tough cookie, and I thought the way she handled having her life uprooted so unexpectedly was funny. Instead of getting sad and heartbroken, she gets angry. And her anger doesn’t always make sensible choices, but they do make her start to live her own life, on her own terms. Her emotions felt real to me, she went a little crazy, but it helped her to understand her own feelings. What also made this book different was reading the point of view of Melissa, the Other Woman. I thought that hearing her story made this book really special. I never grew to like her character, but at least I understood her motivations, and I got to understand her. I always wonder what drives a person to do awful things, and this helped me to understand Melissa, and the reasons behind this marriage’s break up.
Second is the writing. Kristan Higgins can make me laugh, and then cry all on the same page, and that is a very special talent. She writes just enough backstory so we understand the characters, and it’s all spread out throughout the book so we never get that info dump that can bog a book down. I felt like I lived in the little Cape Cod town, and enjoyed her descriptions of this special place.
And third is her humor. She combines some really funny physical scenes, along with more subtle humor in the banter and dialogue. And add a big floppy, drooly dog, and you have a fun book, without being over the top. There is enough emotion between the humor to make it all work together. It’s not too sad, and not too campy and over the top, it’s just right.
I highly recommend Out of the Clear Blue Sky to anyone who loves women's fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 1, 2023
Lillie isn't looking forward to her only child heading off to college, but it's made even worse by her husband, Brad, suddenly leaving her for another woman, Melissa. Brad and Melissa settle down in town, so Lillie is forced to see them, and she finds herself incredibly angry. Lillie is set on revenge--no matter the cost.
This is an emotional read, but funny! You get to hear from both Lillie and Melissa and both women can be a lot, but you realize where each is coming from. The star of the show, for me, was Melissa's niece, Ophelia, who lives with her. There are a lot of relationships and connections that weave throughout the novel, and it does a good job of portraying motherhood in all sorts of forms. It is also really fun to hate to Brad! It's certainly easy to identify with the story if you've been through a divorce at any age.
Everything wrapped up a little easily, but this was a touching and enjoyable read. 4.5 stars.
This is an emotional read, but funny! You get to hear from both Lillie and Melissa and both women can be a lot, but you realize where each is coming from. The star of the show, for me, was Melissa's niece, Ophelia, who lives with her. There are a lot of relationships and connections that weave throughout the novel, and it does a good job of portraying motherhood in all sorts of forms. It is also really fun to hate to Brad! It's certainly easy to identify with the story if you've been through a divorce at any age.
Everything wrapped up a little easily, but this was a touching and enjoyable read. 4.5 stars.
November 4, 2024
I love her books!! This one is one of her best. I was laughing out loud at some parts. For a feel good read, I recommend it wholeheartedly!
June 22, 2022
4.5 Stars
Lillie Silva is both happy and sad her son will be heading off for college shortly. She’s coming to terms with this new chapter in her life only to have her whole world turned upside down when her husband of twenty years announces that he’s leaving her for a younger woman to “find joy.”
I wanted to kick Bradley in the teeth every time he said “no offense, but I need to find my joy”! What a self-centered jerk! I laughed with glee over the ways Lillie stealthily (and not so stealthily) got her revenge against Brad and Melissa, some of the ways were quite clever! I was outraged for her (yes, I realize she’s a fictional character, lol), I guess I get a little vindictive over a woman scorned so the little retributions were satisfying!
Having Melissa’s POV, being that she was the other woman was kind of different, and I didn’t like her at all at first. She plotted to get Bradley, (which wasn’t as hard as it should’ve been had he been a better man), and she had no prick of conscience stealing another woman’s man. However, I do have to say I understood Melissa better by the end, I could see with her upbringing why she was so mercenary. Life did serve up some well-deserved education and a bit of payback, as is often the case, and I liked Melissa a smidge more by the end.
I loved Lillie, getting to know her and her family, friends, experiencing her journey to finding happiness again was emotional and touching! Romance wasn’t at the center of the story, but thankfully Lillie did get one, too. Out of the Clear Blue Sky was lovely journey!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
Lillie Silva is both happy and sad her son will be heading off for college shortly. She’s coming to terms with this new chapter in her life only to have her whole world turned upside down when her husband of twenty years announces that he’s leaving her for a younger woman to “find joy.”
I wanted to kick Bradley in the teeth every time he said “no offense, but I need to find my joy”! What a self-centered jerk! I laughed with glee over the ways Lillie stealthily (and not so stealthily) got her revenge against Brad and Melissa, some of the ways were quite clever! I was outraged for her (yes, I realize she’s a fictional character, lol), I guess I get a little vindictive over a woman scorned so the little retributions were satisfying!
Having Melissa’s POV, being that she was the other woman was kind of different, and I didn’t like her at all at first. She plotted to get Bradley, (which wasn’t as hard as it should’ve been had he been a better man), and she had no prick of conscience stealing another woman’s man. However, I do have to say I understood Melissa better by the end, I could see with her upbringing why she was so mercenary. Life did serve up some well-deserved education and a bit of payback, as is often the case, and I liked Melissa a smidge more by the end.
I loved Lillie, getting to know her and her family, friends, experiencing her journey to finding happiness again was emotional and touching! Romance wasn’t at the center of the story, but thankfully Lillie did get one, too. Out of the Clear Blue Sky was lovely journey!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2022
Normally I get bored when a book is over 400 pages but for one of my all time favorite authors I make an exception and I still didn’t want this one to end. I did my best to savor it and take my time but it was just so damn amazing it was difficult to slow it down. Most of you know I read a lot, I generally don’t remember specific details after a couple of weeks go by but KH books always stay with me. This is special for me as there are usually only a handful of books every year that leave a lasting impression and without fail, every single year one of her books lands a spot on this list. I don’t think there’s any one particular thing that makes her books such standouts for me, but rather a magical combination of things that culminates into such an incredible reading experience. Maybe the best part is her insightful, honest and humor takes on life in general. Lillie is a woman that’s the same age as me so we already had that at a starting common factor but her raw portrayal is where I really connected with her. Yes, she’s been literally screwed over in the worst way, and yes she’s humiliated, betrayed and so so a angry but dammit was it nice to see a woman deal with a major life upheaval in a truly relatable and believable way. Was she always full of grace? Absolutely not. Did she do things that were slightly crazy? Yes mam. Was I cheering her own and cackling like a loon myself? YES! So many of her observations were spot on and her general sense of humor was charming and oh so witty. I could probably sit her all day and talk about all the things I loved about this one but I’ll spare you and just finish by saying I adored it, I think it’s a must read and KH never, EVER disappoints.
June 6, 2023
I could tell from the git-go that Kristan Higgins’ new book, in some ways, was a return to her lighter fare of yesteryear after her recent forays into more serious women’s fiction. As much as I love and even esteem most of her more recent books, (4 out of 7 were 5-star reads for me)I welcomed her return to her days of yore. It was great to see that a beloved author can, in a sense, “go home again” no matter what Thomas Wolfe says. I say, in some ways. Her first books were definitely romantic comedies while incorporating emotional serious issues along with the fun. And this one has that lighthearted tone. But this one is not a romance. Not at all. The book concludes with our heroine in a satisfying hopeful relationship with a great guy. But the journey to that end is a very minor aspect of Lillie’s personal journey.
The book begins as our heroine, a happily married mother of a son about to leave for college in far away Montana learns that her husband, Brad, “out of the clear blue sky”, tells her he is leaving her for a beautiful, younger, and wealthy woman, Melissa. The story is told in first person by Lillie with occasional contributions from "the whore" who has a substantial journey of her own. Actually more substantial than Lillie's, truth be told. Lillie is a 41-year-old nurse-midwife on Cape cod who loves her family, her home, and her community in which she is a popular fixture. Everyone knows and loves her. At first, all she wants is revenge, and her brilliantly successful efforts are very funny. Yes, we know her stunts are petty, childish, and even mean. And she knows it too, but darn it, she just can’t help it. Brad deserves it all and more. But even as we laugh at Lillie’s antics, we start to get to know Melissa, her other victim. Yes, she is shallow (she almost makes it an art form), materialistic, a user, and a husband stealer. But such is Kristan’s imagination and craft, that as we learn her story and get to know her, you (by which I mean I) got to kinda like her and actually admire her. There was a lot to “Missy Jo” that was quite endearing (word of the day!). I didn’t always like and admire Lillie. Lillie has a lot of growing to do and challenges to overcome. In addition to losing her son (in a way) and her husband and his family, she tackles a problematic mother (a Kristan Higgins fixture) a fractured relationship with a once-beloved sister, financial difficulties, a childhood trauma that continues to impact her life, a terrible tragedy in her past, and even a professional nemesis who must be vanquished. It’s kind of amazing all of the issues that are explored in this book, without the tone turning dark. As in all of Kristan’s books, there are some epic scenes, both hilarious ones and triumphant ones. And, as always, some great lines:
*He studied the wine list like it was a lost gospel
*"What’s your daughter’s name?” “Ophelia.” I winced. Who names their kid after the doomed innocent who commits suicide in Hamlet?
*...my own mother, who had the same maternal instincts as a lizard that eats her own eggs.
*“Calm down,” he said, because women love hearing that.
*“Name’s Harminee. Spellin’ it different to be special. Harminee Fawn.” Well, that would just about guarantee the baby would become a stripper, Melissa thought. Harmony was a beautiful name. Harminee though? Gosh.
*I turned on the outdoor lights and peered out. It was a woman dressed in high boots, a fur coat, fur hat and fur gloves. It was either Lara from Doctor Zhivago or Melissa. Sadly, it was not Lara.
*“Thanks for buying me,” Ophelia whispered. She took a shaky breath, and Melissa knew she was crying, and hugged her close.
And as always, we are blessed with another Kristan Higgins trademark, an adorable dog with personality plus.
So what kept this from being one the best of the best Kristan Higgins novels ever? Two things. First of all, I found that Lillie was a little too hung up on her son. The time between the marriage breaking up, keeping that from him so as not to ruin his last weeks at home, and him leaving for college really dragged for me. I honestly couldn’t wait for him to go. Thank goodness Dylan was an independent, well-adjusted kid (yes, thanks to Lillie being a perfect mother). No woman ever loved a son more than Lillie loves hers. And she does go on about it. And no son is more perfect. I couldn't really blame her.
Of course, no husband who cheats on his wife will ever be a hero. But Brad “Bridiot” Fairchild has got to be the most contemptible human being on Cape Cod or in any Kristan Higgins book ever. Not the evilest Kristan Higgins creation, I hasten to clarify, because she has created some doozies. Even Melissa started to see his true colors before the ink was barely dry on the marriage license. And Lillie was married to this pompous pretentious dickhead for 20 years? Happily? And mourned his loss (or the loss of who she thought he was) so dramatically and sincerely? As she looks back on him and their life together, she sees him clearly. Getting shot of him should have been #bestdayever, #Thank-youGod, #IoweMelissabigtime, #GoodRiddance. I have to admit I got very impatient with our heroine. Maybe even a little disdainful? To be fair, late in the book she does explain why the strong Lillie was happy with the weakling husband, but not until the 96% mark! I think Kristan kind of piled on a little too much when it came to Mr. Brad Fairchild (that’s Dr. Fairchild, huh, huh, huh.), as entertaining as his weaknesses and assholery were.
As I finished the book (kept trying to stretch it out!) I felt like that this must be one of her shorter books. But it turns out that it was actually one of her longer ones. I think that is a high compliment. I can’t wait to see what her next one is like.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
The book begins as our heroine, a happily married mother of a son about to leave for college in far away Montana learns that her husband, Brad, “out of the clear blue sky”, tells her he is leaving her for a beautiful, younger, and wealthy woman, Melissa. The story is told in first person by Lillie with occasional contributions from "the whore" who has a substantial journey of her own. Actually more substantial than Lillie's, truth be told. Lillie is a 41-year-old nurse-midwife on Cape cod who loves her family, her home, and her community in which she is a popular fixture. Everyone knows and loves her. At first, all she wants is revenge, and her brilliantly successful efforts are very funny. Yes, we know her stunts are petty, childish, and even mean. And she knows it too, but darn it, she just can’t help it. Brad deserves it all and more. But even as we laugh at Lillie’s antics, we start to get to know Melissa, her other victim. Yes, she is shallow (she almost makes it an art form), materialistic, a user, and a husband stealer. But such is Kristan’s imagination and craft, that as we learn her story and get to know her, you (by which I mean I) got to kinda like her and actually admire her. There was a lot to “Missy Jo” that was quite endearing (word of the day!). I didn’t always like and admire Lillie. Lillie has a lot of growing to do and challenges to overcome. In addition to losing her son (in a way) and her husband and his family, she tackles a problematic mother (a Kristan Higgins fixture) a fractured relationship with a once-beloved sister, financial difficulties, a childhood trauma that continues to impact her life, a terrible tragedy in her past, and even a professional nemesis who must be vanquished. It’s kind of amazing all of the issues that are explored in this book, without the tone turning dark. As in all of Kristan’s books, there are some epic scenes, both hilarious ones and triumphant ones. And, as always, some great lines:
*He studied the wine list like it was a lost gospel
*"What’s your daughter’s name?” “Ophelia.” I winced. Who names their kid after the doomed innocent who commits suicide in Hamlet?
*...my own mother, who had the same maternal instincts as a lizard that eats her own eggs.
*“Calm down,” he said, because women love hearing that.
*“Name’s Harminee. Spellin’ it different to be special. Harminee Fawn.” Well, that would just about guarantee the baby would become a stripper, Melissa thought. Harmony was a beautiful name. Harminee though? Gosh.
*I turned on the outdoor lights and peered out. It was a woman dressed in high boots, a fur coat, fur hat and fur gloves. It was either Lara from Doctor Zhivago or Melissa. Sadly, it was not Lara.
*“Thanks for buying me,” Ophelia whispered. She took a shaky breath, and Melissa knew she was crying, and hugged her close.
And as always, we are blessed with another Kristan Higgins trademark, an adorable dog with personality plus.
So what kept this from being one the best of the best Kristan Higgins novels ever? Two things. First of all, I found that Lillie was a little too hung up on her son. The time between the marriage breaking up, keeping that from him so as not to ruin his last weeks at home, and him leaving for college really dragged for me. I honestly couldn’t wait for him to go. Thank goodness Dylan was an independent, well-adjusted kid (yes, thanks to Lillie being a perfect mother). No woman ever loved a son more than Lillie loves hers. And she does go on about it. And no son is more perfect. I couldn't really blame her.
Of course, no husband who cheats on his wife will ever be a hero. But Brad “Bridiot” Fairchild has got to be the most contemptible human being on Cape Cod or in any Kristan Higgins book ever. Not the evilest Kristan Higgins creation, I hasten to clarify, because she has created some doozies. Even Melissa started to see his true colors before the ink was barely dry on the marriage license. And Lillie was married to this pompous pretentious dickhead for 20 years? Happily? And mourned his loss (or the loss of who she thought he was) so dramatically and sincerely? As she looks back on him and their life together, she sees him clearly. Getting shot of him should have been #bestdayever, #Thank-youGod, #IoweMelissabigtime, #GoodRiddance. I have to admit I got very impatient with our heroine. Maybe even a little disdainful? To be fair, late in the book she does explain why the strong Lillie was happy with the weakling husband, but not until the 96% mark! I think Kristan kind of piled on a little too much when it came to Mr. Brad Fairchild (that’s Dr. Fairchild, huh, huh, huh.), as entertaining as his weaknesses and assholery were.
As I finished the book (kept trying to stretch it out!) I felt like that this must be one of her shorter books. But it turns out that it was actually one of her longer ones. I think that is a high compliment. I can’t wait to see what her next one is like.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
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