Books and Jams Readalong discussion

You made it to the end! Was this a quick read for you? How do you feel about the ending? Was it satisfying or were you looking for more? Did it wrap up too nicely? What will you rate it?

Very quick read for me. Read it during the Super Bowl. The epilogue made me cry. I would have liked a little more of Ian and Maggie’s relationship. I gave it 4 stars.

I'm so bad at commenting on these threads! I was not excited to read this book but when Krista chose it for the readalong and I ran across a near perfect copy at Goodwill, I decided it was meant to be. And so glad I did! While the boat scene at the wedding was very cheesy, I still loved it! The biggest problem with the book, IMO, is that Ian was fired and lost his license and his visa for kissing a patient, but when Chip stole a plane and flew without a license, crashing and paralysing Maggie, he was promoted. Twice! I still loved it because I'm a sucker for happy endings. I gave it 5 stars. Not because of the writing or the story, but because it was a page turener I loved it! Thank you, Krista, for choosing this book! I would have never picked it up otherwise.

I liked this a lot. I did find the romance between Iain and Margaret kind of cheesy and just too painfully awkward. There were times where I laughed out loud during the book. (Listened to the audiobook and really liked the narrator). I would say that if you enjoyed this then you would probably enjoy Left Neglected by Lisa Genova as well.

I read it in one sitting pretty much. I enjoyed it and give it a 4 star. I agree about Ian getting in trouble but nothing coming of Chip crashing a plane. He just seemed like such a jerk, and his mother was so rude. I don't how she could seriously be such an ass to Maggie. I know the boat scene and how Ian showed up was cheesy to some, but I loved it one it shut up the ex and his family and friends and I just love happy endings. I would definitely read more of Katherine Center's books. Thanks Krista for a good read.

I finished this one this morning. It was a super fast read and I loved it! Was it predictable? Somewhat, but it didn't bother me. I think I will give it 4 stars as well.

As much as I was hoping for a totally happy ending with her getting her feeling back, I'm also kind of glad it didn't end that way. I loved that Katherine Center did such a good job of showing all the different emotions of Margaret processing what life will now be for her. We watched as she struggled with depression and even suicide, to coming around to finding purpose and joy in her plans for Camp Hope. And all of that without Ian right by her side. I loved that she came to it on her own, but then ultimately gets the guy too!

Lovely book for a February read. Hope you all enjoy it too!

Loved this book.. yes it was maybe a bit predictable and cheesy at times.. but who doesn't like a little cheese once in a while?! I too hoped that Maggie would end up walking in the end... but happy that she found happiness with Ian, and without what happened to her, they would never have met. Loved her style of writing, and that even in a fiction, she showed there can be many life lessons. I found many for myself. Wonderful.. thanks for picking this book Krista! And so happy that I found you and your Youtube channel and got back to reading again!

This was a first time author for me. I enjoyed the story and felt it was handled and wrote well given the traumatic circumstances. I was hoping she would end up walking too. I'm glad that Ian did what he did though by walking away. I think this allowed her the chance to grow and find out who SHE was.

Read it in 2 1/2 days. It was my first read from this author. I'm glad I read it because I don't think I would have picked this up if it wasn't a RAL. Predictable yes, but also just good reading. I thought it flowed well and kept my interest all the way to the end. I wanted her to walk again and run into Chip but it would have been too perfect. I liked the way it ended and although it was a sad story, I still came away satisfied and content. I am glad I read it!

Great pick, Krista. I really liked the book and I think I would like to read more from Katherine Center.

I have a disability, and I have read very few if any books that feature characters with disabilities in romantic relationships. I can understand wishing Maggie would walk if you can also walk, but as someone who can't and who has never and will never walk, I was glad she found a satisfying and happy life without being "cured". That is why I give it 5 stars, and from the title I was so afraid the ending would be "Now she can walk and live happily ever after." So glad it wasn't, and that she found happily ever after with a disability.
I absolutely loved this book! It would have been the perfect thing for me to read as a younger adult, hoping for fulfilling romance in my life but fearing that nobody would see past my disability. This is ultimately a feel-good book where everything turns out nicely and everyone lives happily ever-- people with disabilities NEED love stories like this in order to have faith that we have as much right to a happy romantic life as anyone else. I loved that the main character tried to improve as much as she could after her accident, but in the end, she still used a wheelchair and lived with a disability that many people would call "debilitating," but she was happy. The scene with Ian crashing Chip's wedding was totally unbelievable and very cheesy, but how many times have I watched movies or read books featuring "neurotypical" (non-disabled) characters and vaguely enjoyed scenes like that, but thought, "That could never happen to me?" More times than I can count! It was nice for the girl in the wheelchair to have a sappy moment with her knight in shining armour.
The fact of the matter is that very few people, with or without disabilities, have elements of fairytale romance in their lives, but I loved reading one with a woman with a disability who fell in love with an able-bodied man. I could picture myself in her place. Yes, he was her physiotherapist, and yes, that would have crossed all kinds of ethical boundaries in real life, but I liked that for probably the first time in my reading life, and definitely the first time while reading a romance novel, there was representation of a life like mine. I appreciate that more than I can say.

This book made my Valentines' Day week, and I cannot wait to get into Katherine Center's other novels. She is an insightful, gifted writer, and this for me is a romantic masterpiece. It is definitely the best romance novel I have ever read!

Kate wrote: "I have a disability, and I have read very few if any books that feature characters with disabilities in romantic relationships. I can understand wishing Maggie would walk if you can also walk, but ..."

I'm so thankful for your thoughts on this. It helped me to see things in a bigger way and I love that. I am so glad you loved this book so much and I am so so glad that you enjoyed and appreciated this book so much. Thanks for sharing with us!

What a wonderful read. I’ve just written up my review. I’m so glad this author has put reality into this book and hasn’t painted it with ribbons and lace.

What I also loved what the positivity that came out of this read.
Life take turns for us all, and it’s how we handle it is what matters.

I fully agree with @kates comments

Can I just put my thoughts here? Hope I can my book buddies😁

It’s personal, but something I wanted to share.


Some think for such a tragic thing that’s happened the author has made certain aspects too jovial.

My dad lost his leg, it was amputated after a tragic accident. Over 30 years ago now! And it WAS tragic and life changing for us all. The medics said he needed support and positivity. Each of us had a role to play. He reached suicidal point as this character does in the story. She gave herself a year.
Within a year things change, people change, circumstances change and the disabled person minds change along with those whose also had to adapt around them. What I’m saying is, doom and gloom helped no one. The IMMEDIATE effect is doom, it’s gloom, it’s the pits. But sooner or later you learn life goes on, but in a different way. Like traffic being diverted, the person and family and friends go down the diverted path of life.

I thought the author showed a good positive side to this.

So I hope no one minds....
I thought I’d share our experience with you

I enjoyed this book and am giving it 4 stars. I did find it a quick read, read it in a weekend. It wrapped up pretty much like I expected. She followed Ian’s mom’s advice of it you do know what to do for yourself do something for others by opening up Camp Hope and helping others and marrying Ian. All in all it was a good book.

I have already commented on how much I liked the book but I forgot to share a funny story about it. I recently boarded an airplane to take a vacation. Guess what book I took to start reading. Yep! I really did! When I got to the airport and realized what the book was about I found myself thinking that I wasn't very smart. LOL!

Finished this last night. 4 stars for me as well. I don’t want to just say “me too” as to all prior comments, but ME TOO!

But i would like to add one other note: I SO appreciate Kate’s comments above. And i was super happy the book didn’t end in some miracle; that somehow she was able to walk again. A friend of my children who has become like a second daughter at 25 was involved in a car accident where she was the only injured person and only one wearing a seat belt (albeit lap belt only - in the back seat). She became a paraplegic and we have shared some of her struggles not only physically but emotionally as well. So I loved seeing Maggie befall in love, deal with all of the emotions following a life-altering situation.

Thanks Krista for another great pick. See you for Book of Boy!

Kim wrote: "Finished this last night. 4 stars for me as well. I don’t want to just say “me too” as to all prior comments, but ME TOO!

But i would like to add one other note: I SO appreciate Kate’s comments ab..."

Kim, I so agree with your comments. Life doesn’t always come up smelling of roses does it. And stuff happens, we learn to make the best of it. I just loved this book and so glad it was chosen