On Second Thought

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Title: On Second Thought
Author: Kristan Higgins
Publication date: 02/01/2017
Publisher: Harlequin
Kindle Unlimited: No
Cliffhanger: No
Rating: 5 out of 5
 
Amazon blurb:
Ainsley O'Leary is so ready to get married—she's even found the engagement ring her boyfriend has stashed away. What she doesn't anticipate is being blindsided by a breakup he chronicles in a blog…which (of course) goes viral. Devastated and humiliated, Ainsley turns to her older half sister, Kate, who's struggling with a sudden loss of her own.
 
Kate's always been the poised, self-assured sister, but becoming a newlywed—and a widow—in the space of four months overwhelms her.​

Though the sisters were never close, she starts to confide in Ainsley, especially when she learns her late husband was keeping a secret from her.
 
Despite the murky blended-family dynamic that's always separated them, Ainsley's and Kate's heartaches bind their summer together when they come to terms with the inevitable imperfection of relationships and family—and the possibility of one day finding love again.

My Review
There’s a reason why Kristan Higgins is a New York Times bestselling author. Actually there’s about a million of them. But here are a few that are abundantly clear to me after reading On Second Thought:

• Not every author is good at dialog. It’s tricky. It can have a ring of untruth to it if the author isn’t skilled. Kristan Higgins is skilled. Dialog flows, and it’s snappy and fun.
  
• The characters are relatable. Ainsley and Kate are completely different as characters with their own sets of quirks and strengths and faults—but as a reader, I can relate to both of them, and I root for them wholeheartedly. I want them to be happy. I feel their anguish right along with them. That only happens when characters were crafted by an extremely talented author.
  
• True love at first sight doesn’t happen. Love takes time. Many romance authors don’t allow their characters to fall in love at a realistic, reasonable pace. Kristan Higgins makes no such mistakes. When Kate and Ainsley fall in love with their respective matches, it makes sense. It feels real.
  
• Despite some pretty intense emotional situations, the characters maintain their fantastic senses of humor. I laughed out loud when Kate and Ainsley broke into Eric’s house. And what Kate did to get them out of hot water when they would’ve been discovered? Ha! I won’t spoil it. You’ll just have to read it. Trust me, though, that was some funny stuff.     
  

 
Long-story-short, if you’re a Kristan Higgins fan, you’ve probably already pre-ordered this book. Like always, you won’t be disappointed. If you’re not a fan, pick this one up. Give the author a chance. You won’t be disappointed, either. I won’t say anything else, lest I lapse into childish fangirling and squealing. Can’t have that happen. I have a reputation to uphold.
 
Full disclosure: the publisher generously provided a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
     
Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
Crushes it! This one is clean and sober. No rehab needed.
 
Other reading suggestions
My favorite Kristan Higgins book of all time is Too Good to be True, so I would definitely check that one out if you haven’t already.

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