Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins Narrator: Xe Sands, Christina Moore, Susan Bennett
Published by Berkley on June 4, 2024
Genres: Life Fiction
Pages: 431
Length: 11 hours, 45 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Lark Smith has always had a plan for her life: find a fantastic guy, create a marriage as blissful as her parents’, pop out a couple of kids and build a rewarding career as an oncologist.
Things aren’t going so well.
For one, the guy didn’t work out. Theoretically, she’d love to find someone else, but it hasn’t happened. Two, she’s just been transferred out of oncology for being too emotional. (Is it her fault she’s a weeper?) Three, her parents just split up.
Deviating from the plan was…well, not in the plan. A potential solution comes from the foul-tempered and renowned surgeon Lorenzo Santini (aka Dr. Satan). He needs a date this summer for his sister’s wedding. His ancient Noni wants to see him settled. In exchange, he could make a few introductions and maybe get Lark back into the field of her choice.
I have enjoyed the new style this author has written for the past years, probably a decade. They are not romances but Life Fiction. The characters are more realistic and well developed along with all those around them, their families and friends. The settings and emotional situations are also well built for a deep connection.
The main character in Look on the Bright Side is Lark. At present, she is a medical resident. She has wanted to be an oncologist for a long time and was moved from that program to ER. She is a twin and has 3 sisters and a brother. She is close to her family. Lark has not taken the time for very many friends or dating, focusing on her medical education.
The other characters, where the other narrators come in for their point of view, are Lark’s mother, Ellie, and her landlady, Joy. All three women have growth and development in this story, but primarily Lark.
Lark is asked by Dr. Satan to be his fake girlfriend since his grandmother wants to see him settled for the events around his sister’s wedding this summer. Lark was close to her grandmother and has a soft spot for older people so she ends up agreeing. She loves his family but hates not telling them the truth.
Lark has a summer of personal growth with more social events, trying out an ER doctor position, and volunteering at hospice. For us, this is interspersed with flashbacks to her history of her life starting when she was 5, and how she got interested in oncology. It’s as real as it gets, no wonder she is a weeper.
I loved Lark’s strength and kindness, her love of others. I appreciated her practicality and no nonsense intelligence. It’s a joy to go on this life journey with her.
Her mother and landlady’s stories are equally touching and realistic. There is everything to love in Look on the Bright Side.
Narration:
OK I am a big fan of Xe Sands so I was happy most of the narration was hers. Honestly I barely noticed anyone else. Sorry! oh wait! They were the voices of Ellie and Joy. Certainly, I was engaged and connected to the performance with all the character voices feeling appropriate. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Xe Sands
Award-winning narrator known for credible characterizations and an intimate delivery with more than a decade of experience bringing stories to life through narration, performance, and visual art. I believe an authentic performance demands authentic connection to the text and subtext.
About Kristan Higgins
Kristan fell in love with romance at the age of 13, when she stole her grandmother’s copy of Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss. Much of her adolescence was spent mentally rewriting the end of Gone With the Wind. After a career in public relations and advertising, she started writing fiction when her children graced her life with simultaneous afternoon naps. She is the author of seven romantic comedies and absolutely loves her job. Mom of two great kids, wife of a heroic firefighter and owner of a very cute mutt, Kristan lives in Connecticut.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 24-COYER
So glad this was a 5-star read for you! And that the author’s venturing out to develop more than just the romance. 🙂 Unfortunately, medical books/movies/shows give me so much anxiety that I try to steer clear of them most of the time. 😭 The thought of having a colleague you call Dr. Satan is hilarious though!
This was really good and more about people than medical. The medical parts were more talking about the administrative aspects rather than much on cases.
This was just outstanding on every level💜
YES!
This sounds good and Lark sounds like a great character. I thought I misread when I read Dr. Satan lol
HInt – Dr Satan is not a great person. Thank goodness he is a surgeon so he doesn’t deal with patients much in person.
I like that the main character is named Lark! ;D
She was a great character too! I highly recommend this book!
Yes, when all was revealed it was no wonder Lark was a weeper! Happy to see you loved this as much as I did, Anne! Wonderful review!
Thank you Rachel. This one was stellar.
Haven’t read this author before, might have to try her! I think the dog on the cover reminds me of your Lulu a little bit!
I hope you do read it Lisa. It has my highest recommendation.
I enjoy this author and love the narrators. Great review Anne.
Thank you Kimberly. I thought this one was incredible.
Three narrators? Wow!!
yes, it’s mostly one of them but I like the separation of narrators for the 3 points of view.
I have only read a few books by Higgins but have enjoyed them all and really mean to read more from her. This sounds like a great read.
This one is stellar.