Center shows how to heal and find love amidst tragedy

     Known for other bestsellers like Happiness for Beginners and Things You Save in a Fire, Katherine Center’s most popular novel might be How to Walk Away, which was published in 2018. Revered by both die-hard Center fans and casual readers, the novel is beautifully written and will stay with you for a long time.
     Margaret Jacobsen has a bright future ahead of her: a fiancé she adores, her dream job, and the promise of a picture-perfect life just around the corner. Then, suddenly, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, everything she worked for is taken away in one tumultuous moment. In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Margaret must figure out how to move forward on her own terms while facing long-held family secrets, devastating heartbreak, and the idea that love might find her in the last place she would ever expect.
     I loved reading about Margaret’s journey and how she learns to live with her new normal. Center shows both the highs and lows of recovery and it’s evident she did her research before writing this story. I really loved the way the characters were developed and how each of them, whether likable or unlikable, played a role in Margaret’s journey. Center shows how sometimes bad things happen, but it’s how you choose to continue after a tragedy that really defines you.
       This book leans more on the women’s fiction side of the genre than romance; however there is a bit of a love story that lurks underneath the surface and it’s quite sweet to read how this romance helps Margaret heal in more ways than one. There isn’t much steam in this book, so if you're looking for something tamer you ease into the romance genre, then this is a great option!
     Overall, Center’s novel proves that she is a masterful storyteller by taking care in being detailed and tying up all loose ends. The epilogue felt a bit rushed, but overall I really enjoyed the way this story turned out! I highly recommend checking this book out if you’re looking for an easy, binge-worthy read!

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