Reviews

Always the Last to Know by Kristan Higgins

thephdivabooks's review against another edition

4.0

Filled with heart!

Kristan Higgins books are written with so much compassion for the characters she creates. Always the Last to Know is about family, forgiveness, love, and heart. Exploring the complexity that comes with families, the book centers around the Frosts.

Barb and John have been married nearly 50 years and their marriage has seen its fair share of ups and downs. Lately it has been more downs than ups, but Barb has been staying busy. When Barb gets a call that her husband John has been rushed to the hospital, she learns that he has had a stroke.

Their daughters Juliet and Sadie couldn’t be more different. Responsible, level-headed Juliet is her mother’s daughter, while free-spirited Sadie is her father’s girl. Still, both daughters want to be there for their parents during this trying time.

When Barb accidentally uncovers a secret on John’s phone, her whole life is called into question. This family has their fair share of secrets and dysfunction, but beneath it all they are still a family.

Filled with complex relationships, Always the Last to Know delivers on many levels. From the pain that comes with the secrets in Barb and John’s marriage to the romance between Sadie and the man she left behind when she left home after high school—there is a lot to discover about this family.

But truly, the most rewarding story for me was the one about Barb and her daughters. This family is imperfect (what family isn’t?) but the bonds of a family are also hard to break. Beautiful!

tracyreadsandrambles's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

super_doxie15's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

sandi55's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

saistewart's review against another edition

4.0

Barb made this book shine for me, particularly with her postpartum depression episode. I love it when authors are mindful of consequences of their characters’ actions as well as choices and that was well reflected here when Barb was martyring herself taking care of her household and her unconscious decision to wallow in self pity rather than reach out for help. It showed in her relationship with her younger daughter and her husband. All in all, it was a satisfying read.

maryam477's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

keri89's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

lori_c13's review against another edition

Language

rebroxannape's review against another edition

5.0

In the latest of Kristan Higgins' wonderful novels, we return to Stoningham Connecticut, the setting of her last book [b:Life and Other Inconveniences|42166299|Life and Other Inconveniences|Kristan Higgins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554753967l/42166299._SX50_.jpg|65756831]. It is deep dive into another prominent family who calls wealthy, exclusive, and the oh so picturesque community home. One by one we are introduced to the 4 main players: Sadie, Barb, Juliet, and finally John. This is Sadie,the youngest daughter:

Ever since I could remember, I’d wanted to leave Stoningham, because even though I loved it, I hated it. It was so smug. So content. So adorable. So assured of itself. In a way, it was like my sister, never questioning its value. It was hard to breathe [there] sometimes, especially if you were Juliet’s not-as-smart-or-athletic sister, or the daughter of Barb Frost, Queen of Committees and Volunteerism, daughter of John Frost the lawyer, and yes, related to that Robert Frost. Being average was difficult.

Right away we see that it is a family divided with Sadie and John on one side and Juliet and Barb on the other. Unlike other readers, I was drawn in immediately and was in a state of anticipation as to what would be further revealed and explored. And it never lost its grip on me. I started out trying to take sides. Which team was I on? It wasn't long before I gave that approach up. It was way too complicated. There were things to love, like, hate, and disapprove of in all of them. Except for Juliet. Because she was perfect. As the book went on, I found I couldn't put it down. And to my surprise, It was Juliet's journey I loved the most.

Well, I better stop now while I can before I start to gush even more. Yes, like all of her books, it was funny, heartbreaking, suspenseful, romantic, and satisfying. In many ways, this was her best book yet. It's a triumph of character and relationship building. And one of the best dogs too.

P.S. And the icing on the cake is we get a peek or two at how the London family of her last novel is doing.

gooberzoo's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25