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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
The main character, our heroine, Callie Grey, was not as bad as Millie from Fools Rush In (do NOT attempt to read) but I have to be relieved that KH's newer books are definitely on the upswing.
Callie has been waiting patiently for her boss to remember their passionate affair and to decide that it's finally the "right time." Everyone in their marketing agency office knows that she has a crush on him just as they know that she's the one who has most of the great ideas. But instead, the boss (Mark) has just announced that his girlfriend, the daughter of a prominent client, is going to be joining their team. Of course, said girlfriend has no clue about marketing and is just a bone-thin evil witch. Callie learns about all this on her birthday and is tearfully discussing it in line at the DMV when she notices the man behind her giving her the evil eye.
Ian McFarland is a well-contained survivor of divorce. He's also the new vet in town and his icy demeanor doesn't mesh well with the town's expectations. Even though his hot-man-singlehood is bringing every woman in town to his door at least once.
I never really connected with Callie and Ian and didn't see them together. I also couldn't understand and that sort of brought the whole book for me. While I quite enjoyed watching Callie and Ian's romance blossom, I really never got a good sense of them as a couple, especially since they didn't even really connect until 2/3 of the way through the book. Would have given a 2 1/2 if possible but I rounded up because, overall, there were more warm fuzzies than annoyances.
Callie has been waiting patiently for her boss to remember their passionate affair and to decide that it's finally the "right time." Everyone in their marketing agency office knows that she has a crush on him just as they know that she's the one who has most of the great ideas. But instead, the boss (Mark) has just announced that his girlfriend, the daughter of a prominent client, is going to be joining their team. Of course, said girlfriend has no clue about marketing and is just a bone-thin evil witch. Callie learns about all this on her birthday and is tearfully discussing it in line at the DMV when she notices the man behind her giving her the evil eye.
Ian McFarland is a well-contained survivor of divorce. He's also the new vet in town and his icy demeanor doesn't mesh well with the town's expectations. Even though his hot-man-singlehood is bringing every woman in town to his door at least once.
I never really connected with Callie and Ian and didn't see them together. I also couldn't understand
Spoiler
why Callie gave up a job she loved
The very first Kristan Higgins book I've read and guess what, I loved it! It was cute without the fluffs and mushy details; romance without the furry coats and sweet perfumes. Just simple and straight-to-the-point romance.
This book made me laugh and cry, and laugh, and cry some more. It was very well-rounded and diverse. I love the fact that the characters seems like any ordinary person you'd bumped to everyday, and they're going through usual problems people go through. It makes the story and the characters relatable. I was first in doubt about reading this, thinking that I might not relate to it due to the age of the characters but I was proven wrong.
If you think about it, Callie and Ian's personality clash is the typical cynic-meets-optimistic relationship but Higgins made the story roll smoothly, making it different from the rest of those who follow the same boy-girl situation.
It's quite different for me that pets were part of the big picture here, especially on how Callie and Ian developed their relationship. I loved the familial touch of it and how it also covered the effects of coming from a broken family and being adopted. Among all these relationships, I was taken aback with Callie and Noah's relationship. It's quite new to me to have the main character grounded on her grandparents and I love how Higgins showed their relationship. It was full of humor and heart-warming.
I would recommend this to those who are looking for witty, humorous, no-bullshit romance no matter how old you guys are.
This book made me laugh and cry, and laugh, and cry some more. It was very well-rounded and diverse. I love the fact that the characters seems like any ordinary person you'd bumped to everyday, and they're going through usual problems people go through. It makes the story and the characters relatable. I was first in doubt about reading this, thinking that I might not relate to it due to the age of the characters but I was proven wrong.
If you think about it, Callie and Ian's personality clash is the typical cynic-meets-optimistic relationship but Higgins made the story roll smoothly, making it different from the rest of those who follow the same boy-girl situation.
It's quite different for me that pets were part of the big picture here, especially on how Callie and Ian developed their relationship. I loved the familial touch of it and how it also covered the effects of coming from a broken family and being adopted. Among all these relationships, I was taken aback with Callie and Noah's relationship. It's quite new to me to have the main character grounded on her grandparents and I love how Higgins showed their relationship. It was full of humor and heart-warming.
I would recommend this to those who are looking for witty, humorous, no-bullshit romance no matter how old you guys are.
Battling a respiratory virus/bronchitis that lasted three plus weeks and left me exhausting, I broke with my pledge to rotate romance and regular books because I wanted comfort reads. And when I want comfort reads, Kristan Higgins is always a top choice. Cozy relationship focused stories with delightful side characters that aren’t too saccharine. This book, and If you only knew, were exactly what I needed when tucked under the covers hacking up a lung.
But you might enjoy either even if you’re not that sick. The young heroine Callie in this story (oh, she did seem so young) made a critical error of judgement – she went fishing off the company pier. Living in a small Vermont town with a limited dating pool, she crushed on her boss, who coincidentally was the first boy she ever kissed. And after a treacherous plane ride, they fall into bed together. She thinks it’s the start of something beautiful. Him, not so much.
Meanwhile she makes a stunning impression on the new vet in town, whose new office is filled with single women find themselves with suddenly sick dogs. She builds a friendship by helping with PR for the clinic, and their friendship/relationship builds from there.
Enjoyable story. 3.5/5
But you might enjoy either even if you’re not that sick. The young heroine Callie in this story (oh, she did seem so young) made a critical error of judgement – she went fishing off the company pier. Living in a small Vermont town with a limited dating pool, she crushed on her boss, who coincidentally was the first boy she ever kissed. And after a treacherous plane ride, they fall into bed together. She thinks it’s the start of something beautiful. Him, not so much.
Meanwhile she makes a stunning impression on the new vet in town, whose new office is filled with single women find themselves with suddenly sick dogs. She builds a friendship by helping with PR for the clinic, and their friendship/relationship builds from there.
Enjoyable story. 3.5/5
Review: http://beveragesandbooks.com/2015/07/all-i-ever-wanted-by-kristan-higgins/
Mrs. Higgins sure has a thing about big romantic gestures/speeches in wedding receptions, pets, big annoying yet charming families and lovely men with unique characters.
Not sharing Callie's bubbly personality or her need to be liked by everyone and being close to Ian's "I don't care what people think of me" attitude, I could relate to him more, although he's too controlled and reserved by far.
Callie and Ian as a couple were unlikely and so different from one another that they somehow fit perfectly together. Their story made me laugh and cry and finally left me with a big smile on my face as had the rest of the author's books I've read so far.
Looking forward to reading her next novel!
Not sharing Callie's bubbly personality or her need to be liked by everyone and being close to Ian's "I don't care what people think of me" attitude, I could relate to him more, although he's too controlled and reserved by far.
Callie and Ian as a couple were unlikely and so different from one another that they somehow fit perfectly together. Their story made me laugh and cry and finally left me with a big smile on my face as had the rest of the author's books I've read so far.
Looking forward to reading her next novel!
Spoiler
P.S.: They sold the chair! After all that time you'd think that they'd want to enjoy actually using it, but they didn't. Sure, it was for a good cause, but come on!
It is my least favorite of her books, thus far. I didn't hate the main character, but I found her annoying at times. Just couldn't really get into the story.
I wish we could review AUTHORS on good reads. Her books are like Sarah Dessen for adults: sweet, totally predictable with interchangeable characters.
But I love the premises: always a protagonist with good sibling relationships, parents who love each other but are separated somehow, a catholic cultural background, set on the East coast in Res Sox nation, proud of some local cottage industry (lobstering or wood rafting or syrup or a diner). No sex scenes, except to say something like "he made me very happy" or "my toes curled"--but GREAT kissing. ;)
I hate that every protagonist has some ridiculous word like "blerk" or "yeouch" or some such. I also hate when the narrator says anything about "her girl parts."
But I keep reading. I'm only doing this review; this holds for every book of hers I've read.
But I love the premises: always a protagonist with good sibling relationships, parents who love each other but are separated somehow, a catholic cultural background, set on the East coast in Res Sox nation, proud of some local cottage industry (lobstering or wood rafting or syrup or a diner). No sex scenes, except to say something like "he made me very happy" or "my toes curled"--but GREAT kissing. ;)
I hate that every protagonist has some ridiculous word like "blerk" or "yeouch" or some such. I also hate when the narrator says anything about "her girl parts."
But I keep reading. I'm only doing this review; this holds for every book of hers I've read.
Kristan Higgins never fails to amaze me. She is so great at capturing both humor and emotion. Some parts of the book are laugh-out-loud funny, and others make you feel like crying. In fact, I did cry once. I read the book in one sitting, and between all the laughing and crying, anyone that heard me probably thought I was completely insane.
Her books aren't just romance. They explore other relationships: whether they involve family, pets or the community. Callie and Ian are such great characters: they are complete opposites of each other. At first, that fact causes them to clash. Eventually, they come to realize that they actually balance each other out. Anybody that appreciates a nice romance/chick lit story should definitely pick this up!
I read this book via NetGalley, but I will definitely be buying a copy for my shelves when it is released. Kristan Higgins is definitely on my auto-buy list - her books are always spectacular!
Her books aren't just romance. They explore other relationships: whether they involve family, pets or the community. Callie and Ian are such great characters: they are complete opposites of each other. At first, that fact causes them to clash. Eventually, they come to realize that they actually balance each other out. Anybody that appreciates a nice romance/chick lit story should definitely pick this up!
I read this book via NetGalley, but I will definitely be buying a copy for my shelves when it is released. Kristan Higgins is definitely on my auto-buy list - her books are always spectacular!
I'm not sure if I'm overly emotional right now, but I cried a lot during this book. Not huge, gasping sobs. More like slowly leaking eyes. The feels I had! There is a scene the morning after the turkey incident that had me feeling so many emotions it was unreal.
Unlike a lot of other Kristan Higgins books I didn't feel like the heroine, Callie, was being taken advantage of by her family. Sure, she lived with her grandpa and took care of him. Yet he didn't take advantage of her. More like he encouraged her to get out there and do more for herself. Yes, her dad asked a favor of her that could be construed as asking too much. But I never felt like he'd be upset with her if she had said no. Somehow, Callie still ends up doing too much for too many people and always worrying about everyone else. She likens it to the middle child thing, and I think there may be some truth to that.
The hero, Ian, was a bit hard to warm up to...but that's the point. He comes across as a bit of a jerk, yet as the reader you can totally see why he says and does the things he says and does. Just like Callie, I fell in love with Ian the more I was around him. Catching glimpses of his true character and realizing he was really quite shy.
I saw quite a few of the events coming from a mile away, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. As usual, the cast of characters Kristan Higgins used was lovable, funny, and quirky. My kind of people!
Unlike a lot of other Kristan Higgins books I didn't feel like the heroine, Callie, was being taken advantage of by her family. Sure, she lived with her grandpa and took care of him. Yet he didn't take advantage of her. More like he encouraged her to get out there and do more for herself. Yes, her dad asked a favor of her that could be construed as asking too much. But I never felt like he'd be upset with her if she had said no. Somehow, Callie still ends up doing too much for too many people and always worrying about everyone else. She likens it to the middle child thing, and I think there may be some truth to that.
The hero, Ian, was a bit hard to warm up to...but that's the point. He comes across as a bit of a jerk, yet as the reader you can totally see why he says and does the things he says and does. Just like Callie, I fell in love with Ian the more I was around him. Catching glimpses of his true character and realizing he was really quite shy.
I saw quite a few of the events coming from a mile away, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. As usual, the cast of characters Kristan Higgins used was lovable, funny, and quirky. My kind of people!