A review by gwendolyn_kensinger
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center

4.0

This is the story of one woman’s life that’s significantly changed in an accident and how she recovers. Maggie doesn’t like flying but she’s coerced into taking a flight with her partner who almost has his pilot’s license. The plane crashes after he proposes and Maggie is severely burned and she also suffers a spinal cord injury. Maggie ends up in the ICU but the story quickly moves to her time in a rehabilitation ward, learning how to take care of herself and hopefully walking again. She has a defined stay due to insurance limitations and the story focuses on her experiences with Ian, a surly physiotherapist who has a heart of gold.

I thought Center did a good job with explaining what it feels like to have a loved one in critical care/rehab. I can’t speak to the representation of someone with a spinal cord injury but according to the book and Katherine Center’s own words she did vast amounts of research, so I hope she portrayed it well. It felt like she did to me.

I hated Chip from the moment I met him. Who forces their fiance onto a tiny plane to propose when they’re terrified of flying? That makes no sense and his snobby attitude and total disregard to how he was making her feel enraged me. I honestly think Chip got off too easily. Ian though…I knew that grumpy dude was the one as soon as he caught her when she was about to fall. He wasn’t fooling anyone. I also appreciate how he realized he crossed a professional line and explained to Maggie how and why he did. I also enjoyed seeing a bit of Maggie’s family. Her mom and sister Kit who are at odds for who knows why, Kit's 3 year disappearing act, and also her sweet father.