How to Walk Away: A Novel
May 2018 · St. Martin's Press
4.7star
18 reviewsreport
Ebook
320
Pages
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About this ebook
From the author of Happiness for Beginners comes the instant New York Times bestseller (May 2018), an unforgettable love story about finding joy even in the darkest of circumstances.
Margaret Jacobsen is just about to step into the bright future she’s worked for so hard and so long: a new dream job, a fiancé she adores, 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 a brief, tumultuous moment.
In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Maggie must confront the unthinkable. First there is her fiancé, Chip, who wallows in self-pity while simultaneously expecting to be forgiven. Then, there's her sister Kit, who shows up after pulling a three-year vanishing act. Finally, there's Ian, her physical therapist, the one the nurses said was too tough for her. Ian, who won't let her give in to her pity, and who sees her like no one has seen her before. Sometimes the last thing you want is the one thing you need. Sometimes we all need someone to catch us when we fall. And sometimes love can find us in the least likely place we would ever expect.
How to Walk Away is Katherine Center at her very best—a masterpiece of a novel that is both hopeful and hilarious; truthful and wise; tender and brave.
Praise for How to Walk Away:
"A heartbreak of a novel that celebrates resilience and strength." —Jill Santopolo, bestselling author of The Light We Lost
"If you just read one book this year, read How to Walk Away." —Nina George, New York Times bestselling author of The Little Paris Bookshop
"Warm, witty, and wonderfully observed." —Emily Giffin, New York Times bestselling author of First Comes Love
"Sympathetic and refreshing!" —Elinor Lipman, bestselling author of The Family Man
"I can't think of a blurb good enough for this novel...poignant, funny, heartbreaking." —Jenny Lawson, bestselling author of Furiously Happy
Margaret Jacobsen is just about to step into the bright future she’s worked for so hard and so long: a new dream job, a fiancé she adores, 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 a brief, tumultuous moment.
In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Maggie must confront the unthinkable. First there is her fiancé, Chip, who wallows in self-pity while simultaneously expecting to be forgiven. Then, there's her sister Kit, who shows up after pulling a three-year vanishing act. Finally, there's Ian, her physical therapist, the one the nurses said was too tough for her. Ian, who won't let her give in to her pity, and who sees her like no one has seen her before. Sometimes the last thing you want is the one thing you need. Sometimes we all need someone to catch us when we fall. And sometimes love can find us in the least likely place we would ever expect.
How to Walk Away is Katherine Center at her very best—a masterpiece of a novel that is both hopeful and hilarious; truthful and wise; tender and brave.
Praise for How to Walk Away:
"A heartbreak of a novel that celebrates resilience and strength." —Jill Santopolo, bestselling author of The Light We Lost
"If you just read one book this year, read How to Walk Away." —Nina George, New York Times bestselling author of The Little Paris Bookshop
"Warm, witty, and wonderfully observed." —Emily Giffin, New York Times bestselling author of First Comes Love
"Sympathetic and refreshing!" —Elinor Lipman, bestselling author of The Family Man
"I can't think of a blurb good enough for this novel...poignant, funny, heartbreaking." —Jenny Lawson, bestselling author of Furiously Happy
Ratings and reviews
4.7
18 reviews
Two Dogs and a Book (Guylou Béland)
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May 15, 2018
Margaret Jacobson has it all, an MBA, a dream job and a boyfriend whom she thinks will pop the question any moment. Chip has been taking flying lessons and is one step away to get his pilot license. On Valentine's Day, in an all romantic gesture, he decides to take Margaret on a plane ride and asks her to marry him. Margaret is terrified of flying but reluctantly agrees to go with him. Everything is going according to Chip's plans. He pops the question, she says yes and they are the happiest they can be until the weather changes. Chip is still new at flying and he is relying on his training to land the Cessna safely. After a few attempts to land, he loses control and the plane crashes. He is able to get out, but Margaret is pinned down and cannot move. Disaster strikes and leaves Margaret with a multitude of health and physical challenges. While in the hospital, she meets Ian, a Physiotherapist, who always appears to be upset, frustrated, and annoyed. Margaret is dealing with her own demons, but she sees Ian as a challenge and is determined to make him smile. Katherine Centre delivers a wonderful story of courage and silver lining. She has thoroughly researched her medical topics and does not spare the reader with the uncomfortable subjects. The story is beautifully written and structured. The characters are amazing and believable. This is a fantastic romance story which will uplift you. In Katherine Center’s words: “You get one life, and it only goes forward. And there really are all kinds of happy endings”
5 people found this review helpful
Kathleen Gonzalez
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September 9, 2020
Absolutely amazing. It was like watching a movie in my head. I could not put it down. I felt the pain, I enjoyed the snarky side comments, I would make them myself. It was an enjoyable story that I could see it as a reality. Would be a movie I would love to watch.
Melissa McCollum Little
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September 12, 2023
I ALWAYS walk away with a new thing on life after reading one of Katherine Center's books! She is so AMAZING writing. Her writing style really puts you in the book wondering and thinking what if...... You Just Really Never Know What's Going to Happen in YOUR Own Life But, What If........Life is what it is and it ONLY moves forward! 💜M
About the author
KATHERINE CENTER is the author of several novels, including Happiness for Beginners, The Bright Side of Disaster, Everyone Is Beautiful, Get Lucky, and The Lost Husband. Her books and essays have appeared in Redbook, People, USA Today, Vanity Fair, and Real Simple, as well as the anthologies Because I Love Her, CRUSH, and My Parents Were Awesome. Katherine is a graduate of Vassar College and the University of Houston's Creative Writing Program. She lives in Houston with her husband and two sweet children.
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