How to Walk Away: A Novel

Note: I received ARC of this book from the publisher, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Margaret’s biggest fear came to life on happiest day of her life.

This is one of the most charming and lovable book I ever read. Just as blurb said it touch my heart and made me feel all kind of emotions at every page. How to Walk away is a women fiction revolved around Margaret, her life and family. It was about the courage, hope, and love. About how to move on in life after losing everything, walk through darkness towards light and joy, how to walk away of grief, grudge and things that are holding you back from being happy. It was utterly motivating and inspiring book that you should read at least once in life.

Characters-
Margaret– I simply adore her. As blurb said she had everything in life- great job, picture perfect boyfriend, the future she imagined but nothing had prepared her for what she going to face after valentine day. She was smart, strong, resilient, relentless, lively, calm, good hearted and so practical woman. She was everything I want in character.

Family dynamic was so awesome. I loved her family specially her elder sister- Kitty. She was another character I would prefer to be in book. She was strong, did what she want to do, confident, full of life and oh my, her sister love was so charming that I wish she was real my sister. Her father – Cliff– was most adorable parent. He was practical and supported his both daughters in their ups and downs. Her mother- Linda– she was both likable and thoughtless or irritating. Both sisters described her perfectly but at the same time she was great mother and I loved her at the end.

Chip– (can we skip this character?) I seriously didn’t want to know him after what he did and how he behaved when Margaret needed him most. He turned out exactly opposite of what I thought in initial chapters.

Ian– Scottish guy, Margaret’s Physical Therapist. He was different from all other PTs in hospital. Reticent, not encouraging or motivating, not interested in any chat, lost in his thoughts but was also was very professional, caring, and attentive one. He didn’t open up to anyone or let his good side to see. He was just great.

What I liked-
I so loved that cover, isn’t it eye catching and beautiful?

The book was narrated by Margaret and so it made me to feel all her thoughts, what she was going through and what she felt. It literally touch my heart. If it was third person narrative, I don’t think it would have the same effect. Her monologues and emotions were heartfelt. Plot was great and it was written phenomenally by author. I can say it was book club worthy book.

Author did really good job on research. All she mentioned about research in acknowledgment I could clearly see in the book. Medical terminology, description of injuries and recovery was thorough and was remarkably represented. It was not that difficult for me, in fact I loved this part, but some readers who are not from science field may have little difficulty in these portion but I’m sure you won’t feel like it is going over the head or boring.

All characters were great leaving few exceptions. They were realistic, practical and felt true. One can easily put themselves in their shoe and find that they would have done the same. Their development was mind-blowing especially of Margaret and her mother. They became so wise and even more adorable towards the end.

The family secret and past of Ian were unpredictable. Those portion were intriguing. I view them with different eye after that, though it never made me be judgmental specifically on family secret, which was good because usually in such case I instantly decide I don’t like this character. I was feeling exactly like Margaret.

This I can say was emotional roller-coaster. It had the sadness that made me cry, I was angry at characters, happy to see Margaret growing, admiring at resilient relentless efforts of characters, goofy on reading the romantic part, funny and sarcastic side of character made me laugh freely. Without a doubt it had all kind of emotions. Though it was sad at points but definitely had feel good factor throughout the book.

Chemistry between Ian and Margaret was charming and romance was clean. What can I say about the love and marriage proposals in the book? It was so beautiful. I was speechless and it made me smile like maniac. Climax was just great and let’s just say it had lovely feel good ending and epilogue.

Ahh, after a long time I read such amazing book! Overall, it was lovable, refreshing, inspiring and motivating Women’s fiction with clean and beautiful romance. I highly recommend this book to all readers of all age.

'Our struggles lead us to our strengths.'

This book...

I went in blind. I liked the title. I liked the cover. I didn't expect the impact the story would have. Margaret has everything going for her until her life is irrevocably changed by one moment. A moment where she went against her gut... a moment that will force her to leave her old life behind.

"You can't ask someone to love you or be there for you or do the right thing - and you certainly can't guilt them into it. Either they will or they won't.

There are novels that evoke emotion in the reader in a way that will forever imprint on their heart. 'How to Walk Away' is one of those novels. It's real and heartbreaking and funny and aggravating. It doesn't sugar coat and it doesn't have a main character that is always a ray of sunshine, despite her grim situation. She's a roller coaster of emotions as she goes through all the stages of grief.

"It's the trying that heals you. That's all you have to do. Just try."

This isn't a thriller or mystery. You'll be able to figure out where some of the plot is going. Novels like this one are about the emotional journey it takes you on. It's about digging deep and applying parts to your own life. We all have things that we need to 'walk away' from in order to grow. And we all have the strength to do so... if you believe enough in yourself.

Definitely on my list of favorites from this year. This is the novel that you don't realize you need, until you finish it.

Margaret Jacobsen has never liked flying but her boyfriend convinces her to go with him as he takes her for a surprise flight during which he proposes to her. That would be life changing enough but he then loses control of the plane on landing, leaving her with truly life changing injuries . . . . changing what should have been one of the best days of her life to one that is a living nightmare.

Told from Margaret’s point of view, this emotive story explores her hopes, dreams, fears, struggles and victories as she becomes aware of the impact of the crash on her life. It also shows how different people react to the effects of it, some being supportive, others avoiding her and her Mum – well, you’ll have to read about her yourself! It also shows how Margaret’s attitudes and relationships change as she discovers more about herself, her abilities and makes decisions about her future. The hospital team supporting and treating her are brought to life and I particularly liked witnessing how one of her physical therapists, Ian, was changed by their interactions.

Don’t assume the story is doom and gloom, it is anything but! Yes, it does show readers how such injuries make patients go through all the stages of grief whilst mourning the loss of their previous life plans but it also shows how they can move on, learning how to walk away from their old life to move on to a possibly even more fulfilling future, despite their injuries. It has a liberal dosage of humour, too!

The research the author must have done to write this books is tremendous. The emotional rollercoaster of life after severe injuries is portrayed brilliantly, making it easy for the reader to empathise with all the characters – well, all except one of them! It is a thought provoking, poignant story with family secrets and a new love added to the mix making this a story that I suspect will stay with me for years to come. It is a well paced story, a real page turner and one that I have absolutely no hesitation in highly recommending – I’ll definitely be looking out for more by this talented author in future.

I requested and was given a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.

My Review of “How to Walk Away” by Katherine Center St. Martins Press Publishing Date, May 29,2018

“How to Walk Away” by Katherine Center is an amazing, captivating, riveting, intriguing and intense novel. I appreciate Katherine Center’s detailed descriptive writing, that makes this story feel so very real.

The Genres of this story are Fiction, Women’s Fiction, with an essence of Romance. The timeline for the story is mostly in the present, and goes back a few years when it pertains to the characters of events.

The author describes the characters, their problems and their emotions vividly. A few of the characters are not likable, but shallow, and capable of betrayal. A few of the characters are courageous, strong, loyal, and brave. There are some deep secrets that can destroy everyone involved.

Margaret Jacobson, seems to have everything in life that she has wanted. Margaret has recently graduated college, and has a fantastic job, a fiancée, and all great things to look forward to. Until she doesn’t. The night that her boyfriend proposes to her becomes the best and worst night of her life.

After a tragic accident, Margaret realizes that nothing is the same at all. As she fights for her life, she realizes that she will have to have hope, faith, and be strong in her journey to get well. I love the way the author describes the importance of family , love, emotional support, hope, faith, and forgiveness. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review. I would recommend this heart-breaking , and heartwarming novel for readers of Women’s Fiction.

How to Walk Away by Katherine Center is a contemporary read that while it does have some romance it also was so much more. The exact example of an emotional roller coaster of a novel it will have readers laughing through their tears.

Margaret Jacobsen has always been afraid of flying and doesn’t want to be anywhere near an airplane but dating a man who is becoming a pilot has him whisking her off to he airport for a romantic getaway. Battling her fears she goes along with the ride only to have Chip propose along the way but then what should have been a beautiful night turns to one of horror.

When the weather took a turn for the worse Chip’s inexperience as a pilot has the small plane crash landing. After the tragic event Margaret finds herself in the hospital with a back injury, her fiance no where to be found and a very long road of recovery with months of physical training ahead of her.

The moment the story begins we meet a young woman with everything ahead of her in life and then see that in the blink of an eye life can change so drastically. The story is one that is tragically heartbreaking while being powerfully inspiring all in the turn of a page. There’s humor in the heartbreak and hope in the darkest of places to make this one powerfully compelling read. Such a beautiful book that I do hope readers will give a chance and pick this one up for one emotional ride.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

In the new Katherine Center novel How to Walk Away, everything looks perfect in Margaret Jacobsen’s life – she is on the verge of having the perfect job, dating the perfect guy, and living the perfect life until she isn’t. While her long-time boyfriend is surreptitiously taking her on a joyride to show her the sights, he proposes, and all hell breaks loose.

While Margaret is left to pick up the pieces with her parent’s help, she meets Ian, a no-nonsense, unsympathetic, and unconventional therapist that forces her to quit feeling sorry for herself and to take her life into her own hands. While she goes through the grieving process of the life she loses and starts the process of healing from the inside out, others are starting the heal from their wounds as well. Lives are changed, relationships healed, and new friendships take hold.

As a person who works with medical records, I appreciated the time that Center took to really learn about Margaret’s condition, the injuries she could and would have sustained in an accident of this type, and the availability of treatment to deal with those injuries.

How to Walk Away was a page-turner and I had a very difficult time putting it down once I started. Center is a compelling writer who pulls the reader in from the start and makes them love (or hate) the cast of characters. Knowing what was going to happen next, you want to warn Margaret to go with her gut but once the damage is done, you also want to see her find happiness in her new normal.

I highly recommend How to Walk Away as your next fictional read.

This book reminded me a little of "Me Before You" with the paraplegic story. However, the details and story are very different.

Maggie has everything going for her. The perfect job is said to be hers, she's got a great boyfriend, and a very rosy future. Then on the same day she gets engaged, she is involved in a plane crash. The results are life changing, forever.

I loved going on this journey with Maggie as she tries to figure things out during the 5 1/2 weeks of hospital stay that the insurance will pay for. Her whole life has changed and she's not really in the best of moods or abilities to consider what will happen in the future.

I laughed, I cried, I was thoroughly entertained. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the aforementioned book and to anyone who likes to read a really good story.

As for the fiancee, Yuck, is the only nice word I can think about calling him right now. Ha!!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

OMG! I loved this book. I am normally a suspense/thriller type of girl but got this from Book of the Month club. It took me a couple of months to finally open it but I am so glad I did!!!! I was scared it would have too much romance but it is the perfect amount of romance, inspiration and fiction all combined. I still can't help but wonder if it is a true story made into fiction. Especially when reading the epilogue, I immediately read whether it was a true story. She says it is fiction though. Either way, it is awesome. I have more quotes highlighted in this book than any "self-help" book that I have ever read. I loved that about it. I picked it up wanting an easy read fiction story and came out happy and more confident than before.

I also laughed out loud at several moments. I have decided I want Kitty to be my sister. I loved her!!!

Thank you@stmartinspress for this free book to review.

Margaret is on the cusp of having everything she's ever dreamed of, she has earned her degree, bought a townhouse, and she is in expectation of winning her dream job that she just interviewed for. And to top it all off, her picture perfect boyfriend, Chip, is about to propose. Chip has just learned to fly and wants to take Margaret up to celebrate her impending job offer and to propose. Margaret doesn't just hate to fly, she terrified of it. She's always worried about plane crashes. After alot of coaxing from Chip, she gets in the plane, but what should have been one of the best days of her life, takes a tragic turn, and her world is turned upside-down.

What follows is Margaret's physical and emotional struggle to learn to live again. Moments of frustration, despair and determination make Margaret likeable and its easy to sympathize with her situation. If you've ever been knocked down and struggled to get up again, or raged when life hasn't gone as planned, you will enjoy this inspiring read. Its witty, charming, and a quick page turner. My only disappointment, was the occasional, needless crass language.
My favorite quote: "When you dont know what to do for yourself, do something for somebody else."

I received an advanced copy of this book from #SheSpeaks

I tell you, I drug my feet in starting the book because it is not the usual genre that I read.

Finally I picked it up. I tell you, I could not put this book down and it left me wanting more. It is a fantastic story of triumph over adversity. And it has a healthy dose of romance thrown in for good measure. T

he storyline really pulls you in and gives you so much to think about. I am not going to give away the story, but it is about a young business woman who has just gotten engaged. She is in a life changing accident that sends her into a spiral of pain and loss. Eventually she overcomes and finds her calling. I highly suggest this book to any of my anyone who loves read, and if you don't read, give it a shot. I wouldn't steer you wrong.

Katherine Center has become one of my new favorite authors.

My first book in the BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge is How to Walk Away by Katherine Center. She is a new author to me but is very popular in the world of Women’s fiction and circulates well where I work, at the Dunwoody library. In her latest book, she tackles the issues of rehabilitation and how does one recover? Who does it impact the most? Where does the support come from in a difficult time such as this?
Synopsis:
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. (the store)
My Thoughts:
I loved this book! I don’t know of many books that tackle the topic of this kind of intense injury, and what circumstances might be like afterwords. I think that many of us can identify with Maggie’s experiences, in this book. Ms. Center did a great job of creating a great cast of characters, even the one that I loved to hate the most Chip. As a reader part of me could not believe Chip’s response to the situation. I could not wait to him to be out of the picture. I found the story was interesting and kept my focus with very little lag, in the middle. The conclusion was unexpected and very satisfying.

I received an advanced copy of this book from #SheSpeaks

I tell you, I drug my feet in starting the book because it is not the usual genre that I read.

Finally I picked it up. I tell you, I could not put this book down and it left me wanting more. It is a fantastic story of triumph over adversity. And it has a healthy dose of romance thrown in for good measure. T

he storyline really pulls you in and gives you so much to think about. I am not going to give away the story, but it is about a young business woman who has just gotten engaged. She is in a life changing accident that sends her into a spiral of pain and loss. Eventually she overcomes and finds her calling. I highly suggest this book to any of my anyone who loves read, and if you don't read, give it a shot. I wouldn't steer you wrong.

Katherine Center has become one of my new favorite authors.

My first book in the BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge is How to Walk Away by Katherine Center. She is a new author to me but is very popular in the world of Women’s fiction and circulates well where I work, at the Dunwoody library. In her latest book, she tackles the issues of rehabilitation and how does one recover? Who does it impact the most? Where does the support come from in a difficult time such as this?
Synopsis:
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. (the store)
My Thoughts:
I loved this book! I don’t know of many books that tackle the topic of this kind of intense injury, and what circumstances might be like afterwords. I think that many of us can identify with Maggie’s experiences, in this book. Ms. Center did a great job of creating a great cast of characters, even the one that I loved to hate the most Chip. As a reader part of me could not believe Chip’s response to the situation. I could not wait to him to be out of the picture. I found the story was interesting and kept my focus with very little lag, in the middle. The conclusion was unexpected and very satisfying.

How to Walk Away
Katherine Center

A poignant and inspiring story of resilience and recovery.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
Margaret Jacobson has a picture perfect life just around the corner. She has just graduated from college with an MBA, has obtained a dream job, and has a fabulous boyfriend she adores. A night that promises to be the best night of her life, quickly turns into her worst nightmare, with nothing more than a gust of wind. In the hospital she is forced to face the possibility she may never walk again. Margaret must figure out how to move forward on her own terms after facing devastating heartbreak, the loss of her job, and even crushing family secrets. What will she do now? What can she do now? Will she ever find love again?

“When you don’t know what to do for yourself, do something for somebody else.”

REVIEW
HOW TO WALK AWAY is a book about life lessons. Lessons that Maragret has to learn the hard way. Her boyfriend, Chip, overcome with guilt, won’t visit her in the hospital. She must work with Ian, a stern physical therapist that gives her very little motivational support or assistance. Her older sister, Kitty, returns after a three year absence to comfort Maragret and to expose a long held family secret that may tear their parent apart.

Margaret’s perseverance is a fabulous takeaway from the book. But it is the small scenes in the book that make you really want to cheer for her: the bonfire at the family cottage, helping with the children’s arts and craft fair, and the April 1st Valentine party. All these events lead us to my favorite character in the book, Kitty. She has short spiky hair, small hoop earrings going up the sides of both ears, and a nose ring, and she adds tremendous color and spark to this story. When no one else knows what to do, Kitty does! She styles Maggie’s hair, makes her laugh and plans a party or two. Her persistence and ability to make things happen is adorable.

KATHERINE CENTER’s writing is absorbing, and easy to read. The story is a touching and inspiring chronicle of loss, forgiveness, and moving on with life. The pacing of the story is perfect. The characters are real and authentic; some you like, some you don’t, just as it is with life. The writing, story and characters merge beautifully to create a memorable book. CENTER graduated from Vassar College and the University of Houston’s creative writing program. She lives in Houston with her husband and two children. She is the author of five other novels about love and family.
Publisher St Martin’s Press
Published May 15, 2018

“It’s strange that I could have laughed so hard under those circumstances, during that very dark moment in my life. But I’ve decided sorrow can make things funnier. Endure enough hardship, and you start really needing a good laugh.“

3.5 stars, rounded upward.

Maggie swallows her misgivings and agrees to let her boyfriend, Chip, give her a ride in a small plane. He’s taken lessons, but doesn’t have a license yet. Naturally, he crashes. And naturally, he walks away without a scratch, but Maggie is paralyzed and burnt to a crackling crisp.

My thanks go to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the DRC. This title is now for sale. I missed the release date and am sorry about that; I struggled with how to rate this title and how to review it. More on that in a minute.

Most of the story is set at a hospital, where Maggie is treated for burns and receives physical therapy to help her learn to move again. It’s painful and it’s horrible, and on top of that, nobody will let her have a mirror. Once she has one, she wishes she hadn’t looked.

“I would forever be a person that other people tried not to stare at in the grocery store. I would forever be someone who made other people uncomfortable.”

Maggie develops a crush on her physical therapist, a handsome, abrupt, unfriendly Scotsman whose poor bedside manner is surpassed only by his outstanding skill at helping Maggie learn to maneuver her body. At the same time, Chip—who for no reason I can understand, has not been arrested or cited for flying unlicensed or for stealing an airplane—goes all to pieces, turning his few hospital visits into a pity party for himself.

The story is quixotic in its combination of romance, medical information that is sometimes more detailed and gruesome than I want to read, and a beginning that is more an adventure or disaster tale than romance. 14% of the way in I flipped back to the cover, the tiny, almost unnoticeable plane flanked by giant floral bouquets, and I didn’t get how this story went with that jacket. I think the beginning scene with the plane, the toxic boyfriend turned fiancée, and the crash should have been edited down and presented as a prologue.

When Maggie is astonished to see a “lady firefighter”, I roll my eyes and check the copyright to make certain this isn’t a re-release of a title from the 1960s.

I originally designated this galley as my lunch and midnight snack companion, but soon it became obvious that there were too many detailed descriptions of bodily functions, particularly related to the bowel and the bladder, that I didn’t want to dine with.

The parts I like best here have to do with Maggie’s sister Kitty, who left suddenly many years ago and has been estranged due to a mysterious conflict with her mother. Kitty’s character is developed wonderfully and injects light and humor into the narrative.

The other characters at times seemed overdrawn. Chip is too obnoxious; I already hated him when he patted Maggie’s fanny and told her to get onto the plane. As ugliness is added to more ugliness, I find myself rolling my eyes and saying, yes, he’s a dick, I get it already. Maggie’s mother (is there a novelist out there that is comfortable with a protagonist and her mother having a solid relationship?) is too shallow, too obviously obsessed with surface beauty, and although there is some small redemption for her in the end, I want to see more than one attribute given this character, and I want it sooner.

And there’s the wealth, the privilege, and the wealth wealth wealth. When Maggie’s father brings a printer to her hospital room so he can crank out articles for her to read; when her mother hauls in curtains and lamps and redecorates the hospital room; a thousand times I find myself highlighting passages and arching my eyebrows. The hell?

The romance itself, however, is a winner. As I watch the electricity pop between Maggie and Ian, I can’t help smiling. The romance is what most readers are here for, and I find it heartwarming and satisfying. It’s a quick read, and although I had no trouble putting it down, I also had no trouble picking it back up again, which is not always true of the galleys I review.

Recommended to Center’s faithful readers, and to those that like a light romance.

CONTEMPORARY FICTION
Katherine Center
How to Walk Away: A Novel
St. Martin’s Press
Hardcover, 978-1-2501-4906-0, (also available as an e-book, an audiobook, and on Audible), 320 pgs., $26.99
May 15, 2018

Margaret Jacobsen has her fingertips on the brass ring. She’s the beautiful, dutiful younger daughter of Anglo, upper-middle-class strivers in Austin, Texas, possessor of a brand-new MBA degree, favored candidate for a dream job, and certain her longtime boyfriend, Chip, is going to propose to her today. The only clouds in Margaret’s sky are an estranged older sister and an intense fear of flying, which is unfortunate because her phobia may limit their choice of honeymoon destinations and Chip is in the process of earning a pilot’s license.

Margaret was right; Chip did propose to her—after bullying her, in that jocular but insistent manner every woman on the planet will recognize, into the cockpit of the Cessna he had been training in and promptly crashing it, the plane cartwheeling before wedging in a ditch and catching fire. Chip escapes but Margaret must be cut out of the wreckage, requiring skin grafts, questioning whether she’ll walk again.

How to Walk Away: A Novel is the latest work of contemporary fiction from Houston’s Katherine Center. A graduate of the University of Houston’s renowned creative writing program, Center has published six novels. As is Center’s specialty, How to Walk Away is sweet without the sap, an uplifting, feel-good tale without being predictable.

Initially I thought Margaret’s wisecracking in the immediate aftermath of a spinal cord injury incongruous (“They say everybody loses time in the ICU. It’s basically Vegas in there, minus the showgirls and slot machines.”), but then I realized her first-person narrative is a fictional memoir, told from the remove of a decade. In the beginning, Margaret is a likeable enough character—if lacking in backbone—a generic yuppie aspiring to McMansion-hood, but she tells her story from the future as a transformed woman, a nuanced, sympathetic character.

The remainder of the cast have fewer dimensions than Margaret and don’t receive the same opportunities for growth, but are interesting and entertaining, nevertheless. Margaret’s father is understood to be active behind the scenes; her mother is almost insufferable (“[Mom] could always find the downside. And she had no filter, so once she found it, everybody else had to find it, too.”); Chip proves to be an asinine coward of breathtaking selfishness (“Do you know I escaped that crash without a scratch?” Chip said … “the plane is totaled. You … are totaled.”); Ian the Scottish physical therapist is appropriately brooding and mysterious; older sister Kit makes her energetic, grand re-entrance as a breath of fresh air.

Center’s writing is markedly emotionally astute—I suspect she was a psychoanalyst in a former life. Her families are authentically complicated, her characters’ interactions fraught with the disconnect between heart and mind. Center is particularly good at conveying shock and grief, employing a blend of sardonic nonchalance that should be patented. Center’s technique allows the devastation to sneak up on you. When you begin feeling too relaxed, understand that you’re about to get smacked with a doozy of a plot twist.

How to Walk Away is quickly and evenly paced. Subplots involving the estranged sister, a difficult mother, the hospital edition of office politics, and the possibility of new romance service the main plot line instead of distracting from it.

How to Walk Away is recommended reading for your summer vacation, whether you take it to the beach or your backyard hammock.

Originally published in Lone Star Literary Life.

How to Walk Away by Katherine Center is an absolutely amazing book and nearly impossible to adequately describe or characterize. When I received an ARC in the mail from St. Martin’s Press I didn’t really know what the story was about. A break up, an abusive marriage? I thought it would be the usual entertaining, run-of-the-mill chick lit. Well, entertaining – mesmerizing, actually – it most definitely was. But run of the mill it most definitely was not.

On the surface it’s the story of a terrible accident and what happens in the aftermath. But it’s so much more than that. Parts of it are so sad you want to sob, but then again parts of it are happy. Not fairy-tale she-got-the-prince-and-lived-happily-ever-after happy, but happy. And full of droll humor, wit, a bit of sarcasm and scenes to make you so mad you could spit.

Margaret was always the good girl, the smart one, the one who tried hardest, and it seemed like she had everything including the dream job she was just about to start and the perfect boyfriend she was just about to become engaged to, and it was all changed in the blink of an eye, or the crash of an airplane she had been terrified to get into in the first place. So now what? Layers peel away, and as they do she begins to see that what she thought was perfect and what she thought she wanted maybe wasn’t what she needed in the first place. But now, after the accident, can she have anything? How far below happy will she have to settle?

We learn about ourselves and other people in the tough times. But sometimes what we learn is not we wanted to see. And sadly we sometimes learn that some people just cannot cope with tough times. Some are just thoughtless and cruel and say whatever comes to mind. Chip’s comment to Margaret about her appearance had me bursting into tears and almost shouting for him to shut up. Even her family didn’t know what to do and reacted in unexpected ways. It is heartbreaking in the beginning when she doesn’t yet realize what has happened to her and thinks she just needs to rest before she can get up and walk away, and later when she has a question the nurses say, "Now that's a question for the doctor."

How to Walk Away is all about Margaret’s condition after the accident, but it’s not about that at all. It’s about her strength and determination and the days when she totally gives up. It’s about how life goes on for the characters that surround her. I got so caught up in the story and the people that I really did forget about Margaret’s accident a good part of the time. Ian was totally unlikeable and mean on the one hand and totally vulnerable and sweet on the other. Many of the scenes between him and Margaret were touching – and heated. And then you would think how can this be? This is after the accident, remember? And he’s just that silent, grumpy therapist.

This was truly unlike any other book I have ever read. Sometimes it seemed so real to me that I had to remind myself I wasn’t reading an autobiography. How to Walk Away makes you think about assumptions we make. Not how we take our health for granted, but how we just slide along in life sometimes thinking this is supposed to be and telling ourselves, and believing, that it’s perfect. And when that perfect is no longer possible, what is there? This amazing (did I already say amazing?) story tells you what’s left. In this age of the quick, easy fix, this is a story about something that can’t be fixed, but that must be faced head-on and endured. And how you must truly move on if you are to be happy.

How to Walk Away was a very satisfying story. I laughed out loud when Margaret described herself as a desiccated, noodle-legged spinster, and when she and her sister Kitty planned to “Parent Trap” their parents. And I cried – a lot. This book was beautifully written and one I won’t soon forget. I highly recommend it. Thanks again to St. Martin’s Press.

How to Walk Away is a powerful, poignant, heartfelt story of one woman's tumultuous journey from being on the cusp of a perfect life to losing it all in a heartbeat to clawing and scratching her way out of the depths of despair while desperately searching for the courage, determination, and motivation to live again - whatever that might mean for her. I started this book late one afternoon and finished it before midnight in one sitting. From cover to cover, I remained ensnared in the web of a story I simply couldn't stop reading. Katherine Center's brilliantly written book engages a range of human emotions - the giddy highs of hope, anticipation, and happiness to the dark lows of despair, utter hopelessness, and uncontrollable grief and loss. From tears and an aching heart to smiles and a ray of hope, this book moved me. I can never ask for more than that from a book or author.

I'm not discussing details of this story as there's no way to do that without completely spoiling it for future readers. Instead, I'll share the beautiful job Center does in delivering characters that are realistically depicted given the devastating situation they find themselves facing. Love them or hate them, every character's role is portrayed flawlessly - in color - vivid and rich with emotional turmoil - either degrading and condescending or supportive and loving. I found myself wanting to hug some and strangle others, but either way they felt real. The genuine, thought-provoking plot line that was so obviously researched in minute detail is conveyed through a writing style that flows and ebbs like an ocean wave at all the right times, portraying the highs and lows of this story with an emotional punch to the heart and a serious reality check to the brain. As the story unfolds, several beautiful, life messages emerge from Center's gripping telling of Maggie's agonizing journey, but none ring truer than the importance of summoning the will to try again - to reach for your new happy ever after. We must recognize, embrace, and accept that there are many different kinds of happy ever after. You may not get the one you once dreamed of, but you can achieve another that is just as beautiful if you dare own it. Katherine Center's How to Walk Away is a captivating, breathtaking story of hope, courage, perseverance, and the never-ending power of true love. A Page-Burning, Must Read!

4 Stars!

What a truly heartwarming and heartfelt book this is. If you want a story about taking lemons and turning them into lemonade then this one is for you.

Maggie is a beautiful, smart, successful woman who is dating her boyfriend chip who is also a successful guy and is also good looking. They almost seem too good to be true. Their parents are best friends and everyone's been rooting for them to get married throughout their life.

One day Chip wants to take Maggie out on a special day and unfortunately the surprise takes a turn for the worse and Maggie wakes up in the hospital. Maggie is already dealing with all of her injuries but then all of her past and future situations come back to the surface as well. Her sister who is been estranged for three years comes back, she has to deal with her PT, Ian, Who won't even laugh at a joke, she has to deal with Chip not exactly stepping up to the plate and she has to deal with her mom's constant nagging about becoming perfect again.

Something that I really loved about the story is that The worst can happen at any time in your life. You don't get to choose, it just happens. What you do get to choose how you deal with it and that's exactly what Maggie did. However the author didn't write it in a way that she just persevered the whole way through. There were times of struggle, depression, thoughts of giving up, etc. but that's how it would be in real life right?

This is just such a beautiful story of one woman's journey of how to make the most of life when the worst has happened. Things that you may have thought would have never happened end up happening. And things you had dreamed of all is happening may not be in the cards after all.

I definitely recommend picking this up if you haven't already and read it this summer. It's a fantastic story.

Summary:

Margaret Jacobson has it all- dream job, perfect guy…. everything a girl could want. On what should have been a happy day, it all came crashing down. After a terrible accident that left her broken, she must move forward the only way she can. Weeks of therapy, skin grafts, and getting through the craziness of her family. Secrets come out, relationships lost, and some strengthened. This is a story it about loosing everything and still finding your way to the life you want.

My thoughts:

This book was hard to get through at times. There’s a lot of depression, pain, and terrible characters. Not terrible as in under-developed, but as in “who is this God-awful person and why should I care?”. I hated Chip from the get-go. He was self-serving, childish, and never seemed to care for Margaret and her wants. He forced her into a situation she didn’t want, and then spiraled out of control when she was the only one hurt.

Now, I did like Kit. She was, perhaps, one of my favorite characters. She had a lot of issues, but loyalty both to her father and Margaret. I found her reaction to physical relationships odd to say the least, but also saw a lot of personal growth there. Margaret herself is very complex. She is in great pain, and I nearly saw her give up a couple times. It’s hard to believe in happiness and hope when you’ve been stripped of everything. Then there’s the way she reacted to Ian- noticing his obvious pain and reticence and trying to pull him out of himself. With all her issues- having lost her fiancée, job, looks and most especially use of her legs- and she’s trying to get a laugh out of this guy. I kind of loved that.

The plot was interesting, though slow in areas. I liked how the author portrayed the road to recovery. I loved the play between characters. This book really drew me in. For me it was a five star book.
On the adult content scale, there’s some language and sexual content. Nothing over the top. I would give it a five. .

I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. My thanks.

Margaret Jacobson is living a charmed life. She works hard in school, is highly athletic and is soon to be engaged to the perfect guy, Chip. Chip is confident and passionate about flying and one night before he takes his final exam to be licensed, he insists on Margaret flying with him. That turns out to be the turning point in Margaret’s perfect life. After an accidental flight, Margaret is severely injured and debilitated with an inability to move her legs, walk or anything else she had dreamed of doing in her now non-existent future!
One can see where this narrative is going but it doesn’t erase the reader’s total engagement with how Margaret’s world changes and the dynamic people around her who enable her survival. First there is the enigmatic physical therapist, Ian, who is a tough piece of metal perfect for Margaret. Then there is her estranged sister, Kit, who returns and turns out to be just the right amount of jokes, food, commiseration, and inspiration for Margaret to get back into life and new dreams and visions for the future. It also turns out that Kit had disappeared out of love and not hate and lies.
Chip, the perfect guy, doesn’t cope well with what has happened to his fiancé. In fact, he is so riddled with guilt and shame that he falls apart. How will that complicate issues?
Trauma is a life-changer! How easy to write these words because most of us can’t possibly and fully imagine such changes in our life story? Katherine Center has got it right – so right that the plot and how these people’s lives intertwine in this initial nightmare is credible and endearing.
How to Walk Away is a more than apt title for readers to grasp by the end of this remarkable, realistic and engaging story of truly heroic growth and change! So nicely done, Katherine Center!

Thank you to publisher St. Martin's Press for providing this advance reader copy via NetGalley.

Margaret Jacobsen had everything going for her the fateful night she unwillingly stepped into the plane with her boyfriend, Chip. She had a visceral fear of flying, but Chip was close to getting his pilot's license and insistently coaxed Margaret into the plane. Whilst in flight, Chip proposed to Margaret with his grandmother's 2-carat engagement ring. Margaret had the promise of a prime job she had applied for post college, had just purchased a condo, and the icing on the cake was this proposal. Life literally all came crashing down within minutes as Chip encountered technical difficulties landing the plane.

Chip walks away with barely a scratch while Margaret's injuries are much more serious and potentially life-altering. While hospitalized, Margaret is paired with a physical therapist named Ian who hails from Scotland. He's not one for many words, smiles or small talk; he's all business. Then again, he's also quite attractive. He's very passionate and dedicated in his field, but some interpret his manner as cold and clinical...and even mean. He has his own backstory that forms his stony and non-communicative veneer, and Margaret is on a mission to draw him out. He's my favorite character in the book, and I'm sure he will be for many.

In a nutshell, this book is about how people around you react when a tragedy occurs. Who will truly be there for you? It can bring estranged family members together as they rally around the patient. Then again, there are other people that will sadly disappoint you. This story has a lot of emotional pull. You will be invested in the severity of Margaret's injuries, cheer for her recovery, mourn for her losses and salute her strength. I enjoy books where a character triumphs over adversity, and this is certainly one of them.

4.5 Stars

Maggie Jacobsen hates flying. Her boyfriend Chip decides that his big marriage proposal should include a serving of what she hates most, as he shows off his almost-licensed piloting skills to give her his grandmother's ring. (Gee, can you tell I dislike this guy?) And if you can't see looming disaster you need to stop lying to yourself about needing glasses. Maggie goes up in his Cessna. Maggie's life is never the same.

This is the story of Maggie's resilience in the face of losing almost everything, her hopes for her future and even some of her ideas about her family's past. If disaster can bring about anything positive, Maggie's disaster at the hands of the feckless Chip turns out, in some ways, to be the best of misfortunes. She doesn't lose her sense of humor, and she finds reserves of courage with the help of her sister Kit, her parents, and her dour and laconic physical therapist, Ian. There are no simple solutions to her problems and she occasionally wallows in her grief and misery but always finds the courage to move forward.

Center has done a great job of giving us characters who are believable and flawed, who evolve and find ways to move beyond the adversity of their situation. Maggie's journey is poignant but never grim. I think my favorite part of the book was her relationship with her older sister Kitty, which was, after it resumed, playful and a pleasure to read. This book is filled with an abundance of quotable quotes ("When you don't know what to do for yourself, do something for someone else." "You have to live the life you have.") and characters who affirm that there are all kinds of happy endings.

If you are looking for a book that will leave you feeling truly upbeat, look no further. Katherine Center will show you how to walk away.

How to Walk Away: A Novel by Katherine Center
Story starts out with Margaret and she's excited about her date with Chip.
Things are going really well for her-a new job prospect and she thinks he's going to pop the question on the date.
The day starts out well, even the date til they arrive at the airplane hanger=he's a pilot, just gotten his hours in and he wants to share it all with her.
She's skeptical and terrified of going in the pane but she goes anyways and things don't all go according to plan. He takes her near the beach where he's done some prior work down there and then head back and is told a surprise is in the glove box-the family ring-for her!
Problem is bad weather plays a bad trick on them. The story follows what happens after the accident and how she struggles everyday to do everything. She's got a determined PT and she does succeed. She is also brought back in touch with her sister Kitty and she even comes to visit and she learns so many secrets from the past.
Troubling times are still arising from others around her circle and she's taken on a vacation to the cabin and Ian the PT comes to her resuce and things get out of hand.
She has a solution but he heads back to Europe without her. Kit has a plan and the girls and their mom head overseas to the wedding of Chip. She remembers him visitng her at the hosptial...
Loved reading this story, all the medical terms made easy for us to understand and it all falls into place. Twists and turns along the way and a lot of surprises.
Love the locations and so descriptive details. Didn't see this ending, very surprising! Would like to read other works by this new author to me.
Received this review copy via St. Martins Press via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
#HowToWalkAway #NetGalley

I absolutely could not put this book down. I don’t usually read books like this. I read books with more action and avoid books that are more sedate, especially if they are clearly tragic. This book surprised me. It’s very much about the journey and not the destination. I kept turning pages and staying up far too late because I just couldn’t put it down. I wasn’t racing to find out what was going to happen, I just couldn’t step away from Margaret. This story is so well written that I found myself captivated by Margaret and her cast of characters. This story is really a fun read in spite of the circumstances because Margaret is such an amazing character. Most of the book is really just her thoughts and you cannot help but be charmed by her and want to keep reading. I am now off to see what else the author has written.
I was very excited when I saw that the author was returning to the same world as her Paper Magician series and I’m thrilled to report that I loved The Plastic Magician. Alvie is an American who travels to London to begin her apprenticeship in the art of Polymaking. This book is a lot lighter in tone than the Paper Magician series. There is a bad guy who is up to no good but he is far more mortal in the danger he poses and his threat does not overpower the book. This book is far more about Alvie and Polymaking, which is the study of plastics. She is a wonderful character, as are the other characters in the book. Folding has a large presence as well which was great. I sincerely hope that the author returns to this wonderful world she has created (and please don’t make us wait so long for the next edition!). Clear your calendar when you start this because you won’t be able to out it down! I only wish it had been longer. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

READ THIS BOOK. That is all.

OK just kidding. That's not all. But really. There is not one bad thing I can say about this book. It's honest, it's painful, it's funny, it's refreshing. I sailed through it and I didn't want it to end. It's one of those uplifting stories that is disguised as a story of pain, and heartbreak. But did I mention it's funny too!?

Margaret seems to have it all. The job, the boyfriend, the apartment, the fiancé.... a super bright future of loads of money, the crazy hot guy to wake up next to, and endless white picket fences. And then everything changes.
Most of her story takes place in some pretty gut-wrenching hospital situations. Her fiancé may not be as great as she thought, the bright future may not be as bright anymore, and her family has some pretty serious skeletons that are about to rock her world.

And then there's Ian {{swoon!}} - who doesn't want a brooding, rock hard, gorgeous man with a Scottish accent in their life? Yes, please! Ian is gruff and salty, and pushes Margaret to extremes that make her hate him but thankful for him all at the same time... who is this guy?! And what is his story?!

It's almost a journey of Margaret becoming Maggie. The so-called picture-perfect life she had all buttoned-up, just may have been buttoned too tight, and a major life-changing event could show a side of her she never imagined possible.

I adored this book. It's so inspiring and the end was not the typical end I imagined it would be. It was refreshing, and honest, and brutal at times, but a definite new favorite. I'm adding this to my top 5 of 2018. Great story, and highly recommend!

If you're looking for a satisfying summer read, check out How to Walk Away by Katherine Center. While definitely not a beach read in the purest sense — after all, the main character finds her life in shambles moments into the story — the overall tone of the novel fits perfectly on a summer reading list. 
Margaret Jacobson doesn't take a lot of risks, and she's just a breath away from seeing the life she's carefully planned come together seamlessly. Of course it doesn't or there wouldn't be a story, right? When Margaret wakes up from an awful accident not knowing if she's ever going to walk again, the last things she should be doing are comforting her fiancé, dealing with her wayward sister, or untangling years worth of family secrets. She does all those things and more, and she does them with more irritation than selflessness, which makes Margaret so incredibly real, readers are rooting for her to walk again just as much as her family is. 
One of my favorite parts of the novel comes when a surly-but-attractive physical therapist talks about trying to recover making a difference in Margaret's life — not the recovery itself. Center does an incredible job reframing what it means to heal from an accident of this magnitude, and how progress in life always seems to hurt when we least want it to. 

Margaret is on the verge of great, exciting things: a new, high profile job, an expensive condo, and a proposal of marriage from her longtime boyfriend Chip. Everything seems to be going well for her, until an airplane crash changes everything. Margaret finds herself in the hospital, burned and paralyzed from the knees down. She is ready to give up now that all of her plans have been taken away from her, but her family and physical therapist Ian refuse to let her give up. As Margaret starts to put the pieces of her life back together, she will learn that there is a life beyond her accident and that she can embrace it with enthusiasm if she chooses to. Along the way, her family and Ian will also learn how to walk away from disaster.
This book made me cry and laugh often, sometimes at the same time. I was cheering for Margaret as she stood up for herself in the face of extreme selfishness (like Chip and his mother, who were absolutely despicable), and as she tried to put the pieces of her life back together. I liked how the book explored different relationships and the effect a life changing incident has on them, as well as the struggles that paralyzed people go through. We can definitely use more books like this! The only thing that bothered me was the frequent use of profanity, especially the f-bomb. I really enjoyed the ending of the story, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Three strong women (mother and two daughters) each dealing with a crisis of their own, but not alone and their united strength pulls them though. Everyone’s battle is huge to them, even if the outside world has greater issues. That is how this story was written. The main character, Margaret, is in a terrible accident and then has to fight her way back to a life she can adjust to. Her sister and mother also have battles to face and as the story progresses, you find out what their battles are. Margaret sometimes has to push her own issues aside to help her mother and sister.
The story is an account of a personal journey through the difficult rehabilitation after an accident and the adjustment to life afterwards. The Rehab in the story is written as being pretty difficult. I know it is usually worse than written in this book. That was a blessing really, since what was written was sad enough to read about, which all the more makes you cheer for Margaret as she reaches the other end and is a stronger person for the future of her life. #WalkAwayGirlfriend #HowToWalkAway

This was the first book I read by Katherine Center. I received the ARC from The Girlfriend from AARP in a giveaway. I want to thank them and also St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to enter this special world created by the Katherine Center and also introduce me to a new wonderful author.

I have already picked up another of her books and am reading it now.

Besides a stunning cover, this is a fantastic story. Wow. I don't know where to begin.

Yes, this is a sweet touching love story about a woman and a man but it is also so much more. There is a story about a daughter and family and all the messiness that is involved in being a family. But even deeper than the stories about the characters, there is so much wisdom in this book. The author has a way of writing a rich and eloquent story but there are nuggets of truth and wisdom given.

Just a few of these nuggets are:

"But you can look for reason to be grateful. More than that, you can work to create them."

"They learn through experience- kind of the only way you can- that taking care of others is a way of taking care of yourself."

And probably my favorite of all
"I would never say the accident was a good thing. I would never, ever claim that everything happens for a reason. Like all tragedies, it was senseless. But I knew one thing for sure: The great our capacity for sorrow becomes, the great our capacity for joy."

I didn't want to put this book down but at the same time I didn't want it to ever end. I know easily this will be one of my favorite books of 2018.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

HOW TO WALK AWAY by Katherine Center is captivating and inspirational story of courage, determination and hope. The main character, Margaret Jacobsen, seems to have everything going for her. She has just graduated from business school, has a fantastic job lined up and has the “perfect” boyfriend she is sure is just about to propose. The future looks bright until a tragic accident changes everything. Margaret suffers a life-altering injury that nearly kills her and is suddenly faced with physical and emotional challenges she could never have imagined. The reader gets to follow Margaret’s journey through her darkest times when she doesn’t believe she can go on, to each small triumph that gives her hope for the future. In addition to Margaret, there is a whole cast of interesting and well-developed characters that impact Margaret’s recovery and enhance the storyline. It is clear that the author did extensive research to be able to so accurately address Margaret’s injuries and treatments. The book has a smooth flow, with sharp and witty dialogue. I couldn’t put it down once I had started it. I really enjoyed this emotional and heartwarming book about the power of love and family to help overcome life’s most difficult obstacles. I highly recommend it!

How to Walk Away is an incredibly satisfying book to read. The author has crafted a beautiful yet heartbreaking, novel that centers on a life changing event that soon will show Margaret, the main character, a new path in life. Not wasting any time, the author insures the reader is caught up with the storyline, having Margaret Jacobsen’s world changing in an instant within the first pages of the book. The main character not only has physical challenges but emotional set backs that make her tougher. Between Margaret, her sister and her physical therapist, Margaret learns to craft a new life, among twists and turns.

How to Walk Away is a thought-provoking book and makes the reader increasingly aware of a realistic subject without making it a Lifetime Movie. The author has clearly done her research on Margaret’s medical condition which adds authenticity to the storyline, which as a former medical professional, is appreciated.

How to Walk Away is highly recommended by this reviewer, who was provided an advance copy from #NetGalley and the publisher prior to publication in exchange for an honest review. I can't recommend this book more.

OMG, I must have told five friends about this book within five minutes of finishing it. When the offer to read an ARC came from St. Martin’s I almost deleted the email after reading the blurb. This line right here is what had me hesitating, “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.” I mean that sounds like a tissue box or two kind of read, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but did I want to put myself through that kind of emotional turmoil? Then I kept reading and the answer was yes, and I’m so glad. I’ve read a lot of great book lately, but this has been my favorite.

Maggie and Ian are still with me even though it’s been a couple of weeks (I wanted to let the story settle before I wrote this review). I miss her crazy sister and I want to read it all over again — something I never do.

This was the first book of Katherine Center’s that I’ve read; it most certainly won’t be the last. Do yourself a favor, read this story. It will break your heart a little, maybe even make you curse at the fates, but it will make you smile and laugh and be awed by the strength of the human spirit.

ARC provided by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press.

I feel fortunate that I received an early release of this lovely book. I appreciate the Katherine Center’s writing style and I instantly fell in love with her characters, well most of them. “How to Walk Away” is an incredible, unforgettable read and book clubs will absolutely devour it!

Margaret is on top of the world. She’s a young and beautiful woman who just accepted her dream job and she’s madly in love with the handsome boy next store. Her life is just about perfect, and she knows that a marriage proposal is imminent. Everything is going according to plan.

And it’s all over in an instant. Margaret’s life and expectations must change to reflect her new circumstances. She must get to know herself again, challenge herself in a way she never thought was possible and navigate through these unchartered waters. I laughed and cried while reading this book. I wanted to high five Margaret and her colorful sister, Kit. I wanted to smack some people along the way too.

I thought this might be a light fluffy romance novel (which would have been fine) but it is so much more. Center creates realistic characters and believable, often heart-breaking circumstances. I was rooting for Margaret throughout her journey and those who supported her.

This was a thought provoking book and one that I could not easily out down. It’s also one that I know I will read again.

I received an advance review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

How to Walk Away is an engaging story that inspires us all to make the best out of life - even when our situations are at their worst.

Margaret Jacobsen is young, newly engaged to the love of her life, and is, quite literally, flying on top of the world. In a matter of seconds, all that changes and her life cartwheels out of control. What follows is her story of survival, reconciliation, and renewal that can teach us all a thing or three about what it really means to be strong, accepting, and generous.

This is a story about purpose, family, and inner strength that will pull you in and motivate you to do something good afterward. The romance is subtle and endearing, and the characters are very nearly made flesh and bone.

I would recommend this book to those of us who don't regularly read nonfiction, but who appreciate a good motivational novel that reads like a memoir.

Katherine Center writes in a way that makes our sullen, broken main character appear strong and unbeatable in the face of giant obstacles. I laughed, I cheered, but I also cried, felt anger and pity. A good book will take you on a roller coaster of emotions, and I felt all of those hills and valleys while I read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was gobsmacked by Katherine Center’s previous book, Happiness for Beginners. She almost writes in her own genre. Not too light, not too heavy, elicits just the right about of emotion, loving characters, and completely uplifting at the end. I found out there is a genre that is exactly this- UpLit. How to Walk Away is another rendition of UpLit.

Margaret is in the prime of her life, when it all may have been taken from her in an instant as the result of a tragic accident. Waking up in the hospital, she has choices to make. Just how will she move forward after the devastation she has experienced? Will her life ever be normal?

I admired Margaret’s journey towards a new self. She leaned on others and allowed them to help her. All of the expected and authentic emotions were present when one recovers from a serious accident.

How to Walk Away is a charming, witty, heartbreaking, and affecting story of love and family, and it cheered me up when I needed it most. Savor the joy!

Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Booksparks and the publisher for sending me a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

You know how sometimes you read a book and you walk away from it feeling like you’ve made a new friend? That was me and Margaret and How To Walk Away. Center did an absolutely amazing job with this book, and it left me with a bit of a book hangover.

I’ve tried numerous times to explain my love for this book to friends looking for recommendations, and the best I’ve been able to come up with has been this: Center has taken a really heavy topic, and made it enjoyable. Now how do I make that make sense? I don’t mean she’s making light of a serious situation, but she’s created a character who has such an engaging personality, a character who is just so dang likable, even in her dark moments, that you’re constantly cheering for her.

Fans of heartfelt, emotional reads, fans of women’s fiction, and fans of Scottish accents will love How To Walk Away. I dare you to read it and not walk around with a smile on your face.

This story starts out kind of like the Alanis Morrisette song "Ironic". Margaret is terrified of flying and her boyfriend Chip, who is learning to become a pilot, has this brilliant idea to take her up in his plane to purpose. Except when the plane crashed down, she didn't think "Well isn't this nice." The crash turns her world upside down and changes everything. How does one survive such a traumatic accident?

Be prepared to experience every possible emotion imaginable with this book. I felt anxiety, sadness, anger, fear, relief, hurt, desperation.....and somehow even managed to laugh out loud at a few parts. Readers will fall so deeply in love with Maggie as she struggles to find out who she is after the accident. The characters were so realistic, which made it so much easier to fall even more in love with this book. Katherine Center may very well have just written the best book of 2018. I dare you to read this book without feeling some kind of overwhelming emotion.

What I really liked the most about this book though was that it also had a message to go with it. Maybe your situation is similar to Maggie's or maybe it's nothing like it at all readers can find hope in this story. On the very last page, in the epilogue, there's a few sentences that just reverberated through my head and I had to go back and read it a few more times just to really appreciate it. "Is everything perfect? Hell, no. Everything's a mess. A crazy, galloping, heartbreaking mess. You can't fix everything. Not even close. But you can look for reasons to be grateful. More than that, you can work to create them." I don't need to be in a plane crash for those words to hit home. Thank you, Katherine Center for your words of wisdom and this glorious masterpiece.

I got a advance reader copy of this. Margaret Jacobson has what some might called the perfect life. She is about to get offered her dream job. She has the perfect boyfriend Chip who she knows is going to propose to her. Chip is getting his pilot license and has decided on the perfect proposal taking Margaret up in the plane and finding a rock formation that someone else had spell out marry me. There is just one problem Margaret hates to fly. She talks herself into going up in the plane with Chip and he can not find the rock formation.
But he still proposes and she accepts. On the way back Chip notices the cloud are changing the weather is getting nasty. The first attempt he can not land. On his second attempt he thinks this time everything is going to be good and they will be able to land. But they crash instead. When Margaret wakes up in the hospital she discovers that not only did she suffer some burns. she will never walk again and she learns the dream guy does not love her anymore. We go with Margaret on her journey to learn how to find herself, her independence and love again.

I absolutely loved this book. From the fist page, all the way to the end. I could not put it down. The author did a great job of writing an inspiring story about overcoming a tragedy and heartbreak. It begins with a terrible plane crash that leaves the main character Margaret facing paralysis. She struggles through the entire book to find courage and strength to overcome her challenge. The author also does a great job with the many characters in the book. Some of them are just as important to the story as the main character. Her quirky sister Kitty, who comes back after being MIA for 3 years, is so lovable and does everything in her power to cheer Margaret up and keep her company. Let's of course not forget Ian the sexy yet grumpy Scottish PT. Whats not to love about him. Her father seems sweet. Her mother annoying, but I believe has her best interests at heart. It is just hard to tell at first. Her fiance, Chip, however is unlikable! You can make your own judgements when you read this wonderful book for yourself. It was a fantastic story! I received an advanced copy from Bookishfirst for my honest opinion.

Gripping from the first paragraph, Katherine Center's latest novel is a survival story with heart. This isn't man vs. mountain (or woman vs. mountain), but a realistic account of the hope and humor needed to deal with tragedies that blind-side us. Margaret survives the crash of a private plane piloted by her fiance, but her life will never be quite the same.

What makes "How to Walk Away" extraordinary is that it never becomes maudlin or melodramatic. Instead, in fits and starts, through highs and lows, Margaret and her family stagger forward, learning again how to appreciate a life entirely different from what they had envisioned. Center explores the range of emotions in the journey, from boredom to bravado, fear to fury. Characters are complex and multi-dimensional (especially Margaret's mother), and the plot is a page-turner, only becoming far-fetched in a final scene in which too many coincidences strain at belief. Despite this final misstep, it's one of the best novels I've read this year -- and a strong candidate for both book clubs and/or a film option.

I found that this book was extremely predictable from the moment I cracked it open. Luckily for me, I loved every aspect of it. From the determined main character (Margaret), to the way the story flowed seamlessly. It was one of those oddly deep and light hearted books, you can rarely find.

Margaret was one of the best characters I’ve ever read about. She was a determined, talkative, and slightly awkward character that you just can’t help but fall in love with. You really get to see how her emotions played out within herself throughout the book. Kitty was a great secondary character. She was funny, uplifting, and very relatable. There were also annoying, frustrating characters thrown in, and they definitely added to the story line.

I honestly love the way the story went, and found myself really rooting for the main character in this one. I also love that there was a slight emphasis on physical therapy, since I studied to be a physical therapist assistant in college. I will absolutely be reading Katherine’s other novels!

How to Walk Away is categorized as a romance, but I do not see it that way. Yes there is some romance in the novel, but it is not the sole purpose. It is a novel about a woman who starts out having the best day ever and ends up losing everything in an unexpected and devastating course of events. She has to overcome many obstacles through the course of the novel and How to Walk Away is her journey.

As it is also considered chick lit, there is some crazy (almost silly) drama from other characters throughout the novel. You can’t help but like these characters (except maybe Ian when we first meet him). And you can’t help but root for Margaret to become successful through her circumstances. The epilogue is realistic in that we never know what direction life will take us on, but we can still be successful in that journey no matter what it brings.

How to Walk Away is very highly recommended!

Many thanks to St Martin’s Press and The Girlfriend for my copy that I was sent and voluntarily read and reviewed.

Katherine Center gives us a book so full of life, it’s blinding and tragic and beautiful.

I often read books that can’t be put down and this was a 1am finish. We are invited to watch the journey of Margaret “Maggie” as she adjusts to life that just took a drastic turn and a completely different path than she ever expected or dreamed. With the help of her family, who are dealing with their own issues aside from Margaret’s situation, and her therapist Ian, Margaret finds unbelievable resilience and strength. While this is a contemporary romance, it is definitely a slow-burn and within the confines of physical limitations. The beauty of this book is watching Margaret realize her own potential when others around her knew she had it all along.

I also greatly appreciated the ugly truths about physical limitations following accidents. Most of the book is set in a hospital and Katherine does not shy away from the difficulties with recovery and the mental anguish that often follows. Margaret’s confidence was shaken to her core and she has to find reasons to fight for her own strength and mental stability.

This was an amazing book and a perfect summer read. Thanks to NetGalley and Book of the Month.

How to Walk Away became my top 2018 read quickly. I was captivated from the beginning to the very end. I am not sure if it’s the background of work I use to be in or what but I don’t think it makes a difference with how incredible this read truly is. This book is full of hope for a second chance at life in profound ways on different spectrums of life. It truly isn’t what happens to you that define you but how you choose to react to it.

What I truly love with what this author chose to do with a story like this is not wrapping it up like a fairytale. Even though it’s a fiction, it’s a realistic one which I have always found to make a bigger impact on me personally. It’s emotional and raw and even though it sounds like a heavy read somehow it’s not quite that either because you will lots of uplifting moments and find yourself laughing or smiling. I don’t want to give too much away but it is definitely one read I highly recommend this year.

How to Walk Away is a poignant and emotional story of accepting one's life after a devastating accident. The book is beautifully written, it's an emotional roller coaster ride that will break your heart at first and will mend it back together by the end. The characters of the story are complex and interesting. Margaret is such a great heroine, she is honest and funny. I loved her sense of humor, which she used quite a lot as a coping mechanism during her recovery. And, of course, there is Ian, a brooding Scottish physiotherapist, who works with Maggie after the accident; Maggie's funny and eccentric sister, Kitty, and their parents. I loved these characters so much and I loved following their journey of healing and acceptance, not just Maggie's but her whole family.

If you are looking for an incredible story of courage and resilience that will make you cry and laugh from one page to next, pick up How to Walk Away immediately.

Margaret Jacobsen is on the cusp of having everything she wants..... she has the perfect boyfriend who she is sure is going to propose on Valentine's Day, she "unofficially" has the job of her dreams, and she bought a 3-story condo. Then, on Valentine's Day, Chip talks her into going on a plane ride with him. Margaret has always had a fear of flying and Chip knows that, but he is fixing to get his pilot's license and he wants to take her out in the plane for a short ride. On the way back they run into a bad storm that he was ill-prepared for and they crash. He walks away without so much as a band-aid, but her injuries will change her life forever.
This book made me laugh and cry. I rooted Margaret on when she got down and cheered for her when she achieved something wonderful. I love all of Katherine Center''s books, but I believe this is by far my favorite. Everyone should read this book. I strongly recommend it!

This book is very different than previous Katherine Center books, but I mean this the best of ways. I wasn't prepared for the emotional roller coaster Maggie would take. I was shocked by the accident she had, every detail pulling at my heart, wanting to cry out, this feels wrong, don't get in that plane. I believe my anger at her current boyfriend was bigger than hers. I wanted to pummel him! What must it be like to be in shock, to not know the pain and horror of your injuries? Katherine Center has dug down and found those answers, as we the reader experience what Maggie realizes bit by bit, it's gut wrenching.
Day by day she learns how she's going to refocus her life, rebuild it, or try to. Her family which is loving by slightly dysfunctional is there for her, and there are laughs along the way, unexpected smiles and nudges for Maggie to try, try anything.
I truly loved this book, it made me feel sad, and then hopeful but with reservations. I loved the journey I was able to travel with these characters and I won't soon forget them.
I highly recommend How to Walk Away.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I received the email about this book, I was like ok that sounds goodish. And after accidentally clicking read now, I am so happy I did. Maggie is out with her boyfriend on Valentine's Day. What should be the happiest day of her life, turns out to be the most devastating. Broken, physically, emotionally, and mentally, Maggie finds herself in a completely different life than originally planned.

The writing for this book was so well done. Center did major research for this book and it was obvious. The description of what Maggie goes though is well detailed, but not so much it bogs down the pace of the book. Once I started reading the book, I honestly could not put it down. I read 88% on the first day alone. My heart was fully into Maggie's character and I loved her as a narrator.

This book is fantastic! It is witty, heartbreaking, and so charming I could not put it down. How does one have the best thing and the worst thing happen to them on the same day? That is what Margaret Jacobsen wonders as she wakes up in a hospital after what she thought would be the best night of her life. It was and it wasn't. Unsure of what her future holds, she is resilient, tougher than she thinks she is, and just an overall warm and loving woman. I loved her and cheered her on. I feel I can't say too much about the book as I don't want any spoilers for other readers. I just have to say that the writing was so very well done. It touched my heart and had me laughing and crying. This one is definitely going on my Favorites List for 2018. It's just a wonderful, wonderful book and one I will be recommending to everyone.

I received an advance reader's copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for my review. I have never read any of Katherine Center's books, but after finishing, How to Walk Away, I immediately downloaded her other novels. What can I say about this story? Margaret Jacobson knows that her fiancé is going to propose. He doesn't know that she knows, just like he doesn't know just how clearly she has mapped out their very bright future. The only thing she doesn't know is that life she has planned is about to get ripped apart in a blink. Margaret now has to try to make sense out of the senseless pieces of what is left of her life. What she doesn't know is that by repairing her life, she is helping to fix the lives of those who think they are helping her.

This story is tender and bittersweet most of all hopeful. I devoured it in one sitting and I can't wait to tell all of my friends to read it!

I have been waiting years for another dose of Katherine Center books. I knew this would be good but I still had no idea that she could top my favorite. I just love these characters! I love this author because her stories are about finding yourself and overcoming challenges.

My grandma had similar advice about if you don't know what to do for yourself then help someone else. I want to gift this book to a friend who survived tragedy of a different kind. The beauty of a resilient spirit. Oh! Did I say how much I love this story and these people? Great Author and Reader too! Thank You for making life better in the face of all the reality. Well Done! Thank You!