How to Walk Away in Books and Jams Readalong

Jun 10, 2018 Katie Ziegler (Life Between Words) rated it it was amazing

I. Loved. This. Book. This is the book I *wanted* when I read Me Before You (Unpopular Opinion: I was SO disappointed with that book...don’t get me started). This book, however, made me laugh and cry and feel all the feels. It was sad and hopeful, sweet but without *every* perfect ending coming to be. It hit all the right notes. Now adding every other Katherine Center book to my tbr (although it looks like I already had one on there...🤷🏼‍♀️).

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Feb 07, 2020 Krista rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020

Really loved this story. I found it pretty predictable, but didn't mind. I loved the discussion of emotions - how joy and sorrow can coexist. ...more

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Sep 26, 2020 Laura • lauralovestoread rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018

I fell in love with Katherine Center’s writing after reading Things You Save in a Fire, so after savoring How To Walk Away, I was excited to finally read this highly recommended book.

I loved it just as I’d hoped, and it was such a powerful story of love, and struggles, and hope. A bit predictable, but just the kind of heartwarming read that I needed right now.

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Aug 01, 2018 Nicole rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018, own-read, book-of-the-month

Don't let this cover trick you. This cover may be bright and cheery, but this book is not that. This book is a gripping and emotional read. Our main character is really tested throughout the whole book and covers some tough topics. The main character's ability to persevere through adversity was truly inspirational. The author has a simple writing style that helps you stay engaged in the book and the pages pass by quickly. The one thing that prevented me from giving this book 5 stars was that I d ...more

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Apr 26, 2019 randomreader rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-of-2019

What a truly lovely story!
This was a great palate cleanser for me during a particularly long reading slump. I found the story to be very engaging and the writing to be heartfelt (and so funny too!). I loved going through the physical and mental healing process with Maggie and found her growth to be really inspiring. And the ending!!! No spoilers, of course, but just know that I loved that too.
I’m not usually one for contemporary books, but this one was special. Highly recommend.
Thanks to Britt ...more

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May 24, 2020 Chloe (Always Booked) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: on-my-read-bookshelf

4.5 stars. This book was so good! It's about a girl named Margaret who is terrified of flying and then on a very momentous day in her life she is in a plane crash that leaves her paralyzed and badly burned. It's unknown if she'll ever walk again, but its also a chance to reevaluate her life and see if she's really happy with where it's at. I loved Margaret and watching her growth. I wish there would've been more of a tell off moment with her and the guy(s) that did her wrong, but that was just m 4.5 stars. This book was so good! It's about a girl named Margaret who is terrified of flying and then on a very momentous day in her life she is in a plane crash that leaves her paralyzed and badly burned. It's unknown if she'll ever walk again, but its also a chance to reevaluate her life and see if she's really happy with where it's at. I loved Margaret and watching her growth. I wish there would've been more of a tell off moment with her and the guy(s) that did her wrong, but that was just me as a reader wanting to protect her. I loved seeing the sister relationship so much! I thought the ending was a little convenient, but I loved how the epilogue wrapped everything up and gave me closure on some really great characters. Highly recommend!!

SPOILERS AHEAD:
Margaret is terrified of flying but her boyfriend, Chip, is about to get his pilots license. So on the day she thinks he's going to propose, he asks her to go up in a plane with him (even though he's not supposed to fly it) and she says she doesn't want to because she gets so anxious flying. He's a huge prick about it and makes her go and from that point on I did not like him at all. Long story short, a storm comes in and he botches the landing then LEAVES HER because she's trapped in her seat and so then the plane catches fire and it badly burns her. In addition, she has a spinal cord injury that has left her paralyzed. While she's in the hospital, he loses it because of the guilt. He stops eating and showering and starts drinking all the time and somehow a lot of attention goes to him for it. YUCK. Her mom and dad are there for her and her estranged sister, Kit, comes to see her. Kit and she haven't talked but there's not really bad blood like there is between Kit and their mom. It comes out that Kit found out their dad is not actually her dad and nobody knows but her mom, so when Kit found out she was furious, thus starting the estrangement. She was a little jealous of Margaret because she's actually their biological daughter, thus the tension there. I loved seeing those relationships heal and seeing the bond between sisters!!
As Margaret is in the hospital recovering, she has PT with a grouchy guy named Ian. As the book goes on, you find out his reasons for being grouchy. He had left the hospital to start his own practice with his girlfriend, soon to be fiance, but then she was shot and killed randomly and he had to go back to the hospital and now works for a guy that hates him. He's been through a lot and doesn't seem to have much going for him, but then Margaret slowly starts to make him smile. They kiss and he gets fired for it, which also means he's going to be deported because he's Scottish. In an attempt to keep him, Margaret confesses her love and proposes but then gets shot down when he says he doesn't feel that way about her. So he goes back to Scotland and she's eventually released from the hospital because insurance won't cover her stay anymore. Its when all this happens that the depression sets in and she's really in a low spot, and then we find out Chip's engaged to his ex girlfriend! Prior to that, Chip had told her (mostly through his mom) that he was done with her and she sort of just took it and I wish she would've told him off a little more. Anyway, the wedding is somewhere in the UK so her family goes and she happens to run into Ian and they live happily ever after. He was lying when he said he didn't care about her, he was just trying to protect himself from getting hurt again. She never gained the ability to walk, but its okay because they still had babies and lived a happy life.
As for her family, her dad overhears them talking about the fact that Kit is not his and he moves out and things change a lot. At the end of the book, they're coming back together, but things are definitely not back to normal yet. Kit gets pregnant from one of her friends that seems like a big teddy bear and thats great. Her mom finally pulls the stick out and is vulnerable and I loved seeing that! ...more

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Nov 04, 2018 Paige rated it really liked it

While this book had some eye rolling, cliche moments, I really enjoyed it. If you like stories about overcoming personal tragedies and self growth with some romance, you will probably like this one too. Parts of it reminded me a little of Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid, so I can see why she chose this for one of May’s Book of the Month selections.

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Jun 02, 2018 Susan rated it it was amazing

Charming, heartbreaking and funny... amazing characters...couldn’t stop reading!

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Feb 24, 2021 Cassie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2021-read-bookshelf, best-of-2021

Oh I wish I had written this review when I finished reading this book rather than so many months later.
I gave it five stars which I don't give those out easily so I know it was great!
I remember that one thing that resonated with me is that we all have dreams or plans for the future. Sometimes they work out and sometimes they don't. It is the moving forward that can be so hard and Center managed to capture this beautifully.

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley; this is my honest rev ...more

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