If You Only Knew Quotes

“I use to think that somewhere along the line, I'd find the key to that perfect life...and that once I had it, every day would be golden and easy and everything would fit. But life isn't like that. There are only perfect glowing moments...and then there are everyday moments that weave them together into a shimmering path that can always be seen, even in the dark.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“To get a hug from your dad makes you feel safer than just about anything in the world, and in his arms, you don’t have to be brave or strong or selfless. You’re daddy’s little girl again, and just knowing he’s there makes everything a little better, even if it doesn’t really change anything.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“You didn't break my heart, I say. "You filled it up.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“Like the locked room upstairs? Listen. I’ve read Jane Eyre. That better be a red room of pain up there, and not your ex-wife.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“I used to think that somewhere along the line, I’d find the key to that perfect life, the way Rachel seemed to, and that once I had it, every day would be golden and easy, and everything would fit. But life isn’t like that. There are only perfect, glowing moments, like this one, and then there are the everyday moments that weave them together into a shimmering path that can always be seen, even in the dark.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“I hate being shy. I hate it.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“As a matter of fact, yes,” I lie. “I love classical piano. Beethoven and, uh…those other guys.” He cocks an eyebrow. “Name two pieces.” “Um…‘Piano Man’ by Billy Joel.” “Oh, God.” “And ‘Tiny Dancer’ by Elton John.” He grins suddenly, and his face, which is already too nice of a face, transforms into gorgeous.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“There are only perfect, glowing moments, like this one, and then there are the everyday moments that weave them together into a shimmering path that can always be seen, even in the dark.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“It looks like he’s seducing the music out of the piano, and though I know nothing about piano performance, I can see that to be great, a pianist has to do just that… seduce the instrument, win it over, become part of the great, beautiful piano and the music itself.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“Life is good, even without all the elements in place.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“You deserve a husband who’d cut off his own dick before he’d cheat on you, Rach. You do.” “Maybe we can put that in my Match.com profile,”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“The one thing I hate about the wedding industry is that it focuses so much on the one day. People become obsessed with details, enraged with those they love, worn out from planning a few hours of a day that may not mean that much in the grand scheme of things. Even as I’m designing a dress that will cost thousands and thousands of dollars, I’ve always tried to work that message in. Don’t forget that after this day comes thousands of other days. Be careful. Cherish each other. Don’t blow it.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“Do you like this? I click on the attachment. It’s a slightly blurry picture, but of what, I’m not sure. A…a tree, maybe, though it doesn’t look so healthy. It looks diseased, moist and soft. There’s a knothole that looks damp and sick. Whatever it is, I can’t imagine why someone would be sending it to Adam. He doesn’t know anything about trees.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“Hey, buddy.” If”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“That moment when you’ve had the worst day ever, and you come home, and you can’t go one more step without a long, hard hug from your spouse. Only they have the arms that will do. Only they really understand.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“And the thing is, that’s all fantastic. I’m glad they work at the soup kitchen and care about their causes. It’s the self-congratulatory sense they have, so gravely discussing their commitment and level of knowledge.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“A huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders, as if a rock has rolled off my soul. No. As if I pushed it off, and stand blinking in the sun.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“I like my face. I have a few crow’s-feet, sure. My skin’s not as elastic as it used to be… I gained a lot of weight when I was pregnant, as one tends to do with three babies inside, and it shows. But this is the face of a woman who’s been through a lot, a woman who has lost a lot and held on to a lot, too. This is the face my daughters love, the face they look to for comfort and unconditional love, for patience. For wisdom. For guidance.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“I also remember my own smugness… that somehow, because I was so careful and well behaved—the attentive listening, the regular sex, my self-appointed role as #1 Fan of Adam Carver—our marriage was insulated. That what happened to those other foolish couples would never happen to us because I was so on guard against it. I lost myself in becoming Adam’s wife, and later, the girls’ mother. I forgot to be a person, too, a person who was well within her rights to say, “I’m too tired, tonight, honey. How about a back rub instead? I would really appreciate it.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“I got what I wanted, I guess. I’m here, in this home that I worked so hard to insulate from the problems of the world, our happy little bubble. The girls have their father every night. Adam has a newfound respect for me, the New Rachel, for the glittering, sharp edge that’s emerged like a razor in the grass. When I think about my old self, I feel pity and yearning at the same time. Poor Old Rachel, the sweet, naive idiot. And lucky Old Rachel, so completely happy. There’s one niggling thought I can’t shake, one that keeps me awake at night. What would I tell my daughters if they came to me with the news that their husband had a mistress? That he told her, my precious daughter, that sex with the other woman was amazing? Stay and work things out. Oh, and get that STD panel ASAP, darlings! But do stay. Take all that hurt and betrayal and just ball it up and swallow it. Want to bake cookies?”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“I wish in one sharp, abrupt swell, that I could stay. What a beautiful word that is. Stay with me. Stay home. Stay alive.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“So what are your intentions toward my daughter?” Mom asks. “She’s still in love with her ex-husband, you know. Owen. A doctor. He and his wife just had a baby.” “I’m really not, Mom. But thanks for sharing.” “I’ve met Owen. I wasn’t impressed.” Leo raises his eyebrows and leans back in his chair. The gauntlet has been thrown. “Not impressed with Owen?” Mom squeaks. “He’s wonderful! He’s a doctor. You should see his work. He changes lives.” “He dumped your daughter.” “Now, now,” I say, pouring wine into Leo’s glass. “You’ll dump me, too, someday.” Mom huffs. “Then, honey, why are you wasting your time with this… piano teacher?” “She has needs,” Leo says. “Physical needs. You understand, right, Lenore?” She glares. I bite down on a smile.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“So because of their affair, Emmanuelle gets a promotion and a raise, Adam gets a vacation, and I got an STD panel.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“I’m trying not to wet myself with excitement,” I murmur back. “It’s harder after having the triplets.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“Personally, I always thought married sex was the best sex. Owen and I knew each other’s bodies, our favorite parts. There was the trust factor, the love, the like. It was always good.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“What some people don’t understand about new clothes is it’s not about the clothes. It’s the promise of how happy you’ll be when you wear them, the wonderful things you’ll be doing in them, how people will look at you and say, yes, there’s a woman who really likes herself.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“Elle complimented me on my weight loss and asked me which diet I was on. Acid stomach, I wanted to say. You should try it. I can introduce your husband to Emmanuelle if you want.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“Well… I dreamed I was alone. I wasn’t sure if you were away, or if we were divorced, but it was just me and the girls, and as the dream went on, I realized that you weren’t coming back. At first I thought you left me. Then I realized it was because you… died.” He waits for my reaction. “I have those dreams about you all the time,” I tell him. “Daydreams, I call them.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“I’m Jenny Tate. Robert Tate’s daughter. Great. I’d sound like an idiot. My name is Inigo Montoya, and you slept with my father.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew

“Book club meets every other month or so. Besides marriage counseling and the very occasional night out with my sister, I’m home twenty-nine nights out of thirty, and still the girls resent me. Not once have they ever complained about Adam’s late meetings—which may or may not have been booty calls for amazing porno sex. Me, I go out to my stupid book club, and I’m punished for it.”
― Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew