Overall, what did you think of Look on the Bright Side (no spoilers)?

Overall, what did you think of Look on the Bright Side (no spoilers)?

I decided to request this book because I usually read thrillers, mystery, and science fiction. I wanted something light with romance. This was a very easy read, great for reading on the beach. I wish there had been deeper character development or less side stories

I thought it was a great summer read. "Look on the Bright Side" is a good title for this uplifting story. I was feeling happy when I finished reading it.

I liked it a lot. I also read many deep books and was ready for something not so heavy. I actually liked the side stories and the way the story was revealed. I liked Lark as a main character. I did want to know what happens to Lorenzo. Did this experience ope him up?

I would highly recommend this captivating and intriguing story to others. I enjoyed the complex characters, and the author has provided us with a well-written story.

I really enjoyed the book. It was a book that held my interest, and I looked forward to going back to read more. An overall good story about family life.

A thought provoking and absorbing read starting from page one, plus the characters blend well and balance each out as they each experience their own challenges and grow.

This book is not my usual go-to genre, and I purposely requested it for that reason. The cover had reminded me of my many days at the beach growing up, and I just felt like a change of pace! It did not disappoint.

I enjoyed the book - a great summer read. But I was a little disappointed in the contrived happy ending.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I have never read anything by Higgins and I
found that it was a welcoming change from my "more literate" choices.

Not a favorite Kristan Higgins book. While it was an easy read and there were a few instances of “funny” that made me smile, it didn’t have the light, rom-com and summer read vibe I expect from Higgins. Also, the story felt unbalanced - too much emphasis on the past, not enough development of the story in the current, and the side story (with landlady) was a distraction.

I enjoyed the book. It made me want to hang out with the two families and get to know them better.

It's a great summer read and introduction of the author for me. I will be looking for another Kristan Higgins' books to read this summer.

I enjoyed reading this story and especially liked Lark and her interactions with Lorenzo. Laughed out loud at many of them.I felt the inclusion of the friendship between Ellie and Joy detracted from the main plot.

I thought that it was a good summer read but I didn't really feel invested in any of the characters.

I liked it. It was a nice, light summer romance. It had a lot of similarities to Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez.

I found it to be an uplifting, light summer read. I had not read anything else by Kristin Higgins but look forward to reading another novel by her.

I found it to be an uplifting, light summer read. I had not read anything else by Kristin Higgins but look forward to reading another novel by her.

This was my first Kristin Higgins book and now I want to read more by her. I really enjoyed this book, had all the feels with this one.

This one will stay with me for a while. It’s a heartwarming and heart-wrenching novel that has serious themes but remains light and hopeful. The character development is superb, with each character growing in ways that feel authentic and moving. I found myself invested in their stories, particularly in how they navigated their personal struggles and triumphs. However, I didn't quite connect with Dante, whose storyline felt less compelling compared to the rest. One critique I have is the title. "Look on the Bright Side" feels generic, hard to remember, and doesn't capture the depth and nuance of the story. A more relevant title could have better encapsulated the novel’s themes and emotional impact. Even “Lark” would have been a more intriguing title. Despite this, the book is a beautiful read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was the first book of Higgins' I have read. The story was cute with a few emotional moments. I didn't care much though for the writing style. Chapter 4 was an abrupt insertion of Ellie's life. These abrupt changes disrupted the smooth flow of the book. But I did like the description of Justin and Lark's relationship.

I enjoyed this book. I was a great Summer read but not so light that it didn't reflect life or reality. There were some relational issues to make you think and feel, while continuing to lead us to the conclusion we all knew was coming.

I really enjoyed this book and found it to be an easy read, I would (and have) recommended it to friends.

I didn't read anything by Kristan Higgins in the past and now, I'll be looking for her books. This showed messy real families and was kind of a romance because it ends that way, but it's more about real people that do smart and super dumb things. I really love character driven books with good plots.

Humor, likable characters, set in lovely locals, interesting storylines, that tackle both the light and serious issues of family life. Also, I enjoy the way her books interweave characters from previous novels, it’s like catching up with old family friends.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a light summer read. I especially liked the dialogue between Lark and Lorenzo. I would like to read more from this author.

Initially, I was disturbed by the way the story kept changing. I skipped Lark's second chapter because I wanted to know what happened next for Ellie. Overall though, I enjoyed the book.

I greatly enjoyed the novel and thought it was a wonderful beach read. I am passing it on to a young friend about to enter med school. She is undecided about what area she wants to pursue.

I understand the trend to have flashbacks to tell the story. Back and forth storylines lend a more compelling and engaging story, keeping the reader focused on the story. Would a straightforward timeline make the story a bit more boring? In this story , I preferred the back and forth. I also liked the variety of characters. But one thing I couldn’t understand was Lark’s puppy love with her Kindergarten boyfriend. Just kind of weird to fall in love at 6 years old, then stay in love forevermore.

I have read several of Kristan Higgins' previous books and this one is consistent with her style and storylines. The initial premise is ridiculous, of course, but isn't that the case with most rom-coms/romances? The idea that a 40-year-old, world-renowned, wealthysurgeon would solicit a resident who has been and could again be under his supervision to pretend to be his girlfriend is ludicrous. However, once readers get back the silly set-up, the story is compelling, entertaining, and heart-warming. It's just the kind of book many folks want to read by the pool or on the beach and, for me, was an enjoyable "palate cleanser" before resuming my routine of reading books with weightier themes and plotlines.

I have read other books by this author and actually went to a talk she gave in a nearby town. This book made me laugh and I also felt like pushing certain characters off a cliff. It is a great book to read after a deep book as you will laugh and enjoy the whole story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Like others have said, it wasn't necessarily what I normally read, but I liked the way the characters were developed and the way that the story jumped back and from between serious/emotional and witty. Writing good banter isn't all that easy, but Higgins did it well.