4.5
-
5,734 ratings
From the New York Times bestselling author of Good Luck With That, If You Only Knew and Now That You Mention It comes an irresistible look at the affection and the acrimony that bind sisters together
Ainsley O’Leary is so ready to get married—she’s even found the engagement ring her boyfriend has stashed away. What she doesn’t anticipate is being blindsided by a breakup he chronicles in a blog…which (of course) goes viral. Devastated and humiliated, Ainsley turns to her older half sister, Kate, who’s struggling with a sudden loss of her own.
Kate’s always been the poised, self-assured sister, but becoming a newlywed—and a widow—in the space of four months overwhelms her. Though the sisters were never close, she starts to confide in Ainsley, especially when she learns her late husband was keeping a secret from her.
Despite the murky blended-family dynamic that’s always separated them, Ainsley’s and Kate’s heartaches bind their summer together when they come to terms with the inevitable imperfection of relationships and family—and the possibility of one day finding love again.
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ISBN-10
0373789254
ISBN-13
978-0373789252
Print length
480 pages
Language
English
Publisher
HQN
Publication date
January 30, 2017
Dimensions
5.28 x 1.17 x 7.98 inches
Item weight
12 ounces
He was a little too used to being the worshipped only child to see what other people needed. I was the opposite. Unworshipped and clear-eyed.
Highlighted by 72 Kindle readers
What was it about female friendships? Why was it so crushing when they failed?
Highlighted by 64 Kindle readers
ASIN :
B01G1FDJUU
File size :
1443 KB
Text-to-speech :
Enabled
Screen reader :
Supported
Enhanced typesetting :
Enabled
X-Ray :
Enabled
Word wise :
Enabled
Review
"Emotional depth is seared into every page along with wry banter, bringing readers to tears and smiles. Another hit for Higgins." – Library Journal STARRED Review for On Second Thought
"[An] emotionally compelling story [and] perceptive study of love, marriage, sisterhood, and loyalty. A powerful, emotionally textured winner.?" -Kirkus Reviews on If You Only Knew
"The kind of book I enjoy the most-sparkling characters, fast-moving plot and laugh-out-loud dialogue. A winner!" -Susan Elizabeth Phillips on If You Only Knew
"Poignant, funny and richly entertaining." -NPR on If You Only Knew
"Higgins's ability to delve into the gut-wrenching, nitty-gritty of marriages going off the track is staggering. This nail-biting novel speaks to the heart of infidelity and the pain it causes, while proving no one is exempt from heartache." -New York Journal of Books on If You Only Knew
"This emotional journey of two sisters is filled with drama, laughter and tears and squeezes the heart. It should be on every bedside table in the country!" -Robyn Carr on If You Only Knew
"Oh, what a satisfying and delicious read! I admired the writing, the wit, the keen eye at work here. Thank you, Kristan Higgins." -Elinor Lipman on If You Only Knew
"Higgins' tender, heartfelt If You Only Knew bridges the gap between romance and women's fiction." -BookPage on If You Only Knew
"Hilarious... Kristan Higgins is spot on with her dialogue and characters. A fantastic story." -Fresh Fiction on If You Only Knew
About the Author
Kristan Higgins is the New York Times, Publishers Weekly and USA TODAY bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than twenty languages. She has received dozens of awards and accolades, including starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, The New York Journal of Books and Kirkus. Kristan lives in Connecticut with her heroic firefighter husband, two atypically affectionate children, a neurotic rescue mutt and an occasionally friendly cat.
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Kristan Higgins
Kristan Higgins is the New York Times, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than twenty novels, wKristan Higgins is the New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than twenty novels. Her books have been translated into more than 20 languages and have sold millions of copies around the world. Kristan has been praised for her mix of “laugh-out-loud humor and tear-jerking pathos,” which the author attributes to a diet high in desserts and sugar-based mood swings.
Kristan’s books have received dozens of awards and accolades, including starred reviews from People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Good Morning America, Kirkus, the New York Journal of Books, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, National Public Radio and Booklist. She personally responds to every reader letter she receives, even the mean ones.
Kristan is the mother of two ridiculously good-looking children and the grandmother of the world’s cutest baby. She lives in Connecticut and Cape Cod with her heroic firefighter husband, a rescue mutt and indifferent cat. In her spare time, Kristan enjoys gardening, easy yoga classes, mixology and pasta.
To sign up for Kristan's always entertaining newsletter, visit www.kristanhiggins.com.
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Customer reviews
4.5 out of 5
5,734 global ratings
Gloria Hyland
5
A feel good book you can't put down
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
I was sad when this story ended. I will miss all the characters but especially Kate and Ansley . Do yourself a favor, put your pjs on grab some cocoa and curl up with this book!
MrsLeif
5
Loved it!
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2017
Verified Purchase
"Don't make me wait too long."
Kristan Higgins is one of my favorite authors. I'm always super excited when she releases a new book. On Second Thought had everything I have come to love about her books.
On Second Thought is about two sisters, step-sisters as it is.
Kate O' Leary is the older sister. She has recently married a man after knowing him for just four months. She and her husband Nathan are anxious for her to become pregnant since she's almost forty. She loves her husband and she's very happy with her life and her job as a photographer.
Ainsley O' Leary is the younger sister. She's not crazy about her job and she dislikes her boss Jonathan. She has been in a long-term relationship with Eric Fisher. She's sure he's ready to propose to her and this is something she has been waiting for a while now. They have been dating for eleven years. When Eric was diagnosed with testicular cancer she was the one who stayed by his side and helps him through his journey. Now, she's ready for their relationship to move into matrimony.
In a blink of an eye, Kate's husband Nathan dies and she becomes a widow. Not too long after, Ainsley's dreams die too. Eric breaks up with her and asks her to move out. This will force Ainsley to find a place to live. She moves in with Kate and the sisters will have a chance at learning to communicate with each other despite never being close before.
This book had it all. Strong emotions, devastating loss, humor, and romance all made an appearance. I just love how these two sisters were able to find a common ground and were able to make their bond ten times stronger than it was, to begin with. I laughed and cried throughout it. It was easy to feel what the characters were going through and sympathize with their loss. The men they both fall for were both great. I won't spoil it. Just trust me, they were both worth it.
"I like that you always seem happy."
If You Only Knew and On Second Thought are different than Mrs. Higgins's prior work. These two have a feel more towards women's fiction than Contemporary Romance. However, we still get the signature pets. In this case a fish and a dog.
Don't hesitate to buy this one. It's worth it.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
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11 people found this helpful
Marvels51
5
It kept me reading for the entire story
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
I often read books in three or four days but this one kept me reading for maybe 24 hours? I just loved the characters and I so wanted to know what would happen to them all. And, the author has a way with quirky sarcasm or, perhaps, reality. I loved this story and these characters:)
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