Review: Somebody to Love by Kristan Higgins

Title: Somebody to Love
Author: Kristan Higgins
Published: (Today!) April 2012 (HQN Books)
Disclosure: Received for review.
Summary: After her father loses the family fortune in an insider-trading scheme, single mom Parker Welles is faced with some hard decisions. First order of business: go to Gideon's Cove, Maine, to sell the only thing she now owns—a decrepit house in need of some serious flipping. When her father's wingman, James Cahill, asks to go with her, she's not thrilled -- …even if he is fairly gorgeous and knows his way around a toolbox. Having to fend for herself financially for the first time in her life, Parker signs on as a florist's assistant and starts to find out who she really is. Maybe James isn't the glib lawyer she always thought he was. And maybe the house isn't the only thing that needs a little TLC….

My Review: Somebody to Love is absolutely charming. No surprise there! As one of my favorite contemporary romance authors, I always have high expectations when I pick up a book by Kristan Higgins. I was so excited when I saw she had a new book coming out! As my first ARC, the excitement I felt about this book was multiplied even further. It was worth every single little bit of excitement and anticipation. I read the majority of it down on the dock of our lake and outside lounging underneath my favorite tree on campus, both of which were perfect settings. I really feel like this is a book that is best read outside, although it would obviously be good anywhere you read it.

There are so many things to love about this book. Parker is a children's author who dislikes everything about her hit series, The Holy Rollers (with whom she sometimes has hilarious internal conversations). She is a mother to an adorable little boy, Nicky (who is super well written, by the way, a feat not a lot of authors can accomplish). She also happens to be crazy rich, due to her family legacy, her father, and his not-entirely-legal activities. James Cahill is her father's lawyer and, as such, holds Parker's disdain, shown in her nickname for him, "Thing One." James has had feelings for Parker since they first met, but at the surface, they appear to have a relationship of mutual dislike. This leads to a deliciously charged dynamic with plenty of barbs, banter, covert (and not so covert) insults, and all sorts of fun stuff. However, when circumstances change, Parker's world - along with the relationship between Parker and James - is turned upside down. I don't always do the riches-to-rags stories, but Higgins pulled it off with aplomb. Parker is spoiled in some ways, yes, but she's not a stereotypical, super spoiled little rich girl, and because of this, she is easier to identify with.

One thing I enjoyed about this book was the gradual reveal of James and Parker's history. There is more to them than originally meets the eye. The history is revealed intermittently throughout the story, shared at a perfect rate. My curiosity was equally satisfied and intrigued. It never overwhelmed the story, but it never felt irrelevant. It added a complexity to the characters and the relationship they would not have had otherwise.

I love that this book is set in Gideon's Cove, one of the most charming locations I have come across in fiction. I would so love to move there. We also get to interact with some characters from other Higgins books, which I absolutely adored. If you've read other Higgins books written in the area, it adds a special element. If you haven't, not to worry! You will be in no way lost. Although I'd definitely recommend you read them simply because they're super awesome. But I digress. The supporting characters are all quirky and a blast to read about. There are plenty of them, but not so many as to become overwhelming.

❝Aside from staring at a blank computer screen and possibly watching a Gerard Butler movie or three, she had no plans.❞

❝She tended to attract emotionally unavailable men, anyway. Married men, engaged men, sociopaths, that sort of thing. Better not to date at all. The fact that she’d spent a lot of time watching gritty TNT dramas and eating Ben & Jerry’s should not be construed as jealousy. It was more like a filling of the gap.❞

❝James pushed her against the wall and kissed her again, and it was so welcome, so wonderful, being kissed like that, as if the building could burn down around them and it would be more important to keep kissing, hard and hot and fierce.❞

❝The memory of what had followed would live on the trophy shelf of James’s mind till the day he died.❞

What did I think about this book? I think Higgins said it perfectly herself:

❝Parker felt a bit as if she’d swallowed the sun, so warm and bright his chirpy little voice this book made her feel.❞

All in all, Somebody to Love has interesting characters, a romance to melt your heart (and also possibly leave a few scorch marks here and there), and a charming setting. It all comes together to form the perfect summer read.


Purchase this book at: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || The Book Depository

Review: Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins

Title: Until There Was You
Author: Kristan Higgins
Published: October 2011 (HQN Books)
Rating: 4/5
Summary: Posey Osterhagen can't complain. She owns a successful architectural salvaging company, she's surrounded by her lovable, if off-center, family and she has a boyfriend—sort of. Still, something's missing. Something tall, brooding and criminally good-looking…something like Liam Murphy.

When Posey was sixteen, the bad boy of Bellsford, New Hampshire, broke her heart. But now he's back, sending Posey's traitorous schoolgirl heart into overdrive once again. She should be giving him a wide berth, but it seems fate has other ideas….

My Review: Oh, Kristan Higgins. She is one of my top favorite contemporary romance authors for a reason (Just One of the Guys, anyone?). This book was thoroughly enjoyable. The narration was fantastic, and while it took a while to keep all of them straight, I appreciated all the secondary characters. I really love how Higgins writes normal characters with original flair. I really get attached to them. I even love her animals! Which is saying something, because I am not an animal person.

I loved Posey and could relate to her very easily. It took me a while to warm up to Liam - I honestly didn't get what was so special about him in the beginning. But as we read more about him, I came to realize why Posey loved him. He was such a great guy, and once you actually got to know him, there was no denying that. The book was touching without being overly sappy. I don't know what it is exactly, but Higgins has this way of writing true, pure emotions. Her endings hit me like very few authors' do. I cried at this one because I was just so into the world and the characters; I felt everything they felt, and it made me sad to say goodbye.

Oh! And she referenced 90210. The real one. This made me happy. :)

And, of course, because it is Kristan Higgins, there were many laugh-out-loud lines. This is one of my favorite things about her books. They are witty and hilarious, usually because they are so true.

❝To think she'd put on a lace bra for this. It itched.❞

❝He smiled broadly at Posey, and she smiled back, unsure if that was a Want to date me? smile or just a How's your soul these days?❞

❝Posey wondered what he'd do if she ripped his shirt open and licked his neck.❞

❝Unrequited lust made for crappy conversation.❞

❝There should be a law that no one over the age of fourteen could say OMG without a public stoning.❞

While it took a bit to get into it, Until There Was You was a great read. It was funny, thoughtful, and touching. I would definitely recommend it!