"How to Walk Away" by Katherine Center follows the story of Margaret Jacobsen, whose life takes a tragic turn after a life-altering accident during a plane ride with her fiancé. The novel delves into Margaret's journey of coping with her new reality, the challenges she faces, her relationships with her family and loved ones, and her resilience in the face of adversity. Through a mix of humor, emotions, and family dynamics, the author portrays Margaret's path towards acceptance and healing in a heartfelt and inspiring manner, making it a compelling read for those looking for a story of strength and transformation.
In "How to Walk Away," Katherine Center skillfully crafts relatable and endearing characters, particularly focusing on Margaret's growth, her sister Kit's unwavering support, and the dynamics within their family. The author's writing style is praised for its ability to draw readers in from the beginning, creating engaging and inspiring characters that resonate with the audience. The novel explores themes of love, resilience, family bonds, and personal growth, offering a heartwarming and emotional narrative that captivates readers with its blend of humor, seriousness, and relatability.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book includes content warnings for severe injury, trauma, and emotional health challenges related to the main character's recovery from a life-altering accident.
Has Romance?
The book includes a romance element primarily focused on the evolving relationship between Margaret and her physical therapist Ian, though it is balanced with themes of recovery and family.
From The Publisher:
From the author of Happiness for Beginners comes the instant New York Times bestseller, an unforgettable love story about finding joy even in the darkest of circumstances.
Margaret Jacobsen is just about to step into the bright future she's worked for so hard and so long: a new dream job, a fiancé she adores, and the promise of a picture-perfect life just around the corner. Then, suddenly, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, everything she worked for is taken away in a brief, tumultuous moment.
In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Maggie must confront the unthinkable. First there is her fiancé, Chip, who wallows in self-pity while simultaneously expecting to be forgiven. Then, there's her sister Kit, who shows up after pulling a three-year vanishing act. Finally, there's Ian, her physical therapist, the one the nurses said was too tough for her. Ian, who won't let her give in to her pity, and who sees her like no one has seen her before. Sometimes the last thing you want is the one thing you need. Sometimes we all need someone to catch us when we fall. And sometimes love can find us in the least likely place we would ever expect.
How to Walk Away is Katherine Center at her very best-a masterpiece of a novel that is both hopeful and hilarious; truthful and wise; tender and brave.
Praise for How to Walk Away:
"Katherine Center's voice did what great fiction is meant to do: It pulled me in so immediately and completely that I forgot about real life." -Taylor Jenkins Reid, bestselling author of Daisy Jones & the Six
"I can't think of a blurb good enough for this novel...poignant, funny, heartbreaking." -Jenny Lawson, bestselling author of Furiously Happy
Ratings (12)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (5) | |
Liked It (3) | |
It Was OK (3) |
Reader Stats (29):
Read It (15) | |
Want To Read (10) | |
Not Interested (4) |
1 comment(s)
A inspiring story about a woman who’s perfect life is upended and the process she undergoes to rebuild her life as a paralyzed person. Margaret Jacobsen is living her dream life having just landed her dream job with a handsome fiancé Chip. Since Chip is working on his pilot’s, he surprises Margaret with a flight over her grandparents cabin despite Margaret being deathly afraid of flying. Although the flight initially starts well, eventually they run into terrible weather and have a horrific crash which leaves Margaret parlayed.
Chip spends the first three weeks after the accident drinking and avoiding visiting Margaret at the hospital. During her hospital stay, Margaret is visited by her parents as well as her estranged sister Kitty who she hasn’t seen in three years. Margaret is hesitant to see her sister and is still reeling from losing her ability to walk.
Eventually, she is paired with a no nonsense physical therapist named Ian who gives her a hard time. Margaret is a talker and Ian’s lack of communication annoys her. Over time, Margaret decides to break down Ian’s defenses by talking to him nonstop and they develop romantic feelings for one another.
I liked that the story didn’t have a happy ending as if were in that Margaret never regains the ability to walk. Despite being paralyzed for the rest of her life, she uses her disability to create a summer camp for children in wheelchairs and establishes a nonprofit. Also through her accident, she discovers that she is stronger that she thought she could be and that her identity is not tied to her ability to walk.
What can you read after
How to Walk Away?
About the Author:
KATHERINE CENTER is the author of several novels, including Happiness for Beginners, The Bright Side of Disaster, Everyone Is Beautiful, Get Lucky, and The Lost Husband. Her books and essays have appeared in Redbook, People, USA Today, Vanity Fair, and Real Simple, as well as the anthologies Because I Love Her, CRUSH, and My Parents Were Awesome. Katherine is a graduate of Vassar College and the University of Houston's Creative Writing Program. She lives in Houston with her husband and two sweet children.
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