It is about divorce and heartache but I was so sucked into the characters that I wanted to know what happened in their lives. Not the most uplifting or romantic but great character development ( )

If You Only Knew by Kristin Higgins is a 2015 HQN publication.

Jenny is still good friends with her ex-husband, Owen, and while that might seem like the enlightened path to take- in truth, she is still not over him. Her sister, Rachel, though, has the perfect marriage, and three adorable little girls…

Until she discovers her husband is having an affair…

Rachel’s entire personality shifts as a result, but she is still inclined to try and salvage the life she’s built and maintain the family life and home she once loved. She points to her own parent’s idyllic marriage as a model, but Jenny might have to shatter that image so that Rachel can make a more informed choice. Meanwhile, Jenny’s life also takes a new turn, but it could lead to fresh heartbreak…

This is a re-read for me. The first time I read this book was for a professional review blog, years ago. I could only share a small portion of the review on my own social media or book sites, so when I discovered the blog is no longer viable and my review vanished with it, I decided to refresh my memory of this novel and then write a new, full review for this book- for my own book/reading record, if nothing else.

I don’t think this book tugged on my heartstrings the first time I read it in the same way it did this second time around. I think back in 2015, I was expecting a contemporary romance and this is not that.
This story has some hints of a gentle romance and the promise and hope of future relationship possibilities, but in essence this is a story about life, love, heartbreak, and personal growth, but at the core of the story is the bonds of sisterhood.

For me, if my memory serves, this was one of the first books by Higgins I read which fell more into a ‘contemporary fiction’ category than a purely romantic one- and I wasn’t sure I liked the direction KH was heading, at that time. Since then, I’ve outgrown most of the angsty contemporary romance novels we are presented with today and find this style of writing much more to my liking.

So, while I rarely re-read books, this is one occasion where the book was better the second time around for me. My emotions ran the gauntlet and I choked back a lump in my throat a couple of times, but I loved the way both Jen and Rachel’s characters grew and developed. Still….
I did hold out hope for a firmer HEA- perhaps an epilogue that let us know the ladies did indeed find true love and their dreams did eventually come true- but I can make up my own ending on that front, I suppose.

Overall, this story may be a few years old now, but it not only stands the test of time, but gets better with age. Now I need to tackle all the KH novels on Kindle that I haven’t read yet!!

4 stars ( )

2.5 stars ( )

4.5 sighworthy stars!

With her newest release, Kristan Higgins successfully transitions from the traditional romance genre to women's fiction. If You Only Knew is an absolutely compelling novel about marriage, infidelity and new beginnings that is poignant, humorous and full of strong emotions. Written from the alternating perspectives of Jenny Tate and her sister Rachel Carver, it is a beautifully written story that is heartfelt and engaging and stars an outstanding cast of characters that manage to both charm and infuriate as they endure some very unexpected challenges.

Jenny was completely blindsided when her now ex-husband Owen asked for a divorce. She has remained close friends with him and his new wife but she has decided it is time to put some distance between them. Moving back to her small hometown and opening her wedding design shop is just what she needs to take her mind of her ex and his growing family. Upon settling into her new home, Jenny is charmed by her enigmatic neighbor Leo Killian who immediately warns her that he is not looking for a relationship. Their unlikely friendship is complicated by their mutual attraction for one another and despite Jenny's conviction Leo will commit to her, the secrets from his past threaten their fragile bond.

Rachel is a stay-at-home mom of triplets and she is blissfully happy with Adam, her husband of nearly ten years. However, her idyllic marriage begins to fall apart after she discovers an explicit text on Adam's phone. He adamantly denies cheating on her but Rachel's suspicions are soon proven right when she discovers him in a compromising situation with his gorgeous co-worker. The couple decide to stay together but Rachel cannot completely trust Adam and when she catches him in another lie, the fate of their marriage hangs in the balance.

Jenny is gregarious, upbeat and friendly. Although quite close to Rachel, she is impatient with her mother's histrionics and avoids her as much as possible. Jenny is quite capable of taking care of herself and very little flusters her. She is fiercely protective of Rachel and despite of her sister's pleas to forgive Adam, she remains deeply angered by his betrayal. Jenny is immediately bewitched by Leo and their interactions are laced with humor and crackling with sexual tension. They easily and gradually transition from friends to lovers but Leo maintains an emotional distance from her.

Rachel is shy and her entire world revolves around her husband and daughters. She is shocked and hurt by his infidelity and she is very unsure about the future of their marriage. Not wanting to lose the life she has worked so hard to build, she agrees to stay with him but only if he agrees to counseling. Jenny is furious at his somewhat flippant attitude but she works hard at salvaging their marriage. She eventually becomes quite conflicted by her decision to stay with Adam and it takes until nearly the end of the story before she decides what she will do about their marriage.

Leo is an unbelievably complicated but intriguing man. He is funny, laid-back and easygoing but he is also completely closed off and quite secretive about his past. He reads Jenny like a book right from their first meeting and despite her obvious infatuation with him, he cannot seem to stay away from her. Leo is tragic, mysterious and so darned adorable it is easy to understand Jenny's attraction and her hopefulness that he will step up to the plate and commit to her.

If You Only Knew is a deeply moving novel about love, marriage, relationship, forgiveness and loyalty. This captivating depiction of life's messier moments is realistic and Kristan Higgins does not shy away from difficult or sensitive topics. Rachel and Jenny are lovable characters who will delight, charm and frustrate readers as they work their way through the various challenges life throws their way. It is an extremely heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking and incredibly thought-provoking story that I highly recommend.
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I received this book from NetGalley for the Kristan Higgins HouseParty

This book was well written. Two sisters are both hitting a rough spot in their lives and both trying to support and understand each other through it.

Sometimes I just felt so incredibly bad for both of them.

I spent the book hoping that they would both be happy by the end.

I respect how the writer could really make the reader feel for what they were each going through. When Jenny and Rachel hurt, you felt it.
But I feel like I need a happier read overall. ( )