Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Romance
Source: Berkley ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: Lark Smith has always had a plan for her life: find a fantastic guy, create a marriage as blissful as her parents’, pop out a couple of kids and build a rewarding career as an oncologist.

Things aren’t going so well.

For one, the guy didn’t work out. Theoretically, she’d love to find someone else, but it hasn’t happened. Two, she’s just been transferred out of oncology for being too emotional. (Is it her fault she’s a weeper?) Three, her parents just split up.

Deviating from the plan was…well, not in the plan. A potential solution comes from the foul-tempered and renowned surgeon Lorenzo Santini (aka Dr. Satan). He needs a date this summer for his sister’s wedding. His ancient Noni wants to see him settled. In exchange, he could make a few introductions and maybe get Lark back into the field of her choice.

As a sucker for old people and fake relationships, Lark agrees. Teeny problem—she instantly falls for his big, warm family. Especially his estranged brother.

Meanwhile, Lark’s mom has moved in with Lark’s flamboyant landlady, Joy, and an unlikely friendship blossoms. The three women have a long summer and a big beautiful house on the ocean to figure out what’s next…and quite possibly learn that the best things in life aren’t planned at all.

Ope’s Opinion: I usually love Kristan Higgins books. I was so disappointed that I just could not get into this one. Lark was not relatable for me. I did not like that in the first chapter they were criticizing her for showing her emotions. Dr. Santini was a very stiff character that never wiggled his way into my heart – his family was nice.

I know this may seem irrelevant, but the cover of this book is very misleading. It looks like a light beach read, but it is so much more than that. The different perspectives in the story helped it move along, but I couldn’t always see the connection between the characters.

I think I am in the minority with my opinion on this book. I will definitely read another Kristan Higgins. I have enjoyed some of her other books more than this one.