Always the Last to Know by Kristan Higgins – a Review

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Description:
The Frosts are a typical American family. Barb and John, married almost fifty years, are testy and bored with each other…who could blame them after all this time? At least they have their daughters– Barb’s favorite, the perfect, brilliant Juliet; and John’s darling, the free-spirited Sadie. The girls themselves couldn’t be more different, but at least they got along, more or less. It was fine. It was enough.

Until the day John had a stroke, and their house of cards came tumbling down.

Now Sadie has to put her career as a teacher and struggling artist in New York on hold to come back and care for her beloved dad–and face the love of her life, whose heart she broke, and who broke hers. Now Juliet has to wonder if people will notice that despite her perfect career as a successful architect, her perfect marriage to a charming Brit, and her two perfect daughters, she’s spending an increasing amount of time in the closet having panic attacks.

And now Barb and John will finally have to face what’s been going on in their marriage all along.

Review:

Always the Last to Know by Kristan Higgins is another one of her wonderful family standalone novels.  Always the Last to Know revolves around three women in the Frost Family in a time of crisis that changes their lives.  Barb is the matriarch, who is not happy in her marriage.  Just when she is about to ask her husband, John, for a divorce, he has a stroke that will disable him drastically.   We meet their two daughters, Juliet, a brilliant successful architect, who is very close to her mother;  and Sadie, a struggling artist and teacher, who lives in New York.  Sadie is her father’s favorite, and when she is told about her father’s illness, she drops everything to head home and help her him.  The focus of the story is their struggle during this difficult time, as each has their own life issues.

The story is told by POV’s of the three women, and occasionally that of the father, who cannot speak, as well as having difficulty in remembering who the women constantly visiting him are. 

Barb has been considering divorce for a while, as they are like strangers with nothing in common.  When she rushes to the hospital, she accidently sees messages on his phone that prove he was having an affair.  Despite her resentment, Barb knows she needs to hide this from her daughters, and to make matters even more difficult, John will eventually come home needing round the clock care.  The prognosis is not good, but the family will continue to help him.  John’s POV shows how frustrated he is, and he cannot even find how to say words, or remember things.

Juliet has a successful career, with a wonderful husband and two children.  With all the pressure of the job and being there for the children, she finds herself suffering from anxiety attacks.   To top it off, the young girl she hired to be her assistant at their firm, is slowly making moves to push ahead of her, causing her panics to rise more.  In her busy life, she does her best to be there for her mother, and sister.

Sadie is the youngest child, who loves her life in New York, dreaming of being a successful artist.  She rushes home to be there for her father, and despite her mother and sister trying to put him in a home where he can get constant care, she will not allow it and makes it her business to take care of her father.  Where Juliet was her mother’s favorite, Sadie only wanted to be with her father.  Once she returns home, she will begin to see her mother in a new light, trying to cope with what is happening.  When things get stressful, it is Sadie who will force Barb and Juliet to take a weekend at a spa to rejuvenate.  Sadie left town after she graduated to move to New York, and in so doing, she left her boyfriend, Noah, who did not want to move to New York.  Slowly, Sadie and Noah begin to realize that they still love each other, but will either of them be able to move forward?

What follows is an emotional, heartbreaking story of a family in crisis, and how they find a way to come together. I loved the dynamics between Barb, Juliet and Sadie, especially watching them change their lives for the better.  Barb to rise above her husband’s betrayal; Juliet to find the confidence in her ability and fight for her rights; Sadie to accept her dreams and challenges, as well to recognize her love for Noah.  Though we see John improve a little, the prognosis is still dire, with no hope.  

Always the Last to Know is a wonderful heartwarming story, filled with remembrances, lies, tragedy, hope, happiness, sadness and love.  Kristan Higgins once again give us a beautiful family driven story that you need to read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher