The Coastal Bookshelf Recommended Powerful Currents in Literature Look On e Bright Side by Kristan Higgins Reviewed by Denise Copeland
Kristan Higgins’ Look on the Bright Side is a layered, character driven novel that blends humor, heartbreak, and resilience while exploring how people move forward when life refuses to follow the plan. Lark Smith becomes a physician largely because of a childhood love she met in kindergarten. His battle with leukemia when they were young leaves a lasting imprint on her life and inspires her to pursue oncology. Lark cares deeply for her patients, perhaps too deeply, and her emotional investment eventually leads to a reassignment to the emergency room. e shi becomes a de ning moment, forcing her to learn how to balance empathy with the emotional boundaries needed to survive in medicine. One of the most entertaining storylines involves Dr. Lorenzo Santini, a brilliant surgeon whose icy bedside manner has earned him the hospital nickname “Dr. Satan.” Despite his intimidating reputation, Lorenzo’s devotion to his beloved grandmother Noni reveals a very di erent side of him. When Noni’s health begins to decline, Lorenzo convinces Lark to pose as his girlfriend so his grandmother can believe he has nally found happiness. e arrangement produces both humor and unexpected tenderness. Lark’s warmth and emotional openness clash with Lorenzo’s guarded personality, and their interactions o er some of the novel’s most memorable moments. e scenes with Lorenzo’s lively Italian family add another layer of charm, especially as the pretend relationship begins to feel more complicated than either of them anticipated.
Higgins also enriches the story through a strong supporting cast. Lark’s amboyant oceanfront landlady, Joy, provides both comic relief and emotional depth. Her unlikely friendship with Lark’s mother, who ends up staying in Joy’s lavish seaside home during a dicult period in her life, becomes one of the novel’s most delightful subplots. rough these intersecting relationships, Higgins creates a story that feels full of life. Look on the Bright Side ultimately celebrates resilience, unlikely friendships, and the messy, beautiful ways people show up for one another during dicult times. With memorable characters, sharp dialogue, and genuine heart, it is a novel that lingers long aer the nal page. Denise Copeland and Bu ey Cassidy are co-presidents of the Cambridge Book Club, a distinguished literary society in Martin County. ey guide the club through thoughtful explorations of numerous works each year and host local authors to celebrate literature, cultivate community, and savor the enduring pleasures of reading.
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