A caring family, a successful business and a hot man, Posey Osterhagen has all she could want. Or that’s what she tells herself. Her tight-knit German family is eccentric and overbearing at times, and not everyone sees her architectural salvaging company as a dream job. The real catch is that she has yet to go public with Dante, which she blames on the fact that he is the owner of the Italian restaurant that is putting her family’s restaurant, Guten Tag out of business, but Posey isn’t sure. Enter hunky bad-boy Liam Murphy, and good-in-bed-Dante is given a real run for his money. Apparently she never got over that die-hard crush she had on Liam back in high school. As a widower and protective father to a teenage daughter, Liam is more appealing than ever, and naturally Posey can’t seem to get her mind off him. But he would never go for plain Posey, and Posey would never give someone who broke her heart so heartily a second chance – or would she?
I’d been hearing Kristan Higgins’ name mentioned over the last few months as a contemporary romance writer in the same vein as Jennifer Crusie and Julie James, a comparison that made me immediately raise my head and take note. Who doesn’t need another light, entertaining, and happily-ever-after read – romantic comedy for a night in? So when I saw Until There Was You on Netgalley I dashed right over to request an egalley. I’m glad I did because it fit that bill and gave me another author to add to my slumps-away book list.
If for some odd reason you were only going to read a chapter of this book, make it the opening one. That comic introduction of Liam to Posey after more than a decade is a riot. The timing is flawless and the sarcasm spot on. How you could not be endeared to Posey, I don’t know. It’s awkward and embarrassing and is guaranteed to transport you back to your angsty teenage years. That history and their complex blend of surety and vulnerability is what made this book for me. Posey is and never was a girly girl and I found her boyish figure and dressing habits refreshing. Yes – tattooed, swoony bad boy Liam is a cliché. Women fall at his feet left and right and he is the proud owner of a motorcycle shop. But Liam also settled down at a young age and had a daughter whom he loves fiercely and is extremely overprotective of. And under his put together shell he has some major insecurities that are revealed to Posey early on. Overall their conflicts and dilemmas are light and keep this from being none other than a cute and fun romance with comic relief from all sides. I was overwhelmed by the amount of characters surrounding Posey (aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, friends and colleagues, the list goes on) but I ended up loving the interactions between her gay brother Henry, who is an amputee surgeon and his partner Jon, which were hilarious. Also the bordering on cloying descriptions of Liam’s physique were tiring. But entertaining, sometimes witty, and with (to my relief) strictly fade-to-black sex scenes, I would pick reading Until There Was You over watching any derivative, clichéd rom com any day. I happily look forward to making my way through Kristan Higgins’ backlist.
Until There Was You is due out October 25.
Second Opinions
AnyChing Goes Review
Best Romance Stories Review
My Guilty Obsession Review
The Allure of Books Review
Kristan Higgins has been getting a lot of buzz in the blogosphere lately and I’ve heard good things about her latest. I also requested this from NetGalley and already downloaded the copy to my Kindle. I might read it soon to cleanse my palate from all the fantasy that I’ve been picking up lately. Good to know that she lived up to your expectations! One cannot have enough slumps-away books.
Yep! Hope you like it.
I’ve been hearing a lot about Kristan Higgins too! I haven’t read any Jennifer Crusie nor Julie James (gasp, I know!), but there is always room for light chicklit/romance in my library. *scuttles over to Netgalley to request a copy* Thanks for this review, Holly!
Oooh, you should definitely read this then! And it’s very clean so I think it would be your type of romance. Apparently all of her books are fade to black, which is nice for someone like me who doesn’t want too much information.
Yay! So glad it worked for you. I just loved Posey and Liam and the whole quirky crew.
Quirky is right! they were fun.
Hey Holly!
Thanks for reviewing this one–I’ve been curious about Kristan Higgins for ages. A friend of ours buys tons of books and then just gives them to me so we have basically all of her backlist. I guess I thought she was more like Jodi Picoult than Julie James but I’m so glad to hear that she’s more like the latter.
But Postey Osterhagen? What a mouthful!
Lol – a great German name. You’re welcome! Oooh, Jodi Picoult *shudders*. I’ve only read one of her books and I didn’t have a good experience with it.
oh i love your review of this. i just finished this one and liked it (but didn’t love) but for some reason, her books hit a certain perfect spot for me when i am in a particular mood
Yes – they definitely fit a certain reading mood. Thanks for coming over! I hope to find one I really love.
I love how lately Kristan Higgins has been blowing up the blogosphere, it’s like everyone I subscribe to has been reading her all at once, myself included. But she rocks, and I’m going to be giving Julie James a chance next, as you mention her name in same breath as Jennifer Cruise and Kristan Higgins.
And yes, I love your line at the end and agree, give me a Kristan Higgins book over a cliched rom com movie any day. I’m totally going to have to buy Until There Was You when i get through my other KH books
It’s so true – KH is contagious right now. Oh, you will like Julie James – can’t wait to see what you think.
I am so glad you enjoyed Kristan Higgins!
I love her books too!
Since you liked her I suggest you try:
1. Just One of the Guys by Kristan Higgins
2. Too Good to be True by Kristan Higgins
3. Fools Rush In by Kristan Higgins
All of her books are really cute, funny, and awesome but these are just my favorites! <3
I still need to read this one and FAST!!!
I haven’t read any Julie James or Jennifer Cruise books, but I think I should go and have a look!!
Yes, you totally do! I hope you like JJ and JC.
Thanks for the suggestions. Too Good to be True was on the list but I’ll add the others.
A while ago I read “Just one of the guys” and I really didn’t like it … a friend of mine suggested “My one and only” as a perfect summer read and I loved it, I wasn’t aware that she had recently released “Until there was you” but I’ll make sure to find a copy. I was a little bit bored by Julie James’ new novel. It’s so hard to find a good contemporary romance so every advise is more than welcome