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While the Coin is in the Air
When the answers to the most difficult questions are the ones that lead us to our truest selves, would you trust the outcome to a coin toss?
Twelve years ago, Harper Andrews put her law school dreams on hold during her mother’s cancer treatment, changing the entire trajectory of her personal and professional life. Now a successful paralegal at a large Chicago firm, Harper’s days at the office are spent supporting the very lawyers she once hoped to become. Meanwhile at home, she and her husband privately struggle to start a family. Though not her plan, Harper can imagine a future with kids and a home near her favorite park…sometimes. But when an unexpected opportunity offers a chance to revisit the law school dream she abandoned, everything changes.
Between the bustling offices of Chicago’s legal world and the quiet, intimate moments of a couple struggling with the future of their family, Kate Laack expertly weaves a compelling story of ambition, love, the expectations we’re willing to challenge, and the decisions that define our lives. While the Coin is in the Air is an instant winner for book clubs and not to be missed by lovers of heartfelt, women's fiction.
Twelve years ago, Harper Andrews put her law school dreams on hold during her mother’s cancer treatment, changing the entire trajectory of her personal and professional life. Now a successful paralegal at a large Chicago firm, Harper’s days at the office are spent supporting the very lawyers she once hoped to become. Meanwhile at home, she and her husband privately struggle to start a family. Though not her plan, Harper can imagine a future with kids and a home near her favorite park…sometimes. But when an unexpected opportunity offers a chance to revisit the law school dream she abandoned, everything changes.
Between the bustling offices of Chicago’s legal world and the quiet, intimate moments of a couple struggling with the future of their family, Kate Laack expertly weaves a compelling story of ambition, love, the expectations we’re willing to challenge, and the decisions that define our lives. While the Coin is in the Air is an instant winner for book clubs and not to be missed by lovers of heartfelt, women's fiction.
- GenresFiction
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First published March 6, 2025
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October 20, 2024I wrote it, so I should probably enjoy it! 😉
November 25, 2024
Such a poignant and heartfelt read that delves into how we handle incredibly difficult choices in life. Sometimes when it doesn’t feel like a choice. Harper the main character was relatable and I found myself deeply invested in her struggle with infertility and her chance to resurrect a dream she had long abandoned. I received an ARC of this book and thoroughly enjoyed the unfolding of the narrative. Laack handled the sensitive subject of not being able to build a family as expected with skill and compassion. Highly recommend.
February 28, 2025
Book Review: While the Coin Is in the Air by Kate Laack
Some books entertain you, some make you think, and some just stick with you long after you’ve finished them. While the Coin Is in the Air by Kate Laack is all of that. From the very first page, you’re pulled into a story that feels so real, so full of emotion, that you can’t help but get caught up in it.
I’ve had the privilege of knowing Kate personally, and I can tell you—she writes with such a depth and wisdom. She has this incredible way of capturing life’s uncertainties, the tough choices we all face, and the emotions that come with them. It’s the kind of writing that makes you stop and think, not just about the characters, but about your own life and the moments where you’ve felt stuck between two paths, just waiting to see which way things will go.
But what really makes this book special is how much you feel it. Kate’s storytelling is raw, real, and so full of emotion. Her characters aren’t just names on a page; they feel like people you know—people you care about. You celebrate with them, hurt with them, and by the end, you feel like you’ve been on the journey right alongside them.
Kate Laack is a writer who just gets people. While the Coin Is in the Air is a beautiful and thoughtful story, I have no doubt this is just the beginning for her. I already can’t wait for her next book!
Some books entertain you, some make you think, and some just stick with you long after you’ve finished them. While the Coin Is in the Air by Kate Laack is all of that. From the very first page, you’re pulled into a story that feels so real, so full of emotion, that you can’t help but get caught up in it.
I’ve had the privilege of knowing Kate personally, and I can tell you—she writes with such a depth and wisdom. She has this incredible way of capturing life’s uncertainties, the tough choices we all face, and the emotions that come with them. It’s the kind of writing that makes you stop and think, not just about the characters, but about your own life and the moments where you’ve felt stuck between two paths, just waiting to see which way things will go.
But what really makes this book special is how much you feel it. Kate’s storytelling is raw, real, and so full of emotion. Her characters aren’t just names on a page; they feel like people you know—people you care about. You celebrate with them, hurt with them, and by the end, you feel like you’ve been on the journey right alongside them.
Kate Laack is a writer who just gets people. While the Coin Is in the Air is a beautiful and thoughtful story, I have no doubt this is just the beginning for her. I already can’t wait for her next book!
August 6, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. The story is filled with strong characters and positive, healthy relationships. I related to Harper more than I expected, considering my own experiences are almost opposite to hers. We’ve all had those times where we’re stuck between two hard, yet very good, choices. While I willingly quit my job to raise my children, I can understand the toll that can take and why it can cause others, like Harper and Maggie in the novel, anxiety. There is no right path, and I appreciated how Harper and Bryan reached a unified decision together in a realistic way.
November 3, 2024
This is an excellent work that tells the tale that many women go though, many without any conversations. It made me both laugh and cry. It would be great for a book club of women that are out of their child bearing years. Great story! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 20, 2024
A women’s fiction through and through, protagonist Harper is at a crossroads in her life centering on a crucial heads or tails choice. But while the coin is in the air, she realizes that being true to herself is the outcome she is most hoping for. Laack’s thought-provoking novel had me guessing and wondering until the final pages. A well written and researched novel you won’t soon forget.
March 16, 2025
I received an advanced copy of this, but then started it over and read it all the way through once I received my purchased physical copy. There aren’t enough books out there about these types of challenges women face. Kate does an excellent job writing about the conflicting emotions that go into very challenging decisions. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I am still laughing about making shish kebab into a verb. 🤣 not a particularly funny part, but that was too real of a description. Thanks for the laughs along with the tough emotions!
April 15, 2025
Over a decade ago, Harper’s dream was to pursue law school. But things didn’t go as planned. When her mother got a terminal cancer diagnosis, Harper put school on the back burner, wanting to spend the little time her mother had left making memories. Fast forward twelve years, Harper’s ambitions for further education have dwindled as she settled into her life—comfortably married and working as a paralegal. It isn’t exactly what Harper envisioned for her future, but it is comfortable. Plus, she and her husband are trying (struggling) to start a family, and Harper is committed to the process, even though she isn’t sure it is what she wants.
But when an unexpected opportunity arises, Harper’s heart flutters with excitement. Suddenly, law school isn’t just a pipe dream, and Harper feels a renewed sense of hope. But how will this pair start a family? Are she and her husband on the same page?
“While the Coin Is in the Air” by Kate Laack is a compelling novel about choices. In particular, it highlights the challenges modern women face in a world where they are constantly scrutinized. Harper is torn between doing what she thinks she should do and what her heart truly yearns for. Moreover, she navigates the mounting tension in her marriage, a busy career, and a wounded friendship. Get the tissues ready; this is a tear-jerker!
Laack’s deep delve into women’s issues will hit close to home for many readers as it prompts personal reflection. How many of us have fallen victim to the immense pressure and judgment? We are expected to simultaneously be a full-time mother and advance in our careers, all while having a smile on our faces. But many of us can’t or don’t want to balance both. Maybe we’ve suffered through infertility, or the thought of trying to juggle corporate life with a toddler doesn’t appeal to us. “While the Coin Is in the Air” speaks to the heartbreak and frustration of trying to be this superhuman entity who can do it all, and it undeniably resonated with me.
Between her emotional writing and attention to prevalent issues, Laack proves she is a powerhouse in women’s fiction with “While the Coin Is in the Air.” Readers who are drawn to character-driven novels that cover themes such as love, friendship, and identity will undoubtedly find what they’re looking for within the pages of this engrossing novel.
But when an unexpected opportunity arises, Harper’s heart flutters with excitement. Suddenly, law school isn’t just a pipe dream, and Harper feels a renewed sense of hope. But how will this pair start a family? Are she and her husband on the same page?
“While the Coin Is in the Air” by Kate Laack is a compelling novel about choices. In particular, it highlights the challenges modern women face in a world where they are constantly scrutinized. Harper is torn between doing what she thinks she should do and what her heart truly yearns for. Moreover, she navigates the mounting tension in her marriage, a busy career, and a wounded friendship. Get the tissues ready; this is a tear-jerker!
Laack’s deep delve into women’s issues will hit close to home for many readers as it prompts personal reflection. How many of us have fallen victim to the immense pressure and judgment? We are expected to simultaneously be a full-time mother and advance in our careers, all while having a smile on our faces. But many of us can’t or don’t want to balance both. Maybe we’ve suffered through infertility, or the thought of trying to juggle corporate life with a toddler doesn’t appeal to us. “While the Coin Is in the Air” speaks to the heartbreak and frustration of trying to be this superhuman entity who can do it all, and it undeniably resonated with me.
Between her emotional writing and attention to prevalent issues, Laack proves she is a powerhouse in women’s fiction with “While the Coin Is in the Air.” Readers who are drawn to character-driven novels that cover themes such as love, friendship, and identity will undoubtedly find what they’re looking for within the pages of this engrossing novel.
October 25, 2024
“While the Coin is in the Air” by Kate Laack is a brilliant and sensitively written novel that addresses the complex issues women face today. It is well-known that many women put their careers on hold, either temporarily or indefinitely, for a myriad of family reasons. It isn’t always easy to get back on track with a career, especially when women are undeniably controlled by their biological clock. And when issues of infertility arise, things become even more complicated.
In this novel, we meet Harper Andrews, who, at the onset of the story, changed her career plans to care for her dying mother. She has no regrets spending that last year with her mother. Now, more than a decade later, she has a husband who loves her, a very close friend, and a job she likes. Everything is good. Very good. Is it time then, for her to start a family? But then, lost opportunities return, and she is given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to pick up where her career had left off year earlier. But Harper is not the same person she was before. Are her previous dreams the same as the ones she has now? Full of doubts and questions, will she have to toss a coin in the air, like her mother once advised her to do, in order to make a difficult decision that will determine the rest of her life?
A strong five-stars for this incredible novel. I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to have been given an advanced readers copy, and my opinions are my own.
In this novel, we meet Harper Andrews, who, at the onset of the story, changed her career plans to care for her dying mother. She has no regrets spending that last year with her mother. Now, more than a decade later, she has a husband who loves her, a very close friend, and a job she likes. Everything is good. Very good. Is it time then, for her to start a family? But then, lost opportunities return, and she is given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to pick up where her career had left off year earlier. But Harper is not the same person she was before. Are her previous dreams the same as the ones she has now? Full of doubts and questions, will she have to toss a coin in the air, like her mother once advised her to do, in order to make a difficult decision that will determine the rest of her life?
A strong five-stars for this incredible novel. I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to have been given an advanced readers copy, and my opinions are my own.
October 28, 2024
An excellent example of fiction aimed primarily at women, Kate Laack’s "While the Coin is in the Air" has much to appeal to all readers: great scene-setting, fine writing and believable characters. The power of the book, however, lies in the suspense around the choices facing the admirable protagonist.
At the beginning, Harper puts off her plan of going to law school off for a year to care for her cancer-stricken mother. Fast-forward twelve years. Harper has married a college professor and is working as a paralegal at a well-regarded law firm in Chicago. Her dream of going to law school has been put off indefinitely and her attempts to become pregnant have had no results. Her husband Bryan is interested in buying a house to replace an apartment that Harper loves.
A senior partner’s overtures toward the gifted paralegal about applying for the firm’s full scholarship to law school put Harper on a path to a life-changing decision. Should she try for law school or undertake expensive efforts such as IVF to become pregnant? And there’s that perfect house. The decision is complicated by her best friend Maggie’s choices involving career and motherhood. Harper’s husband Bryan lets her know he’ll be supportive, no matter what.
As Harper slowly reaches conclusions about her true feelings, the reader is fully invested in her decision. "While the Coin is in the Air" keeps the pages turning all the way to its satisfying ending.
--By Nancy Stancill
At the beginning, Harper puts off her plan of going to law school off for a year to care for her cancer-stricken mother. Fast-forward twelve years. Harper has married a college professor and is working as a paralegal at a well-regarded law firm in Chicago. Her dream of going to law school has been put off indefinitely and her attempts to become pregnant have had no results. Her husband Bryan is interested in buying a house to replace an apartment that Harper loves.
A senior partner’s overtures toward the gifted paralegal about applying for the firm’s full scholarship to law school put Harper on a path to a life-changing decision. Should she try for law school or undertake expensive efforts such as IVF to become pregnant? And there’s that perfect house. The decision is complicated by her best friend Maggie’s choices involving career and motherhood. Harper’s husband Bryan lets her know he’ll be supportive, no matter what.
As Harper slowly reaches conclusions about her true feelings, the reader is fully invested in her decision. "While the Coin is in the Air" keeps the pages turning all the way to its satisfying ending.
--By Nancy Stancill
March 12, 2025
As someone who has navigated my own journey with infertility, I approached this book with caution, knowing it could be triggering. What I didn’t expect was how deeply it would resonate with me—not just as a story, but as a validation of the emotions, struggles, and unspoken truths that so many women experience.
Laack masterfully captures the raw and complex reality of infertility, weaving together the emotional, physical, and psychological toll it takes. Her writing is fearless, giving voice to a story that is often left in the shadows. She doesn’t just tell a tale—she creates a space for readers to feel seen, understood, and less alone.
If you’ve ever struggled with infertility, if you know someone who has, or if you simply want to challenge your perspective on what it means to fight for something that feels just out of reach, this book is essential. It is messy, real, heartbreaking, and ultimately triumphant—the kind of book that keeps you turning the pages, desperate to see how it all unfolds, even when you’re unsure what "happy ending" truly means.
Read this. Feel this. Let it change you.
Laack masterfully captures the raw and complex reality of infertility, weaving together the emotional, physical, and psychological toll it takes. Her writing is fearless, giving voice to a story that is often left in the shadows. She doesn’t just tell a tale—she creates a space for readers to feel seen, understood, and less alone.
If you’ve ever struggled with infertility, if you know someone who has, or if you simply want to challenge your perspective on what it means to fight for something that feels just out of reach, this book is essential. It is messy, real, heartbreaking, and ultimately triumphant—the kind of book that keeps you turning the pages, desperate to see how it all unfolds, even when you’re unsure what "happy ending" truly means.
Read this. Feel this. Let it change you.
January 9, 2025
Sometimes, the price of having it all is too high, and it’s okay to choose what makes us happy over what is expected of us. While the Coin is in the Air speaks to all women who have had to choose between work and family and those who have juggled both by choice or necessity.
Harper Andrews is living a sustainable life as a paralegal with a kind and predictable husband, but it is not the life she had planned. Twelve years prior, Harper decided to defer law school for a year after her mother received a terminal cancer diagnosis. Life happened, and twelve years later, Harper finds herself feeling less than at work and at home as she struggles with infertility.
After losing her momentum all those years ago, Harper has another chance to attend law school, but she must make a choice: work, family, or both. What will she choose, and will her choice be her own or what someone else wants? Don’t miss this heartfelt novel exploring the decisions women everywhere face while navigating life.
Harper Andrews is living a sustainable life as a paralegal with a kind and predictable husband, but it is not the life she had planned. Twelve years prior, Harper decided to defer law school for a year after her mother received a terminal cancer diagnosis. Life happened, and twelve years later, Harper finds herself feeling less than at work and at home as she struggles with infertility.
After losing her momentum all those years ago, Harper has another chance to attend law school, but she must make a choice: work, family, or both. What will she choose, and will her choice be her own or what someone else wants? Don’t miss this heartfelt novel exploring the decisions women everywhere face while navigating life.
May 19, 2025
Great book, that somehow manages to be both a good read and educational.
Harper Andrews finds herself in a difficult spot, pursuing two 'life goals' that are pulling her in opposite directions and upending the comfortable life she has. As Harper pursues both 'goals', motherhood and career, she's forced to realign her current dreams with those she had in the past and how much she wants to fight for them.
Harper's story is real and relatable, her thoughts and mental processing through it all is beautifully written. As you read and get to know Harper, it feels like a new best friend, you see her best and her worst, but either way you're there cheering for her through the ups and downs.
Educationally, Harper's feelings and experiences with infertility are real, honest and raw, my heart broke for her and for the real life women I know who have dealt with infertility and all the decisions and questioning that go with it.
Harper Andrews finds herself in a difficult spot, pursuing two 'life goals' that are pulling her in opposite directions and upending the comfortable life she has. As Harper pursues both 'goals', motherhood and career, she's forced to realign her current dreams with those she had in the past and how much she wants to fight for them.
Harper's story is real and relatable, her thoughts and mental processing through it all is beautifully written. As you read and get to know Harper, it feels like a new best friend, you see her best and her worst, but either way you're there cheering for her through the ups and downs.
Educationally, Harper's feelings and experiences with infertility are real, honest and raw, my heart broke for her and for the real life women I know who have dealt with infertility and all the decisions and questioning that go with it.
February 4, 2025
Most people think the most important decisions in life occur early—that the path you choose while young will define the rest of your life. Kate Laack turns this paradigm on end with a thoughtful and emotionally resonant exploration of ambition, sacrifice, and the unpredictable turns life can take…even in your 30s! Through Harper’s dual vectors—paralegal aiming for law school, wife approaching motherhood—Laack captures the tension between normative duty and ambitious desire, weaving a compelling story of second chances and self-discovery. “While the Coin is in the Air” is packed with beautifully developed characters, brilliant pacing, and a plot relatable to anyone who has ever struggled with balancing career and family.
January 5, 2025
While the Coin is in the Air is a wonderful exploration of one woman's challenge to live her very best life. When Harper's dying mother urges her to flip a coin to make a crucial decision, everything she ever dreamed of changes. Years later, Harper struggles to make another critical choice. Can she truly have it all: marriage, family and a fulfilling career?
We agonize over the choices available to us and occasionally regret those we made. Is it possible to toss a coin and let fate decide? Laack's story is relatable to women in all stages of life; an excellent book club choice. 5 stars!
We agonize over the choices available to us and occasionally regret those we made. Is it possible to toss a coin and let fate decide? Laack's story is relatable to women in all stages of life; an excellent book club choice. 5 stars!
January 13, 2025
Told with compassion and sensitivity, this women’s fiction novel is a slam-dunk book club choice. I was invested in the main character, Harper, from the beginning. She’s genuine and loveable and it’s impossible not to root for her as she tackles some of the most daunting challenges most women face. With her compelling and authentic prose, Laack brings the reader inside the mind and heart of a woman struggling to align societal expectations with her own future goals and desires—career, family, perhaps both? I highly recommend this provocative read, you won’t regret it. I look forward to more novels from this author.
March 11, 2025
Light but tender Millennial coming-of-age story that will appeal to women of all ages - 30-somethings in the thick of determining the placement of career and family, younger women looking ahead to that decision, and older women reflecting back upon their own deeply personal journeys.
"Know thyself" - a philosophical maxim inscribed upon the Temple of Apollo in the ancient Greek precinct of Delphi - came to mind. There are so many wonderful ways to lead a life - some chosen, some not initially. Some first choices, some Plan B. All that's important is that one is able to go "all in" - just like Harper.
"Know thyself" - a philosophical maxim inscribed upon the Temple of Apollo in the ancient Greek precinct of Delphi - came to mind. There are so many wonderful ways to lead a life - some chosen, some not initially. Some first choices, some Plan B. All that's important is that one is able to go "all in" - just like Harper.
July 15, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! Although thankfully I didn't struggle with infertility myself, I have plenty of friends and close family members who have. It offers wonderful insight into all that goes into family planning, careers, relationships etc. The idea of what we thought our life would turn out like vs. the reality we are living, and what to do with all of those feelings. Reading about Harper's journey will make you more considerate of all the paths people must walk on their way to having children (or not), or figuring out life in general. I loved how the book ended. Harper made many tough decisions along the way and I was rooting for her success!
March 20, 2025
While The Coin Is In The Air by Kate Laack caught my interest at the title and kept it
going with a compelling story of how young women today…and their husbands, navigate tough choices regarding fertility and childbearing. I am an older reader who had some fertility issues during a time when attitudes and choices were very different. Author Laak brought you right into the emotional turmoil of the protagonist. Since her choices not only affected her, I appreciated the husband’s emotional journey had been shared. A well-written book I will suggest for my book club.
going with a compelling story of how young women today…and their husbands, navigate tough choices regarding fertility and childbearing. I am an older reader who had some fertility issues during a time when attitudes and choices were very different. Author Laak brought you right into the emotional turmoil of the protagonist. Since her choices not only affected her, I appreciated the husband’s emotional journey had been shared. A well-written book I will suggest for my book club.
August 9, 2026
Fantastic read. I have strong feelings about the topics covered in this story, which resulted in strong reactions to the decisions of the characters. So much thought and consideration was given to the needs and desires of each adult in the book, which made the complete lack of consideration to the needs and desires of the children involved quite troubling to me. In spite of this, the story captivated me from start to finish. I find Laack to be a really engaging author.
And the explanation of the true purpose of a coin toss…brilliant!!
And the explanation of the true purpose of a coin toss…brilliant!!
March 20, 2025
We live in a world of choices, which makes Kate Laack’s While the Coin is in the Air such a great read. Those choices are usually not simple or easily agreed upon—especially where women are concerned. As a reader, you may not relate to Harper’s exact struggles, but you will likely appreciate main character Harper’s exploration of what she wants versus what the world expects she should want. Women of any age can relate to this universal conflict, which is what makes this novel so relevant.
April 3, 2025
Kate Laack did a wonderful job of capturing the inner turmoil caused by some of life's biggest decisions and disappointments. I loved the characters and how their strong marriages undergirded their difficult circumstances. I thought the ending was very reflective and satisfying. One particular line encapsulated the themes: "Slowly, Harper was coming to understand that there was no script and no right way and no one answer."
October 26, 2024
I received an ARC and thoroughly enjoyed it! Laack does a wonderful job of creating relatable characters dealing with situations that don't have easy answers. I appreciated Harper's inner dialogue, the respect shown to all the characters' decisions, some surprising developments, and the descriptive prose.
March 10, 2025
This is Kate's 2nd book I have read. I found "While The Coin Is In The Air" to be very thought provoking and a hard to put down read. Kate puts forth a compelling and compassionate story, with well developed characters, that are very human to our times.
A difficult topic, whether you have experienced infertility yourself, or know someone who has walked this journey. Kate tells it real, through her characters shared experiences. A must read! I highly recommend this book.
A difficult topic, whether you have experienced infertility yourself, or know someone who has walked this journey. Kate tells it real, through her characters shared experiences. A must read! I highly recommend this book.
March 20, 2025
As she did with her first novel, in “While the Coin is in the Air”, Kate Laack draws you into the dilemmas and decisions of her characters. A must read for every young couple, and their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends.
June 14, 2025
An engaging story that makes one think about the many complicated decisions we face in life and how we go about resolving them-some with tears and some with joy, and many with the help of others dear to us.
May 1, 2026
A wonderful book for readers of all ages. It speaks to the young adults dealing with difficult choices and decisions that may or may not be in their control. And to the older generation watching it unfold - may we be compassionate and non-judgemental as we support them in navigating the way.
September 4, 2026
4.5 stars
Was just going to read for 30 minutes...and I finished the book. It completely sucked me in. So many personal connections within the stellar story telling.
Wisconsin author, now living in MN
Book-Library
Was just going to read for 30 minutes...and I finished the book. It completely sucked me in. So many personal connections within the stellar story telling.
Wisconsin author, now living in MN
Book-Library
April 2, 2025
I would have enjoyed the book more if the language had been cleaner
July 2, 2025
Wonderful book about life’s real struggles and choices and how we all have our roles to play and be comfortable with how our choices play out chasing our dreams.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews