The Me I Used to Be: A Novel

by Kristan Higgins

At a high school reunion, old secrets and heartbreaking truths come to light for four estranged friends in a poignant, humorous and bittersweet novel by a New York Times bestselling author.

Audrey, Micah, Jasmine and Beck—the lucky one, the beautiful one, the smart one, the sporty one—are called the Core Four. Full of promise, laughter and loyalty, they promise to be best friends forever. But the night after graduation, they’re in a devastating accident, and the friendship that seemed unbreakable is shattered.

Twenty-five years later, the four women agree to reunite for their high school reunion. None of them is where they hoped to be way back when, and all have scars and secrets. But for one, the diagnosis of early-onset dementia means this is the last chance to revisit their once-golden friendship.

Over the weekend, they’ll come to terms with that tragic accident, as well as the dreams and realities of their lives. Can they forgive each other and peel away those secrets? Is there anything left of that old friendship? After all these years, it’s time to see if the Core Four can come together once more.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Autumn, Womens Fiction, Friendship, Chick Lit

347 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2026

About the author

Kristan Higgins is the author of more than two dozen bestselling novels, which have been translated into 27 languages and sold millions of copies worldwide. Her books have received dozens of awards and accolades, including starred reviews from Entertainment Weekly, People, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and Booklist.

Kristan is the mother of two exceedingly charming adult children and the smitten grandmother of two little ones. She enjoys mixology, the National Parks and being overly helpful to strangers. Kristan lives in Connecticut and is often at the family home on Cape Cod with her heroic firefighter husband, a rambunctious dog and their indifferent cat.

You can follow her always entertaining posts on Substack. https://kristanhiggins.substack.com/

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog


⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Me I Used to Be
Kristan Higgins
Publication Date: September 15th, 2026
Lake Union Publishing
347 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Women's Fiction

This was such a bittersweet story about friendship and past trauma. Audrey, Micah, Jasmine, and Beck were friends in high school. The night of their graduation, a car accident happens and tears them apart.

Twenty-five years later, they're still filled with resentment and guilt, and remain estranged. Now that these old friends are all in their forties, they return home to attend their high school reunion. None of them has the exceptional life they dreamed of when they were teens; they're typical middle-agers stuck in careers, dealing with older children, messy marriages, and plenty of secrets. Then, one of them is diagnosed with dementia and decides it's time to reconnect. They spend a weekend together dealing with the past and what happened on the night of their graduation. There's lots of resentment and other grievances being flung around, but eventually, they try to learn how to forgive each other.

As heavy as the themes were in this story, it was also funny at times and heartwarming, for sure. These ladies weren't all very likable at first, but as they learned the importance of friendship and honesty, they also learned about forgiveness.

I have never read a book by this author before, and I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. It was very moving and character-driven, with plenty of emotion. The way she wrote the dual timelines was very fluid—there was lots of nostalgia mixed with how messy our lives become once we hit middle age. I liked how the author wrote about the mystery; it was tense when it needed to be and compelling in a way that kept me flipping pages.

Higgins writes flawed women in a wonderful way: you love to hate them, and then you're forgiving them right along with the other characters. Each one was very distinct, and their actions rang true to life, feeling very authentic to me. Who among us has never felt regret, loss, or grief? I could certainly relate. And even though these are heavy topics, I never felt overwhelmed by them.

The ending felt a bit rushed to me, but that may be because of how intense the rest of the book was. Overall, I enjoyed this tale of second chances and female friendships.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.



Goodreads ratings reflect reader demographics and
popular enthusiasm rather than objective literary merit.

[DeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Life Isn’t Fair Stars - now available

Kristan Higgins is a prolific writer, but this is only my second book from her. The description for this one seemed intriguing, so I’m glad I got an early copy. With strong themes of female friendship, loyalty, family, and guilt, I dug into this one. There’s a sobering topic of early-onset dementia.

Four girls are best friends in high school, the Core Four. It seemed that nothing could tear them apart. But a tragic accident after a graduation party changed all of their lives. Now a reunion is coming up, and Audrey invites them all back together.

We get deep dives into each of their lives, and flashbacks to high school to better understand the dynamics. The women are dealing with real issues like infidelity, accusations of sexual pressure, hidden paternity, and disappointments. And then there’s Audrey, grappling with a serious medical condition. She’s determined to be the master of her fate.

I really liked Audrey’s character and her desire to go back to the woman she used to be. Beck is also a great character, and I rooted for her throughout the book to find professional and personal happiness.

The women finally talk through the accident and all the fallout that it created. Can all be forgiven after so long? Can their friendship be salvaged?

Keep a box of tissues handy for this one. It’s definitely a sad one, but I felt that the author handled it all so well. And life really isn’t fair.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one.

[Brooke · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Audrey has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia. She invites her group of friends known as the 'core four' for a weekend of reconciliation. It's been years since the accident that separated them.

I really liked Audrey's character and her voice. It was tender and realistic. She brought her friends together literally and figuratively. They all agree, she was the best of them.

There is a bit of mystery regarding the accident that killed Audrey's mom the year they graduated high school. When the POV shifted initially I was disappointed because I wanted more of Audrey. The author nicely differentiates the tone of POV and as the backstories of the four unfolds I was emotionally hooked.

I really liked where their stories intersected, especially with Audrey's adopted brother Steven. Audrey is navigating an early end-of-life with a stepdaughter who is cruel to her. But the group is connecting, and even finding answers and some closure. They all gain a new perspective on life after Audrey reunites them.

There were sentimental moments and cry moments. Audrey has some very difficult choices to make. The author held some delicate moments in both a practical and heartwarming manner. This was a book that helped me to appreciate the present moment in a new depth. Thanks, Audrey ♥️🍂

[Jonetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

the setup…
Back in high school, the Core Four were inseparable…Audrey, the lucky one; Micah, the beautiful one; Jasmine, the smart one; and Beck, the sporty one. That is until the night of their graduation, a tragic event splintered their lives and set them apart for decades. Now twenty-five years later, one of them has asked that they come together again for their school reunion. She has early onset dementia and wants one last chance to return to the person she used to be.

the heart of the story…
There’s no more crueler disease than the one that slowly destroys the mind. None of these women’s lives has gone the way of the dreams they shared when they were the Core Four. I loved that despite the many years they were separated, all still held that connection to each other, and rallied around the one of them whose life and mind was on a short timeline. It’s richly layered and these four women trusted each other to share secrets, hurts and shattered dreams over this precious weekend.

the narration…
Xe Sands (Audrey), Natalie Naudus (Micah), Eva Kaminsky (Jasmine) and Laura Jennings (Beck) were perfectly suited to their characters, telling their stories powerfully and authentically. All were beyond outstanding..

the bottom line…
I had high expectations that were far, far surpassed. Higgins stated in the afterword that she hoped we would laugh, cry and have a bit of a book hangover by the end. Well, I experienced that and much more as my tears flowed shamelessly. I’ll forever be haunted by this story, one that allowed me to experience what dementia feels like from inside the mind of one who is afflicted. Just simply extraordinary, heartbreaking and beautifully crafted.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author used to be one of my most favorite writers, with her fun romantic stories that were always filled with so much humor, love, and just good writing with unforgettable characters.

I am not sure what has happened but with her last few books, I just haven't connected to the story, the writing, or the characters at all. I might just have to sadly admit, this author just isn't for me anymore. I can't tell you how sad that makes me but, there you have it.

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the saddest book that I’ve read in a long time. I loved the book. I cried buckets at the end of the book. It’s about four girls who met in school and were best friends. It seemed that everyone was jealous of their relationship because they were always together. Unfortunately, graduation night there was an accident which tore the four girls apart. 25 years later, there is a class reunion and they decide to go and be together. They have wasted 25 years of their life, but now they are willing to hopefully forgive and possibly forget. In this book you meet the four friends and discover how their lives have turned out. Audrey is the main character and she is a lovely person. Her brother Stephen is also a keeper. I liked all of her friends, especially Beck. I think if you read this book, you need to get your tissues ready, but you will enjoy it and I think it’s a book that I will remember for a long time.

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Internally sobbing. What a melancholic, beautifully emotional, bittersweet story. Twenty-five years after a devastating accident shattered their once solid high school friendship, four women known as the Core Four reunite for a weekend at Bitter Creek Farm, forcing them to confront everything that drove them apart and what they’ve been up to since.

Though this is a multi-POV story, I’d say the heart is Audrey, her rapidly progressing dementia, her complicated relationship with her stepdaughter, and her plans to end her life before she loses the ability to make that choice for herself. I’ve read many books with dementia representation, but never from the perspective of the person experiencing it, and I thought it was such a devastatingly raw, heartbreaking, informative, and realistically unflinching viewpoint.

There’s something so special about a friendship that can pick right back up where it left off, as though no time has passed, even after many years of distance and pain. I loved these women. With each of them quietly dealing with their own struggles behind closed doors, I especially loved the sprinkling of heartwarming moments and levity between Audrey, Beck, Micah, and Jasmine that brought some much needed lightness amid all the sadness.

My one complaint is that Part Two felt a little rushed. After so much buildup and intense drama, some of the resolutions felt a little too easy for me, especially when it came to Micah. But still, this was a truly wonderful story about the strength of great friendships, grief, forgiveness, and resilience in the face of unimaginable circumstances. I finished it feeling emotionally wrecked and immediately needed a happy book STAT, but I’m so glad I read it.

(spice level: closed door)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mo Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

‘At their twenty-fifth high school reunion, four former best friends discover that growing up is way messier than anticipated—and the past isn’t nearly as finished as they thought.’

The Me I Used to Be, told from alternating perspectives and timelines, proved a difficult read for me unfortunately. I feel like this should have been an emotional, well-layered story with depth surrounding these once in a lifetime girlfriends, riddled with warm nostalgia and memories, alongside inevitable tragedy, heartbreak and the meaning and outcome of it all...

But that wasn't the case here. I found the characters, “The Core Four” stiff, flat and humdrum, unable to identify with any of them. This was not a group of women I wanted to insert myself into because I found myself connecting with them or enjoying them – something I’ve experienced time & again in stories revolving poignant friendships. There was no bond, no kinship that I could muster into being. The storytelling came off routine and somewhat restricted, as though there was little to no heart given to its crux. Magnetism was nil. I forced myself to reach the end, going through the motions for the sake of it. Sadly, I was removed from the story as a whole, which obviously doesn’t make for a gratifying experience.

These are my own opinions and personal feelings of course. I’ve read and enjoyed Higgins in the past and I’m sure I will again. I’m also positive there are plenty of readers who will undoubtedly enjoy this book.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for the arc in exchange for review. I am always grateful.

Pub: 9.15.2026.

[Sherry Rosen | Stories with Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The eARC was provided to me by the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book tore me up and put me back together … and tore me up yet again. At the very center of The Me I Used to Be are friendship, trust and love. This book was a very difficult read due to the subject matter but it was so worth all the tears I shed (and trust me, there were many – even while writing this review).

When Audrey is diagnosed with early onset dementia at the age of 43, she decides to take back the life she once had. When her 25th high school reunion comes around, she invites her three best friends from high school to stay with her for the weekend – despite them being estranged for 25 years after a devastating event drastically and irrevocably changed all of their lives.

I loved the in-depth character analysis, especially of the Core Four (our main characters): Audrey, the lucky one; Beck, the sporty one; Micah, the beautiful one, and Jasmine, the smart one. I found it easy to connect with each of them, and with Stephen, Audrey’s baby brother. I particularly appreciated Higgins’ development of Mathilda (Kylo), Audrey’s teenage stepdaughter. She was written as a very believable sullen and defiant teen who it's basically depicts every teenage girl trying to find herself.

I especially like the way Higgins narrated Audrey as she attempted to navigate her new “normal”. It gave us insight into what it must feel like to be forgetting things, like how to brush your teeth.

Please check the content/trigger warnings. This book tackles numerous difficult life events.

The Me I Used to Be is, at its core, a story of lasting friendship. It’s about the friends who you may not talk to every day, or even every year, but who, when the world seems like it is ending, rally around to hold you up.

I dedicate this review to my besties – you know who you are and I love you all.

[Caitlyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

What happened to the Kristan Higgins of old? You used to be such a great author! What a bummer couldn’t even get past the first few pages before you culture bombed us.

[Jamie Rosenblit · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Kristan Higgins will forever be one of my favorite authors - she writes it, I read it. The Me I Used to Be is definitely one of her sadder books and had me tearing up along the way but it is well worth the read!


I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Randi (randi_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four former high school friends, AKA the Core Four, reunite twenty-five-years after their friendship was shattered after a devastating accident affected all of them.

This is told in dual POVs - first person for Audrey and third person for Micah, Beck and Jasmine. Deeply moving and heartbreaking. I enjoyed reading all of the women's perspectives and how their lives were shaped by what happened to them.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice try Higgins but you didn’t make me cry.

[Ashlee Miller]

It’s a DNF for me. It’s sad and depressing, which tbh I sometimes love… but it’s not drawing me in. So forcing myself to pick it up only to be sad and unsatisfied.

[erica sutton · Rating 1 out of 5]

No thanks

Stopped reading this book because of its woke garbage such as one of the characters using pronouns. Such a turnoff from what seemed like decent story. That crap is shoved down our throats too much as it is. Casual fiction I'm reading for pleasure is definitely somewhere I never want to see that.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Audrey,” Jasmine says, now that things have settled down a little, “you still have to tell us about your life. You moved back here, obviously, but what else?” Ah, yes. Here comes the moment. “Right,” I say. “Well. I married Clay, who never got over his first wife. I’ve got a stepdaughter who’s hated me every minute of every day since we met. And . . . grand finale . . . I have early-onset dementia and plan on killing myself before it gets too bad.” The three of them freeze, their eyes wide. “Sorry,” I say. “Was that a buzzkill?”

Hoo Boy! This was a tear jerker. But thanks to the last 2 chapters and an epilogue, it ended on ahappy and hopeful if occasionally poignant note, I have learned to trust my favorite authors, which includes KH. They may make you cry buckets or make you want to spit fire at the behavior of their villains (or heroes!) but they never abandon you holding all of those negative emotions at the end.

The book is about 4 women and how their lives diverged for the worse following a horrible car crash on the day after they graduated from highschool. Or was it for the worse? It was certainly not the futures they fondly dreamed of and had every chance of realizing. Each was damaged and their futures encumbered by the effect of the accident: Two from shame and guilt, one physically, and one from the loss of a beloved mainstay and home.

We start out with Audrey welcoming her 3 best friends from high school to her home. She has invited them to stay upon the occasion of their 25th high school reunion. They were once the “core four” but we learn very quickly that they have been estranged ever since the day after they graduated. They blame themselves and each other, one way or another, for a horrific auto accident they caused which changed the trajectory of all their lives. It also killed one of the town's most beloved citizens, Doctor Kate, who also happened to be Audrey’s mother, and friend and maternal figure to the 3 other girls as well. The inciting incident for Audrey to gather the core four together, hopefully for a reconciliation, is her diagnosis of early onset dementia. Before she loses her faculties completely and turns into a “potato person”, she wants to mend the breach and restore the deep and life-defining bonds they once shared. The book takes us through what each of the women are dealing with in their present lives and explores their past to show how they got to where they are. None of them are in a good place.

After the accident, Audrey leaves her Vermont home to attend the Savannah School of Art and Design as had been long planned. But without her home and her mother she feels isolated and alone. Her happy perfect family and home, which was the basis of her whole identity, is no more. She is lost. Her father remarries and her beloved brother is wrapped up in medical school and the obligations that followed on the way to a successful medical career. So after graduation, she stays in Georgia and 10 years later meets Clay, a widower with a 5 year old child. Clay is kind and a good guy, but kind of “vacant” as her brother Stephen says at one point. The marriage becomes vaguely unsatisfactory. She fiercely loves her difficult stepdaughter, but Mathilda (or Kylo, as “they” like to be called) hates and resents her, egged on by her late mother’s parents. When Audrey inherits her childhood home, Bitter Creek Farm, she finally returns home to Vermont with her husband and stepdaughter, in tow.

Jasmine was the first of the three to be befriended by Audrey in elementary school. She was from the wrong side of the tracks with a drunk for a mother, but was academically brilliant. Upon graduation she was accepted at Princeton with nothing but success on her horizon. But it never quite happened. The whole town blamed Jasmine for the crash as she blamed herself, because she was driving the car that killed Doctor Kate. What did one expect from poor white trash, after all? She ended up working on Wall Street, but was not a super star. One day, she meets Oscar, who was a super star. They marry, have 3 daughters, and as the story opens, Jasmine is a stay at home mother and a lady who lunches. She has left the rat race on Wall Street only to get sucked into keeping up with the social climbing wealthy wives of Greenwich, CT. Her once happy family is now disintegrating, her husband is cheating on her, his business is in trouble (the kiss of death in her world), and her 3 girls are out of control.

In highschool, Micah was the beautiful one. Some, not as PC and kind as I am, might also have called her a slut and a drunk. But now in her early 40s, she owns and runs the town’s favorite bakery, is happily married to a wonderful guy who is still crazy about her, and the proud mother of 24-year-old Logan. But, other than still being a little too fond of the vino, Micah has a long held secret that is about to be exposed and probably ruin her marriage. Micah was supposed to be the designated driver the night of the crash, but, in despair after learning she was pregnant, got drunk anyway.

Beck was the last to become part of the “core four.” She came from a military family, and, used to moving from one place to another, developed an outgoing and fearless personality. She was also very tall and a star basketball player, winning a full ride to UCONN. A stellar college career was practically guaranteed, probably followed by a career in the WNBA. But her leg was crushed in the accident and that was the end of that. She was the one who was supposed to keep an eye on their designated driver and keep her from drinking. She didn’t. This left inexperienced and nervous driver Jasmine to drive the group home. (It is strongly hinted that Audrey was under the influence of a date-rape drug.) Beck is now a very successful and respected Casting Agent, with Oscar winners among her many clients. But her powerful position in the entertainment field is on shaky ground when she joins the group for their reunion. She has been accused of sexual harassment (totally false), the tabloids are having a field day, and her calls to clients and colleagues are not being returned.

As each of the women navigate these turning points in their present lives, we trace their pasts leading up to the reunion weekend. As they repair their friendship, there are many revelations, and some surprising twists. And in the middle of it all, we have Audrey. We live with her thoughts and journey, even as she fades in and out of losing her faculties. Just as she did with Lauren’s idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in Pack Up the Moon, Kristan Higgins makes you feel like you are front and center with everything the victim is feeling and experiencing. As much as I love her lighter happier romances, Kristan is brilliant when it comes to her more serious novels.

When I saw that Kristan Higgins had changed publishers and this new book was being offered at a heavily discounted price, I admit I was worried. I still do not understand what is going on there, but I need not have worried about the quality of her work falling off. Not that I really was. This is her most powerful book yet. Not as funny or romantic of course, but though not front and center with those aspects, she can still bring the laughter as well as the tears. And yes, there is a romance.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a sweet book that really dives into four friends who were inseparable in high school. It is so emotional and just full of feeling. This is one of those books that really got to me because of my personal connection with dementia. It’s a heartless disease and just so heartbreaking. The narrators really captured the emotions so well. I know the author states that she hoped we would laugh, cry, and have a book hangover. Well I did laugh and cry. So she accomplished her mission. Just overall a really good book.

[Kayla Kopke · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was so good! Four best friends in high school, “The Core Four” suffer a tragedy together and end up not speaking for 25 years until they reconvene for their 25 year reunion.

We hear from the perspectives of all 4 women, one of whom is suffering early onset dementia. The characters are so fully developed and real. The end had me sobbing like a baby.

It’s a beautiful story and the pacing is perfect. Even though there are so many perspectives, nothing is confusing at all. Available on kindle unlimited!

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story of friendship and loss.

Audrey, Micah, Jasmine, and Beck were known as the Core Four; they grew up incredibly close. They spent their high school years together, with much of their time at Audrey's farm, where they were deeply loved and mothered by her mom, Dr. Kate. But right after graduation, a horrible accident tears the Core Four apart. Now it's their 25-year high school reunion and Audrey has asked her friends to come back together at the farm one last time. She has something to tell them--she has early onset dementia and intends to end her life before it worsens.

The story flashes between the group's adventures and times in high school and their present-day lives. We see how none of them are as happy as they felt in their Core Four days. It's easy to get lost in their lives and Higgins depicts their emotions and worries incredibly well. Each woman has a lot to deal with, honestly! There's a wonderful side plot with Audrey and her stepdaughter that especially tugged at my heartstrings.

This isn't always an easy story to read, but it's a great exploration of friendship, forgiveness, and grief.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing in return for an unbiased review.

[tals · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was my first book by kristan higgins & i’m feeling rather mixed about it.
i did enjoy the story & the characters (some more than others 😂) & there were definitely parts that i really liked. i thought there were some lovely character relationships & moments that felt really genuine & i can definitely see why people love kristan higgins’ writing.
that being said it took me a really long time to get into this one. i found myself losing focus quite a few times & there were moments where i felt like the story was dragging a little. once i was properly invested i enjoyed it a lot more but it just never quite had me desperate to pick it back up.
overall i’m glad i read it & i’d definitely be open to trying another book by kristan higgins because i did enjoy her characters & the way she writes relationships.. i just don’t think this particular one was a complete hit for me.

[Caitlin Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey, so I won't recover from this book. 😭

[SamM · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ stars...The Me I Used to Be (thanks to NetGalley for the eARC, release date 9/13) immediately caught my attention with its focus on early-onset dementia. That aspect hit especially close to home for me, as it mirrors my mom’s diagnosis—and I’m now approaching the age when her symptoms first began. The author does a beautiful, heartbreaking job portraying the reality of living with this disease, particularly at such a young age.

The story follows four friends who reunite after 25 years when one of them, facing this diagnosis, wants to reconnect and rebuild what they once had. It’s told through dual timelines and multiple POVs, moving between their teenage years—full of hopes and plans for the future—and the present, where life hasn’t quite turned out the way they imagined. A traumatic event shortly after graduation fractured their friendship, and unraveling what happened adds an emotional layer to the story.

This book hit me differently because of its subject matter, but beyond that personal connection, I genuinely enjoyed the story. It’s reflective, emotional, and a thoughtful look at friendship, memory, and the passage of time.

[Liz Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sweetest kind of loving

It broke my heart. It also reminded me to value my friends and to treasure what matters. It gives a look inside of dementia I’m glad to have seen. Highly recommended.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Me I Used to Be by Kristan Higgins is a beautifully layered, character driven story that perfectly captures why she remains such a standout voice in contemporary fiction. Blending her signature humor with deeply poignant themes, this novel explores friendship, family, grief, and the complicated ways the past continues to shape who we become. Through dual timelines that move seamlessly between past and present, Higgins crafts a narrative that feels both intimate and expansive, drawing you into the lives of four former best friends whose bond was once unbreakable.

Set against the backdrop of a twenty five year reunion, the story slowly unravels long buried secrets and unresolved heartbreak, revealing how one tragic night altered the course of their lives forever. The shifting timelines are handled with care, making the pacing feel compelling and immersive rather than disjointed. Each character is richly developed, carrying their own regrets, losses, and quiet hopes, and the emotional weight of their shared history builds steadily as the story unfolds. It’s incredibly moving—at times devastating—but balanced with moments of warmth, connection, and even levity that keep it from feeling overwhelmingly heavy.

The ending is both heartbreaking and perfect, the kind that leaves you sitting in your feelings long after you’ve turned the final page. Fans of Pack Up the Moon will find similar emotional depth here, as Higgins once again delivers a story that is as thought provoking as it is tear inducing. This is the kind of novel that begs to be discussed, making it an ideal pick for book clubs, there’s so much to unpack about friendship, forgiveness, and whether the past can ever truly be left behind. A truly beautiful, unforgettable read—even if you’ll likely be sobbing through parts of it.

[Kelly Veit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a very tough read for me. Two people in my family have recently passed from Alzheimer’s disease and it is a terrible thing to watch. I do feel Higgans dealt with it in a careful and respectful way. 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐭 dementia is even more devastating.

Audrey gets her “core four” high school friends back together to announce her diagnosis. The dual timelines and alternating perspectives bring everything full circle. After twenty five years the women share the circumstances of their lives and navigate a path to forgiveness.

Please take care in reading this one if DEMENTIA is triggering for you. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

It had been 25 years since an accident severed the ties between the "Core Four", and Audrey invited the other three to her home for reunion weekend where they discover each other's painful secrets and the unwavering love and support they have for one another.

I went into this book blind because it's Higgins, I know it will be good. Needless to say, I was unprepared for this story. One of the hardest things was watching dementia take my grandmother from me and reading about it brings all those feelings back. Needless to say, this was an emotional story for me, but Higgins did a wonderful job balancing the hefty storylines with warmth, humor, and joy.

With a female friendship at the center of the story, this was my catnip. The story was primarily told from the perspective of the Core Four flipping between then and now. What happened was heartbreaking and the ramifications of that event seemed to be lasting. It was kind of sad that it took 25 years and a health event to reunite these friends, but the results were wonderful.

There were times during this story where I wasn't sure about the choices being made, but I simply had to trust Higgins. In the end, I was pleased with the way things played out. I appreciated the paths each woman took and that other characters were able to redeem themselves.

All I can say is, get ready to cry and smile and cheer, but cry a lot. This was a beautiful story of friendship and love and loss. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming, and something that made me think and reflect on things.

*ARC provided by publisher

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[Joanie Gramlich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my, this book was SO, SO good!! I absolutely loved it and could not put it down!

Audrey, Micah, Jasmine, and Beck—the “Core Four”—were inseparable growing up, until one tragic night changed everything. Twenty-five years later, they’re brought back together for their high school reunion, where they must face what happened all those years ago while also dealing with a life-changing diagnosis for one of their own.

This story gave me ALL the feels. It’s a beautiful and emotional story of friendship, forgiveness, second chances, and the bonds that can survive even after years apart.

Get the tissues ready for this one—it definitely had me teared up, but oh, it was SO good!

Thank you to Kristan Higgins, NetGalley, and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

I originally rated this book three stars but then I thought about it a little and decided there was too much about it that aggravated me to justify that rating.

First and foremost, the fmc’s choice to abstain from suicide. Don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating for suicide. However I am a supporter of right to die in the setting of terminal illness and many people struggle to care for those with dementia. It’s a huge issue in the USA and elsewhere. So the author’s choice to have the fmc change her mind at the last minute and then not address any of the factors that led to that decision made me irrationally angry. If the fmc was worried about incontinence, behavior changes, safety, then show that. Don’t just say “and then she died and everyone was happy and nothing ever got poop on it and the fmc never became combative and told her lovely brother to f*ck off”

It took what was a serious choice and a statement about the value of life and cheapened it by hiding the consequences of her choice (good and bad). The author states in the afterword that she volunteers in hospice so I know it’s not a lack of knowledge.

Second, every friend had insane drama to the point of absurdity.

Third, the voices were indistinguishable from each other.

Finally, the resolutions were easy and cheap. Micah was forgiven. Jasmine just putters off to a new neighborhood. Beck has the perfect day in court. Clay magically just stops sucking?

Anyway, I just read Whistler by Ann Patchett which outshone this book to the point it feels like bullying to compare them. So perhaps that is a factor in my rating.

[Dwon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this book destroyed me

[Lidia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry but after one hundred pages I couldn't read more. So much drama, angst, bad luck. The topic about dementia was interesting like that of friendship but everything else was so catastrophic: maybe good things will come to the end only I can't make it.