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The Me I Used to Be
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26At 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.
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.
- GenresFictionContemporary
347 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 15, 2026
10 people are currently reading
935 people want to read
About the author
Kristan Higgins
52 books13.1k followersKristan Higgins is the New York Times, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than twenty novels, which have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. If you want to receive a free short story and be notified when Kristan releases a new book, sign up at kristanhiggins.com.
Kristan enjoys gardening, mixology, the National Parks and complimenting strangers on their children. The mother of two entertaining and wonderful humans, and the grandmother of one perfect child, Kristan lives in Connecticut with her heroic firefighter husband, cuddly dog and indifferent cat.
Kristan enjoys gardening, mixology, the National Parks and complimenting strangers on their children. The mother of two entertaining and wonderful humans, and the grandmother of one perfect child, Kristan lives in Connecticut with her heroic firefighter husband, cuddly dog and indifferent cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 23, 2026
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.
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.
March 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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Back in senior year, Audrey, Micah, Jasmine, and Beck were the Core Four: the lucky one, the beautiful one, the smart one, the sporty one. They had color-coded dreams, inside jokes, and a lifelong friendship they thought would last forever. But graduation night ended in a tragic accident, followed by the kind of silence that stretches for decades.
Now, they’ve returned for their reunion, each carrying a life that looks nothing like the glossy future they imagined. There are stalled careers, complicated marriages, outspoken adult children, and secrets that never fit into holiday cards. For one of them, a diagnosis of early-onset dementia turns the weekend into a ticking clock.
Across one unforgettable weekend, the Core Four must decide if their past can still change their future together.
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I have been a huge fan of Kristan Higgins's books since back in the Gideon's Cove and Blue Heron days, and she has long been one of my auto-buy authors. Therefore, when given the chance to read her newest novel months before its publication date, I jumped at the chance and placed my entire TBR list off to the side so I could devour it this afternoon. Higgins was once an author who gave us swoon-worthy men and strong FMCs in her series contemporary romances (always with the important canine sidekick thrown in), and they were always fun to read. However, over the last decade or so, her novels have become fuller and deeper, and while they are still romances at their core (and those canine companions are still a part of every story), they have a complexity that was not evident in those earlier stories.
The tone of Higgins' latest offering reminds me a little bit of her 2021 title PACK UP THE MOON, possibly because I recently reread it in audiobook form, in that it has as a central theme a scary medical diagnosis and revolves around its effects on a family/found family (one of my favorite tropes) group. Told through multiple timelines and multiple viewpoints, it traces the story of four friends as they experience first a tragedy in high school, then it's ramifications throughout their early adulthoods, and finally a resolution that is unlike anything they ever could have expected. This grabbed me from the first chapter, and I read it straight through in a very satisfying binge reading session, which is actually the way I read most of Higgins's books, now that I think of it. I am so thrilled that this author has a new book being launched out into the world, and I hope there will be many more where this one came from.
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Back in senior year, Audrey, Micah, Jasmine, and Beck were the Core Four: the lucky one, the beautiful one, the smart one, the sporty one. They had color-coded dreams, inside jokes, and a lifelong friendship they thought would last forever. But graduation night ended in a tragic accident, followed by the kind of silence that stretches for decades.
Now, they’ve returned for their reunion, each carrying a life that looks nothing like the glossy future they imagined. There are stalled careers, complicated marriages, outspoken adult children, and secrets that never fit into holiday cards. For one of them, a diagnosis of early-onset dementia turns the weekend into a ticking clock.
Across one unforgettable weekend, the Core Four must decide if their past can still change their future together.
----------
I have been a huge fan of Kristan Higgins's books since back in the Gideon's Cove and Blue Heron days, and she has long been one of my auto-buy authors. Therefore, when given the chance to read her newest novel months before its publication date, I jumped at the chance and placed my entire TBR list off to the side so I could devour it this afternoon. Higgins was once an author who gave us swoon-worthy men and strong FMCs in her series contemporary romances (always with the important canine sidekick thrown in), and they were always fun to read. However, over the last decade or so, her novels have become fuller and deeper, and while they are still romances at their core (and those canine companions are still a part of every story), they have a complexity that was not evident in those earlier stories.
The tone of Higgins' latest offering reminds me a little bit of her 2021 title PACK UP THE MOON, possibly because I recently reread it in audiobook form, in that it has as a central theme a scary medical diagnosis and revolves around its effects on a family/found family (one of my favorite tropes) group. Told through multiple timelines and multiple viewpoints, it traces the story of four friends as they experience first a tragedy in high school, then it's ramifications throughout their early adulthoods, and finally a resolution that is unlike anything they ever could have expected. This grabbed me from the first chapter, and I read it straight through in a very satisfying binge reading session, which is actually the way I read most of Higgins's books, now that I think of it. I am so thrilled that this author has a new book being launched out into the world, and I hope there will be many more where this one came from.
March 18, 2026
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.
March 18, 2026
I’ve only ever read one book by KH in the past - Pack Up The Moon - and it had me crying after every chapter so I was definitely prepared incase this one had me feeling similarly.
In The Me I Used To Be we follow four friends, finally reuniting 25 years after a tragedy shattered their teenage lives. Honestly, I really believed the awkwardness and mindless chatter amongst the characters, because how exactly do you greet the people you swore you’d always have in your life? Especially if you haven’t spoken in a quarter of a century! However, the reason for them being together again is not a happy one. I really enjoyed diving deep into each characters life, in both past and present timelines, and understanding the devastation surrounding THAT NIGHT from each new perspective.
The ending was so upsetting in the best way but I’m glad it ended the way it did. Each character getting their own moment to wrap up their own story was so great. There’s not much else I can say without potentially spoiling the plot, but if you like books that make you cry - definitely check this one out!
In The Me I Used To Be we follow four friends, finally reuniting 25 years after a tragedy shattered their teenage lives. Honestly, I really believed the awkwardness and mindless chatter amongst the characters, because how exactly do you greet the people you swore you’d always have in your life? Especially if you haven’t spoken in a quarter of a century! However, the reason for them being together again is not a happy one. I really enjoyed diving deep into each characters life, in both past and present timelines, and understanding the devastation surrounding THAT NIGHT from each new perspective.
The ending was so upsetting in the best way but I’m glad it ended the way it did. Each character getting their own moment to wrap up their own story was so great. There’s not much else I can say without potentially spoiling the plot, but if you like books that make you cry - definitely check this one out!
March 22, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
I really loved this book. It was the first book I read from this author and after the reading experience I had, definitely not the last.
This book follows a story of four high school friends whose lives were tragically changed after one night. When their 25th year high school reunion brought them back together, it was on them if they can overcome what happened and be in each other's future again.
One of many things that stood out to me were the Audrey chapters that were written in second person, which made the book so much more impactful to me. I was also a really big fan of the mix of present and past timelines.
It was such a beautiful and emotional book about friendship and life over all that made me care about each of the characters so much. And I must say that I loved how the ending was so sad but beautiful at the same time making my eyes tear up.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
I really loved this book. It was the first book I read from this author and after the reading experience I had, definitely not the last.
This book follows a story of four high school friends whose lives were tragically changed after one night. When their 25th year high school reunion brought them back together, it was on them if they can overcome what happened and be in each other's future again.
One of many things that stood out to me were the Audrey chapters that were written in second person, which made the book so much more impactful to me. I was also a really big fan of the mix of present and past timelines.
It was such a beautiful and emotional book about friendship and life over all that made me care about each of the characters so much. And I must say that I loved how the ending was so sad but beautiful at the same time making my eyes tear up.
April 1, 2026
This was Kristan Higgins at her best. Nothing quite like good friendships and those that truly know you and understand you when times are tough.
March 27, 2026
Kristan Higgins’ 2026 novel is a deeply moving exploration of friendship, loss, and the enduring pull of the past. At its heart is “The Core 4”—Audrey, Beck, Jasmine, and Micah—four girls who were inseparable throughout high school, bound by shared secrets, loyalty, and the unshakable belief that nothing could ever come between them. Like so many youthful promises, their vow to remain “thick as thieves” feels invincible—until life, in its unpredictability, intervenes.
What follows graduation is not the bright, shared future they once imagined, but a devastating rupture none of them could have foreseen. A tragic car accident involving the four friends results in the death of Audrey’s mother, an event that fractures their bond beyond repair. In the aftermath, guilt, grief, and unspoken blame scatter them in different directions. The Core 4 ceases to exist—not with a dramatic confrontation, but with silence, distance, and the quiet erosion of connection. For twenty-five years, they build lives apart, each carrying their own version of what happened that night.
As their high school reunion approaches, the past begins to stir. Audrey—once the “princess” of the group, now living a seemingly idyllic life on her farm—reaches out with an unexpected invitation: a weekend together, just the four of them. Beck, Jasmine, and Micah arrive with hesitation, baggage, and unanswered questions. None are prepared for the truth Audrey reveals—a diagnosis of early-onset dementia that reframes everything. Faced with the impending loss of her memories, Audrey is determined to confront the past and mend what was broken before it’s too late.
Higgins masterfully weaves between past and present, giving each woman her own voice and perspective. Through these shifting timelines, the novel reveals not just what happened, but how differently each friend experienced it. The story becomes less about the accident itself and more about the ripple effects of grief, the weight of personal choices, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
What makes this novel especially compelling is its emotional honesty. Higgins doesn’t offer easy resolutions or tidy forgiveness; instead, she delves into the messy, complicated reality of long-broken relationships. The women must grapple not only with each other, but with who they’ve become in the absence of the friendship that once defined them.
Ultimately, this is a story about second chances—not just in friendship, but in understanding, in accountability, and in love. It asks a poignant question: how do you reclaim something that was lost not in a single moment, but over decades of silence?
Rich in character, layered in emotion, and grounded in the bittersweet passage of time, this novel is a powerful reminder that while the past cannot be changed, it can still shape the way we choose to move forward.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the chance to read and review this ARC!
What follows graduation is not the bright, shared future they once imagined, but a devastating rupture none of them could have foreseen. A tragic car accident involving the four friends results in the death of Audrey’s mother, an event that fractures their bond beyond repair. In the aftermath, guilt, grief, and unspoken blame scatter them in different directions. The Core 4 ceases to exist—not with a dramatic confrontation, but with silence, distance, and the quiet erosion of connection. For twenty-five years, they build lives apart, each carrying their own version of what happened that night.
As their high school reunion approaches, the past begins to stir. Audrey—once the “princess” of the group, now living a seemingly idyllic life on her farm—reaches out with an unexpected invitation: a weekend together, just the four of them. Beck, Jasmine, and Micah arrive with hesitation, baggage, and unanswered questions. None are prepared for the truth Audrey reveals—a diagnosis of early-onset dementia that reframes everything. Faced with the impending loss of her memories, Audrey is determined to confront the past and mend what was broken before it’s too late.
Higgins masterfully weaves between past and present, giving each woman her own voice and perspective. Through these shifting timelines, the novel reveals not just what happened, but how differently each friend experienced it. The story becomes less about the accident itself and more about the ripple effects of grief, the weight of personal choices, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
What makes this novel especially compelling is its emotional honesty. Higgins doesn’t offer easy resolutions or tidy forgiveness; instead, she delves into the messy, complicated reality of long-broken relationships. The women must grapple not only with each other, but with who they’ve become in the absence of the friendship that once defined them.
Ultimately, this is a story about second chances—not just in friendship, but in understanding, in accountability, and in love. It asks a poignant question: how do you reclaim something that was lost not in a single moment, but over decades of silence?
Rich in character, layered in emotion, and grounded in the bittersweet passage of time, this novel is a powerful reminder that while the past cannot be changed, it can still shape the way we choose to move forward.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the chance to read and review this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The author is a masterful storyteller whose emotional character development shines in this novel.
Once upon a time, four teenage girls – the Core Four – ruled their high school social scene through their deep bond of friendship, even family. All that changed at graduation with a tragic accident that shattered their connection and left them adrift for a quarter of a century.
As their 25th high school reunion approaches, Audrey (ironically labelled the Lucky One) invites the other three women to spend the weekend at her home. The invitations are met with surprise and some trepidation, yet each one commits to spending time together as an opportunity to heal the rift in their friendship.
The chapters shift skillfully between the past and the present timelines as well as alternate between the perspectives of the women and Audrey’s 16-year-old stepdaughter. The prose is deeply evocative – especially through Audrey’s narrative, which reveals and illuminates the horrific experience of coping with the progressive degeneration of early onset dementia. The women eventually embrace both personal and collective reckonings based on the twists and turns their lives have taken in the face of their once-held youthful dreams.
This impact of this story stayed with me for several days after completing the book. I do not often consider reading a novel a second time, but this one is worthy of an additional future reading. It is both heart-wrenching and heart-warming with a fresh approach to the complexities of friendships, second chances, family relationships, guilt, betrayal, love, misplaced responsibility, and chronic illness.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
Once upon a time, four teenage girls – the Core Four – ruled their high school social scene through their deep bond of friendship, even family. All that changed at graduation with a tragic accident that shattered their connection and left them adrift for a quarter of a century.
As their 25th high school reunion approaches, Audrey (ironically labelled the Lucky One) invites the other three women to spend the weekend at her home. The invitations are met with surprise and some trepidation, yet each one commits to spending time together as an opportunity to heal the rift in their friendship.
The chapters shift skillfully between the past and the present timelines as well as alternate between the perspectives of the women and Audrey’s 16-year-old stepdaughter. The prose is deeply evocative – especially through Audrey’s narrative, which reveals and illuminates the horrific experience of coping with the progressive degeneration of early onset dementia. The women eventually embrace both personal and collective reckonings based on the twists and turns their lives have taken in the face of their once-held youthful dreams.
This impact of this story stayed with me for several days after completing the book. I do not often consider reading a novel a second time, but this one is worthy of an additional future reading. It is both heart-wrenching and heart-warming with a fresh approach to the complexities of friendships, second chances, family relationships, guilt, betrayal, love, misplaced responsibility, and chronic illness.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Me I Used to Be is a masterclass in how past and present collide. Higgins takes a simple premise—a high school reunion—and turns it into a sophisticated exploration of friendship, memory, and the unforeseen consequences of time. The Core Four—Audrey, Micah, Jasmine, and Beck—aren’t just nostalgic stand-ins for teenage archetypes; they’re fully realized adults navigating careers, families, and secrets that don’t fit neatly into life’s tidy boxes.
Structurally, Higgins’s use of multiple timelines and perspectives is both elegant and purposeful. It allows the narrative to balance reflection with immediacy, showing how choices and trauma ripple decades later. The pacing is impressive; what could have easily become a meandering introspection instead unfolds with momentum and tension, keeping the reader engaged while letting character depth breathe.
Thematically, the novel doesn’t shy away from the messy intersections of aging, illness, and unresolved conflict. Yet Higgins also keeps the prose lively, injecting moments of humor, irony, and genuine insight that prevent the story from feeling weighed down. There’s an intellectual pleasure in noticing how carefully she maps the characters’ emotional arcs alongside their social and familial landscapes—it’s a reminder that friendship is as complex as it is enduring.
In short, The Me I Used to Be delivers more than nostalgia and drama. It’s a nuanced, intelligent examination of what it means to grow up, grow apart, and possibly grow back together. For readers who appreciate character-driven fiction with real-world resonance—and a dash of wit—this is a book that sticks.
Structurally, Higgins’s use of multiple timelines and perspectives is both elegant and purposeful. It allows the narrative to balance reflection with immediacy, showing how choices and trauma ripple decades later. The pacing is impressive; what could have easily become a meandering introspection instead unfolds with momentum and tension, keeping the reader engaged while letting character depth breathe.
Thematically, the novel doesn’t shy away from the messy intersections of aging, illness, and unresolved conflict. Yet Higgins also keeps the prose lively, injecting moments of humor, irony, and genuine insight that prevent the story from feeling weighed down. There’s an intellectual pleasure in noticing how carefully she maps the characters’ emotional arcs alongside their social and familial landscapes—it’s a reminder that friendship is as complex as it is enduring.
In short, The Me I Used to Be delivers more than nostalgia and drama. It’s a nuanced, intelligent examination of what it means to grow up, grow apart, and possibly grow back together. For readers who appreciate character-driven fiction with real-world resonance—and a dash of wit—this is a book that sticks.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kristan Higgins has been a go to writer for me for many years now. I love her wit, her strong characterisation, the emotional intensity of her writing, her New England settings, that there is always a dog in the picture somewhere - basically I love her books. The Me I Used to Be is no exception.
Four friends, those girls in High School only they are not mean, just popular and so close there is no room for anyone else. Audrey is the lucky one, with the perfect home and family, her life gilded and easy. Micah is the beautiful one who dreams of getting out their small Vermont town. Beck is the sporty one of whom big things are expected. And Jasmine is the smart one, driven to rise above her neglected poverty-stricken background. The summer after High School graduation is their golden time before they head off in different directions - only for a car accident to have devastating consequences and drive them apart. Now, twenty five years later their school reunion is on the horizon and Audrey asks them all to stay. It's time to reconcile, with the past, with each other, with the mistakes they have made. But Audrey has a reason for inviting them now, and dealing with that will be their biggest challenge yet.
Higgins moves the narrative from present day, back to their childhoods and through each of the women's lives with seemingly effortless ease, creating a compelling read. I raced through this book through to the inevitable bitter sweet end. There were so many beautiful touches, from the unexpected romance at the High School dance to the unfolding of Micah's love story with her husband, James. Warning: you will need tissues.
Four friends, those girls in High School only they are not mean, just popular and so close there is no room for anyone else. Audrey is the lucky one, with the perfect home and family, her life gilded and easy. Micah is the beautiful one who dreams of getting out their small Vermont town. Beck is the sporty one of whom big things are expected. And Jasmine is the smart one, driven to rise above her neglected poverty-stricken background. The summer after High School graduation is their golden time before they head off in different directions - only for a car accident to have devastating consequences and drive them apart. Now, twenty five years later their school reunion is on the horizon and Audrey asks them all to stay. It's time to reconcile, with the past, with each other, with the mistakes they have made. But Audrey has a reason for inviting them now, and dealing with that will be their biggest challenge yet.
Higgins moves the narrative from present day, back to their childhoods and through each of the women's lives with seemingly effortless ease, creating a compelling read. I raced through this book through to the inevitable bitter sweet end. There were so many beautiful touches, from the unexpected romance at the High School dance to the unfolding of Micah's love story with her husband, James. Warning: you will need tissues.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley & Union Publishing for this ARC.
This is a thoughtful, emotional novel about friendship, memory, and how a single moment can change the course of several lives.
The story follows four friends whose lives were forever altered after a tragedy during their teenage years. In the aftermath, the closeness they once shared falls apart and their lives move in very different directions. When their 25-year high school reunion approaches, it brings them back into each other’s orbit and forces them to confront the past and the ways that one night shaped everything that followed.
What really stood out to me was the character work. Kristan Higgins writes people who feel authentic and layered—messy, complicated, and deeply human. The friendships felt believable, especially the mix of loyalty, resentment, love, and unresolved history that still lingers between them. Watching them reflect on their younger selves and the lives they built afterward added a lot of emotional weight to the story.
The book also weaves in themes of identity and memory as the main character faces a life-changing diagnosis that makes her reflect on her past and the choices ahead. Higgins handles these heavier themes with sensitivity and compassion while still keeping the focus on relationships and personal growth.
Overall, this was a moving and reflective read about friendship, regret, forgiveness, and the lasting impact of the moments that shape who we become.
#TheMeIUsedtoBe #NetGalley
This is a thoughtful, emotional novel about friendship, memory, and how a single moment can change the course of several lives.
The story follows four friends whose lives were forever altered after a tragedy during their teenage years. In the aftermath, the closeness they once shared falls apart and their lives move in very different directions. When their 25-year high school reunion approaches, it brings them back into each other’s orbit and forces them to confront the past and the ways that one night shaped everything that followed.
What really stood out to me was the character work. Kristan Higgins writes people who feel authentic and layered—messy, complicated, and deeply human. The friendships felt believable, especially the mix of loyalty, resentment, love, and unresolved history that still lingers between them. Watching them reflect on their younger selves and the lives they built afterward added a lot of emotional weight to the story.
The book also weaves in themes of identity and memory as the main character faces a life-changing diagnosis that makes her reflect on her past and the choices ahead. Higgins handles these heavier themes with sensitivity and compassion while still keeping the focus on relationships and personal growth.
Overall, this was a moving and reflective read about friendship, regret, forgiveness, and the lasting impact of the moments that shape who we become.
#TheMeIUsedtoBe #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Me I Used To Be
By Kristan Higgins
Release Date 09:15/2026
Kristan’s books are an automatic add, automatic request, automatic buy for me. I don’t even need to read the blurb. Every single one of her books leaves me both comforted and completely wrecked.
This was, of course, another 5-star⭐️ read that absolutely shattered me.
Think of Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time as the soundtrack to this story. The novel moves between the past and present of the Core Four—Audrey, Beck, Jasmine, and Micah—best friends whose lives were changed forever by a terrible car accident just days before graduation, leading to 25 years apart.
A high school reunion, along with Audrey’s terminal diagnosis of early-onset dementia, brings them back together as though no time has passed. But so much has passed. Through each woman’s past and present perspective, you see how differently their lives unfolded and how much pain, love, and history still lives between them.
This is such a girls’ girl kind of book. The way these women show up for each other, protect each other, and carry each other through the hardest moments was beautiful. It made me cry—really cry—more than once.
I also appreciated the way the book touches on early-onset dementia. Having lost two grandparents to Alzheimer’s, that part felt especially heartbreaking and personal. It’s a cruel disease that affects everyone around it, and this story handled that emotional weight in a way that really stayed with me.
#kristanhiggins
#lakeunionpublishing
#themeiusedtobe
#earlyonsetalzheimers
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dement...
By Kristan Higgins
Release Date 09:15/2026
Kristan’s books are an automatic add, automatic request, automatic buy for me. I don’t even need to read the blurb. Every single one of her books leaves me both comforted and completely wrecked.
This was, of course, another 5-star⭐️ read that absolutely shattered me.
Think of Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time as the soundtrack to this story. The novel moves between the past and present of the Core Four—Audrey, Beck, Jasmine, and Micah—best friends whose lives were changed forever by a terrible car accident just days before graduation, leading to 25 years apart.
A high school reunion, along with Audrey’s terminal diagnosis of early-onset dementia, brings them back together as though no time has passed. But so much has passed. Through each woman’s past and present perspective, you see how differently their lives unfolded and how much pain, love, and history still lives between them.
This is such a girls’ girl kind of book. The way these women show up for each other, protect each other, and carry each other through the hardest moments was beautiful. It made me cry—really cry—more than once.
I also appreciated the way the book touches on early-onset dementia. Having lost two grandparents to Alzheimer’s, that part felt especially heartbreaking and personal. It’s a cruel disease that affects everyone around it, and this story handled that emotional weight in a way that really stayed with me.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is an incredible book on so many different leves. We are inserted into a class reunion planning of "the Core Four" from high school that lost touch following a tragedy that changed the trajectory of their lives. After receiving an invitation from Audrey the group of friends gather and after a few awkward moments the closeness returns. Audrey, Jasmine, Beck, and Micah's lives have not exactly turned out the way they dreamed of in school and through the book we learn the back story of the tragedy as well as each individual life as the ladies now find themselves being called upon to be strong for one member of the group. Audrey has pulled the group together after being diagnosed with early on set dimentia in her early 40s which is a death sentence not only for the life she thinks she has but her physical well being as well. This poignant and well laid out story shares the stories of these women who all have been dealing with life and all that it throws at you. What makes this novel especially compelling is its emotional honesty. Higgins doesn’t offer easy resolutions or tidy forgiveness; instead, she delves into the messy, complicated reality of long-broken relationships. The women must grapple not only with each other, but with who they’ve become in the absence of the friendship that once defined them. Ultimately, this is a story about second chances, not just in friendship, but in understanding, in accountability, life and in love. My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for thsi opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Four childhood best friends lost contact years ago after a life-altering accident. Audrey, one of the four, has early-onset dementia and chooses to invite her old friends for a weekend to reconnect. It turns out all four women (who were known as the "Core Four") have secrets and struggles in their lives today and maybe their connection can help them all heal and move on. The story is told from multiple character perspectives in both the past and present.
The first half of the story is more about learning who the four women were in the past and are in the present. I enjoyed getting to know each of them in both settings. The second half of the book hit hard with the emotional devastation that comes with dementia - both the impacts on those around the affected person and the chapters told from the perspective of Audrey as she is aware of what is happening to her. This second half was a hard read for me. I will say the end was a little too perfect for our characters, but I won't fault the book for that - a little hope was needed.
While it was a tough read for me, it was very well done. If you are ok with the subject matter I would highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book - all opinions are my own.
The first half of the story is more about learning who the four women were in the past and are in the present. I enjoyed getting to know each of them in both settings. The second half of the book hit hard with the emotional devastation that comes with dementia - both the impacts on those around the affected person and the chapters told from the perspective of Audrey as she is aware of what is happening to her. This second half was a hard read for me. I will say the end was a little too perfect for our characters, but I won't fault the book for that - a little hope was needed.
While it was a tough read for me, it was very well done. If you are ok with the subject matter I would highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book - all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a total emotional destruction kind of book, leaving me in a puddle but feeling so grateful for my own health.
Audrey and her three best friends were known as the Core Four in high school, until a terrible accident left them adrift, grieving in their own ways. Twenty five years later, they reunite for their high school reunion when Audrey decides they need to make up amidst her battle with early onset dementia.
This was a multiple POV story, and each character had a distinctive voice and their own battles to fight in their own lives. Family trouble, work drama, and hidden secrets threaten to upend their lives just as they kickstart the friendships that feel more like sisterhood, and it was beautiful to see the support they began to give one another again.
Audrey's chapters pierced right through my heart as her dementia worsened, making them incredibly hard to read. If dementia is a trigger for you, please use caution with this one!
Overall, this story had so many moments of simple beauty, of friendship and love, and a great reminder to be thankful for the good things in our lives. Beautifully done!
Audrey and her three best friends were known as the Core Four in high school, until a terrible accident left them adrift, grieving in their own ways. Twenty five years later, they reunite for their high school reunion when Audrey decides they need to make up amidst her battle with early onset dementia.
This was a multiple POV story, and each character had a distinctive voice and their own battles to fight in their own lives. Family trouble, work drama, and hidden secrets threaten to upend their lives just as they kickstart the friendships that feel more like sisterhood, and it was beautiful to see the support they began to give one another again.
Audrey's chapters pierced right through my heart as her dementia worsened, making them incredibly hard to read. If dementia is a trigger for you, please use caution with this one!
Overall, this story had so many moments of simple beauty, of friendship and love, and a great reminder to be thankful for the good things in our lives. Beautifully done!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 stars rounded up for GR.
This book is filled with a lot of heart.
Four friends. One weekend. A chance to put the past behind them and reconnect.
Audrey, Micah, Jasmine, and Beck were thick as thieves in high school but got torn apart when tragedy struck right after graduation. It's been twenty-five years and they're basically strangers when they come face to face again at their reunion.
With one of them facing the reality of early-onset dementia, is it time to let the past go and be the Core Four once more?
I couldn't put this one down. It has dual timeline so we get glimpses of their younger selves and how things went awry as they grew up and apart. The change in POV/tense was jarring at times, but I think it helped to solidify what was happening and the disorienting feeling added to the connection with the character.
I had tears at several points, let out a gasp or two, and was thoroughly invested in seeing how it all played out.
This book would be good for those who like:
- found family
- second chances
Thank you to Lake Union for the eARC.
This book is filled with a lot of heart.
Four friends. One weekend. A chance to put the past behind them and reconnect.
Audrey, Micah, Jasmine, and Beck were thick as thieves in high school but got torn apart when tragedy struck right after graduation. It's been twenty-five years and they're basically strangers when they come face to face again at their reunion.
With one of them facing the reality of early-onset dementia, is it time to let the past go and be the Core Four once more?
I couldn't put this one down. It has dual timeline so we get glimpses of their younger selves and how things went awry as they grew up and apart. The change in POV/tense was jarring at times, but I think it helped to solidify what was happening and the disorienting feeling added to the connection with the character.
I had tears at several points, let out a gasp or two, and was thoroughly invested in seeing how it all played out.
This book would be good for those who like:
- found family
- second chances
Thank you to Lake Union for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Me I Used to Be is the 17th book I've read by Kristan Higgins, and it's my absolute favorite.
Audrey is suffering from early-onset dementia and wants to get the 'core four' back together again one last time for a reunion weekend. Audrey, Micah, Jasmine, and Beck were the core four back in high school, but their bond fell apart after a devastating accident. Each of the women live very different lives now, but the foundation of their friendship is still there.
The Me I Used to Be delves into each of the friends' lives, along with a couple other POV's. This novel takes you on such an emotional journey and is an absolute tearjerker. It's thought-provoking and makes you reflect on the simple joys in life. Although it's an emotional read, it's still fun and had me completely immersed in the story. I LOVED it.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, Kristan Higgins, and NetGalley for the eBook advanced reader's copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own. The Me I Used to Be is set to be released on September 15, 2026.
Audrey is suffering from early-onset dementia and wants to get the 'core four' back together again one last time for a reunion weekend. Audrey, Micah, Jasmine, and Beck were the core four back in high school, but their bond fell apart after a devastating accident. Each of the women live very different lives now, but the foundation of their friendship is still there.
The Me I Used to Be delves into each of the friends' lives, along with a couple other POV's. This novel takes you on such an emotional journey and is an absolute tearjerker. It's thought-provoking and makes you reflect on the simple joys in life. Although it's an emotional read, it's still fun and had me completely immersed in the story. I LOVED it.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, Kristan Higgins, and NetGalley for the eBook advanced reader's copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own. The Me I Used to Be is set to be released on September 15, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
An utterly devastating novel about memory, friendship, family, and time.
I really appreciated the different perspectives from characters, and the second-person Audrey chapters were particularly brutal and unsettling (in a good way). However—and this is certainly my personal preference—I wasn't the hugest fan of Mathilda's chapters as they were riddled with teenage slang and a lot of totallys and likes. But I recognize that it certainly gave her chapters a very distinct voice separate from the adults in the narrative.
I particularly liked the way the author wove past and present together; I was able to piece parts together myself, but the chapters never gave too much away before a plot point revealed itself in a satisfying way.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
An utterly devastating novel about memory, friendship, family, and time.
I really appreciated the different perspectives from characters, and the second-person Audrey chapters were particularly brutal and unsettling (in a good way). However—and this is certainly my personal preference—I wasn't the hugest fan of Mathilda's chapters as they were riddled with teenage slang and a lot of totallys and likes. But I recognize that it certainly gave her chapters a very distinct voice separate from the adults in the narrative.
I particularly liked the way the author wove past and present together; I was able to piece parts together myself, but the chapters never gave too much away before a plot point revealed itself in a satisfying way.
April 10, 2026
The Me I Used to Be by Kristan Higgins is about four best friends who haven’t spoken in 25 years after one night basically changed everything. Now they’re all back in Nantucket for a reunion… but Audrey has a bigger reason for bringing them together.
The story goes back and forth between past and present, and I loved how it shows that everyone remembers things differently. Same night, totally different versions… and those versions shaped their whole lives.
And Audrey is the heart of this book. Even with everything she’s going through, all she wants is to bring her people back together and make the most of the time she has left. It just hits. Watching them reconnect was kind of messy and emotional, but also really comforting in a way. It’s definitely an emotional read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
The story goes back and forth between past and present, and I loved how it shows that everyone remembers things differently. Same night, totally different versions… and those versions shaped their whole lives.
And Audrey is the heart of this book. Even with everything she’s going through, all she wants is to bring her people back together and make the most of the time she has left. It just hits. Watching them reconnect was kind of messy and emotional, but also really comforting in a way. It’s definitely an emotional read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy. I absolutely loved this book.
Kristin Higgins is an auto-read author for me, it doesn’t hurt that I got to meet her years ago. The Me I Used to Be did not disappoint. The story follows the “Core Four,” a group of friends since high school whose lives were shattered by a tragic accident. Twenty-five years later, they reunite, and we learn their stories—both past and present —filled with a lot of grief, love and loss- pretty much every emotion.
I loved all the characters and the mix of heartbreak and hope makes for a powerful, bittersweet read that really stays with you.
I stayed up way too late reading this, finishing early the next morning. It’s 6am and I’m crying in my coffee. Have your tissues ready.
Kristin Higgins is an auto-read author for me, it doesn’t hurt that I got to meet her years ago. The Me I Used to Be did not disappoint. The story follows the “Core Four,” a group of friends since high school whose lives were shattered by a tragic accident. Twenty-five years later, they reunite, and we learn their stories—both past and present —filled with a lot of grief, love and loss- pretty much every emotion.
I loved all the characters and the mix of heartbreak and hope makes for a powerful, bittersweet read that really stays with you.
I stayed up way too late reading this, finishing early the next morning. It’s 6am and I’m crying in my coffee. Have your tissues ready.
March 22, 2026
My heart is full finishing this book. At its core, it’s a story about the kind of friendship that feels like family. This group of ladies grew up together and shared Audrey’s family as their own. We’re shown the coming of age through flashback chapters. A car accident that happens right after high school graduation, changes the course of their lives and friendship for 25 years. Audrey calls them all together for their high school reunion and to share some tragic news of her own. They basically pick up where they left off. None of their lives turned out exactly like they’d hoped all those years ago. But when they reunite, it’s almost like no time has passed at all and they are at their happiest together. It’s beautiful and tragic. I really love this book and highly recommend it. 5 stars 💛
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Surprisingly, this book left me a little choked up with a large lump caught in my throat. I became more invested in the characters than I thought I had. This story of four high school best friends who fall out at the end of high school but reconvene later in life over a members illness had all the feels. The core four and their lives are presented with strong character development and emotional tugs. They spend a weekend together and pick up where they left off while they support the final wishes if a member. I loved the little brother character of Stephen and how try he interacts with his sister and her friends and family in such a loving way. Readers will enjoy this read from the popular author.
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book centers around Audrey, Micah, Jasmine, and Beck, who are reuniting for the 25th high school reunion. They were so tight back in the day, and called The Core Four (ew). But then an awful night and car accident ripped their friendship apart. But Audrey, diagnosed with early onset dementia, wants to bring the band back together. The book jumps timelines and changes character POVs which can be a little much. Especially when the character development is quite lacking. I typically enjoy the author's works, but this one did not really do it for me. Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Back in high school, they were inseparable. The Core Four, everyone called them. Always together, forever loyal. Until tragedy drove them apart. Now, decades later, Audrey has called everyone together. It's been too long, she's told them. Their high school reunion is coming up, and what better time? But Audrey has an ulterior motive. She doesn't have long to live. Or at least live as she sees fit. Early onset dementia has assured that she won't have a long, happy life. So she's made plans to take matters into her own hands, end things on her own terms and in her own time. Before that, however, she needs to mend fences with the three women who were her everything all those years ago. This is an amazing story about friendship, forgiveness, and living life to the fullest. Five stars!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Core Four (best friends in high school) have reunited for their 25th school reunion. Each have gone on separate ways after a disasterous car accident on the night of their graduation. Returning to face what happened that night and how it affected them along with one of the women's early stage dementia diagnosis sets the storyline of this very emotional novel. Past secrets and friendships and what it takes for the women to move on with their lives is a wonderful read. Another great book by Kristan Higgins!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was given this book by netgalley for an honest review-
I have loved every Higgins book and once again she writes a winner!
Senior year, an accident, four friends are friend’s no more. Then it’s their 25 year reunion. Audrey sends an invite to each of them to visit her home. How each one’s life has been over the 25 years is interesting but Audrey has the most shocking news! You won’t want to miss this book!
I have loved every Higgins book and once again she writes a winner!
Senior year, an accident, four friends are friend’s no more. Then it’s their 25 year reunion. Audrey sends an invite to each of them to visit her home. How each one’s life has been over the 25 years is interesting but Audrey has the most shocking news! You won’t want to miss this book!
April 14, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book by one of my favorite authors. I really enjoyed this tale of female friendship, both the past timeline and the one in the present. I loved getting all the perspectives to what led to them not speaking for 25 years, and what their lives were like after that event. I shed a few tears at the end, and miss these characters already. Great read when it comes out in September!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is my favorite Kristan Higgins book that I’ve read. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives. I don’t have personal experience with dementia, so I’m not entirely sure how accurately that was depicted but it was written in such a heartbreaking way that it makes me feel like it must be fairly true to reality. I SOBBED the last 5% of the book— and it’s not super often that books make me cry.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2026
Cute, heartwarming and fun book about found family of a group of friends who grew up together. Their tales weave together and their personalities show up in the journey. Solid read, entertaining with some thought provoking ideas. This is a book I would recommend and will be checking out the authors other books.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 20, 2026
This book definitely had me in my feelings. I really liked how the story was weaved together through multiple points of view and past to present. It was done in a way that was easy to follow and also really aided in creating the story. This book hits on a lot of topics and really dives in to grief and other issues. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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