We’ve reviewed Ms. Higgins 22 times at AAR. She’s received eight DIK grades, twelve B grades, and two C+s. Her last seven books have been women’s fiction rather than straight romances, six of which (the women’s fiction) have gotten As. Higgins is famous in Romancelandia for being the nicest woman you’ve ever met (Jenny Holiday gives her a run for her money but Higgins has been around a lot longer.
Higgins sold her first book to Harlequin in 2005. She says she was trying to figure out a way to be both a stay at home mom and contribute to her family finances. So she thought she could write a romance novel and ended up publishing her first novel, Fools Rush In. It was a success and since then she’s sold millions of books.
Higgins was one of the first contemporary romance writers I read–my adult foray into romance was initially all historical. I loved The Next Best Thing, my first Higgins and have read every single book she’s written since then. And yet, she’s not an author I necessarily recommend to those who ask me for my very best romance recommendations. And I’m not sure why that is.
What do you think about Higgins? Have you read her? If so, what have you loved? And if not, why not?
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I think I own all of her romances but didn’t follow her too far when she switched to women’s fiction. I really loved her Blue Heron series as I like stories about families and I thought the setting (New York wine country) was different. I like Jane’s term of “relationship fiction” to describe Ms. Higgins’ books. Her heroines often have to do some personal growth and I think this made it natural for the author to transition to women’s fiction. I have 1-2 of her women’s fiction books and although I liked them, I just prefer romance. If she ever returned to romances, I would follow her back.
Kristan Higgins was one of my gateway romance authors! I binged a lot of her romances when I first started reading the genre and liked them all, but upon rereading, I’ve decided most of them are not keepers. My favorites, and the ones I have kept so far, are All I Ever Wanted and Too Good to Be True.
I haven’t been as impressed with Higgins’ women’s fiction titles, especially after the first two (If You Only Knew and On Second Thought). They’re much more serious and depressing than her romances. The one that made me quit seeking out her new books was Life and Other Inconveniences. I wrote at the time: “There’s nothing lighthearted or joyful about it; everyone is miserable, and they basically stay miserable until the very end.” So unfortunately, I think Higgins and I have parted ways.
My favorite of Higgin’s women’s fiction was her first, If You Only Knew and I’ve liked each book a little less as she’s continued. I roundly disliked her most recent book, so much so it surprised me. I keep hoping for a return of the nuanced, believably life affirming joy of her earlier work.
I had a lot of the same feelings others have commented about her romances, and took a while to follow her move to women’s fiction. It’s not a genre I typically read – but I think it’s really where Higgins shines. She clearly loves developing the relationships between whole groups of people, particularly complex family dynamics. I don’t necessarily recommend her books often, but if I find someone who’s interested in women’s fiction then I’m sure to recommend those ones.
I’ve also gotten into her podcast lately – she does a show called Crappy Friends with Joss Dey. A sort of “Ask Annie” show about female friendships, it’s heartwarming, hilarious, and has quickly become one of my favorite things to listen to.
I love Kristian Higgins, although not all her novels were winners. She has similar qualities to another of my favorite authors, Susan Elizabeth Phillips in that they write strong lead characters, inject humor throughout their books, and this characters persevere, warts and all.
I gave all 6 Kristen Higgin’s books I’ve read 3 stars on Goodreads, which for me means I liked it, but it was missing star power. This is what I wrote in my review for the last book I read by her:
“It’s been said that Shakespeare only wrote one comedy, then wrote 15 or 16 variations on the theme. That may be stretching it, but there is more than a little truth in that statement. So far, I have to say author Kristan Higgins has written 6 variation of the same story. If you’ve read one, you know the drill: Heroine obsessed with an unavailable and/or inappropriate man, and who acts on that obsession in embarrassing and sometimes self-destructive ways. Quirky family drama that often includes marital strife of parents; and clueless, unlikeable, or downright mean siblings. The heroine (sometimes hero) in a relationship with someone else other than the hero (heroine) for part of the book.”
There was something about her writing that kept me coming back for 6 books, but I eventually gave up. I dislike the use of embarrassment for humor, and I rarely liked her heroines. They were too often pathetic or self-absorbed. (Lucy in The Next Best Thing was rage-inducing for me. Run, Ethan! Run far!)
She was hit or miss for me, but the ones I loved, I really loved. I’m too lazy to go look up which ones those are. I did not keep up with her change over to women’s fiction and the reason is I rarely read it. I have to be in the exact right mood and I’m rarely in it and when I am in it, the book would probably have to be in front of my face. I wouldn’t think to search her out. But I loved that the characters seem like real people. I like how Jane describes them as authentic.
I think Higgins writes such authentic, relatable, root-worthy characters – but the stories are not BIG ones. They’re relationship fiction (both the romances and the women’s fiction) in the truest sense. Relationships certainly between the hero/heroine, but also with the members of their families, the people who are in their lives and towns.
When I look at the blurb for a new Higgins book (and I too have read every one), I think oh I want to read this. I never think, “I have to read this right now”. And yet, the minute I start reading? I’m in. Her characters are just appealing. Her switch to Women’s Fiction hasn’t dimmed that element at all.
I often suggest Higgins to readers who love Nora Roberts because of the way both authors can get you on side for a character within the space of a few paragraphs. I’m emotionally attached within a few pages and I know that those emotions will go through highs and lows before book’s end, in the most satisfying way.
But, to your point about not suggesting her books to others? I think it’s that ‘not BIG’ thing. Trying to describe why Higgins is so good is hard. There aren’t the obvious, short-cut hooks for plot. There are honorable (not saccharine) characters trying to figure things out and maybe getting a happy ending along the way.
Wow. Your answer is spot on and so insightful.
It’s interesting to me that you use the word honorable. I think that’s a hallmark of her more recent women’s fiction–if a character isn’t honorable, they have to be redeemed or they’ll have an unhappy outcome. It didn’t work for me in the last book but it’s admirable.