Review ♥ Bright Side by Kim Holden

Bright Side (Bright Side, #1) by Kim Holden
Series: Bright Side #1
Published by Do Epic LLC on July 4th 2014
Pages: 423
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Roger Wayne, Lidia Dornet
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance


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Secrets.
Everyone has one.
Some are bigger than others.
And when secrets are revealed,
Some will heal you ...
And some will end you.

Kate Sedgwick’s life has been anything but typical. She’s endured hardship and tragedy, but throughout it all she remains happy and optimistic (there’s a reason her best friend Gus calls her Bright Side). Kate is strong-willed, funny, smart, and musically gifted. She’s also never believed in love. So when Kate leaves San Diego to attend college in the small town of Grant, Minnesota, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with Keller Banks.

They both feel it.
But they each have a reason to fight it.
They each have a secret.

And when secrets are revealed,
Some will heal you …
And some will end you.

Where is that sixth star when you need it? I knew full well going in that Bright Side would be a tear-jerker and might break my heart, but you know what? I don’t regret a single page. Above all, this is a stirring, feel-good story, and I was surprised by how much I laughed and smiled throughout.

Kate “Bright Side” Sedgwick’s optimism is infectious. Her conscious decision to choose love over anger, to exude gratitude and reject bitterness, to live spontaneously, and to embrace each moment—both good and bad—with joyful appreciation is unbelievably uplifting. The portrayal is realistic and inspiring without being preachy. Kate has amazing wisdom, especially given that she’s a young woman barely out of her teens.

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t pursue dreams and goals. Just don’t forsake the present for the unknowns of the future. A lot of happiness is bypassed, overlooked, postponed to a time years from now that may never come. Don’t bide your time and miss out on this moment for a tomorrow with no guarantee.”

Kim Holden is an astoundingly gifted writer. Her words are filled with passionate intimacy, humor and clarity. She has an unfathomable ability to breathe life into an array of complex characters, while giving each one a distinct voice. The story is enhanced by Kate’s unique circle of friends, including best friend Gus, gorgeous barista Keller, partner-in-crime Clayton, and unlikely gal pal Shelly, and they each felt like my own little personal blessings.

If I wasn’t already a voracious reader, Bright Side is the type of book that would make me fall in love with reading. It’s exactly the kind of story I want my teenaged daughters to read. Kate Sedgwick has secured a spot on my list of top 5 favorite book heroines. I’m so happy I risked my heart to this story. I feel like a better person for having read it.

 

Recommended for fans of:
Spunky heroines
College fiction
Laughing and crying
Coffee

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