📖 Overview
Kristan Higgins is a New York Times bestselling author known for contemporary romance novels that blend emotional depth with humor. Her writing career began in 2006, and she has since published over 20 books across multiple romance series and standalone titles.
Higgins' work frequently features small-town New England settings and explores themes of family relationships, second chances, and personal growth alongside the central romance. Her books have earned multiple RITA Awards from the Romance Writers of America, including Best Contemporary Romance for "Catch of the Day" and "Too Good to Be True."
Many of her novels incorporate elements of women's fiction, moving beyond traditional romance formulas to examine complex family dynamics and personal journeys. Notable works include "Blue Heron" series, "Gideon's Cove" series, and standalone titles such as "Good Luck with That" and "Life and Other Inconveniences."
The author's background as a New England native influences her writing, with many stories set in fictional versions of Connecticut, Maine, and other northeastern locations. Her work has been translated into more than 20 languages and has appeared on multiple bestseller lists.
👀 Reviews
Readers value Higgins' blend of humor and emotional depth in her contemporary romance novels. Many reviews mention connecting with her relatable, flawed characters and appreciate how she balances serious topics with lighter moments.
Readers liked:
- Strong family dynamics and sibling relationships
- Integration of pets into storylines
- Small-town settings with developed secondary characters
- Mix of comedy and emotional weight
Readers disliked:
- Some find the heroines too self-deprecating
- Repetitive plot structures across books
- Third-person narration style in earlier works
- Heavy focus on characters' body image issues
Average ratings:
Goodreads: 3.9/5 (across all books)
Amazon: 4.4/5
BookBub: 4.3/5
Top-rated books by readers:
- "The Best Man" (4.02/5)
- "Too Good to Be True" (4.01/5)
- "Just One of the Guys" (4.0/5)
Most common review keywords: heartwarming, funny, authentic dialogue, relatable characters
📚 Books by Kristen Higgins
Just One of the Guys - A tomboy newspaper reporter struggles with romance while living in a family of firefighters and hiding her feelings for her best friend.
Too Good to Be True - A history teacher creates a fictional boyfriend to appease her family but complications arise when she meets a landscaper with a complex past.
Catch of the Day - A small-town diner owner pursues romance while dealing with her matchmaking family and a growing attraction to the local priest.
The Next Best Thing - A young widow who bakes wedding cakes finds herself falling for her late husband's brother while trying to move forward with her life.
All I Ever Wanted - A marketing executive faces professional and personal challenges when she's passed over for promotion and encounters her childhood crush.
Until There Was You - A cautious furniture restorer reconnects with her high school's former bad boy when he returns to their hometown.
Somebody to Love - A children's book author must renovate a inherited house in Maine while dealing with her attraction to her handyman.
The Best Man - A woman returns to her hometown to face her former fiancé and his best friend, who stopped her wedding years ago.
Waiting on You - A tavern owner confronts her past when her first love returns to town seeking a relationship with his teenage son.
In Your Dreams - A police officer agrees to be her ex-boyfriend's wedding date while developing feelings for a local vineyard owner.
If You Only Knew - Two sisters navigate their complicated love lives while one deals with divorce and the other with trust issues in her marriage.
On Second Thought - Two half-sisters become closer while coping with sudden widowhood and a broken engagement.
Now That You Mention It - A doctor returns to her Maine island hometown to recover from an accident and confront her past.
Good Luck with That - Three women deal with self-image and personal growth after their friend's death forces them to confront their weight-loss pact.
Life and Other Inconveniences - A single mother reconnects with her estranged grandmother while dealing with family secrets and new relationships.
Always the Last to Know - Family dynamics shift when a father's stroke forces his wife and daughters to reevaluate their relationships.
Pack Up the Moon - A widower follows his late wife's instructions through a series of monthly letters during his first year without her.
Out of the Clear Blue Sky - A woman's life is upended when her husband announces he's leaving her for a younger woman on the day their son graduates high school.
Too Good to Be True - A history teacher creates a fictional boyfriend to appease her family but complications arise when she meets a landscaper with a complex past.
Catch of the Day - A small-town diner owner pursues romance while dealing with her matchmaking family and a growing attraction to the local priest.
The Next Best Thing - A young widow who bakes wedding cakes finds herself falling for her late husband's brother while trying to move forward with her life.
All I Ever Wanted - A marketing executive faces professional and personal challenges when she's passed over for promotion and encounters her childhood crush.
Until There Was You - A cautious furniture restorer reconnects with her high school's former bad boy when he returns to their hometown.
Somebody to Love - A children's book author must renovate a inherited house in Maine while dealing with her attraction to her handyman.
The Best Man - A woman returns to her hometown to face her former fiancé and his best friend, who stopped her wedding years ago.
Waiting on You - A tavern owner confronts her past when her first love returns to town seeking a relationship with his teenage son.
In Your Dreams - A police officer agrees to be her ex-boyfriend's wedding date while developing feelings for a local vineyard owner.
If You Only Knew - Two sisters navigate their complicated love lives while one deals with divorce and the other with trust issues in her marriage.
On Second Thought - Two half-sisters become closer while coping with sudden widowhood and a broken engagement.
Now That You Mention It - A doctor returns to her Maine island hometown to recover from an accident and confront her past.
Good Luck with That - Three women deal with self-image and personal growth after their friend's death forces them to confront their weight-loss pact.
Life and Other Inconveniences - A single mother reconnects with her estranged grandmother while dealing with family secrets and new relationships.
Always the Last to Know - Family dynamics shift when a father's stroke forces his wife and daughters to reevaluate their relationships.
Pack Up the Moon - A widower follows his late wife's instructions through a series of monthly letters during his first year without her.
Out of the Clear Blue Sky - A woman's life is upended when her husband announces he's leaving her for a younger woman on the day their son graduates high school.