All I Ever Wanted

Callie Gray works as a marketing specialist at a dental products company in her small Vermont hometown. On her thirtieth birthday, she decides to pursue a relationship with her boss Mark, whom she's had feelings for over the past year. The situation becomes complicated when Mark doesn't reciprocate as hoped, leading Callie to navigate both workplace dynamics and small-town gossip. Adding to her challenges are her well-meaning but intrusive family members and the arrival of the town's new veterinarian, Ian McFarland, who seems determined to keep his distance from everyone. While focusing on her marketing career and caring for her elderly dog, Callie discovers that her initial romantic goals might not align with what she truly needs. Her journey includes managing family relationships, professional growth, and unexpected connections. The novel explores themes of self-discovery and the difference between idealized romance and authentic relationships. Through Callie's experiences, the story examines how personal growth often requires letting go of long-held dreams to make room for unexpected possibilities.

Readers describe this as a light romantic comedy with emotional depth. The book maintains a 4.1/5 rating on Goodreads (26,000+ ratings) and 4.4/5 on Amazon (500+ ratings). Readers praise: - The humor and witty dialogue - Complex family dynamics - The veterinarian storyline and scenes with animals - Realistic portrayal of small-town life - The main character's personal growth Common criticisms: - Some found the protagonist's self-deprecation excessive - The romantic relationship develops slowly - Secondary characters can feel stereotypical - Several readers note an overuse of physical appearance descriptions Multiple reviews mention crying and laughing in the same sitting. As one Goodreads reviewer states: "Perfect balance of humor and heart without being too sappy." BookPage reviewers highlight the authentic mother-daughter relationship dynamics. A frequent complaint on romance forums is that the hero remains underdeveloped compared to other Higgins novels. Some readers also note the ending feels rushed.

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez A musician and a grieving woman form an unexpected connection through a lost dog, leading to a romance filled with music, healing, and second chances.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman An introverted bookstore employee discovers her deceased father's family while navigating romance with a trivia competitor and managing her anxiety.

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey A former baseball player returns to his hometown and forms a fake relationship with his best friend's sister, who runs a party planning business.

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez A wedding planner and a firefighter develop feelings while planning his best friend's wedding, complicated by medical issues that threaten their future.

Beach Read by Emily Henry Two writers with opposite approaches to romance swap genres for a summer, leading to research dates and a relationship that challenges their perspectives on love.

🌟 Author Kristan Higgins left her career as a copywriter to pursue her dream of writing romance novels, publishing her first book in 2006 📚 The story takes place in the fictional town of Manningsport, New York, which appears in several of Higgins' other novels as part of her Blue Heron series 💕 The main character, Callie, is a veterinarian - a profession Higgins researched extensively by shadowing real veterinarians to ensure accuracy 🏆 The book earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was named one of Amazon's Best Books of the Month when it was released 🎭 Like many of Higgins' novels, this book balances serious themes of family relationships and personal growth with signature humor and wit that has become her trademark style