C2’s review of All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin 27 Jul 10

For the longest time, I have had a note on my Books To Be Bought list saying “Higgins, Kristan – try something.”  I don’t remember when or why I put it there…I’m sure I read a glowing review somewhere by someone I trust.  So, when I was browsing in my favorite new/used bookstore recently and saw a copy of All I Ever Wanted, I picked it up.

Callie Grey works for a public relations/advertising firm in her hometown.  She has been in love with her boss since high school and had a business trip fling with him almost a year before the “now” of the book.  He told her they couldn’t continue a relationship because the timing was bad, the agency came first, blah blah blah… The blahs are mine, by the way. Callie totally bought his excuses reasons.  They still work together, he is still smiley, friendly, pseudo-flirty, and she remains hopeful that he will realize how perfect they are for each other.

We meet Callie on her birthday (an aside – I never go to work on my birthday – it is my own personal holiday).  After Mark (the slimy boss) gives her a birthday present and birthday kiss, he tells her a new employee is coming to work at the agency – the daughter of their biggest client AND his new girlfriend.  Happy birthday to her.  Weasel.

The book is set in Vermont where, apparently, one’s driver’s license expires on one’s birthday – Callie is upset, but she doesn’t want Mark to know, so she leaves to go renew her license.  While in line at the DMV, she goes into meltdown about the Mark situation, much to the disgust of the guy in line behind her.

Callie is a people pleaser, friendly, happy, upbeat, annoying…she wants to be liked and feel needed.  She and her dog, Bowie, live with her grandfather – she moved there after he lost part of a leg – and their relationship is one of the bright spots in the book.  Callie decides she needs to try to move on and find a new relationship.  Someone in her yoga class mentions there is a new vet in town – a single, male vet.  Callie (and lots of other single women, as it turns out) decides Bowie needs a check-up.

Imagine her surprise when Dr. Ian McFarland turns out to be the cranky guy from the DMV.  She turns the vet visit into an offer to do some PR for the new practice, though – and is almost convincing when denying that she brought Bowie (the best character in the book) in so she could scope out a new guy.

Over the course of the book, Callie pines over her lost relationship (?) with Mark and continues to unexpectedly encounter Ian – generally during less than impressive situations.  She deals with assorted family crises and work issues, while trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life.

Is this a romance?  Well, it says it is on the spine of the book, right under the publisher’s logo.  Only by the very loosest interpretation of what a romance is, says me – because there is a romantic happily ever after (and a happier ever after epilogue).  For me, though, it feels very chick-lit-ish.  It is more about Callie’s relationship with herself (mind’s out of the gutter, please) than it is about any romantic relationships she might have.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that…if that’s what you want to read.

Also, for those who care about such things, the book is written in first person…very stream of consciousness first person.  More common in chick lit?  I generally don’t mind first person narratives, but it got to be a bit much in this book.  Plus, it might have been enlightening to be in someone else’s head from time to time.  The supporting characters voiced opinions of Callie, but actually hearing their thoughts could have been eye-opening.

So, now that I have tried something by Ms. Higgins, has my note on the TBB list changed from “try something” to her complete backlist?  No.  If All I Ever Wanted is a good representation of her books, then they aren’t for me.  However, it is well written and has some interesting twists on often cliché-ridden supporting characters.  If your tastes run toward chick lit (instead of far and fast in the other direction, like mine), give her a try.

Grade: C-

Summary:

One Happily-Ever-After Rocking Chair and no sign of any forthcoming babies to rock in ol’ Georgebury, Vermont. For Callie Grey, turning thirty means coming to grips with the fact that her boss (and five-week fling) is way overdue in his marriage proposal. And way off track because Mark has suddenly announced his engagement to the company’s new Miss Perfect. If that isn’t bad enough, her mom decides to throw her a three-oh birthday bash in the family funeral home.

Bad goes to worse when she stirs up a crazy relationship with the town’s not so warm and fuzzy veterinarian, Ian McFarland, in order to flag Mark’s attention. So Ian is more comfortable with animals…. So he’s formal, orderly and just a bit tense. The ever-friendly, fun-loving and spontaneous Callie decides it’s time for Ian to get a personality makeover. But dang, if he doesn’t shock the heck out of her, she might actually fall for Vermont’s unlikeliest eligible bachelor…

Read an excerpt.