If You Only Knew

By: Kristan Higgins

Narrated by: Xe Sands, Amy Rubinate

Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Sisterhood in all its drama, hilarity, and tears is at the heart of New York Times best-selling author Kristan Higgins' thoroughly captivating new novel, featuring the wit and romance that listeners have come to expect from the much-loved creator of the Blue Heron series.

Wedding-dress designer Jenny Tate understands the happily ever after business, yet somehow she's still involved in her ex-husband's life. In fact Owen's new wife may - inexplicably - be Jenny's new best friend. Sensing this, well, relationship isn't helping her move on, Jenny trades the Manhattan skyline for her hometown up the Hudson, where she'll be able to bask in her sister Rachel's picture-perfect family life...and hopefully make one of her own.

Her timing couldn't be more perfect, since Rachel will need her younger sister. Her idyllic marriage has just fallen to pieces in spectacular fashion after she discovers her husband sexting with one of his colleagues. Second chances aren't in Rachel's nature, but the desire for an intact family has her rethinking her stance on adultery, much to Jenny's surprise. Rachel points to their parents' "perfect" marriage as a shining example. But to protect her sister, Jenny may have to tarnish that memory - and their relationship - and reveal a secret about their family she's been keeping since childhood.

During this summer of secrets and lies, temptation and revelation, Jenny and Rachel will rely on each other to find the humor in their personal catastrophes, the joy in their triumphs...and the strength to keep hanging on.

©2015 Kristan Higgins (P)2015 Recorded Books

Great story and amazing performance!

Funny yet touching. I love the ending and made me thought about life, love, family and marriage..Such a wonderful book. And I really like Xe Sands' performance!! I felt I could see her! her laughing, crying or smiling... Great great performance!!!

Wonderful! So glad I didn't let other reviews sway me!

This was my first Kristen Higgins book. I'm glad that I didn't read her others first, because I would have been expecting something of this one like many fans did. This is actually the best book I have listened to in a long time. The writing was amazing, the characters were extremely well-developed, and the story moved me deeply. While I can understand that some did not like Amy Rubinate's nasal narration, it grew on me after a while and wasn't so bad. I would love a part two to this story simply to find out what happens to the main characters in the future. All in all, this was an excellent use of a credit. I am looking forward to reading Kristan Higgins' other books.

Mediocre at Best

I bought this book based on the great reviews. I can't give it an excellent or even a good. Gosh, the characters are so infantile, narcissistic behavior from both main female characters, and bottom line communicated in this book is boys will be boys. The old cliche, boys can do whatever, females have to struggle. Writing is ok, nothing special, the story line is very repetitive. This book got me all depressed and it did not deal with the problems that were presented in a good way. I would not even read this at the beach. The performance was very nasal and just ok, sometimes the narrator(s) almost sounded bored. I finished the book, but if you can get it for free or for $3.95 and you like the positive reviews, then get it, otherwise, you can skip it.

Pathetic Characters

It was ok. I couldn't help but get mad at the characters. I'm confused if the author was purposely making them seem pathetic and desperate. While this may be how women really are in relationships, it wasn't entertaining to read. It was a bland story about women who basically want to get married and have children so will cling to a cheater or obsess over emotionally unavailable men. Not really a story to empower independency as a women.

One Good Book!

What did you love best about If You Only Knew?

I loved the story line, as predictable as it was, the characters were interesting and felt myself not wanting the book to end because now I won't know what is going on in their lives!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of If You Only Knew?

I was a big fan of the Leo, Jenny and Owen story line. I cried over Leo's situation (without giving anything away). And I loved how Jenny took care of business at the end with Owen.

Have you listened to any of Xe Sands and Amy Rubinate ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've heard Xe Sands before and this was one of the main reason's I got the book. Her performance is always outstanding; she seems like she is talking to me, not reading a book.

If you could rename If You Only Knew, what would you call it?

Sisters Starting Over?

Any additional comments?

Read or listen to this book!!

Good story - great characters

Any additional comments?

Loved it. The two female leads, sisters, were both wonderful characters. They were very different but very close. Their mother was a pill. Their father was deceased. One female, Rachael, was married with triplet girls. Her husband was a jerk. The other sister was divorced (dumped). In this book the two sisters are working through hard times and life in general. May sound boring, but it definitely was not. The story was interesting and I ran through every emotion - laughter, tears, anger, hatred, jealousy, etc. I am so glad I chose this book.

This is a fabulous read!

I have new favorites! This is my first Kristan Higgins book. What a talent! How did she know Jenny & I think alike, in our thoughts. Wow!
The narrators were amazing and I could barely wait to get back to this story! I read the ending so slowly, because I could not stand for it to be over. The irony is I’m so grateful this was a great story, because I was unfamiliar with the author and the narrators. I simply chose this book because I loved the cover!! You will not be disappointed.

NOT WORTH THE TIME

I know this author has a rabid and loyal group of followers. This was my first Kristan Higgins novel. I'm sorry, but I really didn't like this book. I spent most of my reading time gritting my teeth and wanting to knock some sense into most of there characters. Where to start. The two main character are sisters who spend 99% of the novel giving each other advice while refusing to follow it themselves. Jenny insists on staying friends with the ex husband who dumped her and his new wife. She even delivers their new baby. Her boyfriend is a sad, handsome and charming bad bet whose "secret" I could see coming a mile away. Rachael's husband is an insincere slimed cheat who is caught lying over and over again while his wife continues to fight for their marriage. Another of the other main characters is a 40 year old man who lets his mother run his life and verbally and emotionally abuse his 24 year old pink haired food service worker/singer/nutritionists fiancé. Are there any normal people in this town? Is there any single woman who doesn't think like an eighteenth century maiden--that life isn't worth living without a man. Hello--it's 2015. Then in the last two chapters, everyone abruptly changes their mind set and reverses the course they rigidly stayed in the entire novel. I guess the author got bored and needed to wrap it up. Sigh. I did like Evander and his story line. The rest; not so much.

Perfect

Laugh and cry Kristen Higgins is just so talented! I read anything she puts out there and I'm NEVER disappointed.

Highly recommend this book!

Would you consider the audio edition of If You Only Knew to be better than the print version?

Since I only do audio I can't really compare it to an actual book. The performance of the two main characters was amazing though. I especially enjoyed the quick wit read of Jenny's voice. The actresses did a outstanding job! And I do consider them actresses and not just readers of a story. :-)

Which scene was your favorite?

I really enjoyed when Kimbers mom defended her daughter to the soon to be new horrible mother in law. I also enjoyed the sweet interaction between Jenny and Evander, the piano student.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did laugh OUT LOUD as well as shed a few tears with this book. The story lines felt very real. And I found myself thinking it was going to go in a different direction and then it would surprise me.