Life and Other Inconveniences

By: Kristan Higgins

Narrated by: Barbara Caruso, Dion Graham, Suzy Jackson, Xe Sands

Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the New York Times best-selling author of Good Luck with That comes a new novel about a blue-blood grandmother and her black-sheep granddaughter who discover they are truly two sides of the same coin. 

Emma London never thought she had anything in common with her grandmother Genevieve London. The regal old woman came from wealthy and bluest-blood New England stock, but that didn't protect her from life's cruelest blows: the disappearance of Genevieve's young son, followed by the premature death of her husband. But Genevieve rose from those ashes of grief and built a fashion empire that was respected the world over, even when it meant neglecting her other son. 

When Emma's own mother died, her father abandoned her on his mother's doorstep. Genevieve took Emma in and reluctantly raised her - until Emma got pregnant her senior year of high school. Genevieve kicked her out with nothing but the clothes on her back...but Emma took with her the most important London possession: the strength not just to survive but to thrive. And indeed, Emma has built a wonderful life for herself and her teenage daughter, Riley. 

So what is Emma to do when Genevieve does the one thing Emma never expected of her and, after not speaking to her for nearly two decades, calls and asks for help?

©2019 Kristan Higgins (P)2019 Recorded Books

Worth Every Star and More

Pay no attention to the three star reviews that say this excellent book is too sad. It's true that Emma's, Genevieve's and Miller's stories are heart-breaking but, trust me when I tell you that, nobody, nobody writes heart-breaking stories with more gut-wrenching emotion than Kristan Higgins. It seems her superb story telling and writing ability get better with every book and this, her latest, is no exception. Like all KH books, there is a lot of humor in this one, amidst all the tragedy. Like so many of her books, this one has a scene where all hell breaks loose and hilarity ensues. The big comic scene in this book involves corn oil and hand mixer beaters getting stuck in a character's hair. The visual of that scene will keep you smiling for days!!
My review would be lacking if I didn't include high praise for the narrators. Of course, Xe Sands is the best in the business and the man who voices Miller will have your "girl parts" humming with his rich, sonorous voice. But the undeniable star of this audio book is the woman who voices the elderly Genevieve. It is worth listening to the book just to hear her performance. She sounds exactly like Sister Monica Joan on Call the Midwife (a BBC TV show which Miller mentions in the book).
You will do yourself a great disservice if you don't listen to this book!!

Disappointed

Tragedy after tragedy, this book was mostly depressing.
Well written, with great characters and a decent plot, but it was a bit slow and just too sad and angsty for me.

Best Higgins book yet

Life and Other Inconveniences is the best book by Kristan Higgins by far. I love Higgins' books for light, romantic fiction but this book is in a difference category. It's much heavier. The characters are extremely well developed. There are several surprises that made me actually gasp out-loud. There was a romance but it is a minor part of the book. The real love story is between a grandmother and her granddaughter and all the lives that touch these two, strong women.The only thing I don't like (which has nothing to do with the story) is the cover art. It depicts an interesting and sweet/sad scene in the book but I think it makes light of the overall, wonderful story. I highly recommend this book.

Emotionally Resonating

Kristan Higgins continues to up her game in Life and Other Inconveniences. It takes a truly gifted author to craft a novel with such emotional resonance and depth of character as found in this book. The layers found in the characters are peeled back like the layers of an onion and what is found is not necessarily what is expected. I am awed by Ms Higgins ability to take what is a truly unlikable character and, by the end of the book, have that character become sympathetic and her actions more understandable.

I highly recommend this book.

Great Narration, Dysfuntional Family Saga, Closure

I really expected to love this book! There were so many positive reviews!
The first chapter drew me in and was narrated by Xe Sands (one of my favorite narrators) so I was looking forward to slipping between the pages and relaxing.
However, I found it a sad, tedious, dysfunctional family drama.
I read to relax and this was definitely not for me! I realize I am in the minority.
The ending was good however and brought a sense of closure, but overall it was not worth my time to have read it.
All the narrators, in my opinion did an excellent job!

Another 5 star read by Kristan Higgins

Also, as always XE Sands did an amazing job narrating this book. I just finished this book and I'm already looking forward to the next KH book!

Grab the tissues!

It’s so hard to review through the tears. Kristan’s writing usually makes me laugh but this one leaves me crying. Such a sadly beautiful story.

One of my favorite readers

I really enjoy Kristin Higgins and have to say XE Sands is easily one of my favorite narrators. I look for books she has done. In this particular book, with a narrator for each main subject, I feel they were well chosen as well. This particular "listen" kept me interested, although it was a bit predictable. I don't mind predictability; it so often leads to "happily-ever-after". The characters in the story were endearing, at least to me. I enjoyed listening and am glad I spent a credit on the book. It didn't get my heart pumping, but that's not always a bad thing. Enjoy.

Tedious, Boring and Depressing

I have LOVED many of Kristan Higgins previous books, especially those narrated by Xe Sands. Xe Sands is an amazing narrator, but she couldn't make this book interesting. Kristan Higgins has a flair for humor and makes me laugh out loud. However in her last two books the subjects have been so full of misery and the characters have been either so mean (but not in an interesting way, just cruel and hateful) or so abused, I can't bear to listen to more than a few chapters. Some authors can make dark subjects and abused characters compelling and interesting. This book just dragged from the very beginning and none of the characters were likeable.

Higgins at her BEST

Higgins is a hit or miss for me. She mailed this one. EXCELLENT novel! 5 STARS