The Bright Side of Disaster

A Novel

By: Katherine Center

Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer

A new mother must adjust to a life she never asked for - and learns that sometimes the worst thing that can happen is exactly what you’ve been waiting for - in this spirited novel from the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away and Things You Save in a Fire

“Charming...cleverly told and uncommonly appealing.” (People)

Very pregnant and not quite married, Jenny Harris doesn’t mind that she and her live-in fiancé, Dean, accidentally started their family a little earlier than planned. But Dean is acting distant, and the night he runs out for cigarettes and doesn’t come back, he demotes himself from future husband to sperm donor. And the very next day, Jenny goes into labor.

In the months that follow, Jenny plunges into a life she never anticipated: single motherhood. At least with the sleep deprivation, sore boobs, and fits of crying (both hers and the baby’s), there’s not much time to dwell on her broken heart. Then things start looking up: Jenny learns how to do everything one-handed, makes friends in a mommy group, and even gets to know a handsome, helpful neighbor. But Dean is never far from Jenny’s thoughts or, it turns out, her doorstep, and in the end she must choose between the old life she thought she wanted and the new life she’s been lucky to find.

©2007 Katherine Center (P)2020 Random House Audio

predictable yet fun!!!!!

I love the way her books are written and I love the way Miss plumber narrates! they are a perfect match when it comes to audiobooks!

How funny it is!

I loved it
I Wish it went on longer
I wish I could know what happens to Jenny and Jon next just because.
I’m a romantic

Good until the end

I love the humor and the story was good until the last few chapters. The lead female turns into a wimp and it took everything I had to finish the book.

Another great book by Katherine Center

I love Katherine Center's style and this book didn't disappoint. Real life sprinkled with humor. Great read!

Lighthearted

This is a fast and easy read. A good book to read after an intense thriller.

Cute but predictable

Cute story but predictable. I am really enjoying Katherine’s books! I am kind of working backwards and listening to her older ones now. I love listening to Therese narrate Katherine’s books.

Good story that took a few wrong turns

I love KC books but this one wasn’t one that I’d recommend. The story had good potential but unfortunately it fell flat midway through.

Love Katherine Center’s stories!

All of Katherine Center’s stories are showing the human side of life and how mistakes may happen but they don’t define who you are but maybe they give you a little more character

Fictional what to expect when your expecting

The narrator was very good. The story and plot were predictable. If you are pregnant and want to hear about impending motherhood then you might enjoy this book. Understand that there are other thoughts on childbirth, babies first year and motherhood than what is brought to light in this book. This just wasn’t a world I wanted to be taken to during my reading time.

good debut novel

Back in May of 2021 I read my first Katherine Center book. I fell in love with her writing and storytelling style. Since then, I have read 6 novels (including this novel) and 2 short stories -- her 2022 book is already on my TBR list.

“The Bright Side of Disaster” is "Katherine Center’s"debut novel. Jenny is very pregnant, she never planned to be pregnant but needs to embrace this life path .. she thinks Dean her finance and father of her baby is on the same path. But Dean’s head in a different space - he is more interested in his cheesy cover band, has a bad smoking habit and very unsupportive Jane. One night he goes out for cigarettes and just never comes back. Jane wakes up and finds a note from Dean .. he is not in love with her anymore and needs to get away .. this all before their baby is born.

Once the baby is born, a little girl Jenny names Elizabeth Maxine; Maxie, life with a new baby just gets harder, motherhood is not what she expected - Jenny’s milk takes it time coming in causing a hungry baby turning Maxie into a crier.

“No, I haven't showered in a week because the baby cries when I put her down"

Jenny, Jenny, Jenny, let the baby cry occasionally and take a damn shower.

With the help of her mother, a new Mommy Group and bargaining with a neighbor for help in exchange for home cooked meals and even the possibility of a new love interest Jenny gets somewhat of a handle on her life until .. yep you guess right .. Dean shows up.

Finally Jenny realizes ..

“And I was grateful. For all the things that had brought me to this moment, and for every single thing that would follow.”

While I found “The Bright Side of Disaster” and easy quick read, I got very frustrated with Jenny - she makes dumb decision making her character look weak with no backbone. I felt the end of the books was a tad rushed BUT I am still giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was an audiobook narrated by one of my favorite narrators, Thérèse Plummer.