
The Bright Side of Disaster
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Thérèse Plummer
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By:
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Katherine Center
About this listen
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.
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When Quinn Langston’s her best friend unexpectedly passes away, Quinn knows she'll do anything to protect Brooke’s three-year-old daughter, Lily, and her grandmother Margaret. Not only is Quinn the little girl’s godmother, but they are the family she always wished she had. Now she vows to do whatever it takes to help the three of them heal - even if it means letting a complete stranger into their lives - and into their hearts. Margaret is old-fashioned, and she has no compunction about finding a way to reach Lily’s dad, a sperm donor.
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Too perfect, Irritating narration
- By Admirer of great books; critic of bad books. on 05-22-22
By: Robin Wells
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Thank You for Listening
- A Novel
- By: Julia Whelan
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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For Sewanee Chester, being an audiobook narrator is a long way from her old dreams, but the days of being a star on film sets are long behind her. She’s found success and satisfaction from the inside of a sound booth and it allows her to care for her beloved, ailing grandmother. When she arrives in Las Vegas last-minute for a book convention, Sewanee unexpectedly spends a whirlwind night with a charming stranger.
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Julia Whelan is the GOAT
- By echo404 on 08-03-22
By: Julia Whelan
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The Restoration of Celia Fairchild
- A Novel
- By: Marie Bostwick
- Narrated by: Sarah Naughton
- Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Celia Fairchild, known as advice columnist "Dear Calpurnia", has insight into everybody’s problems—except her own. Still bruised by the end of a marriage she thought was her last chance to create a family, Celia receives an unexpected answer to a “Dear Birthmother” letter. Celia throws herself into proving she’s a perfect adoptive mother material—with a stable home and income—only to lose her job. Her one option: sell the Charleston house left to her by her recently departed, estranged Aunt Calpurnia.
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Honestly have no idea how people enjoyed this
- By Kelly Albury on 10-11-21
By: Marie Bostwick
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What You Wish For
- A Novel
- By: Katherine Center
- Narrated by: Katherine Center, Thérèse Plummer
- Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Samantha Casey is a school librarian who loves her job, the kids, and her school family with passion and joy for living. But she wasn’t always that way. Duncan Carpenter is the new school principal who lives by rules and regulations, guided by the knowledge that bad things can happen. But he wasn’t always that way. And Sam knows it. Because she knew him before—at another school, in a different life. Back then, she loved him—but she was invisible. To him. To everyone. Even to herself.
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Story is enjoyable
- By Amazon Customer on 07-24-20
By: Katherine Center
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At Least You Have Your Health
- By: Madi Sinha
- Narrated by: Sooneela Nankani
- Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Dr. Maya Rao is a gynecologist trying to balance a busy life. With three young children, a career, and a happy marriage, she should be grateful—on paper, she has it all. But after a disastrous encounter with an entitled patient, Maya is forced to walk away from the city hospital where she’s spent her entire career.
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Fun story illuminating the wellness industry
- By Barbara S on 04-29-22
By: Madi Sinha
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Three Wishes
- A Novel
- By: Liane Moriarty
- Narrated by: Heather Wilds
- Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Lyn, Cat, and Gemma Kettle, beautiful 33-year-old triplets, seem to attract attention everywhere they go. Together, laughter, drama, and mayhem follow them, but apart, each is dealing with her own share of ups and downs. Lyn has organized her life into one big checklist, Cat has just learned a startling secret about her marriage, and Gemma, who bolts every time a relationship hits the six-month mark, holds out hope for lasting love.
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Can’t listen due to narrator
- By Nina on 03-29-19
By: Liane Moriarty
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The Floating Feldmans
- By: Elyssa Friedland
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Sink or swim. Or at least that's what Annette Feldman tells herself when she books a cruise for her entire family. It's been over a decade since the Feldman clan has spent more than twenty-four hours under the same roof, but Annette is determined to celebrate her 70th birthday the right way. Just this once, they are going to behave like an actual family. Too bad her kids didn't get the memo.
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Definitely a fun listen!
- By Sandy Edwards on 08-09-19
By: Elyssa Friedland
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Get Lucky
- By: Katherine Center
- Narrated by: Morgan Hallett
- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Filled with wit and heart, Get Lucky by Katherine Center explores the deep bonds of sisterhood. Sarah Harper’s whole world revolved around her job at a New York advertising agency before an email snafu got her fired. Now she’s seeking refuge at her sister Mackie’s home in Houston. But Mackie, who’s unable to get pregnant, is also down-and-out these days. So Sarah decides to do something good and becomes a surrogate mother.
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Long monotonous boring
- By Sita on 03-16-25
By: Katherine Center
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The Two Lives of Lydia Bird
- A Novel
- By: Josie Silver
- Narrated by: Olivia Vinall
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Lydia and Freddie. Freddie and Lydia. They’d been together for more than a decade and Lydia thought their love was indestructible. But she was wrong. On Lydia’s 28th birthday, Freddie died in a car accident. So now it’s just Lydia, and all she wants is to hide indoors and sob until her eyes fall out. But Lydia knows that Freddie would want her to try to live fully, happily, even without him. So, enlisting the help of his best friend, Jonah, and her sister, Elle, she takes her first tentative steps into the world, open to life - and perhaps even love - again.
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Depressing
- By P. Levell-Ireland on 04-15-20
By: Josie Silver
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Confessions of the Other Sister
- A Novel
- By: Beth Harbison
- Narrated by: Orlagh Cassidy, Katie Schorr
- Length: 9 hrs
- Unabridged
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Frances Turner has a confession to make: her sister, Crosby, who has built her life on good luck and good looks, drives her crazy. The woman wakes up in the morning with perfect hair. Men flock to her. And she somehow managed to jump out of the frying pan and into fame, writing a blockbuster novel—and making a zillion bucks—without even trying. And Frances, who has followed every rule, is stuck in pause.
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Beautiful and touching!
- By Amanda on 05-10-23
By: Beth Harbison
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Falling Home
- A Falling Home Novel
- By: Karen White
- Narrated by: Lyssa Browne
- Length: 15 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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At 20, Cassie Madison left her hometown of Walton, Georgia, for New York City, where she has reinvented herself - from losing herself in her career to squashing her accent. But one night a single phone call brings back everything she's tried to forget. She hasn't spoken to her sister since Harriet stole Cassie's fiancé and married him. But now Harriet's on the line with news that their father is dying. As she makes the trip back, the only thing that frightens Cassie more than losing her father is seeing Harriet and the family that should have been hers.
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Another great book by Karen White
- By Kindle Customer on 02-01-21
By: Karen White
What listeners say about The Bright Side of Disaster
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- Stephanie
- 07-13-21
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!
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- Aran Mimran
- 06-20-24
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
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- Christina Rosebeck
- 12-22-20
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.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Charice Cleckley
- 06-28-22
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!
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- Sydney Ekeroth
- 02-10-23
Lighthearted
This is a fast and easy read. A good book to read after an intense thriller.
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- Lauren Skelton
- 09-19-23
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.
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- Lee
- 04-20-21
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.
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2 people found this helpful
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- diann bryan
- 04-09-21
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
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- Nancy A Bridges
- 02-12-21
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.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Donna A
- 01-08-22
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.
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