Can’t Wait Wednesday #189: The Me I Used To Be by Kristan Higgins

Can’t Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the Jill at Breaking the Spine. So let me introduce you my Can’t Wait Wednesday #189 pick. Click on the book’s cover to add it to your Goodreads shelf (opens in a new window).

Expected Publication: September 15, 2026 by Lake Union Pub. / Brilliance Audio.
Length: 347 pages / ~11 hours.
Narrator: TBD.
Genre: Friendship

From The Publisher:

At their twenty-fifth high school reunion, four former best friends discover that growing up is way messier than anticipated—and the past isn’t nearly as finished as they thought.

Back in senior year, Audrey, Micah, Jasmine, and Beck were the Core the lucky one, the beautiful one, the smart one, the sporty one. They had color-coded dreams, inside jokes, and a lifelong friendship they thought would last forever. But graduation night ended in a tragic accident, followed by the kind of silence that stretches for decades.

Now, they’ve returned for their reunion, each carrying a life that looks nothing like the glossy future they imagined. There are stalled careers, complicated marriages, outspoken adult children, and secrets that never fit into holiday cards. For one of them, a diagnosis of early-onset dementia turns the weekend into a ticking clock.

Across one unforgettable weekend, the Core Four must decide if their past can still change their future together.

Why I Can’t Wait to Read The Me I Used To Be:

Kristan Higgins is an auto-read author for me because of her gift for crafting tender, compelling stories. The synopsis promises an emotional journey, and I can’t wait to get to know the Core Four better.