Reviews

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

sunrise_llama's review

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

katyrain1's review

4.0

3.5 stars. Was engaging and held my attention. I enjoyed seeing April come of age and develop her sense of self. It was heartbreaking to see her rejecting the love offered to her and the softy in me wanted a fuller wrap up at the end.

hcharris15's review

sad slow-paced

3.5

ccreamer's review against another edition

4.0

Hard to read at times but had me tearing up at the end 

nbrinkman88's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

itskaylie's review

3.0

Gentle reminder: having a child will not solve all your childhood trauma.

With that being said: this novel did make me feel so sort of way.

amandareads70's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

colleend's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

megn317's review against another edition

4.0

Now that was a good journey. I loved it…it reminded me of people that have come and gone in my own life. And I also always love a book that references Bob Dylan songs. We definitely get to choose the people we keep in our lives….family or not! I did love that April realizes this but I didn’t always love how she left people. The book was good.

ricas_library's review

4.0

The People We Keep chronicles a coming of age story about April, a 16-year old girl in a small town with a dead beat dad during the 90s. April’s passion is singing and songwriting and after a horrible fight with her father she goes out into the world alone to find herself.

As April moves through the world, meeting new people trying to find her place to call home, she chronicles her life in the songs she writes, both the heartbreak and the joy.

The last part felt a little rushed. I wish we were able to follow along as she grew her music career, and those connections she created along the way. And although the ending tied everything together (no spoilers) I hoped for more.

This book is raw, emotional, and deeply complex, the kind of novel that sticks with you. It made me both laugh, cry and reflect on my personal relationships.