Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

11 reviews

greenlivingaudioworm's review

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Car accident, Death, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Homophobia, Blood, Child abuse, Abandonment, Cancer, Grief, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Violence, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail

clo_l's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

This book was an emotional rollercoaster. The story of a young girl, left to fend for herself, never knowing love, companionship or security. April has lived a million lives in the span of this book. She has loved & left, over and over and over. Never feeling worthy enough to stay with the people she truly loves & who love her back. It was hard, reading about her falling into the same patterns and not allowing herself to settle down. I absolutely love the characters in this book, especially Margo & Ethan. The ending is bittersweet and hopeful, although I need MORE!

I need to know what else happens, does Justin come around? What about Robert? Who does little Max grow up to be? Ughhhh I seriously need more! I’m not ready to let go of April.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Sexual assault, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Car accident, and Vomit

sadiejericho's review

emotional funny hopeful sad tense 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? Yes

4.75

Really wonderful. Sad, moving and ultimately hopeful. All the characters are well drawn and complex. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Abandonment

Moderate: Pregnancy, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Medical content, and Physical abuse

Minor: Cancer, Classism, and Car accident

bexi's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, and Pedophilia

Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Alcoholism, and Death of parent

redefiningrachel's review

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Addiction, Blood, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Terminal illness

Minor: Body shaming, Miscarriage, and Fatphobia

annaledbetter's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, and Abandonment

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Cancer, and Dementia

martachbc's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.5

After teenaged April’s deadbeat dad disappoints her for the last time, she takes off in his car with the only thing of value he ever gave her - a guitar. Determined to start a new life for herself, she settled in a New York college town before beginning a nomadic, troubadour life up and down the East Coast. With just enough professional success to eke out a living, April doesn’t want for much - just a home, and a family, to call her own.

I loved this heart-aching story - though it certainly left me emotionally bereft quite a few time. April was such a strong but sad character, and I so desperately wanted things to go her way. Of course, this is a 300-plus page book, so be prepared for a lot to go wrong in her journey. But the glimmers of hope, which Allison Larkin carefully bread-crumbs along the way, teach April - and us - powerful lessons about what it means to love and be loved in return. 

What’s holding me back from giving this five stars is a *totally personal preference* regarding what makes a satisfying story arc. Ultimately, I thought the climax and conclusion fit the characters and story. 

It’s easy to see why this book made so many “best of” lists last year - I can’t recommend it enough. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy and Alcohol

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Drug use, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer

leahrosiee's review

challenging emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Eating disorder

Minor: Death of parent and Cancer

alinwonderland's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Grief, Cancer, and Sexual assault

Minor: Vomit

thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Pregnancy, and Medical content

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, and Drug abuse

Minor: Addiction and Vomit