Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

33 reviews

snipinfool's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

4.5

Sixteen-year-old April Sawicki learned she had to look out for herself. Her father left her to go live with his girlfriend and their new baby. She had been alone in a motorless motorhome for some time. April was failing school and often cut classes or missed altogether to pick up shifts at the local diner, Margo’s. Margo was like a mother to her since her mother left when April was young. April’s prized possession was the guitar her father gave her on her last birthday. She spent as much time as she could writing songs and creating music. April decided to try singing at a local open mic night at the Blue Moon Café. She sang her heart out and the crowd loved her songs. After a fight with her father, April felt it was time to leave and find her own way. Her father had broken her guitar during the fight, but she hoped she could find a way to use her talent to make a living. The story followed April as she found friends who became family, found the courage and strength to forge her way alone, and found a life she never imagined.

This was such an interesting story. One could not help but feel for April. Her childhood was difficult. I could not imagine striking out alone at sixteen, but she kept going to get the life she wanted. Along the way, she met people who taught her to love and others who reminded her to be distrustful. I loved that she remained in contact with Margo. Margo was such a wonderful character. Even though April didn’t stay in one place very long before she moved on again, each person she connected with left a little piece behind in her. I loved meeting April and reading her story.

Content warning: April’s father was emotionally and physically abusive. April was also sexually assaulted while out on the road as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, and Toxic relationship

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

jessicaharleee's review against another edition

hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, and Child abuse

martieliz's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

skylover's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

This book was overall a good read, the side characters were lovable as hell and the road-trip lifestyle was a cool adventure to fictionally take part of. The MC I had a hard time rooting for when it felt like she wasn't always giving back to the people who were there for her, and I'm not a fan of time jumps, so a three-year gap felt pointless since she wasn't that much more grown up or wise since we saw April in Ithaca when she was 16. Margo, Adam, Carly, and Ethan were the real ones. I literally couldn't stand Justin so the ending felt a little disappointing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Vomit, and Death of parent

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

katyannreads's review against another edition

emotional reflective

4.5

“We have the people we get to keep, who won’t ever let us go. And that’s the most important part.” 

WOW this book was good. It’s not the typical genre I read, but I am glad I picked it up. An amazing story of healing from relational trauma and creating your own family. A girl going through life just wanting to matter. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Pregnancy

racbuckallew's review against another edition

funny hopeful fast-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 is so incredibly sweet. It is worth it to stay until the end—and you’ll probably cry. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

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

morebookspls's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.25

I loved getting to know April and her friends in this gorgeous book. I loved that was about friendships and how when romance fades, there are still people you get to keep. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual assault, and Child abuse