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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.
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.
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
deannamullican's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
April is a complicated, flawed character and I love her. Abandoned by those who are supposed to love her, she’s left to fend for herself at a young age. I love that she didn’t allow herself to get stuck, but the flip side is that she pushed everyone away, which made me so sad.
I was rooting for her.She got the ending she deserved and I’m so glad she made it home.
I would love to hear her music.
I was rooting for her.
I would love to hear her music.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor 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
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
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Pregnancy
oodlesofbooks'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The first half I was searching for the plot line but still felt very engaged. It’s truly a coming of age story and a finding your own family story. Cute, touching, and loved the setting in Upstate New York. Enjoyed it enough I’m going to seek out other books by this author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy
kelly_e's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Title: The People We Keep
Author: Allison Larkin
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: August 3, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Slow • Nostalgic • Repetitive
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Abandoned by her mother as a child, April is living in a run-down motorhome her father won as part of a bet, and picking up shifts at the local diner. Her father who is rarely ever home, prefers to spend time with his girlfriend and her child. To make matters worse, April's failing at school and barely scraping by. Sick of it all and with dreams of pursuing her music, she steals a car and leaves Little River behind.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After seeing several glowing reviews and reading the synopsis, I was convinced The People We Keep would be a book I'd love. Unfortunately, I was wrong (it happens).
What I like:
• part one. It started out so strong. I was intrigued. I was engaged. I wanted to keep reading.
• the singer/songwriter aspect. I wish there'd have been a bigger focus on this element.
• the secondary characters. April meets some wonderful and endearing people along the way.
• the audio narration. It's Julia Whelan. Enough said.
What I didn't like:
• part two on. After starting with so much potential, it really lost it's footing as I progressed and my attention waned considerably.
• the pacing. It felt longer than it actually was. And yet, the entire story spans only four years of April's life, and I wanted felt as though it should have been longer.
• the repetitive nature of April's behaviour. The same thing happens over and over again. April's behaviour felt like a broken record, making the narrative highly predictable and giving it YA vibes. Honestly, it didn't feel like she grew all that much from start to finish.
• the sexual encounters. The story didn't need this and would likely have been better without.
• the redemptive power of motherhood. It all just felt so unrealistic and cliché.
• entering a relationship under false pretenses. Just. A. Hard. No.
In summary, The People We Keep had so many of the elements I love in a character-driven story, but it just ended up not working. I definitely understand why this book is so beloved by many readers, it was just not the right fit for me.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the found family trope
• readers who like character-driven narratives
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I wonder if maybe all you do is meet people and lose them and your smile fades the further you go because you have to carry the space they leave. Maybe it just all turns into old pictures on a bookshelf, engraved rings, memories of sticking stars to a ceiling, and maybe the space gets bigger and heavier every year."
"I want to believe there will still be newness in the world for me. That it's not all faded and dusty."
Author: Allison Larkin
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: August 3, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Slow • Nostalgic • Repetitive
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Abandoned by her mother as a child, April is living in a run-down motorhome her father won as part of a bet, and picking up shifts at the local diner. Her father who is rarely ever home, prefers to spend time with his girlfriend and her child. To make matters worse, April's failing at school and barely scraping by. Sick of it all and with dreams of pursuing her music, she steals a car and leaves Little River behind.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After seeing several glowing reviews and reading the synopsis, I was convinced The People We Keep would be a book I'd love. Unfortunately, I was wrong (it happens).
What I like:
• part one. It started out so strong. I was intrigued. I was engaged. I wanted to keep reading.
• the singer/songwriter aspect. I wish there'd have been a bigger focus on this element.
• the secondary characters. April meets some wonderful and endearing people along the way.
• the audio narration. It's Julia Whelan. Enough said.
What I didn't like:
• part two on. After starting with so much potential, it really lost it's footing as I progressed and my attention waned considerably.
• the pacing. It felt longer than it actually was. And yet, the entire story spans only four years of April's life, and I wanted felt as though it should have been longer.
• the repetitive nature of April's behaviour. The same thing happens over and over again. April's behaviour felt like a broken record, making the narrative highly predictable and giving it YA vibes. Honestly, it didn't feel like she grew all that much from start to finish.
• the sexual encounters. The story didn't need this and would likely have been better without.
• the redemptive power of motherhood. It all just felt so unrealistic and cliché.
• entering a relationship under false pretenses. Just. A. Hard. No.
In summary, The People We Keep had so many of the elements I love in a character-driven story, but it just ended up not working. I definitely understand why this book is so beloved by many readers, it was just not the right fit for me.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the found family trope
• readers who like character-driven narratives
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I wonder if maybe all you do is meet people and lose them and your smile fades the further you go because you have to carry the space they leave. Maybe it just all turns into old pictures on a bookshelf, engraved rings, memories of sticking stars to a ceiling, and maybe the space gets bigger and heavier every year."
"I want to believe there will still be newness in the world for me. That it's not all faded and dusty."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Drug use, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Child abuse
child neglectlcg527's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence
megbooks02's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
“I wonder if maybe all you do is meet people and lose them and your smile fades the further you go because you have to carry the space they leave.”
WOW! 5,000 stars! The People We Keep broke me and put me back together. I am in AWE of this heartbreakingly beautiful coming-of-age story about healing from relational trauma and finding your own family.
Julia Whelan narrates the audiobook, so I highly recommend listening to this one!
WOW! 5,000 stars! The People We Keep broke me and put me back together. I am in AWE of this heartbreakingly beautiful coming-of-age story about healing from relational trauma and finding your own family.
Julia Whelan narrates the audiobook, so I highly recommend listening to this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
candaceallison's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual violence
Minor: Death of parent
theonlybaillie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Child abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Cursing, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, and Rape