Reviews with content warning for Adult/minor relationship - The People We Keep

Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

73 reviews

jscoot22's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Content Warnings

snipinfool's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

freedo8quigly's review

Go to review page

emotional medium-paced

2.75

This MC sucks. I understand she is the product of trauma, but after she

sleeps with Adam at the ripe old age of 16

there was very little she could do to redeem herself. I was really hoping for a redemption arc, but never got it.

I also thought she was going to abort the baby.

Content Warnings

rachrreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

I really enjoyed the writing but I am incredibly bored at this point. No idea where this story is heading and I don’t really care unfortunately.

Content Warnings

amberlfaris's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

deannamullican's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

greenlivingaudioworm's review

Go to review page

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

madelinedalton's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative medium-paced

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

2.5

I hate that literally every single man in this book, regardless of if they were “good” or bad, was trying to fuck her. The only one who didn’t was gay. This feels really icky to me. I also got really sick of the constant trauma bonding and relationships with much older men. (To be fair, Robert’s age isn’t specified, but I would imagine he’s much closer to Ethan’s age than April’s.)

Also, you’re telling me that a man who was raped by his stepmother at 14 and therefore is nervous about sex doesn’t see ANY issue with dating a 19-year-old when he’s 27? Even though he believed April to be a legal adult, I can’t possibly believe he wouldn’t have strict age gap preferences after that. I don’t fault him for not knowing she was 16, but dating a homeless 19-year-old as an established 27-year-old is still cause for concern. The author was clearly trying to paint him as a safe and sympathetic character, and while I do think he was very kind-hearted, I never stopped feeling uneasy while reading about their relationship.

I personally wanted a lot more focus on the songwriting and performing aspects of April’s life, but that’s a me problem because I myself am a performer. I also found the Asheville section of the book to be rushed, which lessened the emotional payoff of her bond with Ethan and Robert. The way that everyone came back together in Ithaca felt a little *too* serendipitous, but it was sweet.

All this criticism aside, I did really enjoy April's unique narrative voice, the present tense first person narration, and the loving way in which the loose ends were tied.

Content Warnings

jessicaharleee's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Content Warnings

saradoxical's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional 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

5.0

I'm not usually someone who pays attention to Content Warnings, but the underage/adult relationship in this book threw me, and made me severely uncomfortable. I believe that was the point, but before I review this book I wanted to mention that.

Otherwise, I loved it. Top ten, probably. A keep on my shelf for a reread book.

Book Riot included this book on a list of overrated classics as what to read instead of On the Road and as someone who's tried and failed to read Jack Kerouac's classic? I was intrigued.

I loved April, and cheered for her throughout the book, finding the narrative real and sometimes painfully honest. Again, I wasn't a fan of one of her relationships, but it was still strikingly honest writing. April's life as an independent musician just trying to survive traveling from town to town reflects on the decisions we make in our lives, the what ifs that could drive us mad, and the people who become part of our stories along the way. If I had one other complaint?

The narrative wraps up too neatly, however I don't mind too much. I was rooting for April.

(A note: The rating I've given this book has increased, from my initial reaction to how it's sat with me. 5 stars, all the way.)

Content Warnings

More...