Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

22 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

freedo8quigly's review

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Physical abuse

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

saradoxical's review against another edition

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.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Abandonment

Moderate: Physical abuse and Sexual assault

mdavis26's review against another edition

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Physical abuse, and Homophobia

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

isabell's review

challenging hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Grief, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Vomit, Dementia, Rape, and Cursing

mysterymom40's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Classism and Homophobia

alyeebean's review against another edition

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Physical abuse

lindseybowers'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

3.75

i really loved part 1 of the story. April (I feel like this is an overused name in fiction but maybe not ) is a dumb 16 year old who makes dumb 16 year old decisions. I enjoyed the characters she met, and how she was able to find herself and find love amongst people in Ithaca.

What I didn't love... was that she was sleeping with someone in their late 20s. I am 30... I can spot a 16 year old from 10 miles away. Absolutely not. 

How old was Robert? He owned a restaurant and a bar... buddy was closer to 40 than 19. So I'm sorry but the age gap relationships were not doing it for me.

I think the story did get slightly repetitive and the middle felt exhausting, but i still enjoyed the journey i was on with April. 

I did sob at the end, and the whole time I just wanted April to stop acting a fool.

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Content Warnings

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