Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

9 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

caribbeangirlreading's review against another edition

When I DNF a book I usually only give it one or two stars but I'm feeling generous. I want to be fair, because this book is just too YA for my taste. I also had a lot of empathy for April because the adults in her life sucked. Unfortunately, that empathy did not translate to curiosity about how her story ended. The ick factor from the sexually inappropriate relationship was just too much for me. I still do not understand how many people in the book world are so offended by infidelity in fiction but so many who reviewed this book just ignored the fact that a 16yo lied to an almost 30yo man about her age and then shacked up with him.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcohol

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

kaitlinlovesbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual content

Minor: Blood, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Fatphobia, Medical content, and Grief

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

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

phaas's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death of parent, Homophobia, and Pregnancy

Minor: Blood

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

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