A review by itsmeeryn
The Ghosts We Keep by Mason Deaver

challenging emotional 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

4.5

 
The Ghosts We Keep is a gut-wrenching, beautifully written, story about dealing with grief, the loss of a loved one, and the things we learn through it. The characters aren't perfect, and sometimes are hard to like, but I think that adds to how real the story feels, and in a way made me love them even more. The side characters are all so well fleshed out and have their own personalities and flaws wonderfully balanced, their perspectives and lives have meaning, even though the story isn’t from their perspective or about them

minor spoilers
I loved that the story didn’t have a cut and dry, “happy” ending, instead, it left me feeling like this was a chapter in a larger story, which I think speaks to Deaver’s writing and connections to the themes.


The scenes regarding Self-harm and suicidal ideation, are incredibly realistically written, and due to this fact there were a few moments in chapters that I had to skim/skip over, but they also did not feel like the book was becoming about, or glorifying them as so many other stories tend to do.

This book was incredible, and if it was more to my personal tastes, would likely have ended up with a 5/5. I once again cannot wait to see what Mason Deaver has in store for his next book.


 
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