Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - The People We Keep

Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

19 reviews

mamadeb615's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

I absolutely loved this book! I think it was a BookTok recommendation, but honestly don’t remember. It moves along at a good pace and has a wide range of mostly likeable characters. It’s very well written and moves at a good pace. Every time I took a break from it, I couldn’t wait to go back and find out what happened next.

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laur_astor's review against another edition

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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

5.0

My second time reading this book didn’t disappoint and the audiobook is very good.

As someone who has lived in Ithaca, this book perfectly encapsulates its magic. As April says, “And snow feels nicer in Ithaca. I don’t know why. Everything is nicer there.” And as Adam says, “It's a hard place to leave… the world doesn't seem as right anyplace else.”

Some things I noticed during my reread: *mild spoilers ahead* Carly is pretty cold when April meets her, which makes their friendship even more wholesome since they really needed each other. I forgot how much I enjoyed Bodie, too. Also, you can feel April’s slight uneasiness in the chapters about Justin. Even though April does love him, there’s a comfort in other people who she meets that I just couldn’t feel when she’s with Justin. He just doesn’t understand her like Carly, Margo, and Ethan. Ugh ETHAN! His proclamation of how much he loves her at the end is the best. And I just love how their relationship is purely platonic.

This won’t be the last time I revisit this book.

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snipinfool's review

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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