Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

Keep It In The Family by John Marrs

25 reviews

libbijade13's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

I loved this book so much and am so glad I finally got the chance to read it. The only thing stopping me from giving 5 stars is just because some of the chapters were a little confusing timeline wise (however I know this was a part of the book that added to it's suspense).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Infertility, Miscarriage, Car accident, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Eating disorder and Self harm

brookes95's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Eating disorder, Infertility, Miscarriage, Self harm, and Grief

iamabriannaxo's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Gaslighting

dev921's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

lmayfieldx's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Infertility, and Pandemic/Epidemic

ellaticonstellation's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book is pretty interesting. The characters are fully flawed. I love how John showed the intense insanity and rationalization of characters like Debbie and Finn. Debbie is delusional and I love how far she can believe that she's in the right. Come on, woman, you killed a lot of kids. Kids! I can't believe my eyes when I read about the kids. It's horrific and sadly abuse happens in real life. I feel for those parents and kids who are victims of kidnapping and abuse. 

Whoa! A lot had happened and I was at the edge of my seat, especially the last 30%. It must be so hard to grow up in chaos. It's difficult to escape and end the cycle. So, yeah, the ending made me a bit sad because the cycle continues. 

Finn's true colors and intentions gave me chills. I mean, he is a product of traumatic experiences caused by adults, but is it not possible to change and have a better life?

Don't get me wrong, John did an amazing job with the characters, but it's scary to think that people like Debbie and Finn are with us and can choose to ruin our lives if we trouble them one way or another. It's vile really. 

Oh, about Mia, I thought she was hiding something dark as well, but turns out to be post partum depression. I also experienced this and it's heartbreaking. 

Anyway, John, thank you for this book! I'll read more of your work.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

meeklovestoread's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

Wow! Just wow! This book is MAD, but in the best way possible. Just wow! I'm too stunned. This book was sooooo GOOD! Oh my gosh, it was so good! I heavily enjoyed myself. It was a bit slow to get into and I think that's a pattern I'm noticing as I read more John Marrs books. I'd say around the 10% more is when I started to get into it. Like around the time they got into the house and find what they find then after that I was HOOKED. After some time, probably once I got like over a third of the way through I was completely immersed into the story and into the world. It was like I was watching one of those Netflix thriller shows. Yes, it's slow-paced, but it's one of those books where as the story goes you're just hit with twist after twist after twist and I was enjoying every single second of it. I was thoroughly entertained to the point where I entertained this book being a 5-star, but I just didn't get that "5-star feeling". There were just so many times where the characters frustrated me and as we got to the end I strongly disliked a few of the main characters to the point where I genuinely couldn't give this book 5-stars so good on John Marrs for making me dislike characters so much that I couldn't alter my rating. A previous book of his "When You Disappeared" is one of my all-time favorite thrillers because it really got me out of both a bad life and reading rut and because it was just sooooo freaking good. This book follows the same format where it's slow-paced, but there's sooooo much drama that surrounds it that you just can't help but be gripped by what's going on. I also love that as you read the book the title starts to make so much sense. Just when you think things can't get crazier they do and after reading two John Marrs books that are like this I can confidently say that these are my favorite ways in which he tells stories. I was currently in a reading and life rut when I picked this up and John Marrs is two for two for getting me out of both. I'm grateful that I read this when I did because reading this book reminded me just why I love reading. This book is dark, crazy, twisted, and so unhinged and I was thoroughly entertained by it. This is most definitely my favorite by him so far! (and to think once upon a time i unshelved this cuz i had too much on my tbr; so glad i put it back on)

Note: If you're going to read this then I highly recommend the audio. It helps discern between the multiple POVS. And just creates an overall better reading experience.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Infertility, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Death of parent

killmoore_'s review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This was a solid read by a solid author - freakin love John. 

Knocked off a few points because I was sorely disappointed to have figured out the big twist early on, but it didn't take away from the roller coaster ride of reveals that lies within the pages. There was not a single likeable character in this entire book, and I loved it. 

Hashtag justice for george.

Heavy content matter. Read your trigger warnings if that's your thing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

astoriareader's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.0

SYNOPSIS

• Mía & Finn, a married couple, are currently living with Finn’s parents. They end up buying an old house that needs tons of work. Shortly after, Mia finds out she’s pregnant.
• While they renovate the house, they continue living with Finn’s parents.
• Dave & Debbie are Finn’s parents, and wow, I would not want to be living with them 😂
• Unfortunately, the house has a lot of secrets, and things spiral out from there.

MY THOUGHTS

• Dark subject matter. The story is about finding out who is behind the serial killing of kids.
• Story itself is presented from many different POVs. The four main characters (Mia, Finn, Dave, Debbie), unknown narrators in unknown timelines, clips from media (podcasts, shows, newspaper), etc.
• Very creative plot. Complex characters  that Marrs develops throughout the story.
• There are a lot of twists. The major ones were fairly predictable, but some were less predictable. At times, I was sooo frustrated with some of the characters. Even the arguably saner ones were making irrational, idiotic choices. 
• Enjoyed the writing & it was a well-plotted book.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Solid read. Dark subject matter - worth checking out trigger warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Confinement, Miscarriage, and Car accident

Minor: Cancer

samluh's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Can I give it more than 5 stars?! So good! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, and Terminal illness