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A review by bethpeninger
The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this free readers edition. In exchange I am providing an honest review.
One of the most devastating illnesses, in my opinion, is Alzheimer's. And when it happens to people who haven't lived a full life yet it seems even more cruel.
Anna is a thirty-nine year old who has Alzheimer's. It's progressed fast and she can't live with her twin brother and his family any longer, she needs to be somewhere where she can be watched 24/7. So Anna becomes one of two under 50 year old residents in a residential facility. The other resident is Luke, a 42 year old who has a different kind of dementia that affects his language. The rest of the residents are in their 80's and just living at the residence due to their old age. They become family to each other. Enter Eve, the new cook who has her own traumatic past she's trying to recover from, and the story of Anna and Eve holds lessons for everyone around them. In both healing and letting go there are things to keep.
I really liked this book and the story. I love how Hepworth made sure her characters reminded the reader of the life they still possessed even if they were older or had no memories left. I love how she built a relationship between the residents and employees of the residence. It was a heartwarming story of new life, second chances, and familial love.
One of the most devastating illnesses, in my opinion, is Alzheimer's. And when it happens to people who haven't lived a full life yet it seems even more cruel.
Anna is a thirty-nine year old who has Alzheimer's. It's progressed fast and she can't live with her twin brother and his family any longer, she needs to be somewhere where she can be watched 24/7. So Anna becomes one of two under 50 year old residents in a residential facility. The other resident is Luke, a 42 year old who has a different kind of dementia that affects his language. The rest of the residents are in their 80's and just living at the residence due to their old age. They become family to each other. Enter Eve, the new cook who has her own traumatic past she's trying to recover from, and the story of Anna and Eve holds lessons for everyone around them. In both healing and letting go there are things to keep.
I really liked this book and the story. I love how Hepworth made sure her characters reminded the reader of the life they still possessed even if they were older or had no memories left. I love how she built a relationship between the residents and employees of the residence. It was a heartwarming story of new life, second chances, and familial love.