A review by courtthebookgirl
The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley

5.0

This book is a must-read. It has a little bit of everything- non-smarmy romance, family drama, small town chaos, and, of course, a major pandemic flu providing a terrifying backdrop to the story.

I think the reason I liked this book best was because I found the premise completely plausible. A pandemic flu hits the United States (well, the world) similar to that of 1918, except with an avian-flu-like twist.

I thought the writing was decent and the overall story enjoyable. It was a fast read. It was a little terrifying, given that this sort of thing happening in our lifetime is not entirely implausible, and given the current flu season and all the drama it has brought with it this year. I had a hard time deciphering between reality and the book when I put it down, which made my days more interesting :)

All in all, I would definitely recommend it for anyone who likes a family drama (a la Jodi Picoult, but with better writing) or a good thriller (or both).