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The People We Keep
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
Raw, surprising and ultimately uplifting, Allison Larkins The People We Keep will break your heart a million different ways before putting it back together again. Julia Claiborne Johnson, author of Be Frank with Me and Better Luck Next Time The People We Keep is a big-hearted and deeply moving novel (Bruce Holsinger, author of The Gifted School) from the bestselling author of Stay and Swimming for Sunlight about a young songwriter longing to find a home in the world. Little River, New York, 1994: April Sawicki is living in a motorless motorhome that her father won in a poker game. Failing out of school, picking up shifts at Margos diner, shes left fending for herself in a town where shes never quite felt at home. When she borrows her neighbors car to perform at an open mic night, she realizes her life could be much bigger than where she came from. After a fight with her dad, April packs her stuff and leaves for good, setting off on a journey to find a life thats all hers. Driving without a chosen destination, she stops to rest in Ithaca. Her only plan is to survive, but as she looks for work, she finds a kindred sense of belonging at Cafe Decadence, the local coffee shop. Still, somehow, it doesnt make sense to her that life could be this easy. The more she falls in love with her friends in Ithaca, the more she cant shake the feeling that shell hurt them the way shes been hurt. As April moves through the world, meeting people who feel like home, she chronicles her life in the songs she writes and discovers that where she came from doesnt dictate who she has to be. This lyrical, unflinching tale is for anyone who has ever yearned for the fierce power of found family or to grasp the profound beauty of choosing to belong.
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Eggs Beautiful 🤩 8mo
54 likes1 comment
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Jas16
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

I really loved this book. It left me with such a book hangover I didn't know what to do with myself when I finished. A flawed, but deeply wounded young heroine struggling to find a place where she feels safe and wanted. April makes so many mistakes but I just wanted to hold her and tell her that it would all be ok.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Sounds awesome ❤️ 8mo
54 likes1 comment
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LitLaur
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Mehso-so

You know how you listen to or read a book, the protagonist suffers throughout childhood but then grows up, overcomes, and turns out strong and amazing? This isn‘t that. This is a terrible childhood followed by mistake, after mistake, after mistake. No one‘s held accountable for bad behavior, and no one is rewarded for good behavior, either. By the end of the book, I was just glad it was over. Good writing, but a so-so story.

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Kimberlone
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Better late than never? I‘ve been ridiculously busy in June and just haven‘t carved out the time to do my month end updates. Here is where my #BookspinBingo for June finished up. Made a bingo but didn‘t make too much progress with my #BOTM catch up project (finished 2). I didn‘t finish my #Bookspin (The Lost Apothecary), but I did get #Doublespin (tagged).

Will post July next!

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fantastic month!! 2y
39 likes1 comment
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audreydmcgee
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

These characters we so real, so heartbreaking. I wanted to wrap April in a blanket and never let her go. She was frustrating. Charming. And beautifully written. Perfect book for the Popsugar found family prompt.

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Kimberlone
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

Light pick. I was emotionally affected, and was really rooting for April throughout, but felt a bit cheated in character growth, seeing April repeatedly cycle through the same behaviors and patterns over the course of several years. Actions I could sympathize with when she was a neglected & abused 16 yo, were less excusable in her early 20s, still driven to escape out of convenience and embarrassment rather than stay and confront her issues.

Kimberlone The ending made me cry, but I also felt a bit emotionally manipulated by the deus ex machina ending of the book. 2y
58 likes1 comment
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marleed
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

Slow pick as my feelings were mixed on this. I was cheering for April to find her place and the loving people she deserved. On the other hand, this was a 16 yo abandoned first by her mother, then for unforgivable reasons, her father. She dislikes school, has no friends, is sexually active (well, of course she is) and leaves, and leaves again. I didn‘t always buy in to her story because she needed so much more than casual and occasional help.

Cathythoughts Great review 👍🏻❤️ 2y
marleed @Cathythoughts Thanks. It‘s definitely a book that gives you a lot to think about. 2y
72 likes2 comments
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Kimberlone
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Started reading yesterday and now about 60% in!

49 likes1 stack add
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m0chii
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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“I‘m scared I‘m not made for other people.”

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m0chii
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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“It‘s easier for them to break you apart from the inside.”

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m0chii
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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“It‘s the thing I love about bar people.”

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m0chii
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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1 like1 stack add
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m0chii
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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“I think about all the times I wished someone would hold my hand when I felt defeated.”

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m0chii
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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“Sometimes, the person being left did nothing to deserve it.”

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m0chii
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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“It scares me that you can get to be an adult and still feel that way.”

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Mdion1993
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

A surprisingly emotional story about a drifting teenager who leaves behind her hometown in the hope of finding somewhere to belong. After a nasty fight with her father, April steals her neighbor‘s car and drives to Ithaca, New York, a small college town that ends up being just one of many stops on her journey. This is a story about found family, and the pain of forging our own path.

7 likes1 stack add
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Victoriahoperose
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this story. It‘s a strong book about friendship overall and really shows that the only love you need in life is the kind that will always be there no matter what despite the hard times. The characters were so unique and well written that they felt like family and this book just made me feel warm in the end. I may have liked it to end a little differently but it was mostly realistic and I enjoyed it.

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BittersweetBooks
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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It‘s easy to fall in love with someone when you need them, but that doesn‘t make it real or right. I don‘t think how we were in our time together is how we‘d always be. There‘s a way you hold yourself in when love and need get tangled. It‘s hard to know what would last and what would wear too thin to keep 🛣🎶👶

28 likes4 stack adds
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Sargar114
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Mehso-so

I wanted to like this one more based on the reviews, but I think the biggest problem was the person reading it. I think Ive aged out of coming of age tales. April has a pretty rough upbringing and after a last straw with her dad, hits the road to try life out on her own. Despite meeting some wonderful people; she was pretty terrible to all of them making it hard for me to sympathize with her. Borrowed from one of my people & my #doublespin

TheAromaofBooks I've wondered this about myself the last year or so as well... I have less patience with characters who don't want to accept help or advice and have to do everything the hard way... despite knowing that I went through that stage as well, as most people do lol 2y
kspenmoll I had same reaction to this book/character 2y
22 likes2 comments
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MMFinck
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

Beyond a doubt one of my favorite novels I have ever read. All the stars. Ended the last page, eyes a little welled, nose a little runny, heart very full. ❤️ Put this on your TBR.

11 likes2 stack adds
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Sargar114
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Starting my #doublespin for February, on loan from a friend.

27 likes1 stack add
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EmilyM
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

This book was so good! Really well developed characters and a very engaging story! Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

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Cvfrailing
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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5th book of 2022!

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dainarmb
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Educating the pups on the importance of your people 🤪 #currentlyreading in my Baby Yoda onesie next to the fireplace

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dainarmb
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Lovely Saturday mornings with this library read 💕

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kaytee_mcmar
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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I say it‘s amazing how much you can miss people you only got to be with for one tiny little perfect bit of time; how a place where you barely got to live can be the closest thing you‘ve ever had to a home.

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dainarmb
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Stronger Spine 2022 Reading Challenge! I was ONE BOOK SHY in 2021 🤦🏽‍♀️ here's to a completion this year.🥂

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LHudson13
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
Mehso-so

The story was cute and the writing easy to follow. Slightly repetitive and predictable.

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MelKelsey
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

Book 148

I listened to The People We Keep by Allison Larkin. It is an engaging story about a teenaged girl who leaves her small town to make a bigger life for herself. The relationships are compelling but end was a little disappointing. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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britt_brooke
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️ The starving artist trope is so overplayed, but this ended up being a solid #bookclub selection. Teenaged April leaves school and home, working and playing gigs in town after town. Questionable decisions bring on a lingering and overwhelming sense of foreboding. April is a good, well-meaning person. She doesn‘t need to be rescued, yet she does need someone to care. You can create your family. They need not be your blood to be your heart.

Cinfhen Glad to see your bookclub is still going strong 💪🏽 2y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen 🎉🎉 We‘ve decided to keeping going in 2022! I‘ve backed off to monthly vs weekly discussion, though. It was too much. 2y
Cinfhen Yeah/ weekly is wayyyyy too much work 2y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen Yeah; I ain‘t got time for that! I can barely focus on getting reviews done. I‘m like 3 or 4 books behind right now (again … this appears to be my new normal). 😅 2y
102 likes4 comments
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JoyBlue
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Mehso-so

I really wanted to like this, based on the title; but, the few shining stars of this story weren‘t enough to save it. Read my full review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#the-people-we-keep

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rohitgupta
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

The journey of Alex was so interesting, when the book came to end, I literally felt that the book should not end, every journey of hers, every place she haulted and every relation she made was really great to read. It is all about the People we keep

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JHSiess
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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🌴𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗿𝗮𝗽-𝗨𝗽🌺⁣

📖 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗲 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 by 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⁣⭐⁣
⁣📖 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 by 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⁣
⁣📖 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹 by 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗟𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗺𝗮𝗻⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⁣
⁣📖 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗶𝗲𝘀 by 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘆⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⁣
⁣📖 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 by 𝗠𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝘀⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⁣
⁣📖 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 by 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻⭐⭐⭐⭐⁣

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Well-ReadNeck
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Mehso-so

Well narrated #audiobook

Loved the first half and found some heartwarming moments. But, it really dragged from there. Good but overblown ending.

53 likes3 stack adds
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Cathyloves2read
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
Pickpick


I throughly enjoyed this book. It was so heartwarming! I absolutely LOVED most of the characters! Even if it sounds strange, I feel like I know them personally. The author did a great job of making them feel so real. I really like this young author, and know that she will continue to excel. If you haven‘t read this book, please do so. You won‘t be sorry!

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BookBosomed1
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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I am at a Women in the Woods Retreat this weekend so not much time for reading; however, I did sneak in some book time before bed.

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Allthebookclubs
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

What a great coming of age story. April was dealt a shit hand in life but she did the best she could and left a good mark on so many people. I can‘t imagine facing that kind of hardship at 39 let alone 16! I‘ll be looking at more of Allison Larkin‘s books for sure. Book #55 in 2021

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kspenmoll
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Panpan

I just grabbed this last night from my #botm pile.Trying to whittle it down. Couldn‘t sleep,so I did finish.I was too lazy to get another book.I did enjoy the early chapters when April was still living in Little Rivers,some of the Ithaca scenes,especially her friendships with Carly & Ethan.But for the most part some of her wanderings/singing in bars,sleeping with men was boring & went on & on.Waste of my reading time.
#superseptember #readathon

Megabooks I‘m glad I bailed on this now! 3y
EadieB @kspenmoll Sorry you didn't enjoy your book. I've been to Ithaca many times as my brother lives there. l hope you have a better book to read on Day 2. 3y
kspenmoll @EadieB I read 2 great books day 2&3- Hidden treasure (cozy) & 3y
EadieB @kspenmoll Great to hear that your 📖 reading did get better on day 2 & 3! 3y
britt_brooke Oof, I‘m reading this now for book club, and I can tell by a few reviews - and the first few pages - it‘s not for me. But, my friend chose it, so I‘ll soldier on. 😬 2y
85 likes5 comments
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kspenmoll
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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#weeklyreport #Sept5toSept11 #overbookedclub #studentbuddyread #sophiesworld #literarycrew #audio #mystery
Finished 4 books & in various stages of the other 6.
How was your week

Suet624 Nice!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 3y
merelybookish All About Love is my #doublespin but haven't started yet. 3y
Cinfhen Wow!! Wonderful!!! My week was really good!! We celebrated the Jewish New Year with friends 🍎🍯🍷 3y
72 likes3 comments
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Megabooks
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Bailedbailed

Yeah, I tried three times with this library #audiobook and never made it more than 11%. Not compelling, and I‘m not sure Julia Whelan was the right narrator. (But tbh, I‘m not a huge fan of her anyway.) Back it goes!

I‘m going to have to turn in my infrequent bailer card @BarbaraBB 😂

Prairiegirl_reading I‘m not a huge Julia Whelan fan either. I really wish she was not as prolific as she seems to be. Oh well, on to the next! 😄 3y
Megabooks @Prairiegirl_reading same! It seems like she‘s the “big name” in narrating (especially contemporary fic) the past couple of years, and she‘s so hit or miss for me. 3y
BarbaraBB Lol that was your bonus bailing card 😉 (edited) 3y
See All 6 Comments
Cinfhen Three times you tried listening…seems like you get a free bail on this book!! 3y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB lol! Yes, that must be it! 3y
Megabooks @Cinfhen truth! I really tried. 3y
94 likes6 comments
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Mpcacher
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
Pickpick

This wonderful coming of age story has both humour and romance. It is lovely read.

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Sgraf307
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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My Top 3 Favorite Books so far this year!
#mbcreadathon #mbcbookfrogsreadathon4

kellyann28 Entered! 3y
3 likes1 stack add1 comment
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SoManyBooksNotEnoughTime
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

Take a journey with April, a 16-year-old who feels unloved by her family and unaccepted by the people in her hometown. She roadtrips up & down the east coast playing her guitar, making some money & friends wherever she can. This coming of age story is both heartbreaking & hopeful. It's for anyone who ever felt that life can't be good or that they don't deserve friends who treat them like family. I found this to be a very calming & enjoyable read.

Soubhiville What a great photo! 3y
57 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Reviewsbylola
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

This was a heartfelt novel that kept my attention and had me rooting for the characters. There were a few flaws to the story imo—mainly it felt a little unbelievable for me, as far as the ending mostly. That said, I think this is a great book about relationships and what we mean to others. #botm

Megabooks I‘m on the list at the library for this. Glad to know it‘s a pick! 3y
Centique What a pretty plate and breakfast too! 3y
88 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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KristenDuck
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

Sometimes we can‘t help who some of the people are around us, but we can always choose the people we keep close.

What a likable character! April is a singer/songwriter who is simply trying to find her way as she travels from one town to the next, chronicling her life and the people she meets by writing songs.

Will she ever find a place to stay and people who want to stay with her?

I loved this writing style, and an expected but satisfying end!

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Tiffiney
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

I loved this book soooooo much! Favorite of 2021 so far. So many feels! I felt sad for April…happy for her…cheered her on…then so angry I wanted to shake her! I had a roller coaster of emotions going on. I wanna say so much more, but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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shannasbookshelf
People We Keep | Allison Larkin

Rating: 3.75 stars
Review: This was, in my opinion, a good book. I enjoyed the story. It also has a great message, especially for the teenage/young adult age brackets. Although the story was good (and I did enjoy it), I don't think that this book was ultimately for me. While I liked most of the characters and the setting, something about the book made me think, “I read it. I liked it. It's one-and-done.“

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TheNerdyProfessor
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

If you like coming of age novels and stories that examine the meaning of family, this one is for you. A character-driven novel focused on what it means to be loved and the sacrifices we make to protect those who mean the most to us. I did not always like April's choices but I was rooting for her the whole way through. The ending was very satisfying and heart-warming. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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FelinesAndFelonies
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
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Pickpick

OMG! This is probably my favorite #BOTM choice this year! #BOTY material. The story was beautiful. I fell in love with all of the characters. The experiences that each character brought to the Novel were tender & heartbreaking. I didn't want to put it down & eagerly checked on my new friends at every opportunity. The ending had me sobbing in the best way. I cannot recommend this book enough. ❤️
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Deblovestoread Lovely review. Moving it up on my TBR. 😊 3y
kspenmoll Nice review! 3y
brittanyreads Oooh! Glad I chose this one. 3y
78 likes7 stack adds3 comments