Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. I apologize for not finishing it sooner but sadly - it just wasn't a book for me.

WHAT’S WORTH KEEPING is a story I’m middle of the road on. On one hand, it is an inspiring story about Amy, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, and how her life changes overnight. But not only is it a story about Amy, it’s also about her family and how they were affected as well. On the other hand, there were so many storylines that could’ve made this book a series.

I thought the book was ultimately going to be about Amy and her cancer journey, but just like a real life situation, cancer affects those around the person who is diagnosed in different ways. While I found other POVs insightful, I felt they sort of took away from Amy’s story where the light could have shined brighter.

The overall tone is pure sadness, so don’t let this beautiful cover fool you. Even though it’s sad, it’s part hope, healing, and acceptance.

I found this book pretty repetitive and wordy, but still took away some good nuggets from it.

Big thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

Content warnings: cancer, death, grief

A very emotional read. This family literally tears their family unit to shreds only to learn that no matter the trials faced or the scars earned, facing your fears together is the best way to survive the battles. Kaya McLaren introduces us to the Bergstrom family, a mother who has survived, so far, breast cancer's extreme treatments, a father wrapped up in a demanding job and a teenager who is learning that the fates have given her too many questions that have no good answers. As they pull apart to heal, they will learn that their broken family is what they need most to heal.
This is a very emotional read. Don't forget the tissues.

Thank you NetGallley, St. Martins Press and Kaya McLaren for this ARC. To me, this was a very sad and at times, heartbreaking novel. I honestly skimmed over many medical facts, bombing scenes , and just wanted it to be a beautiful story of redemption in the face of tragedy.. and in the end it was.
3 1/2 stars because of so many, what seemed like to me, repeat references and scenes.

Inspiring and emotional, but so hard to read if you're not in the right headspace. Sadly, I think many of us have been affected by cancer, so I this book be valuable to a lot of people as long as they're in the right moment to receive it.

Aww what a tearjerker, this one had me feeling so many emotions and was a real rollercoaster ride. Ultimately it’s a story of hope and resilience that I liked.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a tear jerker and very emotional. I thought the author did a great job of bringing the reader into the story and allowing us to feel Amy’s feelings.

I started reading the book, but was not drawn in & decided not to continue reading. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book, but it unfortunately just didn't work for me to continue with it.

📚 Book Review 📚

Before I go on some major TW with this title: breast cancer, PTSD, suicidal ideation, trauma, death of a loved one

This was a title I was originally given on NetGalley, but I’m just now getting to reading it. This reminded me of a Kristin Hannah book meets Wild and The Horse Whisperer. It’s a story about a woman, Amy, and her family and their healing and dealing with their life after having gone through breast cancer and trauma (her husband Paul was a first responder of the Oklahoma City bombing)

This was a very heavy read but a lovely story of healing and finding yourself again post trauma. You can tell the author drew on her own experiences with breast cancer. I felt very deeply for each of the characters and loved getting to go on the National Parks journey with Amy. This was very well written, and I loved having the alternating POV and journeys of Amy, Paul, and their daughter, Carly.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the free book.
This book is all about one family and its recovery after trauma and cancer changes their world. What I liked about this book was how it was told from the POVs Amy - the cancer survivor; Paul - the husband and PTSD sufferer; and Carly - their daughter dealing with anxiety. This gave me a depth to the characters that was well done. I think the pacing was helped in this regard, too. However, I didn't love all of the flashbacks Amy had. Some of the chapters got long, and I felt like some of it was unnecessary. But I did love the journey for these characters. The supporting characters are small, which gives the book an intimate feel. If you like reading about what one family is going through during one summer, then this is the book for you.

If you love following family generations and their stories you will love this novel! I found the loss and grief wrapped up in this story to be beautifully written. A bit of a slow start but once I got into it I was unable to put it down. Highly recommend this novel!

If you need a book to make you cry this is a good one!

It was so touching and heart-rending. I flew through it because I just needed to hear her story. I think this was the perfect book to end the summer with.

If you are looking for a great tear jerker then I would recommend this.

This was an emotional read. The characters are well developed. They are dealing with issues … cancer diagnosis, secrets being kept, and fears. Art and nature play a major role in the healing of the family. But, they must heal within themselves before they can do so as a family unit.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

It is a story of three generations in one family during the summer. The story is filled with cancer, 911, divorce, hope, love and family. An emotional story of family survival.

Thank you @NetGalley, @StMartin’sPress, @StMartinGriffin and @KayaMcLaren for the advance readers copy of “What’s Worth Keeping” for my honest review.

I had trouble getting into it a first but then iI couldn’t put it down. Honestly raw portrayal of a crossroads for a family of 3 who all go off on their own to figure themselves out. Heartbreaking and redeeming simultaneously.

ARC from publisher via NetGalley but the opinions is my own.

If you’re interested in the type of book that rips your heart out, tears it into pieces then slowly puts it back together again then What’s Worth Keeping by Kaya McLaren is for you. This contemporary women’s fiction titles follows three characters, each with their own point of view, as they struggle with their own issues.

Amy Bergstrom has cancer but as she struggles with how to deal with this news she finds out that her husband has been keeping a secret. Amy decides what is best for her is to get away and get some space to clear her head so she packs up and heads to the forest in the state of Washington.

As Amy is away on her trip her husband, Paul, is going to take their daughter to her Aunt Rae’s horse ranch because Carly is also struggling. Carly has gone from a teenager with a bright future to a mother with cancer that could be genetic. Paul meanwhile is going to the house nearby that he once thought he and Amy would retire to as he struggles with his wife’s diagnosis and his demanding job as a police officer.

There were so many words that came to mind after finishing reading What’s Worth Keeping. Powerful. Moving. Gut wrenching. Heartwarming. And so on. This book takes a broken messed up family and pieces them together as it did the same with my emotions while reading. A well written emotional roller coaster of a ride that I’d definitely recommend.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I think because people are so fallible but sometimes we don't realize what we have until we don't have it anymore. what's worth keeping by Kaya McLaren is the book that makes you recognize how much we grow in change but we have to work on keeping what's important. the novel does require tissues, although not a boxful.

Amy Bergstrom has discovered she has cancer. After going through chemo and radiation and all the treatments she realizes she needs something more. It didn't help that before all the treatments even started she discovered a document that her husband had drawn up. Amy leaves for an adventure going back to a place that might bring her peace.

Paul Bergstrom is a police officer. He struggled since the Oklahoma bombing when he had to dig out the survivors and the dead. So many children. Paul knew that he couldn’t ever let go of what he saw. He knew that his wife deserved more than just him. Paul starts working on rehabbing a home that he and Amy always thought they would retire to.

Their daughter, Carly went to live with Amy's Aunt Rae for the summer. She too is struggling with everything that has happened with her family. Luckily spending time with Aunt Rae, the beauty of the area and the horses helps. Carly loves helping Aunt Rae with her clients she brings out camping.

What's Worth Keeping it's what all three of them are searching for. Emotions of anger in love and despair are so well-written. Sometimes when we look for what's worth keeping we realize we have everything that we need. And sometimes we need something different. What's Worth Keeping by Kaya McLaren is a novel that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you realize some things are worth keeping.

This was such a thoughtful book! It focuses on two parents and their teenage daughter soon after the mother, Amy, recovers from breast cancer. Each of them is broken and they each undergo a separate journey of acceptance and healing.

I really liked each point of view and I sympathized with each of them. There wasn't needless angst but there was certainly sorrow and a lot of emotional processing.

Carly, the daughter, just graduated and is sent to spend the summer with her Great Aunt Bev. who became a favorite character. Carly helps Bev with her horse-riding adventure business, and shares insights without pushing. Amy returns to her childhood favorite places, and Paul deals with his own issues.

This book is all about the journey, and I think it would be an excellent book club pick. There is SO much to discuss. I also think it has very wise insights about surviving cancer. I was not at all surprised to read at the end that the author herself is a cancer survivor.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this. It was excellent.

A very emotional read! Each of the characters is battling something internally while trying to keep it together externally, so many people will be able to relate to this beautiful story of love, loss, and moving on. The writing is very well done, and makes me excited to read more by Kaya McLaren.

Recovering from breast cancer and related masectomy, Amy is not only dealing with her own physical and hormonal recovery, but also with questioning what she thought she knew about her marriage. She needs to escape - as she does so, her husband Paul is struggling with his own mental health and trauma from assisting many years before in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing.

At the same time, their daughter Carly spends part of her summer with her Aunt, frustrated with her family and afraid to tell them how scared she is that she too carries the genetic predisposition for breast cancer.

Each of their journeys apart give them time to process, but is their future to come together as a family again?

I appreciated how this felt more real than many other stories - the realities of illness, trauma, abuse, age are content warnings, and how a challenging event can bring so many memories back and make you question what you knew - what's really important.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.