If you are looking for a book that will make you feel all the feels, then this is definitely the book for you!

What’s Worth Keeping is a multiple POV novel (my fave!) that follows Amy and Paul, and their daughter Carly, the summer after Carly graduates from high school and Amy finishes treatment for breast cancer. (So many trigger warnings here: cancer, PTSD, OKC Bombing, and divorce.) Before beginning her cancer treatment, Amy discovered divorce papers that Paul had filled out, but never confronts him about it. As she goes through treatment, her relationships with both Paul and Carly begin to breakdown and so as the summer begins, she leaves to reconnect with nature, and herself. In the alternating POV chapters, we see Carly’s transformative experience on her Great Aunt Rae’s horse ranch and Paul’s issues with PTSD from being a first responder to the OKC Bombing in 1993, as they learn to come to terms with the events of the previous year.

There was a lot happening in this book, and I would have loved to see a little bit more of Paul’s story, but overall, Amy and Carly’s chapters riveted me. I cried frequently in this one, not because of Amy’s cancer, but because of the beauty of the storytelling and the emotion laid bare by the characters (and also because I am a crier). I’m so glad that I picked this one up and McLaren has definitely inspired some future road trips for our family!!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

“What’s Worth Keeping” by Kaya McLaren
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Ebook- Release Date 1/19/21

I’ve had this one for a few months and I don’t know why I put it off. This emotional story is about second chances and what you decide to do with the life you have left.

Amy is wondering what’s next after her battle with breast cancer, which results in a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy. She feels lost. Her body isn’t her own and she’s still in pain. She thought the hard part was over, but quickly learned her journey just started. It’s her second chance at life, so she packs up her station wagon and heads north to live and explore nature like she did on vacations as a child. She is hoping it gives her clarity and peace.

Carly just graduated high school and since she’s not quite 18 her parents send her to live with her Great Aunt for the summer on her farm. She helps with her camping business and ends up learning a lot about herself. She was never angry at her mother, but scared. Scared her mom might die and scared she herself will get cancer. She is slowly learning how to move forward and face her biggest fears.

Paul was a first responder in the Oklahoma bombings 16 years ago and still hasn’t recovered. As an Oklahoma Police Officer he seeks death and despair everyday, but is learning that even 3 years from retirement he doesn’t love his job. Every day is exhausting and every time you help someone there is another person in line committing a crime. To top it off his marriage is in shambles and he has to figure out how to fix it. During leave he travels to Chama where the home he bought for after retirement is needing renovations. He begins those and begins healing.

Just a wonderful book. I highlighted so many beautifully phrased passages.

The story is told from three perspectives and it is really well done. You are following along with all three in "real time" which helps understand the ways Amy, Paul and Carly are trying to manage their grief, trauma, disappointment, fears and love.

I really loved how the outdoors - in New Mexico and the National Parks - plays a big role in the three characters' journeys and discoveries. I especially loved Aunt Rae who was the true north for all three. Everyone should be so lucky to have an Aunt Rae to lean on. I also appreciated the insight and reminder of the heartbreak from the Oklahoma City bombing.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.*

While Amy is off to the places of her childhood trying to find who she is as a cancer survivor, her husband and daughter are figuring out their new roles on their own. Paul is still struggling, many years after a vicious bombing, and Carly has been so angry and she’s bearing the scars of watching her mother go through this fight. She’s terrified, and she feels like she’s going through it alone. Through careful storytelling, we watch each family member struggle on their own to make sense of everything they’re going through.

“I wasn’t mad at her. I was just mad.”

I was most attached to Carly and her story. She was so angry; it was heartbreaking watching her struggle so much, and it made sense why she had been acting out as of late. I highlighted a lot of the text in her chapters because it made such an impact.

“...leaving Carly to wonder how a person takes off invisible armor when it’s welded on.”

This is a story about finding strength and the power of forgiveness and family. Overall, an impactful and emotional read. Thank you, St. Martin’s, for sending this along.

I can appreciate a book even if I didn't necessarily love everything about it. This story explores a few important subjects and for that reason, I'm thankful I read it.

Amy Bergstrom finds out her husband, Paul, is keeping a secret from her on the same day her doctor informs her she has breast cancer. Months later after treatment and surgeries, her body might be healing but her spirit is broken. So Amy goes on a road trip visiting the national parks.

Both Amy and Paul are concerned about their teenage daughter, Carly, so they send her to work on a horse ranch for the summer which is owned by Amy's aunt. Meanwhile, Paul is dealing with both past and present issues related to his career as a police officer. The story alternates between the three members of this family.

Unfortunately, I didn't feel emotionally invested in any of the characters which is a shame. I do think they each brought something unique to the table in terms of storyline though. Carly in particular was faced with the tough situation of watching her mom battle cancer and thinking about what could be in store for her in the future regarding her own health. Each character was on an interesting journey and yet it felt more like I was just reading about their lives rather than feeling emotionally invested in their fate.

The characters might have fell flat in my opinion but that's okay. I still found it to be a worthwhile and thought provoking novel. With each character I would wonder how I would act and feel if I were in their shoes. Not a perfect novel, but good enough.

This was a very powerful story. It was told from the POV of three people, first from Amy, who has cancer and is recovering from the surgery and from chemotherapy. Secondly from her husband Paul who has his own trauma to deal with. Thirdly, from their daughter Carly who is angry at the world because of her mother’s diagnosis. A sad story but there was also hope that the family might be whole again.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was provided a free copy of this book from @netgalley and @stmartinspress in exchange for my honest review.
I really liked this books. I loved its messiness, I loved its realness, I loved its dealing with tough topics so well! It follows a mother dealing with rediscovering herself after cancer, a father dealing with PTSD as a Police officer and first responder to the Oklahoma City bombing (even many years later), and their teenage daughter dealing with growing up as well as the above mentioned issues! While the topics are big and tough, I felt like they were dealt with very well (although I won't pretend to know what might trigger those who have experienced these type of situations). I thought the characters' development and growth was believable and we'll written. If you want a fun light-hearted read right now, maybe choose something else. But definitely put this on your TBR for later (its scheduled publication date is 19 Jan 21)!
#NetGalley #WhatsWorthKeeping

"What's Worth Keeping" shows the realities of a cancer diagnosis. In this book, we see how cancer effects not only the patient, but their spouse and child. Amy may have survived cancer but each family member is struggling with the diagnosis and aftermath. Each character have to find their own ways to cope and come to terms before they can connect again as a family.

While I thought this book was a bit too long at times, I felt McLaren did a wonderful job sharing Amy, Paul and Carly's journey to find happiness. Shout out to Great-Aunt Rae for being a bright light in this heavier read.

WHAT'S WORTH KEEPING
BY KAYA MCLAREN

This beautiful novel is about a family of three that after going through a devastating period in their lives, get the chance at a sort of re-birth. They all go through a life changing transformation and find their way back to each other. Not everybody is always so lucky so I loved the many philosophical quotes that gave the language and observations that there were so life affirming that there were just too many to quote. This is really a meditation on life and family and what is most important to lead a meaningful life. The title of "What's Worth Keeping," is such a perfect choice as it encompasses the main theme of this novel of gratitude.

Amy Bergstrom has just suffered many surgeries and going through chemotherapy to survive breast cancer. Her husband Paul is a seasoned police officer in Oklahoma City that sees the worst of humanity in his job. Carly is an angry senior in high school that has directed it towards both of her parents. Most people understand that anger is a form of underlying fear.

Amy found out at the same time that she had her diagnosis and was looking in both of her and her husband's filing cabinet that her husband, Paul has filled out divorce papers. She kept her discovery of the divorce papers to herself knowing she would need her families help if she stood the slightest chance of beating her cancer. After she is cancer free she knows in her heart that she wants to find hope by being among the giant trees and mountains and decides to take a road trip back to the nature of her childhood alone.

Paul drops Carly off at her Great-Aunt Rae's horse ranch in New Mexico to have her work and hopefully Rae can influence Carly by Rae's wisdom about life. Carly had been making bad life choices and perhaps working with the horses and her Great-Aunt Rae Carly will grow up. Meanwhile Paul is fixing up a property when he is not working in the same town as Rae. Amy is very introspective while she seeks the solitude of hiking and she has one goal only and that is to heal and grow her inner strength in order to find true acceptance of herself and accept what she views her new body as being okay. She avoids mirrors because she grieves the amputated breasts and the parts of her she gave up by having a hysterectomy. She is grateful to be alive and she doesn't feel sorry for herself.

Paul goes through a transformation as he ponders the flashbacks and memories of being a first respondor who looked for human life as he and his colleagues dug through the wreckage of the Oklahoma bombing by Timothy McVeigh. He realizes that he wants to retire from the police force and repair his marriage. Carly, Amy and Paul all are on a path to healing but there is not one ounce of pity. What could have been a depressing novel was the opposite. The character's felt so real and the setting was vivid. I have a feeling that the author was an evolved and a person of great maturity as she painted a canvas of inner retrospection and acceptance rather than despair. This was a remarkable novel with so much to take away about how our circumstances don't define us no matter how bad they are rather it is the way we choose to move forward. I didn't think that I would like this book at the beginning but the more I read from each of the three character's point of view, the more I knew that I was richer inwardly from experiencing the positive growth that takes place. I am so grateful for reading this and thank you Kaya McLaren for your insights about how our outlook can have such a life affirming impact.

Publication Date: January 19, 2021

Thank you to Net Galley, Kaya McLaren and St. Martin's Press for gifting me with such an incredibly uplifting. inspiring novel in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#What'sWorthKeeping #KayaMcLaren #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this touching book by Kaya McLaren - 4.5 stars!

The day Amy found out she had cancer, she also found out that her husband was contemplating divorce. Nine months later, Amy has undergone a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and a subsequent hysterectomy. She is understandably lost, scared and reevaluating her entire life. Husband Paul is dealing with his own trauma after being one of the police officers on the scene of the Oklahoma Federal Building bombing. Their daughter, Carly, always tried to do the right things and had her path planned out. Amy's cancer changed her as well and she started acting out. Paul takes Carly to Amy's great aunt's house who runs a horse ranch to spend the summer away from her friends to hopefully straighten her out. Meanwhile, Amy seeks solace in nature, having grown up visiting the national parks and monuments with her dad and sister.

Told in alternating viewpoints of each of these three family members, this is a very moving, real story about how trauma affects everyone in a family. It's also about facing and moving forward from trauma in real, positive ways. The author herself had breast cancer and you feel the true emotions come through Amy's experiences. You also feel her strength and resolve. It's also a love letter to our country's national parks and monuments.

What's Worth Keeping is the story of a family on the edges of falling apart. Amy, the mother, recently diagnosed with breast cancer, completed treatment and multiple surgeries; Paul, the father, a police officer with the Oklahoma City Police Department, is haunted by the OKC Federal Building bombing; and their daughter, Carly, is just plain angry. Amy, Paul and Carly take some time apart for the summer...is the saying "absence makes the heart grow fonder" really true? Can they find their way back to each other amidst the pain and trials of the past?

I really enjoyed this book and it brought tears to my eyes multiple times. It hit a little close to home for me. Great-Aunt Rae was my favorite character, after losing her one true love she has great insight and really helps Carly through a rough time.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

A heartbreaking story....a story of surviving breast cancer.
Overall, I think it just was too long and too wordy for me. It seemed to drag on and on in parts.
Though I enjoyed some of the nature descriptions, it got to be too much.
The storyline was emotionally charged from the start.
Dealing and learning to cope with your unknown future....surviving....finding oneself.....self discovery....
Thank you to NetGallery, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

At its root this is a tale about a family working through the trauma of one member surviving cancer.
I enjoyed parts of this story. I especially connected to the daughter, Carly and her Great-Aunt Rae. I also appreciated the perspective of the husband Paul, who is also coping with being a first responder after the bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building.
All the characters are grieving in different ways, but instead of coming together they push each other away. The main character, and cancer survivor, Amy is pulled to return to the nature she grew up in. McLaren gives many descriptions of the beauty of the nature Amy visits. While I wanted to connect to Amy, there was something about this specific character I simply didn't like. I almost feel as though the author tried to include too many dynamics and experiences in this tale so it grazed the surface, without getting deep. While well written, ultimately the story-arc had a busy and disconnected feel. This story had a ton of potential, but overall fell short for me.

This book was a gut wrenching, well written novel of a family all facing their own tragic situations in life. Told from three different perspectives, mom, dad and daughter, we see them deal and try to cope with their lives as they face these situations. It was a good read.

This was such a heavy read for me, having dealt with parental cancer in the past. Heart-wrenching, emotional, and well written.

"What's Worth Keeping" isn't just about initial survival during bad times, it's about rediscovering life after trauma.

Amy understands that she is 'fortunate' to have survived breast cancer. Yet, she struggles with connecting with her daughter and husband. The family has pulled away from each other as each character tries to deal with how life will move forward.

Amy's husband is a police officer that is haunted by his memories of pulling people out of the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing. He doesn't feel like the "hero" that others have labeled him, instead he thinks about the ones he couldn't save.

Knowing that the cancer is genetic, Amy's daughter is scared for her own future.

This was an eye-opener kind of book for me. The situations that happened to the characters are ones that I have not experienced first-hand. The main character, Amy, was partially based on the author's life and I can imagine that many of the thoughts and conversations are ones that the author has felt or said herself. There is a lot going on in this book, but the lives of the three family members are believable and the way that the story comes together is nicely done. There are a lot of beautiful quotes about life and living, and many references to places in the Pacific Northwest (as someone who lived in Oregon for a few years, I enjoyed 'revisiting' the area).

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was not a book I would normally pick up, but I'm very happy to have experienced this story.

When I read the synopsis of this book, I had a feeling it’s going to be a tear jerker type of read. But, it turned out not just tears that I shred. It is also beautifully written, full of hopes, tolerance, spreading positivity, crossing paths with strangers who happen to affect our choice of life no matter how small or big the effect is.

The book has multiple POVs, each character shares their struggles with how to deal with “a big change” in their life, related to breast cancer. How the story goes is not asking the readers to fall apart from the beginning, instead asking us to keep supporting every character in here, how to tell them that “everything is going to be okay, and we are in this together”. Was the book emotional? Yes, I admit I had the emotional odd feelings when I read this book, it's like there was a butterfly in my stomach and it refused to leave until I stopped reading the book. Happens again when I continue reading it. This book is so realistic and touching.

Other than that, prepare to make a bucket list for visiting National Parks that's being written in this book. The author did a great job to describe those places with their beauty, their fresh air, their power of healing, silenceness..everything!!

Huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for providing a complimentary ARC of this book through NetGalley. This book will be published on January 19, 2021, do add this beautiful book on your 2021 TBR

5 stars

Amy is a 40+ yo breast cancer survivor, and that is what the book is centered on. Her journey through it, both physically and mentally and her road to recovery, both physically and mentally. Told in alternating chapters, Amy, her husband Paul and her teenage daughter Carly are open and honest about how they are dealing with the aftermath and fears/hopes for the future.

Paul, an OK police officer, also suffers with PTSD from his recovery efforts
following the Oklahoma City federal building bombing. Carly is struggling with fears of a possible future cancer diagnosis and how to move ahead.

This story does a good job of showing the realities of dealing with cancer for ALL family members (the author is also a breast cancer survivor). They each must find their own ways to cope and come to terms before they can connect again as a family.

My only con was the length of the book. I felt some of it was rehashed, and the story could have been told a bit more succinctly. Otherwise, a well-written, unflinching survival story.

Many thanks to #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for providing me the free ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

I enjoyed this book. It is a sad story told from three different viewpoints...the mom, dad, and daughter. Everyone has their own problems and demons. This book brought up a lot of memories from the past and made me emotional, but it also is hopeful. Definitely worth the read!

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

This is such a sweet story of a family struggling to make peace with the mother's breast cancer. Amy is happy to finally complete chemo but then she finds her husband may be planning to divorce her which sends her into another tailspin. Daughter Carly is dealing with her own teenage issues and is sent to her Great Aunt Rae's horse farm for the summer. Told from the perspectives of Amy, Carly, and Paul, we see a family in crisis--each trying to make peace with the situation, each hoping for clarity. Told with a poignant voice, this novel had me quietly weeping through it; but ultimately it's a story of resilience and redemption that gives us hope in this difficult time.