I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great read. I cried several times. The author had a great writing style and really made you feel what the characters were going through. Lots of ups and downs. It was set in the 90s so I appreciated some of the references to that time period.

4.5

April was born to two ill-equipped parents and was left to fend for herself. Despite all of the challenges she had to overcome, she remains at heart honest, kind and a slave to truth. She makes her way in the world the best she can, meeting wonderful people along the way. You can’t help but root for her and hope she finds a home.

I know many people were up in arms about a book that takes place in the 90s being categorized as “historical fiction,” but after reading it, I see why they said it! The time period was such a big part of The People We Keep. I absolutely loved it!

April is a teen growing up in western NY after her mother left when she was very young and her father seems to be moving on to a new family. There’s not enough money for food or really anything, so she steals her father’s car and takes off on her own. She lies about her age to play music to make some money and she meets lots of people willing to help her along the way. But as soon as she gets too close to people, she has to run away again. In the end, there are still a few that she “keeps.” They are the ones to get to know the real April.

The 90s era is a big part of this story, because it’s the music she’s playing and that she keeps playing coffee houses which were so big at the time (think of Phoebe from Friends at Central Perk!) Also no one has a cell phone to track anyone and April keeps using pay phones!

The relationships she builds are the best part of the book. But I was getting frustrated by her running away all the time. It must hurt so much to be ghosted by someone you thought you knew and loved.

This book was incredible. I’m happy to have been able to read it poolside while in Aruba! Thank you to @gallerybooks, @allielarkinwrites, and @netgalley for my gifted copy. This book is out now!

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ever since Billie Letts passed away, I've been looking for books that make me feel the ways hers did. Well, Allison Larkin managed to do that, and more, with The People We Keep!

I haven't had a book hangover in a while, but I definitely had one after reading this novel. April was such a strong and well-developed character, even at such a young age. When the story takes place in 1994, I was only two years older than April. I can't even imagine having to fend for myself like she did or driving on highways without a GPS for that matter. (I didn't drive on highways until I was 21.) There were so many great characters throughout the story. My heart hurt for April whenever she had to make a tough decision that would affect her and the people she had come to love in a short time.

The descriptions brought the story to life even more. I could easily visualize everything going on and could even feel the bite in the November cold air.

I recently started watching the limited TV series Maid and some parts remind me of this novel, like with how Alex has to fend for herself and is not sure how to trust, and how she has to sleep in her car sometimes and manage the little money she has to make it stretch. I think Alex and April would befriend each other if they ever got to meet.

This was such an incredible story from start to finish. So beautifully written and heartfelt. I hated having to stop reading to get back to reality and was worried for April whenever I had to leave off at a pivotal point for her. It's hard to pinpoint a genre for this novel, but I would consider it young adult or new adult, or perhaps coming of age. Since Allison has written some women's fiction novels under the name Allie, I definitely wanted to check this one out and I'm so glad I did! While I'm happy to share this with followers of my book blog (Chick Lit Central), this will more likely make the top 10 best books of 2021 list at my personal blog. I highly, highly recommend it! (And my mom loved it too.)

Movie casting recommendations (or even TV series....I'd love to see this on the screen either way):
April: Nikki Roumel (I really liked her as young Georgia on Ginny and Georgia and think she could do really well as April.)
Carly: Cara Delevingne
Adam: Dacre Montgomery
Justin: Nicholas Galitzine
Ethan: Dan Levy (Allison and I are both Schitt's Creek fans so this is the perfect choice, really.)
Robert: Jai Courtney
Margo: Lauren Ambrose

One word for this title. Fantastic! I loved this book from beginning to end. The character and storyline is so easy to read and feel as if you are right along side of her.

Oh, April… it’s so easy to root for you, you hot mess!

I loved this coming of age tale. So sad and sweet at the same time. The character development was on point and the pacing was perfect.

4/5 stars

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I loved this book! This was the type of novel that I tried to keep my eyes open for late at night and then when I woke up only a few hours later I wasn’t too disappointed because it meant I could read more of it. There are often protagonists that I have nothing in common with and the author did not nothing to endear me to them. And then there’s April, a girl whose life couldn’t be farther than my own and yet I was rooting for her, crying for her, and understanding her itch to run and not feeling worthy. The people she chose to keep in her life were a great cast of characters. I highly recommend!!

Give me a great character driven, coming of age story of a young adult up against tough odds and I'll give you 5 stars.

April is a young girl, left on her own living in her father's motor-less motorhome. She is struggling to get by and after a fight with her dad decides to take off and try to make her way in the world with her music.

The People We Keep chronicles the people April meets who help her make a home at each stop in her journey. It shows relationships forming and the aftermath from having to leave each new "family" she has created. It is an emotional read with such powerful message of finding your place in the world.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who may be considering picking it up. It will be one of my top books for 2021.

Love these book about music/ song writers etc. it gives me Songs in Ursa Major vibes and Daisy Jones.

So well done! The characters were so real. Their stories engaging and emotional. April's coming of age story is raw and heartbreaking. Abandoned by her family, 16 year old April starts off on her own to find the people she will keep. She learns friends are the family you get to choose.
I rated this a four out of five. The only thing I felt was lacking was a few side character story lines tied up further. Felt a tad rushed.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced readers copy!

Wow this book was perfect? Absolutely adored every second of it. Beautiful story, beautiful writing, beautiful characters. A coming of age story that's character driven and perfectly perfect.

It's like a book version of This Is Us! I'm trying to find words for this book.. but I'm having trouble right now. Holy cow. April showers bring May flowers. My gosh, I fell in love with the character, April. I feel so heartbroken for her. April was lonely. This book was lonely. I just.. I don't know if there are any other books with characters that is as lonely as April. I just want to hug her and hold her tight - as I will hold this book tight. Best book I have read by far this year. Thank you so much for giving me the ability to read this. I am now holding on to this book forever.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book; all thoughts are my own.

What a lovely story, and I loved this so much I purchased the audio title when it was available. This is a story I will definitely reread in the future.

#thepeoplewekeep #allisonlarkin #thepeoplewekeepallisonlarkin #netgalley #gallerybooks poor April. She has a mom who walked out on her and her dad. She’s living in a beat down motor home. While her father remarries a woman with the boy and soon to be new sibling. April thinks there is more than that town. And. After a fight with dad. She leaves. What she explores. Discovers. Her life that happens. Ugh. Your heart strings. They will absolutely put a stamp of love. Forgiveness. And possibly a bit of nostalgia too. This is definitely a book you want to grab and snuggle with. #netgalleyreview #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #bookrecommendations #booktok #readnow

A feel-good story about the people that cross our paths and who leave their marks on our lives, sometimes for such a brief moment with a lasting impact. April comes from nothing and has almost no one, but her songwriting and guitar-playing talents carry her straight out of Little River and up and down the eastern US. Larkin is a master at little details of scenery, of ordinary life, of character. This is a fantastic crossover book, published for adults but with absolute appeal for older teens and young adults.

Thank you for my early review copy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I believe this book will be a huge bestseller.

A wonderful, beautifully written book about found families, loss and the people we meet along the way. April a young woman left on her own hits the road never really letting herself get too attached to people, but the sure get attached to her.
A page turning story that is both heartwarming and sad.

Thank you NetGalley for an e-ARC of The People We Keep by Allison Larkin.
I was not thrilled by the cover of this book and kept putting off reading it only to be sorry I waited so long! This is a book I will remember for a long time. A book with all the feels! A book with a strong main character and a solid plot. A cast of characters, good and bad, transform April into the person she is meant to be. A book that makes me want to take risks, love deeply, and open myself to those my path in life encounters.

This book was so unique! It was my first book to read by this author though I will be looking for more by her for sure. Loved the characters and the plot. Do yourself a favor and read this book!!