3.5 stars

Endearing novel about a life altering cancer diagnosis that includes the trauma of cancer treatment but stays this side of graphic. Explores the importance of friendship and support during a person's treatment. Somehow takes a serious topic and makes it lighthearted while still showing a cleansed version of what a cancer patient goes through. As a woman the same age as the MC it did make me question my lifestyle, but that could be my anxiety speaking.

I do think the whole side-plot of the business failing/takeover was a detraction from the story.

Audiobook was well narrated.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dreamscape Audio for my copy of The Bright Side Running Club by Josie Lloyd Narrated by Danielle Cohen in exchange for an honest review. It published February 17, 2022.
First off, wow. Bravo. This book was fantastic. It was so real, so honest, terrifying, heartwarming, educational, honest and touching. I loved this book.
The journey that the characters go on is woven so well and honestly, you will find reasons to keep reading to find out what is going to happen. It is not predictable, like many books in this genre can be. I think it's definitely worth the read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audiobook ARC.

I enjoyed The Bright Side Running Club despite the fact that I chose it for a running narrative. It really is more women’s fiction with back-stories of breast cancer, with running in the background, the former more so than the latter.

I enjoyed the main character’s humor and matter-of-fact perspective on her situation. There was a pleasant lack of dramatic introspection or melodrama related to her medical experience.

Ultimately what I took from the story was the power of empathic female friendship and community. I was happy for the main character that she found it in her running club, if not so much in the running itself.

I found that the narration perfectly captured the straightforward persona and attitude of the main character, as well.

I really enjoyed this book. As devastating as receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be, Kiera puts her best face forward and doesn’t give up. Keira helps create a running group for those women affected by breast cancer. Keira has never run before, but it seems like now is a good time to start. The Bright Side Running Club becomes a new family for Kiera when she needs it the most. They all learn from each other and to take one step at a time. Even though the main topic is a sad one, friendship is the heart of the story. Helping each other during their highs and lows and cheering each other on in the hospital or at the park. This story gave me hope that even though people go through tough times, some can always look on the bright side.

THE BRIGHT SIDE RUNNING CLUB follows Keira, a small business owner, mother, and wife who feels confident in the way her life has come together, when she is diagnosed with breast cancer. Amidst the anxiety associated with diagnosis, surgery, and treatment, as well as losing control of the parts of her life that had felt so secure, she finds refuge in a running group.
I was drawn to the book because my mom is a 21-year survivor of stage IV inflammatory breast cancer. I was very young when she was diagnosed, and I was terrified of losing my mom and that I would get sick, too. What I did not know then is that my mom was told to go home and make herself comfortable with her family. Amidst the terror of the diagnosis and unknowns of what was to come, my mom fought.
Josie Lloyd based this story on her own experience with breast cancer, perfectly capturing the anxiety associated with finding out your body has betrayed you. Keira is a fierce protagonist while honestly feeling the wide range of emotions of what she is going through. I had some trouble keeping track of all of the characters, but the author refused to minimize Keira to her diagnosis, which is super important and which she did well. I really enjoyed the idea of a running club and Keira's bond with the other women. They fuel very up-lifting and funny moments throughout the book.
The narrator, Danielle Cohen, does a great job of capturing the breadth and depth of Keira's story, though I did listen to it on 1.25x because she reads a bit slowly.
The physical book's pub date was February 8th, and the audio is available today! Check it out for an at times frustrating (Tom 👀 Lorna 👀) but ultimately heartwarming and lovely read!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was really good. It wasn't exactly a unique concept for a book but it was still done beautifully. Books that deal with any sort of illness can be really hard to write well because there really is just so much that goes into it not just medicine but the psychological aspect as well. Getting into that mindset can be tough and a lot of authors just don't do it well. Lloyd on the other hand captured it perfectly.
As someone with a chronic illness I don't 100% know what its like to get this sort of diagnosis but I do what it's like to be sick and have your own mortality thrust at you. The way these things can bring about not just sadness and pain but also rage and joy and so many different emotions all at once. This book captures that feeling and shows its main character as someone who is human going through something hard and life altering. While as a whole this book is hopeful it definitely captures dispare and rage in a way most illness books don't and that what I liked about this book.
If you are looking for a sappy feel good cancer story this probably isn't the book for you but if you are looking for something real than I would definitely recommend picking up this book.

This is the story of Keira as she navigates life after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis. She’s in denial and doesn’t want to lean on anyone for support, but inadvertently finds herself as part of a running group, The Bright Side Running Club and all its founding members have breast cancer.

This book isn’t just about cancer, it’s about family and friends and speaking up for yourself – there is a bit of mystery and treachery here as well that amp up the drama.

However, throughout most of the book I found myself irritated with Keira as she tried to navigate that drama - or avoid it as it were. (I also wonder if the business drama was really necessary)

Despite that, I really enjoyed this book. It gave me a perspective of having breast cancer that I hadn’t really had the opportunity to explore before. How as a woman my femininity is so intrinsically linked to having breasts and exploring how it would feel to have a mastectomy. It delves into what it feels like as a parent to have your children rely on you and the prospect of a future where perhaps you aren’t there for them. It also made me appreciate the struggles of those around me who have had breast cancer in a way I hadn’t let myself examine before.

I don’t know that listening to this on audio made my interaction with this book any better, but I do know that I recommend this book in whatever medium you choose to read it.

Thank you to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. The Bright Side Running Club is out now.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

I really loved the premise of this book, and overall it was an enjoyable read. But some plot points (the business fraud) pulled away from the main story for me -- the power of friendship and resilience -- and were distracting and irritating. Like another reviewer mentioned, at times it felt like a bad sitcom. But overall, I loved the running club ladies and the 'looking on the bright side' of it all.

An audiobook note: I really enjoyed listening to this book on audio. Usually, I like my first read of a book to be in print, because I can create the characters' voices in my head first. But I thought the audiobook was well done, and Danielle Cohen handles the voices well.

A thanks to Alcove Press, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

"The Bright Side Running Club" by Josie Lloyd is a testament to the strength and power of friendship!

Keira has just been diagnosed with breast cancer and it's rocking her world! How will she share this news with her family? What will she say to them? Will she be able to take the time away from work she'll need for her treatment?

Keira soon learns it's as simple as placing one foot in front of the other from a group of women who also have breast cancer. They're going through treatment just like her and it's joining 'The Bright Side Running Club' and running with this diverse group of women that gives Keira a spark of hope and normalcy.

Day to day life, being what it is though, does have a habit of getting in the way. Keira's family life and work life seems to ebb and flow a bit more than she would like. At times like this, she's so grateful for her friends from 'The Bright Side Running Club'!

This is a wonderful story about getting through a deep valley in your life, retaining your whole self without allowing that challenge to define you. Living life through kindness, focusing on the positive and being hopeful is what inspires me about this book. That, and the humor, mixed with sadness, mixed with reality that life throws at you!

Friendship is a key topic in this story. Coming together to help one another during low moments, cheering each other on during their runs, lending an ear, a shoulder, or a warm hug when it is so sorely needed, these beautifully drawn characters prove the strength and power of friendship during the most troubling of times.

This audiobook narrated by Danielle Cohen was a notable experience. Her voicing skills and ability to bring this story to life made this an unexpected listen for me in the best way!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I highly recommend it to other readers who love audiobook's as much as I do!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Josie Lloyd for a free ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review. The expected publication date is 2/17/22.

Before I begin this review, let me first say that I normally choose not to read books in which the protagonist has cancer.  It just feels a little too close to home for me.  But when I read the synopsis for this book, it spoke to me.  This book is memorable and meaningful and I’m happy I decided to read it.

Keira is a wife, mother and business owner when her breast cancer diagnosis is made.  The book chronicles her life through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and provides a realistic view of the impact on her life.

One of the areas that this book excels is in pointing out that a cancer diagnosis cannot be nicely compartmentalized outside of everything else that happens in life along the way.  The author does a great job of recognizing and revealing the uncomfortable, and sometimes insensitive manner, it which others relate to the character after a cancer diagnosis.

She meets Tasmin early in this journey outside of the breast heath clinic.  Tasmin has been on a run, and Keira admires the positivity and ease of speaking to her.  Tasmin suggests maybe Keira would like to start running and that she can join her on any Friday she’d like to.  Keira is not a runner but feels she’d like to speak with Tasmin again.  She later learns is that Tasmin is on her own cancer journey and so is another woman who has joined them.  When Keira invites another cancer survivor to join them on a Friday, the women decide to form The Bright Side Running Club.

The bond between these woman is one built on positivity, common experience and the need to carry on.  This is particularly important bond as Keira learns to adjust to her identity as a woman with cancer.  The book is emotional and uplifting, and one I will be recommending over and over again.

I listened to the audiobook version of The Bright Side Running Club which was narrated by Danielle Cohen. Her performance was excellent and enhanced an already amazing book.  I would not hesitate to recommend this version of the book to those readers who appreciate audiobooks.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy of this book.

Keira, a mom of 3, has just been diagnosed with breast cancer and it has completely blindsided her. While she's sitting in the park across the street from the hospital, she meets a jogger who helps her accept her diagnosis. She also teaches Keira the ins and outs of treatment and life with cancer. This is important to Keira because she has a lot of life to live and she fully intends to live it to its fullest. Yes, this is a book about cancer and yes, there are a few sad moments, but I'm a crier and I didn't cry at all while listening to this. This book is more about friendship and finding your tribe. It was an enjoyable listen.

This was a fun and cute audiobook — would recommend for light reading. Not the type of book I typically go after but enjoyed it nonetheless.

Keira leads a charmed life with a loving husband, three children, amazing friends and her own successful shop. Maybe things aren’t perfect, like pushy Lorna and Pierre at the shop, but it’s a good life. Then she learns she has breast cancer.

Keira is plunged into a new world, one she nicknames Cancer World. She’s shocked, a bit stubborn and trying to keep her world the same but a chance encounter at the park and she’s also entering a new world with friends, support and embracing change even if it’s painful.

THE BRIGHT SIDE RUNNING CLUB is filled with hope and fighting the good fight even when things are dark. It’s the small moments of humanity made me keep reading when things got too close to my mother’s own battle with breast cancer. Keira’s critical mother, forever knitting, making her a knitted false breast was so loving.

Would I recommend THE BRIGHT SIDE RUNNING CLUB? Yes, but do have some tissues on hand in case of tears…

A beautiful, empowering and uplifting women's fiction story about overcoming challenges and the power of female friendship. When Kiera receives a breast cancer diagnosis, she is scared to share the news with her family. Taking up running to try to improve her health she discovers a group of like-minded women going through the same challenges she is. I loved the female camaraderie and the drive not to give up in the face of great hardship. Highly recommended for fans of Jojo Moyes. Great on audio too. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance listening copy.

Cancer is difficult enough to deal with; you should definitely try to build a good support system. These women created a fantastic support system for each other and have inspired so many others with it. This book was so wonderful to read. I loved the characters, flaws and all, and how they all learned to accept their diagnosis, and thrive despite the odds. And despite the serious subject, there was so much humor in this book that I found myself laughing out loud often. Highly recommended for anyone who needs a lift and/or a great story.

Audio was well done, no issues.

AWWW how cute was this one!

I will start by awknowledging how much I love that netgalley is now adding more audio books. I really like a mix of both audio and kidnle picks.
Not all books are good on audio but this one was! The narrator was wonderful and did not have a voice that was annoying (which I often find myself struggling with).
The title kind of says it all in this one? MC has cancer diagnosis and looks on the bright side of things? She is likable, smart and funny. This does not "sugar coat" this difficult subject of illness. I wish everyone would read this one!

The Bright Side Running Club gets a solid 4 stars from me. It started a little slow for me, but soon I found myself invested in the story and characters. It felt very authentic as Kiera deals with her cancer diagnosis and had me going through the array of emotions with her. The book was heartwarming, emotional, and uplifting.

The narrator did a great job and I would definitely recommend this book. It's a quick read and one that will leave you looking for ways to embrace positivity!

I really don't like the main character and the side plot about her employees trying to steal her business from her is rage inducing, and not in a good way.

The lead is "not like other moms" and the author feels it's important to point this out frequently. She's better than other moms, cooler, more interesting. She thinks she's better than every other mom she meets and as a mom, I find that really unlikeable.

The bits about her dealing with her cancer diagnosis are good, but anybody who has dealt with cancer personally can tell you that you don't need a heavy handed side analogy to explain how your life feels like it's out of your control, and that's what the story about her scheming employees feels like.

The narrator for the audio was good.

Keira is a busy wife and mother - who also co-owns her own business - and doesn't have time for anything new or any changes. Shortly after the beginning of a new year, she is diagnosed with breast cancer. The book is heartfelt, vulnerable, and feels very authentic. By chance, Keira meets a woman, Tamsin, who has started a running 'group' for herself and others who are undergoing cancer treatment. The four women bond together over treatment, life, and their understanding of what the others are going through. I loved the story and the support that these women provided each other, even as their real-life support systems may have faltered. For Keira, the Bright Side Running Club and her new friends were a wonderful addition to her life, especially as things at her work began to deteriorate, and family stressors climbed.

I received an advanced listening copy of this book from Dreamscape Media and the author, narrated by Danielle Cohen, The narrator did a fantastic job! This review contains my own thoughts & opinions.

This was very much a feel-good book in lieu of traumatic events, great storyline and character development. As someone who has ensured medical trauma (at my son’s expense) I could really empathize with the main characters. I found it to be easy to relate to the protagonist and see her perspective even without having had her experiences myself. The message of friendship, complexities of family dynamic and villainous nature of the antagonist really makes it come full circle. This was an enjoyable read.

#TheBrightSideRunningClub #NetGalley