This book fell between 3-4 stars with me. Some moments I loved so much it brought so many emotions out of me, other moments I didn’t feel as connected to the action and build up.

The idea of a running club is so cute. I am used to seeing this done as book clubs so I liked the change up.

I feel like the biggest lessons from this book were seeing the various perspectives and ways side characters interacted with the main character upon her diagnosis and treatment. It was so intriguing to see how some people rose and fell to varying degrees for the main character’s needs.

Huge trigger warning for cancer, whether personal or caregiver experiences.

When Keira finds out she has breast cancer, she joins a ‘Cancer Ladies’ Running Club’.
I was fearful that this was going to be extremely sad. However, the [author; Josie Lloyd] doesn’t dwell on sadness but hope and the importance of keeping positive!

I have had breast cancer twice; I had a wonderful support system and was able to keep positive.
This wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. However, I have no doubt others will just love this!

Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 17, 2022.

5 stars!
The Bright Side Running Club was such a great book to listen to. This is my first book by Josie Lloyd and it will not be the last. I also loved Danielle Cohen’s narration. Their voice always make me enjoy the story a little bit more.

Even though the plot is not a new one, the author made me feel so connected to the main character and her friends that it felt like it was all happening to me. I laughed and fumed along the MC, which made me feel really connected to her. I would totally recommend this book!

Five stars and I will absolutely read more by this author.

The Bright Side Running Club by Josie Lloyd 🎧

At the beginning of a new year, Keira gets the surprise of a lifetime - a breast cancer diagnosis. Turning her life upside down is not something she’s interested in. She is shocked and goes through a lot of various emotions and reactions to her diagnosis. Thankfully she meets Tamsin, an inspirational woman who has decided to run throughout her treatment. Together they make a little club to help each other get through this seemingly impossible time in their lives.

I really loved this book. I laughed, I cried, and left feeling grateful. However if you have been through cancer treatments yourself or dealing with it with someone close to you this book could be very triggering. It is a very detailed step by step through diagnosis, surgery, chemo and radiation.

I loved Keira and related to her parenting, marriage and outlook on life. She was funny and loveable.

Some aspects of the storyline (her job specifically) felt a bit unnecessary and took away from my enjoyment of the book. But overall I still loved it!

Thank you to @dreamscape_media for the audiobook! This is out on February 17th.

Let’s look on the bright side! What’s something good that happened to you recently?

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I was immediately interested in this book as a distance runner who has multiple chronic illnesses, and I really enjoyed it! I absolutely felt like the cancer aspects were so realistic from the emotional side to the real life impacts on work, home and friendships. This is a fiction novel, but is based on the author’s own experiences and it definitely shows in the realistic feel to the story.

There was a subplot about Keira’s business partner that just didn’t work for me. It felt a bit too obvious in a cartoon villain sort of way and I wish that the time spent on that plot line had instead let us learn more about each of the ladies in the running group. There are a lot of characters and I found myself wishing for a deeper understanding of their situations instead of the business partner trouble. While this is a book about cancer (obviously) its done in a light way with plenty of jokes and lighter moments. It’s also a book about friendship, life, marriage and all things in between. The narrator did an excellent job and I really enjoyed this on audio. 4/5⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for providing me this ALC. The Bright Side Running Club is available now!

I really loved Keira’s story. Her life is thrown upside down when she receives her cancer diagnosis, but she finds a generous community of women to help her get through the worst of it. I had major vibes from “My Not so Perfect Life” regarding the work emails and I love how everything came together at the end. I was a bit surprised that Tom didn’t confide in his colleagues about Keira’s condition, but that just added to the drama.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for an audio copy.

I use to read women's fiction all the time but I got tired of reading of divorce women bemoaning their empty nest and then finding a second chance at love. After reading Joan is Okay, I was hopeful that there would be more women's fiction that wasn't a disguised romance novel. The Bright Side Running Club by Josie Lloyd seemed like what I was looking for.

The story opens with Kiera at a health clinic getting further tests after she discovered an abnormality on her breast. Kiera is the mom of three, a wife, and the owner of her family's business (she took it over after her father died). The breast cancer diagnosis comes as a shock. And while it rocks her world she has a lot more problems to worry about. In some ways, her cancer may be a blessing in disguise.

We don't get to know Kiera before she finds out about cancer and I tried to extend grace to her as everyone deals with cancer differently. But there was a lot about her I didn't like. At one point she is talking about this annoying her and that annoying her and I thought you are annoying me. She complains a lot about a lot of things. Her business partner is trying to steal her business away from her, her daughter is rebelling, she has cancer.

I actually didn't like any of the characters at the start of the story which made it difficult to get into the story. They are all pretty stereotypical in their reactions to Kiera's diagnosis. Those who hadn't had cancer were all like you poor thing or treated her as if she was contagious. Some of them couldn't even say cancer. It was like none of them could just be supportive. I've had friends with cancer and my reaction didn't match how her friends treated her. It was like only those with cancer could be sympathetic.

I did like the plot. And the audiobook is really well done. Even though the audiobook is just under 12 hours, the story went quickly. I was really pulling for Keira. Not only did I want her to survive cancer, but I was hoping for a personality change.

There is a good message in this book. While there is a lot going wrong in Keira's life the book does have its uplifting moments. And it really isn't a sad story. It was maddening at times, but I didn't cry during the story.

If you are looking for women's fiction about a female character that feels real and is dealing with real-world problems, then this is the book to get.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Feb. 12 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2022/02/the-bright-side-running-club-by-josie.html

I wasn’t sure about this one. The description made me think it was going to be an emotional ride and I need to prepare for those kinds of stories. However, I needn’t have worried. Kiera’s world is turned upside when she is diagnosed with breast cancer. She gets invited to a running group with other Women going through treatment and decides to go. That group of women gives her everything she needs to get through her own treatment.
It’s very heartwarming, filled with resilience, friends, and family! I highly recommend! Narrator gets a thumbs up.

2.75 stars

I wanted to like this one more than I did. The premise seemed interesting enough and I was ready to feel empowered by the friendship between women - and I did to an extent. But I felt this book was WAY too long. 11 hours for an audiobook like this felt excessive. The first half of the book was extremely slow & honestly too detailed.

MAJOR Trigger warnings if you have had cancer or know of someone who has had breast cancer specifically. I'm not sure if this book would be triggering or comforting for someone who has had cancer. Maybe someone could find it comforting because they've been through it or maybe it hits too close to home & they don't want to hear the detailed descriptions. There is extreme detail of cancer, including the process of dissecting breast tissue to search for cancer. It was uncomfortable to read at times & honestly too much for me.

Once you got through the first 4 hours of the book then you got to more interesting storylines, but I felt like there was a lot going on that distracted you from the plot of the story. It felt like a lot of tragedy for one person to go through. Kiera's family was frustrating at times too with their lack of support. Overall this book had some nice moments of female friendship but I didn't finish feeling inspired.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

The audio narrator, Danielle Cohen was excellent. I would listen to another book narrated by her.

The cover is adorable. The story inspiring despite the protagonist having cancer and surrounding herself with others who are going through the same thing. It also gives so much insight into what a cancer diagnosis means & how everything feels to not only the person directly dealing with this devastating diagnosis BUT also the friends and family around them. It is very insightful.

The MC, Keira doesn't understand how she got cancer and it's just not fair.. Initially, Keira can't stop thinking about what she may have done wrong to lead her to this cancer diagnosis, especially since there were no genetic markers.

Things change after a chance meeting with Tamsin...a woman jogging as Keira heads to her oncologist. Eventually they build a friendship which leads to the title of the book, The Bright Side Running Club. Where the women learn the power behind the statement "one foot in front of the other."

There was a line in the book...and I don't want to give anything away but it almost made me cry (and I rarely cry) it's when she is snuggling up next to her husband after coming home from the hospital....looking at the bright side of being closer together...literally.

It's a beautiful, sad and uplifting read. I especially like the way Tamsin really rallied the women and how it ultimately lead them to rallying for her and to Keira finding her voice so she could be the strong woman that she always wanted to be. I would certainly read another book by this author.

*I posted reviews to Amazon, GoodReads, Barnes & Noble and I'm just waiting for them to authenticate them so I can share the links with you.

I read this book very slowly in bits and pieces at first because though the cover is light and cute, the subject matter is a bit heavy but once we got into the swing of it I was totally hooked.

Keira is a mom of three and local business owner, who discovers she has breast cancer. Totally rocked by the news, she joins The Cancer Ladies Running Club and tries to move forward as if nothing has happened. Keira, Sian, Amma, and Tamsin are all such wonderful characters, and their chemistry really helped push the book forward.

I laughed my ass off and cried like an old fool. This is very much women's literature, which I generally don't read, but I am happy I requested the audiobook for review. The only part that rang a bit odd to me was the villainous employees sub-plot. I think it was a bit over the top and could have been toned down a bit to keep with the mood of the rest of the book, which was really poignant 3.5⭐

This story is full of dark humor and compassion that will have you laughing out loud one second and tearfully contemplating your relationships the next.

47-year-old Kiera is quickly diagnosed and treated for breast cancer (much like the author, Josie Lloyd). While her life is upended entirely, it also becomes clear that things keep moving on in spite of it.

There are work issues, relationship worries, a trip to the emergency vet, aging parents, and rebellious teens. Her kids are still kids; upon learning of her diagnosis, her teenage son asks if he has to be nice to her now.

Kiera finds support and acceptance in the form of a newly found running club (hence the title) and together they help each other through small and large problems.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

The main character of this book was so snarky and judgmental, I just could not get into this story. If it weren't for her personality and attitude being so insufferable, it might not have been bad.

Thank you so much to Dreamscrape Media and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook. This book was an absolute delight!

The Bright Side Running Club is a women's fiction novel about Keria who unexpectedly receives a breast cancer diagnosis. As a wife and mother of three children, she's obviously concerned about this revelation, but she finds comfort in a running club she forms with other women in the community with cancer diagnoses. I loved that this book not only touched on the negative physical effects of cancer, but it also discusses its impact on family, friendships, and careers.

The audiobook format of this novel was equally as excellent as the content. The narrator did a fantastic job!

This book was an easy 5 stars for me! I'm hoping to read more of Josie Lloyd's books in the future.

3.5 rounded up!

I’ll be the first to admit, I wasn’t sure where this book would take me. I thought this would be an uplifting book about battling the BS called cancer, and that definitely was the case, but there was so much more.

On a personal note, my family nor close friends have had to battle breast cancer, so I don’t know firsthand what it’s like. I know I’m lucky in this regard since it touches so many lives. Although I don’t have the real life, firsthand experience, I do think this book taught a lot of important lessons.

I’ve never been one to read reviews after I finish a book, but knowing this is such a real life occurrence, I was curious if the author hit on all the right topics in expressing how this disease affects a woman, but also those around her. Based on reviews, Lloyd hit the nail on the head.

In this story, readers meet Keira and we learn of her diagnosis. Readers meet her family, her colleagues and even watch her meet the bright side running club. But most importantly, not only do you need medicine and treatments, but those diagnosed need supportive people in their corner. The power of friendships in times of need is the biggest takeaway I had.

The story was a bit slow in places and Keira’s work colleagues irked the heck out of me, but I think they were included for us to realize how much Keira needed her solid group of friends to uplift her during her treatment.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape for the ALC!

Content warnings: cancer, medical trauma, death

This book has all the feels one has who has been diagnosed with breast cancer or if you know anyone who has gone through it. A group of women formed a fabulous support group and bonded through cancer and running. I enjoyed this audiobook by NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.

What a delightful, feel-good book. It seems odd to describe a book involving a cancer diagnosis as "feel-good," but The Bright Side Running Club showed the best of humanity. Keira tries to balance her breast cancer diagnosis with her frustrating coworkers at the shop she runs. She wasn't a runner at the beginning of the book, but luckily finds a fellow cancer warrior and other women in challenging circumstances: together, they become the Bright Side Running Club. I am so inspired by each of the women who bonded while running together through the most challenging days of their lives.

This book is truly the definition of women supporting women, as the members of the Bright Side Running Club help to solve each other's various dilemmas as they run mile after mile together. There are certainly some sad moments of the book that made me tear up, but I loved how the women persevered through everything. The kindness of strangers and the unsung heroes of the world are on full display in this hopeful novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for an advance audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this book! The Bright Side Running Club does a beautiful job of examining the experience of breast cancer, the toll that it takes on a person's body, relationships, and sense of self, and the challenges of facing one's own mortality in the process. This book is about female friendship, courage, and community. I loved the audio, too--the narrator's voice feels like a perfect fit for the story.

Conceptually, this has all the makings of a beautiful, uplifting story.

Unfortunately, I did not think this was a well-written book. I firmly believe that a touching story still requires good writing to evoke emotion and that’s where this one failed me.

I understand the story was inspired by the author’s own cancer journey and I truly appreciate the heart she put into this. I wish I could have felt better connected with it. It simply didn’t move me in the way such a story should have.

I am immensely grateful to Dreamscape Media for my audio review copy. All opinions are my own.

The Brightside Running Club
By Josie Lloyd
Publish date – February 8, 2022

This is an inspiring book that will hit its readers in different ways. I loved the story and really was able to relate to Keira in the “running club”. I joined a Moms running club shortly after my second child. It was one of the best things I did. I enjoyed talking and sharing and was able to be lifted by other Moms and I felt I was able to help other ladies during that chapter of our lives, with the added bonus of getting healthy. I made some of my best memories with those women and learned so much.
The downside of this book was going through the cancer with Keira. I have been so blessed to not have cancer but as I continue to help my parents in their different types this book hit a little hard and at times left me feeling very sad and possibly thinking too hard on that aspect. I will also say that this book made me schedule my mammogram that I have been putting off for a few months.

Thank you to Alcove Press & #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
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