The People We Keep
BOOK RIOT’S BEST BOOKS OF 2021
“This is a novel of great empathy, about connections and coming-of-age, built families and self-acceptance. It contains heartbreak and redemption, and a plucky, irresistible protagonist…[A] propulsive, empathetic novel.” —Shelf Awareness
Little River, New York, 1994: April Sawicki is living in a motorless motorhome that her father won in a poker game. Failing out of school, picking up shifts at a local diner, she’s left fending for herself in a town where she’s never quite felt at home. When she “borrows” her neighbor’s car to perform at an open mic night, she realizes her life could be much bigger than where she came from. After a fight with her dad, April packs her stuff and leaves for good, setting off on a journey to find a life that’s all hers.
Driving without a chosen destination, she stops to rest in Ithaca. Her only plan is to survive, but as she looks for work, she finds a kindred sense of belonging at Cafe Decadence, the local coffee shop. Still, somehow, it doesn’t make sense to her that life could be this easy. The more she falls in love with her friends in Ithaca, the more she can’t shake the feeling that she’ll hurt them the way she’s been hurt. As April moves through the world, meeting people who feel like home, she chronicles her life in the songs she writes and discovers that where she came from doesn’t dictate who she has to be.
This lyrical, luminous tale “is both a profound love letter to creative resilience and a reminder that sometimes even tragedy can be a kind of blessing” (Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author).
“This is a novel of great empathy, about connections and coming-of-age, built families and self-acceptance. It contains heartbreak and redemption, and a plucky, irresistible protagonist…[A] propulsive, empathetic novel.” —Shelf Awareness
Little River, New York, 1994: April Sawicki is living in a motorless motorhome that her father won in a poker game. Failing out of school, picking up shifts at a local diner, she’s left fending for herself in a town where she’s never quite felt at home. When she “borrows” her neighbor’s car to perform at an open mic night, she realizes her life could be much bigger than where she came from. After a fight with her dad, April packs her stuff and leaves for good, setting off on a journey to find a life that’s all hers.
Driving without a chosen destination, she stops to rest in Ithaca. Her only plan is to survive, but as she looks for work, she finds a kindred sense of belonging at Cafe Decadence, the local coffee shop. Still, somehow, it doesn’t make sense to her that life could be this easy. The more she falls in love with her friends in Ithaca, the more she can’t shake the feeling that she’ll hurt them the way she’s been hurt. As April moves through the world, meeting people who feel like home, she chronicles her life in the songs she writes and discovers that where she came from doesn’t dictate who she has to be.
This lyrical, luminous tale “is both a profound love letter to creative resilience and a reminder that sometimes even tragedy can be a kind of blessing” (Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author).
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Community Reviews
This was a good book. 4.5 stars. It reminded me a lot of a Kristin Hannah book. Iâm not sure if itâs because it was narrated by Julia Whelan. There are so many books I listen to that are narrated by her.
I just finished the audiobook version of this book, and overall a good read. I did spend the first part wondering what the point of the book really was, but definitely became more invested in the characters as I listened. There were a rather large number of times that I wanted to smack April on the top of her head for her decisions, but figuring that her character was so young, I can look past those feelings to enjoy the story as a whole.
Sixteen-year-old April has been raised by her dad after her mom left them when she was very young. But since her dad has met someone new, he's pretty much abandoned her too, leaving her alone in the rundown motor home they were living in.
After a big fight with her father, she decides to take off and strike out on her own, in his car. While she's running away, she meets people along the way and starts building a little family of her own. If only she can stick around long enough to appreciate it.
After a big fight with her father, she decides to take off and strike out on her own, in his car. While she's running away, she meets people along the way and starts building a little family of her own. If only she can stick around long enough to appreciate it.
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.
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