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Michael David (on hiatus)'s Reviews > The People We Keep
The People We Keep
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April is a 16-year old living in a small town in New York in 1994. Her mother left her, and she lives in a motorhome with her father. However, he prefers to stay with his current girlfriend and her child, essentially leaving April on her own.
April is a singer-songwriter, and has dreams of making it big. Feeling like she has nothing left to give in her current predicament, she steals a car and leaves town. Through the people she meets and the songs she writes, she hopes to discover a sense of self worth.
This is a sometimes touching, sometimes problematic (to me) story. I didn’t find April very likable for the first half of the book, so it was hard to feel sympathy towards her even though us readers are supposed to. She did eventually grow on me, but it took awhile. This book also discusses a sexual relationship between a 16-year old and 27-year old, and I found it more cringey and inappropriate instead of tender and heartwarming. I’m also curious why it takes place in 1994. Besides a few musical references of the early 90s, I thought I was reading a book about the 1970s.
As stated before, April really grew on me during the second half, and I felt for her and her situation. She meets some truly wonderful folks, and it’s endearing to read. I eventually found myself rooting for her. While I felt that everything wrapped up a little too perfectly in the end, I have to admit I did enjoy the journey overall. The writing is wonderful too.
3.5 stars (we really need that ½ star option on GR!!)
Review also posted at:
April is a singer-songwriter, and has dreams of making it big. Feeling like she has nothing left to give in her current predicament, she steals a car and leaves town. Through the people she meets and the songs she writes, she hopes to discover a sense of self worth.
This is a sometimes touching, sometimes problematic (to me) story. I didn’t find April very likable for the first half of the book, so it was hard to feel sympathy towards her even though us readers are supposed to. She did eventually grow on me, but it took awhile. This book also discusses a sexual relationship between a 16-year old and 27-year old, and I found it more cringey and inappropriate instead of tender and heartwarming. I’m also curious why it takes place in 1994. Besides a few musical references of the early 90s, I thought I was reading a book about the 1970s.
As stated before, April really grew on me during the second half, and I felt for her and her situation. She meets some truly wonderful folks, and it’s endearing to read. I eventually found myself rooting for her. While I felt that everything wrapped up a little too perfectly in the end, I have to admit I did enjoy the journey overall. The writing is wonderful too.
3.5 stars (we really need that ½ star option on GR!!)
Review also posted at:
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Reading Progress
January 2, 2022
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Started Reading
January 2, 2022
– Shelved
January 2, 2022
– Shelved as:
botm
January 4, 2022
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 92 (92 new)
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Canadian Jen
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Jan 04, 2022 10:30AM
New Pic!! Looks great! Great review, Michael. I think there will never be a half star option, lol. I have this one on my list but in no rush to get to. Hope your next one is awesome
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Fabulous review, Michael, and I think I still want to read this one to see which side of this I land on. Nice pic, too! :-D
I wish we had that 1/2 star option too! I enjoyed this much more than you did but will always find relationships like that cringeworthy-which is why I hated that series I read recently..you know the one! 😂 Fantastic review!
Wonderful review, Michael! 💗 I would have found that relationship cringe inducing as well.
Fab review Michael! And lovely new pic! Sorry this one wasn't a new year's winner for you! Give us the half stars GR dammit 😂
Nailed it, 100%. Was this a Book of the Month selection for you?
I dnf'd this one before starting (lol) once I realized there was a sexual relationship between a teen and older man - ugh, that is a hard pass for me. Thanks for a great review Michael!
Jen wrote: "New Pic!! Looks great! Great review, Michael. I think there will never be a half star option, lol. I have this one on my list but in no rush to get to. Hope your next one is awesome"Thanks so much, Jen! I don't think there will be a half-star option either, but it would really help. Lol!!
Terrie wrote: "Fabulous review, Michael, and I think I still want to read this one to see which side of this I land on. Nice pic, too! :-D"Thank you kindly, Terrie!🤗 I do hope you enjoy it, and I can't wait to see your thoughts!
Jayme wrote: "I wish we had that 1/2 star option too! I enjoyed this much more than you did but will always find relationships like that cringeworthy-which is why I hated that series I read recently..you know th..."Thanks, Jayme! I definitely know which series you're referring to.🤣 I wish the whole thing was like the second half.
Not for me at all! Great review on a book I just today sent back to the library.
Michelle wrote: "Wonderful review, Michael! 💗 I would have found that relationship cringe inducing as well."Thanks, Michelle! Luckily, that wasn't the bulk of the story.🧡
preoccupiedbybooks wrote: "Fab review Michael! And lovely new pic! Sorry this one wasn't a new year's winner for you! Give us the half stars GR dammit 😂"Thanks, Fran! Luckily it' wasn't a new year's loser either!🤣 We should start a petition for the half star! Lol!
Regina (new photo, new year!) wrote: "Nailed it, 100%. Was this a Book of the Month selection for you?"Thanks, friend! Yes...from July. I was a bit behind. Lmao!
JanB wrote: "I dnf'd this one before starting (lol) once I realized there was a sexual relationship between a teen and older man - ugh, that is a hard pass for me. Thanks for a great review Michael!"Thanks, Jan! Totally understandable. I like that you DNF'd before starting.🤣
Marialyce (absltmom, yaya) wrote: "Not for me at all! Great review on a book I just today sent back to the library."Thanks, Marialyce! I saw that you started reading it and was going to be super curious to your thoughts. Now I know. Lol!
Matthew Quick's "All Together Now" is somewhat similar with the exception of the protagonist, who's a VERY likable teen. Unfortunately the Netflix adaptation pales in comparison to the book
Fair, honest review! New year, new GR rating system? Nope... just too much to ask haha not much pique's my interest about this but glad it was a little redeeming for you in the second half.
Great review, Michael. I had been on the fence about this one and finally removed it from my TBR.
Jonathan wrote: "Matthew Quick's "All Together Now" is somewhat similar with the exception of the protagonist, who's a VERY likable teen. Unfortunately the Netflix adaptation pales in comparison to the book"I'll have to check it out, Jonathan! I never heard of the book or the Netflix adaptation!
Derek wrote: "Fair, honest review! New year, new GR rating system? Nope... just too much to ask haha not much pique's my interest about this but glad it was a little redeeming for you in the second half."Thanks, Derek! They'll never listen to what we, the people, want. Haha 🤣
Kerrin wrote: "Great review, Michael. I had been on the fence about this one and finally removed it from my TBR."Thanks, Kerrin! I've had the book for MONTHS and finally got around to reading it. While I enjoyed it overall, I would've been fine if I didn't read it.
You look great with your tan MD ! The review is not half bad either lmao 😸
Lmao! Thanks twice, Jaidee! 🤣
I don't think this would work for me and I appreciate your thoughts Michael! We'll just continue putting up our own half stars!
Thanks, Holly! You're right...we'll do it on our own. Lol!
Terrific review, Michael! I hope your next one works better!
Great review, Michael! Love your new pic!
Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader wrote: "Terrific review, Michael! I hope your next one works better!"Thanks, Jennifer!
Debra wrote: "Great review, Michael! Love your new pic!"Thanks so much, Debra!
I almost didn't realize this was your post! Love the new pic! I started this one on audio and couldn't get into it. I think I'll skip it. That relationship does sound cringey. Thanks for the review!
Fabulous review Michael! love the new pic will add this. ❤️🤗
Nice new pic! Woo hoo! A great review too! I'm glad April grew on you. The story sounds good!
I think I'd find the relationship problematic too, Michael. Great review ❤️📚
Every time I think I want to read this one, I find out something that makes me second guess it…again. 😂 probably should just bite the bullet and cut it from my ridiculously long list since it’s not like you haven’t contributed to THAT anyway!! 😉 this cover also screams 1970s to me…very confusing. Hope your next read is wonderful, excellent review Michael! (And nice new pic of course! 😊)
Misha (Heartsfullofreads) wrote: "I almost didn't realize this was your post! Love the new pic! I started this one on audio and couldn't get into it. I think I'll skip it. That relationship does sound cringey. Thanks for the review!"Haha Thanks so much, Misha! I'm glad to have read it, but I would've been fine skipping it too. I think you're fine passing on it.
Lisa wrote: "Fabulous review Michael! love the new pic will add this. ❤️🤗"Thanks, Lisa! I look forward to your thoughts! 🤗
Tina wrote: "Nice new pic! Woo hoo! A great review too! I'm glad April grew on you. The story sounds good!"Thanks so much, Tina! I hope you enjoy it if you read it! :)
Claude's wrote: "I think I'd find the relationship problematic too, Michael. Great review ❤️📚"Thanks so much, Claude!🤗
Catherine wrote: "Every time I think I want to read this one, I find out something that makes me second guess it…again. 😂 probably should just bite the bullet and cut it from my ridiculously long list since it’s not..."YES!! The cover is so 1970s too. You are spot on, Catherine! Thanks so much!🤗 Honestly, if you've been going back and forth for this long, it might make sense to just take it off the list. There are so many books out there...clearly.🤣
Wonderful review as always Michael!! I completely agree, GR needs that to add that half star.
Maren wrote: "Wonderful review as always Michael!! I completely agree, GR needs that to add that half star."Thanks so much, Maren! That half star would really make ratings more accurate! It's hard to round down or up sometimes.
Excellent review Michael. Hope your next read is a five star!🤩
This has been on my radar for awhile, so I'm glad to see your review, but I may pass on it for now. At least the 2nd half was endearing! Fantastic review, Michael!🤗
Kaceey wrote: "Excellent review Michael. Hope your next read is a five star!🤩"Thanks, Kaceey! I hope so too!😄
L.A. wrote: "This has been on my radar for awhile, so I'm glad to see your review, but I may pass on it for now. At least the 2nd half was endearing! Fantastic review, Michael!🤗"Thanks, L.A.! If you decide to read it somewhere down the line, I'd love to see your thoughts. 🤗
Love the review and the observations you have pulled out Michael
fantastic review, michael! sorry this one didn’t work that well for you, but i’m glad april had some character development as the book progressed that it made you enjoy the book more!
Great honest review Michael!
Margaret wrote: "Love the review and the observations you have pulled out Michael"Thanks so much, Margaret!
