Review of The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth

The Things We Keep By Sally Hepworth Publication Date: 19th January 2016 Publisher: St Martin's Press Pages: 352 Genre: Fiction, Romance, Drama Format: eBook Source: Netgalley

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Anna Forster, in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease at only thirty-eight years old, knows that her family is doing what they believe to be best when they take her to Rosalind House, an assisted living facility. She also knows there's just one another resident her age, Luke. What she does not expect is the love that blossoms between her and Luke even as she resists her new life at Rosalind House. As her disease steals more and more of her memory, Anna fights to hold on to what she knows, including her relationship with Luke.

When Eve Bennett is suddenly thrust into the role of single mother she finds herself putting her culinary training to use at Rosalind house. When she meets Anna and Luke she is moved by the bond the pair has forged. But when a tragic incident leads Anna's and Luke's families to separate them, Eve finds herself questioning what she is willing to risk to help them.

This is the first book by Sally Hepworth that I have read and it won't be the last! The story is split into three people's point of view, first there is Anna, who has not long ago been diagnosed with Alzheimer's at only thirty eight. Anna always knew there was a possibility of getting the disease after her own mother suffered from it before she passed away. Then again, she never thought she would be thirty eight and losing her memory, so when a incident happens she decides that it would be best if she lived somewhere where she was looked after 24/7 and not put so much pressure on her own family. Rosalind House is a lovely, calm place to live and interact with others who are very welcoming, whilst there Anna met Luke someone who is closer to her own age and is suffering from the same type of disease. It doesn't take Anna and Luke to long before they become closer than just friends, but with Anna and Luke's disease being a couple is not an easy thing at all.  The other two point of views are told from Eve and her daughter Clementine or Clem as she likes to be called, Eve is working at Rosalind House as the cook/cleaner after a couple of rough months that saw her and Clem lose a big part of their life in the worst way possible. Eve and Clem are on the back end of a lot of comments and anger from people who knew what Eve's husband did to their families and friends. It soon is clear that the only people who don't care about what the news has to say is the residents who live in Rosalind House who soon become part of her family. Eve is close with several of the residents and take it upon herself to make sure that everyone gets to be happy including Anna and Luke.  With Eve spending so much time at Rosalind House, Clem become an everyday visitor for the residents who love to see her dance or chat to them regardless if she can understand what they are talking about or not. She makes them happy and being in a nursing home isn't always happy so with her and the visits from their families and friends they can relax in their environment and feel comfortable.  My favourite point of view would have to be Clem's as even at such a young age she knew a lot about the world. She still had that childlike nature and even though in her point of view you could tell that she had experienced heartache and loss over the last couple of months, she still could make you smile with her nature. I love how The Things We Keep touched on such emotional topics, it gave me personally a lot more information about the experience and issues that people and families or friends go through when someone they love or know is suffering from a disease like what Anna and Luke have.  The Things We Keep is an emotional rollercoaster of a book that will make you sad and happy at the same time. With it's thought-provoking characters and events it will make you glad you read this amazingly written book that you touch your heart in the best possible way.

Emotional, Heartbreaking and Unforgettable. 

Another day, another book,