The Bright Side Running Club

Okay, so it started off pretty slow and almost casual. I chose this book because I really wanted to understand what the protagonist was going through and how her friends were able to support her throughout her diagnosis and treatment. The beginning felt very fluffy, even though the diagnosis comes pretty early. The first half seems like a lot of inner dialogue and jokes as a coping mechanism, which is valid and okay, but I was really looking for something more raw and vulnerable.
The second half of the book focuses more on the characters' challenges and how they are working through them, and this is when things get more intense.

It really did end up being worth reading. I feel like I learned a lot and was engrossed in the story about 60% of the way through, and I commend the author for writing something so raw and poignant to her own experiences.

First and foremost, be sure to check the content warnings on this.
If you are triggered by stories about cancer, this may be one you need to pass on.

I was so frustrated by the MC's super judgmental internal dialogue, that I really struggled to get into this one. However, I'm glad I stuck it out because there was definitely an arc to her character and while she certainly was still flawed, I appreciated that there was growth and self reflection on her attitudes and behaviors.

Once I was into the story and met all the side characters I quickly became quite invested in their relationships. In fact, I would have loved to delve even more into their stories, since I found every plot point in Keira's storyline easily predictable.

Danielle Cohen's narration was delightful, and I look forward to hearing more from her.

***Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley for an unbiased review.