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Almost Family

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Liz Millanova has stage four cancer, a grown daughter who doesn’t speak to her, and obsessive memories of a relationship that tore her marriage apart. She thinks of herself as someone who’d rather die than sit through a support group, but now that she actually is going to die, she figures she might as well give it a go.

Mercy’s Thriving Survivors is a hospital-sponsored group held in a presumably less depressing location: a Nordstrom’s employee training lounge. There, Liz hits it off with two other patients, and the three unlikely friends – Dave, a gay Vietnam vet, Rhonda, a devout, nice woman, and snarky Liz – decide to ditch the group and meet on their own. They call themselves The Oakland Mets, and their goal is to enjoy life while they can.

In the odd intimacy they form, Liz learns to open up and get close. They joined forces to have a good time – but what they wind up doing is helping one another come to grips with dying and resolve the unfinished business in their lives.

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 28, 2024

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3281 people want to read

About the author

Ann Bancroft

1 book15 followers
Ann Bancroft began writing fiction after a career in journalism and communications. Her first job after graduating from UC Berkeley was as “copy boy” at The Oakland Tribune, at a time when there were few women in the newsroom. As a reporter, she worked in the State Capitol bureaus of the San Francisco Chronicle, United Press International and the Associated Press. She wrote editorials for The Sacramento Bee and was later appointed communications director for the State Department of Education.

After a first bout of breast cancer, she retired early and began writing fiction, leading generative writing workshops, and mentoring breast cancer patients. She’s an alumna of the Community of Writers, the Tomales Bay Writers Workshops, and Everwood Farmstead artist’s residency. “Almost Family” is her debut novel, to be published when she is 71. Ann and her husband are avid travelers and hikers, and when not writing, she loves to cook and entertain. They live in Sacramento and Coronado, California.

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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Yamini.
646 reviews36 followers
May 27, 2024
Liz has always been at the top of her game or tried to. But when stage 4 cancer hits her like a punch, she wants to do entirely different things with her limited days. And it all starts with a support group of people she never thought would be close with - but life surprises her in strange ways.

It would be unfair to expect a happy ending with a terminal topic, but I am glad they had a proper closure. The small after scene towards the end just tied a knot to all those loose ends. Talking about the characters... for the most part of the book, I was really mad at Marisa, and that portrays the buildup done well. There are homely characters, fond family vibes and an exploration of what truly matters in life if we have limited time.

This was a little sad but a really good read. Gave me a perspective of how quickly the tables turn and how we should be grateful for little things in life.

Profile Image for Teresa.
248 reviews20 followers
June 3, 2024
This book touches on some tough topics but with such heart, soul and warmth you will fall in love with the relatable complex characters especially our main lady Liz Millanova.⁣

I started this book thinking “oh man a book about a woman who has cancer, how am I gonna get through it and write a positive review” but once I picked this up I became so invested in all the characters stories! ⁣

Liz is everything I would hope I would be when facing tragedy: snarky, tough and live life to its fullest!⁣
Profile Image for Emma Veron.
59 reviews
August 6, 2025
Oof. The ending had me sobbing. I really wish I could read this book again. I think if I was able to get really into the story from the beginning I would have given it 5 stars (I think it’s because I’m used to reading really face paced books). But the family that the three main characters built was so powerful and showed what a true friend should be!
Profile Image for Leslie.
12 reviews1 follower
September 27, 2025
Ann Bancroft’s novel Almost Family is one of the most accurate and touching depictions in fiction of stage four cancer that I have read. I found it inspiring rather than discouraging. When Liz finds out she has breast cancer, she is newly separated after finally realizing she is wasting her life on her alcoholic husband. She is also in the midst of a guilt-inducing affair with a married man who works in another office of her company. She spends much of her energy being an effective manager for this PR firm that markets a variety of products with no redeeming social value. Her daughter, Marisa, is emotionally distant. Like her mother, she is a workaholic and a perfectionist, a pattern often seen in the families of alcoholics.

Liz has little emotional support in her life, except for her long-term best friend. As fellow military brats, they learned as children to be stoic, self-sufficient, and to suck up adversity. When Liz’s lover is turned off by the physical evidence of her cancer treatment, she realizes how isolated she has become. The author does an excellent job, using the first person point of view, of getting the reader to empathize with Liz’s regrets and loneliness. It is also part of the author’s skill that Liz’s snarky humor and growing honesty with herself prevent the novel from being in any way maudlin. Liz makes two wonderful new friends in a support group she attends for people with advanced cancer, of course named “Thriving Survivors!” The author’s portrait of a dutiful but clueless group facilitator was spot on, as was her send-up of a pink-washed breast cancer fundraising walk.

An important part of Liz’s journey is learning to open herself to caring and to being nurtured. I particularly liked a scene in which Liz shows her scarred breasts to her new friend Dave, a gay man and former marine. The contradictions in Dave’s character and appearance make him an unforgettable character. As Liz’s health worsens, she is increasingly desperate to create a meaningful connection with Marisa before it is too late. Her other new friend Rhonda also has become estranged from her daughter, who is deep into drug addiction. In fact, Almost Family is as much a story about addiction as it is about cancer or end of life.

The author provides enough medical details to be credible without dwelling on them too much. She chooses to skip over Liz’s death, and the death of one of the other two Oakland Mets (the name they give to their trio), instead adding an epilogue from Marisa’s point of view at Liz’s memorial. I personally would have preferred that the novel provide a full picture of how each of their stories ended, but I am sure it was a difficult decision, knowing that the great majority of us prefer not to think about death, and that readers can be easily alienated.
Profile Image for Debbie.
1,013 reviews11 followers
May 29, 2024
My thanks to @booksforwardpr and @bancroftann for a #gifted copy.

This is full of topics that should be hard to write and read about. These subjects, death, homosexuality, fear, cancer, insecurities, broken relationships, etc. are all things that might drag a story to the depths of despair.

So why am I rating it 5 stars and wishing I could rate it higher?

Almost Family follows a middle-aged woman who hits some tough roadblocks. She leaves her alcoholic husband, is dumped by her boyfriend, has a bad relationship with her daughter, and has a cancer diagnosis. In desperation, Liz Millanova decides to make the hard decision to reach out to a support group. Something her head screams no to, but her heart encourages.

If that paragraph sounds like you can pass on a depressing book, keep reading. This is a book that kept me wanting more. The characters are incredible.

The story consists of Liz and two others from her support group. They end up ditching the group and living in the moment with their small group. This is funny, touching, and a page-turner that you won't soon forget!

Since I don't like a synopsis or review to tell the whole story, I'm stopping here. Please realize that these may be bleak topics, but Bancroft has found a way to touch the reader's heart with happiness and joy that can be between the lines of sadness.

Concerns
None whatsoever.

Final Thoughts
This is such a beautiful study of three people that you’re apt to walk away thinking it’s a true memoir. I can’t recommend it enough. The dialog and actions are true to each person.
Profile Image for Penny Lane.
123 reviews
October 3, 2023
I am an early reader of "Almost Family," by Ann Bancroft. It is a poignant exploration of life, love, and friendship in the face of terminal illness. The protagonist is confronted with the harsh reality of stage four cancer, a fractured family, and a troubled past, including an alcohol husband and her codependency and the family drama that went with it. Reluctantly, she joins a support group, and this decision sets the stage for a deeply moving and ultimately heartwarming story.

Ann Bancroft's storytelling is a delicate balance of humor and emotional depth, as she navigates the complexities of life, sickness, an estranged daughter, and haunting memories. The protagonist confronts her fears, tries to mend broken relationships, and find solace in the face of mortality. It's fiction, but rang so true, I could not stop reading.

"Almost Family" is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, demonstrating that even in the darkest of times, connections can be forged, wounds can heal, and life's beauty can shine through. It reminds us to cherish every moment, and to be grateful for what we have. Hard topic as it was, it was a very good read.









Profile Image for Country Mama.
1,432 reviews64 followers
June 3, 2024
This was such an emotional read about our MC, Lix who has stage four cancer. As someone who has had their lives touched by cancer with a immediate family member, I understand how important this book is for all readers. Cancer is a beast to deal with for both the family members and of course the person going through it. And stage 4 is terminal, which means you don’t come back from that. Stage 4 cancer means “there is nothing else we can do for you” and they just provide supportive care.
Liz doesn’t have the best relationships with her family and especially her daughter, she doesn’t have anyone in her life after all of her relationships have failed. But she does get to meet a couple of great friends at a support group, Dave and Rhonda. These three decide that they want to start their own support group, of doing things that enhance their experience with live not just go to a group in a room😊
I loved this book overall and recommend it to all fiction lovers and anyone who has been touched by cancer.
1 review
June 18, 2024
"Almost Family" crackles with wit and wisdom. Metastatic cancer is tough terrain to navigate but in this first rate, first time novel Ann Bancroft does so deftly, crisply yet with great sensitivity. It is a deeply moving story without veering into maudlin or morbid.

The writing achieves a delicate balance between the tragic and the comic- no easy feat - and while the book deals with some of life's most difficult challenges, Bancroft approaches the material with a keen eye and a distinctive style - a successful blend of wry, trenchant humor and sharp unsentimental obeservation about the truth of the matter. Her characters jump off the page; they're engaging, fully realized, complicated human beings who, over the course of the story, go through realistic, meaningful change.

I loved it and consider the book a must-read for a wide audience. Beyond the story lines, "Almost Family" has a universal appeal with the underlying message at its core: what ultimately saves us, is human connection. As E.M. Forster famously wrote, "Only connect!"
9 reviews1 follower
December 18, 2023
I've had the splendid opportunity to preview this wonderful work. It's a story of sharing one's humanity at the end of life. These characters are well-drawn; flawed, but sympathetic to the point you have to love them. They are complex but relatable. Cancer is such a merciless beast and writing about people who are coping with it, knowing the end is near, could turn maudlin in a hurry. Bancroft does not do this. She is clear-eyed and tells this story with poignancy. Liz, Dave, and Rhonda form a tight knit little team, determined to stare down death and live out the remainder of their lives to the fullest with love and encouragement from each other.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's faced cancer, either as a patient or as a one who has loved a cancer patient. Bancroft navigates the emotional terrain with skill and heart to create a bittersweet, yet ultimately uplifting novel.
Profile Image for Meredith Walters.
Author 1 book26 followers
January 23, 2024
An understated but powerful book that deals with subjects most of us would rather ignore--addiction, estrangement, illness, and death. Yet Bancroft writes with such humor, insight, compassion, and skill that the journey is both enjoyable and uplifting. The characters were so nuanced and real, it felt like I was hanging out with old friends. The plot avoided melodrama but was nevertheless compelling--I was eagerly turning pages until the end. Filled with wry humor and a no-BS attitude, there's still so much heart under the surface. Almost Family didn't shy from difficult subjects and made me confront real fears head-on, but at its core, it's gentle and hopeful, showing how illness and death can ironically heal us, and how it's never too late to live a meaningful and satisfying life.

Profile Image for Emily Malek.
236 reviews9 followers
June 3, 2024
Full disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book by Books Forward in exchange for an honest review.

I love snarky characters. I enjoy how they are honest with the situations around them, come up with witty one-liners, and demonstrate vulnerability throughout the book. They are truly my favorite type of person to read about. When I heard that a new novel called "Almost Family" by Ann Bancroft (not the Oscar-winning actress and Mel Brooks’s deceased wife) involved a sarcastic and cancer-stricken woman attending a support group, I knew I had to read it. And reader, I’m glad I did, for it was funny, heartfelt, and vulnerable.

To read more of this review, click on this link: https://chick-who-reads-everything.co...
1 review
May 6, 2024
Almost Family made me think and feel more deeply than I had imagined. The story is almost too real. Sad, heartfelt, terrifying, hopeful and humor-filled as it challenges its readers to value each day. I especially loved the character development and how Rhonda, Dave and Liz left the standard- issue Thriving Survivors support group and formed their own Mets group. The heroes reminded me of the potency of human bonds–highlighted with individual similarities and differences, as they quickly developed love for each other, carried their zest for life, humor and fears, as Ms. Bancroft moved the story to a well-crafted ending. I can hardly wait to read Ms. Bancroft’s next book.
Profile Image for Sue.
Author 22 books56 followers
October 6, 2025
I love this book. It feels like memoir, and I would like to know more about how it came to be, but meanwhile…Liz hates support groups and does not want to join one, but her cancer is back, and she doesn’t know how to deal with it. At the support group, she makes two friends, Dave and Rhonda. Like her, they are stage four, terminal. They soon ditch the official group and go on a series of adventures together. It’s a beautiful three-way platonic love story in which each shares their deepest pains and sorrows and helps the others to deal with problems they need to solve before they die. The characters are so beautifully described I know them. I did not want to put this book down. As a Bay Area native, I also enjoyed the settings around Oakland and San Francisco, California. I can already see the movie. Ten stars, please.
Profile Image for Angie.
1,106 reviews16 followers
May 19, 2024
This one is definitely not a light hearted feel good story, there is lots of emotions and uncomfortable discussions around dying. At the same time, there is lots of beauty in the story and the connections between the three friends, who basically become family to one another. Bancroft reminds us that no matter where and when someone walks into your life, if you keep an open mind and heart they could just end up being the exact person you needed. Dealing with (and writing about) death is not an easy feat, but Bancroft does a great job of adding humour where appropriate and carefully crafting interesting and loveable characters, winning over readers early on in her story. Congrats to the author on accomplishing all that in her first book, at age 71! I hope we see more books from her in the future.

Thanks to @booksforwardpr and the author @bancroftann for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
1 review
June 12, 2024
“Almost Family” tops my pile of summer fiction.

We generate enough fear of death, coping with death, feeling lonely, longing for love, failing to connect with family (or anybody). But this debut novel might well be an ironic antidote for all that.

You don’t have to be a woman to pick it up (I met a man who said he cried while reading it).
You don’t need to have cancer or know someone with cancer.

All you need is to thirst in this global heat for a story about real people brought alive by a writer with smart humor, killer dialogue, heart, and insight.
1 review
July 1, 2024
After reading all the previous reviews, I had to read this book. Despite their cancer diagnoses, the three main characters coped with humor, warmth and heartfelt dignity. I found myself laughing out loud then shedding an occasional tear as they resolved to solve universal problems of family dynamics and physical survival. The author is an expert at dialogue and has created realistic characters that I found myself caring about. Almost anyone could relate in some way to this story and find the book enjoyable.
Profile Image for Jude Berman.
Author 8 books30 followers
January 21, 2024
Almost Family is a moving exploration of life, love, and the profound impact of facing mortality. While a work of fiction, it reads with the authenticity and power one might expect only from a deeply personal autobiographical account. Bancroft doesn’t shy away from the brutality of cancer, pain of fractured relationships, or the quest for wholeness, all while maintaining her sense of humor. A must-read for anyone who has ever faced or ever will face death.
Profile Image for Julia M..
27 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2024
I really enjoyed this read! The main character, Liz, is snarky and sarcastic and as someone who also has a hard time grappling with tough emotions, it was nice to see Liz drop her guard and become more vulnerable over the course of the book. Death can oftentimes be such a taboo topic, but I think the author did an incredible job navigating the topic of living with a terminal illness, I know this one will resonate with so many! Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Leslie Nack.
Author 3 books147 followers
February 29, 2024
Bancroft has the unique ability to make you feel a wide range of emotions. This is the story of a woman, a mother, reckoning with herself and her life after finding out her cancer has metastasized. It’s the kind of story that teaches us it doesn’t matter how you show up, so long as you do it consistently and with purpose. This book is bittersweet, and I enjoyed the winding road. Thanks to Ann for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
1 review
June 23, 2024
Such a terrific book! Don't be afraid to read it because of the topic. It's very inspiring - and funny as well (although that sounds funny to say because of the gravity of the subject). All the characters are wonderful -- you'll come to quickly love them and they will stay with you long after you're done reading "Almost Family" -- to the point where they are almost family to you.
4 reviews
May 12, 2025
Wow, Just Wow

What a stunningly beautiful novel. Chosen family is a concept that I’m very familiar with and experiencing the deep bond between Liz, Dave and Rhonda was simply perfect. Ann Bancroft created a masterpiece here and I’m so grateful to have been given the privilege of reading her work. I hope this deeply inspiring novel reaches readers far and wide. Truly.
Author 1 book10 followers
May 12, 2025
What a stunningly beautiful novel. Chosen family is a concept that I’m very familiar with and experiencing the deep bond between Liz, Dave and Rhonda was simply perfect. Ann Bancroft created a masterpiece here and I’m so grateful to have been given the privilege of reading her work. I hope this deeply inspiring novel reaches readers far and wide. Truly.
Profile Image for Air.
533 reviews27 followers
June 3, 2024
This book was incredibly sweet and realistic when facing terminal illness and the highs and lows of life that come with it. It was sad yet funny at times in a way to help grieve the loss that hadn’t yet happen. I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to BFF Tours!
Profile Image for Savannah Davis.
47 reviews
September 8, 2024
This book was BEAUTIFULLY written and discussed heavy topics with comedy and thoughtfulness. I grew to love each character and really felt their wins and losses (they even brought me to tears at times) with the struggles of life and terminal illness. 10/10 recommend
43 reviews
October 2, 2024
Really enjoyed this book despite its sad topic.
1 review1 follower
February 17, 2024
Almost Family is one of those novels that you begin and cannot put down. It is hard to imagine that a book about metastasized cancer, problems with addiction, and family estrangement could be so heartwarming and uplifting. Ann Bancroft writes masterfully with brilliant character development of the narrator, Liz, and her two cohorts, Rhonda and Dave, as they form their bond, fast love, and support for each other. The reader becomes invested in their life stories, relationships, and sense of urgency as they come to terms with what is unresolved and the unvarnished truth of their lives. I laughed and cried uncontrollably at times but was very satisfied with how things were resolved for each character at the end. It was an honor to preview the publication of this beautiful and joyous page turner.
3 reviews
September 12, 2024
I loved this book about the unlikely friendship between 3 people who have metastatic cancer and meet in a support group. There’s a gentle devout woman, a gay military vet and another irascible woman who form their own little support group to help each other through this time. As they are getting to know each other and having fun, each deals with unresolved issues with the help of the others. It’s a story of love, hope , friendship, compassion and humor and I highly recommend reading it.
Profile Image for Claudia Marseille.
Author 1 book11 followers
January 10, 2024
Oh what a wonderful read this was! I was hooked from the very beginning to find out about the fate of the three unlikely friends who form a strong bond around their diagnosis of metastatic cancer. The three of them support each other as they work to resolve and bring closure to troubled parts of their pasts. Her novel illustrates how even while facing mortality, one can find connection, peace and joy.

One of the lovely gifts of this book is Ann Bancroft’s considerable writing talent. She successfully treads a fine line, showing us the difficulties each of the characters is going through, but with humor and a light touch. So, despite the serious topic, it is a heartwarming, delightful and uplifting read. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Julie  Katepalli.
26 reviews
September 26, 2024
A Beautiful Story

I am a cancer survivor and so much of what Liz didn’t like about the support group stuff and strangers calling her brave was so much how I felt. This book was a valuable life lesson of how to change the course of life, no matter how long you have. I loved it!
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