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Keep Living
As long as you’re alive and breathing, you have a say in what direction your life will take. Just keep living.After seven years of marriage, multiple miscarriages, and three beautiful children, Loreal’s life changed in an instant when she found out that her husband, her first and only love, had a secret. At first, they embraced an untraditional solution, separating romantically but choosing to live in the same house to continue raising their children together. But ultimately, at thirty-two, Loreal would need to start over in life, find herself, and pave her own way forward. Loreal used to make decisions based on internal fear and arbitrary timelines—until life started making decisions for her. In her inspirational memoir, she decides to step up and start taking control of her own destiny. Choosing to look back and learn from her past, with new insight, Loreal draws from the wisdom of her grandmother and her own personal journey to embolden readers to take control of their futures and turn change into fuel for self-discovery. By remembering her grandmother’s phrase, “keep living,” she realizes that no matter what your past looks like, you are responsible for your own future.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published May 14, 2024
3 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 17, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ (only bc I wish it was longer)
Keep Living by LC Palmer is such an inspiring read! I first discovered LC on ABC's Claim to Fame (loved her and the show!) and was so excited to dive into her book. Not only did I learn more about her life and growing up with the incredible Keke Palmer (love her too!!), but it was also a beautiful reminder to stay resilient when life gets tough. LC’s voice is raw, relatable, and so uplifting—I enjoyed this book so much! A must-read for anyone needing a little extra encouragement to keep going.
Keep Living by LC Palmer is such an inspiring read! I first discovered LC on ABC's Claim to Fame (loved her and the show!) and was so excited to dive into her book. Not only did I learn more about her life and growing up with the incredible Keke Palmer (love her too!!), but it was also a beautiful reminder to stay resilient when life gets tough. LC’s voice is raw, relatable, and so uplifting—I enjoyed this book so much! A must-read for anyone needing a little extra encouragement to keep going.
July 21, 2025
In Keep Living: A Journey to Self-Love, Loreal offers a raw & inspiring glimpse into her personal journey of overcoming hardship, loss, & self-doubt. The memoir chronicles her transformative experience of navigating seven years of marriage, infertility struggles, & the challenges of starting over after discovering her husband's secret.
What makes this book stand out is its honest reflection on the complexities of life & the strength required to face them head-on. Loreal doesn’t ask for sympathy—she instead encourages readers to take ownership of their futures, no matter the weight of their past. Her grandmother's simple yet powerful advice, "keep living," becomes a central theme throughout the narrative, acting as both a mantra for the author & a source of inspiration for readers.
The memoir explores deeply personal topics such as love, loneliness, loss, mental health, infertility, & insecurities. What’s most compelling is Loreal’s ability to navigate these intense emotional landscapes without losing sight of her ultimate goal: self-discovery & self-love. Her story is a reminder that healing is possible, even in the face of life’s most challenging moments, & that true strength comes from within.
There’s an empowering tone to the writing that will resonate with those on a similar path of self-reflection & growth. This is not a book that wallows in despair but rather one that urges the reader to embrace change, take control of their own destiny, & learn to love themselves fully. It’s a powerful message for anyone looking to reclaim their sense of purpose & move forward after personal setbacks.
While Loreal’s story is undeniably uplifting, it also serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of self-love & the potential pitfalls of neglecting one's own needs in relationships. It’s a reminder that loving oneself is a prerequisite to being able to love others in a healthy & fulfilling way.
The only downside to the book, however, is that Loreal’s sister, Keke, is mentioned quite frequently. While it’s clear they share a deep bond, & their lives are intimately intertwined, the constant references to Keke might feel a bit repetitive for some readers. Still, it’s understandable given their close relationship.
Additionally, the book offers a behind-the-scenes look at the sacrifices that come with the glitz & glam of fame, not just for the superstar but for the family unit as a whole. This really made me reflect on whether the bright lights are worth the cost of peace of mind & genuine connection. It’s a thought-provoking angle on the complexities of living a public life versus the private battles we all face.
One area that stood out to me, though, was the missed opportunity to explore how Loreal’s mental health struggles may be linked to her upbringing, or the lack of accountability within her family. As a Black person, it’s often hard to navigate the delicate balance of holding Black parents accountable without being unfairly labeled as disrespectful, ungrateful, or unappreciative. Loreal seems to sidestep this potentially uncomfortable but crucial conversation. Real love—especially in Black families—demands transparency & mutual understanding. It’s not that her love for her family isn’t evident, but there’s a subtle dissonance when mental health challenges go unexamined within the context of family dynamics. Maybe these discussions occurred privately, but as readers, we’re left wondering about this important aspect of her healing. In a world where Black children are often expected to silently shoulder family burdens, it could’ve been powerful to see her, even indirectly, challenge that narrative.
Keep Living is still a heartfelt memoir that will appeal to anyone who has faced significant personal challenges, as well as those seeking a narrative of resilience, empowerment, & transformation. It is a tool for self-healing & a testament to the power of personal growth.
What makes this book stand out is its honest reflection on the complexities of life & the strength required to face them head-on. Loreal doesn’t ask for sympathy—she instead encourages readers to take ownership of their futures, no matter the weight of their past. Her grandmother's simple yet powerful advice, "keep living," becomes a central theme throughout the narrative, acting as both a mantra for the author & a source of inspiration for readers.
The memoir explores deeply personal topics such as love, loneliness, loss, mental health, infertility, & insecurities. What’s most compelling is Loreal’s ability to navigate these intense emotional landscapes without losing sight of her ultimate goal: self-discovery & self-love. Her story is a reminder that healing is possible, even in the face of life’s most challenging moments, & that true strength comes from within.
There’s an empowering tone to the writing that will resonate with those on a similar path of self-reflection & growth. This is not a book that wallows in despair but rather one that urges the reader to embrace change, take control of their own destiny, & learn to love themselves fully. It’s a powerful message for anyone looking to reclaim their sense of purpose & move forward after personal setbacks.
While Loreal’s story is undeniably uplifting, it also serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of self-love & the potential pitfalls of neglecting one's own needs in relationships. It’s a reminder that loving oneself is a prerequisite to being able to love others in a healthy & fulfilling way.
The only downside to the book, however, is that Loreal’s sister, Keke, is mentioned quite frequently. While it’s clear they share a deep bond, & their lives are intimately intertwined, the constant references to Keke might feel a bit repetitive for some readers. Still, it’s understandable given their close relationship.
Additionally, the book offers a behind-the-scenes look at the sacrifices that come with the glitz & glam of fame, not just for the superstar but for the family unit as a whole. This really made me reflect on whether the bright lights are worth the cost of peace of mind & genuine connection. It’s a thought-provoking angle on the complexities of living a public life versus the private battles we all face.
One area that stood out to me, though, was the missed opportunity to explore how Loreal’s mental health struggles may be linked to her upbringing, or the lack of accountability within her family. As a Black person, it’s often hard to navigate the delicate balance of holding Black parents accountable without being unfairly labeled as disrespectful, ungrateful, or unappreciative. Loreal seems to sidestep this potentially uncomfortable but crucial conversation. Real love—especially in Black families—demands transparency & mutual understanding. It’s not that her love for her family isn’t evident, but there’s a subtle dissonance when mental health challenges go unexamined within the context of family dynamics. Maybe these discussions occurred privately, but as readers, we’re left wondering about this important aspect of her healing. In a world where Black children are often expected to silently shoulder family burdens, it could’ve been powerful to see her, even indirectly, challenge that narrative.
Keep Living is still a heartfelt memoir that will appeal to anyone who has faced significant personal challenges, as well as those seeking a narrative of resilience, empowerment, & transformation. It is a tool for self-healing & a testament to the power of personal growth.
July 10, 2025
At the heart of this memoir is a powerful message from LC’s grandmother: “Keep living.” Through childhood memories, life transitions, and painful turning points—including the end of her marriage—LC Palmer shares how she learned to push forward with grace and faith.
This book offers an uplifting reflection on resilience and self-discovery. While I appreciated LC’s honesty and the empowering tone, I hoped for a bit more personal depth. As a Claim to Fame fan, I found myself wishing the spotlight stayed more on LC and less on her sister, Keke Palmer.
Still, for readers looking for a faith-forward, motivational memoir about navigating life’s unexpected turns, this may be worth picking up.
This book offers an uplifting reflection on resilience and self-discovery. While I appreciated LC’s honesty and the empowering tone, I hoped for a bit more personal depth. As a Claim to Fame fan, I found myself wishing the spotlight stayed more on LC and less on her sister, Keke Palmer.
Still, for readers looking for a faith-forward, motivational memoir about navigating life’s unexpected turns, this may be worth picking up.
May 13, 2025
its written nicely enough and for the most part is pretty solid as a memoir, but the entire time i kept wondering why she wrote a book in the first place considering the first half of it is really just about her life as keke's sister. from the forward and the book description, it sounds like her husband coming out as gay is the driving force behind how she 'kept living,' but in reality, all that happens in the LAST chapter of the book, so we never actually get to how she kept living after that. and then in the last ten pages she mentions she was on claim to fame and suddenly the book deal made sense....
4/10
wanted to like this but lol not everyone needs to write a book
4/10
wanted to like this but lol not everyone needs to write a book
March 25, 2025
LC moved me to tears during her retelling of one of her pregnancies! I wanted to yell at every Medical staff that told her everything was fine! I first saw LC on Claim to Fame and could tell she was a genuine pure soul! Thank you LC for opening yourself up and sharing yourself through this book! Wishing her much deserved continued success!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2025
First book of the year and it was such a good one. This was such a raw and honest read that felt so relatable! I didn’t want it to end and could read so much more about LC! The way she chronicles her life from childhood to adulthood and her thoughts throughout were so honest.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews