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Something Worth Saving
A boy and his cat. It's an unconventional friendship, perhaps, but for Charlie and Lily, it works beautifully. It was Charlie who chose Lily from among all the cats in the shelter. He didn't frown, the way other humans did, when he saw her injured back leg, the legacy of a cruel previous owner. Instead, Charlie insisted on rescuing her. Now Lily wants to do the same for Charlie. She's the only one who's seen the bruises on Charlie's body. If she knew who was hurting him, she'd scratch their eyes out. But she can't fix this by herself. Lily needs to get the rest of the family to focus on Charlie-not easy when they're wrapped up in their own problems. Charlie's mother kicked his father out weeks ago and has a new boyfriend who seems charming, but is still a stranger. Oldest son Kevin misses his father desperately. Victoria, Charlie's sister, also has someone new in her life, and Lily is decidedly suspicious. Even Charlie's father, who Lily loves dearly, is behaving strangely. Lily knows what it's like to feel helpless. But she also knows that you don't always have to be the biggest or the strongest to fight fiercely for the ones you love . . .
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First published December 18, 2018
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About the author
Sandi Ward
3 books196 followersSandi Ward is a native New Englander who now lives on the Jersey Shore with her husband, kids, dog and a big black cat named Winnie. She received her MA in Creative Writing from NYU, and is a copywriter at an advertising agency. Her novels include THE ASTONISHING THING, SOMETHING WORTH SAVING, and WHAT HOLDS US TOGETHER (Kensington Books).
Visit Sandi at: http://www.sandiwardbooks.com
Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/sandiwardbooks/
Find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sandiwardbooks/
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Visit Sandi at: http://www.sandiwardbooks.com
Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/sandiwardbooks/
Find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sandiwardbooks/
Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandiwardbo...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
February 8, 2019
Favorite Quotes:
No creature should be mistreated. I did not deserve it, and neither does Charlie… I recall how humiliating it was to be too small to fight back. It makes my eyes sting and nose quiver when I think about it. Believe me, if I knew who was hurting Charlie, I would scratch his eyes out.
He is amused by how excited she is to realize this, that he’s never kissed a girl. And the look that he gives forces me to see it, to understand what she likes about him. I don’t want her to like him. He’s a thief and a sneak and a manipulative human. However. What I see is this… The look he gives her is guarded, but it’s also: Warm. Inclusive. A little naughty. As if they have a secret together.
Their first kiss. And I am witness to it. When they part, Victoria is all glorious smiles. Triumphant. Aidan, to me, looks a bit dazed. I think I am witnessing him slowly coming into his own as a young man. He must also be realizing his weaknesses. He is going to have to submit to Victoria's whims if he wants to keep her as his mate.
I feel a little squeeze of satisfaction in my heart. I do love to see humans happy. Even bad creatures deserve love… How am I so easily swayed? The humans confound me.
There is something worth saving in this family – a love that connects all of us and binds us together... Like raindrops plunking onto the river, causing overlapping circles of waves, each member of our family impacts the next. If only Gretel and I could talk! I won’t give up yet.
My Review:
Something Worth Saving was simply stellar and one of the most insightful, thoughtfully written and poignant books I have ever read. The writing quality was exceptional and captivating and possessed that tantalizing allure that continually rattled around my cranium even when forced to put my book down. Written from the first person perspective of Lily, the ever watchful and beloved family cat, I was immediately pulled in by Ms. Ward’s hypnotic and powerful word voodoo, and obsessively remained within Lily’s well-crafted and intriguing vortex. My thoughts were consumed with the characters, and even as I performed my obligatory adulting, I continued to contemplate and visualize the sweet and concerned tabby as she guarded over her beloved humans and pondered her confusing observations. She loved her family deeply, even the dog, yet she felt a fierce and possessive loyalty toward Charlie, the youngest family member and the one who personally had selected her from the shelter. Their bond was instant and infinite; Charlie was her sweet and gentle boy.
Lily was on high alert as lately, Charlie was often upset, and more disturbingly, bruised. Someone was hurting Charlie and no one else had noticed. Lily understood his feelings all too well as Lily herself had been an unfortunate victim of abuse as a kitten, suffering a damaged leg and forever odd walk. While a loving family with three teenaged children, the family unit was unraveling while no one in that household actually communicated about anything of substance for fear of bringing about the final crack that tore everything asunder. The entire family was in mild to moderate distress, each with their own unique turmoil and reluctance to voice their apprehension and discomfort with the causes and effects of the recent parental separation. In addition, each member was also working through significant milestones, transitions, and coming of age and sexual identity issues. The storylines were relevant, topical, and well paced while the narrative was fascinating, emotive, and heart-squeezing. I am enamored with this jaw-droppingly talented author and besotted with her tale and the adorable Lily, who will undoubtedly continue to inhabit my gray matter for some time.
No creature should be mistreated. I did not deserve it, and neither does Charlie… I recall how humiliating it was to be too small to fight back. It makes my eyes sting and nose quiver when I think about it. Believe me, if I knew who was hurting Charlie, I would scratch his eyes out.
He is amused by how excited she is to realize this, that he’s never kissed a girl. And the look that he gives forces me to see it, to understand what she likes about him. I don’t want her to like him. He’s a thief and a sneak and a manipulative human. However. What I see is this… The look he gives her is guarded, but it’s also: Warm. Inclusive. A little naughty. As if they have a secret together.
Their first kiss. And I am witness to it. When they part, Victoria is all glorious smiles. Triumphant. Aidan, to me, looks a bit dazed. I think I am witnessing him slowly coming into his own as a young man. He must also be realizing his weaknesses. He is going to have to submit to Victoria's whims if he wants to keep her as his mate.
I feel a little squeeze of satisfaction in my heart. I do love to see humans happy. Even bad creatures deserve love… How am I so easily swayed? The humans confound me.
There is something worth saving in this family – a love that connects all of us and binds us together... Like raindrops plunking onto the river, causing overlapping circles of waves, each member of our family impacts the next. If only Gretel and I could talk! I won’t give up yet.
My Review:
Something Worth Saving was simply stellar and one of the most insightful, thoughtfully written and poignant books I have ever read. The writing quality was exceptional and captivating and possessed that tantalizing allure that continually rattled around my cranium even when forced to put my book down. Written from the first person perspective of Lily, the ever watchful and beloved family cat, I was immediately pulled in by Ms. Ward’s hypnotic and powerful word voodoo, and obsessively remained within Lily’s well-crafted and intriguing vortex. My thoughts were consumed with the characters, and even as I performed my obligatory adulting, I continued to contemplate and visualize the sweet and concerned tabby as she guarded over her beloved humans and pondered her confusing observations. She loved her family deeply, even the dog, yet she felt a fierce and possessive loyalty toward Charlie, the youngest family member and the one who personally had selected her from the shelter. Their bond was instant and infinite; Charlie was her sweet and gentle boy.
Lily was on high alert as lately, Charlie was often upset, and more disturbingly, bruised. Someone was hurting Charlie and no one else had noticed. Lily understood his feelings all too well as Lily herself had been an unfortunate victim of abuse as a kitten, suffering a damaged leg and forever odd walk. While a loving family with three teenaged children, the family unit was unraveling while no one in that household actually communicated about anything of substance for fear of bringing about the final crack that tore everything asunder. The entire family was in mild to moderate distress, each with their own unique turmoil and reluctance to voice their apprehension and discomfort with the causes and effects of the recent parental separation. In addition, each member was also working through significant milestones, transitions, and coming of age and sexual identity issues. The storylines were relevant, topical, and well paced while the narrative was fascinating, emotive, and heart-squeezing. I am enamored with this jaw-droppingly talented author and besotted with her tale and the adorable Lily, who will undoubtedly continue to inhabit my gray matter for some time.
June 3, 2022
A very sweet cat named Lily is the narrator of this book. It is the story of her family and the difficult experiences that they are going through both separately and together.
Charlie is her owner, he is the youngest of 3 kids. Lily and Charlie are a great comfort to each other and she is worried about him because she has seen bruises on him lately.
Charlie’s parents are recently separated, his sister has a boyfriend that Lily isn’t so sure of and there are a lot of other changes that this family is living through.
Not always a happy-go-lucky read, but some tough subjects were lightened up a bit by the fact they are written from the family cat’s point of view and from her level of understanding too. Cats are very astute and loving pets.
Worth the read.
Charlie is her owner, he is the youngest of 3 kids. Lily and Charlie are a great comfort to each other and she is worried about him because she has seen bruises on him lately.
Charlie’s parents are recently separated, his sister has a boyfriend that Lily isn’t so sure of and there are a lot of other changes that this family is living through.
Not always a happy-go-lucky read, but some tough subjects were lightened up a bit by the fact they are written from the family cat’s point of view and from her level of understanding too. Cats are very astute and loving pets.
Worth the read.
September 6, 2019
This was a very sweet and sad story from a cat's point of view.
July 17, 2019
Sandi Ward’s SOMETHING WORTH SAVING is an absolute gem of a book, written in poetic prose and so compellingly about an abused boy and his dysfunctional family — all from the point of view of Lily, the family cat.
In Sandi’s heart-wrenching novel, teenager Charlie has chosen Lily from all the kitties in the animal shelter, seeing her true beauty despite her injured leg, the result of a cruel previous owner. As he has saved her, she wants to save him.
This novel will break your heart and remake it in miraculously healing ways, as only the greatest of fictional stories can do. I dare you to read Sandi’s book without crying, or shaking your head afterward musing how something so wondrous could come from such pain. A story that stays with you long after you tuck the book away on your shelf in the place reserved for those novels you know you will reread ... and more than once.
Now I’ll let Sandi tell you more, while I award SOMETHING WORTH SAVING the highest 5/5!
“Lily and Charlie are best friends: a boy and his cat. So when Lily sees Charlie’s bruises and realizes someone is hurting him, she is determined to get to the bottom of things. Who would do something so terrible? But Lily is up against many challenges in trying to get her family to focus on Charlie.
“Lily thinks Mom’s new best friend is charming, but he’s also a stranger. Kevin, the oldest boy, is falling apart because he misses his dad, who was kicked out months earlier. Victoria, the middle child, has a boyfriend who Lily despises and suspects may be Charlie's bully.
“Most strangely, why is Dad carrying his gun, even when he’s off-duty?
Lily knows what it's like to feel helpless. But she also knows you don't always have to be the biggest or the strongest to fight fiercely for your family...”
—
Thank you, Sandi, for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinion. It was a privilege to do review your beautiful book!
SOMETHING WORTH SAVING will be available for purchase on Amazon.
Pub date: December 18, 2018
—
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sandi Ward writes books about love, family, forgiveness...oh—and cats!
Sandi grew up in Manchester-By-The-Sea, Massachusetts. She attended Tufts University, and received her MA in Creative Writing at New York University, where she studied with E.L. Doctorow. She now lives on the Jersey Shore with her husband, teenagers, dog and a big black cat named Winnie.
Sandi is a medical writer at an ad agency in New Jersey, specializing in psychiatry and pain management. Her first novel for Kensington Books is titled THE ASTONISHING THING. A third novel, WHAT HOLDS US TOGETHER, will follow in 2019/2020. Visit Sandi at www.sandiwardbooks.com, follow her on Twitter at @sandiwardbooks, or find her Facebook author page at www.facebook.com/sandiwardbooks/.
In Sandi’s heart-wrenching novel, teenager Charlie has chosen Lily from all the kitties in the animal shelter, seeing her true beauty despite her injured leg, the result of a cruel previous owner. As he has saved her, she wants to save him.
This novel will break your heart and remake it in miraculously healing ways, as only the greatest of fictional stories can do. I dare you to read Sandi’s book without crying, or shaking your head afterward musing how something so wondrous could come from such pain. A story that stays with you long after you tuck the book away on your shelf in the place reserved for those novels you know you will reread ... and more than once.
Now I’ll let Sandi tell you more, while I award SOMETHING WORTH SAVING the highest 5/5!
“Lily and Charlie are best friends: a boy and his cat. So when Lily sees Charlie’s bruises and realizes someone is hurting him, she is determined to get to the bottom of things. Who would do something so terrible? But Lily is up against many challenges in trying to get her family to focus on Charlie.
“Lily thinks Mom’s new best friend is charming, but he’s also a stranger. Kevin, the oldest boy, is falling apart because he misses his dad, who was kicked out months earlier. Victoria, the middle child, has a boyfriend who Lily despises and suspects may be Charlie's bully.
“Most strangely, why is Dad carrying his gun, even when he’s off-duty?
Lily knows what it's like to feel helpless. But she also knows you don't always have to be the biggest or the strongest to fight fiercely for your family...”
—
Thank you, Sandi, for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinion. It was a privilege to do review your beautiful book!
SOMETHING WORTH SAVING will be available for purchase on Amazon.
Pub date: December 18, 2018
—
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sandi Ward writes books about love, family, forgiveness...oh—and cats!
Sandi grew up in Manchester-By-The-Sea, Massachusetts. She attended Tufts University, and received her MA in Creative Writing at New York University, where she studied with E.L. Doctorow. She now lives on the Jersey Shore with her husband, teenagers, dog and a big black cat named Winnie.
Sandi is a medical writer at an ad agency in New Jersey, specializing in psychiatry and pain management. Her first novel for Kensington Books is titled THE ASTONISHING THING. A third novel, WHAT HOLDS US TOGETHER, will follow in 2019/2020. Visit Sandi at www.sandiwardbooks.com, follow her on Twitter at @sandiwardbooks, or find her Facebook author page at www.facebook.com/sandiwardbooks/.
January 7, 2019
Something Worth Saving is a heartfelt story about a boy and his cat—Charlie and Lily. Charlie chose Lily from all of the other cats at the shelter. She walked with a limp from an old injury and he loved her right away.
This family drama, told from the perspective of the cat, interweaves a variety of themes including coming-of-age, sexual identity, divorce, and abuse. Charlie’s mother kicked Dad out of the house and his oldest brother, Kevin, misses him desperately. His sister, Victoria, has a new boyfriend hanging around. And Mom has been acting strange toward the new handy-man. The house is in turmoil. Lily is the only one who has seen the bruises on Charlie’s body, and she becomes determined to figure out who is responsible.
Though heavy topics, Ward’s poetic writing style keeps the story light and heartwarming. We highly recommend this book to animal lovers looking for a heartfelt story with a bit of humor.
This family drama, told from the perspective of the cat, interweaves a variety of themes including coming-of-age, sexual identity, divorce, and abuse. Charlie’s mother kicked Dad out of the house and his oldest brother, Kevin, misses him desperately. His sister, Victoria, has a new boyfriend hanging around. And Mom has been acting strange toward the new handy-man. The house is in turmoil. Lily is the only one who has seen the bruises on Charlie’s body, and she becomes determined to figure out who is responsible.
Though heavy topics, Ward’s poetic writing style keeps the story light and heartwarming. We highly recommend this book to animal lovers looking for a heartfelt story with a bit of humor.
gave-up-less-than-20
October 18, 2019I'm bored of it already - don't get me wrong, the cat narrator is a sweetheart, but the pace is glacially slow and I feel like I've already got it all figured out, so I'm calling Rule of 50 and quitting. Despite being a cat lover, I don't think I was part of the target audience here.
August 31, 2018
Happy families are all alike, every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way -- but only some have a wry cat narrating the tale. This deceptively simple novel defies categorization, being at once funny and bittersweet; piercingly sad but never sentimental.
Lily the cat is loving yet self-interested; her perspective is at once intimate (she can eavesdrop like a champ) and limited. Anything that doesn't happen in the house or nearby must be intuited, and though she understands her humans well, there are still things that puzzle her. This unusual perspective lends an air of mystery, and a refreshing lack of judgment, to the domestic drama. Who is hurting the younger son, and why won't he tell, even when his sister sees the bruises and demands to know what happened? Why has the dad moved out despite clearly loving his family? What's up with the sister's mean-spirited boyfriend? Why is the carpenter hired to install a bookcase spending all his time talking with the mom instead?
The humans are endearingly flawed; the cat (with some help from the dog) must rescue the people from disaster more than once. The end is happy and sad both, and surprisingly emotional.
Lily the cat is loving yet self-interested; her perspective is at once intimate (she can eavesdrop like a champ) and limited. Anything that doesn't happen in the house or nearby must be intuited, and though she understands her humans well, there are still things that puzzle her. This unusual perspective lends an air of mystery, and a refreshing lack of judgment, to the domestic drama. Who is hurting the younger son, and why won't he tell, even when his sister sees the bruises and demands to know what happened? Why has the dad moved out despite clearly loving his family? What's up with the sister's mean-spirited boyfriend? Why is the carpenter hired to install a bookcase spending all his time talking with the mom instead?
The humans are endearingly flawed; the cat (with some help from the dog) must rescue the people from disaster more than once. The end is happy and sad both, and surprisingly emotional.
December 19, 2018
I'm not exactly sure what my impression of this book is, it's a difficult one to dissect.
I think the storyline was pretty decent, and Mrs. Ward's writing style is well-developed. But the narrator of the book is the cat which was something that I found a bit odd, and as result, I had a hard time getting into this book as much as I wanted.
I don't think it's for everyone, but one should definitely give it a chance.
*Copy received through NetGalley
*Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars
I think the storyline was pretty decent, and Mrs. Ward's writing style is well-developed. But the narrator of the book is the cat which was something that I found a bit odd, and as result, I had a hard time getting into this book as much as I wanted.
I don't think it's for everyone, but one should definitely give it a chance.
*Copy received through NetGalley
*Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars
September 9, 2018
A huge fan of Sandi Ward’s debut novel, The Astonishing Thing, I was anxious to get my hands on an early copy of her next book. Something Worth Saving, Ward’s sophomore novel, was worth the wait. Powerful and smartly written, Ward explores the intricate workings of family life with a compassionate touch and unflinching honesty. You’ll root for the characters in this memorable novel long after you’ve turned the last page.
February 13, 2019
What a sweet, pure book! Reading this made me want to pick up my cat and hug her and love her endlessly, and I did pick her up and hug her frequently, much to her displeasure! This novel is a family story told through the eyes of their beloved cat, and it’s most importantly a story about love in its purest form. If only we all had Lilys who loved us and wanted to help us unconditionally!
March 17, 2019
I ran hot and cold with this book. I liked the idea of the narrator being a cat, but that grew a bit old after a while. It also irked me that it was alluded to, but no one ever said that the youngest son way gay, why the shame?
January 25, 2019
I received a copy from the author through TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review of it.
Something Worth Saving was completely different from anything I have read before and I loved it. It is told from the perspective of the family cat. We follow Lily as she navigates and experiences her world that revolves around her human family, their experiences and relationships with each other and the animals in their lives. Things are changing pretty fast in Lily’s family, some good changes and some bad and Lily struggles with the want to help her family at all costs, even though she is small and cannot communicate to them with words.
The family in this book is definitely going through things. It’s a complicated family situation that is at times heartbreaking and scary, for Lily and for the reader. Some things in here are pretty rough to read. There are some tough things explored here: abuse, bullying, substance abuse, divorce. I don’t want to say much about the characters because I feel like it would be easy to give spoilers but I will say that they are definitely complicated but likable. Pretty much all of them.
This was a great book all around. I loved it, it made me cry a few times. I highly recommend it if you like books with animals as main characters and books about families. I loved it, it was a super fast read because it was easy to read, easy to get into, interesting throughout. I read it in a day and a half, it actually pulled me out of a small reading slump so you know it was good!
Something Worth Saving was completely different from anything I have read before and I loved it. It is told from the perspective of the family cat. We follow Lily as she navigates and experiences her world that revolves around her human family, their experiences and relationships with each other and the animals in their lives. Things are changing pretty fast in Lily’s family, some good changes and some bad and Lily struggles with the want to help her family at all costs, even though she is small and cannot communicate to them with words.
The family in this book is definitely going through things. It’s a complicated family situation that is at times heartbreaking and scary, for Lily and for the reader. Some things in here are pretty rough to read. There are some tough things explored here: abuse, bullying, substance abuse, divorce. I don’t want to say much about the characters because I feel like it would be easy to give spoilers but I will say that they are definitely complicated but likable. Pretty much all of them.
This was a great book all around. I loved it, it made me cry a few times. I highly recommend it if you like books with animals as main characters and books about families. I loved it, it was a super fast read because it was easy to read, easy to get into, interesting throughout. I read it in a day and a half, it actually pulled me out of a small reading slump so you know it was good!
February 21, 2019
I enjoyed this story about a family and their pets. The story is told from the point of view of the cat, Lily. Lily did not always understand what certain actions meant, example when someone had a gun, so more explanation was needed. In this story the father has moved out and when Mark comes into their lives to build bookshelves their lives start to change. Charlie is being bullied, Mark has lost his wife and baby, and the father has a drinking problem. Things so get better by the end of the book
February 4, 2019
Enjoyable and quirky story told by the family cat with surprising insight. Here is a link to my review: https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
November 9, 2018
I think this is a story that all parents should read!
It is told by Lily, the family cat who knows secrets within her pack that nobody else is aware of.
It is a book about love, loss, abuse, dependency and the impacts on an entire family.
If only Lily could tell all! If only she could make all of it go away!
Her mission is to get help for each person that she loves! She will find a way to get her message to her people and the help needed to prevent further hurt in her family.
It's definitely a wonderful book and well worth the time to read Lily's story.
It is told by Lily, the family cat who knows secrets within her pack that nobody else is aware of.
It is a book about love, loss, abuse, dependency and the impacts on an entire family.
If only Lily could tell all! If only she could make all of it go away!
Her mission is to get help for each person that she loves! She will find a way to get her message to her people and the help needed to prevent further hurt in her family.
It's definitely a wonderful book and well worth the time to read Lily's story.
October 24, 2018
Sandi Ward chose an unusual way to tell the story of Something Worth Saving. Lily was a young kitten when the youngest Anderson child Charlie chose her to be part of their family. She wasn't perfect. Her former owner kicked her and broke her rear leg. It healed but left her with a limp. Lily was a very observant cat and did her best to help her new family.
This is a cleverly told fami!y drama. Jeremy was hurt at work and was given pain ki!lers after the surgery. He became dependent on the pills and then substituted alcohol for the pills when his wife poured them down the drain. When Kate told Jeremy to choose his family or the pills and booze, Jeremy moved out. The reader sees how each of the three children and the parents are effected by this decision.
This cautionary tale was enhanced by the cat's point of view. There was enough drama to keep the story moving. The sprinkling of humor kept the story from being too heavy. The characters are well layered and have depth and believability
Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for supplying the Advanced Reader's Copy for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are completely my own. Look for this book on its publishing date 12/18/18.
#SomethingWorthSaving #NetGalley
This is a cleverly told fami!y drama. Jeremy was hurt at work and was given pain ki!lers after the surgery. He became dependent on the pills and then substituted alcohol for the pills when his wife poured them down the drain. When Kate told Jeremy to choose his family or the pills and booze, Jeremy moved out. The reader sees how each of the three children and the parents are effected by this decision.
This cautionary tale was enhanced by the cat's point of view. There was enough drama to keep the story moving. The sprinkling of humor kept the story from being too heavy. The characters are well layered and have depth and believability
Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for supplying the Advanced Reader's Copy for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are completely my own. Look for this book on its publishing date 12/18/18.
#SomethingWorthSaving #NetGalley
March 13, 2019
A touching, poignant story told from the cat's POV. We need more stories like this!
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
February 23, 2019
Very enjoyable light reading , I felt that the short chapters make for an effortless ease of following the narrative.
A story of a modern day family with its ups and downs with the first person narrator being one of the family pets , a cat the other is a dog . all cat lovers know that cats are or think that they are superior top dogs.
The book treats various modern day situations , like marriage and divorce, alcohol addiction and bullying among other things with statements of fact without any preaching , it is the cat thinking after all. One can easily identify the characters in the book with someone near or someone you know..
Recommended for a touching , easy and satisfying novel .
A story of a modern day family with its ups and downs with the first person narrator being one of the family pets , a cat the other is a dog . all cat lovers know that cats are or think that they are superior top dogs.
The book treats various modern day situations , like marriage and divorce, alcohol addiction and bullying among other things with statements of fact without any preaching , it is the cat thinking after all. One can easily identify the characters in the book with someone near or someone you know..
Recommended for a touching , easy and satisfying novel .
February 11, 2022
SOMETHING WORTH SAVING by Sandi Ward was to be a light, escapist read between some heavy-hitters. While this is certainly not Hemingway or Steinbeck, it explores some important and consequential difficulties families experience, told through the narration and viewpoint of the family cat. The family includes a struggling, alcoholic, policeman dad who loves and is loved by the family, a working mother trying to keep it all together as she struggles with marital infidelity and separation, an abusive and rebellious oldest brother, a mid-teen daughter pushing her independence and exploring sexuality, and a younger teen brother, abused, confused, and troubled over sexual identity (although this is never really dealt with explicitly in the book). And there is the family's dog, ex-police dog, loyal to the dad, protective to the family, and friends with the cat who is the narrator, a loving, loyal, protective, and insightful part of the family, especially close to the youngest son. In exploring and developing the characters, the author deals with numerous issues of dysfunctional families: compassion, conflict, forgiveness, abuse, coming of age, fidelity and infidelity, sexual identity, divorce, loss, and more. While I expected a light, easy, enjoyable read, I found a book with much to say to families today, all expressed with creativity and insight of the family cat.
December 2, 2018
Ward has once again written a sweet and thoughtful novel narrated by a cat. Yes a cat. Lily the cat is the observer in a family of wounded people. This is so topical in its themes and so sensitive in how it handles addiction and abuse and the impact of those on a family. Charlie is Lily's person- he's the one who adopted her- but he's also fond of the others, all of whom are struggling. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a touching heartwarming read.
November 21, 2025
*DNF*First of all ,I want to say that I think cats are highly intelligent creatures & have always had one in my life( Leo ,a grey tabby given to me as a kitten from a neighbor, is my current one) However ,I just couldn't get into a story where a feline( or any non-human animal for that matter) would think in English or any other human language ( Ok ,"Lassie Come Home"-which I read as a kid-was able to pull it off ) I appreciated the loyalty that Lilly has towards her owner;a young abused boy, and this could've been a charming story if written as a total fantasy,like the cat only talks to the boy . It does show the special bond pets have for their owners and that's why I found it hard to hate on this book .
January 24, 2019
Full review to follow
June 19, 2022
Such a cute and different point of view, written very cleverly from the cat's perspective. Very creative and a great book, full of love and personality.
November 21, 2018
I really love this author, and this new title did not disappoint! As an avid cat lover for many years, I really enjoyed watching and listening to the story unfold from the cat’s point of view. The way the plot evolved kept me turning the pages faster and faster because I really cared about the main characters. The whole story has made me look at my own cats and it totally different way! Highly recommend!
October 7, 2020
I'm not gonna lie. It was a little awkward having sex scenes described to me by a cat🤷♀️. But once I got over that, I guess the book was cute.
September 30, 2019
The plot was okay, but the writing was simplistic with an overuse of exclamation points; however, I love cats, so 3 stars
October 31, 2018
This is an enjoyable tale told from a cat’s point of view.
Lily was an abused kitten who was turned over to a shelter with her siblings. She was the last kitten adopted because she was flawed. She had a broken leg that didn’t heal properly and she was left with a limp. So, she knows what it’s like not to be perfect. She adopted by a family that she has come to love and will do anything to protect. She especially wants to help Charlie, the youngest son, after she discovers bruises on him. Lily does her best to find out who is hurting her favorite boy. She also shows great concern for the rest of the family. I can’t go too much further with the details because it would give away too much of the story. But, it is a well told tale of a broken family and a cat that is willing to do anything she can to bring them happiness again.
Even though this story is told from a cat’s perspective, I do not feel it is appropriate for younger readers because of certain subject matters. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves cats, women’s fiction or is looking for a good heartfelt story.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.
Lily was an abused kitten who was turned over to a shelter with her siblings. She was the last kitten adopted because she was flawed. She had a broken leg that didn’t heal properly and she was left with a limp. So, she knows what it’s like not to be perfect. She adopted by a family that she has come to love and will do anything to protect. She especially wants to help Charlie, the youngest son, after she discovers bruises on him. Lily does her best to find out who is hurting her favorite boy. She also shows great concern for the rest of the family. I can’t go too much further with the details because it would give away too much of the story. But, it is a well told tale of a broken family and a cat that is willing to do anything she can to bring them happiness again.
Even though this story is told from a cat’s perspective, I do not feel it is appropriate for younger readers because of certain subject matters. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves cats, women’s fiction or is looking for a good heartfelt story.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.
November 7, 2018
This book was so intriguing to me. As in Sandi Ward's debut novel, this sophomore novel is told through the perspective of the family cat. I enjoy this perspective, where Lily J. Potter (best cat name ever) covertly, cleverly, simplistically (but not in an unsophisticated manner), and earnestly tells the story of a family unit facing drama on all fronts. The ending was sweet and satisfying, just what I was hoping for.
February 21, 2019
Thank you @sandiwardbooks and @tlcbooktours for this free copy to review!
Have you ever wished you knew exactly what your pet was thinking? Something Worth Saving is uniquely narrated by Lily the cat. Lily loves the youngest Charlie best, because it was Charlie that chose her at the shelter despite her injured back leg. Instead of seeing a defect, he wanted to save her. Now Lily notices bruises on Charlie's body; bruises he's hiding from everyone but her. The parents, Kate and Jeremy have just separated. Lily notices Kate has a boyfriend who seems nice. Jeremy has been acting strange and drinking too much.. And the older siblings Victoria and Kevin are wrapped up in their own lives. Gretel, the dog, knows things are not right too. Lily just wants to figure out who is hurting Charlie, get him help, so he doesn't end up permanently injured like she is.
The author makes this narration work well. As a cat, Lily is privy to all the secret conversations and activities of the family members. From her perspective, she sees a family fractured and hurting. Sweetly, she does things to try to bring them comfort and tries to nudge matters where she can in the right direction to help her humans. Lily would put her life on the line to save them, if need be. This novel is bittersweet and yet a warm comforting read. It makes you appreciate that no matter the problems a family faces, what really matters is the love they share. And after reading this you probably wont look at your cat (or dog) the same way and will be left contemplating who rescued who in your relationship with your pet.
Have you ever wished you knew exactly what your pet was thinking? Something Worth Saving is uniquely narrated by Lily the cat. Lily loves the youngest Charlie best, because it was Charlie that chose her at the shelter despite her injured back leg. Instead of seeing a defect, he wanted to save her. Now Lily notices bruises on Charlie's body; bruises he's hiding from everyone but her. The parents, Kate and Jeremy have just separated. Lily notices Kate has a boyfriend who seems nice. Jeremy has been acting strange and drinking too much.. And the older siblings Victoria and Kevin are wrapped up in their own lives. Gretel, the dog, knows things are not right too. Lily just wants to figure out who is hurting Charlie, get him help, so he doesn't end up permanently injured like she is.
The author makes this narration work well. As a cat, Lily is privy to all the secret conversations and activities of the family members. From her perspective, she sees a family fractured and hurting. Sweetly, she does things to try to bring them comfort and tries to nudge matters where she can in the right direction to help her humans. Lily would put her life on the line to save them, if need be. This novel is bittersweet and yet a warm comforting read. It makes you appreciate that no matter the problems a family faces, what really matters is the love they share. And after reading this you probably wont look at your cat (or dog) the same way and will be left contemplating who rescued who in your relationship with your pet.
October 23, 2018
Sandi Ward's second novel is an immensely enjoyable read! Lily, the family cat, has a special bond with Charlie, the teenage boy who rescued her from the shelter. Lily is an endearing, observant narrator, and her affectionate interactions with the family, including the dog, Gretel, skillfully highlight the familial relationships and tensions. Lily’s dry narration is often amusing – as you might expect, a cat is an excellent eavesdropper – but her perspective also cuts to the core, showing the truth through small details, which are often fresh and textural. I felt like Lily helped me see everyday things in a new way. I loved the unconventional, complex narration in this sensitive and nuanced tale of a fractured family.
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