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The Ones We Keep
An emotional debut for fans of Elizabeth Strout and Diane Chamberlain, The Ones We Keep follows the splintered lives of four family members in the years following an unthinkable tragedy, and the choices they must make to find their way back to each other.
One family. One tragedy. One incredible decision to change their fate.
A quiet lakeside resort in Vermont seems like the perfect summer getaway for Olivia and Harry Somerville and their three young boys. But in a single moment, their idyllic family retreat becomes a mother's worst nightmare. Returning from a solo hike one afternoon, Olivia learns from a passing stranger that one of her sons has drowned―but not which one.
In that moment, Olivia makes a panicked decision that will change her family forever.
If she never knows which son has drowned, can Olivia convince herself that none of them have? By shielding herself from reality, can she continue to live in a world where all three boys are still alive?
An emotional and heartfelt meditation on the nature of loss, the gift of recovery, and the bonds of love, The Ones We Keep tells the story of one family as they learn to face their grief and fight for hope.
Your next gripping book club read exploring the depths of a mother's love, the endurance of family, and the mind-bending paths we take to shield ourselves from heartache.
One family. One tragedy. One incredible decision to change their fate.
A quiet lakeside resort in Vermont seems like the perfect summer getaway for Olivia and Harry Somerville and their three young boys. But in a single moment, their idyllic family retreat becomes a mother's worst nightmare. Returning from a solo hike one afternoon, Olivia learns from a passing stranger that one of her sons has drowned―but not which one.
In that moment, Olivia makes a panicked decision that will change her family forever.
If she never knows which son has drowned, can Olivia convince herself that none of them have? By shielding herself from reality, can she continue to live in a world where all three boys are still alive?
An emotional and heartfelt meditation on the nature of loss, the gift of recovery, and the bonds of love, The Ones We Keep tells the story of one family as they learn to face their grief and fight for hope.
Your next gripping book club read exploring the depths of a mother's love, the endurance of family, and the mind-bending paths we take to shield ourselves from heartache.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 18, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
February 11, 2022
The book is difficult to rate for many reasons. Unfortunately, the opportunity is not given to the reader to emotionally invest in the characters at any time. This book entirely consist of characters physically moving through choppy scenes and time jumps with little dialogue or growth.
Given the emotional vacuum, readers will fill the void with their own shock and dismay at Olivia's odd behaviors as a mother. It takes a long time for Olivia to even scream. Panic and shock could easily explain her behavior, but she's rational, making the choice to believe she still has three living sons after one has drowned in a tragic accident. Olivia's behavior is not explored at all, just how she gets from physical point A to B over and over, which frankly, readers don’t care about. We just want to know what she's thinking and how she's feeling. Olivia repeating the same things in her head doesn't work after the first few scenes.
The inciting incident—the drowning of the child—happens far too early and way before the reader is given enough time to emotionally invest in any of the characters. Remember, there's a tragic drowning and readers want to root for the grieving family members to pull through the trauma while finding peace.
The characters names are given on the first page, and then the second page jumps to backstory about an important investment painting Olivia's mother gives her, hoping her marriage fails. The drowning and then Olivia leaving unfold so quickly, the story reads like a speeding freight train. The drowning child receives the only character development at the beginning with a whopping two paragraphs before he dies.
Therefore, the lack of character development leaves the reader with no impression at all when the child dies and Olivia deserts her family. The characters just exist in odd short scenes throughout the book. The time leaps only offer glimpses into their lives, which lacks even more character growth. Then the book jumps to annoying half-page scenes, magnifying the already snowballing whiplash, leaving the reader only with characters physically moving through the scenes with few emotions, thoughts, or growth. Only on the last page does the mother and one of her sons lock eyes after many years. There's nothing even for the reader to emotionally explore because the book ends just when it gets to the meaty part. I'm not sure what this book was supposed to convey.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Given the emotional vacuum, readers will fill the void with their own shock and dismay at Olivia's odd behaviors as a mother. It takes a long time for Olivia to even scream. Panic and shock could easily explain her behavior, but she's rational, making the choice to believe she still has three living sons after one has drowned in a tragic accident. Olivia's behavior is not explored at all, just how she gets from physical point A to B over and over, which frankly, readers don’t care about. We just want to know what she's thinking and how she's feeling. Olivia repeating the same things in her head doesn't work after the first few scenes.
The inciting incident—the drowning of the child—happens far too early and way before the reader is given enough time to emotionally invest in any of the characters. Remember, there's a tragic drowning and readers want to root for the grieving family members to pull through the trauma while finding peace.
The characters names are given on the first page, and then the second page jumps to backstory about an important investment painting Olivia's mother gives her, hoping her marriage fails. The drowning and then Olivia leaving unfold so quickly, the story reads like a speeding freight train. The drowning child receives the only character development at the beginning with a whopping two paragraphs before he dies.
Therefore, the lack of character development leaves the reader with no impression at all when the child dies and Olivia deserts her family. The characters just exist in odd short scenes throughout the book. The time leaps only offer glimpses into their lives, which lacks even more character growth. Then the book jumps to annoying half-page scenes, magnifying the already snowballing whiplash, leaving the reader only with characters physically moving through the scenes with few emotions, thoughts, or growth. Only on the last page does the mother and one of her sons lock eyes after many years. There's nothing even for the reader to emotionally explore because the book ends just when it gets to the meaty part. I'm not sure what this book was supposed to convey.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 10, 2022
Whew- this is an emotional read. I’ve read some scathing reviews because of the character’s actions. That frustrates me and must do the same to the author. The story is one version of how someone might be overwhelmed by grief and not able to make decisions that seem “correct”. The whole point of this book in my view was to look at this character study and see how profoundly it affected the whole family. Could I make the same decision? No. Could I see how she might? Yes.
“ Perhaps there is a place where you can run from your family and friends with impunity—a strange and wonderful place where the point isn’t to love and be loved so hard that, if something happens, you can die of the wounds that love has inflicted.”
After devastating news about the death of one of her sons, Olivia takes off. Unable to hear which son, how it happened or why it did, she gets on a train and escapes her life. Her husband is left to raise both sons and deal with his own heartache and loss. The boys flounder, how could they not. The story then follows their lives simultaneously with Olivia’s solitary life. Olivia cut herself off from her previous life and was largely emotionally vacant. She was a hard character to feel any sympathy toward. The story that followed the boys’ journeys was more interesting to me. The grief, loss and abandonment they wore like a jacket.
“If he gets rid of all his old things, he might lose the part of himself that had once collected comic books with a view to getting rich off them one day. The part that once wanted, so badly it hurt, to make the soccer team. The part that loved to play the piano. The part that wanted to graduate from Princeton with a degree in psychology. The part of him that is still waiting for his mother to reappear.”
The writing was excellent, but the pace is rather slow. It is mostly a sad' lonely and regretful feeling throughout so it definitely is a more difficult read. If you love a deep, sad character study- you will love this one. 3.5 rounded up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advance copy to read and review. Pub date: 1.18.22
“ Perhaps there is a place where you can run from your family and friends with impunity—a strange and wonderful place where the point isn’t to love and be loved so hard that, if something happens, you can die of the wounds that love has inflicted.”
After devastating news about the death of one of her sons, Olivia takes off. Unable to hear which son, how it happened or why it did, she gets on a train and escapes her life. Her husband is left to raise both sons and deal with his own heartache and loss. The boys flounder, how could they not. The story then follows their lives simultaneously with Olivia’s solitary life. Olivia cut herself off from her previous life and was largely emotionally vacant. She was a hard character to feel any sympathy toward. The story that followed the boys’ journeys was more interesting to me. The grief, loss and abandonment they wore like a jacket.
“If he gets rid of all his old things, he might lose the part of himself that had once collected comic books with a view to getting rich off them one day. The part that once wanted, so badly it hurt, to make the soccer team. The part that loved to play the piano. The part that wanted to graduate from Princeton with a degree in psychology. The part of him that is still waiting for his mother to reappear.”
The writing was excellent, but the pace is rather slow. It is mostly a sad' lonely and regretful feeling throughout so it definitely is a more difficult read. If you love a deep, sad character study- you will love this one. 3.5 rounded up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advance copy to read and review. Pub date: 1.18.22
January 2, 2022
Four and a half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
The Ones We Keep by debut author Bobbie Jean Huff is an emotional, and heartbreaking novel, and also a fascinating look into grief, and what it can do to a woman’s mental health.
Olivia and Harry Somerville and their three young boys take a summer vacation at a peaceful lakeside resort in Vermont. When Olivia takes off for a hike one day, she returns from the hike and learns that one of her sons has drowned. Not knowing which of her sons has drowned, she makes a panicked decision that changes her life, and the lives of her remaining family.
This book is sure to bring on very strong emotions from readers. The decisions, Oliva and the family make in the wake of such a tragic loss is as unfathomable as the tragedy itself. The brain sometimes does extraordinary things in order to protect itself, and this is one example of how far the brain can go to do that.
The book is very engaging and I had trouble putting it down as I wanted to find out how this family survives. Although reading about grief can be tough, I found that this author handled it in a very compassionate way, and one that didn’t have me bawling my eyes out. (although I did have a few sniffles).
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an emotional book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Ones We Keep by debut author Bobbie Jean Huff is an emotional, and heartbreaking novel, and also a fascinating look into grief, and what it can do to a woman’s mental health.
Olivia and Harry Somerville and their three young boys take a summer vacation at a peaceful lakeside resort in Vermont. When Olivia takes off for a hike one day, she returns from the hike and learns that one of her sons has drowned. Not knowing which of her sons has drowned, she makes a panicked decision that changes her life, and the lives of her remaining family.
This book is sure to bring on very strong emotions from readers. The decisions, Oliva and the family make in the wake of such a tragic loss is as unfathomable as the tragedy itself. The brain sometimes does extraordinary things in order to protect itself, and this is one example of how far the brain can go to do that.
The book is very engaging and I had trouble putting it down as I wanted to find out how this family survives. Although reading about grief can be tough, I found that this author handled it in a very compassionate way, and one that didn’t have me bawling my eyes out. (although I did have a few sniffles).
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an emotional book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 7, 2022
As a mom, I couldn’t stomach this. How can you as a mother just up and leave your husband and your others kids at a time they need you the most? I tried to be sympathetic for her situation but I can’t get past her selfishness and self centered personality. There are a few choice words that I would call her that aren’t appropriate.
July 25, 2025
The author of the book was definitely a #Holivia supporter before Harry and Olivia even knew it.
The premise of the book was that, while on a summer vacation in Vermont, Olivia and her husband Harry have 3 kids: Brian, Andrew, and Rory. Olivia leaves her three kids with a babysitter while she goes on a hike and Harry goes off to do something else. On the way back from her hike, Olivia hears something and asks two girls what’s going on: a young boy from New Jersey drowned in the lake. Olivia could not fathom to figure out which of her boys died, so she vanishes. And that’s about where the book starts and stops being interesting.
Olivia moves back to Vermont after some time and starts a new life, but it’s overcome with grief. She goes on (!!!!!) through her life never knowing which of her kids died. Back home in jersey and New York, Brian is having a hard time dealing with his mom leaving as a child and never making contact. Eventually, people grow up and yadda yadda yadda Brian goes back to Vermont after seeing a painting his mother had in the MET because she sold it.
Overall: good premise and I’m sure this isn’t a bad book, but it just didn’t hold my interest.
Edit: I also wanted to add that the scenes were choppy and jumpy. Sometimes it worked, but in this case I felt that it didn’t and it made it hard to seem cohesive.
The premise of the book was that, while on a summer vacation in Vermont, Olivia and her husband Harry have 3 kids: Brian, Andrew, and Rory. Olivia leaves her three kids with a babysitter while she goes on a hike and Harry goes off to do something else. On the way back from her hike, Olivia hears something and asks two girls what’s going on: a young boy from New Jersey drowned in the lake. Olivia could not fathom to figure out which of her boys died, so she vanishes. And that’s about where the book starts and stops being interesting.
Olivia moves back to Vermont after some time and starts a new life, but it’s overcome with grief. She goes on (!!!!!) through her life never knowing which of her kids died. Back home in jersey and New York, Brian is having a hard time dealing with his mom leaving as a child and never making contact. Eventually, people grow up and yadda yadda yadda Brian goes back to Vermont after seeing a painting his mother had in the MET because she sold it.
Overall: good premise and I’m sure this isn’t a bad book, but it just didn’t hold my interest.
Edit: I also wanted to add that the scenes were choppy and jumpy. Sometimes it worked, but in this case I felt that it didn’t and it made it hard to seem cohesive.
Read
January 23, 2022This is a debut author at age 76 so congrats to her!! Thank you @bookmarked for my free review copy. This is a hard book to review. During a 1970’s family trip to a summer resort the unthinkable happens when one of Olivia’s three boys drowns. Olivia was on a hike when this happened and the boys were being cared for by a babysitter. Rather than face the loss Olivia disappears without even knowing which of the boys died. In her grief Olivia believes that if she doesn’t know which boy died she can continue thinking all three are alive. I was actually more invested in the sections about the boys and their father and how their lives turned out. I am still a bit conflicted about my thoughts on this one. This was definitely difficult to read at times as the tragedy destroyed what initially seemed to be a perfect family.
January 1, 2022
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. It comes out January 18, 2022.
I loved this book. At times I thought – but some of it is so sad! And yes, I understand the premise was hard for some to believe but I think it is because this author’s debut novel was published at age 76. As we age, we have so much more wisdom. I see situations differently in my “middle” ages and I can only imagine how much more I will learn and the different lenses I will possess when I am 76, should I be so lucky to live that long.
Let’s back up. I didn’t know the author was 76 when writing this novel. Let me tell you a bit about it. The setting is 1971 and Olivia and Harry have three boys. They go to spend a summer vacation at a lake in Vermont and Harry, knowing how little time Olivia has had for herself raising boys with ages 2, 4 and 9, encourages her to go on a hike.
Upon her return to camp, she overhears some people talking about a boy from New Jersey who drowned. There were not a lot of children at camp, and she knew that it was one of hers, but which boy? Instead of rushing to camp, she runs away and stays away for a very long time. This is the premise that I have seen has caused an issue for many readers and she even references it in the Conversation with the Author at the back of the book.
Knowing ahead of time that I would need to grapple with this same issue, I was particularly focused on seeing how Huff reconciled it and I bought the explanation. Would it have been what I would have done? I don’t believe I would have yet we don’t have to do the same things and think the same things to make it understandable. I highlighted the paragraph in chapter six that I think best summarizes the reasoning at location 937 (I love my kindle, but I sure miss it when the kindle version does not have the traditional page numbers).
Much of the book centers around Andrew, who was most affected by the abandonment of her mother. Don’t worry, this is not much of a spoiler – we learn very early on which son drowned. He clumsily makes his way through the world with so many issues an he feels somewhat lonely in the process since it did not affect his surviving brother the same way, being younger by 5 or 7 years (see, I am not giving everything away!)
The book had a definite “mood” and though many parts were somber, for some reason it was a comfortable blanket. It was so easy to pick up and wrap myself in and I lost myself in the story so much that I stayed up until 1am on a “school night” to finish.
Well done, Bobbie Jean Huff.
I loved this book. At times I thought – but some of it is so sad! And yes, I understand the premise was hard for some to believe but I think it is because this author’s debut novel was published at age 76. As we age, we have so much more wisdom. I see situations differently in my “middle” ages and I can only imagine how much more I will learn and the different lenses I will possess when I am 76, should I be so lucky to live that long.
Let’s back up. I didn’t know the author was 76 when writing this novel. Let me tell you a bit about it. The setting is 1971 and Olivia and Harry have three boys. They go to spend a summer vacation at a lake in Vermont and Harry, knowing how little time Olivia has had for herself raising boys with ages 2, 4 and 9, encourages her to go on a hike.
Upon her return to camp, she overhears some people talking about a boy from New Jersey who drowned. There were not a lot of children at camp, and she knew that it was one of hers, but which boy? Instead of rushing to camp, she runs away and stays away for a very long time. This is the premise that I have seen has caused an issue for many readers and she even references it in the Conversation with the Author at the back of the book.
Knowing ahead of time that I would need to grapple with this same issue, I was particularly focused on seeing how Huff reconciled it and I bought the explanation. Would it have been what I would have done? I don’t believe I would have yet we don’t have to do the same things and think the same things to make it understandable. I highlighted the paragraph in chapter six that I think best summarizes the reasoning at location 937 (I love my kindle, but I sure miss it when the kindle version does not have the traditional page numbers).
Much of the book centers around Andrew, who was most affected by the abandonment of her mother. Don’t worry, this is not much of a spoiler – we learn very early on which son drowned. He clumsily makes his way through the world with so many issues an he feels somewhat lonely in the process since it did not affect his surviving brother the same way, being younger by 5 or 7 years (see, I am not giving everything away!)
The book had a definite “mood” and though many parts were somber, for some reason it was a comfortable blanket. It was so easy to pick up and wrap myself in and I lost myself in the story so much that I stayed up until 1am on a “school night” to finish.
Well done, Bobbie Jean Huff.
December 17, 2021
I was really intrigued about this novel when I saw it was recommended for fans of Diane Chamberlain (whom I love!) and that it is set in Vermont (another thing I love). However, my only take away is that I wish I never read this book. I hate the main character Olivia. I can't even describe the tight chest that I had the entire time I read this odd story. If you are a mom, don't read this book. You will be very disappointed. And angry. There are few times while I was reading that I was trying to be open minded and see it from Olivia's perspective, but no. I could not find a justification in anything about this situation. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I feel like I can't talk about my hatred of this story unless I give away everything in the plot. All in all, this story was strange and the ending did not redeem anything. This entire story was depressing and awful and I feel so down and angry about it. This is nowhere near Diane Chamberlain level! The only thing that I appreciate were the discussion questions at the end and the interview questions that the author answered about why the heck she wrote this awful story. I cannot recommend this book, especially for mothers.
December 24, 2021
Bobbie Jean Huff’s debut, The Ones We Keep, explores the Somerville family’s attempt to cope with the grief over the loss of their child.
Seeking some alone time on the family vacation, Olivia heads out hiking and while on the trail overhears news that a little boy from New Jersey has drowned at the resort. A mother’s intuition tells her that it’s one of her children. Affected by the presumed loss, rather than head back to her family, Olivia returns home alone, secures valuables and cash, changes her name and puts her old life behind her. Meanwhile, her grieving family is left to cope with the loss of 2 members. Huff follows how this single loss and the subsequent fall out affects the Somerville family for decades.
Unable to get past Olivia’s choices, I struggled to identify with her. Once I realized that I couldn’t judge how another coped with grief, it opened up the possibility that Olivia was simply attempting to shield herself from heartache. At this point, I picked up the book again and read to finish and see how one single moment in time can affect a family for life. Huff has taken a controversial response and used it to explore a mother’s love and the endurance of family. It may not be how I imagine I’d cope with loss, but it gives me a little more understanding and empathy for those who react differently than me. You’ll have to read to see how you respond to Olivia and what could have been done differently.
A perfect book for book clubs, this debut offering will make waves and give readers an avenue to discuss loss, grief, and coping. It needs to be on your radar come January 18, 2022.
I was gifted this advance copy by Bobbie Jean Huff, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Seeking some alone time on the family vacation, Olivia heads out hiking and while on the trail overhears news that a little boy from New Jersey has drowned at the resort. A mother’s intuition tells her that it’s one of her children. Affected by the presumed loss, rather than head back to her family, Olivia returns home alone, secures valuables and cash, changes her name and puts her old life behind her. Meanwhile, her grieving family is left to cope with the loss of 2 members. Huff follows how this single loss and the subsequent fall out affects the Somerville family for decades.
Unable to get past Olivia’s choices, I struggled to identify with her. Once I realized that I couldn’t judge how another coped with grief, it opened up the possibility that Olivia was simply attempting to shield herself from heartache. At this point, I picked up the book again and read to finish and see how one single moment in time can affect a family for life. Huff has taken a controversial response and used it to explore a mother’s love and the endurance of family. It may not be how I imagine I’d cope with loss, but it gives me a little more understanding and empathy for those who react differently than me. You’ll have to read to see how you respond to Olivia and what could have been done differently.
A perfect book for book clubs, this debut offering will make waves and give readers an avenue to discuss loss, grief, and coping. It needs to be on your radar come January 18, 2022.
I was gifted this advance copy by Bobbie Jean Huff, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
January 21, 2022
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for this early copy of The Ones We Keep.
This was such a hard hitting topic to read about. TW: death of a child.
The Ones We Keep is a dual POV story; mother and son. It’s 1971, and Olivia and her husband Harry, along with their three sons, Brian, Andrew, and Rory, are visiting Vermont for the summer before a big move to New York from New Jersey. One day, Olivia decides to take a solo hike through the forest while Harry plays a tennis game and the kids are babysat at the resort.
On her way back, after taking longer than anticipated, she discovers from two strangers that a boy from New Jersey drowned. Devastated and knowing it must be one of her sons as other families hadn’t started arriving yet, she decides to get on a bus and disappear, rather than face the loss head on.
As the years go by, we see Olivia grow and change, as well as her two remaining sons. The timeline flies from 1971 to 2002, stopping here and there, and as the years pass, we as the reader can only hope that the bridge between mother and sons heals.
I really loved everything about this story. As a mother myself, I can’t say for sure that I wouldn’t do exactly what Olivia does and run away so that she never has to know which one of her children died. Since it’s only 1971, there are no cell phones and therefore it was harder to track someone’s whereabouts, so I think this really helps Olivia to completely flee her former life. This novel is definitely on the sadder side, so be sure to read something cheery afterwards.
The Ones We Keep is available now wherever books are sold.
This was such a hard hitting topic to read about. TW: death of a child.
The Ones We Keep is a dual POV story; mother and son. It’s 1971, and Olivia and her husband Harry, along with their three sons, Brian, Andrew, and Rory, are visiting Vermont for the summer before a big move to New York from New Jersey. One day, Olivia decides to take a solo hike through the forest while Harry plays a tennis game and the kids are babysat at the resort.
On her way back, after taking longer than anticipated, she discovers from two strangers that a boy from New Jersey drowned. Devastated and knowing it must be one of her sons as other families hadn’t started arriving yet, she decides to get on a bus and disappear, rather than face the loss head on.
As the years go by, we see Olivia grow and change, as well as her two remaining sons. The timeline flies from 1971 to 2002, stopping here and there, and as the years pass, we as the reader can only hope that the bridge between mother and sons heals.
I really loved everything about this story. As a mother myself, I can’t say for sure that I wouldn’t do exactly what Olivia does and run away so that she never has to know which one of her children died. Since it’s only 1971, there are no cell phones and therefore it was harder to track someone’s whereabouts, so I think this really helps Olivia to completely flee her former life. This novel is definitely on the sadder side, so be sure to read something cheery afterwards.
The Ones We Keep is available now wherever books are sold.
April 1, 2022
This book was so elegantly written, every word was meticulously thought out. Just goes to show you that you don’t always need a crazy plot to write an amazing book. Can’t recommend this book enough
August 3, 2022
2.5 ⭐️
I found this book to be super boring and slow. Hardly anything happened until the last page of the book. But, it was super sweet and also kinda heavy at times which I enjoy
I found this book to be super boring and slow. Hardly anything happened until the last page of the book. But, it was super sweet and also kinda heavy at times which I enjoy
December 21, 2022
This is a bittersweet book. I loved the way it progressed through the separate lives of the family over time. I wish the end would have gone into more detail but overall it’s a good read!!
December 24, 2021
First, kudos to the author for writing her debut novel at age 76!! Way to show us all it's never too late to pursue an interest!
This is going to sound strange, but I like everything about this book except the story line. The characters are well defined, the writing flows easily, the pacing is good, and it held my interest. I just can't get past what Olivia did - I can't relate to her choices at all and that made the storyline far-fetched (in my humble opinion).
That being said, this would be a good book club read as I'm sure the discussions would flow easily! While I didn't care for this story line, I will be watching for Ms. Huff's next effort.
My thanks to Sourcebook Landmark who permitted me to read an ARC of this novel via NetGalley. The book is scheduled to be published on January 18, 2022. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.
This is going to sound strange, but I like everything about this book except the story line. The characters are well defined, the writing flows easily, the pacing is good, and it held my interest. I just can't get past what Olivia did - I can't relate to her choices at all and that made the storyline far-fetched (in my humble opinion).
That being said, this would be a good book club read as I'm sure the discussions would flow easily! While I didn't care for this story line, I will be watching for Ms. Huff's next effort.
My thanks to Sourcebook Landmark who permitted me to read an ARC of this novel via NetGalley. The book is scheduled to be published on January 18, 2022. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.
May 31, 2022
This book would have gotten 3 stars, except I haven't read an ending that has pissed me off like this since I read Looking for Alaska. Actually, this one was worse. It has been a few days and I am still mad about it - like full on ranting to my husband, fuming about it in the shower mad.
There was no pay off. I pushed through this book, which was meh, because I wanted to know what happened. I wanted a resolution. There should have at least been an epilogue. The whole book was about what it would be like for them to reunite, so when they do? We'll never know!!
There was no pay off. I pushed through this book, which was meh, because I wanted to know what happened. I wanted a resolution. There should have at least been an epilogue. The whole book was about what it would be like for them to reunite, so when they do? We'll never know!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2022
I was looking forward to reading The Ones We Keep. While I wouldn't say that I was disappointed, I can say I didn't enjoy it as much as I was expecting.
Huff shifts between past and present throughout the book - sometimes within the same sentence. She moves through the minds of her characters regularly. Finally, I found her write style distracting and frustrating. I got lost in the words rather than the story and found myself having to reread large passages multiple times to grasp even a cursory idea of the story.
There was much about Olivia and Harry's story to which I couldn't relate. Nor did I really want to. When The Ones We Keep opens, it's like the read has dropped into someone's Happily Ever After just before the magic cracks wide open. In the first few chapters, Olivia already felt disengaged from her life, her family and at least one of her children. Huff did manage to utilize foreshadowing in her writing, and the reader can accurately guess which child has been lost.
I cannot understand the devastation of losing a child. I have, however, wanted to do exactly what Olivia does in several other situations in my own life. There's something both disturbing and comforting in putting your Happily Ever After on a display shelf, never taking it down and living in it, just to ignore reality, tragedy, and trauma. Whether or not the reader agrees with Olivia's choice, she's more real and alive after she makes it.
I appreciated Olivia's underlying story, and it adds some depth and explanation to the decisions that she makes throughout the book. After the Happily Ever After broke, Olivia is beautifully flawed and all the reserve and flatness from the first few chapters are explained.
I found the storyline itself intriguing but the delivery frustrating and confusing.
Huff shifts between past and present throughout the book - sometimes within the same sentence. She moves through the minds of her characters regularly. Finally, I found her write style distracting and frustrating. I got lost in the words rather than the story and found myself having to reread large passages multiple times to grasp even a cursory idea of the story.
There was much about Olivia and Harry's story to which I couldn't relate. Nor did I really want to. When The Ones We Keep opens, it's like the read has dropped into someone's Happily Ever After just before the magic cracks wide open. In the first few chapters, Olivia already felt disengaged from her life, her family and at least one of her children. Huff did manage to utilize foreshadowing in her writing, and the reader can accurately guess which child has been lost.
I cannot understand the devastation of losing a child. I have, however, wanted to do exactly what Olivia does in several other situations in my own life. There's something both disturbing and comforting in putting your Happily Ever After on a display shelf, never taking it down and living in it, just to ignore reality, tragedy, and trauma. Whether or not the reader agrees with Olivia's choice, she's more real and alive after she makes it.
I appreciated Olivia's underlying story, and it adds some depth and explanation to the decisions that she makes throughout the book. After the Happily Ever After broke, Olivia is beautifully flawed and all the reserve and flatness from the first few chapters are explained.
I found the storyline itself intriguing but the delivery frustrating and confusing.
December 29, 2021
How would you respond to an unspeakable loss? For most of us (thankfully) the answer is pure speculation, but for the protagonist of this debut novel it is a very real question. And the answer will surprise and perhaps, even stun you.
Olivia and Harry Somerville travel to a Vermont lakeside resort with their three young sons. When the parents leave their children in the care of a babysitter to pursue their separate activities, tragedy strikes…one child wanders off from his room unsupervised and drowns.
Olivia, upon returning from her hike, hears that a young boy from New Jersey has died, recognizing immediately that it is one of her sons. Paralyzed by shock and grief, she makes her way to the local bus station and disappears without a word to anyone. Subsequently, she completely abandons her husband and remaining sons, who now have sustained a double loss – one that shatters their family and leaves lasting emotional wounds. Her refusal to accept the reality that one of her children has died is so profound that she establishes a new, solitary life and daily repeats her mantra, “I HAVE three sons.”
The book covers a thirty year period starting in 1971. The chapters reveal the impact that loss, grief and abandonment have on the lives of the survivors. Olivia’s choice is so radical that it is a challenge to embrace her character and to feel empathy for her. Her pain is so deep that in her quest to avoid it, her behavior inflicts terrible pain on those she loves.
This story requires perseverance to finish and I found myself reading it very slowly (not my usual style). The storyline is unique and extremely thought-provoking, but I did not find it entertaining. I can only imagine how challenging it was for the author to inhabit the characters’ mindsets as she explores the trajectory of their lives. The conclusion felt rather abrupt, but did end on a note of hope and the possibility of redemption for some of the family members.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Olivia and Harry Somerville travel to a Vermont lakeside resort with their three young sons. When the parents leave their children in the care of a babysitter to pursue their separate activities, tragedy strikes…one child wanders off from his room unsupervised and drowns.
Olivia, upon returning from her hike, hears that a young boy from New Jersey has died, recognizing immediately that it is one of her sons. Paralyzed by shock and grief, she makes her way to the local bus station and disappears without a word to anyone. Subsequently, she completely abandons her husband and remaining sons, who now have sustained a double loss – one that shatters their family and leaves lasting emotional wounds. Her refusal to accept the reality that one of her children has died is so profound that she establishes a new, solitary life and daily repeats her mantra, “I HAVE three sons.”
The book covers a thirty year period starting in 1971. The chapters reveal the impact that loss, grief and abandonment have on the lives of the survivors. Olivia’s choice is so radical that it is a challenge to embrace her character and to feel empathy for her. Her pain is so deep that in her quest to avoid it, her behavior inflicts terrible pain on those she loves.
This story requires perseverance to finish and I found myself reading it very slowly (not my usual style). The storyline is unique and extremely thought-provoking, but I did not find it entertaining. I can only imagine how challenging it was for the author to inhabit the characters’ mindsets as she explores the trajectory of their lives. The conclusion felt rather abrupt, but did end on a note of hope and the possibility of redemption for some of the family members.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 24, 2022
A mother's worse nightmare happens, and what if you just could not handle living with that and so you decided to just take off and start over? Act as if nothing happened, as if the nightmare is someone else's and that someday maybe you will wake up from this nightmare... Olivia is on an idyllic family vacation and decides to do something for herself one of the days. Is she being punished for this decisions to be selfish and do something she wanted, what if she never took this hike? What if she never took a nap, what if they never came to this resort? The what if's haunt Olivia every day of her life and the decision she made not only change her life, but the life of her husband and sons. How can a mother do this? I really enjoyed the psychological thinking of this novel. It is very thought provoking in all sides of the story and although hard to understand why Olivia did what she did, it was a great intellectual read. Things were very different in the 1970's and I don't think someone could really do this today and not be found. Thank you to Sourcebooks for the free book. I just love the novels they publish!
August 10, 2022
Fantastic book. I read it in two days (never happens for me!).
There is a lack in terms of character development, the book moves very quickly but at the same time this is what makes it so entertaining. So many sections of their lives are passing by so quickly that it makes it hard to stop reading because you have to know what happens next.
The author does an excellent job of at first making you so angry with Olivia for the choice she’s made, so resentful of her just as Brian and Rory are, but towards the end does a beautiful job of creating empathy and understanding of how and why Olivia made the choices she did.
I wish the end gave a little more information. How did Rory reconnect with Olivia? How does Olivia feel when she finds out Harry died of pancreatic cancer and the boys had to face it alone?
There is a lack in terms of character development, the book moves very quickly but at the same time this is what makes it so entertaining. So many sections of their lives are passing by so quickly that it makes it hard to stop reading because you have to know what happens next.
The author does an excellent job of at first making you so angry with Olivia for the choice she’s made, so resentful of her just as Brian and Rory are, but towards the end does a beautiful job of creating empathy and understanding of how and why Olivia made the choices she did.
I wish the end gave a little more information. How did Rory reconnect with Olivia? How does Olivia feel when she finds out Harry died of pancreatic cancer and the boys had to face it alone?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2025
The TLDR: a wild premise with flawless execution
I really didn’t know how this was going to go - a mother learns that one of her three sons drowned and in a breakdown decides if she never learns which, they can all still be alive to her. The multiple narratives across time were so compelling and there were so many passages throughout that genuinely had me choking up, I was so moved. It was filled with such vivid imagery and complex people. I highly recommend this one!
I received copy of the book from Goodreads and Sourcebooks in exchange for my honest review.
I really didn’t know how this was going to go - a mother learns that one of her three sons drowned and in a breakdown decides if she never learns which, they can all still be alive to her. The multiple narratives across time were so compelling and there were so many passages throughout that genuinely had me choking up, I was so moved. It was filled with such vivid imagery and complex people. I highly recommend this one!
I received copy of the book from Goodreads and Sourcebooks in exchange for my honest review.
May 27, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up. I am actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this book (despite the 3.5 star rating). I actually wished it was a little longer. The book felt a little rushed in some places and there were stories I wish she spent more time on. But overall a good (and sad!!!) book.
September 4, 2022
It was good and I read it quickly but the premise is unrealistic in my opinion.
July 8, 2024
4.5⭐️
if my mom pulled this stunt, we would be throwing hands in the parking lot immediately
if my mom pulled this stunt, we would be throwing hands in the parking lot immediately
March 19, 2022
I loved this. I could and couldn't relate all at once, and I do wish the ending would have been a little more thorough, but I also enjoyed putting the puzzle pieces together myself. Beautiful story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2022
Wow, I am struggling with the right words to describe my feelings about this book. I easily give this a 5-star rating, but I'm also conflicted about everything from beginning to end. Olivia, her husband Harry, and their three young sons - Brian Andrew, and Rory go to Vermont for vacation in 1971. Harry has tennis games scheduled one day when Olivia wants to go on a hike so they arrange for childcare for the boys. Olivia stops on a rock for lunch, falls asleep, and is very late getting back. When she is almost back to the resort she learns from two teenage girls that a young boy from New Jersey has drowned. Rather than face which of her children drowned while she was gone, Olivia chooses to disappear and create a new life which includes the daily mantra, "I have three sons."
First of all, kudos to Bobbie Jean Huff for publishing her debut novel at 76!
But secondly, what the hell? Any reader that is a mother will struggle with this novel because of her decision to abandon her family rather than face which one died. She and Harry had a wonderful and healthy relationship, which I feel, would have survived this terrible loss. Brian, the oldest goes on to struggle with alcoholism and relationships his entire life, always feeling the loss of his mother. The youngest, Rory goes on to lead a successful and happy life, perhaps because of his young age and the mother-figure that was placed into his life shortly after Olivia's disappearance. Olivia, on the other hand, goes on to lead a life of quiet solitude, slowly losing all recall of her previous life, including the birthdates of her children and her own birthday. Therefore, for the majority of this novel, I kept asking myself, "how and why is this woman doing this?"
My rating of this novel is not based on Olivia herself, but the writing. Despite being one of the saddest things I have read in my lifetime, I have nothing but awe and respect for Huff's writing style, imagery, and character development. This book reads as if one of the greatest literary minds of our time has written it. Be prepared to feel the pain of every character and recognize the sounds, sights, and smells that are frequently mentioned. There is absolutely nothing negative that I can come up with about the writing at all.
Now, let me explain that this novel also frustrated the living hell out of me. Besides struggling with Olivia's original decision to flee when she learned that one of her sons had drowned, the ending was just about my undoing. So much suspense was built and then the way it abruptly ended had me spewing so many four-letter words I felt I needed to go to church and beg for forgiveness. I cannot stand ambiguous endings like this one because I crave drama and a concrete resolution. Nevertheless, I can't recall a book that conjured so many different emotions and made me stop and think so many times, wondering what I would do differently, or exactly as she did.
This novel is beyond amazing. Was I left feeling happy and uplifted? Good Lord, no! But I feel lucky to have read this author's incredible work.
*Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
First of all, kudos to Bobbie Jean Huff for publishing her debut novel at 76!
But secondly, what the hell? Any reader that is a mother will struggle with this novel because of her decision to abandon her family rather than face which one died. She and Harry had a wonderful and healthy relationship, which I feel, would have survived this terrible loss. Brian, the oldest goes on to struggle with alcoholism and relationships his entire life, always feeling the loss of his mother. The youngest, Rory goes on to lead a successful and happy life, perhaps because of his young age and the mother-figure that was placed into his life shortly after Olivia's disappearance. Olivia, on the other hand, goes on to lead a life of quiet solitude, slowly losing all recall of her previous life, including the birthdates of her children and her own birthday. Therefore, for the majority of this novel, I kept asking myself, "how and why is this woman doing this?"
My rating of this novel is not based on Olivia herself, but the writing. Despite being one of the saddest things I have read in my lifetime, I have nothing but awe and respect for Huff's writing style, imagery, and character development. This book reads as if one of the greatest literary minds of our time has written it. Be prepared to feel the pain of every character and recognize the sounds, sights, and smells that are frequently mentioned. There is absolutely nothing negative that I can come up with about the writing at all.
Now, let me explain that this novel also frustrated the living hell out of me. Besides struggling with Olivia's original decision to flee when she learned that one of her sons had drowned, the ending was just about my undoing. So much suspense was built and then the way it abruptly ended had me spewing so many four-letter words I felt I needed to go to church and beg for forgiveness. I cannot stand ambiguous endings like this one because I crave drama and a concrete resolution. Nevertheless, I can't recall a book that conjured so many different emotions and made me stop and think so many times, wondering what I would do differently, or exactly as she did.
This novel is beyond amazing. Was I left feeling happy and uplifted? Good Lord, no! But I feel lucky to have read this author's incredible work.
*Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 9, 2022
Kept me engaged but was hoping for a deeper ending.
June 7, 2024
(4.5 stars)
I have a feeling lots of people will not like this book because of the sporadic, nonsensical, frustrating nature of Olivia…but this book completely encapsulates extreme denial and inability to cope with a substantial loss. This story was about consumption to the point of insanity. I loved this book, but lots of people won’t because it isn’t satisfying. It’s baffling and depressing but it is the only book I’ve seen where the worst case scenario appears out of an inability to grieve.
I have a feeling lots of people will not like this book because of the sporadic, nonsensical, frustrating nature of Olivia…but this book completely encapsulates extreme denial and inability to cope with a substantial loss. This story was about consumption to the point of insanity. I loved this book, but lots of people won’t because it isn’t satisfying. It’s baffling and depressing but it is the only book I’ve seen where the worst case scenario appears out of an inability to grieve.
August 7, 2022
I loved being immersed in the story of this family who faced an unthinkable tragedy one summer day. I found it hard to understand Olivia's actions ,but admired her resiliency. I felt a lot of sympathy for her children. I loved that this story took place over several decades because it allowed me to gain a better understanding of the characters' motivations. I found myself longing to find out what happened after the end of this excellent book.
August 9, 2024
From the moment I read the back cover, I was intrigued by the premise of this book. It promised a compelling narrative, but sadly, it fell short of its potential and left me profoundly disappointed.
The novel begins with a gripping concept, yet as the story unfolds, it becomes evident that the execution does not match the initial promise. The character development is uneven and, at times, bewildering. The depth and complexity one would hope for in a well-crafted narrative are noticeably absent. Instead, the characters’ journeys feel disjointed and lack the emotional resonance that might have made their stories truly engaging.
A particularly striking element of the story is the mother’s decision to abandon her family following the death of one of her children. This plot point is not only troubling but also inadequately explored. The idea of leaving her husband and surviving children to navigate life alone after such a profound loss felt not only implausible but also deeply unsettling. The narrative fails to provide a satisfactory explanation for this drastic decision, leaving me to grapple with unanswered questions.
The protagonist’s justifications for her abandonment are presented in a way that comes across as illogical and poorly reasoned. This flaw undermines the narrative’s credibility and led to frequent moments of frustration and disengagement on my part. I found myself zoning out and struggling to remain invested in a story that seemed to spiral into a series of disheartening events without offering meaningful insights or resolutions.
The lives of the other characters are portrayed with a similar lack of depth. Brian’s experiences are marked by a tragic sense of isolation and unresolved parental issues, painting a portrait of a character who seems perpetually out of place. Harry’s storyline, too, is marked by heartache, leaving me with a heavy sense of sorrow.
The culmination of the book, with its lack of closure and a somewhat abrupt ending where "Olivia opens her eyes," is particularly disappointing. This conclusion feels more like a literary cop-out than a satisfying resolution, leaving me with a sense of incompleteness and frustration.
While Rory’s ability to move beyond his family's turmoil and achieve success is a small, redeeming element, it does little to offset the novel's overall deficiencies. The book’s failure to provide a cohesive and engaging narrative ultimately led me to rate it two stars. It lacked the emotional depth and resolution necessary to make it a worthwhile read. Regrettably, I cannot recommend this book to others, as it does not deliver on the promise of a compelling and satisfying story.
The novel begins with a gripping concept, yet as the story unfolds, it becomes evident that the execution does not match the initial promise. The character development is uneven and, at times, bewildering. The depth and complexity one would hope for in a well-crafted narrative are noticeably absent. Instead, the characters’ journeys feel disjointed and lack the emotional resonance that might have made their stories truly engaging.
A particularly striking element of the story is the mother’s decision to abandon her family following the death of one of her children. This plot point is not only troubling but also inadequately explored. The idea of leaving her husband and surviving children to navigate life alone after such a profound loss felt not only implausible but also deeply unsettling. The narrative fails to provide a satisfactory explanation for this drastic decision, leaving me to grapple with unanswered questions.
The protagonist’s justifications for her abandonment are presented in a way that comes across as illogical and poorly reasoned. This flaw undermines the narrative’s credibility and led to frequent moments of frustration and disengagement on my part. I found myself zoning out and struggling to remain invested in a story that seemed to spiral into a series of disheartening events without offering meaningful insights or resolutions.
The lives of the other characters are portrayed with a similar lack of depth. Brian’s experiences are marked by a tragic sense of isolation and unresolved parental issues, painting a portrait of a character who seems perpetually out of place. Harry’s storyline, too, is marked by heartache, leaving me with a heavy sense of sorrow.
The culmination of the book, with its lack of closure and a somewhat abrupt ending where "Olivia opens her eyes," is particularly disappointing. This conclusion feels more like a literary cop-out than a satisfying resolution, leaving me with a sense of incompleteness and frustration.
While Rory’s ability to move beyond his family's turmoil and achieve success is a small, redeeming element, it does little to offset the novel's overall deficiencies. The book’s failure to provide a cohesive and engaging narrative ultimately led me to rate it two stars. It lacked the emotional depth and resolution necessary to make it a worthwhile read. Regrettably, I cannot recommend this book to others, as it does not deliver on the promise of a compelling and satisfying story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2023
I surprisingly LOVED this book considering it was one of the most infuriating, heart wrenching books I’ve ever read. During a lakeside family vacation in Vermont, Olivia Somerville is returning from a solo hike when a stranger informs her that one of her 3 young sons has drowned. In a moment of desperation and panic, Olivia decides to flee rather than learn which of her boys has died. She believes that in not learning the truth, she can keep all 3 of her sons alive in her memory. This story follows the POV of Olivia and her two remaining sons over the course of 31 years.
While I really loved this book, there are two reasons I can’t bring myself to give it 5⭐️. First, I simply couldn’t get past Olivia’s decision to a abandon her beloved husband and two remaining children. Initially it was hard to suspend my disbelief as that doesn’t even seem like a realistic choice that someone might actually make. However, I set that aside under the assumption that everyone reacts to grief differently, and this is after all a work of fiction. What I couldn’t seem to accept was the fact that this loving mother could possibly cause her sons and husband such excruciating, life-altering pain just to selfishly spare herself the grief of knowing which of her children has died. She puts them through two devastating losses all at once and it is difficult to feel any sympathy for her when she experiences grief in her own way, knowing that she made it much worse than it had to be. I felt so angry at this character basically the entire book and I felt such grief imaging the healing and life this family still could have had if not for Olivia’s abandonment.
Second, although I enjoyed the ending, I do feel that I just wanted more! I wanted there to be a full blown conversation and an in-depth explanation. I like how certain things came together in the end but with all the sadness throughout I just needed more dialogue and more information exchanged
between the characters at the end.
Overall, this story is beautifully written. I don’t think it would be for everyone as I imagine many would have a hard time reading through Olivia’s decision. It is still a story I just felt compelled to see the characters through and I’m glad I stuck with it. The author does a great job of making you feel the grief of the characters.
While I really loved this book, there are two reasons I can’t bring myself to give it 5⭐️. First, I simply couldn’t get past Olivia’s decision to a abandon her beloved husband and two remaining children. Initially it was hard to suspend my disbelief as that doesn’t even seem like a realistic choice that someone might actually make. However, I set that aside under the assumption that everyone reacts to grief differently, and this is after all a work of fiction. What I couldn’t seem to accept was the fact that this loving mother could possibly cause her sons and husband such excruciating, life-altering pain just to selfishly spare herself the grief of knowing which of her children has died. She puts them through two devastating losses all at once and it is difficult to feel any sympathy for her when she experiences grief in her own way, knowing that she made it much worse than it had to be. I felt so angry at this character basically the entire book and I felt such grief imaging the healing and life this family still could have had if not for Olivia’s abandonment.
Second, although I enjoyed the ending, I do feel that I just wanted more! I wanted there to be a full blown conversation and an in-depth explanation. I like how certain things came together in the end but with all the sadness throughout I just needed more dialogue and more information exchanged
between the characters at the end.
Overall, this story is beautifully written. I don’t think it would be for everyone as I imagine many would have a hard time reading through Olivia’s decision. It is still a story I just felt compelled to see the characters through and I’m glad I stuck with it. The author does a great job of making you feel the grief of the characters.
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