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Almost Family
Liz Millanova has stage four cancer, a grown daughter who doesn’t speak to her, and obsessive memories of a relationship that tore her marriage apart. She thinks of herself as someone who’d rather die than sit through a support group, but now that she actually is going to die, she figures she might as well give it a go.
Mercy’s Thriving Survivors is a hospital-sponsored group held in a presumably less depressing location: a Nordstrom’s employee training lounge. There, Liz hits it off with two other patients, and the three unlikely friends – Dave, a gay Vietnam vet, Rhonda, a devout, nice woman, and snarky Liz – decide to ditch the group and meet on their own. They call themselves The Oakland Mets, and their goal is to enjoy life while they can.
In the odd intimacy they form, Liz learns to open up and get close. They joined forces to have a good time – but what they wind up doing is helping one another come to grips with dying and resolve the unfinished business in their lives.
Mercy’s Thriving Survivors is a hospital-sponsored group held in a presumably less depressing location: a Nordstrom’s employee training lounge. There, Liz hits it off with two other patients, and the three unlikely friends – Dave, a gay Vietnam vet, Rhonda, a devout, nice woman, and snarky Liz – decide to ditch the group and meet on their own. They call themselves The Oakland Mets, and their goal is to enjoy life while they can.
In the odd intimacy they form, Liz learns to open up and get close. They joined forces to have a good time – but what they wind up doing is helping one another come to grips with dying and resolve the unfinished business in their lives.
296 pages, Paperback
Published May 28, 2024
About the author
Ann Bancroft
1 book13 followersAnn Bancroft began writing fiction after a career in journalism and communications. Her first job after graduating from UC Berkeley was as “copy boy” at The Oakland Tribune, at a time when there were few women in the newsroom. As a reporter, she worked in the State Capitol bureaus of the San Francisco Chronicle, United Press International and the Associated Press. She wrote editorials for The Sacramento Bee and was later appointed communications director for the State Department of Education.
After a first bout of breast cancer, she retired early and began writing fiction, leading generative writing workshops, and mentoring breast cancer patients. She’s an alumna of the Community of Writers, the Tomales Bay Writers Workshops, and Everwood Farmstead artist’s residency. “Almost Family” is her debut novel, to be published when she is 71. Ann and her husband are avid travelers and hikers, and when not writing, she loves to cook and entertain. They live in Sacramento and Coronado, California.
After a first bout of breast cancer, she retired early and began writing fiction, leading generative writing workshops, and mentoring breast cancer patients. She’s an alumna of the Community of Writers, the Tomales Bay Writers Workshops, and Everwood Farmstead artist’s residency. “Almost Family” is her debut novel, to be published when she is 71. Ann and her husband are avid travelers and hikers, and when not writing, she loves to cook and entertain. They live in Sacramento and Coronado, California.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 27, 2024
Liz has always been at the top of her game or tried to. But when stage 4 cancer hits her like a punch, she wants to do entirely different things with her limited days. And it all starts with a support group of people she never thought would be close with - but life surprises her in strange ways.
It would be unfair to expect a happy ending with a terminal topic, but I am glad they had a proper closure. The small after scene towards the end just tied a knot to all those loose ends. Talking about the characters... for the most part of the book, I was really mad at Marisa, and that portrays the buildup done well. There are homely characters, fond family vibes and an exploration of what truly matters in life if we have limited time.
This was a little sad but a really good read. Gave me a perspective of how quickly the tables turn and how we should be grateful for little things in life.
It would be unfair to expect a happy ending with a terminal topic, but I am glad they had a proper closure. The small after scene towards the end just tied a knot to all those loose ends. Talking about the characters... for the most part of the book, I was really mad at Marisa, and that portrays the buildup done well. There are homely characters, fond family vibes and an exploration of what truly matters in life if we have limited time.
This was a little sad but a really good read. Gave me a perspective of how quickly the tables turn and how we should be grateful for little things in life.
June 3, 2024
This book touches on some tough topics but with such heart, soul and warmth you will fall in love with the relatable complex characters especially our main lady Liz Millanova.
I started this book thinking “oh man a book about a woman who has cancer, how am I gonna get through it and write a positive review” but once I picked this up I became so invested in all the characters stories!
Liz is everything I would hope I would be when facing tragedy: snarky, tough and live life to its fullest!
I started this book thinking “oh man a book about a woman who has cancer, how am I gonna get through it and write a positive review” but once I picked this up I became so invested in all the characters stories!
Liz is everything I would hope I would be when facing tragedy: snarky, tough and live life to its fullest!
May 29, 2024
My thanks to @booksforwardpr and @bancroftann for a #gifted copy.
This is full of topics that should be hard to write and read about. These subjects, death, homosexuality, fear, cancer, insecurities, broken relationships, etc. are all things that might drag a story to the depths of despair.
So why am I rating it 5 stars and wishing I could rate it higher?
Almost Family follows a middle-aged woman who hits some tough roadblocks. She leaves her alcoholic husband, is dumped by her boyfriend, has a bad relationship with her daughter, and has a cancer diagnosis. In desperation, Liz Millanova decides to make the hard decision to reach out to a support group. Something her head screams no to, but her heart encourages.
If that paragraph sounds like you can pass on a depressing book, keep reading. This is a book that kept me wanting more. The characters are incredible.
The story consists of Liz and two others from her support group. They end up ditching the group and living in the moment with their small group. This is funny, touching, and a page-turner that you won't soon forget!
Since I don't like a synopsis or review to tell the whole story, I'm stopping here. Please realize that these may be bleak topics, but Bancroft has found a way to touch the reader's heart with happiness and joy that can be between the lines of sadness.
Concerns
None whatsoever.
Final Thoughts
This is such a beautiful study of three people that you’re apt to walk away thinking it’s a true memoir. I can’t recommend it enough. The dialog and actions are true to each person.
This is full of topics that should be hard to write and read about. These subjects, death, homosexuality, fear, cancer, insecurities, broken relationships, etc. are all things that might drag a story to the depths of despair.
So why am I rating it 5 stars and wishing I could rate it higher?
Almost Family follows a middle-aged woman who hits some tough roadblocks. She leaves her alcoholic husband, is dumped by her boyfriend, has a bad relationship with her daughter, and has a cancer diagnosis. In desperation, Liz Millanova decides to make the hard decision to reach out to a support group. Something her head screams no to, but her heart encourages.
If that paragraph sounds like you can pass on a depressing book, keep reading. This is a book that kept me wanting more. The characters are incredible.
The story consists of Liz and two others from her support group. They end up ditching the group and living in the moment with their small group. This is funny, touching, and a page-turner that you won't soon forget!
Since I don't like a synopsis or review to tell the whole story, I'm stopping here. Please realize that these may be bleak topics, but Bancroft has found a way to touch the reader's heart with happiness and joy that can be between the lines of sadness.
Concerns
None whatsoever.
Final Thoughts
This is such a beautiful study of three people that you’re apt to walk away thinking it’s a true memoir. I can’t recommend it enough. The dialog and actions are true to each person.
October 3, 2023
I am an early reader of "Almost Family," by Ann Bancroft. It is a poignant exploration of life, love, and friendship in the face of terminal illness. The protagonist is confronted with the harsh reality of stage four cancer, a fractured family, and a troubled past, including an alcohol husband and her codependency and the family drama that went with it. Reluctantly, she joins a support group, and this decision sets the stage for a deeply moving and ultimately heartwarming story.
Ann Bancroft's storytelling is a delicate balance of humor and emotional depth, as she navigates the complexities of life, sickness, an estranged daughter, and haunting memories. The protagonist confronts her fears, tries to mend broken relationships, and find solace in the face of mortality. It's fiction, but rang so true, I could not stop reading.
"Almost Family" is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, demonstrating that even in the darkest of times, connections can be forged, wounds can heal, and life's beauty can shine through. It reminds us to cherish every moment, and to be grateful for what we have. Hard topic as it was, it was a very good read.
Ann Bancroft's storytelling is a delicate balance of humor and emotional depth, as she navigates the complexities of life, sickness, an estranged daughter, and haunting memories. The protagonist confronts her fears, tries to mend broken relationships, and find solace in the face of mortality. It's fiction, but rang so true, I could not stop reading.
"Almost Family" is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, demonstrating that even in the darkest of times, connections can be forged, wounds can heal, and life's beauty can shine through. It reminds us to cherish every moment, and to be grateful for what we have. Hard topic as it was, it was a very good read.
June 3, 2024
This was such an emotional read about our MC, Lix who has stage four cancer. As someone who has had their lives touched by cancer with a immediate family member, I understand how important this book is for all readers. Cancer is a beast to deal with for both the family members and of course the person going through it. And stage 4 is terminal, which means you don’t come back from that. Stage 4 cancer means “there is nothing else we can do for you” and they just provide supportive care.
Liz doesn’t have the best relationships with her family and especially her daughter, she doesn’t have anyone in her life after all of her relationships have failed. But she does get to meet a couple of great friends at a support group, Dave and Rhonda. These three decide that they want to start their own support group, of doing things that enhance their experience with live not just go to a group in a room😊
I loved this book overall and recommend it to all fiction lovers and anyone who has been touched by cancer.
Liz doesn’t have the best relationships with her family and especially her daughter, she doesn’t have anyone in her life after all of her relationships have failed. But she does get to meet a couple of great friends at a support group, Dave and Rhonda. These three decide that they want to start their own support group, of doing things that enhance their experience with live not just go to a group in a room😊
I loved this book overall and recommend it to all fiction lovers and anyone who has been touched by cancer.
June 18, 2024
"Almost Family" crackles with wit and wisdom. Metastatic cancer is tough terrain to navigate but in this first rate, first time novel Ann Bancroft does so deftly, crisply yet with great sensitivity. It is a deeply moving story without veering into maudlin or morbid.
The writing achieves a delicate balance between the tragic and the comic- no easy feat - and while the book deals with some of life's most difficult challenges, Bancroft approaches the material with a keen eye and a distinctive style - a successful blend of wry, trenchant humor and sharp unsentimental obeservation about the truth of the matter. Her characters jump off the page; they're engaging, fully realized, complicated human beings who, over the course of the story, go through realistic, meaningful change.
I loved it and consider the book a must-read for a wide audience. Beyond the story lines, "Almost Family" has a universal appeal with the underlying message at its core: what ultimately saves us, is human connection. As E.M. Forster famously wrote, "Only connect!"
The writing achieves a delicate balance between the tragic and the comic- no easy feat - and while the book deals with some of life's most difficult challenges, Bancroft approaches the material with a keen eye and a distinctive style - a successful blend of wry, trenchant humor and sharp unsentimental obeservation about the truth of the matter. Her characters jump off the page; they're engaging, fully realized, complicated human beings who, over the course of the story, go through realistic, meaningful change.
I loved it and consider the book a must-read for a wide audience. Beyond the story lines, "Almost Family" has a universal appeal with the underlying message at its core: what ultimately saves us, is human connection. As E.M. Forster famously wrote, "Only connect!"
December 18, 2023
I've had the splendid opportunity to preview this wonderful work. It's a story of sharing one's humanity at the end of life. These characters are well-drawn; flawed, but sympathetic to the point you have to love them. They are complex but relatable. Cancer is such a merciless beast and writing about people who are coping with it, knowing the end is near, could turn maudlin in a hurry. Bancroft does not do this. She is clear-eyed and tells this story with poignancy. Liz, Dave, and Rhonda form a tight knit little team, determined to stare down death and live out the remainder of their lives to the fullest with love and encouragement from each other.
I would recommend this book to anyone who's faced cancer, either as a patient or as a one who has loved a cancer patient. Bancroft navigates the emotional terrain with skill and heart to create a bittersweet, yet ultimately uplifting novel.
I would recommend this book to anyone who's faced cancer, either as a patient or as a one who has loved a cancer patient. Bancroft navigates the emotional terrain with skill and heart to create a bittersweet, yet ultimately uplifting novel.
January 23, 2024
An understated but powerful book that deals with subjects most of us would rather ignore--addiction, estrangement, illness, and death. Yet Bancroft writes with such humor, insight, compassion, and skill that the journey is both enjoyable and uplifting. The characters were so nuanced and real, it felt like I was hanging out with old friends. The plot avoided melodrama but was nevertheless compelling--I was eagerly turning pages until the end. Filled with wry humor and a no-BS attitude, there's still so much heart under the surface. Almost Family didn't shy from difficult subjects and made me confront real fears head-on, but at its core, it's gentle and hopeful, showing how illness and death can ironically heal us, and how it's never too late to live a meaningful and satisfying life.
June 3, 2024
Full disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book by Books Forward in exchange for an honest review.
I love snarky characters. I enjoy how they are honest with the situations around them, come up with witty one-liners, and demonstrate vulnerability throughout the book. They are truly my favorite type of person to read about. When I heard that a new novel called "Almost Family" by Ann Bancroft (not the Oscar-winning actress and Mel Brooks’s deceased wife) involved a sarcastic and cancer-stricken woman attending a support group, I knew I had to read it. And reader, I’m glad I did, for it was funny, heartfelt, and vulnerable.
To read more of this review, click on this link: https://chick-who-reads-everything.co...
I love snarky characters. I enjoy how they are honest with the situations around them, come up with witty one-liners, and demonstrate vulnerability throughout the book. They are truly my favorite type of person to read about. When I heard that a new novel called "Almost Family" by Ann Bancroft (not the Oscar-winning actress and Mel Brooks’s deceased wife) involved a sarcastic and cancer-stricken woman attending a support group, I knew I had to read it. And reader, I’m glad I did, for it was funny, heartfelt, and vulnerable.
To read more of this review, click on this link: https://chick-who-reads-everything.co...
May 6, 2024
Almost Family made me think and feel more deeply than I had imagined. The story is almost too real. Sad, heartfelt, terrifying, hopeful and humor-filled as it challenges its readers to value each day. I especially loved the character development and how Rhonda, Dave and Liz left the standard- issue Thriving Survivors support group and formed their own Mets group. The heroes reminded me of the potency of human bonds–highlighted with individual similarities and differences, as they quickly developed love for each other, carried their zest for life, humor and fears, as Ms. Bancroft moved the story to a well-crafted ending. I can hardly wait to read Ms. Bancroft’s next book.
May 19, 2024
This one is definitely not a light hearted feel good story, there is lots of emotions and uncomfortable discussions around dying. At the same time, there is lots of beauty in the story and the connections between the three friends, who basically become family to one another. Bancroft reminds us that no matter where and when someone walks into your life, if you keep an open mind and heart they could just end up being the exact person you needed. Dealing with (and writing about) death is not an easy feat, but Bancroft does a great job of adding humour where appropriate and carefully crafting interesting and loveable characters, winning over readers early on in her story. Congrats to the author on accomplishing all that in her first book, at age 71! I hope we see more books from her in the future.
Thanks to @booksforwardpr and the author @bancroftann for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
Thanks to @booksforwardpr and the author @bancroftann for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
June 12, 2024
“Almost Family” tops my pile of summer fiction.
We generate enough fear of death, coping with death, feeling lonely, longing for love, failing to connect with family (or anybody). But this debut novel might well be an ironic antidote for all that.
You don’t have to be a woman to pick it up (I met a man who said he cried while reading it).
You don’t need to have cancer or know someone with cancer.
All you need is to thirst in this global heat for a story about real people brought alive by a writer with smart humor, killer dialogue, heart, and insight.
We generate enough fear of death, coping with death, feeling lonely, longing for love, failing to connect with family (or anybody). But this debut novel might well be an ironic antidote for all that.
You don’t have to be a woman to pick it up (I met a man who said he cried while reading it).
You don’t need to have cancer or know someone with cancer.
All you need is to thirst in this global heat for a story about real people brought alive by a writer with smart humor, killer dialogue, heart, and insight.
July 1, 2024
After reading all the previous reviews, I had to read this book. Despite their cancer diagnoses, the three main characters coped with humor, warmth and heartfelt dignity. I found myself laughing out loud then shedding an occasional tear as they resolved to solve universal problems of family dynamics and physical survival. The author is an expert at dialogue and has created realistic characters that I found myself caring about. Almost anyone could relate in some way to this story and find the book enjoyable.
January 21, 2024
Almost Family is a moving exploration of life, love, and the profound impact of facing mortality. While a work of fiction, it reads with the authenticity and power one might expect only from a deeply personal autobiographical account. Bancroft doesn’t shy away from the brutality of cancer, pain of fractured relationships, or the quest for wholeness, all while maintaining her sense of humor. A must-read for anyone who has ever faced or ever will face death.
February 7, 2024
I really enjoyed this read! The main character, Liz, is snarky and sarcastic and as someone who also has a hard time grappling with tough emotions, it was nice to see Liz drop her guard and become more vulnerable over the course of the book. Death can oftentimes be such a taboo topic, but I think the author did an incredible job navigating the topic of living with a terminal illness, I know this one will resonate with so many! Highly recommend!
February 29, 2024
Bancroft has the unique ability to make you feel a wide range of emotions. This is the story of a woman, a mother, reckoning with herself and her life after finding out her cancer has metastasized. It’s the kind of story that teaches us it doesn’t matter how you show up, so long as you do it consistently and with purpose. This book is bittersweet, and I enjoyed the winding road. Thanks to Ann for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2024
Such a terrific book! Don't be afraid to read it because of the topic. It's very inspiring - and funny as well (although that sounds funny to say because of the gravity of the subject). All the characters are wonderful -- you'll come to quickly love them and they will stay with you long after you're done reading "Almost Family" -- to the point where they are almost family to you.
June 3, 2024
A Beautiful Story
I am a cancer survivor and so much of what Liz didn’t like about the support group stuff and strangers calling her brave was so much how I felt. This book was a valuable life lesson of how to change the course of life, no matter how long you have. I loved it!
I am a cancer survivor and so much of what Liz didn’t like about the support group stuff and strangers calling her brave was so much how I felt. This book was a valuable life lesson of how to change the course of life, no matter how long you have. I loved it!
June 3, 2024
This book was incredibly sweet and realistic when facing terminal illness and the highs and lows of life that come with it. It was sad yet funny at times in a way to help grieve the loss that hadn’t yet happen. I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to BFF Tours!
Thank you to BFF Tours!
February 17, 2024
Almost Family is one of those novels that you begin and cannot put down. It is hard to imagine that a book about metastasized cancer, problems with addiction, and family estrangement could be so heartwarming and uplifting. Ann Bancroft writes masterfully with brilliant character development of the narrator, Liz, and her two cohorts, Rhonda and Dave, as they form their bond, fast love, and support for each other. The reader becomes invested in their life stories, relationships, and sense of urgency as they come to terms with what is unresolved and the unvarnished truth of their lives. I laughed and cried uncontrollably at times but was very satisfied with how things were resolved for each character at the end. It was an honor to preview the publication of this beautiful and joyous page turner.
January 10, 2024
Oh what a wonderful read this was! I was hooked from the very beginning to find out about the fate of the three unlikely friends who form a strong bond around their diagnosis of metastatic cancer. The three of them support each other as they work to resolve and bring closure to troubled parts of their pasts. Her novel illustrates how even while facing mortality, one can find connection, peace and joy.
One of the lovely gifts of this book is Ann Bancroft’s considerable writing talent. She successfully treads a fine line, showing us the difficulties each of the characters is going through, but with humor and a light touch. So, despite the serious topic, it is a heartwarming, delightful and uplifting read. I highly recommend this book.
One of the lovely gifts of this book is Ann Bancroft’s considerable writing talent. She successfully treads a fine line, showing us the difficulties each of the characters is going through, but with humor and a light touch. So, despite the serious topic, it is a heartwarming, delightful and uplifting read. I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews