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.

Something Worth Saving by Sandi Ward will be released on December 18th by Kensington Press. I downloaded an advanced copy having read the blurb, but then it sat in my Kindle for a few days. During that time, I forgot the blurb and opened the book expecting a light read. The nice kitty on the cover primed me.

Nope—not even close—what I read was so much more. It was riveting.

The book is a study of how human beings behave during a crisis, how youth learn to deal with stress from their elders, how good people cope with relationships in these times, and how a downward spiral so easily occurs, setting off other crises that cascade like dominos.

When a DEA agent, husband and father, gets shot in the stomach during a sting, he deals with the resulting long-term pain with prescription pills, which his wife throws away. Then, he relies on his past coping mechanism—alcohol. When the story opens, the wife has already thrown him out.

She may have been too harsh because he cares about his family—he’s a good husband and father. The mother is a director of a preschool, who deals with the fallout of her decision. The oldest, a seventeen-year-old son, tries to fill his father’s shoes. The middle child, a sixteen-year-old daughter, acquires a questionable boyfriend, and the youngest, a thirteen-year-old son, is already struggling with an identity crisis on top of physical abuse.

The narrator of the book is the family cat. What happens, what is revealed, and how they all act out is shown through the cat’s perspective. Yep, unusual and strange, but there’s a reason for that. Being a different species, the cat is loyal to the family and wants the best for them, but he is not emotionally engaged. What transpires is a sociological and psychological study. In a way, the cat unwinds the mysteries that hide behind closed doors, like a sleuth. No one bothers about the cat. He’s free to observe, like an analyst.

This is the second book Sandi Ward has written using a cat’s perspective. Her first book, The Astonishing Thing, was published in 2017. Her next book, also using the cat’s POV, will be released in 2019 with the title, What Holds Us Together.

Something Worth Saving stays with the reader long after the last page is read. It demonstrates the reverberations of violence, the outward spiral consuming more than just the primary victim. The cat’s perspective illuminates the poignant and fragile human condition. The book reminds us of all we hold dear and how quickly and easily it can be lost.

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.

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.
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