This one was unfortunately a DNF for me. I thought I could read it, but as a breast cancer survivor, it was a little too triggering. Thanks for the opportunity to read it.

This was a feel good easy read with a heart felt story. The friendships formed in this story and tales of hope and faith were so touching.

4.5 stars, rounded up!

What an absolutely brilliant, vulnerable, heart-breaking and equally hopeful book.

Lloyd really showed the brutal and painful reality for breast cancer patients. The effects on not only on the person experiencing breast cancer, but on the friends, partner, children, mother and others surrounding them.

I loved the writing. I loved the plot line about Kiera’s business, I thought it was brilliant and added some intrigue and sass. I LOVED the friendships, the running group, the kids!!

I think it was just a little long, and the plot line with the business did feel a bit dragged out (it was quite easy to see where it was going, just took some time to get there). Otherwise I think Lloyd is incredible, and it shows huge bravery and vulnerability to write something that is hits so close to home and reflects an experience she went through.

Heartfelt, Raw and Hopeful.

After being blind-sided by a breast cancer diagnosis, Kiera finds herself paralyzed by disbelief and fear. She decides to join a running group with other women who are going through the same experience she is. Unexpectedly, it's through running and through the friendship with these amazing women that she finds the hope and the strength she needs to fight and reclaim her life.

The story, despite the heavy topics, is extremely uplifting. The author, however, does not shy away from the ugly reality of what a cancer diagnosis entails: Kiera's reactions and thoughts are very real, raw and human and her journey navigating this new reality and was both hard and hopeful.

I loved the writing and you can tell this is a Own Voices book as the topic and the story are written with the care, attention and compassion that they truly deserve!

Breathtakingly beautiful, this book had me feeling all sort of ways, I felt so close and attached to the characters, and even though I don't identify with them in any way, I was still invested in their story.
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With books about any kind of illness, not specifically cancer, authors tend to rush on the parts about discovering the illness and how it affects people, and instead put the spotlight on how life changing the experience is and how the patient get this sparkly breakthrough during recovery.
In this book, thankfully, this wasn't the case.
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The way Kiera told her story was so raw and real, it wasn't a straight line from the diagnosis to recovery, she was unapologetic about how she feels betrayed by her body, how despairing it is to lose your confidence after years of loving how your body looks, and how her relationship with everyone is not the same anymore, and not entirely on a negative way.
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Having a strong support system is a huge factor in turning better on every way possible. In the book, the author showed that you can find support in the most unexpected ways, the way affliction unites people from different worlds is displayed perfectly throughout the storyline.
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The writing style was top notch, it was so engaging that I couldn't put the book down until I finished it.
I absolutely loved the ending, it provided closure in a way that wasn't syrupy sweet or overly optimistic, which I appreciated.
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Hands down one of the best books I've ever read.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Wow! This book was such a great read! Such a beautiful story about hope and perseverance in the face of cancer! This one was a bit heavy at times, but that’s expected when reading books about cancer. Overall such a beautiful story and definitely recommend!

All of our main characters were well-written and distinctive. I could easily tell apart the women in the running club and I found Keira, her husband, her kids, and the running club to all be incredibly believable. They had reactions that made sense and their motivations were within character. This is such a tricky line to walk with so many main characters, and especially when dealing with a heavy topic like this.

Breast cancer. You never thought it would happen to you until it does. When Keira goes into the clinic for a routine scan, she leaves uncertain of her future. As she wallows in the park, she meets a new friend who helps her start the bright side running club, which helps bring together women at different stages of their cancer journey to commiserate, motivate, and support one another.

This was a poignant, heart felt story that demonstrates the difficulties of coping with cancer diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and loss. The characters experience very real issues that many women face including heartbreak, betrayal, disappointment, fear, and anxiety. The overall story was wonderful to read, however the main character was difficult to like at times. She demonstrated self growth but I still wanted to pull my hair out at times with some of her decisions.

Absolutely fabulous. Funny, witty, uplifting. An honest look at what it means to be a cancer patient. I feel like I was one of (main character) Keira's friends and went through this with her. So inspiring how the (fictional) team of friends (literally) ran through their troubles arm in arm. Well worth a read!

The Bright Side Running Club by Josie Lloyd is an is an inspirational story based on Lloyd's own experience. It took me several tries to get through this book if I'm honest because of the heavy nature of the topic. Kiera is a mom, wife and business woman and I connected to her so much so when she is blindsided by a cancer diagnosis it is hard not to put yourself in her shoes.

The book focuses around three friends she meets along the way, all in different stages of their breast cancer journey. They begin meeting each week at the park to run together. As someone who has experience with how healing a good running group can be I loved this element of the story. I loved that they supported each other and relied on each other as they were going through some really difficult time. While I don't run with my group anymore we are still close friends and I rely on them immensely so this really resonated with me.

There are also some frustrating moments for Kiera along the way that make you want to reach through the book at some of the characters. I appreciated the author's note at the end which explained her own journey and the inspiration for this book.

This is an excellent book about friendship, hope and facing adversity.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Very true to Cancer experience. Love the personal friendships between the characters, family life and still trying the work. All the while dealing with relationships, sickness and fitting in. It's a easy read and a good book to past the time with. .

When Keira is diagnosed with breast cancer, exercise and friendship aren’t even in her thoughts. But she finds both with fellow women who create a running club, all going through cancer treatment.

I really liked this book because it was unique. It was really special to me because while it was about cancer it was still uplifting and not a depressing read. I loved how the women came together. I was frustrated the whole book with how Keira was being treated, but all ended up being well on that front. If you feel the same, don’t worry you’ll feel better on that end. While there is sadness (the characters do have cancer so inevitably there will be illness and possibly death), it’ll still leave you feeling uplifted.

“It’s like I’ve been on a horrible ride in Cancer World and I really, really want to get off. Only it turns out they don’t let you off the ride - in fact, woohoo, lookee now, they’re jotting me straight round onto the Big Dipper.”

I first heard about this novel when I heard the author Josie Lloyd discuss it on a radio show and I was intrigued.
I was intrigued at how a group of women all fighting cancer could find the strength to get out and run each day. This book explained to me how. This was based on the events in Josie's life when she discovers she has cancer and about the fight, she has, not with her life but also with the underhand practices of her business partner. It is funny, insightful, and at times completely heartbreaking. A candid, honest account that shows how community and friendship can pull together at the hardest of times.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THIS BOOK! What stood out to me was the title and cover. I am an avid reader( obviously) and also was an avid runner. Running was always my escape and best stress relief. So a book about running?! Right up my alley!

This was a good read. I’ve recently had too many friends develop cancer and it was uplifting to see these runners prop each other up through difficult times. An added bonus was that the author drew from her own experiences with health issues. I thank NetGalley and the author for opportunity to read this ARC.

Absolutely fantastic! Could not put the book down. Going to recommend to everyone to check out this book!

One of the most thoughtful, compassionate and life-affirming books I have read this year! Proof that there is something good in every day, even though some days we might need to look harder and how life truly is about making the most of what you get! I loved it!

This is a fresh, uplifting, and witty novel involving Kiera and a new found running club formed by ladies fighting cancer. Likeable characters, well written, inspiring.

This is an emotional love story for our female friends who carry us when we need it most. I loved this quirky cast of runners and enjoyed every minute of this.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

The Bright Side Running Club is a bright spot on my reading table. I was not convinced a book about cancer would be, well, bright. But the author does a nice job of hitting the reader with gritty realism and pairing that with the rejuvenative forces of women's friendships.
As Keira sits on a park bench, reeling with the news of her breast cancer diagnosis, Tamsin runs past and strikes up a conversation. The women, joined by others, form a running club that meets regularly at the park. They are each at various stages in their cancer journey, and they unite to lift each other up, providing encouragement and practical wisdom.
The author is quite frank in her treatment of the surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. She also provides humor, friendships, work drama and family struggles.
Hats off to Josie Lloyd for a compelling and realistic look at a topic most of us would prefer to ignore.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove press and the author for this ARC of The Bright Side Running Club.