This was just the book I needed right about now. Full of strong female characters, female friendship, family drama, funny quips, heartfelt emotional topics, and hope. I have been so weary of the depressing and dark books recently. And the title of this struck me, especially because it is about a group of women who start a running club because they are battling cancer. That seems like it could/should be a dark and depressing book. But the author does a splendid job of keeping the topic Titus and real and raw without it being dark depressing, of course due to the beautifully written character of Tamsen as she helps walk main character Keira through her recent diagnosis. It doesn’t seem possible that a book about such a serious topic could bring a smile to the reader’s face, but that is the simple beauty of the book. Tears alongside smiles. And I believe that was the whole point of the “Bright side running club” that no matter the darkness there is always a bright side of hope. Oh that we all could have this type of outlook no matter what we face. I highly recommend this one!

More years ago then I care to remember, I was into @josiellyodwriter books. Blame it on the Bridget Jones craze, but overnight “chick lit” became a thing, especially Brit Chick lit. Then I didn’t remember seeing anything about her writing for quite some time.

So you can imagine my surprise (and interest) when I saw a new book had come out by Lloyd. The market now saturated with stories that could be termed “chick lit”, the genre has also managed to grow and evolve, much like the young women they were intended for in the first place.

In The Bright Side Running Club we meet Keira, a middle aged women who is newly diagnosed with breast cancer. As if dealing with a cancer diagnosis isn’t daunting enough, Keira also has some work related woes that don’t help but add to her middle aged angst.

Then she meets a woman who casually mentions she should join her in running weekly. Reluctantly Keira takes part to stay fit and positive. But she quickly finds the new friends she makes while attempting to run away (pun intended) from her problems are cancer patients, just like herself.

While any book that tackles the big C is bound to be depressing in spots, The Bright Side Running Club also lives up to its name by highlighting the importance of having a positive attitude when things are anything but. It’s also a book about the power of friendship. Knowing that Lloyd herself loved through similar circumstances that inspired this fictional account only serves to make the story more uplifting, and more worthwhile.

The author draws inspiration and information from her own trials with Breast Cancer to write this book. This statement could have been left unsaid but still been understood. The sheer confusion and emotions that overwhelm Kiera when given her diagnosis are very stark.
Kiera is a happy mother with a close-knit social circle and a job she loves, but when she finds out that she is ill, cracks start appearing in all other facets as well. The only thing that helps her stay sane and gain a new perspective of her life is a chance encounter with a runner outside the hospital. This leads to a new practice - that of running to keep both her physical and emotional state up.
A lot is happening in this story, and despite the number of balls being juggled in the air, I read this in almost one sitting! There was something fascinating about the almost ordinary life of Kiera and her trials. It brought out the extraordinary from the everyday walks of life, and that made it a very satisfactory read. It tackled the disease with varying levels of seriousness, adding another layer to the narrative. Her children did not suddenly become angels and understand her every whim; neither did her friends or husband. They were supportive but with some hurdles on the way, making it feel genuine. Even with the sort-of happily ever afters for some sections of the book, this was heavier than I anticipated.
The heaviness does not overpower it but makes it an emotional read. I would definitely pick up another book by the author and recommend this to others who are intrigued by the plotline.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Endearing novel about a life altering cancer diagnosis that includes the trauma of cancer treatment but stays this side of graphic. Explores the importance of friendship and support during a person's treatment. Somehow takes a serious topic and makes it lighthearted while still showing a cleansed version of what a cancer patient goes through. As a woman the same age as the MC it did make me question my lifestyle, but that could be my anxiety speaking.

I do think the whole side-plot of the business failing/takeover was a detraction from the story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Alcove Press for my copy of The Bright Side Running Club by Josie Lloyd in exchange for an honest review. It published February 8, 2022.
First off, wow. Bravo. This book was fantastic. It was so real, so honest, terrifying, heartwarming, educational, honest and touching. I loved this book.
The journey that the characters go on is woven so well and honestly, you will find reasons to keep reading to find out what is going to happen. It is not predictable, like many books in this genre can be. I think it's definitely worth the read!

3.5 stars, rounded up.

I really loved the premise of this book, and overall it was an enjoyable read. But some plot points pulled away from the main story for me -- the power of friendship and resilience -- and were distracting and irritating. Like another reviewer mentioned, at times it felt like a bad sitcom. But overall, I loved the running club ladies and the 'looking on the bright side' of it all.

A thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

Cancer is difficult enough to deal with; you should definitely try to build a good support system. These women created a fantastic support system for each other and have inspired so many others with it. This book was so wonderful to read. I loved the characters, flaws and all, and how they all learned to accept their diagnosis, and thrive despite the odds. And despite the serious subject, there was so much humor in this book that I found myself laughing out loud often. Highly recommended for anyone who needs a lift and/or a great story.

Loved this story. Such an uplifting story of hope and determination. Diagnosed with cancer Keira ends up joining a running club, whose members are all fighting the fight. They encourage and uphold each other. So inspirational and impossible not to cry!

Heartfelt, emotional, great characters, friendship - a wonderful, heartwarming story. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Bright Side Running Club
by: Josie Lloyd
Alcove Press

This novel is a very inspiring and touching story of Keira, who is diagnosed with breast cancer. Lloyd covers this topic and situation with a tender and meaningful writing style. This book is certainly recommended to those who want to read an account of one woman's journey with breast cancer.

Thanks to Net Galley and Alcove Press for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.
#TheBrightSideRunningClub #NetGalley

When Keira first receives her breast cancer diagnosis, she never expects to end up joining a running group with three women she's only just met. Totally blind-sided, all she can think about is how she doesn't want to tell her family or step back from work. Nor does she want to be part of a group of fellow cancer patients. Cancer is not her club. An inspirational and heartwarming book based on the author's experience and of women bonding.

The cover is adorable. The story inspiring despite the protagonist having cancer and surrounding herself with others who are going through the same thing. It also gives so much insight into what a cancer diagnosis means & how everything feels to not only the person directly dealing with this devastating diagnosis BUT also the friends and family around them. It is very insightful.

The MC, Keira doesn't understand how she got cancer and it's just not fair.. Initially, Keira can't stop thinking about what she may have done wrong to lead her to this cancer diagnosis, especially since there were no genetic markers.

Things change after a chance meeting with Tamsin...a woman jogging as Keira heads to her oncologist. Eventually they build a friendship which leads to the title of the book, The Bright Side Running Club. Where the women learn the power behind the statement "one foot in front of the other."

There was a line in the book...and I don't want to give anything away but it almost made me cry (and I rarely cry) it's when she is snuggling up next to her husband after coming home from the hospital....looking at the bright side of being closer together...literally.

It's a beautiful, sad and uplifting read. I especially like the way Tamsin really rallied the women and how it ultimately lead them to rallying for her and to Keira finding her voice so she could be the strong woman that she always wanted to be. I would certainly read another book by this author.

As the new year begins, Keira is unexpectedly diagnosed with breast cancer. Terrified of telling her family, and pulling back from work, Keira meets another woman battling cancer who encourages her to join her for a run. Together, with a few other women, they form the Bright Side Running Club, fighting against breast cancer as they lean on one another for support, and just keep running.

Josie Lloyd pulled inspiration for this fictional story from her own battle with breast cancer in 2017, and the community of support she leaned on during this incredibly difficult period of her life. I loved the bond Keira forms with her “Bright Side Running Club”, Tamsin, Amma and Sian, and their truths and understanding they share as women overcoming the same medical obstacles. The novel is about so much more than Keira’s fight with cancer, telling her story of problems at work, family obstacles, and the power of female friendship and a support system. This is an inspiring and uplifting story of hope and perseverance, and I would highly recommend this feel-good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for my gifted e-ARC!

The Brightside Running Club
By Josie Lloyd
Publish date – February 8, 2022

This is an inspiring book that will hit its readers in different ways. I loved the story and really was able to relate to Keira in the “running club”. I joined a Moms running club shortly after my second child. It was one of the best things I did. I enjoyed talking and sharing and was able to be lifted by other Moms and I felt I was able to help other ladies during that chapter of our lives, with the added bonus of getting healthy. I made some of my best memories with those women and learned so much.
The downside of this book was going through the cancer with Keira. I have been so blessed to not have cancer but as I continue to help my parents in their different types this book hit a little hard and at times left me feeling very sad and possibly thinking too hard on that aspect. I will also say that this book made me schedule my mammogram that I have been putting off for a few months.

Description is from NetGalley everything else is my own. Thank you to Alcove Press & #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
#TheBrightsideRunningClub #JosieLloyd #bookstagram #booklover #bookwormsofinstagram #brooksghost14 #bookreview

The Bright Side Running Club is an inspirational and heartwarming book based on the author's experience after her breast cancer diagnosis.

Kiera is a busy wife, mother and small business owner and when she's blindsided by a breast cancer diagnosis she ends up befriending a woman she met in the park outside the clinic. She quickly becomes friends with 3 women all in different stages of their breast cancer journey as they meet each week in the park to run. They form a support group and rely on each other for help and friendship.

This is a book about friendship, balancing life and positivity in the face of adversity. The writing style was engaging and I couldn't put this book down!

I love that in the author's note at the end she shared her inspiration that she wanted to write a fictional book about cancer that wasn't sad but felt authentic and used some of her personal experiences in the book.

This is a very forthright but uplifting story of a cancer patient and the running group she joins during her treatment.

I liked Kiera a lot and I liked that she had a lot of support from friends and family. The Bright Side Running Group is a new group of friends who understand what she is going through as well as how the world sees a cancer patient. The dynamic in the group is great because it's just honest and upfront.

I would have liked a little more one and one time with Kiera and each of the other Bright Side runners so we could see how their friendships exist outside of running in the park.
There were quite a few side plots which added to the reality and "busyness" of Kiera's world like teenagers, school mom drama, husband work drama, in-law drama. Those things don't stop with a cancer diagnosis. However, the work drama thing was very out of place and was more distracting than anything else.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.

I did not want this book to end!

I felt honoured to join Kiera on her journey through this book, it was informative, heartfelt and just beautiful. The relationships contained within its pages felt authentic and I wanted to be a part of the journey.

I will definitely be reading other titles by the author.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Title: The Bright Side Running Club
Author: Josie Lloyd
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

When Keira first receives her breast cancer diagnosis, she never expects to end up joining a running group with three women she's only just met. Totally blind-sided, all she can think about is how she doesn't want to tell her family or step back from work. Nor does she want to be part of a group of fellow cancer patients. Cancer is not her club.

And yet it's running - hot, sweaty, lycra-clad running in the company of brilliant, funny women all going through treatment - that unexpectedly gives Keira the hope she so urgently needs. Because Keira will not be defined by the C-word. And now, with the Bright Side Running Club cheering her on, she is going to reclaim everything: her family, her identity, and her life.

One step at a time.

I enjoyed this book so much! I loved Keira as a character, and I loved all the secondary characters as well (except her horrible coworkers). Her journey was both terrible and inspiring as she deals with a terrifying diagnosis and the treatment that isn’t much better. I loved how much she learned about herself and the people in her life, and I’ll admit the book brought me to tears a time or two. I highly recommend!

Josie Lloyd is from Brighton. The Bright Side Running Club is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Alcove Press in exchange for an honest review.)

This is a super sappy sentimental story of women bonding through running while dealing with cancer and a whole bunch of other problems. So, basically not my type of book. But it was about running so I figured I should check it out. And I am really glad I did! The characters were well thought out and the sub stories added some nice depth to keep the book from being over the top saccharine. I truly enjoyed reading about women helping women and being there for each other. With a nice balance between substance and fluff, this would make a good beach or vacation read.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Thank you not NetGalley and publisher for the ARC and early listen. What a great story. Uplifting and emotional. Loved all the characters and the little mystery the author wove into this story. When reading this I thought the author was either a doctor or went through this personally considering all the medical terminology and the treatment that Keira went through. It was all so thorough and detailed . At the end even though it is a work of fiction the author does say she was diagnosed with cancer.
The narrator did a great job! This pertains to the audiobook.