Thank you so much to Gallery Books for the complimentary copy of the book!

This book is out now!

This book is the second book from Allison Larkin following up to the sensational The People We Keep.
Once again Larkin knocks it out of the park! This book had so much heart, some humor and just a feeling of hope throughout the book.

Freya is pulled back into her hometown after having emergency surgery and really no where else to go. She knew she inherited her parents home and went back there where she found her teenage niece camping out. I absolutely loved Freya's relationship with Aubrey. Aubrey needed a parental figure in her life and she really trusted Freya. The story does have moments of flashbacks where we see them younger and how they bonded and how it was so difficult for Freya to leave Aubrey. Aubrey herself does not have a good relationship with her parents. She is more of a black sheep and doesn't want to conform to what her parents think is how you should be in society. She truly just wants to be herself but under their watch, has no way of making herself grow. They had a bit of a rocky start when Freya came back to town but she immediately went into rescue mode and took care of Aubrey. I was very happy for them by the end of the book.

The book itself is seeing how Freya reconnects with her former life and attempts to rebuild her life after leaving everything behind in Maine. We learn the frustrating reason why she left and how that shadow still haunts at her. I loved her friendship with Jam and was so glad that he had her in his life and vice versa. I had been rooting for them as a couple but when Freya started flirting with Eddie, I thought okay her and Jam have a platonic relationship but then series of events happen and I thought OKAY JAM!

There were brief vignettes about the circus in between chapters which I thought were fine to throw in but I was okay without them. I guess it had been necessary to tie in with the title of the book as well as some circus references that are mentioned throughout the book especially in a scene towards the end.

Larkin has this way of making you root for all the characters in the book and there was one character in particular that I was holding my breath to see if they made it to the end. Her words pull you into the worlds of these fictional characters but in a way that makes them feel real off page. Like they could be someone you might have known. Larkin is able to write about the complexities of the relationships we have with family and that sometimes you just have to walk away.

4.5

Home of the American Circus is a deep and resonant family drama that truly shines as one of the best books I've read this year.
It was a captivating read, brought vividly to life on the page due to the author’s rich, character-focused writing and creative storytelling, creating an emotionally intense reading experience. The narrative of this novel gracefully weaves through the lives of deeply layered characters, exploring their heartbreaks, hopes, and the ties that bind them. It grabs the reader and does not let go even after the last page.

For those drawn to stories of found family, emotional resilience, and the complexities of human connection, this one is a rewarding journey worth taking.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this novel which I read in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 - “How are you supposed to deal with the fact that you could live to be a hundred or for five more minutes?”

I loved The People We Keep so I couldn’t wait to read this book. Allison Larkin does such an incredible job in creating these fascinating characters in difficult situations, all while managing to keep some semblance of hope.

Freya is a complicated protagonist who hasn’t had it easy. Back in her hometown she reconnects with her niece Aubrey, who’s now 15, and so many other people. As the story progresses, she starts to rebuild her relationship with her niece as she tries to save her childhood home. Freya sees herself in Aubrey, as her sister treats her daughter much like she treated Freya growing up. She’s always had this feeling of being unwanted, and she has so much trauma from her sister and her mother.

What I think Larkin does so well is delve deep into what is means to truly belong somewhere and how the people we meet shape our personalities and lives. Freya finds a family in the people she used to serve at her job and the people she left behind. In the process she finds confidence in herself as she tries to heal and move on from old wounds. The supporting characters are great as well, and it’s clear how they all affect Freya

“We’re all woefully finite, trying to pretend we’re infinite.”

The book feels immersive, as if you’re being dropped into a story that’s already happening. I will say it did have a bit of a slow start for me, but once the story started to open up I was completely engrossed in it. It feels really poignant, blending sad and happy moments together so well. Freya’s journey is difficult but ultimately uplifting, which makes it so satisfying to read.

I absolutely loved this book! I found it hard to put down.
I LOVED The People We Keep. And was so excited for a new story written by Larkin.
The writing was incredible and the plot was so interesting.
The characters in this book are so real and I feel like they’re people I know in real life. I’m still thinking about them. I was sad to leave them at the end.
I was fully immersed in this story and could vividly picture the settings.
Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin is a beautifully written story about discovery, broken families, the weight of the past, and the complicated journey of finding home.
I absolutely recommend this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Gallery Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by a favorite, Allison Larkin. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Freya leaves her just-getting-by-life in Maine and returns to her hometown of Somers, NY, to live in the house that she inherited from her estranged parents. She tries to lay low, but it's a small town, so she soon encounters all her old acquaintances, and most especially, her niece, Aubrey, who is secretly living in the falling-apart house. As they work to fix the house and their relationship, they have to learn to live with what happened long ago.

Another fabulous character-driven novel by Larkin that will draw you in until you can't look away. Freya is such a wonderful character - flawed but deeply set on being just the right person for the people in her life, especially Aubrey, giving her what neither received. It's wonderfully atmospheric, and although it has covers some dark and painful topics, it feels hopeful and bright. It's a beautiful story of second chances, stopping generational trauma, and loving people for who they are. At over 400 pages, it never felt long or slow to me; instead I kept wanting to return to Freya and the family she created for herself. Loved all the bits about Old Bet as well. A must read!

Freya has been estranged from her family for many years and living in a small town in Maine. Upon being evicted and having no money, Freya returns to the town she grew up in and takes up residence in the house left to her by her parents. Freya reconnects with her beloved niece Aubry but avoids seeing her sister. Freya and Aubrey begin working on both the house and their relationship with the help of friends and others who want to help.

It is a lovely, funny, poignant tale of the families we grow up with and the ones we make who sustain us. The writing is lovely with flashes of incredible insight. Everyone should read this one.

Freya returns to her hometown to the rundown house she inherited from her parents, only to discover her estranged 15-year-old niece, Aubrey, living there. As they work together to restore the house, they gradually rebuild their fragile relationship. Along the way, they form connections with others in the community, deepening their bond with each other while working through their past traumas. The story is emotional and profound, with a wonderful cast of characters who come together to form a makeshift family in their small town.
This is a beautifully written novel that resonated with me emotionally.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A heartfelt novel about going home again, the idea of found family, and breaking familiar cycles and working to move on and build a new life.
This is a character-driven novel that is full of emotion and depth.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

Short on rent again, Freya Arnald hits the road, leaving behind Acadia, Maine after a decade. Hounded by an estate attorney, she heads to Somers, NY, where her deceased parents' home awaits—along with two unexpected occupants: her 15-year-old niece Aubrey and a rat named Lenny Juice. Freya's initial plan to sell the dilapidated house quickly evaporates when she realizes serious repairs are needed. Deeply drawn to Aubrey, whom she hasn't seen since she was a little girl, Freya must navigate the challenges of renovation while reconnecting with her niece and avoiding the rest of the town, especially her wicked sister. Along the way, she reunites with Jam, her oldest friend, who is a musical prodigy battling his own demons. As Freya works to rebuild the house and her relationship with Aubrey, she must face painful memories she left behind when she fled at nineteen. In this heartwarming drama, Freya discovers that family isn’t just about blood—it’s about the connections we choose. With its richly drawn cast of quirky characters, this novel is a beautiful testament to second chances and the resilience of the human spirit. Sometimes, despite our best efforts to run, happiness can be found where we least expect it, proving that you can always go home again.

This book was so heartbreaking yet beautiful and tender. It’s a coming of age story with a lot of character development and growth. Such a strong and powerful portrayal of found family and relationships. This book was so emotional at times dark but it was beautifully balanced with moments of love and light. The author does a wonderful job of writing each character as if they are real and believable. The writing style was brilliant and kept me engaged from start to finish. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone that loves character driven novels.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

Not sure many are better than Allison Larkin at capturing hope around the edges when life feels like a series of defeats. I was thrilled to receive an ARC through NetGalley of Home of the American Circus after previously enjoying The People We Keep. The American Circus serves a purpose (setting and story are key here) but don’t be fooled by the title.

The protagonist Freya returns to her hometown years after a rift with her dysfunctional family. Set in 2007-2008 Somers, NY (to me upstate starts where Metro North ends so I would call this downstate), Larkin keenly captures this small town (especially a small town restaurant) and found family type community. All the people we come to care about in Freya’s chosen family are imperfect and all are just doing their best to take care of one another.

A multi-generational character-driven story, the most touching and complex relationship is between Freya and her teenage niece Aubrey as they reunite and try to break family cycles, fix an old house, and muddle through to something new uncovering more about their family along the way. The challenges are heavy, yet there’s so much warmth—Larkin clearly poured herself into this world.

Initially I felt all the characters had depth except Freya’s sister. But as I read further I realized I at one point knew *her*and the accuracy made me shudder. The pacing for some may also be a little slow at first, but it picks up and I think has a satisfying end arch. I feel confident that it’ll be one of my favorites of the year.
This review was shared on Goodreads and Fable.

A coming of age story with lots of growth from the characters. The story showed how decisions are not always black and white but sometimes fall into the grey area. The book was dark but with moments of light and love.

✨This is a beautifully crafted and profoundly moving story of a woman broken by her circumstances searching for a place to belong. The story of her journey is told in these pages with depth and emotion, and I absolutely loved it.

✨The author incorporates symbolism throughout the story in such a way that the story lingers long after the last page is turned. Don’t miss the deeper meanings of the house and the elephant. There is so much to unpack here, and I am thoroughly entranced. I will not soon forget this one.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Contemporary literary fiction
Dual timelines
Found family narratives
Small town dynamics
Family drama
Redemption arcs
Lovable casts of supporting characters

I really liked it! This one definitely leaned heavier in the addiction/drug abuse direction which I didn't expect, but as with Allison's previous novel, she captured that misfit cast perfectly. The people who feel like they don't have any one and are continually searching for support, love, and acceptance. I didn't love this one as much as TPWK, but it still held a lot of meaning for me. I thought the audio by Julia Whelan was phenomenal.

“I delight in being known. “

I really enjoyed Allison Larkin’s previous book The People We Keep. It was a book that I remember fondly with where I was at in life and the weather/season…laying in the sun outside in the summer. Those books always tend to be more special when you can recall those details. Same will be true for Home For The American Circus… the smell from our lilac bush blooming, hands in the dirt gardening, the start of warm days ahead.

“Who knows how we are all suppose to be.”

I knew very little before starting this audiobook… the main character Freya must head back to her hometown after getting in a bind, and once arriving she has to deal with all that she left behind.

Allison crafts characters that you feel in your bones. The struggles and imperfection makes you root your heart out for the good to prevail. The community in the small town feels special and nostalgic. I’m truly captivated by this story and it’s one I’ll have to pick up a physical copy of to revisit.

“There’s so many ways for people to let each other down.”

A beautiful book!

Thank you Simon Audio 🎧

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Another great book by Allison Larkin. It started out a bit slow but I ended up really caring for Freya and Aubrey who were treated so badly by their families. There is a lot of trauma but it is also hopeful.

After a medical emergency leaves her low on cash, Freya Arnalds decides to return to her hometown after years away. She’s inherited her estranged parents’ house but she has no interest in seeing anyone else in town, especially her sister. But things get a little complicated when she finds her 15 year old niece secretly staying in the house.

This book feels so heavy and sad most of the time but there are also moments that feel so joyful. And that’s life for a lot of people isn’t it?

A coming of age, character driven, sad book is so far from my usual style but something about this one really hooked me. A small town romance with the lead returning to their hometown? Sure, I’ve read tons of them. This almost feels like the more realistic take on that. It’s not cute or easy but it’s real. This book is just life and all the hard parts that come with it. Finding out this book takes place in her real hometown makes it even better.

All of the characters in this book are dealing with past trauma, some better than others. In interesting to see the way everyone deals with the pain differently.

Read this for:
-Found family
-Friendship
-Showing up for people when you never had anyone show up for you
-Lenny the rat

Thanks to Gallery Books for the ARC!

"Kids don't need a life where nothing bad ever happens. What they need is someone who's there for them when the bad stuff happens."

Freya Arnalds ends up back in her hometown of Somers, New York, after an emergency forces her to leave her life bartending in Maine. Staying in an inherited house and reconnecting with childhood friends, flames, and family in the birthplace of the American circus, Freya also reconnects with her 15-year-old niece, Aubrey. This becomes her most important relationship, but also causes them to dredge up the past.

UGH MY HEART. After reading THE PEOPLE WE KEEP, I knew I was in for an emotional journey, but HOME OF THE AMERICAN CIRCUS really made my heart squeeze. While there are dark and somber themes in this book, I absolutely loved Freya and was rooting for her the entire book - I just felt so hopeful as she grew and made decisions to create happiness and belonging. Her relationship with Aubrey was just spectactular and such an example of "family is what you make it" and truly being there "when the bad stuff happens." This is a heavily character-driven novel, focusing on Freya, her family, connections, and community. Highly, highly recommend reading this!

Home of the American Circus is at the very top of my list for 2025. As soon as I turned the last page, I wanted to start back over and read it all again. The character development was top-notch and I found myself thinking about Freya, Audrey and Jam when I wasn't reading. The setting was described so well that the homes and buildings themselves almost felt like characters! This book will break your heart, make you laugh and give you hope. I'll be recommending it to absolutely everyone.

I absolutely loved this book focusing on found family and breaking generational curses. I love the life the character has created for herself.