Things That Keep Us Here (Buckley) - Book Reviews

Book Reviews
The third-person narration squanders the tensions among [the characters], resulting in flat and unsurprising epiphanies. Although Buckley raises important questions about trust, loyalty and forgiveness, the narrative flaws detract from the overall effect.
Publishers Weekly


Medical thriller meets domestic drama in this timely debut.... With crisp writing and taut pacing, Buckley spins a convincing apocalyptic vision that's both frightening and claustrophobic, although she handles the human drama less adroitly.... Verdict: Despite structural flaws, this vivid depiction of suburban America gone bad is riveting. —Jeanne Bogino, New Lebanon Lib., NY
Library Journal


Buckley pulls many punches, downplaying in particular the chaos that could ensue following a total infrastructure collapse, and sets up the novel's surprise final twists by deliberately misleading the reader. Mawkish prose and blatantly contrived plot developments make this a disappointing debut.
Kirkus Reviews