Josie Lloyd (co-author of Come Together) delivers a witty, warmhearted story of a woman dealing with breast cancer treatment alongside a group of unlikely new friends in The Bright Side Running Club. Keira is happily married, a mother of three and the owner of a thriving small business when a breast cancer diagnosis upends her comfortable life. Somewhat reluctantly, she joins a running group made up of women who also have cancer. To her surprise, not only does running help her feel better physically, but her new friends provide deep empathy, moral support and much-needed humor as they all face cancer's cascading effects on their lives.
Lloyd, herself a breast cancer survivor, vividly captures the early stages of diagnosis and treatment: the physical details as well as the maelstrom of emotions. She skillfully depicts the effects of Keira's diagnosis on the important relationships in her life (her husband, children, mother and colleagues) as well as how she learns to advocate for herself both in and out of the treatment room. Meanwhile, Keira suspects her longtime business partner of some shady dealings, and her new friends struggle with their own treatments and other challenges. The women band together in sometimes surprising ways to support one another, and they organize a charity run in honor of one of their own.
Full of wry humor, despite the heavy subject matter, The Bright Side Running Club is a clear-eyed, ultimately hopeful story and a testament to the power of female friendships. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams