I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Whilst sad in many places life was better for all the running club ladies thanks to friendship. The author has compassionately written about cancer and the difficulties that come with it. We all need friendship to get us through difficult times.

I started this with a little trepidation, I love running & have had the odd unfortunate brush with cancer. It’s brilliantly written, it doesn’t sugar coat, but also doesn’t give you the raw bare bones. It’s a finely balanced read about very sensitive subject matter. I’m not going to lie parts had me laughing, but also shedding the odd tear. Really enjoyed it and would wholeheartedly recommend it!

I adored this book!
I've been a fan of Josie's writing for decades and I was incredibly excited to see her back with a sparkly new book. When I read the blurb I was even more keen and this book did not disappoint.

There were times I was screaming at the pages at some of the drama unfolding, particularly the way Keira is treated at her business and by her family during the worst of times. I thought the dynamics and personality types written were so genuine and accurate. Juggling a business, motherhood (especially to teenagers), marriage, and then the devastating realities of breast cancer, Keira was someone I felt I could relate to and admired.

This is a visceral and raw but poignant tribute to womens' experiences of cancer. There's no sugarcoating. I believe the author's own personal experience of cancer diagnosis, treatments and recovery bring such a connection with Keira and her running friends to the reader, I was transfixed, physically on edge and involved in this story. However, as brutal and honest that this story is, it is also tremendously heartwarming, life-affirming and has many moments that make you smile.

I feel uplifted and enriched for having read this wonderful book.

A well written, emotional, powerful novel following ladies undergoing various treatment for cancer whilst they set up a running club. They are truly remarkable - I doubt if I could do it. They definitely inspire and give hope to others battling against cancer.

Uplifting and emotional - wonderful writing

This is very clearly a personal novel for the author, and she draws on her own experience of Cancer, in order to produce such a brilliant book.

I would say try not to read the early parts of this book while eating, if you are squeamish. Some of the in depth descriptions of just how the surgery will happen, unfortunately appeared while I was eating and instantly made me lose my appetite.

But besides the technical, in depth hospital details of a woman undergoing breast cancer treatment, there is the rest of her life as it continues, and Keira's determination that cancer won't be her defining characteristic.

And that is where this book comes into it's own, we get to meet a group of strong determined women, who have decided to run their way through cancer, and they form strong friendships as a result of it. Tasmin, Amma, Sian and Keira are all inspirational in their own ways.

Yet not everyone was as a supported of Keira as they perhaps should be, so she is struggling with work issues, which as the reader were obvious a mile off, but it took her a while to realise it wasn't her just dropping the ball. There is her family, who all have different reactions to the diagnosis, as to the mums in the playground, and her best friends, pre-cancer.

It's the bonds of female friendship that really make this book, and I feel it could potentially give anyone going through breast cancer treatment some hope too. This is not a depressing book, yes there were moments I was on the verge of tears, but that is because the writing is so good, that I really cared for the characters and what they are going through.

Truly fabulous book that I highly recommend.

Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,

True story of the battle with breast cancer lost count of the number of times this book had me in tears heart warming , funny, sad, inspirational story.
Keira receives a breast cancer diagnosis and meets some wonderful new friends through running, the battle with cancer is just a small part of life Kiera battles. Husband, children and own business all to contend with during her cancer battles and so called friends trying to take her business Kiera is strong and determine and takes in all on with a positive mindset that see her through some extremely tough times and that's with the cancer battle on top. Inspiration seeps through every page even when the tears flow.

Such a heart wrenching book full of fun, love, sadness, laughter. Pure emotion throughout! Worth every moment of reading this

Words cannot express how much I enjoyed this book. I was smitten just by reading Josie's letter before I started reading the book.
What a wonderful, beautifully written book and so inspiring. Brought tears to my eyes but also laughter. I loved the lovely characters but wanted to shout at the baddies; I felt I was really part of this little community.

Thank you Josie, personally, I have not been affected by cancer but know many people who have and think this book should be prescribed to everyone going through treatment. You are an inspiration.

This book is based on Josie Lloyd’s own experience of breast cancer. It covers a mix of emotions; happiness, sadness, determination, despair, love, betrayal and lots more.
It is a really well written experience about how Kiera, a 40 something wife, mother and businesswoman, discovers she has breast cancer. She sees Tamsin, who also has cancer, running round the park and is cajoled into joining her. Soon there are four of them and they help each other through their troubles and run to keep both their strength and their hopes up.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book although I did have to pause part way through as I wasn’t in the right mindset. Once I picked the book back up though I couldn’t stop reading and would definitely recommend it.

Kiera has her own ship, handed down from her dad, a husband and 3 children. Life has been good to Kiera. She has gone for her cancer screening a little early, lucky she does, she finds she has breast cancer. In her shock she heads to a nearby park where she meets Tamsin (a fellow cancer sufferer) from this chance meeting friendships grow and all that comes with it. I do not want to reveal anymore for fear of spoiling this beautifully written story. Highly recommend this!

What a wonderful and emotional journey this story is. With a title such as this one, I had already braced myself for tears but they managed to take me by surprise, time and time again! Each person in this story had me interested from the start, whether it be as a likeable character or not (I’m looking at you, Lorna and Pierre...)

Although the topic of cancer has been explored in many different fiction novels, this one felt extremely relatable to me, particularly as a woman from the UK. I originally thought the novel would revolve around running (a reason which I wanted to read in the first place) but I found the run club was mainly just the catalyst of the characters. Having said that, I did find myself much more intrigued to know the background of each new person as they entered the story, thanks to the easygoing and friendly writing style. I loved following the whole ride with Keira, even though it’s an extremely emotional one. The details regarding hospitals and treatments weren’t overly descriptive but gave enough of a picture for me to really understand this was coming from an author who has had this experience or at least had researched it fully. It makes such a difference in the writing to have this sense of personal relation to it.

Overall, I’m glad it is an uplifting story full of inspiration. It’s one that I want to keep to one side for the future, for myself or someone else, to find the hope that they might need one day.

Keira is diagnosed with breast cancer and the reader is very cleverly taken through the emotional turmoil that follows. The reactions of family, friends and colleagues make you think about how you would cope in the same situation. I expected it to be sad and overwhelming but, actually, it was very funny in places and informative without being too upsetting. I thought the balance was perfect between the emotional and the factual aspects of the cancer diagnosis and treatment.
I found the sub plot about the book shop to be unnecessary and was more of a distraction, but I suppose it was effective in drawing the main characters together.
A lovely book about strength, hope and friendship. Thank you to Josie Lloyd, Net Galley and the publisher, HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book and learning about the ladies that made up The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club.
Could identify with a lot of the characters who felt torn between their responsibilities and well being.
Well written and empathetic.

This book delivered two stories in one, the uplifting 'let's beat cancer' and the company is' going under if not careful' fraud sub plot. I am not sure that we needed both. The strength of the women and how their friendship developed over the course of the book shone through, although I felt it was a story I had read before.

The cancer ladies running club, is a wonderful uplifting book which has been loosely based on the author Josie Lloyd’s breast cancer diagnosis and having been through the same horrid disease (although I didn’t run) I associated with so many parts of this story, my only gripe is the novel Is split into two halves, the half regarding Kiera and the running club is great but the other half regarding Keira’s business and her partners really distracted me, it was quite obvious where it was heading but they were so unlikeable and I wished this part was edited slightly. But even after saying this I would still recommend this novel to others.

A very standard, classic women's lit book with an uplifting through line that is harboured from being strong by the melodrama of the central plot. This is really marketing itself to a particular kind of reader and I am not that reader. There's nothing especially wrong with it, but I feel as though I've read it before.

I experienced the full gamut of emotions whilst reading this awe inspiring book, from anger at the way Lorna treats Kiera to full blown ugly tears at several points where things just keep getting harder and harder for her.
It is clear from the outset that this book is written with personal experience at its very heart and the observations made about going into and through treatment were searingly honest and frank.
Every last character contributed greatly to the story whether they be a main contender or a bit part (the builders!) the whole cast really helped draw you into Kiera's reality and her struggles with trying to be a mum, wife and business woman as well as battling cancer.
I loved the idea of the running club and the way it helped all of the women involved come to terms with their diagnoses, outcomes and prognoses.
All in all an absolutely fantastic book (if there were 10 stars available it would get every last one of them) but be warned if you start to read it in public be armed with tissues and a wide brimmed hat to hide behind!

The Cancer Ladies Running Club By Josie Lloyd a five-star read filled with hope. This is going to be difficult for some as it does as the title suggest deals with cancer, but it also deals with so much more. If you are looking for a story with hope, friendship and comedy that will make you snort your glass of wine!! (sacrilege I know but it was so funny, I snorted then hyperventilated from laughing so hard at the book and the snort). If you are feeling even the tiniest bit down about anything in your life pick this book up as it is full of inspiration and right now, I feel that we could all do with all the inspiration we can get our hands on. I have already put a pre order in for this for a friend who is dealing with her diagnosis now, as I know she will get so much out of this story and I have as I now feel like I can help her and be there for her in ways I would never have imagined doing previously, this book has opened my eyes in so many ways, I am just so happy that I got the chance to read it.

WOW, what a ride! This was outstanding, amazing, awesome I read it within 24 hours.... only got 4 hours sleep last night because of it.... I did not want to put up it down, now I’m knackered. I thoroughly enjoyed this in a perverse kind of way, taking into consideration the context ❤️❤️❤️

What a fantastic story. I experienced so many emotions as I worked my way through the book. Anger, frustration, sadness, joy, anticipation and surprise. At one point my husband said “You’re going red’. And I responded with “I know, I’m getting frustrated by the way in which Lorna, what a bitch, is treating Keira.... and it’s Keira’s business. 😡 I wholeheartedly got into this.

Josie has got this just right, she would, wouldn’t she as it’s created from personal experience. It covers typical behaviours friendship, family, courage, strength, deception, relationships, love, survival and grief..... add a little humour to that and you’ve got it all.

From when Keira is diagnosed with breast cancer, Josie takes the reader on a journey that encompasses her own personal experience of living with, enduring the debilitating treatment of and surviving breast cancer.

Excerpts:

‘So that roll would become a breast.’ He points at my stomach and I clutch my hands over myself protectively. Roll? Who said anything about a roll? He can’t call my stomach a roll. 😂😂😂

‘I try and make jokes over breakfast, but the kids look at me as if I’m speaking in poor taste. Oh yes, I’d forgotten. The sense of humour thing. Not allowed when you have cancer. Silly me.’ 😢

Inspiring, heartwarming, frustrating and a huge appreciation of what Josie has been through without experiencing breast cancer personally. We have and will all be touched by this awful disease, I have lost friends and have friends who have survived breast cancer, they are incredible and they have my utmost respect.

Most definitely 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me. Every woman should read this. Publication date: 25 June 2020

Thanks to the author Josie Lloyd, Harper Collins and Netgalley, for this ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.

As a (very slow) runner myself, I was drawn to this book because I’m a sucker for running stories and this book did not let me down.
The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club was a heart-warming and inspirational read from Josie Lloyd. The book follows Keira as she begins her breast cancer treatment, all while managing family and work problems. During this time Keira meets Tamsin, a runner and fellow cancer patient, and is dragged along into forming a running club.
As the title suggests, this is a book about cancer, but mostly this book is about friendship and the bonds formed between women. This book made me laugh and cry and taught me about the harsh reality of cancer treatment. I read The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club while isolating during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was a perfect read to keep me positive and also inspired me to get out on a run or two!
I would recommend this book if, like me, you love contemporary fiction and are looking for a fun and moving read.