“I missed my brother more than anything I’d ever missed before. And I knew that I was never going to stop missing him. But I had to learn to live alongside the pain, alongside this missing part of my life that I’d never get back.”
The Ghosts We Keep is a deep dive into grief. After losing their brother Ethan in a hit-and-run, Liam is consumed by the loss and this story follows their journey as they realise that while grief may be universal, not everyone will go through the same stages that they do. Compared to their friends Vanessa and Joel, their parents and Ethan’s best friend Marcus, Liam slowly realises that their grief manifests in different ways.
This is a very character-driven story. There is an element of mystery to a certain element of Ethan’s past but I’m pretty sure readers will figure it out within a few chapters. Instead, we really get a look at how grief manifests in different ways and what grieving can do to our relationships. Liam already struggles with their friendships with Vanessa and Joel (who are together) and how they keep edging Liam out. Grieving for their brother, Liam further isolates themselves from their friends but is also cast out by them in turn—the eventual confrontation between the three of them was so harrowing to read but also so warranted. Liam lashes out but so do Vanessa and Joel and I really loved how Deaver took the time to explore this strained relationship and how sometimes friendships can turn toxic over time, especially when they’re tested in the most cruel ways.
We also get a front-row seat to how grief can wreck but also strengthen familial relationships. Liam and their parents deal with the loss of Ethan in very contrasting ways and Deaver really shines here with how they create a narrative of love and loss and guilt—and how we not only keep secrets, but also the ghosts of the people we love long after they are gone. This book really articulates how there is no “one” way to move on after someone you love dies—it’s a trial and error sort of thing and sometimes the things that may make you move on from the loss will cause others more pain (for example when Liam’s parents start boxing up Ethan’s room). It’s as sad as it is authentic that to move on isn’t easy and will take time.
For me, the highlight in this book was Marcus. In a way, I felt at times that Liam was more of a Nick Carraway character who observed how everyone else dealing with grief and I guess that in itself showcases how Liam is influenced by their brother’s death and feeling like they’re disappearing. When they start spending more time with Marcus and realize just how strong the bond between Marcus and Ethan was, so much more becomes clear of what not only Liam, but Marcus and every person who ever loved Ethan lost in the span of a few seconds. I loved how we got more insight into Ethan’s character through Marcus’ eyes and how that contrasted with the events Liam remembered because it showcased so beautifully that people can never be completely known, we only show a certain side to certain people.
There is also a lot of casual queer representation that I loved—Liam is nonbinary and their friends identify as bisexual, with Joel being trans. It was really nice to see these inclusions in a story that clearly focused on grief overall.
I think readers of all ages, and especially those who have ever loved someone they lost, will appreciate this story and feel a sense of catharsis once done reading.
With that being said, there was one aspect of the book that kept taking me out of the story. In the latter half of The Ghosts We Keep, Liam often includes these flash-forwards of what happens in the future, that is how therapy works out or his relationship with Marcus after the book ends, turning them into an omniscient narrator. Obviously, this is intended to make the reader feel more hopeful about what’s happening in Liam’s life and showcase that tragedy can be overcome, but that stylistic choice just kept me from being fully immersed in the story and connecting to Liam overall. It often read very didactic and didn’t really fit with the Liam we get to know in the first half of the book, but that’s just a personal note and most likely won’t be an issue to other readers.
A nuanced exploration of grief and how it influences our relationships and sense of self, Deaver’s sophomore novel The Ghosts We Keep is perfect for fans of Adam Silvera’s History Is All You Left Me and anyone in need of a metaphorical shoulder to cry on.
The Ghosts We Keep is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of June 1st 2021.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
When Liam Cooper’s older brother Ethan is killed in a hit-and-run, Liam has to not only learn to face the world without one of the people he loved the most, but also face the fading relationship with his two best friends.
Feeling more alone and isolated than ever, Liam finds themself sharing time with Marcus, Ethan’s best friend, and through Marcus, Liam finds the one person that seems to know exactly what they’re going through, for the better, and the worse.
This book is about grief. But it’s also about why we live. Why we have to keep moving on, and why we should.
