Almost Family

A Novel

By: Ann Bancroft

Narrated by: Suzanne Buirgy

Liz Millanova has stage four cancer, a grown daughter who doesn’t speak to her, and obsessive memories of a relationship that tore apart her marriage. She thinks of herself as someone who’d rather die than sit through a support group, but now that she actually is going to die, she figures she might as well give it a go.

Mercy’s Thriving Survivors is a hospital-sponsored group held in a presumably less depressing location: a Nordstrom’s employee training lounge. There, Liz hits it off with two other patients, and the three unlikely friends decide to ditch the group and meet on their own. They call themselves the Oakland Mets, and their goal is to enjoy life while they can. Together, Dave, a gay Vietnam vet, Rhonda, a devout, nice woman who’s hiding a family secret and finds peace in a gospel choir, and snarky Liz plan outings to hear jazz, enjoy nature, and tour Alcatraz.

In the odd intimacy they form, Liz learns to open up and get close, acknowledge and let go of the dysfunction in her marriage, and repair her relationship with her daughter. They joined forces to have a good time—but what they wind up doing is helping one another come to grips with terminal cancer and resolve the unfinished business in their lives.

©2023, 2024 Ann Bancroft (P)2024 Ann Bancroft

Be Prepared to Cry!

Liz Millanova is diagnosed with stage four cancer. This is a fictionalized book about grappling to accept fate, confronting unfinished business, opening up to new friendships, and embracing what remains of life.

The author, Ann Bancroft, crafts a moving and powerful narrative with richly detailed situations, characters, and outcomes. Every conversation and interaction feels authentic and solid, making each character relatable and deeply immersing the listener in the story. The narrative is raw and deeply emotional, drawing the listener in and powerfully illustrating cancer’s impact on individuals, regardless of ethnicity, financial status, gender, or sexuality.

The narrator, Suzanne Buirgy, gives an excellent performance as the narrative is told from Liz’s point of view as she engages the listener with well-paced delivery and tonal inflections that enhance the emotional depth. Her deliberate pauses and pacing underscore the seriousness of each interaction and situation, while her clear and concise speech adds to the overall impact.

I absolutely hate crying, yet this book made me do just that! However, this is far from a negative—it’s a testament to how much I truly enjoyed it. With both the author’s work and the narrator’s performance, I highly recommend this book!

There were no issues with the sound or quality of this audiobook.