As Long As We’re Together

by Brianna Peppins

A heartstring-tugging, uplifting, modern spin on Party of Five -- a love letter to family, hope, and finding strength in unexpected places.

Even though she has six siblings, sixteen-year-old Novah still knows what it's like to feel lonely. Her friends never remember to invite her anywhere because they assume Novah will be too busy overseeing dinner, baths, and homework -- tasks that fall to her when her parents are at work. She wouldn't mind it so much if her "perfect" older sister, Ariana, wasn’t always excused from helping out. She's the star of the volleyball team, and their parents don't want anything to jeopardize the scholarships she'll need to become the first member of their family to attend college.

Needless to say, Novah feels like she's been given a raw deal, especially when she's forced to cancel a maybe-date with her crush, Hailee.

Then one terrible night, their parents don't make it back home. A car accident takes their lives and leaves seven heartbroken kids on their own. The Wilkinson siblings have no grandparents, no aunts or uncles. Since Ariana has just turned eighteen, she manages to convince the judge to give her temporary custody. If she can keep her family running smoothly, they'll get to stay in their home. If not, they'll be placed into foster care.

Novah will do whatever it takes to keep her family together but finds herself in a constant power struggle when Ariana refuses to take her advice, even once it becomes clear that they are all in way over their heads. Will Novah find her voice and summon the strength to do the impossible? Or will she be forced to say the hardest goodbyes of all?

Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult, LGBT, Lesbian, Realistic Fiction, Queer, Family

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 16, 2023

About the author

Brianna Peppins is the author of young adult contemporary books, including Briarcliff Prep and As Long as We're Together. She was raised in PG County, Maryland and graduated from Spelman College with a B.A. in Psychology. When not writing, Brianna takes special interest in spending time with her loved ones, social justice issues and is a self-proclaimed movie aficionado.
Briannapeppins.com
Twitter: @Lexi_pep
Instagram: @Lexi_pep

Reviews

[Dani Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book! Definitely recommend, even though it doesn’t say it, it is lgbtqia+! It will make you cry though so be warned.

[Gina Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! This book really came out swinging to only be about 250 pages long!

Novah has a huge family - her parents and 6 siblings. She loves them all, a ton, but she also feels burdened by her role as one of the oldest children, responsible for not only parenting the younger kids but also picking up lots of shifts at her parents' dog grooming business.

When tragedy strikes and the kids' parents die, Ariana, the oldest, is the sole guardian of the whole brood. Part of the issue is that she, as young as she is, was only granted temporary custody until they can have a hearing to determine whether she's fit to take care of all the kids.

This book follows the kids over a few months and basically is just about the trials and tribulations of being a sibling, adding in the grief of losing parents, the stress of keeping a business running, and the looming threat of being put into foster care. There's tender moments, funny moments, even romantic moments as Novah gets to know a girl she's interested in. There is a really evident power struggle between Novah and Ariana. Novah both resents Ariana for trying to be in charge while also respecting her for giving up her life to keep the family together. Ariana resents Novah for still getting to have a life, somewhat, and respects her for everything she does do for the family.

There's the lesbian representation, and there's also autism representation - the youngest sister in the family has autism and is virtually mute, by choice, and communicates with sign language and a dry erase board. It seemed well handled enough, but I'm not the authority on this rep by any means, so let me know.

It's just a sweet book about a family and family struggles and the high points of being a family. Definitely worth reading!

[Emily✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspired by Party of Five, As Long As We're Together follows seven siblings, aged 5-18, whose parents are both killed in a car crash. The siblings struggle to band together through their grief and make ends meet, hoping that the eldest child will be granted full custody and they won't be separated. Our narrator is sixteen-year-old Novah, who prior to her parents' death felt like it fell on her to be "the responsible one" and after their passing chafes at her older sister Ariana's attempts to be in charge. Much of the tension throughout the book arises from Novah and Ariana's interpersonal conflict, as their burdens become heavier and resentment festers between them.

This is an ambitious concept to tackle in 250 pages, but Peppins mostly succeeds. The family and each of their reactions to tragedy are well-conceived and realistic. There are moments of sadness, frustration, tenderness, and triumph. I loved the love these siblings clearly have for each other. The tone overall stays fairly light and sweet; while the characters do struggle, the writing style is quick and straightforward. There's no time to really delve into the emotionality of what's happening, or linger with the character's inner turmoil. I was disappointed by the lack of detail surrounding the logistics of the siblings' life post-parents. For example, we're told that money is tight but don't actually see any affects of this, such as a scene where their card gets declined in the grocery line. With only one vehicle for the family, the younger kids are constantly hiring Ubers, but there's no mention of how expensive that would be. There's never a moment where one of the kids doesn't get picked up from school because a plan fell through, or a sudden sickness throws a wrench in the schedule. Novah stresses about finding time for a news anchor internship she wants, and Ariana insists that they'll "make it work" because it's important for Novah to be able to pursue her dreams, which is wonderful, but how do they "make it work"? Other conflicts are introduced but never resolved, such as one of the younger siblings getting into fights and detentions, or are introduced only to be immediately solved, like discovering that the 17-year-old brother lost his job months ago only after he's already found a new job and nothing has to change.

While As Long As We're Together is very heartfelt, it skimmed a little too close to the surface for me, with too much telling not showing. Deeper character development and a slightly grittier approach would have made this a more successful experience for me. 2.5 stars

TW: parent death, car crash, grief, CPS visits, anxiety and panic attacks, ableism, pet abandonment

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing this eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review!


⭐2023 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge⭐
12. A book published in spring 2023

[Zoë · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is someone cutting onions? No? Okay..

Another target hit exactly on the spot by Brianna Peppins! As Long As We're Together is a book about longing, opportunity, confounding, and grief. I love the LGBTQ Rep, as well!
I really loved this and the characters, and when I tell you I was IN TEARS at this ending!--Happy tears, of course. Can't wait to see what else you have in store, Brianna!

[Felix Millard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ADORE THIS BOOK! It is possibly my new favourite. It’s meaningful and sad and happy at the same time. The representation is amazing - autistic rep, lesbian rep, poc rep, teen caretakers, grief/parental loss, big families. It’s honestly so worth a read and is just amazing.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is more middle grade ish for me when I read it but I think anyone from the younger grades to older can pick this up and digest fairly quick. I think that some of the plot lines felt a little too drop and go. I think younger readers may not be as quick to notice but I’m not sure how a 18/19 year is expected to pay her family’s mortgage / rent and run the shop without any adult assistance ? Plus the family is large and if money was tight as was claimed, it took me out when I noticed the Ubers that were being taken and the lack of actual money coming in (minus the shop & Zion’s incomes.) Minus those minor instances, a sad book but hopeful with lesbian rep with our MC Novah. I liked that there was no coming out storyline, it was just accepted without a bat of an eye.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to start by saying that the storyline of this book is wonderful!
I grabbed this book on a whim while at a school book fair where I work. I knew it would read young and it did. I still enjoyed it though and made sure my rating wasn’t affected by this fact. If you are ages 12-18, a great read! If you are 19+, it might feel too young.
This book revolves around seven siblings who tragically lost their parents to a car crash one night and their battle to stay together as a family. It’s emotional, and frustrating while also being heartwarming, and inspiring.
I also want to add that I love when I see LGBTQ+ relationships within books where it’s just accepted. I don’t need every LGBTQ+ character I read about to have to struggle with being accepted. In this book, it was just a fact about Novah and I appreciate that.

[Lindsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was just nothing here. The characters never developed (except in a very telling way, no showing) and the premise is unbelievable.

[ry · Rating 5 out of 5]

[spoilers!!]

i'm currently in the 7th grade and discovered this book through a recommendation by my school's librarian. this book, i felt, was excellent. i'll start with a brief summary.
at the start of the book, we're introduced to novah and her hectic but loving family of 9. her parents, lisa and ezekiel, and her siblings, ari, zion, korey, dante, miles snd bailey. they own a dog grooming/care shop and take care of the family business together (i'm always a sucker for big families and the like, so this did draw me in).
one day, their parents get into a tragic car crash, cutting both their lives short and leaving the siblings without their parents. they must navigate the challenges of life, including school, the family business and eachother.
i'm not normally one to cry over books or tv, but these characters and their reactions to great loss were so realistic and emotional, and needless to say it made me shed more tears than i'd like to admit😭. this book was written in a way that it felt like i was going through everything that they were.
i'd like to talk about how delicately this author handled certain topics in this book. the wilkinson family is just so diverse -- novah is a lesbian, with a lesbian girlfriend, (sidenote, their romance was very cute.) and her family knows this and it's never addressed as this groundbreaking thing -- just a fact about her. novah also has panic attacks every now and then, and her family supports her and guides her through every time, as do her friends. she has a little sister, bailey, who is autistic and nonverbal, and she isn't treated any differently than her other siblings.her family is religious, and they practice praying to their ancestors regularly. her family is also black!! i just thought the differences were so beautiful to see and that they were written and handled with such care, it made the book seem so real. topics of grief, extreme anger, extreme happiness and sadness, were also effortlessly done here.

i'd say this book is perfect for middle schoolers and over. there's a wide range of language used in this book that are scattered rarely throughout, but it wasn't a big deal to me. there isn't anything very graphic, although novah and her older sister do have a physical fight and many verbal ones prior to. there is some suspense surrounding the court case deciding whether or not the children stay together or not. this is pretty much everything that happens overall.

my final rating is a 10/10. i thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommend to my friends. 'as long as we're together' will break your heart, fully wrap you up in the characters, and show you the true meaning of family.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novah is used to giving up a lot for her family. Her parents have seven kids to take care of and a dog care business called Lively Pups to keep up and running. It's a lot of work, and everyone has to pitch in. And Novah's okay with that, most of the time. But sometimes its frustrating, or even unfair - like when she has to miss hanging out with her friends -again- because she has to help her little siblings with homework, or when she has to cover a shift at Lively Pups for her sister, Ari, so Ari can go hang out with friends.

But when her parents die suddenly in a car crash, Novah knows she will have to give up a lot more for her family. And she's ready to do that, because the most important thing is to make sure they can all stay together. That's what their parents would have wanted. Ari, who recently graduated high school, is named by the court as their conditional guardian, and the family has several months to prove they can make that arrangement work or the siblings will go into foster care and likely be separated into different homes.

Novah now finds her responsibilities to her siblings and to the family business growing, while also trying to navigate grief, school work, friendships, a new crush, teenage mistakes, anxiety, and her challenging relationship with her older siblings Ari and Zion - both of whom are keeping secrets, and missing family events and work shifts while expecting Novah to pick up the slack. As her resentment and anxiety grow, Novah feels caught between doing what is best for her siblings and honoring her own needs.

The character development and authentic sibling relationships really shine in this character-driven retelling of the TV show Party of Five. Publisher-recommended for ages 12+ and grades 7th-9th.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok the smaller siblings are so cute. And the mc's gf is cute. And the dogs, however little we seem them, are cute.

But wow is that mc insufferable, and yet we're supposed to agree that she's not selfish? To her credit, she does love and take care of her little siblings, but even before their parents dies, she's so reluctant about all of it. Understandably of course, given that she's 16 and sort of the one falling through the cracks of 7 kids needing time and support from parents who own a small business. At first, I really empathized, and sure she's 16 and prone to stupid decisions and stubbornness, but this did not make me root for her as a person. As a sibling, yes, I wanted her family to get through this. As a friend, yes, I wanted her honestly amazing group of friends to make it. As a girlfriend and budding journalist, though? Couldn't care less.

[Dahlia S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I teach 6th grade, and picked this book up for our classroom library one day at the book fair. I decided to give it a read myself to e sure it was appropriate for my kids. There’s slight language, although sparse, included that helped me to decide that my class wasn’t quite old enough for this one. I think it would be perfect for 8th grade and up.
For me personally I enjoyed the book. I loved the way the characters loved and supported each other even when it was hard. Some parts of the story felt predictable, but it didn’t take away from the story. I appreciated the care the author took with topics like grief, autism, and anxiety/mental health.
Overall it was a touching story about family, love, community, and tenacity.

[Landa Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Long As Were Together by Briana Peppins shows the struggling life of having 7 siblings and keeping a the family together as the second eldest sister after the parent's death. The book can be interesting to learn about how a family stays together during hard times with so many people in the family. Keeping track of schoolwork, the family, and keeping up with a personal side of life. It is interesting to learn how Novah, the main character deals with this situation. At the same time, it can be boring to just read everything and what is going on. So, for me I would understand if someone liked the book and if someone found it boring (because there are some times that gets boring).

[Dalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Because this family is really trying so hard, so so hard. You learn with them, you cry with them, and you laugh with them. Novah, our main character, is only 16 yo, that sometimes do believe that she knows better. I have to admit I do the same thing, so let's say this book made me reflect a lot about how I behave with my family and sometimes. She has of course lots of qualities but this is something that marked me. But otherwise, the family dynamic is amazing and a quick and easy read. Would 100% recommend.

[Jos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounding down as it did lose me at about the 60% mark with lack of communication. It did grab my attention again later on, but it was just a little too messy with not enough consequences.

Otherwise, it was an interesting story about balancing adult responsibilities and working together with family to solve problems. I just wish the story leaned more into that. It felt like too many things were going on that resolved offscreen.

If you want a YA where the lead is incredibly flawed and also an untrustworthy narrator this might be for you.

[Akemi Tanaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters in the novel are well-developed and relatable. Peppins does a great job of balancing the comedic and dramatic elements of the story. The climax of the novel is both satisfying and emotionally resonant.

[Andrea Brinkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a really relatable book for teens who have experienced loss, family conflict, or just the struggles of life. It was relatively well written and even though it felt a bit predictable, it would probably be less so for a teen.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first part of this book is very chaotic and the parents kind of bugged me as they expected their kids to set aside their own dreams to help chase theirs. I loved the rest of the book and it is a tear jerker. I loved the growth in the older characters.

[DeAja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the storyline, and it was quick to get through. Novah did get on my nerves sometimes with her decision making but she is 16. I found myself empathizing more with Ari instead. The way the whole family came together towards the end was very touching

[Sophia Sherrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it

[Stephanie Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5

[Marie Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this much better than Party of Five.

[Channa West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a good one. I love how the author made this book come to life while reading it.

[LyB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Blackett Book club book

[Kévin Carlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another One - DJ Khaled Voice

Loved it. Brianna does such a good job at using words to create family portraits. It almost seems like she personally invites readers to accompany the Wilkinsons at their dining room table to get first hand insights to their joys and sorrows. She handled grief, responsibility, hope, and community in ways that beckon readers towards self examination.

[Rachel David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one really got me. Beautiful

[_lucy grace_]

😔

[Lady Alexandra Lai · Rating 4 out of 5]

very heartwarming.

[AndiMan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute and sweet book about family, the bonds between siblings and the adultification of older siblings

[✨ Brianna Raquel ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peppins is so good at tackling heavy subjects in such a short amount of pages, and it blows me away every time.