Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Before I Let You Go

“It’s remarkable how one person’s presence can disrupt every little thing that is ordinarily secure.”

A phone call at 2am is all it takes to turn Lexie’s life upside down once again in order to help her sister who is battling addiction.

Annie is pregnant and needs immediate medical care, but is terrified to go because she knows she won’t pass a drug test. In Alabama mothers can be prosecuted, and face prison time for chemical endangerment to her unborn baby.

Once again, Lexie’s role is to be stable and responsible and try to fix things for Annie. However this time Annie’s disruptions will have an impact on Sam, Lexie’s fiancé. There are parts of her childhood that she and Annie faced, that she has yet to share with him. However, Sam remains steadfast and supportive despite the upturn of their life.

When Daisy is born, Annie only has a short period of time to spend with her before attending court mandated rehab, if she doesn’t complete it, she will face prison time for chemical endangerment charges.

Naturally, Annie has asked Lexie to take care of Daisy while she’s away and Lexie agrees.

Lexie finally begins to believe that Annie can get sober because of Daisy. Except Annie is having a hard time sharing and reconciling with her past with her therapist… even things Lexie was unaware of. The only thing that seems to be working is a journal that was gifted to her by her late father.

Annie’s defiance when it comes to authority will soon cause her more trouble when she leaves the rehab before completion…

Lexie has been instructed to turn Annie in if she shows up at their house, or she could be facing charges for helping a fugitive. There’s been no sign of Annie for several days after she left rehab, but then she makes a phone call to Lexie. Annie sounds desperate to see Daisy, but Lexie turns her down and urges her to turn herself in and hangs up.

By chance, Lexie visits the trailer where Annie was living to convince her to turn herself in, but what Lexie finds breaks her heart..

Content Warnings

jackiesspookyshelf's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

justgwen's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Before I Let You Go was a totally engaging read made up of some of my favourite bookish ingredients. There’s a strong but complicated sisterly bond within the context of a dysfunctional family. Both sisters are flawed in their own way but I was really rooting for them, even when I wanted to scream at them occasionally for some bad choices. There is a spotlight shone on misogynistic, patriarchal religious cults and the long term harm they can cause. There is a look at the enduring impact of sexual abuse. There is also a very realistic but non-judgemental exploration of the issues of drug addiction through both the lens of the addicted person and the lens of a family member. The novel highlights the scandalous way pregnant women with drug addictions can be stripped of their bodily integrity and autonomy, and how this can often result in outcomes contrary to those intended. At times the messaging on this point was a little heavy handed but not enough to seriously detract from my enjoyment. The story also depicts the reality of a baby born with a drug addiction, which is as heartbreaking as you would expect. All of this unfolds via the dual perspectives of Lexie and Annie as adults, but with numerous flashbacks to their younger years. There is even an epistolary element, something I typically enjoy. And the book wraps up with a very satisfying ending, albeit one that is not an unrealistically Hollywood happy.

Content Warnings

beatlefan129's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

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