Reviews with content warning for Pregnancy - Before I Let You Go

Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Before I Let You Go by Kelly Rimmer

8 reviews

kelly_e's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Title: Before I Let You Go
Author: Kelly Rimmer
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: April 3, 2018

T H R E E • W O R D S

Profound • Tragic • Reflective

📖 S Y N O P S I S

The 2:00 a.m. call is the first time Lexie Vidler has heard her sister's voice in years. Annie is a drug addict, a thief, a liar--and in trouble, again. Lexie has always bailed Annie out, given her money, a place to sleep, sent her to every kind of rehab. But this time, she's not just strung out--she's pregnant and in premature labor. If she goes to the hospital, she'll lose custody of her baby--maybe even go to prison. But the alternative is unthinkable.

As the weeks unfold, Lexie finds herself caring for her fragile newborn niece while her carefully ordered life is collapsing around her. She's in danger of losing her job, and her fiancé only has so much patience for Annie's drama. In court-ordered rehab, Annie attempts to halt her downward spiral by confronting long-buried secrets from the sisters' childhoods, ghosts that Lexie doesn't want to face. But will the journey heal Annie, or lead her down a darker path?

💭 T H O U G H T S

Having previously read and enjoyed several of Kelly Rimmer's historical fiction books, Before I Let You Go came highly recommended by several trusted book friends. I definitely knew I needed to wait until I was mentally prepared for what would sure be an emotional read. Focusing on addiction, to say this one hit close to home would be a huge understatement.

What an emotional journey! There were tears, there was frustration, there was anger, there was understanding, there was hope, there was anxiety... And having lived the perils of addiction, I think Rimmer has done a very good job handling the topic with sensitivity and showcasing the depth of what loving someone with addiction is like. It also demonstrated how people living with addiction continue to be misunderstood. How there is a lack of compassion and empathy when people continue to use harmful language (addict, junkie, etc.) or define someone by one thing. It definitely gets my blood boiling.

My heart went out to both of the sisters. I can understand why some people would be annoyed by Lexie's behaviour of pushing Sam away, but I don't think anyone can really make judgements until they are lived the shoes of what it is like loving someone with addiction. I thought it was incredibly clever to get Annie's perspective through diary entries. It gave a even great emotional depth to the story.

Learning about the legalities and laws surround addiction and pregnancy was incredibly eye opening. Another instance where the care and well-being of the person with addiction doesn't matter, which is just heartbreaking. It is all of these things that keep stigmas in place and the shame of addiction prevalent.

At its core Before I Let You Go is a story about the unbreakable bond of sister and impossible choices. If this book can do one thing, it is my hope that it will raise empathy and compassion towards those who live with addiction. Bring about more understanding that addiction is a disease (often rooted in trauma) and that it isn't a choice or personality flaw. People living with addiction are still seen as less than in society, and often defined by this single aspect of their being. That alone breaks my heart and is grossly unjust. My person's addiction was such a small part of who he was. In fact, if I was to list some of his qualities it would be a long time before I would get to addiction.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• stories of sisters
• reflective novels
• Jodi Picoult

⚠️ CW: mental illness, depression, addiction, drug use, drug abuse, overdose, medical content, death, death of parent, sibling death, grief, toxic relationship, child abuse, pedophilia, sexual assault, rape, religious bigotry, misogyny, pregnancy, forced institutionalization, suicidal thoughts, abortion, fire/fire injury

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"'Annie matters, too,' I croak., and stand. 'Surely helping Annie is the best way to help her baby.'"

"I know they are only human, and addiction wears medical professionals down, and I've probably though the same thing myself - but this is not a faceless patient - this is the little girl who used to fall asleep in the bed next to mine. The girl who used to keep her journal tucked in beside her face like a teddy bear. She had hopes and dreams and she has talents and flaws and she is - was - everything to me."

"She deserved a better end to her story than this."

"We have to take joy where we find it, even in the worst days."

"It is the but at the end of every sentence in our lives... today was a great day, but Annie should have been there. Christmas was wonderful, but Annie should have been there. I feel so happy, but Annie should be here. Daisy is my daughter now, but Annie should be here."

Content Warnings