Before I Let Go

I loved this beautifully written, captivating, suspenseful thriller set in a small Alaskan town. Corey returns home following the apparent suicide of her friend Kyra. She struggles with the guilt of having deserted her friend as she simultaneously grieves and tries to make sense of what really happened to Kyra. She feels like a stranger in her own town and can’t shake the feeling that she is being watched with suspicion. The writing is beautiful and dark and is told in flashbacks, through letters, and in real time. Sometimes this gets a bit confusing, but I still enjoyed watching the story unfold. Kyra is a well-developed character, but the rest of the characters are more challenging to connect to–even Corey, who is a main character. I would recommend this book to anyone 14 and up who is willing to let themselves feel uncomfortable and be touched by a story told in an unconventional way. This book drew me in from the very beginning and kept me on the edge of my seat as I tried to figure out what had really happened to Kyra. Even though this book is painful, emotional, oppressive, and will leave you with questions, it is absolutely a worthwhile read.