I have mixed feelings about this book, I was very invested in this book and it was an enjoyable read for me, but this was honestly not the best book I've ever read. I found that for me I had a hard time identifying my likes and dislikes of this book, and I've heard others had the same issue with her other book This is Where it Ends. Before I Let Go wasn't a mediocre novel by any means but I just wasn't impressed by this book.
I did very much enjoy the writing style of this novel, Nijkamp has a prose that's great for keeping readers engaged in the story, though her plotting wasn't something that I particularly loved, I do enjoy her ability to keep me interested and wanting to constantly keep reading. The mystery ended up lacking suspense for me because the resolutions are revealed very slowly throughout the story, and sadly left me a little unsatisfied with the plot.
The small town setting wasn't all that different for me, I myself live in a small town (not quite as small as this though) so it was as different for me than for someone who lived in the city. This town was creepy and had a cult-like feeling that made me think for of supernatural than a contemporary novel. I thoughtfully enjoyed analyzing the community's mindset while I was reading and attempting to understand where their thoughts and actions are coming from.
I'm not really a fan of Cory, she was a boring character that really lacked development throughout the story. Even though she goes through some immense realizations while visiting her hometown, she really didn't change much from the beginning of the story to the end, her reactions and perspective on the world never really changed. Kyra was an interesting character for me, especially because she isn't an active character in this book as she is dead at the beginning of the story. I can't speak for her representation, I like that the author took great care in representing her bipolar disorder.
Though I can't really verbalize my likes and dislikes about this book, I did enjoy it and I do plan on hopefully reading more of her books in the future.

I thought this was going to be a good book. The beginning started out interesting, and then fell flat and repetitive. I did finish the book, but it never got interesting.

1.5/2 Stars

Positives
Pro medication and therapy for mental illness.
Queer rep (specifically ace and pan).

Negatives
NO Alaskan Natives in an Alaskan town (there's only two people of color in the whole town!!)
Inaccurate facts about Alaska (it doesn't snow everyday in Alaska during the winter).
Tries to create a creepy atmosphere by having everybody in the town be really cryptic for no reason.
Also has random things happen that seems like this book will be paranormal but nope, nothing is ever explained.
The ending was just not my favorite as somebody with mental illness who lives in Alaska.

I was kind of torn on my review for this. I liked it enough that I had to keep reading to see where it was going, but wasn't all that thrilled it's the writing in general.

One of the best parts of this book is Marieke's description of physical places. She has a way of really bringing you into the physicality of the story with her portrayals of the settings in the book.
A little creepy at times with some of the storyline but overall a great read. Corey and Kyra's relationship is believable and heartwarming.
I did like how the chapter set up made reading a breeze. The chapters were short and concise.
Overall great read!

I really wanted to love this book, as I am always looking for the great thriller in a YA format. As a quick summary, Corey visits her old home, Lost Creek, after her best friend Kyra drowns, under the ice. However, apparently not everything is as it appears on small-town Lost Creek.

Before I Let Go, by Marieke Nijkamp, had such great potential but it fell short, even though I was intrigued since the beginning of the book. The book just didn’t seem to pick up for me. The story felt too repetitive and while it felt like it started well, it just didn’t seem to go anywhere.
I wish I could have rated this higher, but I felt confused and not very entertained while reading this book.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for a pre-publication ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I hate to say it, but I did not enjoy this book. It felt like a ghost story but with no ghost. I didn’t feel like I got closure on Kyra’s death. There was no justice. No finality. I had high hopes for this book but it didn’t live up to them :(

I loved this book!
An amazing read with suspense, drama, intensified moments and love.
The reading became a bit sad for me at times; which made the storyline more capturing and real.
Praise to the author

I actually requested a copy of this book on Netgalley and was never approved but the story was so intriguing to me that I actually decided I HAD to read it so I bought it. This is my first read by this author and I can tell you it will not be my last.. The story is about Corey and her best friend Kyra. Corey returns to her childhood town after hearing that her best friend committed suicide. Kyra has been battling mental illness for sometime and Corey promised to come back for her. Kyra has always been an outsider to the town of Lost until Corey leaves and then becomes the towns prophet through her paintings. Corey is confused by the way that everyone in the Alaskan town has changed there out look on there friend since when Corey lived in town Kyra and her mental illness were seen as an outcast and now the outcast has become Corey. I love how this story explores the bonds of friendship even in death and also the concept of how far a town will go to stay in one piece. Kyra and Corey’s friendship was heartwarming and sad, and I enjoyed Corey’s attempts to find out the truth about her friend. In the end, though, I still wasn’t quite sure what happened. An interesting, unpredictable read. The only thing I suggest for anyone who plans on reading this book is remember that this is fiction and while the author takes some liberties on reality it is a great unpredictable read.

update was approved in April still a great read!

Read this book in one sitting. Loved it. Having your best friend kill herself when your not there to help. These girls lives was each other. You cant get past that. But she tried.
Great weekend read. Loved this book. Very well wrote.

Before I Let Go
Marieke Nijkamp

A young adult story of friendship, loss and the search for the truth

⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
As she was moving away, Cory promised her best friend Kyra that she would always stay in touch and be there for her. But just days before Cory is to return for a visit to the remote village of the Lost Creek, Alaska, Kyra dies. Cory is devastated and confused. When she arrives in Lost Creek things are different. The entire community is whispering about the town’s lost daughter, saying Kyra’s death was meant to be. Townspeople push Cora away like she was a stranger. But Corey knows that she knew Kyra better than anyone and something is very wrong. Kyra suffered from being bipolar, and the medications rarely helped her. The one thing that she could do to channel her energy was to paint. And while Cory was away she painted beautiful, vibrant pictures of the town, paintings that gave the town hope. But Lost is keeping secrets about what really happened to Kyra, and piecing together the truth will prove difficult for Corey.

REVIEW
BEFORE I LET GO is a young adult novel that speaks to the kind of friendships two teenage girls can have, dreaming about their future, their hopes and their hero’s. One of the things I liked most about the book was the idea of Cory’s quest to discover what happened to her friend, despite the many obstacles put in her way. I like the author’s creativity of using Kyra’s paintings, wall graffiti and letters to understand her mindset. It was a quick read and the writing was good. The story was interesting, and the remoteness of the town added to the believability of the story. Cory’s having been shunned by the community is left with little to do but wander from place to place with little purpose. She at times seemed to lack spirit or drive, and I was disappointed with her lack of a passioned speech at the memorial service.

Author Marieke Nijkamp defines herself as a storyteller, dreamer and globe-trotter geek. She is the author of This Is Where it Ends and numerous short stories and lives in the Netherlands. Thanks to #NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Sourcebook Fire
Published January 2, 2018

#Netgalley #2018NetGalley #2018 #SourcebookFire #MariekeNijkamp #beforeiletgo

I really like the cover and the voice the author gave Kyra, but I am not Corey’s biggest fan. Also, I thought the order of how things were introduced could have been different or better. It seemed a little messy and sometimes I didn’t think it flowed as well as it should have.

I think generally confused is a good description of how I felt as I was reading this book.

Plot? Girl comes back to hometown because her best friend died and learns about change.

Marieke Nijkamp's writing was definitely really engaging and magnetic. Despite my overall not-so-great feelings about the actual plotline and characters and all, reading Before I Let Go = an experience that I don't regret.

. . . But wow the detached vibes were r e a l. I mean the freaking town everything took place in is like it's on its own plane of existence. I was half-expecting a "surprise! this is actually sci-fi" sort of thing to happen, but the odd cultishness of an entire community held out through the novel.

The path Nijkamp decided to take the story wasn't too surprising at all, so I found myself mostly focusing on the characters: dynamics, traits, other elements. I didn't take any particular liking to any of the odd personalities, which kind of made me care less about the book as a whole.

Overall an interesting read.

Thank yous to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC !

I had been eager to read Before I Let Go for ages so I started it immediately. Unfortunately though, I was a little underwhelmed by it. I was compelled to keep reading to find out what happened to Kyra, but I spent most of the book feeling frustrated with the people of Lost Creek. I wanted to love this one, it sadly it just went wide of the mark for me.

I nearly gave it three stars, because I liked bits and pieces of it, but overall I wasn't really enjoying myself and there weren't enough bit that I liked. This book was okay.

The premise sounded good, I was keen for a murder mystery, but it wasn't really a 'murder mystery' book if it makes sense. It was more of a suspense novel, but that didn't really happen until near the end. It also felt like they tried to throw in some magical realism and a bit of 'friendship contemporary' and I don't even know what this book was...

It just felt so all over the place. There were so many flashbacks, but they weren't in order? It would go from the present, to three years ago, to the present, to two months ago, to when they were little... I just didn't get why though?!

The characters were meh. I liked a few, but that was it.

The plot was confusing. I'm still not completely sure what was going on in that novel.

And the main character... I didn't HATE her, but I wasn't her biggest fan.

Descriptive writing but much too wordy, not sure whether it was a happy ending or not all in all I did finish the book but unfortunately it was not an easy read and I kept on waiting for something too happen. The book was a mixture of fantasy and mystery and sometimes confusing

AHHHHHHHH!!! This book killed my reviewing streak.

But first... ***I received an e-arc of this title free from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest opinion.***

Okay...so it's now been 3 long months since I read this book and I'm only now feeling like I can review it.

My first thoughts looking at the cover and reading the description were an excited jumble of nerves. The creepy cover, the hint of supernatural mystery, the isolated town in Alaska - I was ready to bundle up in my covers with some hot cocoa and read something a little spooky and a little wintery.

And oh, was Nijkamp delivering - that part at the airport with the eerie little girl singing had me giddy! I texted my friend who loves creepy stuff just to tell her about it.
And it kept building and I had more and more questions... it was GREAT!

But then, as it all started unraveling and the truth begins to seep out, I felt like some of the magic, some of the mystery, and some of the creepiness factor dropped out of the story altogether, too, and I was disappointed.

In spite of that, it was a good read and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy mystery and suspense.

First let me Thank Netgalley for this digital copy. I really wanted to love this book and I did up until the end which I think it just dropped off without the closure that I needed. The story line was so unique and creative. It follows a young girl named Corey who was raised in a secluded town in Alaska and her friend Kyra, who suffers from bi-polarism. Corey ends up leaving Alaska to go to a boarding school but promises to keep in touch and come back to visit her friend but never gets the chance because Kyra dies. I do not want to go into the story more as to not spoil it. I would recommend this book to others that love Alaska stories and huge cliffhangers.

The publisher provided me with the opportunity to read this in exchange for providing feedback. (via NetGalley)

This story fell kind of flat for me. Seemed like parts weren't explained well and overall, things were a little disjointed. It's not a reflection on the author's writing style (the writing itself was fine) - moreso with the story itself.

I was really excited about Before I Let Go, because I really loved Marieke’s book “This Is Where It Ends“. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what to make of Before I Let Go. It was interesting at first, but then it started to get really weird and kind of not making too much sense. I couldn’t really figure out where Nijkamp was going with the story and I don’t know if that was a good thing or not. I guess for me it wasn’t. I wanted some kind of idea, but I had no clue. A lot of people will love that about this book and I usually do, but I was more frustrated than anything. I just wanted to know what the heck was going on and I felt like it took ages to get there.

It’s hard to really talk about without giving out spoilers. A plus about this book was that the chapters were really short, so it was really easy to read through it pretty quickly. Another weird thing about this story was the way that it was told. It was mostly in the main character’s point of view, but then randomly there will be a narrator telling the store. It was just thrown in randomly and it was in a weird format where it was kind of like a play script when the narrator was talking. It’s hard to explain, but it was weird to me. So I started to wonder if everything that was happening was real or not.

Overall, Before I Let Go was okay. I can see why a lot of people would like it, because of the mystery aspect of it and it did keep you guessing. It just wasn’t for me though. This book might be for you though, so definitely check it out if it sounds interesting to you.