This is a novel I would thoroughly recommend. It is so easy for society to pass judgement on a pregnant ‘junkie’ but Kelly Rimmer’s compassion forces us to see past this label to consider the person behind it and the tragedy of her addiction. ‘Before I Let You Go’ is compellingly readable, but also a story of courage, the bond between sisters and the power of a mother’s love.

Fast becoming one of my favourite contemporary authors, Kelly Rimmer has written another heart wrenching story, which will stay on my mind for a long time.
For me, not only was this book different from any I have read recently but it also raised some interesting moral dilemmas. Plus it was an insight into a cult I knew nothing about and the possible effects of being brought up in that environment.
The characters were so well written but Annie’s drug addiction was difficult for me to not only read about, but comprehend. The way the relationships of the individuals were affected by the situation, was handled with great empathy and understanding by the author.
Brilliantly written I found the book hard to put down. But it was not an easy read due the subject matter. Probably my top read of the year so far!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC for an honest review.

Before you read Before I Let you Go make sure you have your hankies ready because it is such a sad and heartbreaking story about the strong bond and love that two sisters share together, it's a beautifully written story about Lexi and Annie, and the lovely Dr Sam, this is a definitely recommend read, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it

This was a heartbreaking novel that had me weeping at the end. When Lexie gets a call from her heroin-addicted sister, Annie and discovers she's pregnant, Lexie does what she's always done; she tries to save her sister. But in this state Annie could lose her baby and go to prison if she fails a drug test--which of course she does. Can Lexie really save her sister from the realities of life and help her get sober? And what long-buried secrets from their childhood will surface as they navigate this difficult path? The novel touches on so many themes: addiction, therapy, responsibility, justice, rape, grief, and sisterly love. How far would you go to save someone in your family? Will keep you up at night with its poignant prose. So lovely!

A powerful and gut wrenching story on a controversial subject.

Before I Let You Go follows two sisters, Lexie a doctor and Annie a drug addict. One night Annie calls Lexie
for help in her pregnant state, Lexie leaves everything behind to help her. Annie gives birth early. The baby has to undergoes narcotic withdrawal in the ICU, and Annie herself has a court mandated rehab program to attend. Lexie is the one left holding not only herself and life together but also Annie's and the baby.

This is the story of the unconditional love of sister's and the lengths you would go though.

Such an amazing, and important read! I went into this book having my own opinions of drug addicts and came out with completely different views. Thank you for this book! I wish we could include it in our monthly subscription box- there just weren't any good gifts described in the book.

Before I let You Go is a fictional story that to some can read like real life.
This is a story about two sisters who have taken different paths in life because of how they were raised.
It is a heart wrenching story of how one sister will do just about anything to help her younger sister knowing she can never "fix" her.
I cried my way through this story and about had a breakdown by the end. This is not a book that always has a happy ending.
Thank you Kelly Rimmer for being brave enough to write this story and to give us readers the raw truth of what drugs and other things (not going to mention and spoil it for your readers) can do to a family, to siblings and to ones self.

Lexie and Annie have the perfect life. Lexie has always felt she should look out for Annie and when tragedy strikes she soon realises that she has to be both a Mother and Father to Annie. Unfortunately their Mother spirals out of control and when she changes their living arrangements suddenly, life takes a very different turn.

At 16 years of age Lexie must leave their home to be able to continue her schooling, unknowingly leaving Annie in a very unstable home environment. As Lexie progresses very well in her life, Annie plummets into a life that leads her completely out of control.

After a period of Lexie having no contact, Annie cries out for help and naturally Lexie is there to pic up the pieces of Annie's life. Unfortunately there is not just Annie anymore and Lexie and her fiancé Sam find themselves in unchartered waters trying to do their utmost to keep Annie out of jail and in their lives.

This book completely took me by surprise. Some of the circumstances are totally overwhelming, the story is brilliant and the writing first class. At the end I was left in such a place to question how these situations can occur in modern society and how the legal system can justifiably leave people in such devastation.

A definite must read.

Thanks to Netgalley and HARLEQUIN- Graydon House Books (U.S. & Canada) for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The story goes something like this… Lexie and Annie are sisters, one is a doctor, the other a drug addict. Yet when Annie calls Lexie for help in her pregnant state, Lexie leaves everything to help her. Annie’s baby is born early but undergoes narcotic withdrawal in the ICU, and Annie herself has a court mandated rehab program to attend. Lexie is the one holding the baby and Annie together and managing her own professional and personal life too.

This book was so gut wrenching and it evoked a plethora of feelings that at the end of the read, I was left vulnerable and sad. The author Kelly Rimmer has brought home one single point

Being a sister is the best thing in the world, and loving your sister comes from the soul. There may have been jealousy and fights, but the pure undiluted love that flows for your sister is indescribable. Nothing can break that bond, nobody can break that bond…

Kelly Rimmer made me cry throughout the journey of her book… She is one of the very few authors in this year who did. I wanted Annie to succeed.. I wanted Annie and Lexie to have their crazy sister moments. As the story went on, I wanted everything to be picture perfect. But life rarely is, and Kelly has shown that beautifully in her book.

This is my first book of hers, and it has squeezed my heart of every single emotion. Her words made my heart soar in happiness and cry in sadness. It brought out anger at the injustice, it reminded me of horrors that some people have to face to survive. Every facet of the sisters, every word of the story touched me deep. Some books leave their mark on you and this book certainly did on me…

There may have been a few niggles but I couldn’t see it as I read the book with tears filming my eyes. I just wish Annie’s truth came out a little earlier but that is just me. I crave justice, I want the world to be fair…

Every addict has a story and it might not fit into our perfect little world, it might also be something we would ever want to understand. But sometimes, just sometimes, maybe we should listen to their story to know what makes turn to drugs to find solace.

Kelly Rimmer made me want to run and hold my sister tight in a hug and keep her safe always. She brought me home, she made me become aware of the love I have for my sister. She made me happy and glad I do have a sister to hold and protect and to love forever.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Harlequin Graydon House books(UK&Canada) and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

This was a novel about two sisters, drug addiction, grief and family relationsnips. I foud this novel very emotional. Lexie tries to help her drug addicted sister Annie to get medical assistane to prevent her going into premature labour but can not save Annie from being charged with chemically endangering a child. Annie has to go into rehabilitation and Lexie struggles to care for her new born niece.
This novel is set in Alabama in the present time. Lexie remembers when she was a child trying to make Annie happy when their father died and her mother remarried.
Annie writes in her journal about her memories of her early life and events that led to her drug addiction.
Be prepared to tnink differently about people who use drugs of addiction after reading thix novel and have a box of tissues ready.

There is no doubt at all in my mind that Kelly Rimmer is one of the giants of the Women’s Fiction genre, and time and time again her storytelling, characterisation and story lines have taken my breath away. This time in choosing addiction, abuse and family dynamics as her main themes, she has written a superb, engrossing, dramatic and heartbreaking novel. I was so excited when my copy arrived, because this author never fails to deliver and I knew I was in for a rollercoaster of emotions, thrills and surprises. I started reading straight away and was totally absorbed from the first to the last page.
Sisters Lexie and Annie Vidler have always been as close as two peas in a pod, although they are very different in so many ways. Their dysfunctional family life was assured when their mother joined a closed and highly disciplined sect. It was here that their bond strengthened, but one sister rose above her troubles and another became bowed by them. Her life was ruined forever, whilst the other sister thrived and grew up to serve her community.
Now, years later and having lived independently but chaotically, Annie falls pregnant and with no support at all, her condition soon worsens. She knows that when she phones her older sister, Lexie will come through for her even though they have been estranged for ages, due to Annie’s addiction. Her baby is on the way and she does not know what to do. If she goes to hospital she will lose her child as soon as it is born, but if she does not get help her baby will surely die. Annie is determined to be there like no other mother. She already loves her child. Lexie is a doctor, so Annie makes the all important call. She is right; Lexie would do anything to save Annie’s life and once again comes to her rescue, supported by her fiancée, also a leading surgeon. They rush her to his hospital and Annie gives birth to a very small and sick daughter whose very life is at risk, but Annie is also very ill indeed and is forced to get clean if she wants to raise her baby. She cannot care for her baby by law until she has undergone counselling and is moved to a rehabilitation unit. This is the heartrending story of her fight for survival and Lexie is soon faced by the dilemma; her sister needs her to be there for her, but so does her niece, a helpless infant with no mother to take care of her. Her choices are not lightly taken but they play hard on her conscience.
'Before I Let You Go' is a powerful novel of actions and consequences and sisterly love and support. It is meticulously researched, which makes it even more frustrating and sad. It tackled such controversial and contentious issues that it almost broke my heart because some of the actions and decisions seemed so unfair. But the law is the law. It may need fixing, but there is no choice but to obey its dictates. It is black and white with no room for ‘grey’ in between.
I would like to thank NetGalley and publisher Harlequin for my copy, sent to me in return for an honest review. I loved reading this novel and will certainly be recommending it as an excellent and unmissable read.