No one warned me about how emotional this book would make me so if you get nothing else out of this review, let it be this - make sure you are stocked up with tissues and chocolate before you start When We Let Go.

This was a little outside of my typical wheelhouse, but as a young woman who lost her mother relatively young, I had a feeling I'd connect with the story so I decided to give it a shot anyway and I am so glad that I did.

Avery Beckett should be celebrating the beginning of her new life with Jude Masters and his children, but in order to move forward she must step back into her past and acknowledge the events that have led her to where she is now. After taking the leap to go home and reconcile with her past, Avery discovers Jude's daughter passed out in her backseat. Together, they form an unlikely alliance in their own individual grieving processes.

Overall, this was an incredibly emotional and insightful novel that I really enjoyed. My only complaint would lie in the pacing. There was a chunk in the middle where I definitely start to lose interest, but the last 25% of the book absolutely made up for it. This book has definitely left a permanent mark on me, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone at any stage of the grieving process.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Picture this. A beautiful garden scene. A gorgeous man on one knee. A heroine who is frozen in place. How did we get here? Well you'll have to read this stunning and emotional book to find that out. Avery has pushed past her shattered past but she's still not over it and she is definitely not ready to tell Jude about it. So she says nothing and Jude takes this non answer as his answer and walks away.
This novel of secrets, self reflection and family dynamics was incredibly written. The story flowed so well, I barely realized it was coming to an end. I.felt sad to leave the world of Avery and Jude. Rochelle always does this to me. She makes me fall hard and fast for her characters. I have trouble letting go.

I love a good cry from a book, movie or tv show. It is always so cathartic and I am a total crier anyway. Well, When We Let Go gave me a good cry. It is the story of Avery, a woman recovering from a trauma who heads home to confront her past, only to find her boyfriend’s sullen teenager of a daughter has stowed away in her car. Oh this book. So much heartbreak, grief, despair and overwhelming grief that becomes overshadowed by love, acceptance, forgiveness, second chances and hope. The concept of forgiving yourself and self-love is prevalent and so inspirational. And it is all packaged with an uncovered secret that slowly reveals itself through complicated and flawed characters. So many emotions in this book and I loved it.

I loved This is Not How It Ends so I was excited for the opportunity to read When We Let Go. Unfortunately it fell flat for me. This book deals with some heavy topics, loss, grief, and trying to move forward from them. At the start, I struggled with the secrets that Avery kept from Jude, as the story went on I began to understand a little bit, but still felt like keeping that much a secret was a stretch. Also, Elle, sometimes came across as a 16 year old and other times, much much younger, she was also such an extreme, I struggled to like her at all. I saw the twist coming early on and predicted the ending also. Overall, I thought it was ok but I didn't love it.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Because once someone saves you, there's no turning back, even when you don't want to be saved."

I was immediately drawn to the cover of this book, and then after reading the description, I knew it was a must read! I was so impressed with Rochelle B. Weinstein's writing. She's a new author to me, so it was a great pleasure being approved for this ARC. She did such an amazing job with the characters. I fell in love with all of them! They were so realistic and loved their developing relationships with one another. They were all perfectly flawed in one way or another.

This book touches on many themes: love, loss, grief, and forgiveness. I especially loved the special relationship between Elle and Avery. It was so relatable and realistic. I also loved Avery's relationship with Jude. I truly felt for the loss she endured and being strong enough to move forward in life.
I also enjoyed the settings the author chose for this book. Avery's family farm in Crystal, NC and Miami, FL.

When We Let Go is a true gem! The story and characters will stick with me for a while. I highly recommend reading this one ASAP!

I'm in love with this book! What a beautiful story about family, imperfect characters, love, tragedy...I haven't read a book like this in a long time. It made me so emotional, and I couldn't stop reading. I will carry this book with all its wise lessons with me for a while. Highly, highly recommend this book to everyone!!

*Thank you @letstalkbookspromo and @netgalley for the #gifted book in exchange for an honest review.*

I tried to read When We Let Go at least 3 times and I finally gave up at about the halfway point, when I finally tired of the trivial secrets turned into BIG DRAMA.

I realize that I’m an outlier on the review scale, and am glad that so many others enjoyed it. But when Avery, one of the main characters, observed that her emotions were like a funnel cloud waiting to erupt (volcanoes erupt; funnel clouds touch ground as tornadoes, I finally tired of, the generally overwrought nature of every feeling.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher..

A lovely emotional woman's fiction read about self love - forgiving your mistakes, moving on and learning to trust yourself again.
Jude proposes to Avery - she finds herself unable to say yes. Avery has hidden her past, the reasons for fleeing her hometown for the new beginning found Florida. Fear of rejection, fear of moving forward, so much fear causes Avery to pull away.
A frantic phone call from her estranged sister forces Avery to return home - and face the past she has hidden from for years.
Only to find Elle - Jude's daughter, stowed away with a raging hangover in her backseat.
Elle holds tremendous anger, resentment for Avery - with hints of longing to love. The sudden death of her mother caused so many ripples in her family's life.
With the help of her love for her family farm, Avery pieces herself together - forming a new relationship with her sister and Elle.
Rich language. Loved the farm and townspeople.

When We Let Go
Author, Rochelle B. Weinstein
Pub date: 5.17,22

Thank you @letstalkbookpromo, Lake Union Publishing, and @netgalley for my e- copy of this moving novel!

There are so many reasons that When We Let Go was such a fantastic and emotional read for me. Similar to my family, this novel moves back and forth between South Florida and the mountains of Western NC. The atmospheric descriptions, familiar locations, and beauty in both of Avery Beckett's homes made me feel such gratitude and love for the life that we lead and provide for our children.

"That's what happens to people when they visit the mountains, ground themselves in the earth. Simplicity spreads through the limbs, like stems bending in the wind, flowers scattering their petals."

It is also filled with some of the best themes- bonds between sisters, motherhood, first loves, second chances, forgiveness, healing, and love- as well as some heavier themes, but written with incredible insight and empathy, of devastating loss and the impact of grief in all its stages.

After unfathomable loss and a devastating tragedy, Avery is desperately trying to move on with her life, but when her widowed and father- of- three children boyfriend, Jude, proposes to her, she is stuck and unable to process letting go of her painful past and therefore, leaves him speechless and without an explanation. Unless she can reconcile with her past, how can she ever move forward? Her grief is profound and shared in some form with many of Weinstein's characters; however, they have not yet figured out how to communicate or to compassionately support each other in their pain.

Jude's teenage daughter, Elle, is handling the death of her mother as she should- lashing out, confused, labile, and resentful of Avery. Until one morning on her way back to her childhood home in NC, a place she swore she would never return, Avery interestingly ends up with an unexpected travel companion, Elle. Their unpredictable time together allows the two to grieve, heal, and form a delicate bond that is honest and relatable.

When We Let Go is truly a story of the painful process of grief that will eventually allow one to heal, provide opportunities for second chances and hope, and maybe even the ability to love again. With a few unexpected twists, authentic characters, and an empathic plot, When We Let Go is a beautiful novel that I absolutely recommend!

4.5 stars!

Since losing my mom almost two years ago, I’ve become slightly obsessed with reading books about grief. It feels like mini therapy sessions when I read about someone else’s experience. While I understand there is no right or wrong way to grieve, I find comfort in reading how others process similar feelings.

This book holds a lot to mourn. Characters are dealing with the loss of a spouse, a parent, a child - and each is asking how to move on and create a new life without the people they’ve lost. How much do they hold on to, how much do they share? Second chances are everything in this book - with partners, siblings, children. I know some readers will have problems with the lack of communication between the main characters, Avery and or the behavior of the difficult teen, but I think those were necessary developments to show the growth, forgiveness and compassion for each character.

This book isn’t entirely heavy and sad. There are plenty of uplifting and hopeful moments, signs of progress towards a happy future.

A lovely story about life, loss, grief and second chances at happiness. I really enjoyed this one and following along as Avery and Elle grew together on so many levels. It was beautiful to watch them heal and work through the hardest parts of life together. I will certainly be looking for more from this author.

Avery Beckett is keeping her complicated past a secret from her boyfriend, Jude. When Jude proposes, Avery can't commit because she hasn't unpacked her past yet. After a series of comical adventures, Avery ends up back on her childhood farm for the summer with an unlikely companion in Jude's teenage daughter, Elle. The summer brings many unlikely surprises and a lot of anger, but can it also heal everyone?

This book gutted me over and over again (in the best possible way). Your heart will break and mend so many times throughout this book. It is not an easy read. If you want to get deep in your feelings, this is the book for you. Weinstein made me analyze some of my past experiences, the trauma they have caused in my life, and how I am still healing from them. This book is like therapy: not easy, but worth it. There are also many laugh out loud moments throughout. The relationship between Elle and Avery is one I won't forget.

Major trigger warnings in this one for pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and parent loss. Read with caution if those things are triggering to you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Rochelle B. Weinstein for the ARC of this book.

This was a beautiful story of acceptance. Avery Beckett has a past she doesn’t want anyone to know about because it is too difficult to deal with, so she heads to Miami, meets Jude. Then their life, coasting along, is turned upside down when he “does the unexpected.”

Avery quickly heads back home to her North Carolina mountain town where her past will quickly catch up with her. She spends the rest of the novel dealing with her past, forgiving those that need forgiving, and doing it all with an additional, unexpected carmate.

I read Weinstein’s first novel, This Is Not How IT Ends and I loved it. This one I love just as much!

I loved everything about WHEN WE LET GO--a powerful story of mothers and daughters, grief and guilt, and allowing yourself a second chance at happiness.

When We Let Go by Rochelle B. Weinstein an emotional book. I was near tears many times. I wish the secrets had been revealed a little earlier and if Elle is what I have to look forward to with my daughters, I’m going to go into hiding. Avery suffered through things that no one should ever have to go through and watching her forgive herself and her redemption arc was satisfying to read about. If you are looking for a book about second chances, this is a great one.

4.5 stars

Avery and Jude both have a second chance at love, but when Avery rejects Jude’s marriage proposal, Jude is crushed and Avery can’t reveal her reasons. But it’s not just the two of them involved in this relationship. Jude’s kids, particularly his 15 year old daughter, Elle, are now facing the grief of being abandoned by Avery after losing their mother a few years ago.

When Avery finds Elle passed out and drunk in her car as she’s on her way from Florida to North Carolina to visit her dad who is on the hospital, she is now back in a maternal role with Elle who wants nothing to do with the farm life she finds waiting in NC.

All too soon, Avery’s past that she left NC to avoid must be dealt with, secrets must be revealed, and relationships mended. But is it too late to reconcile with Jude? And can she forge a meaningful bond with a teenager who keeps pushing her away?

The pseudo-stepmother/stepdaughter relationship felt so authentic. The internal struggles Avery went through were written beautifully. There is so much more to this story but they would lead to spoilers. So I’ll just end by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you to Let’s Talk Books Promo and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publishers at Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this e-ARC, and special thanks to @letstalkbookspromo and @rochellebweinstein for having me on this tour of When We Let Go!

When We Let Go is the heartbreaking story of tragedy, not only experienced by Avery Beckett, the main character, but also Jude, her boyfriend, and his own 3 children.

When Jude asks Avery to marry him, Avery can’t say yes, not with the past that still haunts her. When she’s unexpectedly called back home to Crystal, North Carolina after her father is injured, she begrudgingly goes back to the place she left 7 years ago, back to the hurt and loss she left behind. When she finds an unexpected stowaway in her car, Jude’s daughter, Elle, she and Elle will form an unlikely friendship, deep in the mountains of Avery’s childhood.

This was such a beautiful story. I love the relationships that Avery eventually manages to form, especially after holding on to her hurt for such a long time. Everyone deserves love, and Avery finally realized that. I also enjoyed the fact that they were in this beautiful mountain region, on a farm, during the warm summer months. I honestly wanted to be right there with them. While I enjoyed the story, I did guess the twist very early on in the story, but that didn’t take anything away for me. I would love to see a sequel to this story!

Read this if you
♥️ love romances
🔥 enjoy a novel full of drama
⛰ wish you were in the Carolina mountains
🤝🏻 want a happy ending

I truly hate writing one star reviews, and I can usually avoid it entirely because I am good at putting down books that don't work for me and not having to review them at all. I'm not sure why I kept reading this book when I KNEW within the first couple of chapters that I wasn't going to like it, but for whatever reason, I kept going. And I did not like this book. The writing was truly not great, the dialogue felt unrealistic and forced, and the characters were caricatures that did not feel like real people in any way. There was a "twist" that I saw coming from probably the second chapter (that was obviously supposed to be a shock, it was not) and the book was just so unenjoyable. Why I kept reading, I truly can't tell you, but I wish I had not done so. I know others have enjoyed this but it did not work for me.

I want to preface this review by admitting that I have a dramaful relationship with my mother. This book hit home with me. I loved seeing the characters growth throughout the story. The author has done a wonderful job with the characters, the plot, and the dialogue.

I absolutely loved this book. It is so well written and so engaging. I love how healing and forgiveness is addressed, and how relationships grow. It was very believable when it came to the relationships between sisters. I love how Avery is able to come to terms with her past, and grow as a person. Her life is messy and complicated, but she is like so many of us in that she’s afraid to move on, and afraid to lose what she’s built. I really, really loved this book and considered it one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and to the author for this arc in exchange for my honest review.