Before You Go: A heartbreaking page turner about love, loss and family

The bond between a mother and daughter is meant to be unbreakable. What happens when it shatters?

Western Virginia, 1979. Dell Shaw knows the relationship between a mother and daughter should be something warm, soft and safe. But her relationship with her former beauty queen mother, Anita, has never been like that. And then one day, Anita packs up and leaves home, abandoning Dell to look after her alcoholic father and grow up alone.

When Dell meets handsome Mason, who has his own scars, she begins to think she can build a new, happy family with him. A year later, she’s shocked to find herself heartbroken and alone with a new-born baby girl and only her mother to turn to. When Anita refuses help and instead arranges for the local church to take the baby away, Dell knows she won’t ever speak to her mother again.

But all that changes on the day Dell discovers her daughter is missing.

Anita knows where the child might be. There’s only one problem—Anita is in a coma, fighting for her life. As Dell divides her time between her mother’s bedside and searching for her daughter, she finds herself discovering new things about her past that make her wonder if she can forgive her mother after all. But will she be able to reconcile with her mother and find her daughter before time runs out?

An unforgettable and heart-wrenching debut about the endurance of love, the power of forgiveness, and finding beauty in the world around us. Your must-read book of 2019. Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing, Kristin Hannah and Kerry Lonsdale.

Book club discussion questions are included in the book.

Read what everyone is saying about Before You Go:

“Oh, this book was just so beautiful! One of my favourite books of the year! So pleased to have discovered this amazing author. Hard to believe this stunning and assured tale was a debut… One read does not do it justice… I will be reading everything by this author and recommending this book to everyone. Brilliant! A masterpiece.” Renita D’Silva ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Made me hold my breath… Had me hoping for the best but dreading the worst… This is an incredible authentic read… Heart-breaking in so many places. Still just so beautifully written. Many authors have tried to capture the spirit, the culture and the people of the Appalachian Mountains, this one does.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A beautiful emotional story... I was hooked by the very beginning and glued to my kindle until the end… A must read but make sure you have your tissues. It’s a doozie that will stick with you after the last page.” Steph and Chris’s Book Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Compelling… a must-read!... Kept me hooked throughout… I totally appreciated this fantastic début and its realistic, touching portrayal of a young woman and her relationship with her parents and the father of her child… I thoroughly enjoyed this exciting story… A hidden gem.” Brianne’s Book Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This book was not what I was expecting. I was hooked from the first page. This book is heart-breaking and romantic. This book is beautifully written which is a credit to the author for a debut novel. This is an extremely beautiful emotional read.” NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A sweet story of love, and understanding of self.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐