Duane Boehm

There is only one word to describe this book, sad. Noah, his wife and their daughter have the perfect life. Their daughter Erin has a BFF, Samantha. Erin gets the one present she wants on Christmas, a dog. Later in the day, a terrible accident occurs, and Noah must learn to live without his two girls. Samantha must learn to live without her BFF Erin. The dog remains as a symbol of what is, was, and what will be. These two deaths send seismic shocks through everyone involved, especially Noah and Samantha. None of their lives will ever be the same. This is the story of how everyone especially Noah and Samantha cope with the loss of Erin and her mother. The story is quite well done, but it is particularly emotional and very sad. I found myself engrossed in the sadness, wondering how everyone would ever survive. I enjoyed reading the book, but I found the emotion contained in it a bit over the top. There were times I had to stop myself from reading, just to take a break and let the story sink in. I had to stop reading but at the same time I could not wait to get back to the book to find out what was happening. I do not think there has been a book that has left me so sad and emotionally gripped in a long time, but I am not sure how others would find it. The book is well written. The characters are well developed. The plot moves along nicely. However, it is not a book I walked away from happy that I had read it because the intensity put me somewhere I preferred not to be. Based on how intense an experience this story was for me, I am not sure I can really figure out who would enjoy reading it. I received this from Library Thing to read and review.… (altro)

I asked for this book for free in exchange for a review. I should have taken it off my request list because I don't like really sad books!! I kept reading by not getting too involved in the characters. If you like "tragic lives" stories then try this one. It is well written, if a bit over done after the accident, and would sit on the shelf in a book shop with other similar type of books. I read to 41% in one evening and was engrossed enough to keep reading, but I am not bothered enough about the characters to find out what happens to them. Sam will probably turn out well but I'm not sure about Noah. His pain is real and realistically written but I don't care enough about him to be interested.… (altro)