Have you ever come across a book that you were almost afraid to read? The topic was heavy and you weren’t sure that you were going to get through it without a lot of emotion?
That’s exactly what I felt when I was offered this book to review, not once or twice, but three or four times. Finally, I did a bit more research and decided to review the story. Overall, I’m very glad I did.
Continue on for my thoughts and for review on this upcoming release.
Before You Found Me by Brooke Beyfuss
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (August 1, 2023)
ISBN-13: 978-1728248721
SYNOPSIS:
Rowan McNamara doesn’t open the door to her new life―she’s thrown through it. Following an explosive argument with her abusive fiancé, Rowan runs. With no family except for her estranged sister, Celia, Rowan takes refuge in an idyllic New England town.
There, she meets Gabriel, the eleven-year-old son of her neighbor, Lee. Lee is welcoming, friendly, and a little too helpful. But Gabriel is a mystery: withdrawn, often bruised, and only willing to speak to Rowan through his basement window. When she discovers that Lee has kept Gabriel imprisoned for the past three years, Rowan is desperate to save him. Fueled by outrage and empathy, she abducts Gabriel and flees to her childhood home in rural Oklahoma, determined to raise him as her own.
Together they battle nightmares, curious stares, and Celia’s constant disapproval. But when Lee begins haunting more than their dreams, Rowan and Gabriel realize they stopped pretending to be a family a long time ago. Their bond is just as strong as blood, and they’re willing to do anything to protect one another.
Before You Found Me by Brooke Beyfuss Review
I almost had some anxiety when it came to opening this cover. It’s a heavy topic. I’m not gonna beat around the bush and tell you that it’s light and flowery because it’s not.
However, it’s not as dark as I thought it would be. The author did an amazing job telling this critical story, and she tried to keep it as light as possible.
Abuse of any kind is usually swept under the rug. We want to pretend that it doesn’t exist. But it does exist in both adults and in children. Before You Found Me was written with a huge amount of compassion and love, and I can feel the author has a passion for getting the story out to the masses.
With that said, there are some very tough sections where you are reading descriptions that are seriously intense. It is heartbreaking and disgusting to see that humans can have such evil traits in them.
But as I said, before, Beyfuss does try to lighten the story with love, a depth of emotion and resilience, bravery, and tenderness. It’s an amazing story once you see past some of the more brutal images she lays out.
Anyone going through any type of abuse is a warrior! They’re so brave and I think this author is very brave for bringing the story to light.
Definitely trigger warnings on this, but if you are able to look past some of the intense moments, and look at the compassion and the humanity she brings through the character development, you’ll be blown away by the story.
Uncomfortable and brutal in many ways but tempered with deep understanding and love.
4 STARS!
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Hi! I’m Chris! Just a Midlife Wife sharing about life’s journey; screaming and kicking through it while supposedly aging gracefully…
Focusing on healthy living, low carb & keto, things I am loving right now, and life in general.