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Let Me Go #1
Let Me Go
Originally released as “Let Me Go” under the name L.L. Akers it has since been released as “The Girl in the Box” under both L.L. Akers and Lisa Akers
Bound by blood...Marked by the Dragonfly.
The pasts of three sisters and their mother collide head-on with a mysterious present in this surreal and gripping family drama. One of these women finds herself trapped. Alone. In a box. She battles to survive the terrifying darkness. With long hours of nothing to do but wait in terror for her captor to return, she grapples through obscure dreams and memories of a painful family past, painting the story of the dragonfly tattoo--once meant to be a beautiful, family mark of freedom--but destined to become a prophetic brand of survival shared by the four women who wear it.
Identical twins, Gabby and Olivia, and their little sister, Emma, flee their less-than-perfect childhoods, and find they take more of their mother with them than her long chocolate-colored hair and her startling blue eyes.
Wanting to just get away... Olivia marries her first love--at age 17--and realizes later he's not what he'd first seemed to be. She falls victim to his fury when his mask finally slips, and she attempts to break free. But she finds herself unwillingly flittering back to a familiar cycle of abuse--one she'd watched her own parents circle for years.
Meanwhile, her twin sister, Gabby, finds sweet love with Jake, a humble, well-mannered southern boy who saves her not once--but twice. However, when she is pursued by a dangerous admirer at work, her happily-ever-after is threatened and may come to an end far too soon.
And there's little sister, Emma... with her own hidden secrets, painfully bottled up inside of her, wrestling to get out and take revenge.
Deeply evocative, Let Me Go is a suspenseful and heart-wrenching Coming of Age story with a beautiful ending for survivors.
(Age 17+ due to language/graphic content... a dark but beautiful story of abuse and survival.)
Bound by blood...Marked by the Dragonfly.
The pasts of three sisters and their mother collide head-on with a mysterious present in this surreal and gripping family drama. One of these women finds herself trapped. Alone. In a box. She battles to survive the terrifying darkness. With long hours of nothing to do but wait in terror for her captor to return, she grapples through obscure dreams and memories of a painful family past, painting the story of the dragonfly tattoo--once meant to be a beautiful, family mark of freedom--but destined to become a prophetic brand of survival shared by the four women who wear it.
Identical twins, Gabby and Olivia, and their little sister, Emma, flee their less-than-perfect childhoods, and find they take more of their mother with them than her long chocolate-colored hair and her startling blue eyes.
Wanting to just get away... Olivia marries her first love--at age 17--and realizes later he's not what he'd first seemed to be. She falls victim to his fury when his mask finally slips, and she attempts to break free. But she finds herself unwillingly flittering back to a familiar cycle of abuse--one she'd watched her own parents circle for years.
Meanwhile, her twin sister, Gabby, finds sweet love with Jake, a humble, well-mannered southern boy who saves her not once--but twice. However, when she is pursued by a dangerous admirer at work, her happily-ever-after is threatened and may come to an end far too soon.
And there's little sister, Emma... with her own hidden secrets, painfully bottled up inside of her, wrestling to get out and take revenge.
Deeply evocative, Let Me Go is a suspenseful and heart-wrenching Coming of Age story with a beautiful ending for survivors.
(Age 17+ due to language/graphic content... a dark but beautiful story of abuse and survival.)
274 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2013
574 people are currently reading
1820 people want to read
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L.L. Akers
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
August 15, 2019
2.5 ⭐️'s
The book starts out with ”the girl’s” first conscious thoughts:
- I can’t see anything even though my eyes are open
- I’m stuck in a small, dark space.
- I can’t get out.
- It feels like a box.
- I’m wearing a diaper.
- I’m lying on a plastic mat.
- I have no memory of getting here.
- I feel disoriented. Sleepy. Drugged?
- Someone planned this.
- Someone put me here.
Ok.....I’m paying attention. 😳😳
Well, in Chapter 1 I was completely riveted and gearing myself up for a highly psychological mind bender.
In their past, the waiting had made them seem weak… until they were strong. They’d all survived really bad things—not this bad—but bad enough. And their survival had always started with a quiet wait.”
Chapter 2 is a memory. Is it a memory of the girl in the box? I was a little confused. Either way, I learned more about the family this story revolves around. By Chapter 3 it was clear this was an abusive home. The parents were always yelling and fighting, the family was always moving and the girls had no one but each other.
When I was 10% into the story, I started to really dislike the mother. By around 25% I despised her.
The story flips back and forth between the girl in the box (told from an anonymous narrator POV) and the memories of the three girls in the family (twins Gabby & Olivia and their little sister Emma). The times where the narrator was describing the situation for the girl in the box were few and far between and usually only a page long. So, most of the story is about the abuse the 3 sisters faced in their 12-17 age ranges.
And damn.....there is a ton of abuse. Physical, emotional, sexual (a couple different rapes and child molestation). Their story isn’t for the faint of heart and was just one tragedy after another. Most of the abuse takes place off page and is not descriptive.
”As far back as she could remember, the women in her family had been touched by abuse of some kind, always at the hands of a “he.”
There was a point in the book where the rain cloud of doom and gloom just became too much. Too much abuse, no one ever getting a break and if they did get a break it inevitably backfired and they were right back in hell. It honestly became too much and I started contemplating not finishing the book. I was completely geared up for a psychological thriller about someone being held captive in a box, when in reality this was a story about a family’s cycle of abuse. I trudged on, but the heaviness was almost unbearable.
As the story was wrapping up, I felt like there were a few holes. Ok, yes, there was a big twist that totally took me by surprise. But, I’m still trying to determine if it pissed me off or not because it felt like a bit of a letdown. It certainly didn’t turn out to be the “psychological thriller” that the blurb promoted and that was a huge disappointment.
Also, some of the men were missing from the ending. What happened to dad? Is Jake still around (I think so but it wasn’t exactly clear in the epilogue). I know the dad started out with an unhealthy relationship with mom, but he loved his daughters. It would have been nice to have the author devote some more time to a healthy dad/daughter relationship to counterbalance all the other negative male relationships in the story. Where was dad when everything unfolded at the end of the book??
And the mother?? Well, the author attempts to redeem her some at the end of the book, but for me she was nonredeemable and the attempt made to portray her as a victim didn’t change my opinion. Her lack of care or worry for her daughters welfare was unforgivable. There is no coming back from the things she did/didn’t do.
I will say, I loved these girls. Olivia, Gabby and Emma go through hell but there was never a point where they didn’t shoulder the event and attempt to stand up on their own two feet. Their choices not to speak the truth was hard to read, and their coverups were representative of a victim’s behavior. I was rooting for them so hard and I desperately wanted them to find happiness at the end of the rainbow. Although they got resolution by the end of the book, they didn’t find their HEA. There are subsequent books and maybe that’s where they will finally fall in love and find their pot of gold, but I honestly don’t have the heart to read more stories about more abuse. From the descriptions I read for the other books, it sounds like they still go through some hell and honestly, I felt like they had more than their fair share in this book.
So, I’m wrapping it up here. I didn’t get the completion of the story for all the girls, but I honestly just can’t live through anymore heartache with them. My heart hurts for them and I just can’t watch them suffer more.
Overall, I was disappointed I didn’t get the psychological thriller that I was expecting. If I had known this was primarily about the repeated abuse of women/young girls, I would have never picked it up as it’s too much of a heavy, depressing story for me.
The book starts out with ”the girl’s” first conscious thoughts:
- I can’t see anything even though my eyes are open
- I’m stuck in a small, dark space.
- I can’t get out.
- It feels like a box.
- I’m wearing a diaper.
- I’m lying on a plastic mat.
- I have no memory of getting here.
- I feel disoriented. Sleepy. Drugged?
- Someone planned this.
- Someone put me here.
Ok.....I’m paying attention. 😳😳
Well, in Chapter 1 I was completely riveted and gearing myself up for a highly psychological mind bender.
In their past, the waiting had made them seem weak… until they were strong. They’d all survived really bad things—not this bad—but bad enough. And their survival had always started with a quiet wait.”
Chapter 2 is a memory. Is it a memory of the girl in the box? I was a little confused. Either way, I learned more about the family this story revolves around. By Chapter 3 it was clear this was an abusive home. The parents were always yelling and fighting, the family was always moving and the girls had no one but each other.
When I was 10% into the story, I started to really dislike the mother. By around 25% I despised her.
The story flips back and forth between the girl in the box (told from an anonymous narrator POV) and the memories of the three girls in the family (twins Gabby & Olivia and their little sister Emma). The times where the narrator was describing the situation for the girl in the box were few and far between and usually only a page long. So, most of the story is about the abuse the 3 sisters faced in their 12-17 age ranges.
And damn.....there is a ton of abuse. Physical, emotional, sexual (a couple different rapes and child molestation). Their story isn’t for the faint of heart and was just one tragedy after another. Most of the abuse takes place off page and is not descriptive.
”As far back as she could remember, the women in her family had been touched by abuse of some kind, always at the hands of a “he.”
There was a point in the book where the rain cloud of doom and gloom just became too much. Too much abuse, no one ever getting a break and if they did get a break it inevitably backfired and they were right back in hell. It honestly became too much and I started contemplating not finishing the book. I was completely geared up for a psychological thriller about someone being held captive in a box, when in reality this was a story about a family’s cycle of abuse. I trudged on, but the heaviness was almost unbearable.
As the story was wrapping up, I felt like there were a few holes. Ok, yes, there was a big twist that totally took me by surprise. But, I’m still trying to determine if it pissed me off or not because it felt like a bit of a letdown. It certainly didn’t turn out to be the “psychological thriller” that the blurb promoted and that was a huge disappointment.
Also, some of the men were missing from the ending. What happened to dad? Is Jake still around (I think so but it wasn’t exactly clear in the epilogue). I know the dad started out with an unhealthy relationship with mom, but he loved his daughters. It would have been nice to have the author devote some more time to a healthy dad/daughter relationship to counterbalance all the other negative male relationships in the story. Where was dad when everything unfolded at the end of the book??
And the mother?? Well, the author attempts to redeem her some at the end of the book, but for me she was nonredeemable and the attempt made to portray her as a victim didn’t change my opinion. Her lack of care or worry for her daughters welfare was unforgivable. There is no coming back from the things she did/didn’t do.
I will say, I loved these girls. Olivia, Gabby and Emma go through hell but there was never a point where they didn’t shoulder the event and attempt to stand up on their own two feet. Their choices not to speak the truth was hard to read, and their coverups were representative of a victim’s behavior. I was rooting for them so hard and I desperately wanted them to find happiness at the end of the rainbow. Although they got resolution by the end of the book, they didn’t find their HEA. There are subsequent books and maybe that’s where they will finally fall in love and find their pot of gold, but I honestly don’t have the heart to read more stories about more abuse. From the descriptions I read for the other books, it sounds like they still go through some hell and honestly, I felt like they had more than their fair share in this book.
So, I’m wrapping it up here. I didn’t get the completion of the story for all the girls, but I honestly just can’t live through anymore heartache with them. My heart hurts for them and I just can’t watch them suffer more.
Overall, I was disappointed I didn’t get the psychological thriller that I was expecting. If I had known this was primarily about the repeated abuse of women/young girls, I would have never picked it up as it’s too much of a heavy, depressing story for me.
December 4, 2013
Find this review and more on my blog...
L.L. Akers’ Let Me Go is one of those books that I can’t say that I actually enjoyed, but that I respected. I was enthralled with the story. I desperately needed to know who was “The Girl in the Box.” I had to know these characters would be alright. Because, really, it could have gone either way. This was a short read, but certainly not an easy one.
I admire the way the author approached the tough subjects in this book. The writing was extraordinary, as was the character development. I felt so much empathy for the characters in this novel. Yet, at the same time, I wanted to scream and yell at them as patterns emerged and history began to repeat itself. One of my favorite things about reading is when a book makes me feel, whether it’s love or hate, happiness or anger, anxious or calm. I’m an emotional reader. I need books that feed my emotions. This one definitely complied.
This novel follows teenage twins Gabby and Olivia, their younger sister Emma and their parents over the course of several years. Their family is not a happy one. Their lives are not easy. Their mother is frequently abused at the hands of their father. They were married far too young (15 and 17, respectively) and it was hell raising children when they were little more than children themselves. Times are hard and things get out of hand frequently.
Over the course of many years, each of the women in this family are victimized by men. It’s disheartening. It was incredibly difficult to read. I just kept waiting for one of them to catch a break. To finally find a guy who is going to treat her well, not perpetuate the cycle of violence that’s existed in their family.
The chapters from the perspective of “The Girl in the Box” gave me great anxiety. I wanted to know who she was, where she was, what was happening to her, why it was happening. I wanted someone to rescue her. I wanted to rescue her myself. I was on the edge of my seat during these short chapters.
No, this isn’t an easy book to read, but it’s not entirely tragic, either. There’s the promise of hope. But, the story is hard to take at times. The characters are frustrating. The fact that they know they’re repeating history and allow it to continue at times made me want to scream at them. I wanted them to fight back. I wanted them to save themselves. If you’re looking for an effortless, fluffy read, this isn’t the book for you. If you’re looking for a beautifully-written tale of how your past, or your family’s past, can impact your future, this is your book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
L.L. Akers’ Let Me Go is one of those books that I can’t say that I actually enjoyed, but that I respected. I was enthralled with the story. I desperately needed to know who was “The Girl in the Box.” I had to know these characters would be alright. Because, really, it could have gone either way. This was a short read, but certainly not an easy one.
I admire the way the author approached the tough subjects in this book. The writing was extraordinary, as was the character development. I felt so much empathy for the characters in this novel. Yet, at the same time, I wanted to scream and yell at them as patterns emerged and history began to repeat itself. One of my favorite things about reading is when a book makes me feel, whether it’s love or hate, happiness or anger, anxious or calm. I’m an emotional reader. I need books that feed my emotions. This one definitely complied.
“As far back as she could remember, the women in her family had been touched by abuse of some kind, always at the hands of a he. It was almost a family tradition – bound by blood, ripped apart by abuse.”
This novel follows teenage twins Gabby and Olivia, their younger sister Emma and their parents over the course of several years. Their family is not a happy one. Their lives are not easy. Their mother is frequently abused at the hands of their father. They were married far too young (15 and 17, respectively) and it was hell raising children when they were little more than children themselves. Times are hard and things get out of hand frequently.
“The dragonflies weren’t ever a mark of our freedom. They’re a mark of imprisonment, trapped on our bodies.”
Over the course of many years, each of the women in this family are victimized by men. It’s disheartening. It was incredibly difficult to read. I just kept waiting for one of them to catch a break. To finally find a guy who is going to treat her well, not perpetuate the cycle of violence that’s existed in their family.
The chapters from the perspective of “The Girl in the Box” gave me great anxiety. I wanted to know who she was, where she was, what was happening to her, why it was happening. I wanted someone to rescue her. I wanted to rescue her myself. I was on the edge of my seat during these short chapters.
No, this isn’t an easy book to read, but it’s not entirely tragic, either. There’s the promise of hope. But, the story is hard to take at times. The characters are frustrating. The fact that they know they’re repeating history and allow it to continue at times made me want to scream at them. I wanted them to fight back. I wanted them to save themselves. If you’re looking for an effortless, fluffy read, this isn’t the book for you. If you’re looking for a beautifully-written tale of how your past, or your family’s past, can impact your future, this is your book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2013
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
I have to admit, lately I had the luck of reading some incredible books, but this one it’s whit out any doubt a 5 stars, brilliant! L.L. Akers had the courage to write about a difficult tough subject, and she did it perfectly till the end! This story, about abusing, comes very close to being entirely true, sadly, it does happen. To get to the point, I will tell you about it to see why you have to read it.
There are 3 stories in this book, they belong to Gabby, Olivia- the twins, and they’re younger sister Emma. They’re parents are unhappy because they made the girls at a young age, 15 years old and 17 , and they didn't have time to have fun and to live a little. That, and the fact that they’re father abused repeatably they’re mother. So, her mother decides to get a dragonfly tattoo to celebrate her freedom and for starting a new life, especially with her new boyfriend Mark. Gabby doesn't trusts him, and she has a reason, everything seemed to be way to easy. Mark it’s pedophile, and the worst part is he has been mentally abusing Emma.
Gabby has her fair share of bad luck. Just when she thought she has meet her true one- Gabe, and finally has a chance at happiness, she discovers that Gabe only wanted to sleep with her because she was a virgin. And guess what...Mark introduced them.
Olivia starts a relationship with a guy named Billy even if she’s only 16 years old, and soon they get married. But her husband it’s Olivia’s nightmare, he is an abuser and cuts her off from her family. They’re story it’s heart breaking! But, the ending has a silver lining! After suffering so much, because believe me, I've only told you only a fraction of the story, all girls get a dragonfly tattoo to celebrate freedom and the fact they've managed to escape all the problems.
The thing that got me confused in the beginning, was that at the same time, parallel with the story of the girls, was another one about the „girl in the box”, who is captured by her abuser, and she is trapped and starting to lose her mind. But, when I found out who she was, my mouth just dropped open, I couldn't believed it! The author made that story perfect, I would have never guessed it!
Reading this book, I have to say I've learned a lot. About what abuse means, how people can react to it and how much they can suffer. The abused can’t just walk out because of the fear of what light happen, or if anyone will believe the story. An amazing and sad story, at the same time. Can’t wait to read the other books, because I've heard there are going to be 4 volumes. Can’t wait! Thank you L.L. Akers and the blog Itching For Books for giving me the opportunity to read such a master piece and to be apart of an amazing tour!
“The dragonflies weren't ever a mark of our freedom. They’re a mark of imprisonment, trapped on our bodies.”
"No once could be farther from you than the one you're closest to."
“As far back as she could remember, the women in her family had been touched by abuse of some kind, always at the hands of a he. It was almost a family tradition – bound by blood, ripped apart by abuse.”
"They continue stretching their wings, hovering in and out of the grasslands while seemingly waiting for the rest of their friends to join them... and then, glimmering fleetingly against the painted sky, they finally hurry away in abandon."
"I've just spent more time drinking than cleaning lately, trying to feel good... feel right... feel anything and kill the pain. Ask me, Mom... Just ask me... You can see I’m drinking; don’t deny it... Help me put the pieces back together again, Mom. Help me put me back together... See me!"
I have to admit, lately I had the luck of reading some incredible books, but this one it’s whit out any doubt a 5 stars, brilliant! L.L. Akers had the courage to write about a difficult tough subject, and she did it perfectly till the end! This story, about abusing, comes very close to being entirely true, sadly, it does happen. To get to the point, I will tell you about it to see why you have to read it.
There are 3 stories in this book, they belong to Gabby, Olivia- the twins, and they’re younger sister Emma. They’re parents are unhappy because they made the girls at a young age, 15 years old and 17 , and they didn't have time to have fun and to live a little. That, and the fact that they’re father abused repeatably they’re mother. So, her mother decides to get a dragonfly tattoo to celebrate her freedom and for starting a new life, especially with her new boyfriend Mark. Gabby doesn't trusts him, and she has a reason, everything seemed to be way to easy. Mark it’s pedophile, and the worst part is he has been mentally abusing Emma.
Gabby has her fair share of bad luck. Just when she thought she has meet her true one- Gabe, and finally has a chance at happiness, she discovers that Gabe only wanted to sleep with her because she was a virgin. And guess what...Mark introduced them.
Olivia starts a relationship with a guy named Billy even if she’s only 16 years old, and soon they get married. But her husband it’s Olivia’s nightmare, he is an abuser and cuts her off from her family. They’re story it’s heart breaking! But, the ending has a silver lining! After suffering so much, because believe me, I've only told you only a fraction of the story, all girls get a dragonfly tattoo to celebrate freedom and the fact they've managed to escape all the problems.
The thing that got me confused in the beginning, was that at the same time, parallel with the story of the girls, was another one about the „girl in the box”, who is captured by her abuser, and she is trapped and starting to lose her mind. But, when I found out who she was, my mouth just dropped open, I couldn't believed it! The author made that story perfect, I would have never guessed it!
Reading this book, I have to say I've learned a lot. About what abuse means, how people can react to it and how much they can suffer. The abused can’t just walk out because of the fear of what light happen, or if anyone will believe the story. An amazing and sad story, at the same time. Can’t wait to read the other books, because I've heard there are going to be 4 volumes. Can’t wait! Thank you L.L. Akers and the blog Itching For Books for giving me the opportunity to read such a master piece and to be apart of an amazing tour!
“The dragonflies weren't ever a mark of our freedom. They’re a mark of imprisonment, trapped on our bodies.”
"No once could be farther from you than the one you're closest to."
“As far back as she could remember, the women in her family had been touched by abuse of some kind, always at the hands of a he. It was almost a family tradition – bound by blood, ripped apart by abuse.”
"They continue stretching their wings, hovering in and out of the grasslands while seemingly waiting for the rest of their friends to join them... and then, glimmering fleetingly against the painted sky, they finally hurry away in abandon."
"I've just spent more time drinking than cleaning lately, trying to feel good... feel right... feel anything and kill the pain. Ask me, Mom... Just ask me... You can see I’m drinking; don’t deny it... Help me put the pieces back together again, Mom. Help me put me back together... See me!"
January 2, 2014
I found this image over on L.L. Akers Facebook page, it says You have the power to say, “This is NOT how my story will end.”
I love it.
I don’t think that there is anything more fitting than that saying in regard to this book.
This is an absolutely beautiful and horrible book at the same time. Horrible in that abuse exists period. Horrible in that people would ever treat children that way. Horrible in that women let men do these things to them and then believe the lies when they say it will never happen again. Horrible that men (in this individual case, I know that there are women who also abuse men) use their strength and their power to gain control over us. I’ve been there. As a child and then as a woman. I broke the cycle for myself. I wish so many other women would do that for their children, for themselves.
On this flip side, this was breathtakingly beautiful. I don’t want to go to deep into it because I don’t want to give spoilers, but it was. As hard of a subject as this is to write about, L.L. Akers did an amazing job.
These stories need to be told in fiction and non-fiction formats. The shame, the guilt, the blame, all of that that we put on ourselves because obviously we did something to deserve this treatment needs to be broken. Children need to be stood up for and protected and any mother who buries her head in the sand as if it wasn’t happening is just as culpable as the one perpetuating the abuse in my opinion.
Amazing book. I kept turning the pages, who was the girl in the box. Which of these women? Who put them in the box? Do they make it out of the box in time? I finished this in just a couple of hours (272 pages), I couldn’t put it down. I had to find out. I wanted to see if any of them finally stood up and said I don’t deserve this, I am more valuable then this, THIS IS NOT MY FAULT!
Amazing author. I cannot wait for the next book in the Letting Go series. Do not miss this one. We all need to be aware that this goes on, that it doesn’t just happen those of a certain ethnicity, or of a certain wealth (or lack of wealth) level, or to those who live here or there, it could be happening to your neighbor, to someone you love, and it needs to stop.
February 10, 2016
This is my honest opinion of this book. I mean the author no harm or ill will just constructive criticism. Ok so, this book really did grip me at first. It had a great hook that just pulled you in in that, "I need to know why," way. That being said, I was extremely disappointed with the rest of the story. Now this was the authors first novel and I think it's great that she decided to go after her dreams, but this story needed a lot more work. I think of this more as a rough draft than a complete novel. The story short of jumps from time to time, the characters fell flat and seemed more like textbook profiles than real people. I couldn't sympathize with the story even though I should've and I had to keep rereading passages because I had no idea what was going on. I think that this story has a lot of potential and L.L. Akers just needs to work on her craft a little more. She has very good ideas that just need to be worked a little more to pull readers in to make a heartfelt, compelling story which is what I thought she was trying to do. Keep working L. I'll be looking forward to better works in the future :)
July 9, 2014
Good attempt for first novel
I think with more guidance & experience this author could become much better. The story itself was not believable, and would have been much better if she had developed her characters more, and had included more about their lives, dreams, thoughts, etc. For example, I'd loved to have known about Emma's relationship with her dad: their life together when she was with him.
On the other hand, I felt her characters were believable; I could see each of their personalities, and I could imagine them as real people. I wanted to know them better. The abuses in their lives had a huge impact on all of them, of course, but their lives entailed more than just abuse, and the reader could have seen that impact with less emphasis on the abuse, and more on other facets of their lives.
I think with more guidance & experience this author could become much better. The story itself was not believable, and would have been much better if she had developed her characters more, and had included more about their lives, dreams, thoughts, etc. For example, I'd loved to have known about Emma's relationship with her dad: their life together when she was with him.
On the other hand, I felt her characters were believable; I could see each of their personalities, and I could imagine them as real people. I wanted to know them better. The abuses in their lives had a huge impact on all of them, of course, but their lives entailed more than just abuse, and the reader could have seen that impact with less emphasis on the abuse, and more on other facets of their lives.
December 7, 2013
**4.5 Stars**
The synopsis says Let Me Go is evocative...it IS that.
I wrote my review of Let Me Go and then, I kept thinking about this book. And I kept thinking about and kept thinking about it. I decided that maybe talking about it would help me get my thoughts straight, so I volunteered my hubby to be my sounding board. It helped a little. There's just so much I want to say...all good. ;) Please forgive my vagueness in my review but this is a story that must be experienced.
Let Me Go is a captivating read. There is a lot going on but I think it boils down to a few things. Hopefully, I'll make some sense and be able to convey how thoroughly moved I was by this book.
The main thread of this story is abuse. What makes a person prone to suffering abuse? Is there something in a person's genetic makeup that makes them susceptible? Is it that element which would allow the propagation of the cycle of abuse? Or is the cause learned behavior? Nature vs. Nurture...
Let Me Go follows details the lives of a mom and her three daughters. All four lives are touched and tainted by abuse. The three girls are first witness to abuse between their parents. But even after their mom and dad split, the cycle continues.
Each girl/woman experiences abuse in different forms. And each, unable and unwilling to share with each other their suffering, end up drifting apart. Each woman, at a certain point in their lives, get a tattoo symbolizing a new start. The mom is the first to get the tattoo, a symbol of freedom, but the tattoo ends up being symbolic of their suffering.
Olivia and Gabby, the twins, along with their younger sister, Emma have a 'hard tow to hoe'. Their mom isn't much of a role model or a mother, really. Each of the girls are tossed out into life way too young and have to figure out how to manage on their own. This was particularly hard for each of them because they'd been through so much and had always survived by sticking together. But these girls are survivors. We see them traverse so many hardships without much support from either of their parents.
The POV switches between the four females, although there is one chapter from the dad's POV. And throughout the novel, there are chapters from "The Girl in the Box". The rotating POVs really enhanced the story. I do feel as though this story was told mainly from that POV of Gabby. I felt a connection to all the girls, but I think Let Me Go was primarily Gabby's story. I was flabbergasted by the things these poor girls experienced. And I have to say that I was more astounded at their mother's attitude towards the girls and their situations. The dynamic between the girls and their mother is definitely unique. I, however, never felt much more than apathy toward the mom for her struggles. As a mom, I can't imagine pushing my babies into the rough waters of life and leaving them to fend for themselves as such early ages. The girls love their mom, although I was never able to grasp the tenderness of their feelings.
What I appreciate the most in Let Me Go was seeing the resilience of these women. We see them all at their lowest and we see them moving toward healing. We watch them learn that together, they are stronger. And we see them learning forgiveness.
There are a host of side characters in the story. Not many of them are worth mentioning, but only because they aren't the nicest of people. I will say that despite being abusive in his marriage, the dad was actually a likable person. We don't see him much but I think I almost liked him more than mom. I enjoyed seeing Uncle Jackson for the brief amount of time we see him. But the one character I must mention is Jake. I don't want to say more about him than he's the good. He is a bright spot in all the darkness.
Let Me Go is full of emotion. It is riveting and gut-wrenching. And the added tension of wondering who was 'in the box' had me flipping through the pages quickly. I liked Ms. Akers' use of symbolism with the dragonfly and even the box. Although this story is a difficult one, it was ultimately uplifting and it was splendidly rendered.
**I received an ecopy of the book, as part of a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review. **
The synopsis says Let Me Go is evocative...it IS that.
I wrote my review of Let Me Go and then, I kept thinking about this book. And I kept thinking about and kept thinking about it. I decided that maybe talking about it would help me get my thoughts straight, so I volunteered my hubby to be my sounding board. It helped a little. There's just so much I want to say...all good. ;) Please forgive my vagueness in my review but this is a story that must be experienced.
Let Me Go is a captivating read. There is a lot going on but I think it boils down to a few things. Hopefully, I'll make some sense and be able to convey how thoroughly moved I was by this book.
The main thread of this story is abuse. What makes a person prone to suffering abuse? Is there something in a person's genetic makeup that makes them susceptible? Is it that element which would allow the propagation of the cycle of abuse? Or is the cause learned behavior? Nature vs. Nurture...
Let Me Go follows details the lives of a mom and her three daughters. All four lives are touched and tainted by abuse. The three girls are first witness to abuse between their parents. But even after their mom and dad split, the cycle continues.
Each girl/woman experiences abuse in different forms. And each, unable and unwilling to share with each other their suffering, end up drifting apart. Each woman, at a certain point in their lives, get a tattoo symbolizing a new start. The mom is the first to get the tattoo, a symbol of freedom, but the tattoo ends up being symbolic of their suffering.
Olivia and Gabby, the twins, along with their younger sister, Emma have a 'hard tow to hoe'. Their mom isn't much of a role model or a mother, really. Each of the girls are tossed out into life way too young and have to figure out how to manage on their own. This was particularly hard for each of them because they'd been through so much and had always survived by sticking together. But these girls are survivors. We see them traverse so many hardships without much support from either of their parents.
The POV switches between the four females, although there is one chapter from the dad's POV. And throughout the novel, there are chapters from "The Girl in the Box". The rotating POVs really enhanced the story. I do feel as though this story was told mainly from that POV of Gabby. I felt a connection to all the girls, but I think Let Me Go was primarily Gabby's story. I was flabbergasted by the things these poor girls experienced. And I have to say that I was more astounded at their mother's attitude towards the girls and their situations. The dynamic between the girls and their mother is definitely unique. I, however, never felt much more than apathy toward the mom for her struggles. As a mom, I can't imagine pushing my babies into the rough waters of life and leaving them to fend for themselves as such early ages. The girls love their mom, although I was never able to grasp the tenderness of their feelings.
What I appreciate the most in Let Me Go was seeing the resilience of these women. We see them all at their lowest and we see them moving toward healing. We watch them learn that together, they are stronger. And we see them learning forgiveness.
There are a host of side characters in the story. Not many of them are worth mentioning, but only because they aren't the nicest of people. I will say that despite being abusive in his marriage, the dad was actually a likable person. We don't see him much but I think I almost liked him more than mom. I enjoyed seeing Uncle Jackson for the brief amount of time we see him. But the one character I must mention is Jake. I don't want to say more about him than he's the good. He is a bright spot in all the darkness.
Let Me Go is full of emotion. It is riveting and gut-wrenching. And the added tension of wondering who was 'in the box' had me flipping through the pages quickly. I liked Ms. Akers' use of symbolism with the dragonfly and even the box. Although this story is a difficult one, it was ultimately uplifting and it was splendidly rendered.
**I received an ecopy of the book, as part of a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review. **
September 18, 2013
Let Me Go is a powerful book about the cycle of abuse. L.L. Akers has done a good job at portraying how victims often blame themselves and usually quickly forgive the abuser. I like how she used the sisters to show different ways in which women are abused, whether it is a child or an adult, and different ways victims cope.
“The Girl in the Box” undercurrent was interesting. It had me guessing throughout the book who the girl in the box was. I don’t want to say any more than that because I don’t want to spoil it. The ending made me cry (a good cry). As I’m writing this I realize that I got a little attached to the characters. I was just thinking that if this was “real life,” I’d be praying for the girls to stay away from abusive relationships. So many times you think that a victim understands the cycle and that she needs to stay away from abusive relationships and suddenly she’s back in another abusive relationship.
I definitely recommend Let Me Go!
“The Girl in the Box” undercurrent was interesting. It had me guessing throughout the book who the girl in the box was. I don’t want to say any more than that because I don’t want to spoil it. The ending made me cry (a good cry). As I’m writing this I realize that I got a little attached to the characters. I was just thinking that if this was “real life,” I’d be praying for the girls to stay away from abusive relationships. So many times you think that a victim understands the cycle and that she needs to stay away from abusive relationships and suddenly she’s back in another abusive relationship.
I definitely recommend Let Me Go!
January 24, 2014
I received an ebook of this book in exchange for an honest review. I haven't really talked about it much, especially now that I am out of the relationship. It was very challenging for me to come forward with my relationship and the undeniable abuse. After reading this book, I recommended it to a few friends and family. For me, it was a gateway to start opening up. It took me many years to tell my close friends. My friends had no idea. I was very good at hiding bruises and my unhappiness. After reading this book, I understood everything. I understood all of the emotions, the decisions, the reality. I loved every detail that the author had incorporated. I cannot wait for the next one!
December 5, 2013
I'm not really sure exactly how to describe my thoughts now that I'm finished reading it. So I guess I will start from the beginning...
I thought it started off a little bit slowly in the first chapter, which mostly just laid the foundation for the rest of the story - about how lonely the girls were because they moved so often after each big abusive show-down. Then things get a little more interesting, as one of those show-downs happens before their eyes and it's described in detail. I thought it was well written and believable.
As the girls got older, each of them is abused in different ways. The mother made me SO angry because she was so blinded as to what was happening with herself or her girls. It was like she was in a fog and unable to see anything clearly. *I* wanted to hit her, which probably isn't the right reaction to have in a story with so much spousal and sexual abuse in it. I literally hated her boyfriend, he was such a sleazy guy and I couldn't stand how he could twist everything so that their mom would believe him over her own daughters.
And then...it got so good that I had a hard time putting it down. I loved, loved, loved reading about Gabby and Jake's relationship, and how he was there for her every single step of the way. Their relationship had me literally swooning - I don't do that often, but when she went through her hard experience, he was so supportive and I was bawling my eyes out. Jake was amazing, and I hoped for Gabby's sake that everything would work out for them and she would be free from the abuse. My heart broke a little bit when she couldn't escape it after all.
I knew that Olivia and Billy would be a different story, and not much of this book is told from her perspective. I didn't feel as much of a connection with her, and realized early on that she wasn't very good at making the right decisions...this was enforced over and over - she just wasn't as strong as her twin sister.
Emma was the saddest of them all, because she was so incredibly young when her abuse started, and her sisters tried to protect her as much as they could but it still wasn't enough. She turned so wild and I wanted to scream at her mother for not seeing what was happening right before her. Her response of "I could never control you girls" made me so, so mad.
The story had it's ups and downs, and when everything came to a head and the "The Girl in a Box" chapters (which were scattered throughout the book) finally made sense, I was so engrossed and emotionally invested in the story. I was a little let down with the ending, but it wasn't bad, it just felt a little bit rushed and short. Everything was leading up to this point and then wrapped up quickly. The girls' strength and resilience in the face of abuse was heart-warming and made me root for each of them in their own situations, though.
Overall, I thought it was a good read, although very mature in nature and not for the faint of heart. It's not graphic but all four women are abused repeatedly and in different ways, which isn't always fun to read about. But, it was well worth the read. I'm really looking forward to the next book, Captured Again (the first chapter of it is found at the end of Let Me Go) to find out more of these girls' stories.
I thought it started off a little bit slowly in the first chapter, which mostly just laid the foundation for the rest of the story - about how lonely the girls were because they moved so often after each big abusive show-down. Then things get a little more interesting, as one of those show-downs happens before their eyes and it's described in detail. I thought it was well written and believable.
As the girls got older, each of them is abused in different ways. The mother made me SO angry because she was so blinded as to what was happening with herself or her girls. It was like she was in a fog and unable to see anything clearly. *I* wanted to hit her, which probably isn't the right reaction to have in a story with so much spousal and sexual abuse in it. I literally hated her boyfriend, he was such a sleazy guy and I couldn't stand how he could twist everything so that their mom would believe him over her own daughters.
And then...it got so good that I had a hard time putting it down. I loved, loved, loved reading about Gabby and Jake's relationship, and how he was there for her every single step of the way. Their relationship had me literally swooning - I don't do that often, but when she went through her hard experience, he was so supportive and I was bawling my eyes out. Jake was amazing, and I hoped for Gabby's sake that everything would work out for them and she would be free from the abuse. My heart broke a little bit when she couldn't escape it after all.
I knew that Olivia and Billy would be a different story, and not much of this book is told from her perspective. I didn't feel as much of a connection with her, and realized early on that she wasn't very good at making the right decisions...this was enforced over and over - she just wasn't as strong as her twin sister.
Emma was the saddest of them all, because she was so incredibly young when her abuse started, and her sisters tried to protect her as much as they could but it still wasn't enough. She turned so wild and I wanted to scream at her mother for not seeing what was happening right before her. Her response of "I could never control you girls" made me so, so mad.
The story had it's ups and downs, and when everything came to a head and the "The Girl in a Box" chapters (which were scattered throughout the book) finally made sense, I was so engrossed and emotionally invested in the story. I was a little let down with the ending, but it wasn't bad, it just felt a little bit rushed and short. Everything was leading up to this point and then wrapped up quickly. The girls' strength and resilience in the face of abuse was heart-warming and made me root for each of them in their own situations, though.
Overall, I thought it was a good read, although very mature in nature and not for the faint of heart. It's not graphic but all four women are abused repeatedly and in different ways, which isn't always fun to read about. But, it was well worth the read. I'm really looking forward to the next book, Captured Again (the first chapter of it is found at the end of Let Me Go) to find out more of these girls' stories.
December 13, 2013
Normally this book isn't something that I would read. In fact stories of abuse have been one of my bookish no-no's from the very beginning. However I got the invitation to be part of this blog tour and after a bit of consideration, I decided to participate. Now while this book was a quick read for me, it was in no way, an easy read. This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions.
From a purely academic standpoint I understood the cycle of abuse as I have studied it intently. However, nothing prepared me for what I was about to read. Olivia and Gabby have all these plans not to be like their mother. Yet they don't know how not to be like her. They accept abusive men into their lives because they don't know any better. They'd rather be in these abusive situations than deal with the emotional problems that would come of realizing that this is wrong.
Olivia has an abusive husband who is much like her father. Her family begs and pleads for her to escape. Yet when she does, her abuser finds her and lures her back into his clutches.This is the perfect example of the true cycle of violence. The Honeymoon stage, the buildup and then the violence.It goes around and around again and no one is sure if Olivia will be strong enough to end it once and for all.
Gabby had to take care of her younger sister Emma while her mother reinvented herself.During that time she got pregnant unexpectedly she also met a truly wonderful man who took her in when she had no place in the world to go. It wasn't until she had gotten a better job than the one she had before that she ran into problems. The problem was her superior who forced himself on her multiple times. Fearing that her husband would blame this on her, Gabby kicks the husband out and shortly afterward attempts suicide.
Emma was a bubbly child until her mother's boyfriend Mark began touching her.No one ever knows the full story until much later.However the signs are all there and the part that really makes my blood boil is when Gabby finds out and tells their mother, their mother takes Mark's side. Although as it's later discovered, she never truly believed Mark's story.
This story is an emotional one despite the predictability of some of it.I loved all three sisters equally. They all were strong women who dealt with their upbringing in very different ways. Olivia used Billy to get out of it,Gabby used Jake and his wonderful family and Emma used alcohol.
This book had all of those feels that are so important in a book. I really had only one issue with this one. Their mom. I thought she was a selfish woman who I never really liked. That was a pretty big issue. I didn't like how she talked to her kids or how she failed to protect them. Especially Emma. What Emma went through at the hands of her mother's boyfriend was sickening. So this book will be getting 4 stars.I just couldn't connect with their mom.The rest of this book was perfect though.
From a purely academic standpoint I understood the cycle of abuse as I have studied it intently. However, nothing prepared me for what I was about to read. Olivia and Gabby have all these plans not to be like their mother. Yet they don't know how not to be like her. They accept abusive men into their lives because they don't know any better. They'd rather be in these abusive situations than deal with the emotional problems that would come of realizing that this is wrong.
Olivia has an abusive husband who is much like her father. Her family begs and pleads for her to escape. Yet when she does, her abuser finds her and lures her back into his clutches.This is the perfect example of the true cycle of violence. The Honeymoon stage, the buildup and then the violence.It goes around and around again and no one is sure if Olivia will be strong enough to end it once and for all.
Gabby had to take care of her younger sister Emma while her mother reinvented herself.During that time she got pregnant unexpectedly she also met a truly wonderful man who took her in when she had no place in the world to go. It wasn't until she had gotten a better job than the one she had before that she ran into problems. The problem was her superior who forced himself on her multiple times. Fearing that her husband would blame this on her, Gabby kicks the husband out and shortly afterward attempts suicide.
Emma was a bubbly child until her mother's boyfriend Mark began touching her.No one ever knows the full story until much later.However the signs are all there and the part that really makes my blood boil is when Gabby finds out and tells their mother, their mother takes Mark's side. Although as it's later discovered, she never truly believed Mark's story.
This story is an emotional one despite the predictability of some of it.I loved all three sisters equally. They all were strong women who dealt with their upbringing in very different ways. Olivia used Billy to get out of it,Gabby used Jake and his wonderful family and Emma used alcohol.
This book had all of those feels that are so important in a book. I really had only one issue with this one. Their mom. I thought she was a selfish woman who I never really liked. That was a pretty big issue. I didn't like how she talked to her kids or how she failed to protect them. Especially Emma. What Emma went through at the hands of her mother's boyfriend was sickening. So this book will be getting 4 stars.I just couldn't connect with their mom.The rest of this book was perfect though.
January 1, 2015
This is my first conquest in the new "New Adult Genre," which, according to USA Today, is a product of the self-publishing/e-book era, and is supposed to fill a void between Young Adult (ages 12-18) and traditional fiction. I was unaware that there was any sort of gap, but this stuff is selling like hotcakes, so what do I know? Based on all the titles, reviews, and publicity I have found since discovering this new genre, I had set the bar pretty low for "Let Me Go." Although there are many gems in Young Adult (Anne of Avonlea) there are also many pieces of pyrite (Bella Swan). I was expecting "Let Me Go" to be pyrite through and through, but there is some true sparkle to be found in LL Akers' first novel.
While reading "Let Me Go," I kept clicking "next page, next page, next page" on my Kindle. It is a page turner, and I absolutely wanted to get to the end of the story, find out which lady was "the girl in the box," who was her captor, and find what was promised to me as the hopeful ending. The end was not what I expected at all, and I love to be surprised. Akers' novel proves that she is a storyteller, and I doubt anyone would walk away from her around a campfire while she is spinning a tale. I also happened to love the dragonfly symbolism and metaphor and how it helped to tie things up neatly in the healing process for the main characters.
Although the twin sister relationship started out as a brightly painted picture, I found the characters flat and undeveloped. Gabby and Olivia's "twinness" proves to be a much less important plot point than I thought when I began my journey with them. The plot moves forward and sort of drags the characters with it. Having chosen the important and relevant topic of domestic violence (in many disgusting forms) as the central conflict of her story, Akers' has an opportunity to educate others about the vicious cycle of abuse. Yet this novel propitiates stereotypes of the victims of abuse and domestic violence by not fleshing out the emotional lives of these sad women. She doesn't help the reader understand why they don't and can't just walk out. As a person with no experience of abuse of any kind, I just found this entire story totally unbelievable, even fantastic, when it has no basis in fantasy. Perhaps I am just naive. Emma's story bordered on ridiculous. There are more than a few errors (word usage, punctuation) in this novel, so if you are a grammar snob like me, be prepared to cringe.
"Let Me Go" is not an easy read. Expect vivid detail of physical and emotional abuse, rape, and domestic violence. It may have a hopeful ending, but this is a dark, dark tale, not for the squeamish. Although they are mentioned, if you're "looking for unicorns jumping over rainbows pooping Skittles," this book is not for you.
While reading "Let Me Go," I kept clicking "next page, next page, next page" on my Kindle. It is a page turner, and I absolutely wanted to get to the end of the story, find out which lady was "the girl in the box," who was her captor, and find what was promised to me as the hopeful ending. The end was not what I expected at all, and I love to be surprised. Akers' novel proves that she is a storyteller, and I doubt anyone would walk away from her around a campfire while she is spinning a tale. I also happened to love the dragonfly symbolism and metaphor and how it helped to tie things up neatly in the healing process for the main characters.
Although the twin sister relationship started out as a brightly painted picture, I found the characters flat and undeveloped. Gabby and Olivia's "twinness" proves to be a much less important plot point than I thought when I began my journey with them. The plot moves forward and sort of drags the characters with it. Having chosen the important and relevant topic of domestic violence (in many disgusting forms) as the central conflict of her story, Akers' has an opportunity to educate others about the vicious cycle of abuse. Yet this novel propitiates stereotypes of the victims of abuse and domestic violence by not fleshing out the emotional lives of these sad women. She doesn't help the reader understand why they don't and can't just walk out. As a person with no experience of abuse of any kind, I just found this entire story totally unbelievable, even fantastic, when it has no basis in fantasy. Perhaps I am just naive. Emma's story bordered on ridiculous. There are more than a few errors (word usage, punctuation) in this novel, so if you are a grammar snob like me, be prepared to cringe.
"Let Me Go" is not an easy read. Expect vivid detail of physical and emotional abuse, rape, and domestic violence. It may have a hopeful ending, but this is a dark, dark tale, not for the squeamish. Although they are mentioned, if you're "looking for unicorns jumping over rainbows pooping Skittles," this book is not for you.
September 20, 2013
Let me go was such an interesting and unique story!The writing was amazing,as well as the character development.While reading Let Me Go,I connected with the characters and it wasn't easy to read about the things they went through.Because this wasn't what you'd call an easy read but it's not a story you'd call really dark either.I felt so many things while reading the book and there were times when I couldn't keep on reading,not because I didn't like the book but because I was afraid to see what would happen.Let Me Go literally messed with my emotions.
The story follows the lives of three sisters.Gabby and Olivia who are twins and their younger sister Emma.Their lives are not easy and their family isn't a normal one.Her mother was abused by their father and as the years passed,they suffered a lot as well.When they thought that they were free,they all got a dragonfly tattoo.It was the symbol of their freedom.But was it?
The dragonflies weren't even a mark of our freedom.They're a mark of imprisonment,trapped on our bodies...
There were also some chapters about a girl in a box.Those were the ones that made me more anxious than I already was.I wanted to know who that girl was and what happened to her.I spend a lot of time wondering who she was.I also spend a lot of time wondering why she was taken and why nobody rescued her.Those short chapters kept me on edge.
The girl in the box sighs and smiles peacefully in her sleep.When she next awakes,she too will be free...
Each of the girls had her own story and I really felt heartbroken and sad for them.They'd been through so much and I was patiently waiting for something that was going to end their torture.But more things happened...Nobody did something to end their suffering.
I traded my childhood for freedom to get away from that little girl,but I still wasn't free...
Please little prince,don't forget me...
We're stronger together than we are apart...
I enjoyed Let Me Go more than I expected to and I can't wait for the sequel.Again this wasn't an easy read...you could say that it's somewhere between easy and tragic.That doesn't mean that it wasn't hard to read.Because it was.And again,this was such a beautifully written book.Probably my favorite.The author managed to write such an emotional and gripping story and for me...made it work.The characters were believable and real.There wasn't anything fake about the book and I loved that.
If you're looking for a book full of mystery and heartbreak that will keep you on edge...this is it!
The story follows the lives of three sisters.Gabby and Olivia who are twins and their younger sister Emma.Their lives are not easy and their family isn't a normal one.Her mother was abused by their father and as the years passed,they suffered a lot as well.When they thought that they were free,they all got a dragonfly tattoo.It was the symbol of their freedom.But was it?
The dragonflies weren't even a mark of our freedom.They're a mark of imprisonment,trapped on our bodies...
There were also some chapters about a girl in a box.Those were the ones that made me more anxious than I already was.I wanted to know who that girl was and what happened to her.I spend a lot of time wondering who she was.I also spend a lot of time wondering why she was taken and why nobody rescued her.Those short chapters kept me on edge.
The girl in the box sighs and smiles peacefully in her sleep.When she next awakes,she too will be free...
Each of the girls had her own story and I really felt heartbroken and sad for them.They'd been through so much and I was patiently waiting for something that was going to end their torture.But more things happened...Nobody did something to end their suffering.
I traded my childhood for freedom to get away from that little girl,but I still wasn't free...
Please little prince,don't forget me...
We're stronger together than we are apart...
I enjoyed Let Me Go more than I expected to and I can't wait for the sequel.Again this wasn't an easy read...you could say that it's somewhere between easy and tragic.That doesn't mean that it wasn't hard to read.Because it was.And again,this was such a beautifully written book.Probably my favorite.The author managed to write such an emotional and gripping story and for me...made it work.The characters were believable and real.There wasn't anything fake about the book and I loved that.
If you're looking for a book full of mystery and heartbreak that will keep you on edge...this is it!
January 20, 2014
After reading the synopsis, I knew that Let Me Go was not going to be an easy read, and as I write this review I still feel for the main characters, and what they went through.
“As far back as she could remember, the women in her family had been touched by abuse of some kind, always at the hands of a he. It was almost a family tradition – bound by blood, ripped apart by abuse.”
Let Me Go follows teenagers Gabby and Olivia (twins) their younger sister Emma who have spent most of their childhood watching their parent volatile relationship. As they get older they find themselves suffering in individual ways from domestic violence, rape, physically, sexual, mental, and emotional abuse.
As each of Gabby, Olivia and Emma’s stories unfolded, my heart went out to them, but I was also frustrated by some of their choices. They struggled, and dealt with, trying to break the cycle of abuse, not wanting to be victims, keeping secrets from each, and blaming themselves. They go through so much, and I was rooting for them hoping that things would change, and they could get some healing.
The storyline deals with some difficult, and tough subjects and was hard to read at times. My emotional were all over the place while reading it. There were tears; I was frustrated, angry, sad, and anxious. I wanting to hug, and protect some characters while wanting to punch, and do physical harm to others.
The girl in the box chapters really added to the suspense, and mystery to the story, and they certainly did grab my attention from the very beginning. While reading the book, I was trying to work out who was in the box, and who put them there. I kept changing my mind, and when all was revealed I was surprised as it was not was I was expecting.
Overall I enjoyed this book, there were a few parts on the story that could have been developed more if the book had been longer, but that being said it was a good read that hooked me from the start. I loved the meaning behind the dragonfly tattoos. L.L Akers debut book was a well-written, and emotional book that deals with the effects of abuse.
I’m looking forward to reading Captured Again, book 2 of the Let Me Go series from the teaser you get at the end of this book I think that L.L Akers is going to take me on another emotional rollercoaster.
September 3, 2013
"Let Me Go" was a gripping story abuse how abuse affects the 3 sisters as well as the family in this fictional work. I know that some people feel that this was "wildly fantastic" and a "gross exaggeration" of what abuse can be but I can say that this story is more true than so many realize. I've read the reviews and while some of them were favorable there were a few that really hit a nerve. Obviously these people have never known (or have been informed that they know) a victim of domestic or sexual abuse. I pray that they never do and that they realize how lucky they are.
The stories of Gabby, Olivia, and Emma are sadly not uncommon. I have known entire families of women affected by abuse of all kinds and I come from one myself. There is so much that can be learned by reading this book; namely why victims would want to keep the secrets to themselves. If the reviews are any indication of the viewpoint on domestic and sexual abuse (not to mention mental abuse) then most victims keep their secrets for fear of being judged and ostracized. Having been a victim of many forms of abuse in this tale I could connect with each of these sisters at some level. While reading certain parts I felt that this author could have been in my own head.
A lot of hard work and research had to have gone into this book; especially to be written as a work of fiction but to be so true to form with how a victim would feel after each of the events that happened in their lives. I can't wait for my daughter to get a little older so that I can introduce her to the wonderful characters in this book. Prior to reading this I would have thought 14 years old a bit early but after events in my own life, friends, and even this the characters in this story maybe 14 would be too late to introduce this dialogue in my home.
I thank the author for writing this; for possibly giving true victims a voice and the power to speak out. Kudos to a an amazing book!
The stories of Gabby, Olivia, and Emma are sadly not uncommon. I have known entire families of women affected by abuse of all kinds and I come from one myself. There is so much that can be learned by reading this book; namely why victims would want to keep the secrets to themselves. If the reviews are any indication of the viewpoint on domestic and sexual abuse (not to mention mental abuse) then most victims keep their secrets for fear of being judged and ostracized. Having been a victim of many forms of abuse in this tale I could connect with each of these sisters at some level. While reading certain parts I felt that this author could have been in my own head.
A lot of hard work and research had to have gone into this book; especially to be written as a work of fiction but to be so true to form with how a victim would feel after each of the events that happened in their lives. I can't wait for my daughter to get a little older so that I can introduce her to the wonderful characters in this book. Prior to reading this I would have thought 14 years old a bit early but after events in my own life, friends, and even this the characters in this story maybe 14 would be too late to introduce this dialogue in my home.
I thank the author for writing this; for possibly giving true victims a voice and the power to speak out. Kudos to a an amazing book!
December 4, 2013
Olivia and Gabby grew up in a house where parents shouting at one another was normal. Where protecting your baby sister from your abusive father (and mom’s new boyfriend) was something that happened without them even having to think about it. And as such things go, a cycle starts where both the girls get drawn into abusive relationships of their own. I have seen first had how these things really do turn into vicious cycles. It takes a lot of courage and a lot of strength of will to break these kinds of cycles.
I honestly commend the author for taking on such a tough subject. It wasn’t easy to read, and I can just imagine how hard it must have been to write it. The girls’ story really struck a chord within me. I was heart broken at how helpless they felt and with everything that they were forced to go through. I think the most resounding part of the book (which will stay with me forever) is the intertwined story of the “girl in the box”.
This girl and her panic sticks with you. I felt my own panic grow, my own mind going fuzzy when ever I read her chapters. Her initial confusion is so well written and described that I found myself trapped in a dark box with no way out. I cannot imagine how tough it must be to be locked up like that. So blind. So trapped.
This was a fantastic bit of fiction (even if it is so well based in reality) that should be read by all woman. We need to know what can happen if we stop standing up for ourselves. We need to know learn to fight for ourselves and our loved ones.
I honestly commend the author for taking on such a tough subject. It wasn’t easy to read, and I can just imagine how hard it must have been to write it. The girls’ story really struck a chord within me. I was heart broken at how helpless they felt and with everything that they were forced to go through. I think the most resounding part of the book (which will stay with me forever) is the intertwined story of the “girl in the box”.
This girl and her panic sticks with you. I felt my own panic grow, my own mind going fuzzy when ever I read her chapters. Her initial confusion is so well written and described that I found myself trapped in a dark box with no way out. I cannot imagine how tough it must be to be locked up like that. So blind. So trapped.
This was a fantastic bit of fiction (even if it is so well based in reality) that should be read by all woman. We need to know what can happen if we stop standing up for ourselves. We need to know learn to fight for ourselves and our loved ones.
December 5, 2013
Every word of this book begs attention, every sentence squeezing out emotion and made me feel as if I had no more empathy to give because I just gave it away to these girls! Intense to say the least…
Because of the intensity of this book it is so hard for me to rate. L.L. Akers is able to pull so much emotion out of me and sets these characters up so well that I could not help but feel for them. Every shock made me want to both set the book down and read more to see if these girls would ever be released from their prisons. I so wanted to speed read through all of the horror in this but Akers is a genius and made me not want to miss a thing while cringing inwardly!
It’s a rare author that can evoke such emotion and she definitely hits the nail on the head over and over. I think it takes great skill to pull out so much care for the characters but from page one I had no choice but to cheer these girls on and hope that they would one day make the right choices! Maybe because I was a victim of abuse this hit me harder than other books with similar plots but I don’t think that’s the case. I genuinely feel that it’s LL’s writing that brings all the emotions to the surface and makes you want better things for these characters… All I know is that I was crying multiple times but especially at the end!
Absolutely amazing read and fabulous writing.
Because of the intensity of this book it is so hard for me to rate. L.L. Akers is able to pull so much emotion out of me and sets these characters up so well that I could not help but feel for them. Every shock made me want to both set the book down and read more to see if these girls would ever be released from their prisons. I so wanted to speed read through all of the horror in this but Akers is a genius and made me not want to miss a thing while cringing inwardly!
It’s a rare author that can evoke such emotion and she definitely hits the nail on the head over and over. I think it takes great skill to pull out so much care for the characters but from page one I had no choice but to cheer these girls on and hope that they would one day make the right choices! Maybe because I was a victim of abuse this hit me harder than other books with similar plots but I don’t think that’s the case. I genuinely feel that it’s LL’s writing that brings all the emotions to the surface and makes you want better things for these characters… All I know is that I was crying multiple times but especially at the end!
Absolutely amazing read and fabulous writing.
February 18, 2016
This wasn't a book which had me gripped from the beginning, but it did hit the curiosity button which made me continue to read.
It's the story of one woman's battle with abuse and the profound effect it has on her 3 daughters who witnessed much of the abuse and somehow found it repeating itself through them. By around the third chapter, I was hooked and needed to know more.
A very well written and carefully thought out first novel from L.L. Akers which I couldn't put down once I got into the nitty gritty of it all. I found myself becoming emotionally involved with each of the characters and willing them not to make certain choices ....which inevitably, they did anyway! The way in which it is written allowed me to share in their pain and their joy and gave great insight to the effect abuse can have on people and how each individual handles it differently. The loyalty and strength of the family unit really shines through, showing how conflicts can be torn, and how a mother can be blind to everything going on around her.
Some parts of this novel were so real that I actually found it really difficult to read and even shed a few tears, especially when I reached the Epilogue at the end of the book. I found this to be the most poignant part of the book and the bit which finally tied it all together.
Overall a fantastic first novel and I seriously look forward to the next!
It's the story of one woman's battle with abuse and the profound effect it has on her 3 daughters who witnessed much of the abuse and somehow found it repeating itself through them. By around the third chapter, I was hooked and needed to know more.
A very well written and carefully thought out first novel from L.L. Akers which I couldn't put down once I got into the nitty gritty of it all. I found myself becoming emotionally involved with each of the characters and willing them not to make certain choices ....which inevitably, they did anyway! The way in which it is written allowed me to share in their pain and their joy and gave great insight to the effect abuse can have on people and how each individual handles it differently. The loyalty and strength of the family unit really shines through, showing how conflicts can be torn, and how a mother can be blind to everything going on around her.
Some parts of this novel were so real that I actually found it really difficult to read and even shed a few tears, especially when I reached the Epilogue at the end of the book. I found this to be the most poignant part of the book and the bit which finally tied it all together.
Overall a fantastic first novel and I seriously look forward to the next!
May 10, 2014
I found this story to be both painful and liberating. I won't speak much to the grammar and structure which need much work and polishing. To be fair, I received the book for free, and I use a different set of criteria when critiquing a free work. I will say this was a much better read than most free offerings. With that said, I believe with some work and editing, this could become a seller.
The story line revolves around a dysfunctional family ... A mother and her three daughters. All in various degrees of abuse, dysfunction, pain, resentment and denial. The beauty of the story is that the focus is on these beautiful women and how they arrived in their current situations. But NOT on the monsters in their lives.
The symbolism of both the box and the dragonfly is a great start but needs further development. And without giving away too much, the mother's illness towards the end of the book is handled in a patchy and forced way.
All in all I think it's well worth a few hours of your time and could be an excellent starting point to get some discussions going and truths out in the open where they belong.
Whether or not you think you are a victim of abuse, I recommend.
The story line revolves around a dysfunctional family ... A mother and her three daughters. All in various degrees of abuse, dysfunction, pain, resentment and denial. The beauty of the story is that the focus is on these beautiful women and how they arrived in their current situations. But NOT on the monsters in their lives.
The symbolism of both the box and the dragonfly is a great start but needs further development. And without giving away too much, the mother's illness towards the end of the book is handled in a patchy and forced way.
All in all I think it's well worth a few hours of your time and could be an excellent starting point to get some discussions going and truths out in the open where they belong.
Whether or not you think you are a victim of abuse, I recommend.
February 21, 2016
I'm still not sure how I feel about this book...
I've never experienced the kind of abuse the girls in this book did. It was frustrating to read because I couldn't help thinking the whole time, how can she be so stupid to let that happen? But that's victim blaming, and part of the reason this kind of abuse is perpetuated. That makes me part of the problem.
I guess it was good to read in order to confront my own prejudices. And really, that's the mark of a good book...that it makes you think and forces you to face uncomfortable truths.
I'm struggling with the rating because I didn't really like it, per se, because it was uncomfortable and maddening...but that's not a reason to knock it down. There were some editing issues, but that's to be expected with one of these self-published Amazon deals, unfortunately.
So, don't pay attention to my two star rating (that's for my own categorizing on Goodreads)... but if you enjoy books with hard topics and, eventually, overcoming horrors, this might be a good choice for you.
I've never experienced the kind of abuse the girls in this book did. It was frustrating to read because I couldn't help thinking the whole time, how can she be so stupid to let that happen? But that's victim blaming, and part of the reason this kind of abuse is perpetuated. That makes me part of the problem.
I guess it was good to read in order to confront my own prejudices. And really, that's the mark of a good book...that it makes you think and forces you to face uncomfortable truths.
I'm struggling with the rating because I didn't really like it, per se, because it was uncomfortable and maddening...but that's not a reason to knock it down. There were some editing issues, but that's to be expected with one of these self-published Amazon deals, unfortunately.
So, don't pay attention to my two star rating (that's for my own categorizing on Goodreads)... but if you enjoy books with hard topics and, eventually, overcoming horrors, this might be a good choice for you.
March 10, 2019
This is not normally the kind of book that I am attracted to, but it was Free, and I thought I'd give it a shot.
The first paragraph grabbed my attention immediately, and I have to admit that this is one of the most disturbing books I've ever read insofar as the cycle of abuse that never seemed to end. Ms. Akers keeps us on our toes with regard to who actually was, 'The Girl in the Box'. Until the very end, she had me guessing as to who it could actually be. This in itself was a great tactic and in my opinion, demonstrates fine writing skills.
For those of us who are unaware of this treatment, it seems hideous that these girls and their mother could not get out of this cyclone of events. I learned a lot from this reading as it gave me an opportunity to reflect honestly on my own life, to re-exam situation that I personally experienced, albeit not as traumatic, but close, and wonder what I could have done differently.
All and all, a good read with an enlightening message if one listens carefully.
The first paragraph grabbed my attention immediately, and I have to admit that this is one of the most disturbing books I've ever read insofar as the cycle of abuse that never seemed to end. Ms. Akers keeps us on our toes with regard to who actually was, 'The Girl in the Box'. Until the very end, she had me guessing as to who it could actually be. This in itself was a great tactic and in my opinion, demonstrates fine writing skills.
For those of us who are unaware of this treatment, it seems hideous that these girls and their mother could not get out of this cyclone of events. I learned a lot from this reading as it gave me an opportunity to reflect honestly on my own life, to re-exam situation that I personally experienced, albeit not as traumatic, but close, and wonder what I could have done differently.
All and all, a good read with an enlightening message if one listens carefully.
July 30, 2013
As a junior in college who has met several students from dire family situations, I found it refreshing to immerse myself in a story that deals with this issue where the main characters are not only portrayed as victims, but as human beings who make their share of mistakes. While I sympathized with Gabby, Olivia, Emma, and their mother, I was also frustrated by choices that would perpetuate their circumstances. However, this was instrumental in painting an accurate picture of abuse, one that stays on the reader’s conscience.
While I do wish that the author took the novel at a slower pace to further flesh out her characters, the story still connected the dots between the plot twist at the end and its symbolism of the dragonfly. I hope to read more from Akers in the future, hopefully in a series that continues to focus on these characters in the midst of their newest life changes.
While I do wish that the author took the novel at a slower pace to further flesh out her characters, the story still connected the dots between the plot twist at the end and its symbolism of the dragonfly. I hope to read more from Akers in the future, hopefully in a series that continues to focus on these characters in the midst of their newest life changes.
May 8, 2014
I want to make this required reading for every teen girl. It is about the cycle of abuse. The violence happens off screen and we just see the effects. Beautiful but disturbing. An excellent cautionary tale. It reads just like Twilight and all those other young adult novels in that I deeply cared about the characters and felt like they were my friends. It was so aggravating at times that I wanted to just delete it off my Kindle and read something else. It's like one of those shows where you are yelling at the TV, "Don't go in there!"
But these characters are trapped in the victim persona. They need to learn how to get out of it, and while they are learning, it is painful and aggravating to watch them. And instructive.
November 23, 2014
Let Me Go by L.L. Akers had me engrossed from the first few pages. This is a gripping and suspenseful story about the devastating effects of systemic family abuse and its effect's on the individuals that suffer from this terrifying situation. The story centers around twin sisters, Gabriella and Olivia, and their younger sibling Emma. It's a dark and suspenseful look into the girls world as they try to come to terms and conquer the evil that has engrossed their entire family. As a reader I was rooting for the women to reach a place of peace and harmony in their lives. This book is very well written and I highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more from the talented Ms. Akers.
Received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
Received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
July 30, 2013
Let Me Go is a well crafted book that presents its story in a clever way that sucked me in like a rip-tide, beginning with page 1.
There is great sadness in the lives of each family member, and some passages are difficult to read, yet I was compelled to race through the book, trying to solve the "mystery" of the box, while hoping that Olivia & Gabby also made it to the end of the book.
The book has believable characters who are dealing with the rip-tides in their lives caused by abuse. I will not be surprised to find this book in the hands of many book club members, as well as on Oprah's Book List.
There is great sadness in the lives of each family member, and some passages are difficult to read, yet I was compelled to race through the book, trying to solve the "mystery" of the box, while hoping that Olivia & Gabby also made it to the end of the book.
The book has believable characters who are dealing with the rip-tides in their lives caused by abuse. I will not be surprised to find this book in the hands of many book club members, as well as on Oprah's Book List.
August 11, 2013
This book grabs you from the first chapter and keeps you eagerly turning the pages. I love how the author created each character. My heart was so heavy for Olivia, Gabby and Emma that I shed a tear or two as I continued to read. My adrenaline would pump when they would stand up for themselves and each other. The storyline flowed well and was easy to follow. Both of Gabby's hospital scenes made my heart race. It was like I was living the experience reading each line to see if I would survive and actually feeling the pain of her broken heart. This is a very well-written book that I thoroughly enjoyed!
August 21, 2013
This book is very well written and kept me interested and wanting to read more about their lives. I felt like I was part of their family and wanted the best for them. Gabby, Olivia and Emma are wonderful girls that have been through such hardships that you want them to succeed in the end. Each chapter you read, keeps you wanting more and wanting the best for each of them. I myself have memento tattoo's and each time these women (girls) get theirs it is such a turning point in their lives. I loved this book and hope to hear more from them....
August 28, 2013
"Let Me Go" by L.L. Akers is a beautifully written novel with many surprising twists and turns that kept me interested from the very beginning. I loved the characters, both beautiful and flawed, and I felt as if I knew them personally. I do not give out five stars lightly, but this was an excellent book that will appeal to readers of fantasy and mystery alike, and I simply could not bring myself to rate "Let Me Go" with anything less that 5 stars. I highly recommend this book. Brilliant job by L.L. Akers.
September 10, 2013
I just finished reading "Let Me Go" and I have to say I really enjoyed the story line. It kept me captivated. The characters in the book seemed so real and it really makes you aware and wonder what really goes on behind closed doors even in your own neighborhood. This book brings awareness of abuse to the forefront. Looking forward to the next book by L. L. Akers. If the next book is anything like her first novel, we'll be seeing her name at the top of the list. Great job!
November 3, 2013
This book was excellently written, clearly expressing all of the pain and troubles all of the women went though. This book captured me as I was reading because I grew attached to the characters and their pain. I hardly set it down once I started reading. The abuse done to the characters was heart wrenching as many times reading I wanted to reach into the book and gather them up in my arms and tell them they were going to be okay.
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