Before I Knew

by Laurie Gifford Adams

Like many 16 year old girls, Savannah Cartright had dreams. She also had her immediate future perfectly planned in this save money to buy Lacey, her dream show horse.Second, earn a spot on the equestrian team at her dream college.Third, meet the perfect guy.But that was before she stumbled upon a story on the internet about her father who abandoned her and her brother when she was fourBefore she met Chase, the seventeen-year-old her father chose to help raise instead of his own kids.Before she learned there was something she could do to help her father with his PTSDBefore she realized she held the key to another reuniting her familyBefore she realized Chase was the guy of her dreamsBefore she knew she’d have to sacrifice some of her dreams if she wanted others to come true

374 pages, Paperback

Published December 7, 2016

About the author

Adams taught middle school English in Connecticut for 26 years before moving back to the Finger Lakes of western New York where she now works at her alma mater, Keuka College.

Writing and telling stories is her passion. She hopes her books not only entertain but also educate, in a subtle way, about contemporary issues everyday people face. Her characters come to life in a setting that's a mix of fact and fiction. Her books have become popular among teens and adults because the stories are "real".

She and her husband live on a small "farm" with horses, a dog and a cat. Many wild animals also enjoy roaming the farm, including coyotes, bear, fox, deer, wild turkeys, rabbits, and woodchucks.

She hopes her books find a place in your heart and that you'll share them with others.

Reviews

[Carrie Schmidt]

I was not emotionally prepared enough when I started reading Before I Knew by Laurie Gifford Adams. Oh man! What a heartwrenching and inspiring book. I’m not ashamed to admit that I BAWLED through a couple of scenes. As a daddy’s girl, my heart clenched more than once at Drew’s palpable despair over balancing the risk of his PTSD with his deep love for his kids. Wow. Keep some tissues handy when you read this one!

Though the book is geared for young adult/new adult readers, readers older than those target ages will still be able to find several characters with whom they can relate. Savannah and her brother Alex are typical teenagers (one nearly college age, the other still has high school looming in front of him) with a tragic past, and they must navigate some choppy waters as they seek to be reunited with their father. For his part, Drew is the source of all my ugly cries in Before I Knew – his story hitting me right in the feels. I seriously just wanted to HUG the man, but I don’t think that would have been well-received lol. Chase and his mom are equally intriguing, particularly as their lives entwine with Savannah’s. I wasn’t crazy about Savannah’s and Alex’s aunt, but their uncle is a sweetie.

The focus on PTSD and its ripple effect is eye-opening and heartbreaking, though the journey the characters take through it will also make your heart swell at least three sizes. Adams has a gift for immersing readers in the emotion of the story, and the result is a story that lingers with you.

Bottom Line: Layered characters with compelling stories are the strengths of Before I Knew – and readers will find themselves experiencing a wide range of emotions from start to finish. Young adults, new adults, older adults – each of these groups will find a different appeal to the story but I think all will agree that it’s powerful and important. And – from a favorite horse to the service dogs proudly spotlighted on the pages – Before I Knew appeals to animal lovers and the tenderhearted as well.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)

see my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Ann]

Laurie Gifford Adams grabs you right away with this page-turner.This story gave me insight into PTSD and therapy dogs. It is written for teens and thoughtfully covers the subjects of family, love, and second chances. I'm a grandmother and had a hard time putting it down. I think anyone of any age would enjoy this book. I needed to have tissues close by since I was so involved with the characters in the book.

[elhbenson]

This was a cute YA book that has service dogs. (!) The characters were fine, but sometimes the writing was redundant. It was a satisfying ending with lots of family feel-goods. I did notice how every time the plot needed to move forward there was some huge, dramatic event.

[Michele Feiner]

This story hooked me early. I fell in love with the characters and the story and came to appreciate even more the immense value of service dogs. Looking forward to the next Finger Lake book. :)

[Lorraine Lander]

Before I Knew spins a complex and suspenseful series of challenges for Savannah, the main character. While she believes her life is under control and she's making her dream of her own horse and the college equestrian team a reality, the sudden discovery of her father, a man who'd been gone for most of her life changes everything. He's a local hero living in the next town and a veteran with PTSD, not what you'd expect of someone who'd abandoned their kids. When she falls for the boy her father has been raising as his own, things get even more complicated. Meeting these new challenges and keeping her dreams alive becomes impossibly complicated. This is a great story, full of heart and family values and I highly recommend it.

[Dorothy Callahan]

Ms. Adams does a remarkable job of tackling all the challenges that a young woman on the cusp of adulthood faces: college choices, buying a horse, finding a great guy to date, and also locating her delinquent dad. But nothing is as easy as it seems. Her father didn't want to be found, the horse might be sold out from underneath her, the dream boyfriend is being raised by her father, and going to war has left her dad scarred and battling PTSD. Struggling to make the correct choices means compromise, and even forfeiture of some dreams. Which one will Savannah be willing to lose to make the others come true? Great read, and keep the tissues handy!