We Go On

by Regina Walker

Warning: This book deals with loss by suicide and the grief a family endures.

Life has been comfortable for the Miller family. Liz and Josh have devoted their lives to raising their two sons. Their oldest son, Colby, reached adulthood and set out on his own. A few hard knocks sent him back to live with Mom and Dad until life got to be too much, that is. As Liz and Josh grapple with the hole in their hearts left by Colby’s early departure from this world, they find themselves at odds with one another and with their faith.

Will they remember that Jesus is enough in the middle of this dark storm? Will they see through their own pain and help each other and their teenage son, Tyler, learn to live despite the grief?

Genres: Family

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 12, 2020

About the author

Regina Walker was born in the beautiful state of Colorado. She moved to Oklahoma in her late teen years, where she has resided ever since. She likes to curl up on the couch and binge-watch crime shows with her hard-working husband. When she's not wrestling with a writing project, she can be found wrangling their children, riding their horses, or tending the garden. Along with finding horses on their small farm, chickens, dogs, and cats can be found at nearly every turn.
Regina crafts compelling characters facing some of life's hardest challenges. Her heart's desire is to always point toward Jesus through the way her characters face challenges, relationships, and adversity.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

WE GO ON by Regina Walker broke my heart, over and over again. At times, it was difficult to go on because the tears made it impossible to see. WE GO ON is the story of the Miller family who are grieving for their son/brother Cody, who died by suicide. This is my first time reading a Regina Walker story, and she shredded my heart and left me sobbing. The Miller’s seem to have a pretty normal life and everyone seems to be happy. That is until that fateful night when everyone’s lives change, one even ends. Trust me, hang on tight! The emotions roller coaster Regina Walker puts her readers on with WE GO ON is one crazy ride.

Deception and pain, love and loss, secrets and truths, hope and redemption—they all twist and tangle together to create this unforgettable novel, WE GO ON. Hang on to your seats because when you find out why events unfolded as they did, you will be shell shocked and devastated! I’m going to stop here because my emotions are once again on a crazy roller coaster ride and I’m tearing up again! Plus I don’t want to give anything away. Do yourself a favor and run to get WE GO ON right away. I’m almost certain, it is one of the best books I’ve read this year! I am so excited to read more by Regina Walker!

If you can handle a well written emotional story that makes you wonder if you could handle a situation like this, then read WE GO ON! You won’t be sorry! There are also moments of humor, holding my breath for the next chapter and hoping for the ending I wanted more than ever! But I can say that I was hooked from the very first page and completely drawn into these characters’ lives. Once I started reading WE GO ON I discovered that there’s even more to this story than meets the eye. There’s an added layer to it that I absolutely loved but that I won’t mention because discovering it as you read is honestly the best. It will surprise, shock, impress, grip and absorb you into its story. And those wonderful characters, how happy I am for having ‘met’ them! They will stick with me for a very long time. I just know the same thing will happen for you…

I received a complimentary copy of this book from JustRead Publicity Tours. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

[Regina Walker]

This book tackles grief head on as a family endures the loss of their oldest son to suicide. Read with tissues.

[Jenny Knipfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Go On is a contemporary Christian novel, telling the tale of one family and how they deal with their grief and manage life after a tragic incident.

With a surprise link to the one she mourns, Liz starts on the road to healing with a curry comb, boots, and a horse she knows nothing about. Misunderstandings and the fact that they process their grief differently keep Liz and Josh on different emotional levels.

Will Liz, Josh, and their son, Tyler, learn to cope and trust that God will somehow bring about something redeeming from the pain they’ve suffered, or will they allow their troubles to delve them into separation and a valley of bitterness?

Walker lays out the drama, stress, and emotional pain of the characters in a believable way but leaves the door open for hope and a way to go on.

[Rebecca White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very hard read but only because it hits home. Not just close to home but "home" With that being said Once I got past "my" issues such as I need to do this or get that always something, Once I got past that within myself, I didn't want to put it down . I took a day and sat and read … Including while I was on my treadmill. Even though the subject matter is something I live every day, the story, the characters the whole book in my opinion is really good. I give it 5 stars because it is a book I would buy and re-read. Kudos and Thanks to the Author VERY WELL DONE.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Courtney | Soul of a Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a story! It's a hard read at times, dealing with the difficult topic of suicide, but readers quickly grow attached to this family as they try to recover from such a heartbreaking loss. Walker does an excellent job of portraying people who grieve differently--the misunderstandings between characters and the hard work of healing in the midst of a new family dynamic feel genuine.

Overall, this is an impressive debut and I look forward to more from this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author. All expressed opinions belong to me.

[Jenny Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well written and hard to put down. When life pulled me out of this story and I found my mind wandering to the lives of these characters. This book left me wanting more. It tells the tale of a family's journey through grief. Drawn into their lives I wanted to know who were they before tragedy struck. As they go on who do they become?

[Blessed & Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Go On is a genuine, well-written story about the individual struggles of a family grieving after the tragic loss of their son to suicide. The story begins with tragedy, but as time goes on, it becomes a beautiful testament to the real-life challenge of continuing life without the ones we love. The author did an amazing job of showing the range of emotions associated with grief and talking about how it’s possible to continue to live and even enjoy life after such a loss.
This topic is so relevant today, and I applaud the author for breaching a subject that is often kept in whispers. It is important to remember and reach out to people in the grief as this book reminds us. And by traveling the path of grief with Liz and Josh, I got a better idea of what life is like for those who wake up with the burden of grief every day.
I enjoyed this story to the very last page and shed several tears along the way. It is a story that will challenge you, but also a story that will inspire you--both to be grateful for every day we have with loved ones and to reach out to those who are grieving.
I was given a copy of this book by the author with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written book that full of emotions. This book deals with the subject of suicide and how each member of the family handles it differently. It reads very true to life and some parts will make you cry. I loved how the author used a horse in this book to show how God can and will use an animal to help you through hard times. This is a book everybody should read and should be in every school library. This is a story that will stay with you long after you read the last page.

[Andrea S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tugs at the heartstrings, producing tears at multiple points. It covers a deep and touchy subject for many people, wonderfully. I am already awaiting the next, and found this first installment to be written well and quite easy to read as well as addicting. Pick up a copy, you'll not regret it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fully invested from page one. I have not experienced this kind of loss personally but I have experienced unexpected loss and admire each of the characters as they walked through their loss. I love Josh, Liz, and Tyler, warts and all!

[E.B. Roshan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

"We Go On" tells a story of tragic loss, and of faith-based resilience. It's told primarily from the point of view of Liz, a middle-aged wife and mother of two sons, the older of whom commits suicide. It isn't long before his parents discover he's left behind something completely unexpected— a pretty, gold-colored horse named Dusty.

In my opinion, this author does a fine job of portraying Liz as she struggles to find how she should live again after such a devastating tragedy. In many ways, the story is a series of "two steps forward, one step back" for her, but by the end, we know she's moving in the right direction.

Overall, the story was well edited and well written. From a storytelling perspective, it did have its slow sections that didn't seem to contribute much to the plot overall, but as an account of someone moving out of deepest sorrow toward hope, it seemed to me a compassionate and realistic portrayal. It had the feel of a true memoir almost more than a novel.

[Sherri Geisler Locke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure I can express how much I loved this book. Right at the beginning I was pulled in and my emotions were off and running. A beautiful story of heartache, and grief and God's love. Most of my reading time has been right at bedtime lately and for several nights my husband who works nights had to rescue my tablet from my hands as I tried to stay awake reading and lost the battle. I simply did not want to put it down until it was finished and even then I wanted more. I highly recommend this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kaycee Binger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real life happens!

This story flows smoothly from character to character, emotions and relationships. Absolutely 'real', including the backdrop of getting to know a horse. Settle into your favorite chair and spend a few hours with Liz and her family as they stumble through un-mapped territory.

[Bonny Rambarran · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can life go on after you find your son hanging from a tree in the backyard? How can you not know why he was so lost? What happens when you find out some of what he was doing and it is now your responsibility to take over? How can family life go on? Will life ever become normal? This is an amazing book of how God can use tragedy to help us grow closer to him.

[Angela Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, LOVED this debut from Regina Walker. While the story deals with a hard theme, Ms. Walker does an amazing job. I could feel the depth of the grief the characters faced, and I loved the connection between Liz and the horse. I can't wait for more to come from this author.

[Glenda Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review today is on the Christian novel, We Go On. I was sent this book to read. The review is all my own. I liked the book. It is well written, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. It was kind of hard to read because I went through the death of a child. My daughter was bi-polar and tried to commit suicide more times than I can count. I have seen the inside of every mental ward in the state of Nebraska. The ironic part is the drug that finally killed her was purely accidental and at a time when she had got her life turned around and was doing well. A shock to me just like to this mother. We do have to go on.

Elizabeth Miller comes home from buying groceries only to find her twenty-one year old son hanging from a tree in the back yard. She manages to cut the rope and call for help. Her son is alive when he is taken to the hospital but dies soon after. Liz blames God for her son's death she also blames herself for not being there for him.

Josh Miller rushes home to find his son alive but in bad shape. He tries to be there for his wife but he can't seem to console her. He calls family and the pastor come and prays with them. He is convinced God will save him. The doctors rear if he survives he will never be able to function. After his death Josh tries to care for his wife and son but it seems to be of no affect. He can't help but blame Cody.

Sixteen year old Tyler Miller goes through all the funeral and trying to pick up the pieces of his family. He blames himself for not being with his brother that night. He had snuck out to party with his friends. He tries to get his mom to come back to life with them. It's a hard struggle as she refuses to function.

A terrible journey through the valley of the shadow of death. God has a plan to bring this family back together. A plan for a hope and a future. God has a plan for you too, a good plan and not for evil.

[Paula Ptomey · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Go On is an inspiring and amazing story of a family trying to put their lives back together again after their son/brother takes his life by suicide. You see the honest struggle and heartbreak that each member deals with, and the struggle that the family as a whole deals with. As someone who works with those who contemplate suicide and families of those who completed suicide, I feel that this book did an amazing job in approaching this subject. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maria Henriksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Go On was written with sensitivity for the much avoided topic of suicide. The author showed how there are different ways in dealing with the loss of someone who took their own life. Not everyone grieves the same way, nor should they. I cried at the characters' struggles and felt relief when they started to heal. Ms. Walker did an excellent job of capturing the sorrow and pain of those who survived the death of a loved one who killed themselves, but left the reader with the sense of hope, healing and helping others through the love of God. I highly recommend this book.

[Tandy Oschadleus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC to review: a poignant, powerful and relevant story; Regina tackles the taboo of suicide in a Christian family. The reader finds themselves literally walking in each family member's shoes, feeling the pendulum of emotions that grief brings. The beautiful truth that "There is hope and We go on" in God's grace and strength tempers the raw emotions and depths of grief experienced.

Triggers: suicide, teenage depression, situational depression, PTSD after trauma

[Emily Yager · Rating 5 out of 5]

A painfully emotion story that takes you on one family's journey through grief. The story shows how people process grief differently and how that can sometimes cause added tension and miscommunication. But with the help of an unexpected horse, the story slowly moves from grief to the healing process. It was hard to read at times as the story deals with suicide, but it is in inspirational story that offers hope and is worth reading.

[Suzie Waltner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Regina Walker delves right into nitty-gritty, the ugly, and the pain of lives lived this side of heaven.
Each member of the Miller family’s life is altered when the oldest son commits suicide. And We Go On is an emotional journey of the grief process for the three left behind. Everyone grieves differently and there are some threads of resentment woven in the tapestry of the Millers’ after.

Walker’s portrayal of this family is real and raw, and readers will quickly become invested in their lives. As this family fractured by suicide struggles to find their footing with each other, with God, and with their community, God sends others who have gone before to walk alongside them.

There is a some head hopping throughout this book, but it somehow works with the upheaval and new reality the Millers now live with.



Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Tammy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We Go On" is a very powerful, realistic, and touching read. It is a good one for anyone, but especially those dealing with the difficulties caused by depression. The struggles of the characters in this book are real. Regina Walker has a gift as a writer, to paint vivid scenes for her readers, while dealing with the harsh realities that too many people face today. She keeps the writing true to its theme, "gut-wrenching," but does so in a very gentle way. Not many writers can do this. To sum this up, I laughed and cried. It is a thoroughly well-written novel. Great job! I look forward to your future works .

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Staggeringly honest story of a how a family deals with suicide. Very emotional & wonderful characters.

[Jerry Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Highly recommend.

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Go On by Regina Walker is the first book in the Then Comes Hope collection. This book deals with a tough subject – the death by suicide. The book opens with the aftermath of Colby’s suicide attempt and resulting death, and Josh and Liz, Colby’s parents, and Tyler, Colby’s brother, are forced to confront a situation they never imagined possible. The emotional upheaval portrayed by the characters in this book is realistic. Liz finds comfort in caring for Colby’s horse, and their bond is a joy to read. Ultimately, the author doesn’t leave the characters to their grief—they find hope and healing through their faith in God. This novel will stay with you long after you finish reading. I highly recommend it!

[Rebecca Maloney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired and encouraging

Suicide is hard to walk through. To get a glimpse of the challenges through Liz, Josh and Tyler was encouraging and left me filled with hope for each of them.
I didn’t want to stop reading, I enjoyed the book very much

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josh and Liz are parents of 21 year old Colby and 16 year old Travis, both living at home. The first chapter is Colby attempting suicide. The emotions throughout this book are very realistic and I imagine it can be difficult to get through for someone who has experienced something similar. Very well written and heart wrenching yet healing. No spoilers here, I do recommend this book, it will make you think. This is not just a book, but a journey.

[Faith Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. As someone who has lost a family member to suicide I was worried that it wouldn’t quiet get it the right as most movies and books don’t but I was not disappointed at all. This story pulled me in so fast. The family struggles really hit home. And of course I fell in love with Dusty. I cannot wait to read book two.

[Diane Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning

Definitively drawn portrait of a family struggling in the aftermath of a family member's suicide. A horrific nightmare for parents and the remaining son as well. Their faith helped to sustain them and facilitate a measure of healing.

[Peggy White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life after suicide

The family moves on one step at a time after the suicide of the oldest son! With each step they take forward they fall back two or more! Each person has to deal with anger and self-blame.