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Before I Let Go
Thirteen Reasons Why vibes meet Before I Fall in this Christian fantasy for readers ages 12-14.
What if you were sent back in time to save your own life?
An angel has transported Aria back to the year 1982, the year her family moved to Michigan.
She’d turned fourteen, was obsessed with E.T, and spent every afternoon glued to the television watching MTV. It was also the year she made a list of all the terrible things done to her and the people who betrayed her.
Aria’s life hangs in the balance as she relives the bullying and humiliation that led to a terrible decision. Guided by an angel, she must change her past or deal with the consequences of giving up… again.
Fighting through the same severe depression and anxiety that ailed her so many years ago, Aria learns why her life is worth living.
A story of faith, forgiveness, strength, love, and redemption.
What if you were sent back in time to save your own life?
An angel has transported Aria back to the year 1982, the year her family moved to Michigan.
She’d turned fourteen, was obsessed with E.T, and spent every afternoon glued to the television watching MTV. It was also the year she made a list of all the terrible things done to her and the people who betrayed her.
Aria’s life hangs in the balance as she relives the bullying and humiliation that led to a terrible decision. Guided by an angel, she must change her past or deal with the consequences of giving up… again.
Fighting through the same severe depression and anxiety that ailed her so many years ago, Aria learns why her life is worth living.
A story of faith, forgiveness, strength, love, and redemption.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 24, 2020
40 people are currently reading
434 people want to read
About the author
L.B. Anne
34 books139 followersWith over five hundred thousand pages read this year, L. B. Anne is consistently an Amazon best selling author. She writes children's and middle grade fiction, with her Sheena Meyer series a best seller in Christian science fiction/fantasy and several other categories.
Find out more at www.lbanne.com
Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlbanne
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlbanne
Read all the novels by L. B. Anne!
The Sheena Meyer Series:
1. The Girl Who Looked Beyond the Stars
2. The Girl Who Spoke to the Wind
3. The Girl Who Captured the Sun
4. The Girl Who Became A Warrior
5. City of Gleamers
6. Secret of Shadow and Light
7. May Your Vision Be True
8. Fate of the Gleam Keeper
The Everfall Series:
1. Before I Let Go
2. Before I Fall
The Lolo and Winkle Series:
1. Go Viral
2. Zombie Apocalypse Club
3. Frenemies
4. Break London
5. Middle School Misfit
6. The Complete Five Book Collection
The Curly Girl Adventures Series:
1. Pickled Pudding
2. Zuri the Great
3. Tangled
4. Top Knot
Brave New World:
1. Gemma Kaine: Sky Rider
Snicker's Wish: A Christmas Story
The Way to Storey
Children of the Glades Series:
Five Things About Dragonflies
Never Really Gone
What the Good Girl Knew
Gleamers Chronicle: Winter Shadows (A story in the Sheena Meyer series universe)
Find out more at www.lbanne.com
Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlbanne
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlbanne
Read all the novels by L. B. Anne!
The Sheena Meyer Series:
1. The Girl Who Looked Beyond the Stars
2. The Girl Who Spoke to the Wind
3. The Girl Who Captured the Sun
4. The Girl Who Became A Warrior
5. City of Gleamers
6. Secret of Shadow and Light
7. May Your Vision Be True
8. Fate of the Gleam Keeper
The Everfall Series:
1. Before I Let Go
2. Before I Fall
The Lolo and Winkle Series:
1. Go Viral
2. Zombie Apocalypse Club
3. Frenemies
4. Break London
5. Middle School Misfit
6. The Complete Five Book Collection
The Curly Girl Adventures Series:
1. Pickled Pudding
2. Zuri the Great
3. Tangled
4. Top Knot
Brave New World:
1. Gemma Kaine: Sky Rider
Snicker's Wish: A Christmas Story
The Way to Storey
Children of the Glades Series:
Five Things About Dragonflies
Never Really Gone
What the Good Girl Knew
Gleamers Chronicle: Winter Shadows (A story in the Sheena Meyer series universe)
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 28, 2020
I received a copy of this middle grade novel by the author for a review. By no means does this influence my opinion of this YA story.
Aria Meyer a college student in Ypsilanti, Michigan in her dorm room preparing a speech for her class and spots a Snow White owl in a tree outside her window is the opening scene in the novel. Aria is then transported in time.
I could so identify with with the time era of 1980s. The Crissy doll, Cabbage Parch Kids, and the music. The story touched on the subjects of bullying, dying, marriage separation, love, faith, forgiveness, and depression.
The story got a little muddled for me around chapter 19, but quickly becomes clearer in the next chapter. It wasn’t revealed to me until the very end that this was the first installment into a series. I enjoyed this YA novel. It played out in my mind like a movie. It’s a quick read, but a good read. I look forward to more from this author.
Aria Meyer a college student in Ypsilanti, Michigan in her dorm room preparing a speech for her class and spots a Snow White owl in a tree outside her window is the opening scene in the novel. Aria is then transported in time.
I could so identify with with the time era of 1980s. The Crissy doll, Cabbage Parch Kids, and the music. The story touched on the subjects of bullying, dying, marriage separation, love, faith, forgiveness, and depression.
The story got a little muddled for me around chapter 19, but quickly becomes clearer in the next chapter. It wasn’t revealed to me until the very end that this was the first installment into a series. I enjoyed this YA novel. It played out in my mind like a movie. It’s a quick read, but a good read. I look forward to more from this author.
June 2, 2024
What if you were sent back in time to save your own life?
L.B. Anne comes swinging with her novel, Before I Let Go, which is the first edition in the Everfall Book Series. It's about the story of a girl set in a time before social media and smartphones when scrunchies and new wave were the fashion. It was also the time of great sadness.
The plot unfolds an Angel sending Aria back to the year 1982, when she died a tragic death. But this time not alone with all the speed breakers that life offered her before, she with the Guidance of the Angel relives the past trauma and wishes to give the earlier consequences a shift! How that happens is for you to figure out in the book!
The book is full of instances where you appreciate the expressive writing! The character of Aria would call out to you to some extent, you'll feel related to it!
L.B. Anne hasn't missed any important blend to pour into her this book! She has very skillfully crafted the timelines and dealt with the concept of mental illnesses.
What I liked the most about this book is that the author hasn't tried to feign emotions, she has presented a raw and authentic form of all her characters which did well for the plot!
I liked how the book ended on a positive and a kind of a suspenseful note!
Overall, it was one good read! Can't wait to read the next in the series to know what happens next in the life of Aria!
L.B. Anne comes swinging with her novel, Before I Let Go, which is the first edition in the Everfall Book Series. It's about the story of a girl set in a time before social media and smartphones when scrunchies and new wave were the fashion. It was also the time of great sadness.
The plot unfolds an Angel sending Aria back to the year 1982, when she died a tragic death. But this time not alone with all the speed breakers that life offered her before, she with the Guidance of the Angel relives the past trauma and wishes to give the earlier consequences a shift! How that happens is for you to figure out in the book!
The book is full of instances where you appreciate the expressive writing! The character of Aria would call out to you to some extent, you'll feel related to it!
L.B. Anne hasn't missed any important blend to pour into her this book! She has very skillfully crafted the timelines and dealt with the concept of mental illnesses.
What I liked the most about this book is that the author hasn't tried to feign emotions, she has presented a raw and authentic form of all her characters which did well for the plot!
I liked how the book ended on a positive and a kind of a suspenseful note!
Overall, it was one good read! Can't wait to read the next in the series to know what happens next in the life of Aria!
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October 15, 2020**I received this book for free from Voracious Readers Only and the Author in exchange for an honest review**
I did not finish this book.
Not because I thought it was terrible by any means. With the current COVID-19 pandemic going on, my depression swings a little more erratically than usual. I probably could have pushed on had it been last year, and I might try this book again in the future. However, the story was too much for me right now.
Please contact someone if you are in a depressive state and feel lost. Or contact the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
Peace and Love,
KM
I did not finish this book.
Not because I thought it was terrible by any means. With the current COVID-19 pandemic going on, my depression swings a little more erratically than usual. I probably could have pushed on had it been last year, and I might try this book again in the future. However, the story was too much for me right now.
Please contact someone if you are in a depressive state and feel lost. Or contact the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
Peace and Love,
KM
October 24, 2020
Loved the book
I think teens should read this book. Does a good job talking about bullying and contemplating suicide. Would definitely let my teen read this
I think teens should read this book. Does a good job talking about bullying and contemplating suicide. Would definitely let my teen read this
January 27, 2021
This is a well imagined book that addresses a serious issue with today's adolescents. Depression, bullying, social isolation and suicide are prevalent among our youth and should not be ignored. This story is entertaining but, more importantly, it is a message of hope and strength. My heart breaks for these kids but this is a good read that promises there are answers.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
February 11, 2021
I'm a bit old for this book, had a 16 reasons why feel. Found myself so connected with the characters I even cried a couple of times. Tempted to read again later to try to catch the details about some of the characters I missed the first time.
April 17, 2022
Loved it! The main character is well developed. I could identify with her at times; it was nice reading a story that could have been me.
April 15, 2025
Really good!
May 21, 2024
This book was so good! I loved it and how it it addressed mental health. Definitely a favorite.
March 14, 2022
Before I decided to give "Before I Let Go" a shot, I did some research, really itching to read something depressing. It was compared to Thirteen Reasons Why which is a big reason I decided to read it but I was disappointed. This book was more fantasy than it was reality, making it much different than Thirteen Reasons Why. It was definitely not depressing but it still tugged at your heart. It was more sad than depressing. Don't get me wrong, it was a great story, definitely relatable, just not what I was looking for.
October 22, 2020
3.5 stars
I don't think the actual story was as clearly written as the summary blurb.
Don't get me wrong, the story isn't bad, but sometimes I wasn't sure what exactly was happening (i.e. the "angel" from the summary is actually a white owl, which wasn't 100% clear) or when events were taking place, since Aria - the MC - experiences several time shifts. I felt like I was missing some vital information and things could have been fleshed out a little more to facilitate my understanding. Also, I kind of wish the Christian aspect had been woven in just a bit better...when it was mentioned, it almost felt abrupt and superficial.
That being said, I liked and empathized with Aria, and much of her middle school experience is quite relatable. I found the writing style easy to read...I finished in about a day. And that ending - definitely a cliffhanger. I'm probably going to read Before I Fall to see what happens.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
I don't think the actual story was as clearly written as the summary blurb.
Don't get me wrong, the story isn't bad, but sometimes I wasn't sure what exactly was happening (i.e. the "angel" from the summary is actually a white owl, which wasn't 100% clear) or when events were taking place, since Aria - the MC - experiences several time shifts. I felt like I was missing some vital information and things could have been fleshed out a little more to facilitate my understanding. Also, I kind of wish the Christian aspect had been woven in just a bit better...when it was mentioned, it almost felt abrupt and superficial.
That being said, I liked and empathized with Aria, and much of her middle school experience is quite relatable. I found the writing style easy to read...I finished in about a day. And that ending - definitely a cliffhanger. I'm probably going to read Before I Fall to see what happens.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews