Before You Go by Clare Swatman a review by Sarah Doherty
Rating: 3/5
How would you feel if the love of your life was taken away too soon? What if you were given a second chance to try to change the outcome of your destiny?
Before You Go by Clare Swatman is a love story about Ed, who dies in an accident at the beginning of the novel, and Zoe, his wife who is left behind to pick up the pieces of her life without him. The story leaves you pondering what would happen if you had a second chance – could you change the course of your life? While there is a fairly unpredictable and heart wrenching ending to this tale, it felt very much like a story we’ve all read before: a cookie-cutter romance about two loveable characters who are as unsure about life and love as we all feel sometimes. This book was recommended for readers who were fans of other love stories such as Me Before You and The Time Traveler’s Wife, and it is evident when reading the story that the author took cues from those books.
This is Clare Swatman’s first novel and while it didn’t excite me the way I hoped it might, it was an easy story to get through and I am eager to see what is next from her. Though I feel this would not generate enough thoughtful discussion as a recommendation for The Girly Book Club, I would suggest packing it away as a light read for your next beach vacation!
Review by: Sarah Doherty