What do you think?
Rate this book
Don't Let Me Go
Former Broadway dancer and current agoraphobic Billy Shine has not set foot outside his apartment in almost a decade. He has glimpsed his neighbors—beautiful manicurist Rayleen, lonely old Ms. Hinman, bigoted and angry Mr. Lafferty, kind-hearted Felipe, and nine-year-old Grace and her former addict mother Eileen. But most of them have never seen Billy. Not until Grace begins to sit outside on the building's front stoop for hours every day, inches from Billy's patio. Troubled by this change in the natural order, Billy makes it far enough out onto his porch to ask Grace why she doesn't sit inside where it's safe. Her "If I sit inside, then nobody will know I'm in trouble. And then nobody will help me." Her answer changes everything. By the bestselling author of When You Were Older and Pay It Forward , Don't Let Me Go is the heart-breaking, funny, and life-affirming story of a building full of loners and misfits who come together to help a little girl survive—and thrive—against all odds.
MP3 CD
First published January 1, 2011
4,303 people are currently reading
8,018 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Ryan Hyde
66books5,952followersCatherine Ryan Hyde is the author of more than 50 published and forthcoming books.
She is co-author, with publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of How to be a Writer in the E-Age: a Self-Help Guide.
Her bestselling 1999 novel Pay It Forward was made into a major Warner Brothers motion picture. It was chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than two dozen languages for distribution in over 30 countries. Simon & Schuster released a special 15th anniversary edition in December of �14.
Pay It Forward: Young Readers Edition, an age-appropriate edited edition of the original novel, was released by Simon & Schuster in August of �14. It is suitable for children as young as eight.
You can learn much more about Catherine at
She is co-author, with publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of How to be a Writer in the E-Age: a Self-Help Guide.
Her bestselling 1999 novel Pay It Forward was made into a major Warner Brothers motion picture. It was chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than two dozen languages for distribution in over 30 countries. Simon & Schuster released a special 15th anniversary edition in December of �14.
Pay It Forward: Young Readers Edition, an age-appropriate edited edition of the original novel, was released by Simon & Schuster in August of �14. It is suitable for children as young as eight.
You can learn much more about Catherine at
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,730 reviews
July 20, 2012
Catherine Ryan Hyde has this unique gift in which she takes marginalized characters and forces us to see them, to hear them, and best of all, to care for them. This gift Ms. Hyde possesses is no fluke, and no sleight of hand. Without fail, every single one of her magnificent stories contains magic of the sort that leaves you breathless by the last page. You might feel that you've been emotionally worked over, but you will feel a better person for having been there.
"Don't Let Me Go" is no exception.
10-year-old Grace and adult recluse Billy Shine both live at the edges of their worlds. Grace because her mother is an on-again/off-again drug addict, and Billy because of his aversion and fear of others. Billy was once a star...but that was long ago. Now he rarely sees anything besides what is inside his apartment or what he can view beyond the windows.
The manner in which these two outcasts come together is both heartbreaking and beautiful. Once you enter the world that Hyde creates, you won't soon forget it, or those who reside there. The only drawback is that there aren't (currently) Walk of Fame stars for writers, because this is one author who would've earned her star a long time ago.
"Don't Let Me Go" is no exception.
10-year-old Grace and adult recluse Billy Shine both live at the edges of their worlds. Grace because her mother is an on-again/off-again drug addict, and Billy because of his aversion and fear of others. Billy was once a star...but that was long ago. Now he rarely sees anything besides what is inside his apartment or what he can view beyond the windows.
The manner in which these two outcasts come together is both heartbreaking and beautiful. Once you enter the world that Hyde creates, you won't soon forget it, or those who reside there. The only drawback is that there aren't (currently) Walk of Fame stars for writers, because this is one author who would've earned her star a long time ago.
December 21, 2022
“You want to be OK right now, so you trade that for having a good life in the long run. It’s a bad trade, but people do it all the time. That’s all addiction really is. It’s trading away the future so you can feel OK right now.�
Billy Shine was a successful dancer, but for the last ten years, his agoraphobia has kept inside his squalid apartment. When he sees nine-year-old Grace sitting outside, he braves coming out to his patio to talk to her. Grace’s mother has fallen off the wagon and is using opioids again. Rayleen, a manicurist who also lives in the building, doesn’t want her to fall into the foster system, so she enlists the help of Felipe, the bigoted Mr. Lafferty, and Billy to come together to look out for her, hoping her mother can get clean before Child Services takes her away.
They are all poor and have problems of their own but going out of their way to help Grace helps each of them. I teared up more than once.
Billy Shine was a successful dancer, but for the last ten years, his agoraphobia has kept inside his squalid apartment. When he sees nine-year-old Grace sitting outside, he braves coming out to his patio to talk to her. Grace’s mother has fallen off the wagon and is using opioids again. Rayleen, a manicurist who also lives in the building, doesn’t want her to fall into the foster system, so she enlists the help of Felipe, the bigoted Mr. Lafferty, and Billy to come together to look out for her, hoping her mother can get clean before Child Services takes her away.
They are all poor and have problems of their own but going out of their way to help Grace helps each of them. I teared up more than once.
October 3, 2012
If I could give this book more stars, I would. The whole concept, the uncomplaining way nine-year old Grace just accepts what happens to her because of her mother's addictions, brings so many different people to a moment of looking outside of themselves. The role the blessing of Reiki plays, as well as the healing of dancing, music, simple beauty of emotions, all these combinations made me love the book and all the characters. From the first pages I was wrapped up in the way Grace just sits outside, not asking for anything, whining or complaining. The way Billy appears on the scene shows his good and caring heart, his vulnerability and his deep understanding even though he doesn't even admit it to himself. All the characters, each with their singular form of loneliness, made me a part of their lives and became alive, each with their own voice even as Grace draws them to rally around her.
The way one little girl turns the world of several lonely adults upside-down, just through her being a child, a lonely, bright, vulnerable child who doesn't ask for anything or expect anything. The love that grows between Billy and Grace shines and heals them both, radiating out to everyone around them.
The way one little girl turns the world of several lonely adults upside-down, just through her being a child, a lonely, bright, vulnerable child who doesn't ask for anything or expect anything. The love that grows between Billy and Grace shines and heals them both, radiating out to everyone around them.
May 29, 2016
Grace is a very young girl who has to rely on herself for most things because her mother is an ongoing drug addict. When they move into the basement of a small, not so nice apartment building, the other tenants start to realize that she is going unsupervised and become concerned. As they each try to get to the bottom of her story, Grace starts to grow on and eventually steal their hearts. They themselves each have their own life predicaments and scarred pasts to deal with, but in the long run they know they must help her. As the story comes to a close it is not clear as to who helped who more, Grace or the tenants.
When I first started this book I thought the premise was going to turn out to be too far fetched, but happily it turned into quite a warm story of growth and healing for all of the characters.
When I first started this book I thought the premise was going to turn out to be too far fetched, but happily it turned into quite a warm story of growth and healing for all of the characters.
February 12, 2023
Having read and enjoyed several of Ms Hyde's books previously, I have learned to expect heartfelt stories about flawed people, with animals involved. This one exceeded my expectation. I loved it.
In an apartment complex in a run down section of LA, there was a little girl, Grace, who mostly sat alone outside her flat. And Billy, lived over her flat and has not been outside his flat in 13 years. The entire complex is filled with alone, lonely people. What happens to change all that is a wonderful story, which I thoroughly enjoyed, especially Mr. Lafferty the Girl Cat.
Wonderful, 5+ stars for me.
'"It's like people who want to feel only happy but not sad," Grace said. "It never works. You either feell things or you don't. You don't get to pick and choose. At least I don't think so."'
In an apartment complex in a run down section of LA, there was a little girl, Grace, who mostly sat alone outside her flat. And Billy, lived over her flat and has not been outside his flat in 13 years. The entire complex is filled with alone, lonely people. What happens to change all that is a wonderful story, which I thoroughly enjoyed, especially Mr. Lafferty the Girl Cat.
Wonderful, 5+ stars for me.
'"It's like people who want to feel only happy but not sad," Grace said. "It never works. You either feell things or you don't. You don't get to pick and choose. At least I don't think so."'
March 8, 2023
Accepting things. That’s what the talk was about. About how insane it is to try to pretend something isn’t a certain way, or that you can make it another way, just because you don’t like it. And how that seems to be the one thing that makes addicts use drugs, and pretty much ruins everybody’s lives. This thing about refusing to just accept the way things are when you can’t change them anyway.
A little girl reaches out to her neighbors and changes their lives in ways they could never imagine.
CRH knows how to write a contemporary family story with memorable characters. Grace, Rayleen, Billy, Felipe, Mrs. Hinman. This one focused on the topics of addictions and mental health issues. Since the story is told alternatively between Grace, a young child, and Billy, her agoraphobic upstairs neighbor, there are things we know for sure and other things that must be inferred.
Definitely one of my favorites!
ŷ review published 08/03/23
A little girl reaches out to her neighbors and changes their lives in ways they could never imagine.
CRH knows how to write a contemporary family story with memorable characters. Grace, Rayleen, Billy, Felipe, Mrs. Hinman. This one focused on the topics of addictions and mental health issues. Since the story is told alternatively between Grace, a young child, and Billy, her agoraphobic upstairs neighbor, there are things we know for sure and other things that must be inferred.
Definitely one of my favorites!
ŷ review published 08/03/23
November 11, 2022
Don’t Let Me Go by Catherine Ryan Hyde
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have absolutely loved reading all of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books unfortunately this one was disappointing.
“Don’t Let Me Go� was a cute, warm-hearted story but I felt the storyline was too dragged on and having difficulty capturing my interest.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have absolutely loved reading all of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books unfortunately this one was disappointing.
“Don’t Let Me Go� was a cute, warm-hearted story but I felt the storyline was too dragged on and having difficulty capturing my interest.
March 6, 2013
1.5 stars
What's the point of Amazon Prime when these are the kinds of books you can download for free? This is a typical, predictable, sappy, poorly written, tug-on-your-heartstrings type of crap being put out these days by so-called authors. Grace is 9, savvy, and neglected by her pain-killer-addicted mother. Billy Shine (hey, at least it's a stage name) is a sweet former-dancer cum agorophobic recluse. They find each other with the help of some neighbors who want to make sure Grace doesn't sit out on the steps by herself day and night.
None of the characters in this novel felt real. They were either really good or really bad. Major issues (like a phobia, which is a serious mental illness) are solved at the drop of a hat. Nothing much happens. And the dialogue, dear God, the dialogue was just painful. Everyone sounded like a plucky 13-year-old. Case in point (keep in mind that the two people having this conversation have never met each other before; these are about the first words they exchange, and, yes, they're adults):
"What are you doing to your nails?"
"Biting them."
"Why?"
"It's what I do when I'm nervous. What do you do when you're nervous?"
"Nothing. Just be nervous, I guess."
"Everybody has something."
"Sometimes I eat candy when I'm nervous."
"Aha! Classic case."
Who talks like that?
There are way too many change of hearts, none of them believable in the slightest. People just don't change that much that quickly. And how is Billy supporting himself and paying rent and having groceries delivered if he hasn't had a job in 15 years?
Fortunately, I downloaded this for free, or my review wouldn't be as generous.
What's the point of Amazon Prime when these are the kinds of books you can download for free? This is a typical, predictable, sappy, poorly written, tug-on-your-heartstrings type of crap being put out these days by so-called authors. Grace is 9, savvy, and neglected by her pain-killer-addicted mother. Billy Shine (hey, at least it's a stage name) is a sweet former-dancer cum agorophobic recluse. They find each other with the help of some neighbors who want to make sure Grace doesn't sit out on the steps by herself day and night.
None of the characters in this novel felt real. They were either really good or really bad. Major issues (like a phobia, which is a serious mental illness) are solved at the drop of a hat. Nothing much happens. And the dialogue, dear God, the dialogue was just painful. Everyone sounded like a plucky 13-year-old. Case in point (keep in mind that the two people having this conversation have never met each other before; these are about the first words they exchange, and, yes, they're adults):
"What are you doing to your nails?"
"Biting them."
"Why?"
"It's what I do when I'm nervous. What do you do when you're nervous?"
"Nothing. Just be nervous, I guess."
"Everybody has something."
"Sometimes I eat candy when I'm nervous."
"Aha! Classic case."
Who talks like that?
There are way too many change of hearts, none of them believable in the slightest. People just don't change that much that quickly. And how is Billy supporting himself and paying rent and having groceries delivered if he hasn't had a job in 15 years?
Fortunately, I downloaded this for free, or my review wouldn't be as generous.
October 14, 2014
Grace, a ten year old girl whose mother is a drug addict and an assortment of people, each with their own fears and peculiarities doesn’t sound like an inspiring read. But it is! I adored this book. Grace is a lively and engaging character who quickly finds her way into the reader’s heart. Billy, an ex dancer and neighbour in Grace’s apartment block is agoraphobic and hasn’t been out of his apartment in many years. As a result he has little if any contact with his neighbours in his building. That all starts to change when he meets Grace.
There are other characters like Rayleen, the manicurist who takes matters into her own hands to help Grace, Mrs Hinman an elderly neighbour, Felipe and Mr. Lafferty who each struggle with their own issues. Yet this assortment of characters quickly draws you into their lives as well as that of Grace. One comment that particularly struck me was that made by Jesse who enters the story about a third to a half of the way through the book. Jesse says to Billy. ’The people with the least to give always give the most. Haven’t you noticed that?�
This is an easy to read book with mostly short paragraphs and a lot of dialogue. I liked that some things were implied about Billy and Mr Lafferty without being spelled out or overly dwelt on. This is undoubtedly a feel good story and what’s wrong with that? In today’s world we could do with more of that. It is also one that make you smile but also will tug at the heart strings. I whizzed through it in a day and was sorry when it was finished.
There are other characters like Rayleen, the manicurist who takes matters into her own hands to help Grace, Mrs Hinman an elderly neighbour, Felipe and Mr. Lafferty who each struggle with their own issues. Yet this assortment of characters quickly draws you into their lives as well as that of Grace. One comment that particularly struck me was that made by Jesse who enters the story about a third to a half of the way through the book. Jesse says to Billy. ’The people with the least to give always give the most. Haven’t you noticed that?�
This is an easy to read book with mostly short paragraphs and a lot of dialogue. I liked that some things were implied about Billy and Mr Lafferty without being spelled out or overly dwelt on. This is undoubtedly a feel good story and what’s wrong with that? In today’s world we could do with more of that. It is also one that make you smile but also will tug at the heart strings. I whizzed through it in a day and was sorry when it was finished.
October 27, 2012
More like 4 1/2 stars! I’ve been stuck on romances lately and wanted to read something different. Well, this story may not have had romantic love, but it had love none the less. What started as the concern of a group of neighbors for a little girl grew into the love of a group of neighbors for a little girl. They were trying to help her, but she wound up helping each of them in an equally profound way.
Loved the character of Billy. The author really took me into his world and head! I didn’t quite buy Grace’s POV sometimes. Some of her POV sounded too grown up and other parts sounded too childish. I loved her, but I had a hard time wrapping my head around her. There were just a few other things that I had an issue with, but they really didn’t subtract from the story (ie. Grace is the daughter of a drug addict mother who never works and sleeps constantly and they live in a slum apartment, but she gets an allowance?!)
It made me laugh, cry, and get angry. Overall, I really liked it and had a hard time putting it down.
Loved the character of Billy. The author really took me into his world and head! I didn’t quite buy Grace’s POV sometimes. Some of her POV sounded too grown up and other parts sounded too childish. I loved her, but I had a hard time wrapping my head around her. There were just a few other things that I had an issue with, but they really didn’t subtract from the story (ie. Grace is the daughter of a drug addict mother who never works and sleeps constantly and they live in a slum apartment, but she gets an allowance?!)
It made me laugh, cry, and get angry. Overall, I really liked it and had a hard time putting it down.
March 13, 2015
Don’t let me go is a hard book to review. I loved it and it annoyed me all at the same time. The story is about a young girl, Grace that has an addict for a mother and sits out on the front steps on her apartment building hoping that her neighbors may notice and help her. The story is centered around that apartment building and the neighbors that Grace meets.
The characters were great in the book for the most part, and I adored Billy! My problem was parts of the story were just not really believable to me. There was nothing that was not possible, but there were parts that just did not fit for me. The way Billy acted at times, and how Grace would talk. Grace would also often jump into people’s arms, or be picked up but she is a chunky nine year old? Kids are heavy and for Billy to be able to pick her up that easily is a stretch. Also the fact that everyone had to look down to see her standing at a door seemed silly to me. I have never had to look down to see my eight year old standing at a door.
Billy was what kept me reading, but I was hoping for a bit more back story. Either way he was a delight to read and I loved his chapters.
The ending of the book seemed to be a little bit too perfect if that makes any sense? I was liking that the story felt real and that life does not always end up perfect. Overall I enjoyed the book and it was a book I would recommend.
The characters were great in the book for the most part, and I adored Billy! My problem was parts of the story were just not really believable to me. There was nothing that was not possible, but there were parts that just did not fit for me. The way Billy acted at times, and how Grace would talk. Grace would also often jump into people’s arms, or be picked up but she is a chunky nine year old? Kids are heavy and for Billy to be able to pick her up that easily is a stretch. Also the fact that everyone had to look down to see her standing at a door seemed silly to me. I have never had to look down to see my eight year old standing at a door.
Billy was what kept me reading, but I was hoping for a bit more back story. Either way he was a delight to read and I loved his chapters.
The ending of the book seemed to be a little bit too perfect if that makes any sense? I was liking that the story felt real and that life does not always end up perfect. Overall I enjoyed the book and it was a book I would recommend.
March 2, 2013
Oh my goodness! This book could make a fantastic movie! Grace is 9 years old and her mother is a drug addict. Every day that she can't go to school because her mom can't get her there, she sits on the steps outside so that someone will notice her and help her. In her apartment complex in a dangerous neighborhood, no one knows each other and they avoid one another until several neighbors decide to help Grace. Through her friendliness, they become friends with her and one another. At first, I thought it was Grace who did not want to be "let go", but as I read, I realized that each character has something to overcome and by helping Grace, they also help themselves. The neighbors include an agoraphobic man who was once a famous tap dancer, a woman who has been through the foster care system and does not want to see Grace there, an 89 year old woman with health problems, a man who seems to hate everyone except for Grace, and a man who has been dumped by his girlfriend. This group of people, who had not and would not have become friends on their own, join together and discover the meaning of friendship, love, and care for one another all due to Grace. The book made me laugh and cry and it is just totally awesome!
October 26, 2015
This story is not for the cynical. It focuses on the possibilities of humanity, of taking care of one another, relentlessly showing up, accepting/understanding that we are all doing the best we can. This is me, I think. I hope. And so, how could I not like it?
Brilliant truths:
"That's all addiction really is. It's trading away the future so you can feel OK right now"
"The people with the least to give always give the most."
Brilliant truths:
"That's all addiction really is. It's trading away the future so you can feel OK right now"
"The people with the least to give always give the most."
October 27, 2019
Billy war früher am Broadway erfolgreich, jetzt ist er durch Agoraphobie in seiner Wohnung gefangen und bemerkt das Mädchen, das jeden Tag vor dem Wohnhaus, in einem sozialen Brennpunkt, sitzt.
Die 9-Jährige Grace ist aufgeweckt und immer ein bisschen zu laut, trotzdem wird sie meist überhört und übersehen.
Ihre Mutter Eileen kämpft mit ihrer Drogensucht, schläft zu oft, zu lange. Grace kann sie nicht wecken. Sie ist auf sich allein gestellt, bis die Nachbarn sie bemerken. Und erkennen, dass Grace genauso einsam ist, wie sie selbst.
Eine Geschichte, die zwischen den Zeilen wahnsinnig viel vermittelt.
Alle Bewohner des Hauses sind so verschieden, alle sind einsam.
Sie sind teils stereotyp, teils überraschend, alle authentisch und ausgefeilt, haben Probleme und Schicksalsschläge haben ihr Leben verändert. Wie im echten Leben.
Die Dynamik die sich im Haus entwickelt, wie sie alle von Grace lernen, zusammenhalten und sich helfen ist einfach schön. Und beeindruckend. Wie sie sich nicht nur um das Mädchen sondern auch umeinander kümmern, jeder auf seine Art.
Rayleen, die es gleich zur Aufgabe gemacht hat das Mädchen im Haus zu halten, Billy der aus sich herauskommt, Mrs. Hinman, altersschwach und kaum in der Lage. Felipe, der schon draußen auf der Treppe bei ihr saß.
Bis der übellaunige Mr. Lafferty, auch wenn er sich für die Kleine erwärmt, verdeutlicht, dass man die Sucht der Mutter nicht unterstützen darf.
Und Grace sich ihrer Mutter selbst wegnehmen will.
Da sind die Probleme, die jeder hat aber auch Themen wie Suizid, Sucht, Ängste und Vernachlässigung. Und trotzdem ist das Ganze so hoffnungsvoll, Verständnis, Toleranz und Hilfsbereitschaft stechen hervor.
Grace ist entschlossen, tut alles um ihrer Mutter zu helfen, bis die Rollen fast vertauscht sind. Sie ist zerrissen aber klug und noch immer ein Kind.
Aber Eileen hat mich wirklich wütend gemacht. Teils kann man sie nachvollziehen. Aber eine Frau, die tagelang zugedröhnt schläft, nicht mitbekommt wo ihr Kind ist, was es macht, ob und was es isst.
Und als sie dann - etwas zu plötzlich - clean wird, bleibt sie unsympathisch und egoistisch. Es ist authentisch, man kann herauslesen, dass sie wütend ist ihrer Tochter nicht zu genügen, was ihre eigene Schuld ist, aber ihre Art ist falsch. Das macht wütend.
Wie sich die Geschichte für alle entwickelt ist schön und gleichzeitig traurig. Weil Billy alleine in seiner Wohnung zurückbleibt. Und das Ende ist nicht schlecht aber irgendwie unbefriedigend. Dafür realistisch und nicht kitschig - das passt.
Der Stil ist einfach und passend und wenn man die Geschichte wirken lässt, stören auch kleinere Unstimmigkeiten nicht.
Die 9-Jährige Grace ist aufgeweckt und immer ein bisschen zu laut, trotzdem wird sie meist überhört und übersehen.
Ihre Mutter Eileen kämpft mit ihrer Drogensucht, schläft zu oft, zu lange. Grace kann sie nicht wecken. Sie ist auf sich allein gestellt, bis die Nachbarn sie bemerken. Und erkennen, dass Grace genauso einsam ist, wie sie selbst.
Eine Geschichte, die zwischen den Zeilen wahnsinnig viel vermittelt.
Alle Bewohner des Hauses sind so verschieden, alle sind einsam.
Sie sind teils stereotyp, teils überraschend, alle authentisch und ausgefeilt, haben Probleme und Schicksalsschläge haben ihr Leben verändert. Wie im echten Leben.
Die Dynamik die sich im Haus entwickelt, wie sie alle von Grace lernen, zusammenhalten und sich helfen ist einfach schön. Und beeindruckend. Wie sie sich nicht nur um das Mädchen sondern auch umeinander kümmern, jeder auf seine Art.
Rayleen, die es gleich zur Aufgabe gemacht hat das Mädchen im Haus zu halten, Billy der aus sich herauskommt, Mrs. Hinman, altersschwach und kaum in der Lage. Felipe, der schon draußen auf der Treppe bei ihr saß.
Bis der übellaunige Mr. Lafferty, auch wenn er sich für die Kleine erwärmt, verdeutlicht, dass man die Sucht der Mutter nicht unterstützen darf.
Und Grace sich ihrer Mutter selbst wegnehmen will.
Da sind die Probleme, die jeder hat aber auch Themen wie Suizid, Sucht, Ängste und Vernachlässigung. Und trotzdem ist das Ganze so hoffnungsvoll, Verständnis, Toleranz und Hilfsbereitschaft stechen hervor.
Grace ist entschlossen, tut alles um ihrer Mutter zu helfen, bis die Rollen fast vertauscht sind. Sie ist zerrissen aber klug und noch immer ein Kind.
Aber Eileen hat mich wirklich wütend gemacht. Teils kann man sie nachvollziehen. Aber eine Frau, die tagelang zugedröhnt schläft, nicht mitbekommt wo ihr Kind ist, was es macht, ob und was es isst.
Und als sie dann - etwas zu plötzlich - clean wird, bleibt sie unsympathisch und egoistisch. Es ist authentisch, man kann herauslesen, dass sie wütend ist ihrer Tochter nicht zu genügen, was ihre eigene Schuld ist, aber ihre Art ist falsch. Das macht wütend.
Wie sich die Geschichte für alle entwickelt ist schön und gleichzeitig traurig. Weil Billy alleine in seiner Wohnung zurückbleibt. Und das Ende ist nicht schlecht aber irgendwie unbefriedigend. Dafür realistisch und nicht kitschig - das passt.
Der Stil ist einfach und passend und wenn man die Geschichte wirken lässt, stören auch kleinere Unstimmigkeiten nicht.
September 26, 2012
Excellent novel! I cannot recommend this one enough. Written by the author of Pay It Forward and many other titles. I will definitely be adding more of this author's titles to my reading list.
First grader, Grace, is the force that brings together the neighbors in her building who otherwise would not have come together. Billy Shine, a 37 year old agoraphobic former dancer who has not left the apartment in 12 years, wants to know what's wrong when Grace suddenly becomes a fixture on the front step of the apartment building. Raylene, Billy's across the hall neighbor, also becomes involved to prevent Grace from being put in the foster care program/system. Felipe, a lonely young hispanic who has been dumped by his fiancé, Mr. Lafferty, an older man who lives alone and is mean to everyone, Mrs. Hinman who is in her 80's and has no one to take care of her, all band together to help Grace whose mom is a drug addict and can't wake up long enough to take care of her daughter.
Together, the unlikely group becomes friends and supporters of Grace and of each other. Each life is changed because they cared about a little girl more than they cared about themselves.
A must read.
First grader, Grace, is the force that brings together the neighbors in her building who otherwise would not have come together. Billy Shine, a 37 year old agoraphobic former dancer who has not left the apartment in 12 years, wants to know what's wrong when Grace suddenly becomes a fixture on the front step of the apartment building. Raylene, Billy's across the hall neighbor, also becomes involved to prevent Grace from being put in the foster care program/system. Felipe, a lonely young hispanic who has been dumped by his fiancé, Mr. Lafferty, an older man who lives alone and is mean to everyone, Mrs. Hinman who is in her 80's and has no one to take care of her, all band together to help Grace whose mom is a drug addict and can't wake up long enough to take care of her daughter.
Together, the unlikely group becomes friends and supporters of Grace and of each other. Each life is changed because they cared about a little girl more than they cared about themselves.
A must read.
November 24, 2018
A lovely feel good story, where many difficult and serious issues are confronted and overcome, and where everybody gets her or his happy ending.
Beautiful friendship between a loud and noisy girl with an addict mother and her agoraphobic neighbor who does for her what he didn’t do for 12 years: leave his apartment.
While it is probably not often the case that a neighborhood comes together to save a child and succeeds against such overwhelming odds, it did not feel to me like the picture painted was totally unrealistic. And I loved how the „saving the child� turned into „saving each other�.
Ok, „magical� Jake was just too good to be true ;-) Everybody else has flaws and edges, while he was all around perfect. But maybe there is someone as good as him out there somewhere? Would be nice. So my complaint is not very forceful on this point.
I listened to the audio version, and I enjoyed it. Although I was a bit disappointed by the male narrator not doing any accents. I mean it is kind of strange to say �...he said with a heavy accent� and then not actually doing the accent. The lady narrator did better, even though Spanish does not seem her forte ether. The book has very diverse characters and it would have profited a lot from a narrator who was able to depict this more realistically. They do exist! But that said, the narration was good on an emotional level, so please don’t let my slight criticism keep you away from a good listen!
Beautiful friendship between a loud and noisy girl with an addict mother and her agoraphobic neighbor who does for her what he didn’t do for 12 years: leave his apartment.
While it is probably not often the case that a neighborhood comes together to save a child and succeeds against such overwhelming odds, it did not feel to me like the picture painted was totally unrealistic. And I loved how the „saving the child� turned into „saving each other�.
Ok, „magical� Jake was just too good to be true ;-) Everybody else has flaws and edges, while he was all around perfect. But maybe there is someone as good as him out there somewhere? Would be nice. So my complaint is not very forceful on this point.
I listened to the audio version, and I enjoyed it. Although I was a bit disappointed by the male narrator not doing any accents. I mean it is kind of strange to say �...he said with a heavy accent� and then not actually doing the accent. The lady narrator did better, even though Spanish does not seem her forte ether. The book has very diverse characters and it would have profited a lot from a narrator who was able to depict this more realistically. They do exist! But that said, the narration was good on an emotional level, so please don’t let my slight criticism keep you away from a good listen!
October 1, 2018
This was an easy "feel-good" read. I don't gravitate towards books like this, but every now and then, one seems to satisfy my sweet tooth. This is the first book by this author, that I've read. I have one more that I'll get to eventually.
The characters were lovable. I liked the emphasis on community and what an asset that can be, especially when it comes to raising families. Grace is the center of the story. She is a 10-year-old girl with an addict for a mother. Sometimes she sounded wise beyond her years, and other times, she sounded like she was 5, but she was cute nonetheless. The other characters tempered her bubbly personality. They all had their own baggage, but also their own talents. Overall, I liked this.
Sweet story + Sweet characters = 4 stars
The characters were lovable. I liked the emphasis on community and what an asset that can be, especially when it comes to raising families. Grace is the center of the story. She is a 10-year-old girl with an addict for a mother. Sometimes she sounded wise beyond her years, and other times, she sounded like she was 5, but she was cute nonetheless. The other characters tempered her bubbly personality. They all had their own baggage, but also their own talents. Overall, I liked this.
Sweet story + Sweet characters = 4 stars
July 27, 2012
As an agoraphobic, Billy Shine looks out at the world from within his small apartment. He sees his neighbors come in and leave the apartment building but doesn't interact with them. But all that changes the day he notices 9 year old Grace sitting out on the steps all by herself. He inches his patio door open and when he asks her why she's sitting out there, she answers; “If I sit inside, then nobody will know I’m in trouble. And then nobody will help me.�
In this apartment building of lonely tenants who usually hide behind their doors and make no effort to socialize, things start to change after Grace decides to take matters into her own hands ... with the help of those who live around her. Grace lives with her mother, a drug addict more in love with her pills and powders than with her own daughter.
It's an incredible story of how a little girl manages to bring out the secret stories her neighbors hide behind their doors, face their fears and make attempts to address them, some more successfully than others, but more importantly, all gradually opening their own doors, stepping out and helping one another, even with problems they had thought to be insurmountable.
In this apartment building of lonely tenants who usually hide behind their doors and make no effort to socialize, things start to change after Grace decides to take matters into her own hands ... with the help of those who live around her. Grace lives with her mother, a drug addict more in love with her pills and powders than with her own daughter.
It's an incredible story of how a little girl manages to bring out the secret stories her neighbors hide behind their doors, face their fears and make attempts to address them, some more successfully than others, but more importantly, all gradually opening their own doors, stepping out and helping one another, even with problems they had thought to be insurmountable.
July 27, 2017
4.5
Excellent book. I would definitely recommend it as well as quite a few other books by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Grace was a delight and I fell in love with almost all of the characters.
I read it quite quickly and was sad to have it end. I could see this being made into a movie as well. I originally found this author because of the movie Pay it Forward being based on her book. I've been a fan ever since. I will continue to read more by this author.
Excellent book. I would definitely recommend it as well as quite a few other books by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Grace was a delight and I fell in love with almost all of the characters.
I read it quite quickly and was sad to have it end. I could see this being made into a movie as well. I originally found this author because of the movie Pay it Forward being based on her book. I've been a fan ever since. I will continue to read more by this author.
June 30, 2018
Probably closer to 2.5 stars. Although I have mixed feelings about this book, I liked the book in spite of myself. I listened to the audiobook and, on balance, the two readers do a good job, although with one major letdown to which I return below. It isn’t great writing—more on the order of a TV-script for the Hallmark channel. it seems to be directed toward young adults.
This is a contemporary, character-based story, without a great deal of action, so it is important that the reader find the people believable, and that is where it lost me. As indicated in the publisher’s description, it centers primarily on 9-year-old Grace and 30-something Billy. While they are both sympathetic people, I found their personalities inconsistent. A nine-year old would be in the 4th or 5th grade, yet sometimes she talks as if she were a first-grader while other times as if she were 16 and wiser beyond her years. She is made less credible in part because the female reader, Cassandra Morris, gives Grace a little girl voice, like a cartoon character. Although she is obviously a smart girl, she never seems to spend any time on homework. In short, Grace was not really a believable character.
Although Billy is also highly intelligent, a former dancer now in his late 30’s, I believe. He is agoraphobic and apparently hadn’t gone outside for the past 12 years. Besides panic attacks, which fit his personality, he also seems to manifest symptoms of OCD as well as autism, which are in conflict with his actual behavior and level of awareness. So I found that he too was an inconsistent and not believable character.
I found some of the secondary characters far more realistic than these two main characters.
It's hard to say to whom I would recommend it; perhaps to someone in still in high school.
This is a contemporary, character-based story, without a great deal of action, so it is important that the reader find the people believable, and that is where it lost me. As indicated in the publisher’s description, it centers primarily on 9-year-old Grace and 30-something Billy. While they are both sympathetic people, I found their personalities inconsistent. A nine-year old would be in the 4th or 5th grade, yet sometimes she talks as if she were a first-grader while other times as if she were 16 and wiser beyond her years. She is made less credible in part because the female reader, Cassandra Morris, gives Grace a little girl voice, like a cartoon character. Although she is obviously a smart girl, she never seems to spend any time on homework. In short, Grace was not really a believable character.
Although Billy is also highly intelligent, a former dancer now in his late 30’s, I believe. He is agoraphobic and apparently hadn’t gone outside for the past 12 years. Besides panic attacks, which fit his personality, he also seems to manifest symptoms of OCD as well as autism, which are in conflict with his actual behavior and level of awareness. So I found that he too was an inconsistent and not believable character.
I found some of the secondary characters far more realistic than these two main characters.
It's hard to say to whom I would recommend it; perhaps to someone in still in high school.
August 24, 2017
Das Buch ist soo toll!!! Eine super schöne, traurige, lustige und realistische Geschichte! Alle Hauptcharaktere sind mir echt ans Herz gewachsen und es ist schwer sich von ihnen zu verabschieden. Ich möchte definitiv noch mehr von der Autorin lesen! :)
November 8, 2017
Grace è la protagonista di "Non lasciarmi andare" e noi lettori non vorremmo lasciarla andare per niente al mondo.
Una bambina così sarebbe la perfetta compagnia per i nostri giorni più tristi e noiosi, sarebbe un perfetto passatempo capace di farti pensare, riflettere e di trasformare la tua vita in qualcosa di più bello.
La storia raccontata in questo libro è la sua, ma anche quella dell'intero palazzo. Sua madre ha problemi di dipendenza dalla droga perciò non riesce a prendersi cura di lei, quindi tutti i vicini di casa interverranno per aiutare la povera bambina. In questo modo conosceremo tutti.
Billy è un personaggio al quale mi sento molto vicina, con la sua agorafobia ed i suoi attacchi di panico quando le cose cambiano. Allo stesso modo anche Rayleen e la sua paura di costruire relazioni con uomini dell'altro sesso sono abbastanza affini alla mia persona. Felipe, il signor Lafferty e la signora Hinman sono allo stesso modo spaventati da qualcosa. Ciò che accomuna l'intero palazzo, alla fine dei conti, è la paura ed il timore di costruire delle relazioni. Sono spaventati dalla gente.
Grace sarà la loro colla e incollerà anche i pezzi del nostro cuore spezzato.
Questo libro è scritto magnificamente, con uno stile scorrevole e profondo, ma soprattutto parla di una storia molto importante. La madre di Grace è incommentabile perché non si dovrebbero mai abbandonare i figli, ma forse a volte c'è bisogno di perdere qualcosa per capire quanto invece vorremmo tenerla vicina.
Il libro mi è piaciuto davvero tanto, era da tanto che non leggevo un romanzo drammatico così bello, e spero di poter leggere presto altri libri dell'autrice.
Una bambina così sarebbe la perfetta compagnia per i nostri giorni più tristi e noiosi, sarebbe un perfetto passatempo capace di farti pensare, riflettere e di trasformare la tua vita in qualcosa di più bello.
La storia raccontata in questo libro è la sua, ma anche quella dell'intero palazzo. Sua madre ha problemi di dipendenza dalla droga perciò non riesce a prendersi cura di lei, quindi tutti i vicini di casa interverranno per aiutare la povera bambina. In questo modo conosceremo tutti.
Billy è un personaggio al quale mi sento molto vicina, con la sua agorafobia ed i suoi attacchi di panico quando le cose cambiano. Allo stesso modo anche Rayleen e la sua paura di costruire relazioni con uomini dell'altro sesso sono abbastanza affini alla mia persona. Felipe, il signor Lafferty e la signora Hinman sono allo stesso modo spaventati da qualcosa. Ciò che accomuna l'intero palazzo, alla fine dei conti, è la paura ed il timore di costruire delle relazioni. Sono spaventati dalla gente.
Grace sarà la loro colla e incollerà anche i pezzi del nostro cuore spezzato.
Questo libro è scritto magnificamente, con uno stile scorrevole e profondo, ma soprattutto parla di una storia molto importante. La madre di Grace è incommentabile perché non si dovrebbero mai abbandonare i figli, ma forse a volte c'è bisogno di perdere qualcosa per capire quanto invece vorremmo tenerla vicina.
Il libro mi è piaciuto davvero tanto, era da tanto che non leggevo un romanzo drammatico così bello, e spero di poter leggere presto altri libri dell'autrice.
February 13, 2015
This story was written by the same author that wrote Pay it Forward... I loved that story so I couldn't wait to see what else this author had in store for me. I love books that touch on the possibilities of humanity and that's exactly what this book does. It ponders the question of "What if?".
What if we decided to take action to help ourselves instead of just waiting for something to happen?
What if I took the time to reach past my boundaries of safety and take a chance?
What if I took charge of my own destiny?
This is a story of a little girl named Grace who decides to take action. She is all alone and living with a dead beat mother. She sits on the front stoop of her apartment complex every day. By doing so, she draws the attention of her neighbors who grow curious and are concerned for her safety. She particularly draws the attention of Billy, a recluse who never leaves his apartment. As the story progresses she becomes his reason for taking steps to break down his walls of safety. Grace also makes a positive impact on other neighbors in the building as they all decide to come together to help this little girl. None of them want to see her go into the foster care system. Grace comes up with an ingenious plan.. she wants them to kidnap her! She thinks that this will help wake up her mom. I'll let you read the book for yourself to see how this plan works out... :)
What stood out mostly from this story for me was that children know when their parents are bad parents... but they still love them anyway. They live with the hope that they will change, that one day they will wake up to a mom or dad who is normal. Even when it seems there is no hope they still hold on to a small flicker of it just in case.
This story is also a small reminder that all of our actions, whether they are large or small, produce chain reactions. Sometimes they lead to good things happening and sometimes they don't. That is the risk we take when we step outside our comfort zones. But, we still have to move forward and take those chances anyway, no matter the outcome. Otherwise, we just remain stagnant...
This was a powerful story with a powerful message... and one that reminds us that sometimes children are smarter than the grown-ups! Lessons are always more humbly learned when they come from the mouths of babes...
Lovely story and one I highly recommend!
What if we decided to take action to help ourselves instead of just waiting for something to happen?
What if I took the time to reach past my boundaries of safety and take a chance?
What if I took charge of my own destiny?
This is a story of a little girl named Grace who decides to take action. She is all alone and living with a dead beat mother. She sits on the front stoop of her apartment complex every day. By doing so, she draws the attention of her neighbors who grow curious and are concerned for her safety. She particularly draws the attention of Billy, a recluse who never leaves his apartment. As the story progresses she becomes his reason for taking steps to break down his walls of safety. Grace also makes a positive impact on other neighbors in the building as they all decide to come together to help this little girl. None of them want to see her go into the foster care system. Grace comes up with an ingenious plan.. she wants them to kidnap her! She thinks that this will help wake up her mom. I'll let you read the book for yourself to see how this plan works out... :)
What stood out mostly from this story for me was that children know when their parents are bad parents... but they still love them anyway. They live with the hope that they will change, that one day they will wake up to a mom or dad who is normal. Even when it seems there is no hope they still hold on to a small flicker of it just in case.
This story is also a small reminder that all of our actions, whether they are large or small, produce chain reactions. Sometimes they lead to good things happening and sometimes they don't. That is the risk we take when we step outside our comfort zones. But, we still have to move forward and take those chances anyway, no matter the outcome. Otherwise, we just remain stagnant...
This was a powerful story with a powerful message... and one that reminds us that sometimes children are smarter than the grown-ups! Lessons are always more humbly learned when they come from the mouths of babes...
Lovely story and one I highly recommend!
June 26, 2020
Absolutely loved this book.
Sometimes a child knows better. Which is the exact case when it comes to Don't Let Me Go. In it, you will meet 10 year old Grace who is completely adorable and mostly alone in this world. Yes, she has mom and lives with her. Unfortunately, her mom enjoys getting high, or "loaded" if you ask Grace, instead of playing mom. This leads Grace to adventure out past her apartment and she gets to know the people who live around her.
Here's the double whammy - they are all alone in some way. Yet, these band of misfits somehow find a common ground: Grace. She weaves her way into their hearts and they all start caring for one another. I loved when they stood up for her in front of her own mom. It broke my heart how she treated her and always just went to drugs instead.
That being said, this book did a great job showing what addiction looks like. It doesn't just hurt one person whether it's a family member or not. I also liked how her mom had a sponsor.. but she didn't really do anything until the end of the book. Yes, she was on Grace's side but she seemed to let her mom's drug habit slide way too far.
In the end, I adored this book and everyone involved. Well, not the mom but maybe in time I could learn to like her.
Sometimes a child knows better. Which is the exact case when it comes to Don't Let Me Go. In it, you will meet 10 year old Grace who is completely adorable and mostly alone in this world. Yes, she has mom and lives with her. Unfortunately, her mom enjoys getting high, or "loaded" if you ask Grace, instead of playing mom. This leads Grace to adventure out past her apartment and she gets to know the people who live around her.
Here's the double whammy - they are all alone in some way. Yet, these band of misfits somehow find a common ground: Grace. She weaves her way into their hearts and they all start caring for one another. I loved when they stood up for her in front of her own mom. It broke my heart how she treated her and always just went to drugs instead.
That being said, this book did a great job showing what addiction looks like. It doesn't just hurt one person whether it's a family member or not. I also liked how her mom had a sponsor.. but she didn't really do anything until the end of the book. Yes, she was on Grace's side but she seemed to let her mom's drug habit slide way too far.
In the end, I adored this book and everyone involved. Well, not the mom but maybe in time I could learn to like her.
May 16, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, it reminded me of the well known story Pollyanna, where a little girl spreads positivity bringing older grumpy adults together. All the characters who have never met or Even spoken until Grace, the main character needs help to help her drug addict mother. A pull at your heart strings story about human intervention and how people come together in a time of crisis.
September 6, 2023
Bardzo mnie urzekła 🥹
September 22, 2012
Grace Johnson is a nine year old girl whose mother Eileen is a drug addict. Grace knows that life with her mother wasn't normal and that she needed help, but didn't know how to go about getting it. So she would sit for hours outside on the stoop of her apartment building hoping someone who notice her.
Billy Shine is a former Broadway dancer who suffers from agoraphobia and hasn't left his apartment in over a decade. From his patio, he notices that Grace has started to sit on the stoop for hours on a daily basis and he ventures out enough to ask her why.
When Grace tells Billy about her home life with her mom, this precocious little girl finds out that there are many people in her corner. The tenants of the apartment building ban together to take care of Grace, and along the way they learn to overcome their own issues while building a strong community bond.
Every once in a while a profoundly compelling story comes along that completely sweeps you off your feet, and for me, Don't Let Me Go is that book. This poignantly beautiful story is thoughtfully written in the third person narrative with alternating perspectives between Grace and Billy. Rich in detail and description, the author weaves a tale of the powerful bond of a small community to step out of their comfort zone to protect one of their own, while each learning to overcome their individual flaws and issues that will ultimately change their lives. This story is simply amazing, the author engages the reader to open their eyes to the beauty and power of the human spirit that allows people to open themselves to others to form a strong community bond.
The author has created a wonderfully eclectic cast of characters who are realistic, complex, intriguing and engaging people that the reader can relate to. The reader is introduced to each of the characters, and you can't help but get drawn into their individual stories. I absolutely fell in love with Grace, this lovable little girl had my heart and I couldn't help but feel for her and want to just hug her cares away. She is an amazing little girl with an old soul and who is wise beyond her tender young years. I also couldn't help but feel for Billy, this gentle man who hides within the shadow of his apartment, I wanted to hug him too and help him let go of the fears that have kept him trapped for so many years. I think the beauty of Grace and Billy's relationship was simply touching and pulled at my heartstrings. The quirky cast of supporting characters: Rayleen the manicurist, elderly Mrs. Hinson, bigoted Mr. Lafferty, and the kind-hearted Felipe, each added their own uniqueness along with the dialogue and interactions to make this a powerfully compelling story.
Don't Let Me Go is a story that will touch your soul and pull at your heartstrings, it will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride, but will leave you with a smile on your face, and the message that there really is goodness in the world.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
Billy Shine is a former Broadway dancer who suffers from agoraphobia and hasn't left his apartment in over a decade. From his patio, he notices that Grace has started to sit on the stoop for hours on a daily basis and he ventures out enough to ask her why.
When Grace tells Billy about her home life with her mom, this precocious little girl finds out that there are many people in her corner. The tenants of the apartment building ban together to take care of Grace, and along the way they learn to overcome their own issues while building a strong community bond.
Every once in a while a profoundly compelling story comes along that completely sweeps you off your feet, and for me, Don't Let Me Go is that book. This poignantly beautiful story is thoughtfully written in the third person narrative with alternating perspectives between Grace and Billy. Rich in detail and description, the author weaves a tale of the powerful bond of a small community to step out of their comfort zone to protect one of their own, while each learning to overcome their individual flaws and issues that will ultimately change their lives. This story is simply amazing, the author engages the reader to open their eyes to the beauty and power of the human spirit that allows people to open themselves to others to form a strong community bond.
The author has created a wonderfully eclectic cast of characters who are realistic, complex, intriguing and engaging people that the reader can relate to. The reader is introduced to each of the characters, and you can't help but get drawn into their individual stories. I absolutely fell in love with Grace, this lovable little girl had my heart and I couldn't help but feel for her and want to just hug her cares away. She is an amazing little girl with an old soul and who is wise beyond her tender young years. I also couldn't help but feel for Billy, this gentle man who hides within the shadow of his apartment, I wanted to hug him too and help him let go of the fears that have kept him trapped for so many years. I think the beauty of Grace and Billy's relationship was simply touching and pulled at my heartstrings. The quirky cast of supporting characters: Rayleen the manicurist, elderly Mrs. Hinson, bigoted Mr. Lafferty, and the kind-hearted Felipe, each added their own uniqueness along with the dialogue and interactions to make this a powerfully compelling story.
Don't Let Me Go is a story that will touch your soul and pull at your heartstrings, it will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride, but will leave you with a smile on your face, and the message that there really is goodness in the world.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
October 6, 2013
4 1/2 stars, really good. ( I like the description on Amazon better than the one here:
"Former Broadway dancer and current agoraphobic Billy Shine has not set foot outside his apartment in almost a decade. He has glimpsed his neighbors—beautiful manicurist Rayleen, lonely old Ms. Hinman, bigoted and angry Mr. Lafferty, kind-hearted Felipe, and 9-year-old Grace and her former addict mother Eileen.
But most of them have never seen Billy. Not until Grace begins to sit outside on the building’s front stoop for hours every day, inches from Billy’s patio. Troubled by this change in the natural order, Billy makes it far enough out onto his porch to ask Grace why she doesn’t sit inside where it’s safe. Her answer: “If I sit inside, then nobody will know I’m in trouble. And then nobody will help me.�
Her answer changes everything. " )
It's .99 on Kindle right now, too.
"Former Broadway dancer and current agoraphobic Billy Shine has not set foot outside his apartment in almost a decade. He has glimpsed his neighbors—beautiful manicurist Rayleen, lonely old Ms. Hinman, bigoted and angry Mr. Lafferty, kind-hearted Felipe, and 9-year-old Grace and her former addict mother Eileen.
But most of them have never seen Billy. Not until Grace begins to sit outside on the building’s front stoop for hours every day, inches from Billy’s patio. Troubled by this change in the natural order, Billy makes it far enough out onto his porch to ask Grace why she doesn’t sit inside where it’s safe. Her answer: “If I sit inside, then nobody will know I’m in trouble. And then nobody will help me.�
Her answer changes everything. " )
It's .99 on Kindle right now, too.
January 16, 2020
I enjoyed this story weaving together the lives of characters who had emotional problems keeping them from full lives and yet somehow pulling together with each other. The addict is in need of sobriety which her child longs for. But for me the real issue is what I've heard called "emotional sobriety" and nearly all the characters are in need of that. There is one character who drifts into the story who is very much at one with himself and he seems to be the one to turn the tide with really gentle presence. Another character is likewise stable, but the opposite of gentle and she uses her toughness to also push for good change. The various happenings are kind of wild and crazy and yet the inner dynamics seem very real and engaging.
December 30, 2017
In an effort to read more books that I have owned for years instead of buying new ones, this book made it's way to the home screen on my Kindle. I downloaded this book for free back in 2011 and now I can finally cross it off my TBR.
Don't Let Me Go was the perfect book to read around this crazy and hectic holiday season. It is one of those books that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you believe in people- even though it's fiction. I loved the concept of this book and found myself being able to completely immerse myself in Grace's story every time I had the chance to pick it up.
3.5 stars
Don't Let Me Go was the perfect book to read around this crazy and hectic holiday season. It is one of those books that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you believe in people- even though it's fiction. I loved the concept of this book and found myself being able to completely immerse myself in Grace's story every time I had the chance to pick it up.
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,730 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.