Before I Go

Before I Go
Riley Weston
Campfire Press
ISBN: 0-9779543-2-3
Fiction, Contemporary, Women, Young Adult
Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce

Before I Go, Riley Weston’s first novel, is certainly worth your time to read. It’s an amazing story of love, life, and loss that will touch any reader. In this book, Madison Henry, an ice skater and Olympic hopeful, is coached by her mother, Annie. Annie is one of the three people Madison has ever really known in her life, which is ruled by her skating. The others are her father, David, and best and only friend, Jack. When tragedy enters Madison’s world, she must look at her life differently. It forces so many changes in her life, and in Annie’s. Annie has trouble accepting what their new life must be like, but she must do it and be strong, for Madison’s sake. Maddie is also forced to see her relationship with Jack in a new way, as well as her entire life.
Before I Go is a brilliant first novel from a writer who is sure to publish many other great books. It will appeal to women, as mothers and as daughters, of all ages, and to fans of women’s figure skating. Though Madison’s life is all about skating (she’s been skating since she could walk), there is a lot more to this very powerful and emotional book. A love story, a story of a mother and daughter, and a story of taking whatever life throws at you, it will appeal to anyone.