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Before You Go
The summer before his senior year, Jude (yes, he's named after the Beatles song) gets his first job, falls in love for the first time, and starts to break away from his parents. Jude's house is kept dark, and no one talks much―it's been that way since his little sister drowned in a swimming pool seven years ago when Jude was supposed to be watching her.
Now, Jude is finally, finally starting to live. Really live. And then, life spins out of control. Again.
Acclaimed author James Preller explores life, death, love, faith, and resilience in his first young adult novel. Before You Go will grip readers from the book's dramatic first few pages to its emotional end.
Now, Jude is finally, finally starting to live. Really live. And then, life spins out of control. Again.
Acclaimed author James Preller explores life, death, love, faith, and resilience in his first young adult novel. Before You Go will grip readers from the book's dramatic first few pages to its emotional end.
224 pages, Paperback
First published July 17, 2012
22 people are currently reading
2,371 people want to read
About the author
James Preller
196books141followersJames Preller (born 1961) is the children's book author of the Jigsaw Jones Mysteries, which are published by Scholastic Corporation. He grew up in Wantagh, New York and went to college in Oneonta, New York. After graduating from college in 1983, James Preller was employed as a waiter for one year before being hired as a copywriter by Scholastic Corporation, where he was introduced (through their books) to many noatable children's authors. This inspired James Preller to try writing his own books. James Preller published his first book, entitled MAXX TRAX: Avalanche Rescue, in 1986. Since that time, James Preller has written a variety of books, and has written under a number of pen names, including Mitzy Kafka, James Patrick, and Izzy Bonkers. James Preller lives in Delmar, New York with his wife Lisa and their three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
July 16, 2012
With under 200 pages, Before You Go is a relatively short novel that is a breeze to get through - even moreso because of its short chapters. This is what I'm giving credit for the 3 stars. It's not a contemporary that impressed me per say as it lacks depth, characterization, and the writing is awkward. Since it's such a quick read, however, I didn't get the chance to grow tired of it, nor can I say I downright disliked it.
In a few short words, this novel is about nothing. Jude still blames himself for his sister's death, he's simply living one day at a time, then he meets a girl. The book begins on an incredibly intriguing note with its somber prologue. I found it actually sets the wrong tone for the book. It gives the wrong impression of what type of vibe we'll be getting from the story. What we get after this grim, suspenseful prologue is Jude's normal, every day life. He goes to work, meets a few people, falls in love; a very mundane teenage summer. When we finally get to the climax built from the prologue, I won't say it was emotionless as I felt a few pangs of sadness from the ordeal, but the passion was missing. The consequences are over very quickly; I didn't get to experience Jude's distress, nor did I peer at the mental ramifications of it all. A lot of emotions are simply missing from this novel. I'm not sure if it's the characterization that didn't click with me, or the writing that caused it.
The writing style may be lyrical, but it wasn't my cup of tea. With innumerable pop culture reference, bizarre jokes, and awkward, sometimes puzzling, analogies, I had a very hard time really getting into this book with any sort of emotional attachment. Plus, I wasn't ever sure what the plot was really about; the whole point of the story is still lost on me. Jude is in a rough patch in his life where he's just dealing with everything that's been building up over the years. This is clear within the first few pages, but where does it go from here? Does he have an epiphany that changes his way of thinking? Does he stumble upon a self-realization that finally opens him up, lets him deal with his closed up emotions, and move on? Both of which I expected, neither happened. I was really left confused at the end by the non-existent plot.
Jude is a very average character. He's likeable and genuine, though I can't say I was especially enamored with him, nor did I get a feel of his inner demons. I guess you could say I felt distant from him. This could be due to the methodical telling. For example, the constant use of "Jude" instead of "Him, or he" kept pulling me out of the story. OR, and this is probably more likely, it may be because of its omniscient point of view. I don't find I have a preference over first or third person, both have been used very effectively, but the all-knowing style in Before You Go kept me at arms length. The secondary characters in the book, though stereotypical and not especially developed, are surprisingly fun characters with charming personalities that I really enjoyed. The romance is sweet and rough - very typical angst-ridden teen romance.
Even though I didn't love it, it's not a write off either as it kept my intrigued attention. A fairly short novel written in a male perspective that, if only you're able to get a deeper connection with, I'm sure you will find it involves an array of raw emotions that may make this a memorable read.
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For more of my reviews, visit my blog at
In a few short words, this novel is about nothing. Jude still blames himself for his sister's death, he's simply living one day at a time, then he meets a girl. The book begins on an incredibly intriguing note with its somber prologue. I found it actually sets the wrong tone for the book. It gives the wrong impression of what type of vibe we'll be getting from the story. What we get after this grim, suspenseful prologue is Jude's normal, every day life. He goes to work, meets a few people, falls in love; a very mundane teenage summer. When we finally get to the climax built from the prologue, I won't say it was emotionless as I felt a few pangs of sadness from the ordeal, but the passion was missing. The consequences are over very quickly; I didn't get to experience Jude's distress, nor did I peer at the mental ramifications of it all. A lot of emotions are simply missing from this novel. I'm not sure if it's the characterization that didn't click with me, or the writing that caused it.
The writing style may be lyrical, but it wasn't my cup of tea. With innumerable pop culture reference, bizarre jokes, and awkward, sometimes puzzling, analogies, I had a very hard time really getting into this book with any sort of emotional attachment. Plus, I wasn't ever sure what the plot was really about; the whole point of the story is still lost on me. Jude is in a rough patch in his life where he's just dealing with everything that's been building up over the years. This is clear within the first few pages, but where does it go from here? Does he have an epiphany that changes his way of thinking? Does he stumble upon a self-realization that finally opens him up, lets him deal with his closed up emotions, and move on? Both of which I expected, neither happened. I was really left confused at the end by the non-existent plot.
Jude is a very average character. He's likeable and genuine, though I can't say I was especially enamored with him, nor did I get a feel of his inner demons. I guess you could say I felt distant from him. This could be due to the methodical telling. For example, the constant use of "Jude" instead of "Him, or he" kept pulling me out of the story. OR, and this is probably more likely, it may be because of its omniscient point of view. I don't find I have a preference over first or third person, both have been used very effectively, but the all-knowing style in Before You Go kept me at arms length. The secondary characters in the book, though stereotypical and not especially developed, are surprisingly fun characters with charming personalities that I really enjoyed. The romance is sweet and rough - very typical angst-ridden teen romance.
Even though I didn't love it, it's not a write off either as it kept my intrigued attention. A fairly short novel written in a male perspective that, if only you're able to get a deeper connection with, I'm sure you will find it involves an array of raw emotions that may make this a memorable read.
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For more of my reviews, visit my blog at
August 13, 2012
Originally posted at:
Before You Go is a story written in two parts: Before and After. From the moment I saw the words "Before" I KNEW something big was going to happen in the middle of the story, just like John Green's Looking for Alaska. And of course, I was right.
I found this story a little too slow for my liking. If it wasn't for my intense curiosity of what could cause this book to have a before and after, I wouldn't have finished it. It really does take some time to actually mingle with the flow of the words. Even the plot� there really wasn't one for a while, and it only really picked up just a tiny bit before the after part of the story. The writing in this story's really good, and it even sounds like a great contemporary, but I think it just wasn't for me.
This story's written in third-person, so it made it difficult to connect with the characters. Don't get me wrong, the characters are brilliantly built up and properly developed, but it was just hard to connect with the main character Jude.
Jude was an okay character. I love that this story is from a male's "perspective" which you don't get too much in YA. I just found him a little too... uninteresting. I liked his friends Roberto and Corey though. They were fun and you could tell they were good people. Jude was moody, awkward and just plain boring sometimes.
Becka was an okay character, I like that she was different and very open, but I didn't exactly see eye-to-eye with her. There was just something "expected" about her character. Like she was just this typical teen girl who just happens to be this guy's love interest.
Overall, even though Before You Go wasn't for me, it's a quick read which I'm sure will appeal to others. The writing is beautiful, and the characters (if not the story) will surely suck you into this sad, yet hopeful contemporary.
Before You Go is a story written in two parts: Before and After. From the moment I saw the words "Before" I KNEW something big was going to happen in the middle of the story, just like John Green's Looking for Alaska. And of course, I was right.
I found this story a little too slow for my liking. If it wasn't for my intense curiosity of what could cause this book to have a before and after, I wouldn't have finished it. It really does take some time to actually mingle with the flow of the words. Even the plot� there really wasn't one for a while, and it only really picked up just a tiny bit before the after part of the story. The writing in this story's really good, and it even sounds like a great contemporary, but I think it just wasn't for me.
This story's written in third-person, so it made it difficult to connect with the characters. Don't get me wrong, the characters are brilliantly built up and properly developed, but it was just hard to connect with the main character Jude.
Jude was an okay character. I love that this story is from a male's "perspective" which you don't get too much in YA. I just found him a little too... uninteresting. I liked his friends Roberto and Corey though. They were fun and you could tell they were good people. Jude was moody, awkward and just plain boring sometimes.
Becka was an okay character, I like that she was different and very open, but I didn't exactly see eye-to-eye with her. There was just something "expected" about her character. Like she was just this typical teen girl who just happens to be this guy's love interest.
Overall, even though Before You Go wasn't for me, it's a quick read which I'm sure will appeal to others. The writing is beautiful, and the characters (if not the story) will surely suck you into this sad, yet hopeful contemporary.
April 15, 2018
The main character has a profound sense of humanity. The love and the guilt that he felt for his sister was a common thread throughout this character's life.
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August 2, 2013It's been seven years since Jude's little sister Lily drowned in the backyard pool. His mother spends most of her time behind closed curtains self-medicating to get through her days. His father goes to work and comes home and then jogs to try to outrun his memories. Jude has the biggest guilt to deal with since he believes that he is to blame for his sister's death.
Junior year is almost over and Jude thinks maybe a summer job would help keep him busy. Living near the boardwalk means there should be a job available. He ends up working a concession stand at West End Two. When he's not serving customers or cleaning gum from underneath the tables and chairs, he is watching Becca one of the cashiers. He tries to arrange his break times so he will bumped into her and is pleasantly surprised when she is willing to chat.
Once school is out, Jude's days are filled with working, running, and partying with his friends. It seems like a fairly carefree summer before he has to buckle down for his senior year, but his developing relationship with Becca has him opening up about his sister like he never has before. Little does he know another tragedy is about to change his life even more.
BEFORE YOU GO is author James Preller's first young adult novel. Jude will capture the hearts of readers as they learn about the family tragedy and observe as Jude deals with his memories and comes to terms with his guilt.
Junior year is almost over and Jude thinks maybe a summer job would help keep him busy. Living near the boardwalk means there should be a job available. He ends up working a concession stand at West End Two. When he's not serving customers or cleaning gum from underneath the tables and chairs, he is watching Becca one of the cashiers. He tries to arrange his break times so he will bumped into her and is pleasantly surprised when she is willing to chat.
Once school is out, Jude's days are filled with working, running, and partying with his friends. It seems like a fairly carefree summer before he has to buckle down for his senior year, but his developing relationship with Becca has him opening up about his sister like he never has before. Little does he know another tragedy is about to change his life even more.
BEFORE YOU GO is author James Preller's first young adult novel. Jude will capture the hearts of readers as they learn about the family tragedy and observe as Jude deals with his memories and comes to terms with his guilt.
February 22, 2012
This book begins and ends with powerful prose. It strikes the reader from the first few lines that it will be a beautiful one to read. And, although it doesn’t always deliver plot-wise in my opinion, the beauty of it does not disappoint.
Jude, the protagonist, is quite interesting. There is a darkness, a brooding quality, that adds a bit of mystery to what could have been just another dull teen character. He is full of contradictions. Once in a while, this can become a bit frustrating to the reader, who would like nothing more than to kick him into some kind of action, but for the most part, we are happy to follow him along on his struggles.
I guess the main issue I had with the book was that it had a hollow feeling to it. Now, this might have been done on purpose, but still, it didn’t draw me in as I’d hoped it would. The writing was truly gorgeous, expressive, lyrical, but the plot could have used more layers, I thought. More nuances.
I still do recommend it. The writing alone is worth the book, but for some of you this might seem like a lackluster story.
Jude, the protagonist, is quite interesting. There is a darkness, a brooding quality, that adds a bit of mystery to what could have been just another dull teen character. He is full of contradictions. Once in a while, this can become a bit frustrating to the reader, who would like nothing more than to kick him into some kind of action, but for the most part, we are happy to follow him along on his struggles.
I guess the main issue I had with the book was that it had a hollow feeling to it. Now, this might have been done on purpose, but still, it didn’t draw me in as I’d hoped it would. The writing was truly gorgeous, expressive, lyrical, but the plot could have used more layers, I thought. More nuances.
I still do recommend it. The writing alone is worth the book, but for some of you this might seem like a lackluster story.
June 4, 2024
This book was about grief and learning to heal and forgive. I think the author beautifully articulated the world that Jude was forced to live through and his thoughts and feelings that day to day he had to live with. I loved his character and the relationships he had with everyone especially Corey.
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June 2, 2020This was awful. I was taking a break from my pandemics which was a bad choice. I have nothing more to say and have already wasted too many keystrokes on it.
September 15, 2012
Generally I don't read realistic YA fiction written by male authors (I'm not sexist) it just seems as though it is a predominately female written genre.
This book was told in two parts. There was the Before and then there was the After Part and the novel itself was written in the third person which isn't my favourite way to read a book because I don't feel the usual connection to the characters.
We have our main protagonist Jude. He's you're average teenager. Awkward in the eyes of his crush but acting like the man whilst he's around his little crew of friends. I wasn't overly fond of Jude because I just found him to be a little over dramatic especially when it came to the girl he liked.
Anyway, the novel follows Jude as he experiences a lot of firsts. He gets his first summer job, gets his first girl friend, has his first kiss and loses yet another person he cares about. This is the second tragic death that Jude has experienced. The first was the death of his little sister seven years before. I found Jude to be quite the melancholy character. I do not know if it was the author's intention to make him this way or if that is just how I see him. All I know is that to me he could be right out pompous and depressing so that made the reading of the novel less enjoyable. In fact I had a hard time liking any of the characters.
However, despite my dislike or plain old "meh" attitude about Jude and his not so merry cast of characters I did find that the actual plot of the novel was well thought out. There was something about it that made me want to keep reading it. Perhaps it's because it wasn't until near the end of the novel that the "After" section started thus leaving the reader with 130+ pages of wondering when the "Big Thing" would happen and start having the book start come together.
Once the "After" section happened I really thought the book picked up the pace and I believe it was that section that made the book for me. If you read it you might think that that's a little weird that it takes the death of one of the characters to make the book seem worth it to me. I was left wanting more from the characters and the writing emotionally but this novel fell short of my expectations. It was as though that part of the book got a whole new lease on life though it was still too little too late for me to give this YA novel more than a moderate rating.
The book was entertaining and it kept me interested on the afternoon that I read it long enough to finish it but it was overall quite forgettable. I can see the appeal for a book like this though and I think that people who enjoy YA novels especially teens will enjoy this book. This was just a case of it not being the novel for me. I will however be giving the authors other books a try to see if they are more to my liking.
* I received a free copy of this book from the published via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and I was not compensated in any way.
This book was told in two parts. There was the Before and then there was the After Part and the novel itself was written in the third person which isn't my favourite way to read a book because I don't feel the usual connection to the characters.
We have our main protagonist Jude. He's you're average teenager. Awkward in the eyes of his crush but acting like the man whilst he's around his little crew of friends. I wasn't overly fond of Jude because I just found him to be a little over dramatic especially when it came to the girl he liked.
Anyway, the novel follows Jude as he experiences a lot of firsts. He gets his first summer job, gets his first girl friend, has his first kiss and loses yet another person he cares about. This is the second tragic death that Jude has experienced. The first was the death of his little sister seven years before. I found Jude to be quite the melancholy character. I do not know if it was the author's intention to make him this way or if that is just how I see him. All I know is that to me he could be right out pompous and depressing so that made the reading of the novel less enjoyable. In fact I had a hard time liking any of the characters.
However, despite my dislike or plain old "meh" attitude about Jude and his not so merry cast of characters I did find that the actual plot of the novel was well thought out. There was something about it that made me want to keep reading it. Perhaps it's because it wasn't until near the end of the novel that the "After" section started thus leaving the reader with 130+ pages of wondering when the "Big Thing" would happen and start having the book start come together.
Once the "After" section happened I really thought the book picked up the pace and I believe it was that section that made the book for me. If you read it you might think that that's a little weird that it takes the death of one of the characters to make the book seem worth it to me. I was left wanting more from the characters and the writing emotionally but this novel fell short of my expectations. It was as though that part of the book got a whole new lease on life though it was still too little too late for me to give this YA novel more than a moderate rating.
The book was entertaining and it kept me interested on the afternoon that I read it long enough to finish it but it was overall quite forgettable. I can see the appeal for a book like this though and I think that people who enjoy YA novels especially teens will enjoy this book. This was just a case of it not being the novel for me. I will however be giving the authors other books a try to see if they are more to my liking.
* I received a free copy of this book from the published via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and I was not compensated in any way.
June 10, 2013
After letting your sister drown in the family pool, your life can only go up, right? Not quite. Jude is a typical rising senior in high school with a craptastic summer job & a quirky, yet endearing best friend (Corey). Also, he's quite smitten with a certain cashierette (Becka) at his job. While his family never properly dealt with the death of his sister (his mother withdrew into the house & his father focuses on anything but human emotion), Jude has found solace in Corey. From a conservative, religious home, Corey is spunky, vivacious & unique. As total geeks the boys discuss everything from movies & music, to the video games they're kicking butt in.
Naturally Jude wants to bring together the two most important people in his life. Jude is certain that all of them hanging out together is what is necessary for his budding relationship with Becka to take the next step. But Jude just can't seem to catch a real break. A freak accident causes him to lose something so precious, there's no telling if he'll be able to get it back.
Before You Go is a subtle book. A slow building story that follows the rather cumbersome life of teenage nobody Jude. While years have passed since the drowning of his younger sister, the reader still gets the sense that the family has never moved on from the tragedy, partially because it seems the community doesn't want them to forget. Yet Jude is determined to continue his life to the best of his ability.
Enter best friend & wild card Corey as well as Jude's summer job. The reader gets the sense that Jude just wants to be a normal teenager, but continues to find himself in awkward situations where he's not entirely sure what is expected of him. Naturally there is also a girl, causing even more anxiety & confusion for this poor guy. The best part about all this gawkiness are the interactions between characters. They are so real & on point that I really felt like I knew what the characters were thinking & feeling. The writing, while a little obvious that the author is new to writing specifically for teens, still lends itself to being friendly & engaging.
What I didn't expect at all was the twist. We're not talking M. Night Shyamalan twist, but a big enough wrench that I wasn't exactly sure where the book could go from that point on. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself more impatient to continue reading after the twist. The book became so much more than I expected when I first picked it up.
While not a heavy read, this one merits some thoughtful consideration. Ladies & gents give it up for James Preller! I'd be happy to read his next piece.
Naturally Jude wants to bring together the two most important people in his life. Jude is certain that all of them hanging out together is what is necessary for his budding relationship with Becka to take the next step. But Jude just can't seem to catch a real break. A freak accident causes him to lose something so precious, there's no telling if he'll be able to get it back.
Before You Go is a subtle book. A slow building story that follows the rather cumbersome life of teenage nobody Jude. While years have passed since the drowning of his younger sister, the reader still gets the sense that the family has never moved on from the tragedy, partially because it seems the community doesn't want them to forget. Yet Jude is determined to continue his life to the best of his ability.
Enter best friend & wild card Corey as well as Jude's summer job. The reader gets the sense that Jude just wants to be a normal teenager, but continues to find himself in awkward situations where he's not entirely sure what is expected of him. Naturally there is also a girl, causing even more anxiety & confusion for this poor guy. The best part about all this gawkiness are the interactions between characters. They are so real & on point that I really felt like I knew what the characters were thinking & feeling. The writing, while a little obvious that the author is new to writing specifically for teens, still lends itself to being friendly & engaging.
What I didn't expect at all was the twist. We're not talking M. Night Shyamalan twist, but a big enough wrench that I wasn't exactly sure where the book could go from that point on. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself more impatient to continue reading after the twist. The book became so much more than I expected when I first picked it up.
While not a heavy read, this one merits some thoughtful consideration. Ladies & gents give it up for James Preller! I'd be happy to read his next piece.
July 4, 2012
Posted to
The first scene of Before You Go by James Preller packs a punch. It’s rich in imagery and sensory detail and there’s an urgency to the scene. Add that to how excited I was for the novel, and I was fully sucked in. I expected that would be the case for then entirely novel, but then I realized it was a flash-forward-style prologue. These work in some (RARE) cases, but in many, as was the case in Before You Go, it irritated me as a reader. I felt like I’d been promised high stakes from the get-go and they weren’t nearly delivered.
Unfortunately, things didn’t get much better. I kept waiting for characters to feel like real people instead of caricatures of actual teenagers. The dialogue feels forced, awkward, and inauthentic, peppered with obscure book and movie references that would have been effective once or twice, but not as much as they were used.
The plot could have done with some tightening; it felt like there was a lot of information or scenes that didn’t serve a purpose. I can think of at least two characters who seemed simply like devices to draw out the story as they didn’t further the plot at all.
The main character Jude still feels grief and guilt over the death of his sister Lily and feels disconnected from his parents. He starts a new job and is maybe even figuring out his first love. Plus, as noted in the plot synopsis, something occurs that throws Jude’s life into upheaval once again.
Obviously, the events involved in Before You Go all involved some extremely heightened emotions and I’d anticipated feeling some major pathos for Jude. But, there was nothing. Not a twinge.
I think a lot of that was down to the fact that Before You Go is written in a third person omniscient point of view, which distanced me from all involved. I was never really close enough to Jude to feel for him.
Overall rating: 2/5. I simply didn’t connect with Before You Go. Still love the premise and the way that the prologue is written, though.
The first scene of Before You Go by James Preller packs a punch. It’s rich in imagery and sensory detail and there’s an urgency to the scene. Add that to how excited I was for the novel, and I was fully sucked in. I expected that would be the case for then entirely novel, but then I realized it was a flash-forward-style prologue. These work in some (RARE) cases, but in many, as was the case in Before You Go, it irritated me as a reader. I felt like I’d been promised high stakes from the get-go and they weren’t nearly delivered.
Unfortunately, things didn’t get much better. I kept waiting for characters to feel like real people instead of caricatures of actual teenagers. The dialogue feels forced, awkward, and inauthentic, peppered with obscure book and movie references that would have been effective once or twice, but not as much as they were used.
The plot could have done with some tightening; it felt like there was a lot of information or scenes that didn’t serve a purpose. I can think of at least two characters who seemed simply like devices to draw out the story as they didn’t further the plot at all.
The main character Jude still feels grief and guilt over the death of his sister Lily and feels disconnected from his parents. He starts a new job and is maybe even figuring out his first love. Plus, as noted in the plot synopsis, something occurs that throws Jude’s life into upheaval once again.
Obviously, the events involved in Before You Go all involved some extremely heightened emotions and I’d anticipated feeling some major pathos for Jude. But, there was nothing. Not a twinge.
I think a lot of that was down to the fact that Before You Go is written in a third person omniscient point of view, which distanced me from all involved. I was never really close enough to Jude to feel for him.
Overall rating: 2/5. I simply didn’t connect with Before You Go. Still love the premise and the way that the prologue is written, though.
March 19, 2012
It’s got a really good intro- very atmospheric, a little like Shatter Me with the visuals without trying too hard; the rest of it though� not so much.
There’s a little on love a lot on life and death and even some on faith, Jude just didn’t make that much of a compelling narrator. So far, his life’s been sad. Tragedy marks his everyday…and he feels this disconnect. As a consequence, I never felt a connection to him, or that special something that would have me with a lump in my throat for what he was going through.
Sometimes he sounded so old, cynical, a little judgmental. Other times, he’d sound so young. As in, someone who just didn’t know who he was, what he wanted and what he believed in. Lost, I suppose. Me reading had me picturing a guy just cruising along, not making waves, dissatisfied with his current situation but not motivated enough to do anything about it.
The only truly remarkable thing in this one was his relationship with Corey. He is the only one Jude considered worth it, along with Becka of course. Everyone else around he made sound ridiculously superficial, Lee and Vinnie, especially. I did enjoy the idea of them grouping together for no other reason save not belonging with anyone else. They made an interesting picture: Jude with his cruising along; Lee with the bitching and moaning; Vinnie the sort of ladies man; and again, Corey the in only one who got him. It’s the last who knew him best, knew when to tread light.
THANKS NETGALLEY!
2.5/5
There’s a little on love a lot on life and death and even some on faith, Jude just didn’t make that much of a compelling narrator. So far, his life’s been sad. Tragedy marks his everyday…and he feels this disconnect. As a consequence, I never felt a connection to him, or that special something that would have me with a lump in my throat for what he was going through.
Sometimes he sounded so old, cynical, a little judgmental. Other times, he’d sound so young. As in, someone who just didn’t know who he was, what he wanted and what he believed in. Lost, I suppose. Me reading had me picturing a guy just cruising along, not making waves, dissatisfied with his current situation but not motivated enough to do anything about it.
The only truly remarkable thing in this one was his relationship with Corey. He is the only one Jude considered worth it, along with Becka of course. Everyone else around he made sound ridiculously superficial, Lee and Vinnie, especially. I did enjoy the idea of them grouping together for no other reason save not belonging with anyone else. They made an interesting picture: Jude with his cruising along; Lee with the bitching and moaning; Vinnie the sort of ladies man; and again, Corey the in only one who got him. It’s the last who knew him best, knew when to tread light.
THANKS NETGALLEY!
2.5/5
December 20, 2016
“If God is for us, who is against us?� God was not cruel, but loving. God was not indifferent, but compassionate, our savior and our strength.�
“If you leave your heart open, God will find you.�
“Does it make you feel insignificant?� he asked.
“Not at all,� Becka said, her voice soft, mellow. “I feel like I’m blessed, part of some unknowable mystery.�
“The days� events tumbled like laundry in a drying machine, a jumble of impressions and memory, mingled with bleached-out reality like faded photographs: the flickering glare of the television screen, the scrape of cutlery across awkward dinners, clumsiness of spilt drinks and hurried apology, dark hallways and closed doors, clouds and sleet and whispered urgencies, the guttering flames of church-lit candles.�
“We’re tiny parts of this immense universe,� Becka murmured. “Like flowers in a great garden.�
Excerpt From: Preller, James. “Before You Go.� Feiwel and Friends. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.
“If you leave your heart open, God will find you.�
“Does it make you feel insignificant?� he asked.
“Not at all,� Becka said, her voice soft, mellow. “I feel like I’m blessed, part of some unknowable mystery.�
“The days� events tumbled like laundry in a drying machine, a jumble of impressions and memory, mingled with bleached-out reality like faded photographs: the flickering glare of the television screen, the scrape of cutlery across awkward dinners, clumsiness of spilt drinks and hurried apology, dark hallways and closed doors, clouds and sleet and whispered urgencies, the guttering flames of church-lit candles.�
“We’re tiny parts of this immense universe,� Becka murmured. “Like flowers in a great garden.�
Excerpt From: Preller, James. “Before You Go.� Feiwel and Friends. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.
September 16, 2012
A sad, but worthwhile read about a boy who's already lost a younger sister & faces greater loss to come. I recommend it for high school because of the partying with alcohol that happens several times in the book - ironically not the cause of any of the suffering in this tale. As an adult reader, part of me wanted to see consequences for the casual drinking. On the other hand, I think the story had a stronger impact with it's "stuff happens" cause of trauma. Because in real life, sometimes stuff does happen & we are just left to deal with the consequences. A tale as hopeful & tragic as life itself.
March 20, 2015
First the cover - it is lovely, though it doesn't really fit if I think about it, but I do like it anyways.
Then the story - it is not bad actually but it din't grab my attention either.
In terms of length it is quite a short book, I finished it in no time, but I wasn't invested during that time. A I see it, much happens but feels unimportant, there's a lot of dialog but not enough meaning behind it. I actually didn't get attached to the characters, maybe because the book is really short. I don't know.
It was OK I guess, I just expected something more.
2.5 Full review might come.
Then the story - it is not bad actually but it din't grab my attention either.
In terms of length it is quite a short book, I finished it in no time, but I wasn't invested during that time. A I see it, much happens but feels unimportant, there's a lot of dialog but not enough meaning behind it. I actually didn't get attached to the characters, maybe because the book is really short. I don't know.
It was OK I guess, I just expected something more.
2.5 Full review might come.
October 12, 2015
So typical. Boy has tragedy befall his family for which he blames himself. Another tragedy occurs. There's a girl. There are feelings, feelings get hurt. It didn't feel like the characters were their ages and the situation, while important to discuss including the dangers of teen driving, was not riveting, unique, or well-written enough for me to read it all the way through.
May 31, 2015
I am not entirely sure how I feel about this book. It is a rollercoaster. a bit slow in the beginning, some exciting hills, sad loops, interesting spirals then done. Back at the station. I enjoyed the story and the feels but felt the story lacked sustenance.
March 29, 2013
I mostly didn't finish because I was just underwhelmed and didn't have time. You can't read everything, so they tell me.
January 2, 2018
This book follows Jude and his friends and family before and after a car crash that affects all of their lives. They all seem to be getting their lives together, living pretty happily until the accident completely changes their world. Will they be able to get their lives back on track after losing someone close to them?
This book was so boring. We learned about the car crash on the first couple of pages, were then dragged through a long “Before the Crash� section where seemingly nothing happens except for background knowledge on our characters, and then finished with a very quick “After the Accident� section. I’m just not exactly sure what I was supposed to get out of this novel as I originally thought it would be a great set-up to discuss drunk driving, but the story did not do so.
Aside from the fact that this story was boring, there was zero character development, a horribly written insta love, and a cast of characters that I was not attached to. Jude was an extremely boring main character and the big accident that happened to his family years ago seemed to be in the story for the sole purpose of having something to talk about in the Before part of this novel. It was kind of strange that I felt such a disconnect from the characters in this novel since really the only thing that happens in the Before part is a background section that is supposed to help in getting to know them and their lives for over one hundred pages. If I were being honest, I think that this novel was not enjoyable for me largely because of the third person narrative. I wanted to feel and understand Jude’s feelings and anger throughout the story about all of the things that were going on in his life; the third person narrative and looking at him from the outside was not the way to do it. In my personal opinion, this book could have been a bigger success for me as a reader if it was told from Jude’s point of view in the first person so that I could grieve with him on multiple accounts. Another aspect of this story that I really did not like was the insta love. All I need to put here as my explanation is this quote from about five pages after we meet the girl Jude likes and at the end of his first conversation with her: “After all, he was already in love with her.� Like he literally had one conversation with her and had just figured out her name like that day. Just no. I also feel like I could have gotten more from this story hearing from the perspective of the driver in the accident because we got very little information about what they did or how they were feeling after the car crash. Another small side note, religion was randomly talked about throughout the story and it felt like if the author wanted to make it a theme it should have had a bigger part in the story overall instead of awkwardly being introduced towards the end.
There were two things that I liked in this novel. I liked Corey and Jude’s friendship and I wish that the author had built more on that friendship from the beginning. I also liked the suspense of the story; every time they got in a car I was wondering if that was going to be the time the accident took place.
Overall, this story was really boring for me and it felt like nothing really happened outside of the accident. I wish the characters had been more developed as I did really like the before/after concept of the novel and I wish that I had been able to connect to the grief and some message the story was trying to put across.
This book was so boring. We learned about the car crash on the first couple of pages, were then dragged through a long “Before the Crash� section where seemingly nothing happens except for background knowledge on our characters, and then finished with a very quick “After the Accident� section. I’m just not exactly sure what I was supposed to get out of this novel as I originally thought it would be a great set-up to discuss drunk driving, but the story did not do so.
Aside from the fact that this story was boring, there was zero character development, a horribly written insta love, and a cast of characters that I was not attached to. Jude was an extremely boring main character and the big accident that happened to his family years ago seemed to be in the story for the sole purpose of having something to talk about in the Before part of this novel. It was kind of strange that I felt such a disconnect from the characters in this novel since really the only thing that happens in the Before part is a background section that is supposed to help in getting to know them and their lives for over one hundred pages. If I were being honest, I think that this novel was not enjoyable for me largely because of the third person narrative. I wanted to feel and understand Jude’s feelings and anger throughout the story about all of the things that were going on in his life; the third person narrative and looking at him from the outside was not the way to do it. In my personal opinion, this book could have been a bigger success for me as a reader if it was told from Jude’s point of view in the first person so that I could grieve with him on multiple accounts. Another aspect of this story that I really did not like was the insta love. All I need to put here as my explanation is this quote from about five pages after we meet the girl Jude likes and at the end of his first conversation with her: “After all, he was already in love with her.� Like he literally had one conversation with her and had just figured out her name like that day. Just no. I also feel like I could have gotten more from this story hearing from the perspective of the driver in the accident because we got very little information about what they did or how they were feeling after the car crash. Another small side note, religion was randomly talked about throughout the story and it felt like if the author wanted to make it a theme it should have had a bigger part in the story overall instead of awkwardly being introduced towards the end.
There were two things that I liked in this novel. I liked Corey and Jude’s friendship and I wish that the author had built more on that friendship from the beginning. I also liked the suspense of the story; every time they got in a car I was wondering if that was going to be the time the accident took place.
Overall, this story was really boring for me and it felt like nothing really happened outside of the accident. I wish the characters had been more developed as I did really like the before/after concept of the novel and I wish that I had been able to connect to the grief and some message the story was trying to put across.
March 20, 2021
Maybe I’m being influenced because I had just read an article in the local paper about being SICK of shows starting with an action scene that lasts three minutes then cutting to a screen that says “Four Days Earlier.� Flashbacks are getting old as narration vehicles. And this book started that way: a description of a car accident then flashback to the start of Jude’s summer working at the boardwalk in New York. The flashback shows Jude trying to move on with his life even as he is still having difficulty dealing with his little sister’s drowning six years earlier. The accident is briefly reprised on a single page 141 and then the remaining 58 pages are about Jude trying to move on from his best friend’s death. He never really recovers from either death � and there isn’t really any resolution or concrete clues on how someone also going through such an experience could deal with it themselves.
I was hoping this would be a reluctant-reader read but, given the topics, I cannot see recommending it to someone who is not eager to read! Even recommending it to a voracious reader would be difficult. The book is incredibly dark, choppy in its writing style, and lacks any sense of resolution or hope. I’m not sure what the author’s point was. Kirkus called the book “solid�??? Whatever � not sure that it is solid in anything. Booklist referred to its “moving drama of grief and guilt� and, again, I’m not sure that it movED much less was moving.
I was hoping this would be a reluctant-reader read but, given the topics, I cannot see recommending it to someone who is not eager to read! Even recommending it to a voracious reader would be difficult. The book is incredibly dark, choppy in its writing style, and lacks any sense of resolution or hope. I’m not sure what the author’s point was. Kirkus called the book “solid�??? Whatever � not sure that it is solid in anything. Booklist referred to its “moving drama of grief and guilt� and, again, I’m not sure that it movED much less was moving.
October 28, 2019
A teen-adult grows out of his haunting past and learns to love but later a tragic event happens. “How are you Jude, everything okay?”Jude has trouble with his emotional health and really questions himself but that seems to change over the course of time. Jude gets his first job, he ends up falling in love now he is relieved from his grieving of his little sister’s death. He learns to forgive himself now thriving and feeling alive again. Even though his parents haven't learned to let go he goes on with his summer alongside his friends and lover. Jude is learning how to finally let go and learning how to love and actually live. He meets someone and no longer feels trapped, he learns to palliate great pain from his little sisters passing.Jude inspires me to find a way to thrive in moments you would think you wouldn't survive emotionally. This book focuses on growth,love,redemption, and forgiveness someone who likes to know “what's next� with the characters this book would fit perfectly.
September 12, 2021
This book was pretty good. The first thing you learn is that there’s a car crash and someone dies. Then the first half of the book is set before the crash. These chapters were decent I liked the characters and judes relationship with Becka. The main character Jude was well written you love him very quickly and he has a lot of depth despite the book only being 200 pages. However, some of the fast food bits went a bit slow and I got slightly bored and there was quite a few pop culture references I didn’t understand as well as a bit of men writing women type content. The actual car crash shocked me, I spent the whole first half thinking it was going to be becka who dies in the crash not judes best friend Corey so when I found out it was Corey I was shook. The second half of the book had me sobbing, you feel what Jude is going through and how he makes stupid decisions and pushes everyone away in his grief and how he felt. Like the scene of him with coreys mam in the shop made me cry so hard. It had a very open ending but it was still good. Overall this book was pretty good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2023
his is the third book I’ve read this week that had a drowning in it. This is another story where the sibling feels the drowning is his fault and where the parents deal with grief in different ways. Jude’s dad jogs to try to forget and his mom self-medicates. At the end of the school year Jude gets a job and meets Becca. She is easy to talk to and so he shares his grief with her. Then he is hit with another tragedy when he loses a close friend in a car accident. Once again this is a story about dealing with grief. So many times people shut themselves up to grief. This story is divided into two parts: Before and After. I felt like the second half was better, stronger than the first half. Would I recommend this to my students? You bet. Can they get it from my shelves? No. This is another one that had to be pulled due to district guidelines. I still recommend it.
June 23, 2017
This book upset me so much, because I was immediately gripped in the prologue, and then the first chapter started. In my opinion, this is the most boring book I have ever read. The only reason I finished it, is because I can not leave a book unfinished.
Jude is a depressed teenager, with parents who aren't so present. A tragedy had occurred in his family several years earlier, and none of the, really ever got over it. It has the capacity to be a wonderful novel, except for the complete lack of interest it contains. I honestly was saying through the entire book, that I was completely bored. Why am I finishing this? I don't know. I did not enjoy this book at all, which really sucks, because I thought I was really going to enjoy it.
I do not recommend this book to anybody.
Jude is a depressed teenager, with parents who aren't so present. A tragedy had occurred in his family several years earlier, and none of the, really ever got over it. It has the capacity to be a wonderful novel, except for the complete lack of interest it contains. I honestly was saying through the entire book, that I was completely bored. Why am I finishing this? I don't know. I did not enjoy this book at all, which really sucks, because I thought I was really going to enjoy it.
I do not recommend this book to anybody.
July 18, 2021
I stopped reading the book on page 112 because the characters were so incredibly unsympathetic.
Nobody was special, just boring and irritating. I wanted something gripping.
Jude's way of thinking annoyed me and that he was immediately "in love" with Becka, although the two hardly knew each other, and he knew almost nothing about her.
Also, how the boys talked about women was just disgusting.
The cover really appealed to me and also the first few chapters, but after that everything was just weird, and the characters had no real goal. Unfortunately only one �.
I expected more.
(Maybe the story will get better, but judging by the reviews, I don't think so.)
Nobody was special, just boring and irritating. I wanted something gripping.
Jude's way of thinking annoyed me and that he was immediately "in love" with Becka, although the two hardly knew each other, and he knew almost nothing about her.
Also, how the boys talked about women was just disgusting.
The cover really appealed to me and also the first few chapters, but after that everything was just weird, and the characters had no real goal. Unfortunately only one �.
I expected more.
(Maybe the story will get better, but judging by the reviews, I don't think so.)
February 12, 2024
The summer before his senior year, Jude (yes, he's named after the Beatles song) gets his first job, falls in love for the first time, and starts to break away from his parents. Jude's house is kept dark, and no one talks much―it's been that way since his little sister drowned in a swimming pool seven years ago when Jude was supposed to be watching her. Now, Jude is finally, finally starting to live. Really live. And then, life spins out of control. Again. Acclaimed author James Preller explores life, death, love, faith, and resilience in his first young adult novel that will grip readers from the book's dramatic first few pages to its emotional end.
June 13, 2023
I found this book to be highly depressing. His mother medicates and locks herself away as a means to deal with her daughters death but then finds Jude’s behavior unacceptable after the death of his best friend. Following which her behavior does a 360. Other things I struggled with included the Objectification of women, knowingly and purposefully doing hurtful things because your dealing with the death of your best friend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2024
This book was very good and interesting and kept me reading. I don’t really read alot but I finished this book in like 4 days. Its about a teenager named Jude who starts a new job and makes new friends and introduces them to the old ones. I didn't expect the climax of the story but it was very good and the ending was also very good. This book talks about friendships, relationships, grief, and love. I would recommend reading this.
June 4, 2024
I came across this book from a goodreads friend and I loved it mainly for the beautiful writing that makes me think of classics and the deep dark content that makes you feel. Jude and Corey as geeky friends was cute and there's a light in all the dark. It's not a new book but if you can handle sad topics like grief and you're looking for a book with a young male main character, then this is a good book to give a try.
I'll give James Preller books a read based on this one I loved.
I'll give James Preller books a read based on this one I loved.
July 29, 2024
It feels wrong to dunk on a book that was written to promote the importance of safe driving (per the author’s note), but minus some really lyrical sentences, this book fell flat. Maybe it was the characters or the writing style, but something just didn’t work well. I will say that the last chapter was beautiful and reflective in a way the rest of the book wasn’t, but that’s about its most redeeming quality.
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