Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate is a novel that keeps you wanting to read until the sun comes up. I finished the book in three days because of the "on the edge" mystery to uncover as well as the relationships that come about throughout the novel.
You go back and forth between Avery Stafford's and Rill Foss/May Crandall's voices. Avery Stafford being in the present tense, Rill Foss in the past tense and May Crandall's being in the present and past tense. Based in North Carolina and Tennessee you get a real sense of southern living, not to mention some of the words and language dialogue shows some true southern roots. (I will admit when reading books I tend to "get into character" so when reading this book I couldn't help but read some of the dialogue in a true southern accent).
Rill Foss along with her siblings (Lark, Gabion, and Camiella) and parents(Queenie and Briny) live and breath the river. They live in a river boat home "Arcadia" and although extremely poor, seem to be rich in life, family, and laughter. That is until a major tragic event takes place that separates the whole family. Which forces Rill and her siblings to survive and a snowball of tragic event continue to follow. Along the way they use guidance from several people including Zede and a boy (who eventually takes a liking to Rill) named Silas.
Even early on you are left wondering how exactly are Avery Stafford and Rill Foss, and how Rill Foss and May Crandall will tie together.
Switch to Avery Stafford who is a wealthy young lady engaged and trying to help her father who is a governor run his office while he is "sick". We discover that this wealth came from a long family line, and the matriarch Judy Stafford, plays a major role in figuring out the connection between Rill Foss, May Crandall and Avery Stafford.
Later on you are introduce to a Trent Turner... and the relationship between Trent and Avery is one to remember. The way they despise each other and then grow fond of each other is something that makes you feel like they were meant to have crossed paths from the very beginning.
I could continue and continue but I don't want to give too much details and information away. All I can say is this book is a MUST read. I passed over the title several times even when others recommended it, it wasn't until I read the first couple of pages that I knew from there I would be hooked!!
Comments