Before I Go - by Colleen Oakley (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise and Jane and Dan at the End of the World

"An impressive feat...an immensely entertaining, moving, and believable read" (Atlanta Journal-Constitution), this debut novel and People and US Weekly Pick revolves around a young woman with breast cancer who undertakes a mission to find a new wife for her husband before she passes away.

Twenty-seven-year-old Daisy already beat breast cancer four years ago. How can this be happening to her again?

On the eve of what was supposed to be a triumphant "Cancerversary" with her husband Jack to celebrate four years of being cancer-free, Daisy suffers a devastating blow: her doctor tells her that the cancer is back, but this time it's an aggressive stage four diagnosis. She may have as few as four months left to live. Death is a frightening prospect--but not because she's afraid for herself. She's terrified of what will happen to her brilliant but otherwise charmingly helpless husband when she's no longer there to take care of him. It's this fear that keeps her up at night, until she stumbles on the solution: she has to find him another wife.

With a singular determination, Daisy scouts local parks and coffee shops and online dating sites looking for Jack's perfect match. But the further she gets on her quest, the more she questions the sanity of her plan. As the thought of her husband with another woman becomes all too real, Daisy's forced to decide what's more important in the short amount of time she has left: her husband's happiness--or her own?

Review Quotes

"An impressive feat...an immensely entertaining, moving and believable read."-- "Atlanta Journal-Constitution"

"Author Oakley has set herself a tricky balancing act here, blending a comic sensibility with the depth and poignancy her subject requires. She pulls it off."-- "People"

"Brilliant in its simplicity, beautiful in its sentiment, heartbreaking in its honesty, Colleen Oakley's Before I Go takes on one of life's ultimate cruelties, death before one's time, and makes us believe."--Susan Crandall, author of WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD

"BEFORE I GO is a big-hearted tale, with a fresh take on a woman grappling with the inevitable. The characters are approachable, full of wit and humor and--above all else--touching sincerity."--Suzanne Ridell, author of THE OTHER TYPIST

"Colleen Oakley takes on the big three--life, death, and love--and delivers a jewel. Before I Go absolutely glows with humor, wit, and compassion. I adore Oakley's fresh voice and could hardly bear for the book to end."--Lynn Cullen, author of the national bestseller MRS. POE

"Colleen Oakley's debut deftly balances sorrow with laughs and compassion."-- "US Weekly"

"Emotional, insightful novel."-- "In Touch Magazine"

"Highly recommended for laugh-out-loud fans and the tearjerker set." --Library Journal-- "Library Journal"

"In Before I Go, Oakley address the oft-asked question: if you only had six months to live, what would you do? In her deft hands, what could easily turn maudlin becomes a funny and insightful journey with Daisy, and the love of her life, Jack. If you loved JoJo Moyes' Me Before You, this book is for you."--Catherine McKenzie, bestselling author of HIDDEN and FORGOTTEN

"Oakley expertly tugs at the heartstrings with well-rounded characters and a liberal dose of gallows humor."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"Oakley has produced an affecting work that, while avoiding maudlin sentimentality, makes the reader care about Daisy and her determination to live while dying."-- "Booklist"

"Oakley knocks it out of the park in her treatment of a very sensitive subject...pleasurable, thought-provoking reading."-- "Athens Banner-Herald"

"This emotional novel will make readers laugh through their tears."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"What would you do if you knew you were dying? This emotional debut and its gutsy heroine will have you laughing through tears and staying up late until you've reached the final, fully satisfying page."--Jennie Shortridge, author of LOVE WATER MEMORY

About the Author

Colleen Oakley is an Atlanta-based writer and author of several novels including Before I Go, Close Enough to Touch, The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise, and Jane and Dan at the End of the World. Her articles, essays, and interviews have been featured in The New York Times, Ladies' Home Journal, Marie Claire, Women's Health, Redbook, Parade, and Martha Stewart Weddings. Before she was a freelance writer, Colleen was editor in chief of Women's Health & Fitness and senior editor at Marie Claire.