Review: Gone Too Soon by Dani Atkins

Gone Too Soon

by Dani Atkins

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 393

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  I’d have done everything differently if I had known she'd be gone so soon… 

When Lisa married Alex, she gave his life meaning. She was a professional astronomer: a stargazer. And when she gazed at Alex, she saw that behind his tough exterior was a man she could love.

Alex, Lisa and their young son Connor made a happy little universe. But then Lisa dies in a train crash, and their perfect world is destroyed. Alex is shattered by loss, and overwhelmed by the difficulties of being a single father to a six-year-old boy. How can he and Connor carry on without Lisa lighting up their lives?

Then Alex meets four strangers. Two men and two women, who never met Lisa, but whose lives changed profoundly because of her. As Alex hears their stories, he begins to realise the world may not be as cruel and senseless as it seems. If you can find the strength to start over, there are new beginnings and silver linings in even our most heartbreaking moments…

Kritters Thoughts:  Alex's life takes a major turn when his wife suddenly dies in a large train accident, but when he discovers that she made a decision about her body after she died, he realizes that this could change his life.  Told through Alex and one of the people who's life is impacted by Lisa's death, Molly, this story takes twists and turns as Alex deals with grief and tries to figure out a new path in life.

There is no spoiling the fact that Alex's wife Lisa dies in the first or second chapter and that is the early catalyst that sets this story in motion.  For me, it was interesting reading those early chapters and seeing the affects of a large scale accident on a family member trying to get answers.  You see those events take place and you see the catastrophe on tv and I often think of the first responders and the investigation, but have never thought about the family members who want answers and how difficult that can be, even with the technology that we currently have.

The other thing that intrigued me was the potential hurdles if/when a donor patient interacts with a donor family.  The way the author handled the interactions from my point of view felt honest full of a real mix of emotions.  From covering a scar to the awkward questions about the deceased, I would love to know the accuracy of this piece of fiction, but also hope that it is pretty close to real life!

This was a great book that tackles a topic - organ donation - that I don't know that I have ever read about.  I love reading books about human topics that I don't have experience with and feel could be taboo and this one was well done.  

Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Ebook 2021 Challenge: 8 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Bookouture.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.