When We Let Go by Rochelle B. Weinstein

"You need to grab sunshine when you can. The real tragedy is living the rest of your life in the dark."

This is a story about family, forgiveness, and of hope and healing. When Avery Beckett is proposed to by Jude Masters, a widowed father and the man she loves, it should be a time of great joy. Instead, Avery is on edge. She’s wary of the idea of family, doubtful of happy endings, and too afraid to take the leap. It’s the kind of fear that comes from having secrets.

Before Avery commits to a new life, she must reconcile with the one she left behind. Avery returns to her childhood farm in the North Carolina mountains, where she’s surprised to be saddled with a companion: Jude’s teenage daughter, Elle, who’s grappling with the loss of her mother and the complicated emotions of first love.

On a path of mending wounds and breaking down walls, Avery and Elle form an unexpected alliance. It’s giving them the courage to move forward. And for Avery, everything she needs to confront the past.

"Being strong....It doesn't always mean being tough. It means letting those terrible feelings in, not pushing them away. It's letting yourself feel all of it."

My verdict: This is an emotional tale of loss and acceptance, When We Let Go is about the lessons that come from heartbreak and the healing it takes to embrace the joy of a second chance. It's a story about loving yourself enough to let go of your past. It’s also about mothers and daughters, love with a romantic partner, sisterly love, accepting loss, grief, mental illness, forgiveness and moving forward.

The major and minor characters are relatable, flawed and fleshed out just enough that the reader truly cares for them. Weinstein imparts a lot of wisdom through her conversations with her dad, her sister and surprisingly with Elle.

This was an enjoyable read. I give When We Let Go 4 stars.

"Mistakes don't make you a bad person...They make you complex and human. Own them. Or the only person you hurt is you."