Before I Go: A Novel [Hardcover]

Riley Weston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2006

Sixteen-year-old Madison Henry has been skating as long as sheÕs been walking.ÊÊ Coached by her mother, Annie, she is on her way to the Olympics. When tragedy strikes unexpectedly, Madison is forced to look at her life differently. Before I GoÊspotlightsÊthe unbreakableÊbond a mother and daughterÊshare and the loveÊeveryone hopes to experience in their lifetime.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...Highly Recommend." -- Midwest Book Review

"Before I Go, Riley Weston's first novel, is sure to invite comparisons to Nicholas Sparks, in particular, A Walk to Remember." -- YA Books Central

"I would have adored this book at the age of 14, and I loved it at 30-something! It's simply and beautifully written and evokes a lot of emotion." -- Litchicks

"The focus on the mother/daughter relationship and bond between Madison and Jackson make this book a potential award winner." -- Teenreads.com

"This is a wonderful debut novel and is a heart-touching read in the same style as Lurene McDaniel's and Nicholas Sparks's novels." -- Teens Read Too

A poignant love story that is an amazing tale of life and love. I couldn't put it down. -- Kary McHoul, 20th Century Fox

Before I Go is a brilliant first novel from a writer who is sure to publish many other great books. -- TCM Reviews

Before I Go is a timeless story that teenagers will connect to as well as adults. -- Christine Peters, producer, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”

Every book club must read this amazing novel! We laughed, we cried...there wasn't a dry eye in the place by the time we got to the last page together. Every mother, daughter, sister and friend should read this book. It reaches in a grabs your heart and doesn't let go even long after you're finished with the last page! I LOVED IT!!! -- Tonya Terry, News Anchor & Creator of Book Bunch Book Club. WSFA - NBC Montgomery, AL

This was one of the most powerfully written books I've read in a long time. My top ten for 2006. -- Armchair Interviews

From the Publisher

Campfire Press is proud to bring you, Before I Go, the debut novel of Riley Weston. We believe this wonderful book will change the lives of those who read it. Riley Weston takes you on an unforgettable journey, into the life of sixteen year old Madison, who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Instead of waiting in hopitals to die, Madison spends her remaining days truly knowing her family, falling in love and living out her list of dreams. This extaordinary novel will touch the hearts of readers of all ages, especially mothers and daughters.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 408 pages
• Publisher: Campfire Press; First Edition edition (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977954323
• ISBN-13: 978-0977954322
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #671,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Riley Weston has worked as an actress on many television sitcoms and dramas, as well as the UPN television movie, What About Your Friends. As a writer, Riley started her writing career on the WB television drama Felicity. While writing on the first season, she guest starred as Story Zimmer in the critically acclaimed episode Drawing the Line. She quickly grabbed the attention of Touchstone Pictures and Television brass who signed Riley to an acting and writing development deal. Riley followed that up with writing the feature film Damaged for Artisan Entertainment. In late 2004, Riley wrote and co-starred in the highly rated ABC holiday television movie Christmas at Water's Edge. She recently sold the family comedy script Summer at Dad's to Revolution Studios. She is currently working on a romantic comedy and a movie for television. Riley has written a number of feature films, television sit-coms and dramas. She is currently writing the romantic comedy Joe Lyes for a top Hollywood female producer as well as penning the suspenseful The Black Widow for a cable network. She continues to work as an actor, voice over artist, television writer, screenwriter and author.

Riley's debut novel, Before I Go, is being published September 21, 2006. She is already at work on her next two books, the women/YA fiction Going Nowhere and the Christmas fantasy Believe.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Iced Dreams, September 19, 2006

By 

Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Before I Go: A Novel (Hardcover)

An excellent debut from Riley Weston, telling the story of a mother and daughter brought together by an Olympic ice-skating dream. A sports themed novel with a difference, the story revolves around the two extremely strong female characters, mother and daughter, coach and protégé, both strong willed and ambitious. Annie once had an Olympic dream of her own, but now lives to see her daughter Madison on the podium with the five rings.

Driving both herself and Madison relentlessly, Annie schedules multiple practice sessions every day at the local rink, beginning before daybreak and again into the night. Between her working hours as a nurse and Madison's school curriculum, the stress is telling on them both, but neither even considers giving up. Madison's success is all that matters, and even though this means that Annie's relationship with her husband is strained and the finances of the family are in bad shape, she will stop at nothing to realize their mutual dream.

Because of this schedule, Madison has no time for friends or extra-curricular activities, but she does have one person other than her parents whom she can count on, and that's Jack, her childhood friend and confidante. Things finally start coming together when Madison wins the qualifying tournament for the Olympics, but the celebration is cut short when unforeseen circumstances cause everything to unravel.

Family ties and friendships are sorely tested as Madison faces life without skating, and Annie and Jack bend over backwards to accommodate her every wish, only to be rebuffed and closed out as Madison retreats into herself. Only when Madison finally understands the extent of her mother's sacrifice and the true nature of Jack's feelings for her does she finally realize how lucky she really is.

This tear jerker covers life, love and loss, and especially the special bond that exists between mother and daughter.

Rated: 4.5 stars


Amanda Richards, September 19, 2006

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tears and Laughs until the final page... incredible, June 17, 2007

By 

CHay (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Before I Go: A Novel (Hardcover)

What starts out to be the story of a figure skating champion and her coach on their way to glory, becomes a beautiful and awakening tale of real friendship and love. Before I Go is the account of Maddison Henry. She is a girl with big dreams that are nearly within her reach, but then reality comes crashes in and pulls her out of the clouds. Priorities are rearranged... No more Olympics- how about living to see tomorrow?
Be prepared for many tears... it's a real heart-breaker. This love story is a definite must read for teens and adults alike.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Worst Book I Read in 2008, February 17, 2009

By 

Chiclet (MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Before I Go: A Novel (Hardcover)

I kind of hated it and as I got through the 400 freaking pages, I hated it even more. (Spoilers Below...)

First of all, this book is long. It takes like 150 pages to set up the characters before Madison gets cancer. Then she has cancer for about 30 pages before we know she's going to die. And then we spend 200 pages watching her die. That's long. It's too long to get invested in a character that isn't even likable and then she dies.

Secondly, it's sad. She dies. For a really long time. Around page 200 or so, I started thinking, "Why am I reading a book who's sole purpose is to make me sad?" I don't have a good answer for that.

Thirdly, the characters aren't even likable. Madison is a snarly little brat, her mother is classic stage mom, her father is f'ing useless and then her best friend/boyfriend may be the most desperate sports star ever written into fiction. So while she's dying, I went back and forth to thinking that I don't care to why the hell can't she hurry up already. I'm pretty sure that's the worst possible thing an author can do. I found the storyline to be a little unbelievable at times, but mostly the characters weren't lovable, they were irritating.

Don't get me wrong. When I was younger, I was Lurlene McDaniels' biggest fan - the more tragic the better. Cancer, Rheumatoid Arthritis, AIDS - I loved them all the same. A Walk to Remember is by far the best Nick Sparks book because they get married at the end and that's just about the sweetest thing ever. But this book is a sad impostor of those stories. (Oh and the successful actress bit on the book jacket? First there's the age scandal, but I would hardly call a few guest appearances on Felicity, 3rd Rock and Who's the Boss as successes. She hasn't even guested on Law & Order, and just about every would-be actress has. A super-star in her own mind. Fantastic...)