I’ll Leave You With This by Kylie Ladd Book Review

The death of a beloved family member can be devastating, and it’s often hard for those left behind to accept the reality of the situation. In her latest book, “I’ll leave you with this” by Kylie Ladd, readers get an intimate look into the lives of four siblings who are struggling to come to terms with their brother’s death three years earlier.

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New Release!

Synopsis

Three years after the death of their beloved brother, all Daniel’s sisters have left of him are their memories. They know he’s helped others by donating his organs, but as miracles come true for the recipients, his own family are struggling with their devastating loss.

When Clare suggests that they find the people Daniel’s death saved, her sisters have their doubts. Will meeting them help to bring the sisters back together, or will old tensions and surfacing secrets splinter the fragile family ties forever?

About The Author

Kylie Ladd has written about parenting, the World Cup, meeting her husband on jury service, egg donation, the Edinburgh Festival, the prefrontal cortex and losing her religion, but all people ever ask her about are the dirty bits in her novels and if they’re made up. Her first novel, After the Fall, was published in Australia, the US and Turkey, while her second, Last Summer, was highly commended in the 2011 Federation of Australian Writers Christina Stead Award for fiction. Kylie’s third novel, Into My Arms, has been selected as one of Get Reading’s Fifty Books You Can’t Put Down for 2013. She holds a PhD in neuropsychology, and lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband and two children

My Review

When Clare suggests that they find out who received Daniel’s organs after his death, the other sisters have doubts about what this will accomplish for them. Will meeting these people help the family heal or will old tensions resurface and cause problems between them? I couldn’t wait to find out what happens in this intriguing novel.

The characters in this novel were incredibly well-developed and relatable. Each sister is facing her own life struggles, and each character has a distinct personality that makes them easier to remember. Through their interactions with one another, readers can see how each sister processes grief differently when faced with difficult situations.

Kylie Ladd also does a great job at building tension throughout the story as she reveals more details about Daniel’s life before he died and how his death impacted his sisters. As Clare starts connecting with the recipients of Daniel’s organs, she learns more about organ donation and the relations between the sisters get stronger, bringing them closer together than they have ever been. There are plenty of touching moments in “I’ll leave you with this” and the title is very fitting when you realise why it is chosen.

I really enjoyed learning about the various donations that had happened, ones you wouldn’t necessarily expect as well such as skin, bones, and hands. Daniel’s death was sudden and shocking, leaving the remaining family reeling at such a great loss but when they realise the good that has come from it, they begin to heal, despite not all being on the same page at the beginning.

The way Ladd draws her readers into the story is simply brilliant; we feel like we are part of this family as we watch them go through heartache and healing together. The novel also touches on deeper themes such as organ donation, which is an important conversation to have today. Even though there are some sad moments in this book, ultimately it is a story of hope and resilience that gives its readers something to reflect upon even after they finish reading it.

There are separate stories interwoven through the donation story which bring life and changes for all of the sisters. Ladd has done a great job of seamlessly bringing these stories together into one tale. I particularly enjoyed the ending and shed more than one tear while reading.

If you’re looking for an emotionally gripping book that will leave you feeling hopeful at the end of it all, then look no further than “I’ll leave you with this” by Kylie Ladd! This book provides an honest look at how families grieve while providing subtle reminders about the importance of organ donation and selflessness. Readers will be sure to enjoy the journey that these four sisters take together as they search for meaning in life after loss. Highly recommended!

Rated