When I'm Gone by Emily Bleeker

When I'm Gone

by Emily Bleeker

An Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestseller.

Dear Luke,
First let me say—I love you…I didn’t want to leave you…

Luke Richardson has returned home after burying Natalie, his beloved wife of sixteen years, ready to face the hard job of raising their three children alone. But there’s something he’s not prepared for—a blue envelope with his name scrawled across the front in Natalie’s handwriting, waiting for him on the floor of their suburban Michigan home.

The letter inside, written on the first day of Natalie’s cancer treatment a year ago, turns out to be the first of many. Luke is convinced they’re genuine, but who is delivering them? As his obsession with the letters grows, Luke uncovers long-buried secrets that make him question everything he knew about his wife and their family. But the revelations also point the way toward a future where love goes on—in written words, in memories, and in the promises it’s never too late to keep.

Reviewed by Jeff Sexton on

5 of 5 stars

Share
Wow! WRECKAGE- Bleeker's first book- was more powerful, but that is the only book I can really compare this to - this book is *that* good. And it may even be as good as/ better than WRECKAGE - which is about the highest praise I can possibly give. Certainly in this genre, *possibly* in books in general. At first, you're in it to see how Luke and family cope - you're introduced to them on the first pages as they enter their garage after Luke's wife's (and the kids' mother's) funeral. While hints are dropped to the mysteries to come early, you really don't get to the mystery aspect of this until around halfway in - then it starts building on itself, as Luke and family are finally healing enough for Luke to start asking questions and being more observant. From then on... watch out!

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • Finished reading
  • 13 December, 2017: Reviewed