BEFORE I GO

A dying woman tries to find a new wife for her husband in this sobfest from debut novelist Oakley.

Daisy already beat breast cancer once in her 20s, but when she finds out the cancer is back, she goes into a full-blown panic. How could she get cancer twice before she even turns 30? She soon finds out that her cancer is particularly aggressive this time—it’s in her liver, lungs, bones and brain, giving her an estimated four to six months to live. Daisy immediately begins to worry, but not just about her impending death—she’s far more concerned about what her husband, Jack, will do when she’s gone. Who will pick up his socks, make sure he eats and take care of him when she isn’t around? She embarks on a seemingly impossible task—finding a new wife for her husband. Daisy begins evaluating every woman she meets and pulling away from Jack in an attempt to help him start a new life without her. Of course, it turns out that none of this is quite as simple as it seems. Daisy’s quest to find Jack a new wife may be a bit far-fetched at times, and the novel’s central conflict is wrapped up a little too neatly, but the emotion always rings true. It’s impossible not to feel Daisy’s pain, confusion and sadness as she thinks about what life will be like after she’s gone. Oakley also adds in some much-needed humor to lighten up the necessarily depressing subject matter. 

This emotional novel will make readers laugh through their tears.