The death of a close family member is devastating, but if it’s also the only family member who ever cared for you and stood by you, that person no longer being there is absolutely horrifying. George faces such a situation when his only sister has a car accident. His reaction of deep depression is not really surprising, and the way the author shows the effects of such a situation is very realistic. What makes it worse for George is that his sister’s daughter Emily, who is only four, suddenly becomes his responsibility as well.

George simply cannot cope with his sister’s death. As more details about George’s youth and the abuse both he and his sister suffered emerges, it becomes clearer exactly how deeply he feels her departure from the realm of the living. Watching him and his partner, Isaac, deal with the fallout and emotional damage was heart-wrenching, and made the first half of the book really hard to read. But then Isaac figures out how to help George, and the slow, hard path of recovery begins.

Isaac has no idea what hits him when George suddenly vanishes and it takes two days to figure out that he flew to see his sister, who is in a coma. Isaac never hesitates to fly out so he can be with them, but he is no more ready to take care of a four-year-old girl than George. He has only met her a few times, but since George is utterly incapable of doing anything, Isaac steps up to the plate and does an amazing job at keeping it all together.

If you like stories with enough drama and heartbreak to fill two books, if you prefer characters who are written true to life, and if you’re looking for a read that is as emotionally devastating in the beginning s it is uplifting and hopeful by the end, then you will probably like this free novel. ( )