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A very unusual family saga written with unusual intelligence and compassion. Erica Witsell has a gift for depicting complex relationships. — Phyllis Rose, author of Parallel Lives, The Year of Reading Proust, and The Shelf
Every summer, Jessie and Emma leave their suburban home in the Central Valley and fly north to Baymont. Nestled among Mendocino's golden hills, with ponies to love and endless acres to explore, Baymont should be a child's paradise. But Baymont belongs to Laurel, the girls' birth mother, whose heedless parenting and tainted judgement cast a long shadow over the sisters' summers---and their lives.
Caught in a web of allegiances, the girls learn again and again that every loyalty has its price, and that even forgiveness can take unexpected turns.
Luminous and poignant, Give is the story of one family's troubled quest to redeem the mistakes of the past and a stirring testament to the bonds of sisterhood.
This is a gripping narrative about family, identity, and loyalty . . . Beautifully written! — Kate Rademacher, author of Following the Red Bird
At times subtle and at times cutting to the quick Give digs deep into the heart and soul of a family as connected as it is torn apart. Give pulls no punches, delivering an honest look into the lengths we will go for family. — Amy Willoughby-Burle, author of The Lemonade Year
Every summer, Jessie and Emma leave their suburban home in the Central Valley and fly north to Baymont. Nestled among Mendocino's golden hills, with ponies to love and endless acres to explore, Baymont should be a child's paradise. But Baymont belongs to Laurel, the girls' birth mother, whose heedless parenting and tainted judgement cast a long shadow over the sisters' summers---and their lives.
Caught in a web of allegiances, the girls learn again and again that every loyalty has its price, and that even forgiveness can take unexpected turns.
Luminous and poignant, Give is the story of one family's troubled quest to redeem the mistakes of the past and a stirring testament to the bonds of sisterhood.
This is a gripping narrative about family, identity, and loyalty . . . Beautifully written! — Kate Rademacher, author of Following the Red Bird
At times subtle and at times cutting to the quick Give digs deep into the heart and soul of a family as connected as it is torn apart. Give pulls no punches, delivering an honest look into the lengths we will go for family. — Amy Willoughby-Burle, author of The Lemonade Year
430 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2019
230 people are currently reading
1465 people want to read
About the author
Erica C. Witsell
2 books33 followersBorn in Maine but raised in Florida, Erica Witsell lived in Connecticut, California, Ecuador, and Italy before settling in the mountains of western North Carolina sixteen years ago. A graduate of Wesleyan University and University of California, Berkeley, she taught high school for over ten years and now teaches English as a new language in Asheville. She enjoys languages, bicycling, camping, and dance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
April 30, 2019
I was mesmerized by this gutsy debut novel. Witsell's characters are richly drawn, showing us their grit, pain, softness, and most of all, their glorious complexity. This novel reveals a family that defies expectations and flirts with disaster, and Witsell expertly showcases how alliances between family members are constantly shifting. I found myself deeply invested in the characters and rooting for them to find their way through the beautiful chaos of life, as Witsell bravely portrays it. This novel is a must read.
May 16, 2020
When I finished this book I began to think about who the most giving person in the book was. But I couldn't pick just one person because as I began to think about the ways they gave, I realised they all gave so much in different ways...
Spanning over 29 years, Give takes us deep into the lives of Len, Laurel and their two daughters, Jessie and Emma. We are there for Len and Laurel when their marriage begins to break down. We are there for Jessie and Emma when they are torn between their parents, when their loyalties are questioned, when their love is judged.
What I loved about this book was the complexity and depth to which we knew each character. I loved that we saw them at their greatest moments and at their weakest and sometimes most desperate. I loved how each character showed their love in different ways but of course, if that wasn't the recipient's love language, it wasn't always recognised. This often led to misunderstandings and hurt feelings which we can all relate to. This is what led me to think about the title; Give, and how much each person gave of themselves because of love.
This is a beautifully slow and poignant look into the heartbreak that follows a divorce, the hurt that arises time and time again, the forgiveness that comes with it and the growth and light that comes through it all because one constant throughout life's uncertainty is that the sun will always rise.
Thank you @netgalley for this arc.
Spanning over 29 years, Give takes us deep into the lives of Len, Laurel and their two daughters, Jessie and Emma. We are there for Len and Laurel when their marriage begins to break down. We are there for Jessie and Emma when they are torn between their parents, when their loyalties are questioned, when their love is judged.
What I loved about this book was the complexity and depth to which we knew each character. I loved that we saw them at their greatest moments and at their weakest and sometimes most desperate. I loved how each character showed their love in different ways but of course, if that wasn't the recipient's love language, it wasn't always recognised. This often led to misunderstandings and hurt feelings which we can all relate to. This is what led me to think about the title; Give, and how much each person gave of themselves because of love.
This is a beautifully slow and poignant look into the heartbreak that follows a divorce, the hurt that arises time and time again, the forgiveness that comes with it and the growth and light that comes through it all because one constant throughout life's uncertainty is that the sun will always rise.
Thank you @netgalley for this arc.
May 24, 2019
Thank you NetGallery and BQB publishing for the eARC in exchange of an honest review.
This is a debut novel by Erica C Witsell. And I must say I was amazed! The story is so poignant and beautifully written. It has joy, pain, grief, sadness and everything bonded together. It’s a family saga, a complex relationship within the family. It’s about two sisters, and their journey along their lives.
The characters have been beautifully sketched. As one progresses with the story, it feels as if the story comes to life. They are complex within themselves. There is so much going on.
To be honest, at some part I felt it was a bit dragging but I guess it was all worth it. The ending was so good! I was literally in tears.
I found myself much more invested than I had imagined myself to be. I wanted them characters to reach a solid satisfactory place.
I loved this book and would surely recommend!
This is a debut novel by Erica C Witsell. And I must say I was amazed! The story is so poignant and beautifully written. It has joy, pain, grief, sadness and everything bonded together. It’s a family saga, a complex relationship within the family. It’s about two sisters, and their journey along their lives.
The characters have been beautifully sketched. As one progresses with the story, it feels as if the story comes to life. They are complex within themselves. There is so much going on.
To be honest, at some part I felt it was a bit dragging but I guess it was all worth it. The ending was so good! I was literally in tears.
I found myself much more invested than I had imagined myself to be. I wanted them characters to reach a solid satisfactory place.
I loved this book and would surely recommend!
November 15, 2020
Laurel and Len are young grad-student types. Their marriage is not a match made in heaven. Laurel is self-absorbed and an alcoholic and Len is a frustrated academic. He’s ready to end the marriage when Laurel learns she is pregnant. Jesse comes along and the marriage works for a time, but then another child, Emma, arrives and Laurel’s alcoholism and philandering spiral out of control.
Laurel agrees to give up the children to Len and he marries the babysitter, Sarah.
What makes this novel unique and compelling, is that it isn’t the story of Len and Laurel or Sarah. It’s Jesse and Emma’s story. Their bond and their conflicting loyalties for the mother that gave them life and the mother that raised them.
Powerful, epic saga.
Laurel agrees to give up the children to Len and he marries the babysitter, Sarah.
What makes this novel unique and compelling, is that it isn’t the story of Len and Laurel or Sarah. It’s Jesse and Emma’s story. Their bond and their conflicting loyalties for the mother that gave them life and the mother that raised them.
Powerful, epic saga.
August 20, 2019
“Like a bubble of life love in your throat...” This quote from the book really resonated with me as I continued to enjoy each page. While the family dynamics were so different from what I experienced growing up, the emotions and interactions felt like a breath of fresh air. Almost like a gentle reminder to not feel so vulnerable, simply by feeling the way you do.
July 4, 2019
Erica’s writing is gripping and detailed. I get completely lost in her characters and their dilemmas. I would recommend this debut novel to anyone who enjoys quality writing and story telling at its finest!!!
June 13, 2019
I cared about the characters from the beginning, so I stayed up late to keep reading it. When I finished I lent it to a friend right away so I’d have someone to discuss it with.
May 26, 2019
I was lucky to receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley and BQB publishing! This book pulls in the reader from the beginning and tells the story of a complicated family. We see the bonds of sisterhood as well as the relationship between mothers and their children. I loved how they made the female characters complex and relatable as they discover who they are and what it means to be a family. Erica Witsell is a talented writer who knows how to describe family tensions and human emotion, making the reader try to relate to and empathize with each character. This is one of my new favorite books for 2019!!
July 12, 2019
I was really drawn to the story in this book. Laurel is the mother of two little girls and decides to leave them with their father and to move away. The father remarries to their babysitter and she becomes their mom. Laurel returns and thus begins the backward and forward pull from place to place. I loved how this book was told from multiple perspectives and that it goes forward into time. This is the first I have read from this author, but will not be the last.
June 14, 2019
I enjoyed Give. It held my attention and I really wanted to find out what would happen. The plot covers a long time span, with good detail that puts the reader in that time period, as well as many issues. The author develops the characters very well, with empathy and understanding. It is important to me when I read to care about the characters, and I did with Give. The author writes with depth and sensitivity.
April 14, 2019
I was fortunate to have the chance to get a sneak peak at this booked and I loved it! The characters and narrative are gripping. Witsell is a beautiful writer, and the story is poignant - with several unexpected surprises throughout. The themes in this book feel both timeless and very contemporary. I loved this book and highly recommend!
September 17, 2019
Excellent
This book delves successfully into the hidden intricacies of families that fracture or seperate. It could of been messy or ugly, yet it successfully yields a story that covers future storyline’s and you get to enjoy all characters. Put a do not disturb sign up for this book 🙏🏻
This book delves successfully into the hidden intricacies of families that fracture or seperate. It could of been messy or ugly, yet it successfully yields a story that covers future storyline’s and you get to enjoy all characters. Put a do not disturb sign up for this book 🙏🏻
April 13, 2019
Give grabs your attention on the first page and holds it throughout as it weaves the complicated web of one family.
September 17, 2019
This is a remarkable, memorable, hard-to-stop-reading story that opens with a doomed marriage and follows its reverberations through several decades, as the children of that marriage struggle with their divided loyalties and the ways their complex relationships with both parents and with each other push their lives in quite different directions.
Laurel, mother of two small girls, Jessie and Emma, struggles in her role, stuck alone with the children each day and feeling overwhelmed. She also struggles with depression, alcoholism, and infidelity, and her marriage soon dissolves. For the next several decades, Jessie and Emma live with their father and stepmother in a stable and loving home while spending each summer with Laurel in the idyllic countryside of Mendocino. For Jessie and Emma, those summers, while beautiful and filled with adventure, are also fraught with the emotional and physical hazards of Laurel's heedless parenting style, which leaves the girls navigating frightening new situations alone together and relying on each other. These experiences seal the bond of sisterhood between them, but they also color each of their lives very differently, leaving them with different senses of what is home, who is really "mom." When Laurel makes a desperate bid for custody-- and then again later when she asks her older daughter Jessie for an incredible gift-- she continues to force the sisters to discover what it means to give in the name of love, and how much their loyalties to each other and to their families can cost them.
The story is told from every family member's point of view at various points, which gives us a remarkably compassionate portrait. It would have been easy to paint Laurel as a simple villain, or Emma the younger daughter as a hollow stand-in, or the girls' father Len or even their stepmother Sarah as a tired trope. But Give does none of this. Instead, the story is an exercise in generosity of spirit, where each character's loves and loyalties are honored, or at least acknowledged, despite the havoc they may wreak upon the others. The writing itself is also fine, with moments of precise and arresting phrasing and careful, intelligent depiction of the landscape of inner thought in each character.
Without intending to, I stayed up far too late to finish this one. You might, too, and regardless of when you finish, you might find yourself thinking for many days afterwards about the lovingly rendered, flawed people you met in it, the terrible choices they faced in caring for each other, and the sometimes subtle ways they chose to give.
Laurel, mother of two small girls, Jessie and Emma, struggles in her role, stuck alone with the children each day and feeling overwhelmed. She also struggles with depression, alcoholism, and infidelity, and her marriage soon dissolves. For the next several decades, Jessie and Emma live with their father and stepmother in a stable and loving home while spending each summer with Laurel in the idyllic countryside of Mendocino. For Jessie and Emma, those summers, while beautiful and filled with adventure, are also fraught with the emotional and physical hazards of Laurel's heedless parenting style, which leaves the girls navigating frightening new situations alone together and relying on each other. These experiences seal the bond of sisterhood between them, but they also color each of their lives very differently, leaving them with different senses of what is home, who is really "mom." When Laurel makes a desperate bid for custody-- and then again later when she asks her older daughter Jessie for an incredible gift-- she continues to force the sisters to discover what it means to give in the name of love, and how much their loyalties to each other and to their families can cost them.
The story is told from every family member's point of view at various points, which gives us a remarkably compassionate portrait. It would have been easy to paint Laurel as a simple villain, or Emma the younger daughter as a hollow stand-in, or the girls' father Len or even their stepmother Sarah as a tired trope. But Give does none of this. Instead, the story is an exercise in generosity of spirit, where each character's loves and loyalties are honored, or at least acknowledged, despite the havoc they may wreak upon the others. The writing itself is also fine, with moments of precise and arresting phrasing and careful, intelligent depiction of the landscape of inner thought in each character.
Without intending to, I stayed up far too late to finish this one. You might, too, and regardless of when you finish, you might find yourself thinking for many days afterwards about the lovingly rendered, flawed people you met in it, the terrible choices they faced in caring for each other, and the sometimes subtle ways they chose to give.
August 30, 2020
"In geometry, two points made a line, but three- that was a plane, a whole shelf of possibility, extending infinitely in every direction".
Give is a story of a failed marriage that unfurls a ripple of consequences that echoes for years in the lives of their children. Give narrates the revolution of lives around the tapestry of family weaved with threads of love, trust and respect, and the threads that have come loose.
After Laurel's wreckless attempts at parenting, Len decides to divorce her and take the custody of their girls Jessie and Emma. Sarah, their stepmother loves the girls like her own, giving all she could of motherhood. The girls spend every summer at Laurel's house, Baymont in the idyllic countryside of Mendocino. While at Baymont, although the girls share the love for the mountains, horses and serenity, they differ in the acceptance of their biological mother. To Jessie summers at Baymont opens an opportunity to be herself, to be independent and take charge of her life, a life she detested at Bakersfield where she was bullied at school. To Emma the door of forgiving Laurel was closed and she chooses to accept Sarah as her mother over Laurel. This difference in perceptions leads to the girls taking decisions to prove their allegiances and loyalties towards their family. And they discover that true love need not be a display of overwhelming emotions and soothing words but a subtlety of unconditional giving.
The story is narrated from every character's perception and aptly suits the title as in Laurel giving children to Len to save their marriage, in Len giving safety to the girls, in Sarah giving mother's love to the girls, in Jessie giving Laurel a chance at daughter's love and in Emma giving Sarah the title of mother. Although it is easy to point Laurel as the center of disintegration of their family, we cannot ignore her epiphany of her wrongs and the desperation to redo her life as a mother.
Give is a remarkable narration of sisterhood, motherhood and above all familial relationship with raw and genuine moments, emotions, flaws, choices and the tangle of complications the characters were caught in their journey.
I loved this story and I think I will be wondering about the sensitive and natural undertone of this story for days. This story deserves to be read with utmost attention. The writing is impeccable. I am definitely looking forward to read more from the author.
Give is a story of a failed marriage that unfurls a ripple of consequences that echoes for years in the lives of their children. Give narrates the revolution of lives around the tapestry of family weaved with threads of love, trust and respect, and the threads that have come loose.
After Laurel's wreckless attempts at parenting, Len decides to divorce her and take the custody of their girls Jessie and Emma. Sarah, their stepmother loves the girls like her own, giving all she could of motherhood. The girls spend every summer at Laurel's house, Baymont in the idyllic countryside of Mendocino. While at Baymont, although the girls share the love for the mountains, horses and serenity, they differ in the acceptance of their biological mother. To Jessie summers at Baymont opens an opportunity to be herself, to be independent and take charge of her life, a life she detested at Bakersfield where she was bullied at school. To Emma the door of forgiving Laurel was closed and she chooses to accept Sarah as her mother over Laurel. This difference in perceptions leads to the girls taking decisions to prove their allegiances and loyalties towards their family. And they discover that true love need not be a display of overwhelming emotions and soothing words but a subtlety of unconditional giving.
The story is narrated from every character's perception and aptly suits the title as in Laurel giving children to Len to save their marriage, in Len giving safety to the girls, in Sarah giving mother's love to the girls, in Jessie giving Laurel a chance at daughter's love and in Emma giving Sarah the title of mother. Although it is easy to point Laurel as the center of disintegration of their family, we cannot ignore her epiphany of her wrongs and the desperation to redo her life as a mother.
Give is a remarkable narration of sisterhood, motherhood and above all familial relationship with raw and genuine moments, emotions, flaws, choices and the tangle of complications the characters were caught in their journey.
I loved this story and I think I will be wondering about the sensitive and natural undertone of this story for days. This story deserves to be read with utmost attention. The writing is impeccable. I am definitely looking forward to read more from the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2020
Give, by Erica C Witsell is an interesting and compelling novel. Starting in the 1970s, it didn't take long for me to become engrossed by this novel. Honestly, I truly became consumed by this book.
Laurel is struggling under the weight of motherhood and the reader immediately sees how selfish she is. Len, meanwhile, is immediately a likable and sympathetic character.
Honestly though, I find the book description to be deceptive. It doesn't convey how much of this story is about Jessie and Emma's childhood. The first part of the book is about Laurel and Len, and how they end up separated, with the girls not knowing Laurel for years. After that, the point of views transition into that of the girls as they go through adolescence followed by adulthood. The next part follows snippets through the years, as they grow up.
This book hit me on so many levels; as a mother, as a wife, and as a daughter.
This story heavily delves into motherhood, and the different ways people can show love.
It's as multi-layered as it gets, covering many years and many events. It includes divorce, step-parents, egg donorship, motherhood in general. It conveys the pain that stems from the rejection of a parent, the different things that truly make a mother, and heavily explores the meaning of biological parents in one's life. It covers alcoholism, polyamory, and more.
The author takes the reader through many different povs, including that of the children. This is one hell of a multi-layered read that to me, this would make an interesting book club read.
Give, A Novel is a terrific read. This Erica C Witsell book is a deep, thought-provoking family novel and coming of age story. It certainly doesn't fall easily into any one category. Personally, I consider it an amazing women's fiction read. But book stores list it as LGBT family fiction. Whatever it is, it's well worth a read.
Laurel is struggling under the weight of motherhood and the reader immediately sees how selfish she is. Len, meanwhile, is immediately a likable and sympathetic character.
Honestly though, I find the book description to be deceptive. It doesn't convey how much of this story is about Jessie and Emma's childhood. The first part of the book is about Laurel and Len, and how they end up separated, with the girls not knowing Laurel for years. After that, the point of views transition into that of the girls as they go through adolescence followed by adulthood. The next part follows snippets through the years, as they grow up.
This book hit me on so many levels; as a mother, as a wife, and as a daughter.
This story heavily delves into motherhood, and the different ways people can show love.
It's as multi-layered as it gets, covering many years and many events. It includes divorce, step-parents, egg donorship, motherhood in general. It conveys the pain that stems from the rejection of a parent, the different things that truly make a mother, and heavily explores the meaning of biological parents in one's life. It covers alcoholism, polyamory, and more.
The author takes the reader through many different povs, including that of the children. This is one hell of a multi-layered read that to me, this would make an interesting book club read.
Give, A Novel is a terrific read. This Erica C Witsell book is a deep, thought-provoking family novel and coming of age story. It certainly doesn't fall easily into any one category. Personally, I consider it an amazing women's fiction read. But book stores list it as LGBT family fiction. Whatever it is, it's well worth a read.
August 28, 2020
This book was given to me via NetGalley and BQB publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Give tells the story of a family. And not just a typical family. Len and Laurel begin the narration as the new parents of Jessie. Their marriage has been rocky since day one and they are on the verge of separating when Laurel learns she is pregnant with Emma. Emma comes along but the marriage doesn’t. All Len wants is his daughters and he is surprised Laurel gives them to him without a fight. The story goes on from there switching in the voices of Laurel and Len and eventually Jessie and Emma. Len’s second wife also narrates as well. The book covers 20+ years and the drama is heavy throughout. Laurel never quite figures out motherhood and Jessie and Emma struggle with love and family in their own ways. The novel attempts to answer the questions of what does a mother look like? How much does biology really matter? And can you really ever love your children enough?
This was a debut novel and while it was very well written and captivating, I didn’t love it. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. I found myself reading quickly to find out what happened and to be able to move on from that person’s narration. The author did really hit the nail on the head with the scenes of what having 2 babies is like though! I felt my heart racing thinking of those early days for myself with my two girls. I appreciated the raw reality she gave of this stage. As I said the writing was excellent and quite addicting! I look forward to more novels by this author.
Give tells the story of a family. And not just a typical family. Len and Laurel begin the narration as the new parents of Jessie. Their marriage has been rocky since day one and they are on the verge of separating when Laurel learns she is pregnant with Emma. Emma comes along but the marriage doesn’t. All Len wants is his daughters and he is surprised Laurel gives them to him without a fight. The story goes on from there switching in the voices of Laurel and Len and eventually Jessie and Emma. Len’s second wife also narrates as well. The book covers 20+ years and the drama is heavy throughout. Laurel never quite figures out motherhood and Jessie and Emma struggle with love and family in their own ways. The novel attempts to answer the questions of what does a mother look like? How much does biology really matter? And can you really ever love your children enough?
This was a debut novel and while it was very well written and captivating, I didn’t love it. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. I found myself reading quickly to find out what happened and to be able to move on from that person’s narration. The author did really hit the nail on the head with the scenes of what having 2 babies is like though! I felt my heart racing thinking of those early days for myself with my two girls. I appreciated the raw reality she gave of this stage. As I said the writing was excellent and quite addicting! I look forward to more novels by this author.
August 22, 2020
This novel had me like a fish on the line, I was hooked and couldn't shake free! What a wonderful story with beautifully drawn characters. Some I loved and one, Laurel, for whom I couldn't muster a positive feeling if I was forced. To say she was a train wreck is an understatement of monumental proportions. She was a multitude of train wrecks. In all my reading years never have I felt such compelling revulsion for a fictional character. She should never had one child, much less two. Jessie and Emma were never a priority in her life, she was consumed with her own self-interest. She was simply a horrible mother and person. Strong feeling, strong words, I know, but those feelings make for a "grab you and hold you" sort of book. This was definitely one of those.
I particularly liked the way in which the story moved through time and from person to person. The movement was clearly defined, never leaving you wondering where or with whom you were currently. This attention to detail is important to me and I believe a lot of readers. No confusion, therefore no need to page back and try to pick up the threads.
This was an outstanding debut novel. I am looking forward to more from Ms. Witsell. I am grateful to Net Galley and BQB Books for the opportunity to read and offer my review.
I particularly liked the way in which the story moved through time and from person to person. The movement was clearly defined, never leaving you wondering where or with whom you were currently. This attention to detail is important to me and I believe a lot of readers. No confusion, therefore no need to page back and try to pick up the threads.
This was an outstanding debut novel. I am looking forward to more from Ms. Witsell. I am grateful to Net Galley and BQB Books for the opportunity to read and offer my review.
September 24, 2020
I want to thank Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.
I am undecided if I liked the way the lives of the characters go about,from birth ,to adulthood. The book grasped my attention however,I read it in one day.
The unconditional love of a mother brings for daughters. One mother's cry for love herself . Laura, a selfish mother that didnt seem like the adult and yet tried to act like one. Her character made me want to put the book down at times but I was so engrossed in the little girls lives and had to keep reading of their outcomes growing up into adulthood. I wouldve changed their personalities and given good choices because thats what they deserved for everything they endured in their life.
This novel is an emotional perception of what real life can give if bad choices are taken and innocent lives making the best from a bad.
Len,the girls father fighting to keep the girls safe from their emotionally distraught mother who never grew up.
Sarah shouldve walked away,I wont say much about her part in this gripping story and her part in it.
The book seems to prolong too much into new events and Im glad there were timelines or I wouldve gotten lost.
As much as I wanted to give up on the book halfways, I couldnt.The author keeps you hanging wanting to hope someone has a better outcome. The characters roles changing took me by surprise .
I am undecided if I liked the way the lives of the characters go about,from birth ,to adulthood. The book grasped my attention however,I read it in one day.
The unconditional love of a mother brings for daughters. One mother's cry for love herself . Laura, a selfish mother that didnt seem like the adult and yet tried to act like one. Her character made me want to put the book down at times but I was so engrossed in the little girls lives and had to keep reading of their outcomes growing up into adulthood. I wouldve changed their personalities and given good choices because thats what they deserved for everything they endured in their life.
This novel is an emotional perception of what real life can give if bad choices are taken and innocent lives making the best from a bad.
Len,the girls father fighting to keep the girls safe from their emotionally distraught mother who never grew up.
Sarah shouldve walked away,I wont say much about her part in this gripping story and her part in it.
The book seems to prolong too much into new events and Im glad there were timelines or I wouldve gotten lost.
As much as I wanted to give up on the book halfways, I couldnt.The author keeps you hanging wanting to hope someone has a better outcome. The characters roles changing took me by surprise .
September 1, 2020
Give, a Novel by Erica C. Witsell was one of those novels that just sticks with you after you read it. As the story unfolds I realized the meaning of the title was evolving as each of the characters evolved.
Witsell writes with an amazing clarity of voice and offers the reader characters who feel more than lifelike. Main characters Len, Laurel and their two daughters, Jessie and Emma are complex characters and each carries with them their own humanness. As the story unfolds over the pages of this debut novel each character shares their strengths and weaknesses.
Sisterly bonds, mother/daughter complexities, love and disappointment all come into the story . The complexities of relationships, the shortcomings and strengths of each character is deftly fleshed out by author Witsell.
This was an easy book to read and I found myself staying up late to finish it. As the story is spread out over many years it is interesting to see how the author continues to develop each character and personality as they grow older.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of Give, A Novel for my honest review. I believe author Erica C. Witsell has a gift for story telling and am looking forward to more books from her in the future.
Witsell writes with an amazing clarity of voice and offers the reader characters who feel more than lifelike. Main characters Len, Laurel and their two daughters, Jessie and Emma are complex characters and each carries with them their own humanness. As the story unfolds over the pages of this debut novel each character shares their strengths and weaknesses.
Sisterly bonds, mother/daughter complexities, love and disappointment all come into the story . The complexities of relationships, the shortcomings and strengths of each character is deftly fleshed out by author Witsell.
This was an easy book to read and I found myself staying up late to finish it. As the story is spread out over many years it is interesting to see how the author continues to develop each character and personality as they grow older.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of Give, A Novel for my honest review. I believe author Erica C. Witsell has a gift for story telling and am looking forward to more books from her in the future.
April 5, 2020
Loved this book from page one! This is a wonderful debut novel from Erica Witsell and I look forward to others. This book is about family, about loss and disappointment, about love between family members and our idea of loyalty to them. Laurel is the mother of Jessica and Emma, a toddler and very young baby. She cannot abide motherhood, every day is a test for her. She feels her husband is so lucky to go out to work each day and even though she works part time, still feels cheated. Len is the husband who adores his two daughters. Laurel makes many questionable choices in her life and finally one drives Len to ask for a divorce AND he wants his children. This book follows the lives of this family until the girls are in their 20's or 30's and just captures the voice of each one of the characters perfectly. I hated to have this book end.
January 19, 2020
Give is an engrossing story of how one person's disfunction can make it so much harder for everyone around her to live their lives authentically and to love unconditionally. The characters in the book ring absolutely true, the dialogue propels the story, the emotions are deep and genuine, and the themes of family, identity, and forgiveness are universal. I came away loving these characters and I miss them already. The audiobook version is generally well read, with a few cringeworthy mispronunciations, but overall the narrator gave distinctive personalities to the characters, essential in a novel with so much compelling dialogue. I highly recommend Erica C. Witsell's debut and look forward to her next book!
July 11, 2019
I very much enjoyed the book "Give" by Erica Witsell. The story centers on 2 sisters and their relationship from birth into adulthood. The characters are developed through diverse themes such as divorce and step-parents to egg donation and motherhood. The story unfolds in ways that I could personally identify with and at the same time be surprised at the directions the characters take. There are very good book club discussion questions located at the authors website: ericawitsell.com.
My book club engaged in very lively discussion using the questions as a guide and explored the characters on a deeper level.
My book club engaged in very lively discussion using the questions as a guide and explored the characters on a deeper level.
February 26, 2020
I must be the only person who read this book that didn't really care for it. I wanted to like it and it started off very well. Then passages of time were skipped and we got a note two years later, one year later, 10 years later. The beginning narration set up the book for a good story, but later on it almost sounded like another person had written large sections. I won't do spoilers, but I felt like all of the characters had stubborn streaks, might be out for themselves and were kind of whiny, so they spent a lot of time tip-toeing around each other. Turns out I really couldn't relate to or be very sympathetic with them. Made me sad.
October 12, 2019
A book about two sisters from childhood to adults and the struggles they share all caused by a dysfunctional mother. Jessie and Emma share a mother Laurel who is only a mother in title. Give shares their life story involving Laurel and her lack of love causing them to struggle. Laurel is the mother that we are all thankful we don’t have but these girls are lucky, they have a wonderful stepmother Sarah who is the mother we all wish we had although they don’t always feel so lucky to have her. At times the guilt of referring to her as their mother is almost two much for these two sisters.
October 27, 2019
Once I started reading this moving novel, my mind would drift away from whatever else I was doing during the day and think about the characters and their complicated lives and I couldn’t wait to open the book again to find out what was going on with them and how they were doing. The author pulls us in right away, helps us get to know the characters well, and causes us to care about them. This is a rare thing. For anyone who craves stories and characters that ring true, I strongly suggest you read Give. Thank you Erica Witsell for this gift.
August 28, 2020
Give
This book was a slow start for me, a divorce with the mother leaving 2 girls with their father. The father falls in love with the nanny and the mother then wants back in the girls lives. It spans over many years, one of the girls likes to go back to visit her biological mother,Laurel and Emma the youngest does not. The girls have issues with their families and their relationships develop with difficulties of their own. The message of giving and kindness is there but Laurel’s values were not to my liking, hence the rating.
This book was a slow start for me, a divorce with the mother leaving 2 girls with their father. The father falls in love with the nanny and the mother then wants back in the girls lives. It spans over many years, one of the girls likes to go back to visit her biological mother,Laurel and Emma the youngest does not. The girls have issues with their families and their relationships develop with difficulties of their own. The message of giving and kindness is there but Laurel’s values were not to my liking, hence the rating.
October 27, 2020
While this book was not one I would typically choose, I enjoyed it. The story line is about an American family living in California. As with many families, a divorce occurs and the two daughters (age 3 and 1) live fulltime with their father. Jess and Emma are the daughters, and the story revolves around them as they grow into young women. It is really a coming of age story about these two young women, and how they handle the split between their parents. The book was very engaging, and each chapter was told from a character's point-of-view.
June 28, 2019
I love a good family saga and this book is one of the best sagas that i have read this year. A very enjoyable book with so many different emotions. A very well written book and to think this is a debut book. I am not going to write what the story is about as i prefer one to read the book for themselves, but it do highly recommend.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review, freely given.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review, freely given.
August 8, 2019
Give is a family drama at its finest with depth and complexity; it was hard to put this book down. Give presents a complicated web of a family with a very unique story line that will stand out from other novels. The characters draw you in from the first page with the beautifully written narrative. This book will resonate especially with mothers, sisters, and daughters. I highly recommend this book!
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