If I Let You Go: The Heartbreaking, Shocking Richard and Judy Book Club Pick

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An intensely beautiful depiction of vulnerability that instantly draws you into the world of a disturbingly fragile woman. One day Janet finds herself thrust into the spotlight after saving a celebrity chefs daughter from the wreckage of a train crash - she sees this as her chance to start over and finally be forgiven. I was so engrossed in Janet’s story and had so much hope for her be set free from Colin and be able to live. The main character, Janet, was completely flawed, and her actions were just not right, but she was a grieving soul, so vulnerable, and I had so much empathy for her from the get-go. But Janet’s story isn’t quite what it seems, and as events spiral out of control, she soon discovers that coming clean isn’t an option.

Then, Janet finds herself involved in a train crash and, recognizing the chance to do what she couldn't all those years ago, she makes a decision. She cleans offices, visits her elderly father, and caters to her dominating husband, and she sees this as her penance for what happened all those years before. After yet another argument when Colin does something horrendous, Janet disappears out the back of their house, which backs onto a train track.

The grief and feelings of guilt pour off the page and stay with the reader for some time after the book has been put down. The story embraces some difficult topics — loss, grief, guilt, blame — but Levin handles them with the utmost sensitivity.

Impossible to put down, this is a darkly brilliant novel that balances the heartbreak with the humour. She can remember little of the evening, but footage emerges of her helping to rescue the daughter of a local celebrity. Having also read and loved this author's debut novel, If I Can't Have You, it is clear that she has an enormous talent for writing unforgettable, complex characters who, despite behaving in sometimes shocking and indefensible ways, burrow their way under your skin. I really felt for Janet, at times I wanted to cry for her and other times I was smiling and encouraging her.I raced through this, desperate to find out how it would be resolved and it definitely didn’t disappoint.