Before I Go

September 8, 2014
Oakley’s touching debut novel follows Daisy Richmond, who beats breast cancer at age 23, marries her college sweetheart, Jack, applies to grad school, and generally moves on with her life until shortly before her four year “cancerversary” when she learns that the cancer’s back. This time it’s untreatable—her doctor estimates she has no more than six months to live. While Daisy once found it fun to imagine all the trips she’d take if she knew her time was up, she’s now more worried about what will happen to Jack after she’s gone—who will put his dirty socks in the hamper, arrange repairs on their fixer-upper, and make sure he eats something other than cereal. With help from her best friend, Kayleigh, Daisy begins searching for a new wife for Jack. But after scoping out dog parks, coffee bars, and dating sites, Daisy is woefully unprepared for how she feels once she actually finds a seemingly perfect woman for him and the two appear to hit it off. The story moves forward in the expected direction—even the twist at the end is not a shocker—but Oakley expertly tugs at the heartstrings with well-rounded characters and a liberal dose of gallows humor.

November 15, 2014
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.

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October 1, 2014

At 27, psychology student Daisy Richmond receives her second diagnosis of breast cancer in four years. As her cancer is triple negative for hormone therapy and has spread throughout her body, she has few treatment options. Her husband, Jack, is a double-doctoral candidate in veterinary medicine mere months from graduation. Mere months. Even with a clinical trial, will Daisy survive that long? Daisy, Jack, and Daisy's best friend Kayleigh tiptoe around the inevitable. Patients often bemoan the inability of family and friends to know what to say upon hearing the cancer news. Yet Daisy is the one detaching herself from her always weepy mom, irresponsible Kayleigh, and beleaguered and confused Jack. VERDICT The specifics of Daisy's disease are suggested here rather than described in detail, but cancer is palpable on every page. Readers will want simultaneously to hug Daisy and give her a good shake when she goes off the rails. Is she a bit too glib, too self-possessed for her situation? Oakley's debut sets her heroine off on a quest that might be a bit foolhardy, but Daisy bravely endures and discovers the healing power of love. Highly recommended for laugh-out-loud fans and the tearjerker set.--Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal

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