Never Let You Go by Caleb Crowe

Never Let You Go – Caleb Crowe

When 17-year-old Ariana runs away from her foster home she finds herself living with the Willens family and looking after Daniel, their 12-year-old son.

Daniel is sensitive and brilliant – the most brilliant person Ariana has ever met. The two of them forge an extraordinary bond – and Ariana vows she will protect Daniel, now and forever.

But then their lives are torn apart by a horrifying tragedy. Forcibly separated, they do not see each other for ten years.

Now Daniel has come back into Ariana’s life and the dark secrets they share begin to surface, threatening to destroy everything she has built for herself.

Can Ariana escape the ghosts of the past? Or does Daniel’s reappearance mean that deeds long buried must now play out to their terrifying conclusion – plunging her into a waking nightmare from which there may be no escape?

Review

First read of the year: This book was everything I love!

What I loved most about Never Let You Go was how it embraced the stalker vibes and obsession within the characters and storyline. The author didn’t shy away from exploring darker themes, which I found incredibly refreshing. Many authors are afraid to go to this type of darker side in a thriller, but this book dives right into it, which made it stand out for me. I often root for the villain, sorry.

I loved how the setting was written and how vivid it was, and how the author painted the scenes. The book was so easy to imagine, and the chapters played on as if I was on a cinematic experience – the best books often make me feel like this.

Crowe has a talent for weaving an unsettling yet magnetic atmosphere that pulls readers in and refuses to let go. His ability to explore morally complex characters with such depth is truly commendable. The protagonist’s obsession, the antagonist’s shadowy presence, and even the seemingly minor characters all felt layered and alive, that’s what kept me wanting more and more.

While the book hits many high notes, there are very small aspects that keep it from being a full 5-star read, which are more of a personal taste than anything else, so an overall of 4.5 stars. I can’t wait to read more from him.