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Don't Let Me Go: a story about falling
a story about best friends and a black-lit back room.
Alright, Violet, and all or nothing.
Meeting dark eyes and carrying them for life.
Unmade stars and stripes, and a place deeper than memory.
What it means to be narrowed in, and how a maniac cuts himself loose.
Shoving control, a little denim noose, finding the strength courage takes,
and breaking -
but in the right place.
Pride, and a cry that cuts clean through.
Six Sheets, and all the ways a heart fights and burns and beats.
Fading red marks, feeling the world come apart,
a little past the point of no return,
everything innocent,
and a life sentence.
Walking something sticky off your shoe,
giving until your hands are empty,
and Go.
Just go.
Falling,
and the beautiful, blinding way it makes your only reason to,
glow.
Alright, Violet, and all or nothing.
Meeting dark eyes and carrying them for life.
Unmade stars and stripes, and a place deeper than memory.
What it means to be narrowed in, and how a maniac cuts himself loose.
Shoving control, a little denim noose, finding the strength courage takes,
and breaking -
but in the right place.
Pride, and a cry that cuts clean through.
Six Sheets, and all the ways a heart fights and burns and beats.
Fading red marks, feeling the world come apart,
a little past the point of no return,
everything innocent,
and a life sentence.
Walking something sticky off your shoe,
giving until your hands are empty,
and Go.
Just go.
Falling,
and the beautiful, blinding way it makes your only reason to,
glow.
- GenresYoung AdultRomance
148 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2015
17 people are currently reading
353 people want to read
About the author
Sarah .
6 books362 followersmidwest born. east coast transplant.
a summer baby who hates the heat.
50% poet 50% punk
a summer baby who hates the heat.
50% poet 50% punk
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 6, 2016
Oh WOW, words cannot describe what I feel after reading Sarah Elizabeth's new story, Don't Let Me Go. Breathless might express it the best. CL and Lamb have buried down deep in my heart. My eyes are overflowing and my heart feels like it will burst. The emotions are overwhelming. This story is breathtaking, memorable, shocking, sad, hopeful, poetic, tragic, lyrical, stunning, unforgettable, jaw-dropping, and tear-inducing. There aren’t enough words for how this story made me feel. Sarah’s writing touches me down deep. It stays with me, becomes a part of me. It speaks to me in a way that no other author can. It is different, set apart, MORE. She is all heart and overflowing love and it shows in all that she writes. This story, CL and Lamb, will live in my heart forever. I highly recommend Don’t Let Me Go! This is a must read!
"Totally tenderly, this girl takes hold of all that I am with just her eyes. There's a sensation like gathering and pulling in my chest, and my throat feels full. We're not touching, but she's not letting go."
"Totally tenderly, this girl takes hold of all that I am with just her eyes. There's a sensation like gathering and pulling in my chest, and my throat feels full. We're not touching, but she's not letting go."
February 27, 2017
I'm not super familiar with Sarah Elizabeth or Mary Elizabeth - I am not sure if they are friends, writing partners, family, or how often they write separate or apart?? - but it seems their writing style is very similar! They write about dark settings, usually involving that corner of the city where drugs are being dealt and used and guns are always close by . The group of people who constantly live on the brink of living life, making a living, and looking over your shoulder.
The other thing that stands out in their writing is the depths they go to describe feelings and emotions, it is poetic and deep to the max!! This book was no exception. This is a short book, so there really isn't much time to forge too many bonds and surprisingly there isn't a whole lot of dialogue throughout. This book is made up of a lot of thoughts, looks, touches, smiles, and my favorite - the 50 or so nicknames he has to describe her. This ebook is free at Amazon and is truly unique!!
The other thing that stands out in their writing is the depths they go to describe feelings and emotions, it is poetic and deep to the max!! This book was no exception. This is a short book, so there really isn't much time to forge too many bonds and surprisingly there isn't a whole lot of dialogue throughout. This book is made up of a lot of thoughts, looks, touches, smiles, and my favorite - the 50 or so nicknames he has to describe her. This ebook is free at Amazon and is truly unique!!
April 30, 2015
**updated review**
ⓛ-ⓞ-ⓥ-ⓔ
Review later…smoking coffee coffee and a smoke for now…
All the stars and stripes on the flag!
******4/30/15******
This is gonna be a gush review. I can't even help it. I'm not capable of eloquent critiquing right now. I'm such a mess and my heart is spent —this is the truest romance!
I don't need to say I loved this because that much is obvious, but I will cause it feels so good to say. I fell in love with this story! I fell in love with CL and Lamb, and I can't wait for the day they come alive for me again.
This really is a story about falling, in all the truest ways that a person can fall. I felt like I was falling too. And I had to tear myself away in the end because I was so lost in it.
I always lose myself in Sarah's writing. It leaves a mark and gives you a certain aura that is such a high to experience. Made me feel everything deeply, so aware of every sensation.
I feel so lucky to feel what I feel right now. This isn't temporary.
"I commit this moment to permanent memory."
Thank you, Sarah, for another favorite.
Track Title: Snow Cones, Smoke and Summertime
Artist: SophieIsabella Dickson
ⓛ-ⓞ-ⓥ-ⓔ
Review later…
All the stars and stripes on the flag!
******4/30/15******
This is gonna be a gush review. I can't even help it. I'm not capable of eloquent critiquing right now. I'm such a mess and my heart is spent —this is the truest romance!
I don't need to say I loved this because that much is obvious, but I will cause it feels so good to say. I fell in love with this story! I fell in love with CL and Lamb, and I can't wait for the day they come alive for me again.
This really is a story about falling, in all the truest ways that a person can fall. I felt like I was falling too. And I had to tear myself away in the end because I was so lost in it.
I always lose myself in Sarah's writing. It leaves a mark and gives you a certain aura that is such a high to experience. Made me feel everything deeply, so aware of every sensation.
I feel so lucky to feel what I feel right now. This isn't temporary.
"I commit this moment to permanent memory."
Thank you, Sarah, for another favorite.
Track Title: Snow Cones, Smoke and Summertime
Artist: SophieIsabella Dickson
August 8, 2015
This was a completely fresh concept, with stellar character development. Unexpected twist and turns, and passion in all senses of the word throughout. I'm always excited when I'm gifted with unpredictability and real people in a novel. Sarah delivered.
April 20, 2015
SPECTACULAR...that is what this story is. Creative, wonderful, heartbreaking and poetic is my thoughts on this book.
A HAVE TO READ BOOK!!
A HAVE TO READ BOOK!!
May 1, 2015
Gut wrenching and breathtaking
I read a lot. I have had the pleasure of reading this author's books before. But, it was with this book that I realized something that I already knew about reading. There is a huge difference between a book where you can tell the author has agonized over every single word and a book written for a paycheck.
This is a book where you see the author is an artist. Yes, there is chemistry between Lamb and CL. Yes, the storyline has you cheering for the bad guys. But take a drink from this author's koolaid. You don't only see CL's desire and struggle you get inside his soul and see the world through his eyes.
This book is a journey, not just a read. And at the end I didn't care about the plot, although it gutted me, I cared about the people in it. And that was when I realized the way those characters were written CL and Lamb weren't just characters to me anymore somehow I began thinking of them as real people.
That was when I realized the difference between writing and storytelling.
I read a lot. I have had the pleasure of reading this author's books before. But, it was with this book that I realized something that I already knew about reading. There is a huge difference between a book where you can tell the author has agonized over every single word and a book written for a paycheck.
This is a book where you see the author is an artist. Yes, there is chemistry between Lamb and CL. Yes, the storyline has you cheering for the bad guys. But take a drink from this author's koolaid. You don't only see CL's desire and struggle you get inside his soul and see the world through his eyes.
This book is a journey, not just a read. And at the end I didn't care about the plot, although it gutted me, I cared about the people in it. And that was when I realized the way those characters were written CL and Lamb weren't just characters to me anymore somehow I began thinking of them as real people.
That was when I realized the difference between writing and storytelling.
April 17, 2015
I loved it.
I want to say I hated it, but I love/hated this pretty hard. I kind of expected my heart to break a little, but I'm hanging in there.
Anyway, Sarah's short but bittersweet tale is worth it. CL and Lamb left me with my jaw hanging open at 'the end', and while I was ready to scream bloody murderous 'no!'s and piss my parents off by ranting about this book, I settled for re-reading the last two chapters instead.
Still... wanted to scream.
I highly recommend this book to Dusty fans and post-read angst-lovers. If that's you, this book is perfection. If that's not, it'll still leave you reeling.
When I see jolly ranchers and snow cones, I'll be thinking of CL and Lamb <3
I want to say I hated it, but I love/hated this pretty hard. I kind of expected my heart to break a little, but I'm hanging in there.
Anyway, Sarah's short but bittersweet tale is worth it. CL and Lamb left me with my jaw hanging open at 'the end', and while I was ready to scream bloody murderous 'no!'s and piss my parents off by ranting about this book, I settled for re-reading the last two chapters instead.
Still... wanted to scream.
I highly recommend this book to Dusty fans and post-read angst-lovers. If that's you, this book is perfection. If that's not, it'll still leave you reeling.
When I see jolly ranchers and snow cones, I'll be thinking of CL and Lamb <3
September 6, 2016
I've always been a fan of Sarah's writing, so I knew exactly what I was in for.
I was both right and I was wrong.
There's always been something sweet and wondrous about the way Sarah creates her stories. Simple yet intricate, full of sugar-sweet-sunshine. I love it. I always have. So for me Don't Let Me Go was just a new glimpse of how wonderfully she can weave her words.
What I wasn't prepared for was for her to make my heart just to break my heart. Goddamn CL. There's a special place in my heart for a bad boy/good man, and damned if he doesn't have his own special place now all of his own.
Sarah, you sugar dusted rainbow unicorn, this is perfect.
I was both right and I was wrong.
There's always been something sweet and wondrous about the way Sarah creates her stories. Simple yet intricate, full of sugar-sweet-sunshine. I love it. I always have. So for me Don't Let Me Go was just a new glimpse of how wonderfully she can weave her words.
What I wasn't prepared for was for her to make my heart just to break my heart. Goddamn CL. There's a special place in my heart for a bad boy/good man, and damned if he doesn't have his own special place now all of his own.
Sarah, you sugar dusted rainbow unicorn, this is perfect.
April 19, 2015
Ahhhh! Oh.My.Geez. Just finished Don't Let Me Go and boy do I wish I had the ability to put down in words what I'm feeling. Unfortunately words are not my forte so I'll just say that it was amazing. Sarah Elizabeth is an amazing writer and her words are beautiful... Really! Pretty like flowers and rainbows and sometimes I think I should frame my favorite sentences and display them on the wall with my other art! I would like to elaborate more about a few things with this book but I don't want to give anything away so I'll end this here.
April 17, 2015
I just want to start off by saying that there is NOTHING that I can write to describe the beauty behind the words Sarah writes. All of her stories are... BEYOND perfection. This story was short but it spoke to my soul, it's not very often that you read something that makes your heart pound, but with the way this is written that happened. It wasn't what I was expecting and I am a little broken hearted but that's life, just like how this story felt.
Please don't ever stop writing Sarah, your work it's way to beautiful not to be shared with the world.
Please don't ever stop writing Sarah, your work it's way to beautiful not to be shared with the world.
April 16, 2015
The most unique and beautiful writing style I've ever had the pleasure of reading. A hypnotizing combination of poetic freedom and heartbreaking realism. My point isn't even to express how perfectly every word of her writing is crafted because my inability to do so will just stress me out. I just want this review to serve as a plea: Sarah, please write more! Your work is hot chocolate to the soul, a breath of fresh air, and we need moooorrrreeee. Pretty please with a Wedding Cake-Tutti Fruity-Bikini for breakfast on top.
May 3, 2015
I read this story as part of an anthology,(https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) I thought it was brilliant then and I bought the stand alone because anything written by Sarah Elizabeth is worth buying twice.
February 25, 2016
Wow! Sarah Elizabeth's writing is just so beautiful and captivating. It's heartfelt and soul-deep. You feel everything. She's got an amazing way with words and I'm so happy I read this book.
November 11, 2018
I didn't even bother to read the synopsis when I grabbed this one. I mean, it's written by Sarah Elizabeth, so it didn't matter to me one bit what it was about; there was no way I wasn't going to love it.
Sarah's writing style is unlike any other I've found, flowing and broken and wrapping you up in words. The story of CL and Lamb is frustrating and beautiful and heartbreaking, and even if I wasted time in telling you what the story is about, it wouldn't make a difference. It's two people trapped by circumstances and bound by more feeling than most will ever discover, and their story reads like shattered poetry, sharp and profound and utterly unforgettable.
It's a short story, a quick read that will resonate for days — or in my case, much longer. It broke my heart, and I loved every second of it.
May 8, 2015
This book was absolutely lovely - it was raw and electric and I thought about it for days after I finished it. I wanted more CL, I wanted to dig deep and know everything about him, and I ached for the ending. Having said that, if anyone at all could pull off having you fall in love with someone in a piece of writing so short, it's Sarah Elizabeth. I read this in less than two hours and by the time I finished, it felt like I'd know the characters for years, which is truly insane considering the length. Also, a random side note, I know; her writing amazes me. When she uses adjectives instead of names for placing her characters like "young and carefree looks over at me", it makes me want to cry. The web she weaves is beautiful and I want more more more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2015
My heartbeat.
Sarah sent me an advanced copy of this book. I'm so thankful and fortunate that she did.
This whole book gives you feels beyond....
Sarah has such a lyrical and poetic way of writing, of describing things. Of loving. She's got a big heart, amazing soul and beautiful words.
CL and Lamb.....they grab your heart with a vice grip and refuse to let go. I was thinking about this book and these characters long after I'd finished this book.
This book.....
It's about a boy, and a girl who started out as a delicate situation but became his heartbeat.
This story, these characters became mine <3
Thank you, Sarah.
Sarah sent me an advanced copy of this book. I'm so thankful and fortunate that she did.
This whole book gives you feels beyond....
Sarah has such a lyrical and poetic way of writing, of describing things. Of loving. She's got a big heart, amazing soul and beautiful words.
CL and Lamb.....they grab your heart with a vice grip and refuse to let go. I was thinking about this book and these characters long after I'd finished this book.
This book.....
It's about a boy, and a girl who started out as a delicate situation but became his heartbeat.
This story, these characters became mine <3
Thank you, Sarah.
January 3, 2016
Gorgeous story - the fluidity and emotion in the writing is striking, and the plot builds up so subtly and powerfully that you forget how fragile the romance is until the very end.
Highly recommend as a short read that'll really crawl into your heart and have you begging (and sobbing!) for more. I had really high expectations from the author after Innocents, but Don't Let Me Go was phenomenal.
Sarah Elizabeth is now officially one of my (very few) auto-buy authors. No questions asked.
Highly recommend as a short read that'll really crawl into your heart and have you begging (and sobbing!) for more. I had really high expectations from the author after Innocents, but Don't Let Me Go was phenomenal.
Sarah Elizabeth is now officially one of my (very few) auto-buy authors. No questions asked.
February 8, 2017
Honestly, I had no clue what I was getting into when I began reading this book. Its the first of any work written by Sarah Elizabeth that I have read and it will most definitely not be the last. I saw the cover and for some reason I was instantly drawn in. I have absolutely no regrets. The story is creative and wonderfully written. It tugs at your heart strings in such a beautiful way. I was not able to stop reading from page one I was hooked. I'm still emotionally reeling from reading this but by no means let that discourage you from picking it up. Do it, you won't regret it.
April 20, 2015
Sarah, Sarah, Sarah.. What can I say about this book? You nailed it. I can't even tell you. You've always had such a way with words. You make me smile and then break my heart with them. Truly, that is the biggest compliment I can give you. Thank you.
April 24, 2015
I am always drawn to Sarah's poetic way of writing. This one did end different than I expected coming from her.
June 8, 2015
La manera en que escribe Sarah es ese dolor que hace que te sientas más viva que nunca. Ese dolor que te hace gritar 'Bring it on!'
Sighs por Lamb y Cowardly Lion.
Sighs por Lamb y Cowardly Lion.
April 18, 2015
Feel dead and fully alive at the same time.I love her writing so so so much. I couldnt put this down! I'm sure I'll read about 10 more time.Just like everything she write,I read over and over.
April 27, 2015
I wanted more character development between CR and Lamb also a longer book lol. I wish this had more romance between them, but somehow it fit. Amazing writer, great mini story. Bravo.
June 9, 2015
5 stars!!!!!! 10 stars if I can
December 30, 2015
Gee.
Sarah Elizabeth's writing is...I have no words.
I'm left speechless by this story.
All the feels, all the damn feels.
Sarah Elizabeth's writing is...I have no words.
I'm left speechless by this story.
All the feels, all the damn feels.
April 21, 2022
I am in LOVE with Sarah Elizabeth's writing! The characters...mmmm...they are just right up my alley.
I want more books by her!!
I want more books by her!!
June 21, 2017
Sarah Elizabeth is SUCH a fantastic writer. She gets to me every. single. time. Gutted.
July 14, 2017
i will give you a five stars if the ending ....
August 22, 2023
*February 2016 Re-read: I swear I love Sarah more and more with every single word I read. I'm so 100% ready for more of Sarah's words and I can't wait until she releases NMD. Sarah is an incredible author, an incredibly lovely person and I love her words, her characters and just her so so much. (Side note: I forgot how much I loved Sonny. Apparently I have a thing for best-friend-characters????) *
Original Review - April 2015
I don't know how to put my thoughts into words right now, but I should start by saying that Sarah writes poetry in the form of novels and I could read her words forever and ever.
This is the third story I've read penned by Sarah and whether it's blue-turned-black eyed boys, ballet dancers or, now, CL and Lamb, I am always overwhelmed by what an incredible writer she is. I highlight half of the words on my kindle and write down too many quotes because so many of Sarah's words demand to be read over and over.
Don't Let Me Go is a story I went into without even reading the blurb. I didn't know exactly what to expect, and I think I loved the story more for it. Admittedly I'll probably read anything and everything Sarah ever writes without so much as a second thought, but if you haven't read anything Sarah has written before and you're not sure whether or not this story is for you; it is.
I've had a very emotional day and I picked up Don't Let Me Go with the intention of reading a couple of chapters before bed to de-stress. Instead, I finished the whole thing and feel like I've had a couple hundred extra turns on the emotional roller coaster that has been my day.
I wasn't expecting the ending. At all. It shouldn't have surprised me- Sarah has never shied away from grit and honesty in her writing, but it did and it broke my heart a whole lot. I felt such a strong emotional connection with CL and I have so much love for he and Lamb. And Sonny, because I have a serious soft spot for characters like Sonny.
Even knowing the ending, Don't Let Me Go is the kind of story I could read again and again and still feel the same emotional impact every single time.
Original Review - April 2015
I don't know how to put my thoughts into words right now, but I should start by saying that Sarah writes poetry in the form of novels and I could read her words forever and ever.
This is the third story I've read penned by Sarah and whether it's blue-turned-black eyed boys, ballet dancers or, now, CL and Lamb, I am always overwhelmed by what an incredible writer she is. I highlight half of the words on my kindle and write down too many quotes because so many of Sarah's words demand to be read over and over.
Don't Let Me Go is a story I went into without even reading the blurb. I didn't know exactly what to expect, and I think I loved the story more for it. Admittedly I'll probably read anything and everything Sarah ever writes without so much as a second thought, but if you haven't read anything Sarah has written before and you're not sure whether or not this story is for you; it is.
I've had a very emotional day and I picked up Don't Let Me Go with the intention of reading a couple of chapters before bed to de-stress. Instead, I finished the whole thing and feel like I've had a couple hundred extra turns on the emotional roller coaster that has been my day.
I wasn't expecting the ending. At all. It shouldn't have surprised me- Sarah has never shied away from grit and honesty in her writing, but it did and it broke my heart a whole lot. I felt such a strong emotional connection with CL and I have so much love for he and Lamb. And Sonny, because I have a serious soft spot for characters like Sonny.
Even knowing the ending, Don't Let Me Go is the kind of story I could read again and again and still feel the same emotional impact every single time.
February 16, 2023
Sarah's writing style grips me by the throat. Every. Damn. Time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews