Out and proud, Riley Iverson knows there’s nothing more cringe than crushing on a straight boy. But from the moment that the handsome and sporty Jackson Haines walks into his life, Riley can’t help but feel an undeniable connection.
Mainly because, as impossible as it seems, Jackson is the spitting image of the boy who’s recently appeared in Riley’s dreams—dreams set in another time and another place where he and Jackson are desperately in love.
Soon these dreams morph into increasingly vivid nightmares. But no matter where or when these visions play out, two things remain constant: Riley and Jackson are always together, and they always die at the end.
Forced to consider the possibility that their burgeoning relationship might be propelling them headfirst into their own tragic ending, the boys have to decide: Is it worth staying apart to save their lives if the price is forsaking a love that has defied not only time and space but death itself?
Don’t Let Me Go is a highly original speculative YA fantasy romance. The story follows two teenage boys—Riley Iverson, out and proud, and Jackson Haines, an apparent heterosexual jock—who meet through mutual friend Dewey in present-day Florida. They start experiencing vivid shared dreams of past incarnations, where they were star-crossed lovers across centuries, only to tragically die together each time on Riley’s 18th birthday. As Riley and Jackson grow closer, they wonder whether to pursue love at the risk of repeating a tragic cycle.
The novel is a dual POV story, alternating between the 1st-person perspectives of Riley and Jackson. Each past-life memory brings with it fascinating historical context—such as Riley and Jackson as former selves “Lucius” and “Marcus” in Pompeii when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD! Each dream is vividly described and beautifully showcases the intensity of their connection—but always ends with their heartbreaking deaths!
There is a wonderful array of YA characters in this story. Riley is an intelligent and emotional protagonist. His openness about his sexual identity to friends and family is in stark contrast to Jackson’s internal conflict about his own sexuality, creating a compelling “opposites attract” scenario. Riley also has a tight-knit LGBTQ+ friend circle and a supportive father, who both encourage him to live authentically. Jackson’s move from Tallahassee to Orlando comes in the aftermath of him being blamed for an honest confession that cost the town a major championship win. Still processing the emotions of all that drama and residual feelings for his ex-girlfriend, he is, at first, hesitant to make new connections and spend time with Riley and his friends. Once he begins having dreams of his past lives with Riley, his intimate desires awaken, and their fated romance begins.
Jackson’s journey is one of self-acceptance, self-forgiveness, and new beginnings, and by the end of the novel his transformation is pronounced. He’s an inspiring character for anyone struggling with identity issues or having difficulties moving past judgments and expectations of others. Riley‘s arc, on the other hand, doesn’t feel fully resolved by the end. The effects of his mother’s abandonment are not fully explored and there is definitely more room for his growth. Aside from protagonists Riley and Jackson, there are several animated side characters who add humor and intrigue to the story, most of whom fall under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, including non-binary Dewey and lesbian girlfriends Audrey and Talla.
The story has a slow-burn start, but once the time-bending reincarnation narrative is established, the story really comes alive. The historical dream sequences take readers from 80 AD Pompeii to 8th-century Greenland to 16th-century France to WW2 London! In each instance, significant factual historical events are interwoven into the narrative to make the story very compelling. There are some twists and turns in the second half, followed by an emotionally charged conclusion that readers won’t soon forget! It’s also worth reading the author’s note at the end, where Snipes gives further insight into his reporting of historical events in the novel.
Overall, Don’t Let Me Go is an emotionally resonant, genre-bending speculative romance that stands out from conventional YA romance or coming-of-age stories. Fans of Adam Silvera’s Deathcast series will especially appreciate the similar themes and heart-wrenching, engrossing dream sequences. Anyone who loves unique, emotionally charged, thought-provoking, fated romance stories should immediately add this one to their list!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Don’t Let Me Go is a compelling and immersive listen narrated by the incredibly talented
Mark Sanderlin and Andrew Gibson! Sanderlin’s emotive, youthful voice is the perfect choice for emotional protagonist Riley. Sanderlin uses a variety of pacing and a lot of tension in his tone to perfectly capture the character’s bewilderment as he tries to make sense of his strange, vivid dreams. Sanderlin’s performance of the dialogue between Riley and his tight-knit LGBTQ+ circle of friends is a real highlight. Each character is given an engaging, authentic-sounding voice, and the strong bonds between friends are tangible. Sanderlin’s narration of the historical dreams—in particular those involving Lucius and Marcus in Pompeii—is exquisitely executed, with moments of heart-pounding suspense and heart-wrenching dialogue that will have listeners glued to their headsets. Sanderlin narrates the final chapter with such emotional intensity and conviction that listeners will be hanging on to every word, and it’s an ending that will linger long after the final word!
Andrew Gibson does a phenomenal job portraying Jackson, using a more laid-back, even tone to depict this introspective character. The dialogue scenes between Jackson and his aunt are especially well executed, with a nice combination of comedy and heartfelt sentiment infused into the performance. Gibson also provides distinct voices for the characters and makes each one sound real. What’s most impressive about his performance are the accents he uses when narrating the dreams—especially in the WW2 London and 16th-century France dreams—creating a fully immersive listening experience! Towards the end of the story, Gibson shifts his performance of Jackson using a more confident, self-assured tone, conveying a more self-accepting version of the character, which makes his transformation evident!
If you’re considering this book, the audiobook is the ultimate format! It’s an absolute must-listen for those who love queer YA romances or thought-provoking stories that linger. And if you haven’t listened to these narrators before, you’ll discover two top-notch voice actors with extensive audiobook catalogs that you’ll want to check out!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Don’t Let Me Go is a compelling and immersive listen narrated by the incredibly talented
Mark Sanderlin and Andrew Gibson! Sanderlin’s emotive, youthful voice is the perfect choice for emotional protagonist Riley. Sanderlin uses a variety of pacing and a lot of tension in his tone to perfectly capture the character’s bewilderment as he tries to make sense of his strange, vivid dreams. Sanderlin’s performance of the dialogue between Riley and his tight-knit LGBTQ+ circle of friends is a real highlight. Each character is given an engaging, authentic-sounding voice, and the strong bonds between friends are tangible. Sanderlin’s narration of the historical dreams—in particular those involving Lucius and Marcus in Pompeii—is exquisitely executed, with moments of heart-pounding suspense and heart-wrenching dialogue that will have listeners glued to their headsets. Sanderlin narrates the final chapter with such emotional intensity and conviction that listeners will be hanging on to every word, and it’s an ending that will linger long after the final word!
Andrew Gibson does a phenomenal job portraying Jackson, using a more laid-back, even tone to depict this introspective character. The dialogue scenes between Jackson and his aunt are especially well executed, with a nice combination of comedy and heartfelt sentiment infused into the performance. Gibson also provides distinct voices for the characters and makes each one sound real. What’s most impressive about his performance are the accents he uses when narrating the dreams—especially in the WW2 London and 16th-century France dreams—creating a fully immersive listening experience! Towards the end of the story, Gibson shifts his performance of Jackson using a more confident, self-assured tone, conveying a more self-accepting version of the character, which makes his transformation evident!
If you’re considering this book, the audiobook is the ultimate format! It’s an absolute must-listen for those who love queer YA romances or thought-provoking stories that linger. And if you haven’t listened to these narrators before, you’ll discover two top-notch voice actors with extensive audiobook catalogs that you’ll want to check out!
The audiobook of Don’t Let Me Go is a compelling and immersive listen narrated by the incredibly talented
Mark Sanderlin and Andrew Gibson! Sanderlin’s emotive, youthful voice is the perfect choice for emotional protagonist Riley. Sanderlin uses a variety of pacing and a lot of tension in his tone to perfectly capture the character’s bewilderment as he tries to make sense of his strange, vivid dreams. Sanderlin’s performance of the dialogue between Riley and his tight-knit LGBTQ+ circle of friends is a real highlight. Each character is given an engaging, authentic-sounding voice, and the strong bonds between friends are tangible. Sanderlin’s narration of the historical dreams—in particular those involving Lucius and Marcus in Pompeii—is exquisitely executed, with moments of heart-pounding suspense and heart-wrenching dialogue that will have listeners glued to their headsets. Sanderlin narrates the final chapter with such emotional intensity and conviction that listeners will be hanging on to every word, and it’s an ending that will linger long after the final word!
Andrew Gibson does a phenomenal job portraying Jackson, using a more laid-back, even tone to depict this introspective character. The dialogue scenes between Jackson and his aunt are especially well executed, with a nice combination of comedy and heartfelt sentiment infused into the performance. Gibson also provides distinct voices for the characters and makes each one sound real. What’s most impressive about his performance are the accents he uses when narrating the dreams—especially in the WW2 London and 16th-century France dreams—creating a fully immersive listening experience! Towards the end of the story, Gibson shifts his performance of Jackson using a more confident, self-assured tone, conveying a more self-accepting version of the character, which makes his transformation evident!
If you’re considering this book, the audiobook is the ultimate format! It’s an absolute must-listen for those who love queer YA romances or thought-provoking stories that linger. And if you haven’t listened to these narrators before, you’ll discover two top-notch voice actors with extensive audiobook catalogs that you’ll want to check out!
