Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Letting Go: The Defiant Sisters Duet, Book1 by Jacquie Biggar is a compelling coming-of-age story of sisters Renee and Izzy Thomas. When their father committed suicide, both lost their innocence and they begin separate journeys that led to transformation. Renee left town, went to college, and stayed away from Izzy, their mother, and little brother Benjamin for two years. She also left behind a romantic relationship with Simon. Izzy, on the other hand, stayed home and took care of Benjamin and their ailing mother. When their mother died, Renee came back to make amends and face her past. Izzy made it clear that she was not welcome home. Her little brother barely knows her and is coping with the loss by withdrawing from the world. Simon is about to get married to the mayor’s daughter.

Jacquie Biggar’s Letting Go deals with family tragedy, love, and restoration. Regretting her decision to run away from her past, Renee is back home to face the past and the ramifications of her decision. The narrative is told from the points of view of Izzy, Renee, and Simon, and provides readers with the innermost thoughts of the main protagonists. The author brings us into the hearts and minds of the characters as they shed their youthful innocence and become more aware adults, which makes Letting Go an intimate and emotional read. This is a story that will tug at every reader’s heart.