The Last to Let Go: 5 reasons this February release is a must-read

5. The book tackles important subjects head-on

The Last to Let Go tackles domestic violence in an unflinching manner, one that addresses the effects abuse has on the parties involved and those who bear witness to it. The entire premise of the story centers around Brooke’s mother, who is arrested for murdering her abusive husband.

Deviating from the usual tales of domestic abuse, Smith’s novel also concentrates its energy on exploring the ways this abuse affects bystanders — more specifically, the children of the household. This perspective is one that isn’t frequently seen, making The Last to Let Go stand out in terms of its content.

When asked why she chose to write about this topic, Smith stated:

"Domestic violence is an issue I hold close to my heart, and it’s one that has impacted people who are very close to me. It’s such a widespread problem, yet I feel like there’s still so much silence, stigma, shame, and misunderstanding surrounding this kind of abuse. So one of the things I really wanted to explore in this book is how the cycle of abuse happens in the first place."

And by taking on abuse from the kids’ perspectives, we do get a glimpse into the cycle of abuse and what’s behind it. Toward the end, Brooke’s brother emphasizes how careful they need to be in handling their own relationships. He claims that if they aren’t conscious of their actions, it could be too easy to slip into either role — abuser or the abused. They’ve been taught to normalize both over the years.