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Before I'm Gone

By: Heidi McLaughlin
Narrated by: Christian Barillas, Kacy Combest
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Publisher's summary

New York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin tells a poignant story about living life to the fullest—and savoring the small moments along the way.

Palmer Sinclair has never needed anyone’s help. A successful loan officer, she’s all work and no play. But when splitting headaches and blurred vision begin to affect her job, she begrudgingly sees a doctor and receives a diagnosis that leaves her shaken to her core and with little time left. Facing an uncertain future, Palmer makes a bucket list, determined to do the things she’d only dreamed of before she goes.

Kent Wagner has dedicated his life to helping others. An army medic turned paramedic, he’s a regular at Palmer’s bank who makes his monthly car loan payments in person just to see her radiant smile. After responding to not one but two 911 calls involving Palmer, he learns about her bucket list. Touched by her circumstances—and needing a distraction from his own—Kent offers to take Palmer to the places on her list.

Neither is prepared for the emotional journey ahead…or how little time they have left together, but the friendship they find in that brief time might be the most lasting legacy of all.

©2023 by Heidi McLaughlin. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
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Critic reviews

“Palmer’s ability to find the beauty of life in the face of death makes her an admirable heroine. Readers should have tissues at the ready.”Publishers Weekly

What listeners say about Before I'm Gone

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The story was beautifully told.

This is a story about dying, but is well told and the characters are believable and relate well to one another. It is both happy and sad at the same time. Well done.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Love this book

I really like how they did the narration. Such a great book!!! It has such a storyline. It keeps you invested.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Life is never fare!

I liked how Palmer, who never had a family life met Kent, who had lived with his own family & had made different Life Families through his life; met & fell in Love & made their short life together full of Love to share with others.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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4.5 stars

Before I'm Gone by Heidi McLaughlin is a heartbreaking story about the aftereffects of a woman's symptoms being ignored by her (male) doctor. This is deeply angering as this happens in real life much more often than it ever needs to.

While I sympathized with Palmer, I didn't like a couple of her decisions that were selfish (yes, you're dying, but that doesn't mean you can't be an honest and decent person to Courtney without needing Kent to remind you of such). I deducted a star for this, among other things that irked me. However, I cried actual tears at the end, even though I knew it was coming, and that bumped it up to 4.5, rounded up to 5. I'll give Heidi another go if the subject is something I'm interested in.

Christian Barillas as Kent and Kacy Combest as Palmer are good narrators. They both talked too slow so I sped them up to 1.25.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Heart warming, touching

Loved the story of love, devotion and heartbreak. Cried happy and sad tears. Makes me want to make a bucket list.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A bucket list. Don’t wait

A book of compassion and caring. It will make you cry. Have tissues on hand

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful heartfelt story

I loved this story, the characters and the adventure they embarked upon. The narration was also done well.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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True Love

Something so pure, heart wrenching, all the love, the love we all wish we could find.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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The sweetest love story ever

A story that will show the true meaning of pure love. If you need a good cry or just something sweet to read this is the book to read!!! Makes me want to make a bucket list to.

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Loved it all

I absolutely loved this book. The story was beautifully written. Smiles, tears and heartbreak but so much love❤️

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