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Praise for Give

"Give is a striking, often unflinching, depiction of a doomed marriage and its enduring consequences. Erica Witsell is a very talented writer and her debut should garner a wide and appreciative audience." 

          – Ron Rash, author of the 2009 PEN/Faulkner Finalist and New York Times bestselling novel Serena, in addition to four other prizewinning novels

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“A very unusual family saga written with unusual intelligence and compassion. Erica Witsell has a gift for depicting complex relationships.”

         Phyllis Rose, author of  Parallel Lives, Jazz Cleopatra, and The Shelf

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" . . . [a] striking debut novel . . . The plot rolls toward a climax that is both incredible and fascinating. Witsell has crafted a story of relationships, love and guilt that, while dramatically complex, underscores the challenges of humans linked by family ties."

        - Shelf Awareness (Cheryl Krocker McKeon, Book Passage, San Francisco)

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"I was mesmerized by this gutsy debut novel. Witsell's characters are richly drawn, showing us their grit, pain, softness, and most of all, their glorious complexity. This novel reveals a family that defies expectations and flirts with disaster, and Witsell expertly showcases how alliances between family members are constantly shifting. I found myself deeply invested in the characters and rooting for them to find their way through the beautiful chaos of life, as Witsell bravely portrays it. This novel is a must read." 

        – Andrea Bobotis, author of The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt

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“What will you give for your family—love, forgiveness, second chances? Everything you are? What if they don’t give back? Give shines a light across the best and worst of us all, asking what will you give? At times subtle and at times cutting to the quick, Give digs deep into the heart and soul of a family as connected as it is torn apart. Give pulls no punches, delivering an honest look into the lengths we will go for family. What we will give and what we won’t.”            

        – Amy  Willoughby-Burle, author of  The Lemonade Year

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“This is a gripping narrative about family, identity, and loyalty. The themes are both uniquely modern and timeless. I fell in love with the characters as they struggled to understand themselves and reconcile with one another. Beautifully written!” 

        – Kate Rademacher, author of Following the Red Bird

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“This is an engrossing novel about family and forgiveness. Tracing the lives of five characters over the span of thirty years, Erica C. Witsell shows us that family is about choice as much as it is about blood and that sacrifice and selfishness both play a role in how we parent and love.”

        – Sarah Viren, author of Mine

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"[A] lovely coming of age story that shows an honest portrait of a family that loves each other but may not always know the best ways to show it. "

       – Andrea, Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA

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"I closed this astonishing novel . . . fully satiated as if after a wonderful meal. Erica Witsell is an astonishing new (to me) talent."

       – Janet, Avid Bookshop, Athens, GA

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Give’s imagery is spot-on, excellent dialogue, . . . and a sly sense of humor. Very poignant! This novel won’t let go of me.”
     – Jenny Anna Linde-Rhine,  Zinnig

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“Put it down and you’ll be thinking about it until you pick it back up again. Which will be as soon as possible.”
    – Lindsey Grossman, www.lindseyliving.com

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". . . Witsell's prose is both lyrical and believable, particularly in her authentic and honest dialogue between women. In its earnest, unrestrained exploration of sisterhood, Give is a groundbreaking approach to the timeless themes of loss, love, and loyalty."

      – News @ Wesleyan, You Just Have to Read This Book 

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"Erica Witsell's debut novel is a treasure. What makes it a treasure is how it tells the story of a family not that different from yours or mine, in a way that keeps pulling you back, page after page, chapter after chapter. . . Erica is a superb story teller, and her book deserves to be read by as many book lovers as possible." 

       – Jon Mayes, Advanced Reading Copy

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"Give is going to be one of those books that will stay with me forever, and one that I will recommend to anyone who is willing to listen." 

     – Madeline Lacy, Exciting Summer Releases

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 ". . . grabbed me by the heart and wouldn't let go . . . Everything about this book feels real, genuine, and honest." 

    - Sunrise Books, Read This! Books with Street Creed 

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"Erica Witsell is a natural writer, with a style that flows like butter. .  . Very memorable and well-crafted."

    - Brenda Sargent, Roslyn Public Library

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