If I Die Tonight: A Novel

Modern, authentic, shocking: three words that describe Alison Gaylin’s If I Die Tonight. In the small town of Havenkill, New York, a star athlete is killed in a hit-and-run at 3:00 am. Why was he out at that hour? Who killed him? “Every story has a hero and a villain.” In typical American fashion, the deceased is awarded hero status, and the townsfolk deem a local high-schooler, Wade Reed, the villain. Social media becomes the court, judge, and jury. Wade’s family and secrets are at risk, and his already damaged soul cannot handle the pressure.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery, but it is a must-read for any mom of teen boys. Gaylin explores the relationship between mother and teenage son. She nails raising a son in today’s technological world. In the book, Jackie, Wade’s mom, refuses to check her son’s phone; she does not want to be “that mom.” Jackie excuses her intuition as mere overreacting. In doing so, she misses red flags that ultimately result in a series of tragic events for her family. If I Die Tonight is an excellent warning: women, listen to your intuition.