I'll Be There

Holly Goldberg Sloan

May 2011 · Hachette+ORM

About this ebook

Emily Bell believes in destiny. To her, being forced to sing a solo in the church choir--despite her average voice--is fate: because it's while she's singing that she first sees Sam. At first sight, they are connected.
Sam Border wishes he could escape, but there's nowhere for him to run. He and his little brother, Riddle, have spent their entire lives constantly uprooted by their unstable father. That is, until Sam sees Emily. That's when everything changes.
As Sam and Riddle are welcomed into the Bells' lives, they witness the warmth and protection of a family for the first time. But when tragedy strikes, they're left fighting for survival in the desolate wilderness, and wondering if they'll ever find a place where they can belong. Beautifully written and emotionally profound, I'll Be There is a gripping story that explores the complexities of teenage passions, friendships, and loyalties.

Ratings and reviews

"I’ll Be There" is a beautifully told story that delves into the world of emotions as two young boys are taken from their mother by their unhinged father. They experience a lifetime of difficulties as they travel from place to place. The boy-meets-girl aspect is unlike most others, where happy endings are sure to occur. I don’t know what I was expecting when I began reading, but it wasn’t what I received when I turned the final page. Even now, I am stunned and amazed by the classy way Sloan told this heart-breaking story of love, trust, and destiny. The strength that Sam and Riddle share throughout their journey is so amazing, considering the things their father puts them through. From the kidnapping, loss of their mother, lack of education, and the insanity that plagues the father, in turn plaguing the boys, makes for a journey that I’m not sure that I could survive if I had been in their shoes. Regardless of which character you choose to fall in love with in this remarkable story, you will find that they all are likeable and easy to root for as you see each of them grow, strengthen, learn, and, finally, love. I can’t pick just one favorite because of this. Sloan’s development of the characters and the world they live in is remarkable. She holds nothing back as the boys come to the end of the journey with their father. As Sam and Riddle are continuously tested throughout the novel, you can’t imagine what will happen next until it does. Overall, "I’ll Be There" is an amazing story that will definitely pull at your emotions. Sloan’s realistic approach to the characters and their story is so authentic you may, and probably will, shed a tear for each of the young characters. While the cover is less than gorgeous, it is quite fitting to the journey within. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. This is a book you shouldn’t pass up.

This book completely blew me away! At first, I wasn't sure that I was going to finish it, but by page 50, I could not put it down! The love story is adorable, and I felt strong emotional connections with the characters throughout this book. I would definitely recommend this novel to a teen who is looking for a really good read.

A divine story for teens and adults, a magnificently written story by sloan, a 2015-2016 battle of the books, and a book that has shook our souls

About the author

Holly Goldberg Sloan is the author of the New York Times bestselling Counting by 7s and the highly acclaimed novel I'll Be There, and has written and directed a number of successful family feature films. She was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and spent her childhood living in California; the Netherlands; Istanbul; Washington, DC; and Oregon. The mother of two sons, Holly lives with her husband in Santa Monica, California.