If I Could Hold You Again

Collette Wolfe was on holidays in Lanzarote with her husband Anthony when they got the call that all parents most dread. Their beloved daughter Leanne had died, having taken her own life. On the morning of Leanne's funeral, her diaries were uncovered by her sister, and the family awakened to a nightmare within the nightmare: to witness in written form the devastation of years of unrelenting bullying by a group of Leanne's peers, and to have been powerless to prevent it.

There began a journey that brought Collette to the very edge of existence, as she contemplated taking her own life to end months of unbearable pain and suffering. Then, at her darkest moment, everything changed, and a new beginning opened up where she never imagined it was possible, one in which she would confront her own demons as a survivor of child abuse and rape, and ultimately, through the love of God, find hope and joy beyond measure.

Here, for the first time, she tells her story - interwoven with extracts from Leanne's diaries - to create an unforgettable book that will be cherished by anyone who has known darkness, and seeks hope.

Cork born and bred, Collette Wolfe is a mother, grandmother and activist. In 2007, her almost 18-year-old daughter Leanne took her own life after years of sustained bullying, which she documented in secret diaries, but never told her family about. Since discovering Leanne's diaries, Collette has worked tirelessly to educate young people across Ireland about the issues involved in bullying. She has been outspoken as the mother of a teenager who committed suicide in Ireland's media, appearing on The Late Late Show and Morning Ireland, among other shows. If I Could Hold You Again is her first book.

Brian Finnegan is a Dublin-based author, journalist, ghost-writer and editor. His debut novel, The Forced Redundancy Film Club, was a published in 2012, while his follow-up, Knowing Me Knowing You, was released to critical acclaim in 2014. Brian is one of Ireland's foremost ghost-writers, the name behind several bestselling autobiographies for Irish and international celebrities.

Collette Wolfe was on holidays in Lanzarote with her husband Anthony when they got the call that all parents most dread. Their beloved daughter Leanne had died, having taken her own life. On the morning of Leanne's funeral, her diaries were uncovered by her sister, and the family awakened to a nightmare within the nightmare: to witness in written form the devastation of years of unrelenting bullying by a group of Leanne's peers, and to have been powerless to prevent it. There began a journey that brought Collette to the very edge of existence, as she contemplated taking her own life to end months of unbearable pain and suffering. Then, at her darkest moment, everything changed, and a new beginning opened up where she never imagined it was possible, one in which she would confront her own demons as a survivor of child abuse and rape, and ultimately, through the love of God, find hope and joy beyond measure. Here, for the first time, she tells her story - interwoven with extracts from Leanne's diaries - to create an unforgettable book that will be cherished by anyone who has known darkness, and seeks hope.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.