Goodbye to You

It is nice to see a romance novel that is also able to face some serious issues in a sensitive way. I enjoyed reading it very much. At times, I felt that that SHE was trying too hard to push him away – almost creating a “self-fulfilling prophecy” – even if it is understandable, where she is coming from to begin with. However, it is a good thing HE did not let her push him away. Having problems of his own to deal with, he was still a very sweet and sensitive person. It was a nice change comparing it to other novels where usually the guys would have to be “the sensitive Bad Boy” in a similar setting. Overall, a recommendable story in a well-written form that I managed in one session - go ahead and enjoy. > > > I have received this Book as an ARC from the Publisher < < < > > > In Exchange I promised an honest Review < < <

As the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, I was drawn to Thea’s story. It’s fresh twist on new adult romance, one with a darker core. Goodbye to You has one of the strongest opening chapters in the genre I’ve read in a long time. It hooks from the opening page. Thea and her friends head to the Florida Keys to squeeze in some hard partying before Thea undergoes a radical prophylactic mastectomy. This is not a decision any woman makes lightly and Thea approaches her decision with grace and humor, and possibly a little cynicism. Plot While on her party-til-you-drop trip, Thea meets Shay, who is too yummy for words and decides he’s the perfect boy to ride into her wild sunset. Because she’s sure once her boobs are gone, no guy will ever see her as sexy again. As a large-breasted girl, I can totally relate to your boobs being your “thing” so this really resonated with me. What should have just been a summer fling turns into something more when Shay happens to be attending the same college as Thea. Things become complicated, heartbreaking, and raw. While these characters are still teens, they are on the older side of the spectrum, but angst still runs strong through their veins as they make poor decisions, stupid mistakes, and try to backpedal through it all. Characters I adore Thea. She’s witty, charming, and incredibly sweet, but she’s damaged and deeply flawed as a result. There are times I wanted to shake her for the idiotic things she does, but I always understood why she did said acts of stupidity. She has a deep and layered backstory that so perfectly shapes her character, that she is nearly a living, breathing person. Shay is not perfect, but he perfect for Thea. He puts up with a lot more than most guys would, but still manages to remain authentically a dude. Bottom Line Despite the dark underlying thread, this is a sweet romance with enough heat for the genre and solid characters. If you’re looking for something a little different in a contemporary new adult romance, give Goodbye to You a try. Disclaimer I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Such a sweet and sensual story.  I love the history and story line and couldn't wait to see how it played out for them. As I was reading I couldn't see any big twists or drama coming but still sucked me in and made me want more of these two characters.  The characters are great, real and whole. I actually felt like I was there with them as they snorkeled and boated. "I'm confident i'll at least be presentable while tripping over my tongue, and hopefully falling into her." There is a scene where he prepares to meet her father and this scene is so sweet and touching. I actually felt for the poor bugger lol. I really like Shay. The conversation on the couch melted my heart. It was incredible.  This isn't a drama filled, hot sexual tear your panties off read. It's a warm, fuzzy, emotional love story. If you want a book that will make you feel good then this is it for you. It isn't all flowers and rainbows but it is touching. The writing style is easy and flows, making it a really good book to sink into and get swept away. The author has a way with words that warms the soul. If you grab this book I don't think you'll be disappointed, I know I wasn't!

With all the romance I read, it was nice to pick up a book that has all the standard elements but would still be just a little different. Thea is lively and spirited, responsible and smart, and she's been handed some really screwy genetics. She lost her mother to breast cancer, and then she spent her summer seeing her sister Jen through brutal cancer treatments. It's no wonder that when her own tests come back showing she has up to an 80% chance of developing the disease herself, she elects to cut out the potential culprits. It was interesting to see this kind of decision and loss from the perspective of someone so young, especially since the author didn't toss Thea down into some angst-filled pit of loss over her mother and sister. That Thea was large-breasted actually makes it a little scarier, since the chances of early detection are smaller in that situation, hence the higher mortality rate. It also meant that Thea couldn't look on the somewhat bright side that I've known many women to force a smile about — at least they can get implants and have a little more up top. Shay is incredibly sweet but not perfect, either. What stood out about his character development, though, was that he was not portrayed as simply this perfect guy. He was too shy to approach Thea, embarrassed when his uncle forced an introduction, and trying damned hard not to move too fast in his undeniable attraction to Thea. The conflict,comes from Thea's reluctance to let Shay know what she's about to undergo. Thea's all too aware that some men just can't hack it. It's entirely understandable that she's afraid of bursting the romantic bubble she and Shay are in by telling him she's going to be scarred and “less womanly” soon. I will admit that Thea's dramatics in trying to cut Shay loose were a little annoying. He was a medical student who chose his future specialty to address the problems in his own family line. That didn't guarantee that he'd be man enough to deal with the ugliness of surgery, but if there was anyone who could understand… But while he had pretty much the perfect, supportive reaction to everything at that point, it seemed rather rushed and a little too good to be true. I'm not saying he should have walked out of her life, but since some of the book was written in his POV, I would have liked to see him grapple with their new reality a bit more. Overall, Goodbye to You is a very sweet story that deals with a very serious issue in a positive way. It also doesn't hurt that Shay's a real sweetheart, and their bedroom scenes are all kinds of hot. Despite the serious undertones, it's a rather lighthearted read, and it's quite a feat that the author managed to tackle a tough subject like this with both accuracy and sensitivity in the middle of a charming love story. ***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Even so, we're far too opinionated to let a freebie influence our thoughts or the contents of the reviews we post here.

       As the child of a breast cancer survivor, this book was a flashback to my mother dealing with her time with breast cancer. Thea has a family history of breast cancer with her mother and sister having faced it, and her mother losing the fight. Thea has been tested for the breast cancer gene, and found to have it at such a young age. Her decision to have a double mastectomy as a way not to get breast cancer is the whole premise of the book.       On a trip to celebrate her last days before the life changing surgery. Thea and her two friends travel to Key West. There, she meets Shay, who has family issues of his own. Thea is looking for one last fling before her surgery.         Thea’s decision is a hard one for someone her age, or any age. Reading about her decision to have surgery instead of waiting to see if she would ever have breast cancer should help anyone who faces this hard decision.  I truly enjoyed Goodbye To You, and look forward to more from this author who has written about a tough issue.

I'm giving this book a 5 for several reasons. And these are in no particular order. 1. Shay. I'm just saying. Yes, he's got the looks that we all love to drool over...oh maybe I'm the only one who actually drools...but he's also a good guy. In the book world of bad boys (which I also like to read sometimes) it's so nice and refreshing to read some honest to goodness good guys. Not that he's perfect by any means but what he does for her erases any moments of douchery. (Honestly. That's a word.) 2. There were moments that I wanted to shake Thea. This happens for me in a lot of books, sometimes my own, but for Thea these moments were understandable. She was making a huge decision that would affect the entire rest of her life and change the way she looks at herself and the way others look at her. She's going to experience some not great moments especially after the surgery. 3. Thea made me think. Given the situation I'd say I'd make the same decision as her but reading someone going through made me realize just how hard that would be. I would still do it though. Her worries were real, her reactions were real. I could list many more things about Goodbye to You but I think I'd end up getting spoilery. So read it for yourself. Also, I want to meet Liam the hotter brother. What?