The Last Time We Say Goodbye
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4.0 • 16 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
In the tradition of Thirteen Reasons Why and All the Bright Places, The Last Time We Say Goodbye is a deeply affecting novel that will change the way you look at life and death.
From New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand comes a stunning, heart-wrenching novel of love and loss, which ALA Booklist called "both shatteringly painful and bright with life and hope" in a starred review.
Since her brother, Tyler, committed suicide, Lex has been trying to keep her grief locked away, and to forget about what happened that night. But as she starts putting her life, her family, and her friendships back together, Lex is haunted by a secret she hasn't told anyone—a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.
A Heart-Wrenching Story of Grief: Lex is a survivor, left to pick up the pieces after her brother Tyler’s suicide. But moving on feels impossible when she’s the only one who knows the truth about that night.A Haunting Secret: A single text message. A call she didn’t answer. Lex is carrying a secret that could have changed everything, and it’s tearing her apart from the inside out.Fractured Family and Friendships: With her family shattered and her friends kept at a distance, Lex tries to navigate her pain alone. But the people who love her, including her ex-boyfriend Steven, won’t give up on her.An Unforgettable First Love: She pushed him away when she needed him most, but their story isn’t over. This poignant, character-driven novel explores the enduring power of connection in the midst of tragedy.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hand (the Unearthly trilogy) shifts to realistic fiction with the story of Lexie, a math star and unashamed nerd whose biggest problems are the aftereffects of her parents' divorce and wondering whether she'll get into MIT. Then her younger brother, Ty, commits suicide. When the book opens, seven weeks after Ty's death, Lexie's grades have slipped, she has broken up with her boyfriend, and she feels like she might be going crazy. During the two-month span over which the novel is set, Lexie sees a therapist (reluctantly), reunites with an old friend, withstands another suicide in her Nebraska high school, and learns more about what Ty was thinking. Hand's writing can be stiff, and Lexie's ex-boyfriend, Steven, is a too-perfect cipher, but she persuasively conveys the aftermath of suicide and the ways those left behind struggle with grief, anger, and guilt. Although Lexie's movement from paralysis to possibility is a little quick, her range of emotions is believable, and Hand is effective at showing how guilt can impede one's ability to move through tragedy. Ages 13 up.
