The day Raquel has been dreading for months has finally arrived. Sasha, her best friend in the whole world, has died of cancer. Overwhelmed and brokenhearted, Raquel can’t even imagine life without her.
And then a letter from Sasha arrives. Has she somehow found a way to communicate from beyond the grave?
In fact, Sasha spent her final weeks planning an elaborate scavenger hunt for the friend … hunt for the friend she would have to leave behind. When Raquel follows the instructions to return to Sasha’s grave, a mysterious stranger with striking eyes is waiting for her. There’s a secret attached to this boy that only Sasha — and now Raquel — knows.
This boy, Elijah, might be just who Raquel needs to help her move on from her terrible loss. But can Raquel remain true to herself while also honoring her friend’s final wish?
Cheyanne Young’s compulsively readable breakout novel offers abiding friendship and forbidden romance, along with an incisive look at how class differences shape who we are and who we grow to be.
more
So, when you read a book that deals with cancer, it’s a given. You will cry. Well, with this one…I ugly cried. Not pretty, folks. But, I also laughed and even cheered. And I enjoyed the author’s wit too. This is a good book. You will cry, but it is so worth it.
This book gave me all the feels! I was hooked from page one and couldn’t wait to find out about Raquel and Elijah’s adventures. I laughed and cried. The characters are strong, the story telling is solid, and this is one of my absolute favorites of 2018!
Cheyanne Young and I share the same literary agent so I got the chance to read her beautiful Contemporary YA while traveling recently and it made me cry on two different airplanes! It’s full of heartwarming friendship, heartbreaking loss, and heart-pounding romance. A story that will leave an ache in your heart and a smile on your face. Keep an eye out for this one in October!
This is such a heartfelt book. I highly recommend for anyone who’s lost someone close to them, or anyone who loves a great redemption story.
Raquel’s best friend in the whole world, Sasha, is dying of cancer. But even though Sasha loses her battle with cancer she’s not truly gone because in the months leading up to her passing she has left her best friend letters and videos to go on a kind of scavenger hunt of adventures, which in turn helps Raquel through her grieving and ultimately to come out of Sasha’s shadow. Along the way Raquel meets Elijah, Sasha’s biological brother whom Sasha tracked down and met through an adoption site but not in person.
What a beautiful, wonderful story of friendship, first love, hope and family; yes it broke my heart but it was also sweet and heartwarming and had me admiring the amazing friendship that Raquel and Sasha have and how strong their bond was even after Sasha’s death. I think it was wonderful that Sasha gave such a wonderful gift to Raquel; to have her know that her best friend is still with her somehow and encouraging her along the way. I’d definitely put this book among my favorite ya contemporary reads, absolutely recommended!
I loved this book! It drew me in from the first chapter and was one of those books that kept me up too late at night. Based on the premise, I thought the book might be sad, but it really wasn’t. It was more about healing after a tragic loss. The pace was quick and the characters were likable and well developed. Although this book is about a senior in high school and a boy a couple of years older, as a mother, there isn’t anything in the book that I would worry about if I gave it to a tween on up.
Poignant and heartwarming…
*I received a copy of this book free for my honest review*
This book has managed to break my heart and mend it. Many times. I could feel like crying my eyes out in one chapter and joyous the next. This book is just so freaking amazing.
I really feel like the idea of this book is similar to Thirteen Reasons Why. Just done WAY better. This is something that Netflix should definitely adapt. I would have to have tissues next to me with every episode.
I love Raquel. And I love Sasha. That’s the kind of friendship that doesn’t come around often and I’m super jealous that they found that. Sasha is the kind of friend that everyone needs. Even in death, she’s an amazing friend. Sasha has plans for Raquel after she passes. Awesome plans. I don’t know how she planned them out but it just had me in awe that someone fighting cancer managed to do all of this.
The romance in this book is beautiful. It’s a friends to lovers trope. But I mean, that’s perfectly fine. It didn’t happen instantly and I loved that. I love that with every adventure Sasha gives Raquel and Elijah, they get closer.
I loved the family dynamics in this book. Both families are perfect. And for the Cades to continue to see Sasha’s best friend after death is amazing. Even helping her out when needed. I really loved that Cheyanne didn’t make Raquel’s family feel any less than the Cades. Even if they don’t have the same privilege as Sasha’s family, they’re still very loving.
I loved this book. But there’s one thing I need to know. How did Sasha pull all of this off?? I need to know. ASAP.
This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year. Hell, it’s made it’s way up to my favorites of all time. It’s so beautiful.
Thank you so much Cheyanne for sending me a copy of your amazing book. Thank you for blessing my reading life with this masterpiece.
5/5 Stars