Scan barcode
8bitreader's review
5.0
Heartbreaking, gritty, and surprisingly funny, Goodbye Days is one of the most impactful YA novels I've ever read. The way that it goes about depicting loss and grief is impressive on its own but, combined with the titular "goodbye days" in which protagonist Carver celebrates his friends' lives with their families adds a new layer of absolutely heartwrenching appeal.
I won't lie. I teared up more than once while reading this book, and often for characters I never expected to empathize so strongly with. Zentner is able to craft the narrative in such a way that there is no true antagonist. To some degree, everyone is understandable, but not everyone gets along, and sometimes things just don't work out. I found this to be one of the strongest themes the book presents.
Finally, this book is beautifully written. Conversations are crafted so seamlessly together, and they read like a dream, especially those between Carver and this therapist.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes YA--just be sure to buckle up and have a box of tissues handy.
I won't lie. I teared up more than once while reading this book, and often for characters I never expected to empathize so strongly with. Zentner is able to craft the narrative in such a way that there is no true antagonist. To some degree, everyone is understandable, but not everyone gets along, and sometimes things just don't work out. I found this to be one of the strongest themes the book presents.
Finally, this book is beautifully written. Conversations are crafted so seamlessly together, and they read like a dream, especially those between Carver and this therapist.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes YA--just be sure to buckle up and have a box of tissues handy.
allieonreading's review
5.0
WOW. This book had be tearing up on almost every page. What a beautiful and heart-wrenching depiction of grief and guilt. This was gorgeous.
emilyyyytug's review
4.25
I loved the character and the writing. But I take suchhhh issue with the legal case.
abbyl819's review
4.0
4.5-4.75 stars
This book affected me a lot more than I had expected it to. It was written so well and so emotionally, that I couldn't help but choke up in many instances throughout the story. The concept of having a goodbye day for each of his friend,s regardless of whether he wanted to because he feels like he owes it to them was such a unique topic. My favorite of these had to be Mars' father's. It was the most emotional, and confrontational of all of them. Despite this, I also think it was the one that affected both Carver and the parent the most. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a well written and emotional contemporary read that will make you continue to think long after you have finished it.
This book affected me a lot more than I had expected it to. It was written so well and so emotionally, that I couldn't help but choke up in many instances throughout the story. The concept of having a goodbye day for each of his friend,s regardless of whether he wanted to because he feels like he owes it to them was such a unique topic. My favorite of these had to be Mars' father's. It was the most emotional, and confrontational of all of them. Despite this, I also think it was the one that affected both Carver and the parent the most. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a well written and emotional contemporary read that will make you continue to think long after you have finished it.
rileywoods's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
allison_rachell's review
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bethany6788's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I don’t have the words to express exactly what Jeff Zentner’s books mean to me, but I will try my hardest and truly, I’d love to meet him someday so I can tell him in person how much his books have changed my life. I have one book left on his backlist and I am planning to read it before Colton comes out in a couple weeks.
*spoilers below*
I want to protect Carver with my whole heart and soul. The goodbye days concept was harrowing and emotional and so raw. My heart just broke for him. He lost his best friends in a horrific, tragic accident and he believes he is at fault.. along with many others.
I am failing to come up with the right words, so I’m going to use quotes from the book.
“I sometimes look at my bookshelf now and think about how someday I’m going to die without ever reading a lot of the books there. And one might be life-changingly good and I’ll never know.”
“No one knows how anybody lives through anything. People just do.”
“Pareidolia…it’s when your mind sees a pattern you recognize where there isn’t one.”
“Our memories of our loved ones are the pearl that we form around the grain of grief that causes us pain.”
“For the most part, you don’t hold the people you love in your heart because they rescued you from drowning or pulled you from a burning house. Mostly you hold them in your heart because they save you in a million quiet and perfect ways from being alone.”
“I have fallen in love with her quietly. A movement evading my notice. The sun crossing the sky. It crept into my heart, like vines overgrowing a stone wall.”
“The night air tastes like chilled apple cider and the sky breathes with stars.”
“I’m really lonely…I want to be happy again before I die. That’s all I want.”
“You have a love heart, separate from your grieving heart, or your guilt heart, or your fear heart. All can be individually broken in their own way.”
“I tell him I hope.”
Thank you @jeffzentner for this gorgeous story. I’ll never forget it. Carver will be in my heart.
*spoilers below*
I want to protect Carver with my whole heart and soul. The goodbye days concept was harrowing and emotional and so raw. My heart just broke for him. He lost his best friends in a horrific, tragic accident and he believes he is at fault.. along with many others.
I am failing to come up with the right words, so I’m going to use quotes from the book.
“I sometimes look at my bookshelf now and think about how someday I’m going to die without ever reading a lot of the books there. And one might be life-changingly good and I’ll never know.”
“No one knows how anybody lives through anything. People just do.”
“Pareidolia…it’s when your mind sees a pattern you recognize where there isn’t one.”
“Our memories of our loved ones are the pearl that we form around the grain of grief that causes us pain.”
“For the most part, you don’t hold the people you love in your heart because they rescued you from drowning or pulled you from a burning house. Mostly you hold them in your heart because they save you in a million quiet and perfect ways from being alone.”
“I have fallen in love with her quietly. A movement evading my notice. The sun crossing the sky. It crept into my heart, like vines overgrowing a stone wall.”
“The night air tastes like chilled apple cider and the sky breathes with stars.”
“I’m really lonely…I want to be happy again before I die. That’s all I want.”
“You have a love heart, separate from your grieving heart, or your guilt heart, or your fear heart. All can be individually broken in their own way.”
“I tell him I hope.”
Thank you @jeffzentner for this gorgeous story. I’ll never forget it. Carver will be in my heart.
kvreadsandrecs's review
5.0
Have I already decided on a favorite book of 2017? If not, I choose this one. If so, I choose this one along with whatever else I had previously chosen. Holy shoot. This book was incredible. Raw. Gut wrenching. Heartbreaking. Emotional. I loved every minute of it. The writing was beautiful and I highlighted practically the whole book. Jeez.
Pro tip: don't read this in the company of others. You will ugly cry.
Pro tip: don't read this in the company of others. You will ugly cry.
analyticalchaos's review
4.0
Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner follows our main character Carver, a high schooler in the midst of one fo the greatest tragedies of his life. His three closest friends have died in a car accident, which has been allegedly caused by a text sent to the phone of the driver.
Who sent that text? Carver.
Suddenly, Carver is tossed into a maze of grief, reconciliation, and guilt. Carver must confront his anxiety and depression head on.
This book had an engaging premise that spoke to the mixed journey of loss. Each of the families had coped differently, sometimes negatively and sometimes positively. Each friendship was so vibrant and unique. I will admit that a certain character was not fully developed. I was disappointed that this character succumbed to a stereotype, especially considering how crucial he was to the story.
The role of support and therapy in this novel was truthful. Often therapy is stigmatized or misunderstood. The role of the therapist was not underestimated.
Overall, this read brought me to tears. This book will stick with me for a while.
Who sent that text? Carver.
Suddenly, Carver is tossed into a maze of grief, reconciliation, and guilt. Carver must confront his anxiety and depression head on.
This book had an engaging premise that spoke to the mixed journey of loss. Each of the families had coped differently, sometimes negatively and sometimes positively. Each friendship was so vibrant and unique. I will admit that a certain character was not fully developed. I was disappointed that this character succumbed to a stereotype, especially considering how crucial he was to the story.
The role of support and therapy in this novel was truthful. Often therapy is stigmatized or misunderstood. The role of the therapist was not underestimated.
Overall, this read brought me to tears. This book will stick with me for a while.