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A review by 8bitreader
Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner
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.