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This is What Goodbye Looks Like
Lea Holder watched a boy die in the same DUI accident that ruined Lea’s legs and threw her little sister into a coma. As the only eye-witness to the accident, if she tells the truth in court, the drunk driver will go to prison and the dead boy’s family will have justice.
But Lea lies.
If she had told the truth, Lea would have put her own mom in prison for causing the accident. With the trial over and her mom set free, Lea attempts to rebuild her shattered life as she waits for her little sister to wake from her coma.
When Lea transfers schools, she finds herself in the same senior class as Seth Ashbury, the brother of the boy her mom killed. As Lea gets to know the person buried underneath Seth's grief, she quickly falls for his quick wit and passionate soul. But Seth remains completely oblivious that Lea is the same girl who robbed his family of justice.
As their relationship deepens, Lea finally gets a taste of the love that’s been missing from her life since the accident. But soon she’s faced with a choice: she can continue her lies and accept the comfort it gives them both. Or she can tell Seth the truth about everything, and risk destroying both her family and her newfound love.
But Lea lies.
If she had told the truth, Lea would have put her own mom in prison for causing the accident. With the trial over and her mom set free, Lea attempts to rebuild her shattered life as she waits for her little sister to wake from her coma.
When Lea transfers schools, she finds herself in the same senior class as Seth Ashbury, the brother of the boy her mom killed. As Lea gets to know the person buried underneath Seth's grief, she quickly falls for his quick wit and passionate soul. But Seth remains completely oblivious that Lea is the same girl who robbed his family of justice.
As their relationship deepens, Lea finally gets a taste of the love that’s been missing from her life since the accident. But soon she’s faced with a choice: she can continue her lies and accept the comfort it gives them both. Or she can tell Seth the truth about everything, and risk destroying both her family and her newfound love.
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Published June 17, 2016
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767 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Rivers
32 books353 followersOlivia Rivers is an award-winning author of Young Adult fiction. Her works include Tone Deaf, which was awarded a place on the American Library Association's "Quick Picks" list, and In the Hope of Memories, which has been optioned for film. Olivia enjoys experimenting with new publishing technologies, and her online serials have received over 1,000,000 hits on Wattpad.com. She is represented by Laurie McLean of Fuse Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
August 15, 2016
"ARC provided by Red Sparrow Press in exchange for an honest review"
THIS book was Unexpectably Wow !! Not 5 stars factor but YET a MUST read! It was like a EMOTIONAL ride like a roller coaster where you know you won't enjoy that much but still you take it, this book is totally like that !! LIKE I SAID WOW!! This book shocked me :) & I'm happy to be shocked!!
This book is all about Pain, Love, Death, Regrets, Lie's and Mainly Moving On.
This is the story of Lea Holder a girl torn between telling the truth or tellling a lie to save her sister & endup living a life of regrets.
Thats what she choosed "to live a life of regrets".
Lea's decision still didn't help her family to be strong & not to fall apart! With her sister in coma and a brother that left the house and a mother facing trails didb't help much the regret that was creeping her life!! With Parker Ashbury's death infront of lea, she can't help but regret every single decision of her & hense came her decision to go to Seth's college to know what was the reason "The Ashburys" were still strong enough where her family was falling apart!!
So, she made a decision and transfer the schools, whats she didn't thought to find was that Ashburys are as fallen apart as her family was. Not only that but she didn't think she will fall heads over heels in love with a guy she least expected. Seth ashbury was the last guy she thought she can be in love but as she spend more time with him, she realize what her lie did that to him & her family. GOD can someone give me a second and let me fuss about HOW PERFECT THAT GUY IS/WAS!! THE TRUE EMBOIMENT OF A PERFECTLY BROKEN GUY!!! OH SHIT.. i was in pain just reading about him. i almost winse whenever Parker's name was mentioned!! The LOSS i can certainly know how it feels!! But SETH he was.. BRAVE, STRONG, STUBBORN, AMAZING
But what will happen when seth finds out who lea really is? will he still love her? will al she get will be snatched out of her hands ! and she will be lonely again with the guilt which is killing her?
Will they be together? will lea ever feel the strong arms wrapped around her, keeping her warm & loved, aftera long time? or will she found "That is what goodbye's feel like" ??
Find out what will Lea's lie's will get her to loose more than she already did! or will she hand the prove that her mom was guilty for parker's death and let Seth get what he deserved JUSTICES BY LOSSING HER FAMILY!!
"I once told you that I never leave a chapter of my life behind without taking a souvenir. I still don't know what to take away from you, which makes me think it's not time to let you go."
THIS book was Unexpectably Wow !! Not 5 stars factor but YET a MUST read! It was like a EMOTIONAL ride like a roller coaster where you know you won't enjoy that much but still you take it, this book is totally like that !! LIKE I SAID WOW!! This book shocked me :) & I'm happy to be shocked!!
Everyone
in my life seemed more interested in me “moving on” than solving the issues at hand, so since they couldn’t help, I decided that the Ashburys might be able to. They’d already done exactly what I
needed to do—healed their broken family.
This book is all about Pain, Love, Death, Regrets, Lie's and Mainly Moving On.
This is the story of Lea Holder a girl torn between telling the truth or tellling a lie to save her sister & endup living a life of regrets.
Thats what she choosed "to live a life of regrets".
Lea's decision still didn't help her family to be strong & not to fall apart! With her sister in coma and a brother that left the house and a mother facing trails didb't help much the regret that was creeping her life!! With Parker Ashbury's death infront of lea, she can't help but regret every single decision of her & hense came her decision to go to Seth's college to know what was the reason "The Ashburys" were still strong enough where her family was falling apart!!
So, she made a decision and transfer the schools, whats she didn't thought to find was that Ashburys are as fallen apart as her family was. Not only that but she didn't think she will fall heads over heels in love with a guy she least expected. Seth ashbury was the last guy she thought she can be in love but as she spend more time with him, she realize what her lie did that to him & her family. GOD can someone give me a second and let me fuss about HOW PERFECT THAT GUY IS/WAS!! THE TRUE EMBOIMENT OF A PERFECTLY BROKEN GUY!!! OH SHIT.. i was in pain just reading about him. i almost winse whenever Parker's name was mentioned!! The LOSS i can certainly know how it feels!! But SETH he was.. BRAVE, STRONG, STUBBORN, AMAZING
But what will happen when seth finds out who lea really is? will he still love her? will al she get will be snatched out of her hands ! and she will be lonely again with the guilt which is killing her?
Will they be together? will lea ever feel the strong arms wrapped around her, keeping her warm & loved, aftera long time? or will she found "That is what goodbye's feel like" ??
Find out what will Lea's lie's will get her to loose more than she already did! or will she hand the prove that her mom was guilty for parker's death and let Seth get what he deserved JUSTICES BY LOSSING HER FAMILY!!
he presses a soft kissright below my ear and whispers, "I wasn't sure it was possible for me to feel like this anymore, but I think I love you" It’s the first time in almost a year that I’ve heard those words and believed in them completely. My response nearly leaps from my mouth, desperate to escape, desperate to tell him I feel the same way for him.
But I force myself to swallow back the words, staying silent and letting him think I’m still sleeping. I’ve hurt him so much with my lies, but right now, keeping this truth from Seth might be the only gift I can possibly give him.
Sometimes love is purest when it’s not voiced
July 30, 2016
Read my Review at A Bibliophile's Obsession
4.5 stars
Me after finishing this book:
(This book is not a cutesy story about a High School romance. It's a story that will shatter you into a million pieces and will make you cry like a baby)
This book made me an emotional wreck. I don't remember the last time I read a book that made me want to cry a river. Hell, it almost made me cry a river. And I say almost because I don't ever cry while reading books.
I don't like the cover of the book to be honest. It's deceiving. It gives you the idea that the book has a really cheesy romance full of cliches. I wasn't going to request this book but then I read the synopsis. And then I clicked on the request button because the synopsis sounds really good so if you haven't read it already then do give it a read.
I felt really bad for Lea and I could understand her misery. Who wants to send their mother to the jail even if she has killed someone? She's your mother in spite of everything. It's such a hard decision for Lea and we all can obviously understand why.
And then we have Seth. You know when you read about one of those characters who deserve all of the good in the world and you want to protect them from this extremely cruel world? Well, Seth is one of those characters. I don't really know how to explain him more. I just wish he was real! <3
The writing is really good and I love the pace though it is a little slow. The only thing that I wish happened is a long confrontation between Seth and Lea. We (the readers) obviously knew since the beginning that Lea's fake identity will be revealed but I wish that there was more of a confrontation between the two of them about it and I wanted her telling him the reasons why she came and his reaction. That never happened obviously. I would have given this book five stars if there were any confrontation.
Overall, the book is extremely good and I recommend it to all of you. <3
4.5 stars
Me after finishing this book:
(This book is not a cutesy story about a High School romance. It's a story that will shatter you into a million pieces and will make you cry like a baby)
This book made me an emotional wreck. I don't remember the last time I read a book that made me want to cry a river. Hell, it almost made me cry a river. And I say almost because I don't ever cry while reading books.
I don't like the cover of the book to be honest. It's deceiving. It gives you the idea that the book has a really cheesy romance full of cliches. I wasn't going to request this book but then I read the synopsis. And then I clicked on the request button because the synopsis sounds really good so if you haven't read it already then do give it a read.
I felt really bad for Lea and I could understand her misery. Who wants to send their mother to the jail even if she has killed someone? She's your mother in spite of everything. It's such a hard decision for Lea and we all can obviously understand why.
And then we have Seth. You know when you read about one of those characters who deserve all of the good in the world and you want to protect them from this extremely cruel world? Well, Seth is one of those characters. I don't really know how to explain him more. I just wish he was real! <3
The writing is really good and I love the pace though it is a little slow. The only thing that I wish happened is a long confrontation between Seth and Lea. We (the readers) obviously knew since the beginning that Lea's fake identity will be revealed but I wish that there was more of a confrontation between the two of them about it and I wanted her telling him the reasons why she came and his reaction. That never happened obviously. I would have given this book five stars if there were any confrontation.
Overall, the book is extremely good and I recommend it to all of you. <3
June 17, 2016
A Note to Readers: To celebrate the release of "This is What Goodbye Looks Like," the book is on sale during the month of June for only $2.99!
June 22, 2016
Lea Alessio Holder
Seth Ashbury
This is my second book by Olivia Rivers and was an ARC copy sent to me to review. Thank you to the author for trusting me with your book.
I love Ms Rivers writing style, as she gives us a beautiful story that stays true to the story line without deviating.
This is the story of Lea Alessio and her journey to face the truth.
Following a terrible car accident, during which her drunken mother kills Parker Ashbury, the driver of a second car, and leaves her daughter Camille, in a coma and Lea crippled, Lea does as she is told and lies in court about the cause of the accident.
This weighs on Lea, and with her family falling apart, all she sees is how well Parker's family are coping in the aftermath.
She takes it upon herself to find out how they are keeping it together, and sets off to college where she knows Seth, Parker's younger brother attends. Lea has no intentions of getting too close to Seth, but fate has other ideas......
All she wanted to do was find out how they got the glue to stick after the death of their loved brother and son, but what she finds is a lot different than the public face they have shown, Seth's family is just as devastated and broken as her own, and the only one who can even start to put things right is Lea.
Lea never expected to have feelings for the beautiful, sad boy that she finds when she gets to school. So, what to do now? How can she possibly tell him who she is, and why she is there?
Everyone
in my life seemed more interested in me “moving on” than solving the issues at hand, so since they couldn’t help, I decided that the Ashburys might be able to. They’d already done exactly what I
needed to do—healed their broken family.
Ms Rivers' characters are real, they could be any of us, they are normal people living normal lives, and Ms Rivers has a knack of making you feel part of the story, she writes beautiful characters and gives us a wonderful journey through some amazing characters eyes.
There are some lighthearted moments, one in particular that took my fancy, was the Silent Movies!!! You'll have to read this beautiful story to get the punchline. it's not all angsty, and the pain and stress that both the main characters feel is justified, and mostly kept to themselves.
I loved this story, and the characters, the writing style, just.....everything!
Seth Ashbury
This is my second book by Olivia Rivers and was an ARC copy sent to me to review. Thank you to the author for trusting me with your book.
I love Ms Rivers writing style, as she gives us a beautiful story that stays true to the story line without deviating.
This is the story of Lea Alessio and her journey to face the truth.
Following a terrible car accident, during which her drunken mother kills Parker Ashbury, the driver of a second car, and leaves her daughter Camille, in a coma and Lea crippled, Lea does as she is told and lies in court about the cause of the accident.
This weighs on Lea, and with her family falling apart, all she sees is how well Parker's family are coping in the aftermath.
She takes it upon herself to find out how they are keeping it together, and sets off to college where she knows Seth, Parker's younger brother attends. Lea has no intentions of getting too close to Seth, but fate has other ideas......
All she wanted to do was find out how they got the glue to stick after the death of their loved brother and son, but what she finds is a lot different than the public face they have shown, Seth's family is just as devastated and broken as her own, and the only one who can even start to put things right is Lea.
Lea never expected to have feelings for the beautiful, sad boy that she finds when she gets to school. So, what to do now? How can she possibly tell him who she is, and why she is there?
Everyone
in my life seemed more interested in me “moving on” than solving the issues at hand, so since they couldn’t help, I decided that the Ashburys might be able to. They’d already done exactly what I
needed to do—healed their broken family.
Ms Rivers' characters are real, they could be any of us, they are normal people living normal lives, and Ms Rivers has a knack of making you feel part of the story, she writes beautiful characters and gives us a wonderful journey through some amazing characters eyes.
There are some lighthearted moments, one in particular that took my fancy, was the Silent Movies!!! You'll have to read this beautiful story to get the punchline. it's not all angsty, and the pain and stress that both the main characters feel is justified, and mostly kept to themselves.
I loved this story, and the characters, the writing style, just.....everything!
July 4, 2019
I I received an e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this story, but I still had some problems with it.
I really wanted to get along with Lea, but while I didn’t hate her, I didn’t love her either. I understood her reasons but I couldn’t see why she had to get so involved in the problem. She really messed up and as it was mentioned a couple of times in the book, it was all very sick. The only thing I found “inspiring” about her was her love for her little sister, but even that felt like too much sometimes. I completely hated her parents, I get they were under a lot of pressure but was it really necessary to act like that? Lea’s mom didn’t turn out very bad, though. And I kinda liked her brother.
On the other hand, the good things: I loved Brie and Seth. They’re so nice and fun to be around, and the best lines came from them! They definitely influenced my final rating! The other characters weren’t very memorable, and I just remember the same as Lea – they were all very nice.
The writing was a very good aspect: simple and easy to follow. However, it was a bit repetitive a few times.
The end didn’t convince me. It was very happy, and I sure was very happy with it, but truth being told, it wasn’t realistic. I’d have preferred more chapters in the end, explaining what happened – because there’s a huge lack of details in the epilogue – and maybe a few changes too,
I’d say this book is more like 3.5 stars, but I enjoyed it so much while reading the first 75% that I decided to give it 4 stars just because of that, and also because Brie and Seth made the whole story for me.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this story, but I still had some problems with it.
I really wanted to get along with Lea, but while I didn’t hate her, I didn’t love her either. I understood her reasons but I couldn’t see why she had to get so involved in the problem. She really messed up and as it was mentioned a couple of times in the book, it was all very sick. The only thing I found “inspiring” about her was her love for her little sister, but even that felt like too much sometimes. I completely hated her parents, I get they were under a lot of pressure but was it really necessary to act like that? Lea’s mom didn’t turn out very bad, though. And I kinda liked her brother.
On the other hand, the good things: I loved Brie and Seth. They’re so nice and fun to be around, and the best lines came from them! They definitely influenced my final rating! The other characters weren’t very memorable, and I just remember the same as Lea – they were all very nice.
The writing was a very good aspect: simple and easy to follow. However, it was a bit repetitive a few times.
The end didn’t convince me. It was very happy, and I sure was very happy with it, but truth being told, it wasn’t realistic. I’d have preferred more chapters in the end, explaining what happened – because there’s a huge lack of details in the epilogue – and maybe a few changes too,
I’d say this book is more like 3.5 stars, but I enjoyed it so much while reading the first 75% that I decided to give it 4 stars just because of that, and also because Brie and Seth made the whole story for me.
July 4, 2016
I'm under a big waves of emotions, this book is fantastic and the story beautifully sad.
This book is about death, pain, love, regrets, lies, friendship, and family bond. I could speak of the story but the synopsis is widely sufficient, it reveals enough and I wouldn’t like to spoil you.
Lea has regret in her life, she thought that to lie would save her family, but unfortunately things did not happen the way she wants. She needs peace and she will try to find it, I’m not okay with Lea’s actions most of the time. She’s using Seth and I don’t like that, but I can understand her reasons, she feels guilty and she wants to save her family.
Seth on the other hand is absolutely cute and kind, he suffers, losing his brother deprived him the desire for smile but nevertheless, he remains open and faithful to his friends.
Lea thinks that Seth is the solution, that his family isn’t broken after the accident. That’s disturbed me, because how can she thinks that, they lost someone and even if they appears to take this well, they are broken. Both family are broken, what happens to them is awful and it’s not knew that alcohol is a drug, probably one of the hardest because it’s legal.
I like the relation between Seth and his friends, they are linked together. All the characters in the book are important, Lea’s family is more broken than Seth’s, her sister is in coma, her brother left her, her mother is guilty but free and her father will do everything for his wife.
This story is a sad one, but one that must be told. The parents should never ask to their children to lie for them, it’s not good that a child feels some guilt while he made nothing except obey to his parents.
I already read one book from Olivia Rivers and I like her writing style, I like her characters, she knows how to express feelings and emotions. I really enjoyed reading this is what goodbye looks like.
Quick word: A beautiful story full of feelings which urges you to think about your acts.
This book is about death, pain, love, regrets, lies, friendship, and family bond. I could speak of the story but the synopsis is widely sufficient, it reveals enough and I wouldn’t like to spoil you.
Lea has regret in her life, she thought that to lie would save her family, but unfortunately things did not happen the way she wants. She needs peace and she will try to find it, I’m not okay with Lea’s actions most of the time. She’s using Seth and I don’t like that, but I can understand her reasons, she feels guilty and she wants to save her family.
Seth on the other hand is absolutely cute and kind, he suffers, losing his brother deprived him the desire for smile but nevertheless, he remains open and faithful to his friends.
Lea thinks that Seth is the solution, that his family isn’t broken after the accident. That’s disturbed me, because how can she thinks that, they lost someone and even if they appears to take this well, they are broken. Both family are broken, what happens to them is awful and it’s not knew that alcohol is a drug, probably one of the hardest because it’s legal.
I like the relation between Seth and his friends, they are linked together. All the characters in the book are important, Lea’s family is more broken than Seth’s, her sister is in coma, her brother left her, her mother is guilty but free and her father will do everything for his wife.
This story is a sad one, but one that must be told. The parents should never ask to their children to lie for them, it’s not good that a child feels some guilt while he made nothing except obey to his parents.
I already read one book from Olivia Rivers and I like her writing style, I like her characters, she knows how to express feelings and emotions. I really enjoyed reading this is what goodbye looks like.
Quick word: A beautiful story full of feelings which urges you to think about your acts.
July 17, 2016
This book is an emotional roller coaster, incredibly engaging. The characters are beautifully written, realistically... Mrs. Rivers' writings have yet to let me down when it comes to realistic characters.
The story is moving, and even though it's complex plot it still can be followed with ease. It deals with the aftermath of a loss, grieving and healing, and in my opinion it's well presented in this book.
The reason why this isn't a five star review is because the ending felt a bit rushed. I'm not disappointed with the ending, just with it's pace. Other than that, I recommend it.
The story is moving, and even though it's complex plot it still can be followed with ease. It deals with the aftermath of a loss, grieving and healing, and in my opinion it's well presented in this book.
The reason why this isn't a five star review is because the ending felt a bit rushed. I'm not disappointed with the ending, just with it's pace. Other than that, I recommend it.
July 21, 2016
Lea Holder watched a boy die in the same DUI accident that ruined her legs and threw her little sister into a coma. As the only eye-witness to the accident, if Lea tells the truth in court, the drunk driver will go to prison and the dead boy's family will have justice.
But Lea lies.
Telling the truth would have put her own mom in prison for causing the accident. With the trial over and her mom set free, Lea attempts to rebuild her shattered life as she waits for her little sister to wake from her coma.
When Lea transfers schools, she finds herself in the same senior class as Seth Ashbury, the brother of the boy her mom killed. As Lea gets to know the person buried underneath Seth's grief, she quickly falls for his quick wit and passionate soul. But Seth remains completely oblivious that Lea is the same girl who robbed his family of justice.
As their relationship deepens, Lea finally gets a taste of the love that's been missing from her life since the accident. But soon she's faced with a choice: she can continue her lies and accept the comfort it gives them both. Or she can tell Seth the truth about everything, and risk destroying both her family and the fragile love she's found.
I was provided a copy from publisher via Netgalley, in exchange of honest review.
I’m in love. Spectacular.
There wasn’t anything that I didn’t love about this book. Despite the subject, I couldn’t get enough of it and I spend the free time that I had, reading it. I wanted to see what happened with Lea, what happened with Lea and Seth. I got say that THIS WHAT GOODBYE LOOKS LIKE was one of the most heartbreaking novels that I read this year so far. It seemed just as Lea and Seth got happy, something else happened. I didn’t know how to feel about Lea at first, I didn’t think that it was right to not tell Seth who she was. I know that she wanted to get to know him first, but maybe if she told him the truth to begin with, there could been a chance that it could all ended on better note. All that she managed to accomplish was to hurt Seth and her friends around her. He already lost his brother, Parker and then he lost her too. I can’t even begin to imagine what he was feeling, thinking when he found the truth. I know how much he loved her, I couldn’t even imagine the hurt he must been feeling when he found who she was. I can’t blame him from being angry, if I were in his situation I would be too. There were so much emotions that went through me while I read this book. I did grab tissues few times while reading it, some of moments were so heartbreaking that couldn’t keep my emotions inside.
I loved how much Lea cared about her little sister, Camille. Despite her condition, there was not a second that she gave up on her, even if it seemed like her parents had. There is part of me wonders what would happened if Lea didn’t fight so hard, to keep her on Life support. There is part of me that wondered if she knew that she was going to wake up at some point. Of course none of that could be accomplished if Seth’s family didn’t help them too. It had me wondering, would Seth finally forgive her? Actually it was something I been wondering since moment that he found out the truth about Lea. Would he ever forgive her? I feel like falling in love with Seth wasn’t part of Lea’s plan when she enrolled at the school. I loved the scenes between two of them, the way they were with each other, way they looked at one another and took care of each other. That’s why my heart broke for Seth and for Lea when everything came crashing down, for both them. Through rest of the book, I found myself hoping that they would find way to each other again.
THIS IS WHAT GOODBYE LOOKS LIKE Is a story about love, two families torn apart by tragedy, hope, letting go, forgiveness and acceptance. It was a 2nd book that I read by OLIVIA RIVERS and I know already that she will be an author that I am going to love this author for years to come, she has a way to hook you, to get you fall in love with characters and the story. I am looking forward to the next adventures she comes up with next.
But Lea lies.
Telling the truth would have put her own mom in prison for causing the accident. With the trial over and her mom set free, Lea attempts to rebuild her shattered life as she waits for her little sister to wake from her coma.
When Lea transfers schools, she finds herself in the same senior class as Seth Ashbury, the brother of the boy her mom killed. As Lea gets to know the person buried underneath Seth's grief, she quickly falls for his quick wit and passionate soul. But Seth remains completely oblivious that Lea is the same girl who robbed his family of justice.
As their relationship deepens, Lea finally gets a taste of the love that's been missing from her life since the accident. But soon she's faced with a choice: she can continue her lies and accept the comfort it gives them both. Or she can tell Seth the truth about everything, and risk destroying both her family and the fragile love she's found.
I was provided a copy from publisher via Netgalley, in exchange of honest review.
I’m in love. Spectacular.
There wasn’t anything that I didn’t love about this book. Despite the subject, I couldn’t get enough of it and I spend the free time that I had, reading it. I wanted to see what happened with Lea, what happened with Lea and Seth. I got say that THIS WHAT GOODBYE LOOKS LIKE was one of the most heartbreaking novels that I read this year so far. It seemed just as Lea and Seth got happy, something else happened. I didn’t know how to feel about Lea at first, I didn’t think that it was right to not tell Seth who she was. I know that she wanted to get to know him first, but maybe if she told him the truth to begin with, there could been a chance that it could all ended on better note. All that she managed to accomplish was to hurt Seth and her friends around her. He already lost his brother, Parker and then he lost her too. I can’t even begin to imagine what he was feeling, thinking when he found the truth. I know how much he loved her, I couldn’t even imagine the hurt he must been feeling when he found who she was. I can’t blame him from being angry, if I were in his situation I would be too. There were so much emotions that went through me while I read this book. I did grab tissues few times while reading it, some of moments were so heartbreaking that couldn’t keep my emotions inside.
I loved how much Lea cared about her little sister, Camille. Despite her condition, there was not a second that she gave up on her, even if it seemed like her parents had. There is part of me wonders what would happened if Lea didn’t fight so hard, to keep her on Life support. There is part of me that wondered if she knew that she was going to wake up at some point. Of course none of that could be accomplished if Seth’s family didn’t help them too. It had me wondering, would Seth finally forgive her? Actually it was something I been wondering since moment that he found out the truth about Lea. Would he ever forgive her? I feel like falling in love with Seth wasn’t part of Lea’s plan when she enrolled at the school. I loved the scenes between two of them, the way they were with each other, way they looked at one another and took care of each other. That’s why my heart broke for Seth and for Lea when everything came crashing down, for both them. Through rest of the book, I found myself hoping that they would find way to each other again.
THIS IS WHAT GOODBYE LOOKS LIKE Is a story about love, two families torn apart by tragedy, hope, letting go, forgiveness and acceptance. It was a 2nd book that I read by OLIVIA RIVERS and I know already that she will be an author that I am going to love this author for years to come, she has a way to hook you, to get you fall in love with characters and the story. I am looking forward to the next adventures she comes up with next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2016
Read full review HERE
This was my second book by Olivia Rivers, I previously read (and loved) Tone Deaf, so I knew I would probably like her writing, and I was really hoping to love the story. And to be honest, I kind of did, until around 75% of the book, and then it crumbled in my opinion and I just couldn’t love it or rate it above 3 stars.
But I DID love the writing, though I still found some words repeated a lot. I mostly liked the characters, and I say mostly because even though I wanted to love Lea, I couldn’t for the most part, because I couldn’t truly ignore how sick I thought her actions were. I did like Seth though, and I liked his relationship with each of his friends, and how much they actually felt like a family, who protected each other fiercely.
I really liked Seth and Lea’s journey with their grief, and in Lea’s case, with her guilt, though I ultimately felt that none of those things were completely dealt with. While I do love the importance given to family and, particularly, to siblings, I thought that Lea’s sister, Camille, was given a weight that I didn’t particularly liked.
I did struggled with some of Lea’s decisions throughout the story, but most of all, with her reasoning behind some of those decisions. When she finally decided to do the right thing, I felt she did it for the wrong reasons, and failed (at a lot of points) to consider the impact of her decisions on not only her family, but Seth’s as well. I also thought she failed to see how her parents were dealing with some things, and she belittled their feelings about her sister, and I didn’t think it was ok.
I didn’t like the ending, at all. Not only did I not agree with a lot of things, but then it wrapped up neatly and so well (while not at all at the same time), that it felt unrealistic, and I honestly felt that it wasn’t the way that served the story better. I thought the goal of the book was their journey to being able to say goodbye to the people they loved and lost, but that turned out not to be quite like that. Some smaller things also bothered me, but they wouldn’t have made such an impact if I wasn’t already mad at something else.
In the end, this had a huge potential, but the last 1/4 ruined it a bit for me. It was still an emotional read, but it made me mad more than anything else. The book as a whole it’s still worth it, and I think most of you won’t have the same issues as me, not at all.
This was my second book by Olivia Rivers, I previously read (and loved) Tone Deaf, so I knew I would probably like her writing, and I was really hoping to love the story. And to be honest, I kind of did, until around 75% of the book, and then it crumbled in my opinion and I just couldn’t love it or rate it above 3 stars.
But I DID love the writing, though I still found some words repeated a lot. I mostly liked the characters, and I say mostly because even though I wanted to love Lea, I couldn’t for the most part, because I couldn’t truly ignore how sick I thought her actions were. I did like Seth though, and I liked his relationship with each of his friends, and how much they actually felt like a family, who protected each other fiercely.
I really liked Seth and Lea’s journey with their grief, and in Lea’s case, with her guilt, though I ultimately felt that none of those things were completely dealt with. While I do love the importance given to family and, particularly, to siblings, I thought that Lea’s sister, Camille, was given a weight that I didn’t particularly liked.
I did struggled with some of Lea’s decisions throughout the story, but most of all, with her reasoning behind some of those decisions. When she finally decided to do the right thing, I felt she did it for the wrong reasons, and failed (at a lot of points) to consider the impact of her decisions on not only her family, but Seth’s as well. I also thought she failed to see how her parents were dealing with some things, and she belittled their feelings about her sister, and I didn’t think it was ok.
I didn’t like the ending, at all. Not only did I not agree with a lot of things, but then it wrapped up neatly and so well (while not at all at the same time), that it felt unrealistic, and I honestly felt that it wasn’t the way that served the story better. I thought the goal of the book was their journey to being able to say goodbye to the people they loved and lost, but that turned out not to be quite like that. Some smaller things also bothered me, but they wouldn’t have made such an impact if I wasn’t already mad at something else.
In the end, this had a huge potential, but the last 1/4 ruined it a bit for me. It was still an emotional read, but it made me mad more than anything else. The book as a whole it’s still worth it, and I think most of you won’t have the same issues as me, not at all.
July 9, 2016
I got this book from Netgalley because the synopsis really spoke to me. It didn't sound as a normal fluffy contemporary read and I needed that at the moment. I needed some seriousness. So I started buddy reading this book with Jaike from Despicable Books and we both enjoyed it.
The main character is Lea and we follow her as she just tranferred from a school in San Diego, to a school in Vermont, Harting. This isn't a blunt decision - she has a reason for it. Through out the book we get to know Lea and her motives, but also what happened with her in the accident, but also what happened with her sister, her mother and a boy named Parker Ashbury. I have to say, I really loved this concept. I really wanted to know what happened. The courtroom chapters really contributed to that, they kept me on the edge of my seat and I really wanted to know what happened.
As I said, the main character is Lea and we read form her POV. I liked Lea, but there were a few moments when I didn't like her at all. She can really be a blabblermouth and be blunt. Sometimes she flips things out that are mean or really weird and yeah.. I just didn't understand her sometimes.
I had the total opposited with Seth, because guys, he is goals. He literally is the most perfect person ever but sometimes it was a little unrealistic for me. I get that that just was his personality but sometimes was a little bit too much for me. He was just to perfect and well, nobody's perfect. Everybody has flaws, right?
The thing I absolutely love the most about this book is the serious concepts. We are drawn into a protagonist who has experienced a car accident, but we also experience what it is like to have a sister who is in a coma. I loved that this wasn't all rainbows and rays of sunshine and I loved the concept of kids with disabilities. Lea's legs got ruined after the accident and she has to walk with a cane and Seth is born blind. I absolutely loved this book because of that and Olivia did a great job! I really want to read her other book, Tone Deaf, because of that.
So, this book wasn't my favorite book to read, but I loved it a lot. I loved the concept and the seriousness and that's why I give it four stars.
The main character is Lea and we follow her as she just tranferred from a school in San Diego, to a school in Vermont, Harting. This isn't a blunt decision - she has a reason for it. Through out the book we get to know Lea and her motives, but also what happened with her in the accident, but also what happened with her sister, her mother and a boy named Parker Ashbury. I have to say, I really loved this concept. I really wanted to know what happened. The courtroom chapters really contributed to that, they kept me on the edge of my seat and I really wanted to know what happened.
As I said, the main character is Lea and we read form her POV. I liked Lea, but there were a few moments when I didn't like her at all. She can really be a blabblermouth and be blunt. Sometimes she flips things out that are mean or really weird and yeah.. I just didn't understand her sometimes.
I had the total opposited with Seth, because guys, he is goals. He literally is the most perfect person ever but sometimes it was a little unrealistic for me. I get that that just was his personality but sometimes was a little bit too much for me. He was just to perfect and well, nobody's perfect. Everybody has flaws, right?
The thing I absolutely love the most about this book is the serious concepts. We are drawn into a protagonist who has experienced a car accident, but we also experience what it is like to have a sister who is in a coma. I loved that this wasn't all rainbows and rays of sunshine and I loved the concept of kids with disabilities. Lea's legs got ruined after the accident and she has to walk with a cane and Seth is born blind. I absolutely loved this book because of that and Olivia did a great job! I really want to read her other book, Tone Deaf, because of that.
So, this book wasn't my favorite book to read, but I loved it a lot. I loved the concept and the seriousness and that's why I give it four stars.
July 21, 2017
Review Originally Posted on Books & Prejudice
Lea is messed up both physically and mentally from the car accident that killed a boy. Having lied on the stand to protect her mother from going to jail, she's torn up. Her family has been ripped apart by all the lies, and her sister is in a coma. She doesn't know what else to do aside from get help from Seth Ashbury, the brother of the boy her mother killed.
I was so curious how this was going to be established. How in the world was Rivers going to convince me that Seth did not recognize Lea, when he spent just as much time in court as she did?
Well she did it. Seth Ashbury is blind. I could not tell you if the rep is perfect, but it was certainly nice to read about a blind character. And it was such a surprise. Lea's voice was wonky during her mother's trial, because her throat had been split open during the crash, so Seth didn't recognize her voice.
I loved seeing Lea fall in love with Seth, even when she was fighting against it. She knew what she was doing was wrong, and she constantly struggled with the right thing to do. Should she tell everyone what really happened in the accident? Should she tell Seth about her true identity?
As she helps Seth mourn his brother, Lea finally begins to realize that maybe his family didn't come out as unscathed as she'd initially thought. I felt so bad for both Seth and Lea, and it was hard to see her make some of the decisions she did. As I read I kept shouting, "Just tell him!" Which made his moment of truth all the more painful.
Overall
I really loved it. It was heartbreaking, and the ending was just perfect. If you like contemporary romance, you should definitely give it a try.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lea is messed up both physically and mentally from the car accident that killed a boy. Having lied on the stand to protect her mother from going to jail, she's torn up. Her family has been ripped apart by all the lies, and her sister is in a coma. She doesn't know what else to do aside from get help from Seth Ashbury, the brother of the boy her mother killed.
I was so curious how this was going to be established. How in the world was Rivers going to convince me that Seth did not recognize Lea, when he spent just as much time in court as she did?
Well she did it. Seth Ashbury is blind. I could not tell you if the rep is perfect, but it was certainly nice to read about a blind character. And it was such a surprise. Lea's voice was wonky during her mother's trial, because her throat had been split open during the crash, so Seth didn't recognize her voice.
I loved seeing Lea fall in love with Seth, even when she was fighting against it. She knew what she was doing was wrong, and she constantly struggled with the right thing to do. Should she tell everyone what really happened in the accident? Should she tell Seth about her true identity?
As she helps Seth mourn his brother, Lea finally begins to realize that maybe his family didn't come out as unscathed as she'd initially thought. I felt so bad for both Seth and Lea, and it was hard to see her make some of the decisions she did. As I read I kept shouting, "Just tell him!" Which made his moment of truth all the more painful.
Overall
I really loved it. It was heartbreaking, and the ending was just perfect. If you like contemporary romance, you should definitely give it a try.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2018
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
I was gifted an ebook via Netgalley.
The synopsis was a little misleading and I think I would have been more inclined to pick this book up sooner had it been a little more accurate. It was a quick read and one that I immediately got engrossed in. I really liked the bits of flashbacks to the night of the accident that killed Parker Ashbury and what followed. I think that the main character, Lea, was such an honest written character in her insecurities, flaws, and motives. All the Harting characters were wonderful additions to the story. I liked that Lea's injuries sustained from the accident were always in the forefront because they are a part of her, not some nonexistent part that no one should see or hear about. Also....KODA. I'm a sucker for a dog in a story :)
I was gifted an ebook via Netgalley.
The synopsis was a little misleading and I think I would have been more inclined to pick this book up sooner had it been a little more accurate. It was a quick read and one that I immediately got engrossed in. I really liked the bits of flashbacks to the night of the accident that killed Parker Ashbury and what followed. I think that the main character, Lea, was such an honest written character in her insecurities, flaws, and motives. All the Harting characters were wonderful additions to the story. I liked that Lea's injuries sustained from the accident were always in the forefront because they are a part of her, not some nonexistent part that no one should see or hear about. Also....KODA. I'm a sucker for a dog in a story :)
June 27, 2016
For more reviews click HERE
Actual Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
*I was provided a copy by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This was my first book written by Olivia Rivers and I was really excited to read it since I keep hearing great things about her other books. I did enjoy this book and I loved most of the characters but there were a few things I didn’t like that much that made me enjoy this book a little bit less.
As I said before, I did like most of the characters in this book. I loved Seth and his friends. He’s such a great guy. You have this amazing guy that is grieving because he lost his brother but he still cares so much about his friends that are more like a family than friends. I just adored his group of friends and how they were family to each other. I didn’t like Lea or her family as much. First of all, Lea decided to do something really wrong and I just can’t agree with what she did. Actually she did a few wrong things throughout the book that I really can’t agree with and that changed how I felt about this book. Since the beginning I thought that the book would be about letting go and learning how to say goodbye but by the end it was clear that that wasn’t this book message and that the book was mostly about her sister, Camille. However I did like to see Lea and Seth together and I loved to see how they helped each other with their grief.
For me one of the biggest problems of this book was the change of direction by the end. I was expecting something but what happened was different and not in a great way. I didn’t like how the story shifted from one thing to be totally about Camille by the end and the end was a little bit too unrealistic to me. I knew from the beginning that things wouldn’t work out for Lea and something bad would happen and while this did happened I still didn’t like the resolution of the main conflict. First of all, I still can’t agree with the reasons why Lea did something by the end of the book. While I wanted her to do what she did I think she should have done it because it was the right thing to do and not because other reasons. Another thing I didn’t like was that she never had to explain her actions to other people. There were a few things that should have been discussed between her and other characters (especially Seth) and that never happened.
However, I did enjoy this book and I loved Olivia Rivers writing style. While this book wasn’t perfect I still liked most of it and it became really emotional at one point. I was an emotional wreck by the end of this book.
Overall, this was an enjoyable but heartbreaking story. While it had a few flaws I would still recommend it because it’s a beautiful story for the most part of it. One thing for sure, this won’t be my last Olivia Rivers book and I’m excited to read some of her other works.
Actual Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
*I was provided a copy by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This was my first book written by Olivia Rivers and I was really excited to read it since I keep hearing great things about her other books. I did enjoy this book and I loved most of the characters but there were a few things I didn’t like that much that made me enjoy this book a little bit less.
As I said before, I did like most of the characters in this book. I loved Seth and his friends. He’s such a great guy. You have this amazing guy that is grieving because he lost his brother but he still cares so much about his friends that are more like a family than friends. I just adored his group of friends and how they were family to each other. I didn’t like Lea or her family as much. First of all, Lea decided to do something really wrong and I just can’t agree with what she did. Actually she did a few wrong things throughout the book that I really can’t agree with and that changed how I felt about this book. Since the beginning I thought that the book would be about letting go and learning how to say goodbye but by the end it was clear that that wasn’t this book message and that the book was mostly about her sister, Camille. However I did like to see Lea and Seth together and I loved to see how they helped each other with their grief.
For me one of the biggest problems of this book was the change of direction by the end. I was expecting something but what happened was different and not in a great way. I didn’t like how the story shifted from one thing to be totally about Camille by the end and the end was a little bit too unrealistic to me. I knew from the beginning that things wouldn’t work out for Lea and something bad would happen and while this did happened I still didn’t like the resolution of the main conflict. First of all, I still can’t agree with the reasons why Lea did something by the end of the book. While I wanted her to do what she did I think she should have done it because it was the right thing to do and not because other reasons. Another thing I didn’t like was that she never had to explain her actions to other people. There were a few things that should have been discussed between her and other characters (especially Seth) and that never happened.
However, I did enjoy this book and I loved Olivia Rivers writing style. While this book wasn’t perfect I still liked most of it and it became really emotional at one point. I was an emotional wreck by the end of this book.
Overall, this was an enjoyable but heartbreaking story. While it had a few flaws I would still recommend it because it’s a beautiful story for the most part of it. One thing for sure, this won’t be my last Olivia Rivers book and I’m excited to read some of her other works.
June 26, 2016
Book: This is What Goodbye Looks Like
Author: Olivia Rivers
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank NetGalley and Red Sparrow Press for providing me with this galley in exchange for an honest review.
I was really shocked with this! I really had not expectations coming into this book, but the summary sounded promising. I had never heard of Olivia Rivers or her books until I was flipping through the books on Netgalley. What made me click on the book was its beautiful cover-yes, I do judge books based on their covers, bite me. The cover made me think this was going to be a super-lovely book with characters who were so fake and a plotline that was so cheesy that I would not be able to stand it. I was so wrong!
I fell in love with the plot right away. It was complex, but, yet, simple enough to follow. There is just something gripping about reading books that start out with a tragedy or are going to end in one. Think If I Stay and The Fault in Our Stars. (Also, Lurlene McDaniel fans will love this one as well!) This one has a lot of the same elements that make those two books mentioned above great. The plot was so gripping and so emotional that I found myself sitting down and reading for hours on end. I really enjoyed all the flashbacks too and how we didn't get feed everything at once.
The characters made it really special. I loved their relationships with each other and just how they leaned on each other whenever they needed it the most. I also love how they acted their age, but at the same time, were really mature. Lea and Seth are the perfect leads and the supporting characters really bring out the best and worst in them. What I really love about the relationships between the characters is how Olivia takes the time to show the reader just how the bonds come together. For example, we don't learn Brie's secret until about halfway through the book nor do we see Lea and Seth actually kiss until about sixty percent. I just love it whenever the author makes character development slow, but well paced in order for the reader to actually develop a relationship with the characters.
I guess that this book just made me feel. I was actually kind of glad that we had some pretty nasty storms and knocked my internet out for days. (I shouldn't feel that way because are really bad for a lot of people.) It reminded me of the goodness and forgiveness that we often forget about in humans. It shows us that there is hope in what is a very, very dark world.
Overall, a really, really good book. I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoyed/enjoys The Fault in Our Stars, If I Stay, and Lurlene McDaniel.
This book is out, I believe, so you can buy it. If not, sorry, PREORDER IT! :)
Author: Olivia Rivers
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank NetGalley and Red Sparrow Press for providing me with this galley in exchange for an honest review.
I was really shocked with this! I really had not expectations coming into this book, but the summary sounded promising. I had never heard of Olivia Rivers or her books until I was flipping through the books on Netgalley. What made me click on the book was its beautiful cover-yes, I do judge books based on their covers, bite me. The cover made me think this was going to be a super-lovely book with characters who were so fake and a plotline that was so cheesy that I would not be able to stand it. I was so wrong!
I fell in love with the plot right away. It was complex, but, yet, simple enough to follow. There is just something gripping about reading books that start out with a tragedy or are going to end in one. Think If I Stay and The Fault in Our Stars. (Also, Lurlene McDaniel fans will love this one as well!) This one has a lot of the same elements that make those two books mentioned above great. The plot was so gripping and so emotional that I found myself sitting down and reading for hours on end. I really enjoyed all the flashbacks too and how we didn't get feed everything at once.
The characters made it really special. I loved their relationships with each other and just how they leaned on each other whenever they needed it the most. I also love how they acted their age, but at the same time, were really mature. Lea and Seth are the perfect leads and the supporting characters really bring out the best and worst in them. What I really love about the relationships between the characters is how Olivia takes the time to show the reader just how the bonds come together. For example, we don't learn Brie's secret until about halfway through the book nor do we see Lea and Seth actually kiss until about sixty percent. I just love it whenever the author makes character development slow, but well paced in order for the reader to actually develop a relationship with the characters.
I guess that this book just made me feel. I was actually kind of glad that we had some pretty nasty storms and knocked my internet out for days. (I shouldn't feel that way because are really bad for a lot of people.) It reminded me of the goodness and forgiveness that we often forget about in humans. It shows us that there is hope in what is a very, very dark world.
Overall, a really, really good book. I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoyed/enjoys The Fault in Our Stars, If I Stay, and Lurlene McDaniel.
This book is out, I believe, so you can buy it. If not, sorry, PREORDER IT! :)
July 4, 2016
Beginning- The beginning starts off with a tragedy which ultimately lets the reader know that this book will not be all rainbows and unicorns. The relationship will be doomed from the start. And most things are very broken.
Characters- The characters are really what sold this story and made me feel and believe in it. The relationships everyone had with one another was beautiful and I loved how they were able to lean on each other whenever they needed someone. Lea and Seth were great leads and very enjoyable characters. the secondary characters also brought out the best and the worst in them. The characters development was very slow.
Plot- I wasn't sure what to expect of the plot prior to reading this book. I was wrong to judge. The plot was complex yet still was easy enough to follow. The plot was very gripping as it started right away with tragedy and expectedly ended with tragedy. Comparing this book to others, think of If I Stay or The Fault in our Stars. The plot was an emotional rollercoaster that kept me reading for hours on end. There were also many flashbacks which usually are a negative for me, but in this book I did enjoy them. The author really took the time to develop the feelings rather than just serving them all at once.
Romance- The romance development was slow. There wasn't really any insta-love which readers will most definitely appreciate. An example of how slow the romance is that we do not witness a kiss between Lea and Seth until about 60% through the book. This relationship is also a domed one from the very beginning which also took away from it a little bit.
Ending- There were a lot broken things in this novel. I think to many to be incorporated. The ending really missed out on all of the healing. The ending felt a bit rushed and glossed over. For that reason alone, I had to deduct a half a star. Overall, the ending was a real disappointment.
This is What Goodbye Looks Like is not a five-star read, yet I believe it still is a must-read for fans of If I Stay or The Fault in our Stars. I did enjoy this book, however, the ending was a turn-off for me. This is definitely a book that if tragedy filled YA books are your go-to then you will like this book. If not, it may not be the best choice for you.
A Favorite Quote From The Story- "I once told you that I never leave a chapter of my life behind without taking a souvenir. I still don't know what to take away from you, which makes me think it's not time to let you go."
Characters- The characters are really what sold this story and made me feel and believe in it. The relationships everyone had with one another was beautiful and I loved how they were able to lean on each other whenever they needed someone. Lea and Seth were great leads and very enjoyable characters. the secondary characters also brought out the best and the worst in them. The characters development was very slow.
Plot- I wasn't sure what to expect of the plot prior to reading this book. I was wrong to judge. The plot was complex yet still was easy enough to follow. The plot was very gripping as it started right away with tragedy and expectedly ended with tragedy. Comparing this book to others, think of If I Stay or The Fault in our Stars. The plot was an emotional rollercoaster that kept me reading for hours on end. There were also many flashbacks which usually are a negative for me, but in this book I did enjoy them. The author really took the time to develop the feelings rather than just serving them all at once.
Romance- The romance development was slow. There wasn't really any insta-love which readers will most definitely appreciate. An example of how slow the romance is that we do not witness a kiss between Lea and Seth until about 60% through the book. This relationship is also a domed one from the very beginning which also took away from it a little bit.
Ending- There were a lot broken things in this novel. I think to many to be incorporated. The ending really missed out on all of the healing. The ending felt a bit rushed and glossed over. For that reason alone, I had to deduct a half a star. Overall, the ending was a real disappointment.
This is What Goodbye Looks Like is not a five-star read, yet I believe it still is a must-read for fans of If I Stay or The Fault in our Stars. I did enjoy this book, however, the ending was a turn-off for me. This is definitely a book that if tragedy filled YA books are your go-to then you will like this book. If not, it may not be the best choice for you.
A Favorite Quote From The Story- "I once told you that I never leave a chapter of my life behind without taking a souvenir. I still don't know what to take away from you, which makes me think it's not time to let you go."
October 31, 2016
4/5 stars.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel ! It's already out and I highly recommend reading it!
Lea Holder survived a car accident, a car accident that sent her beloved sister, Camille, into a coma, and killed an innocent boy, Parker Ashbury. The car was being driven by Lea's own mom; she is the sole witness in a case being built against her mother for drunk driving. Pressured by her father, Lea lies, letting her mom walk free and bearing the guilt of letting an innocent boy's death go unanswered. Months later, still weighed down by the guilt and her sister's comatose state, Lea decides to transfer schools, to the school where Parker Ashbury's younger brother, Seth, lives. She hopes to get a glimpse into the life of the family she devastated, believing them perfect for having kept together during the tough trial.
I went into this not knowing much and I honestly was not expecting this book to be so hard-hitting and emotional. By the end, I was in tears, because what the characters experienced was just so terrible and tragic. I couldn't help but feel for them. This book's cover is deceptively cute, because, although the relationship between Seth and Lea is sweet and cute, the main issues the characters struggled with were definitely not. I loved the characters. I think Seth was so wonderful and kind. He was definitely my favourite character. I also really liked Brie, Lea's room mate. There was a twist in her character development that I was not expecting, but fully appreciated, although I wish it was expanded upon more. The dynamic between the characters in this book was so funny. I found myself laughing along at the some of the dialogue exchanged between Lea and her new friends! That group of friendship reminded me of my own friends and how fun high school can be, so I really enjoyed it. I will say I felt like the ending was very rushed and I couldn't understand some of the motives behind Lea's more questionable actions and her family's own actions. I wish we could've delved more into Lea's family. I also feel like we never fully resolved an important part of the story between Lea and Seth, which I wish we could've got to see. For the most part though, I really enjoyed this; it was realistic and heartbreaking and cute, at times, and all in all, a great contemporary read.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel ! It's already out and I highly recommend reading it!
Lea Holder survived a car accident, a car accident that sent her beloved sister, Camille, into a coma, and killed an innocent boy, Parker Ashbury. The car was being driven by Lea's own mom; she is the sole witness in a case being built against her mother for drunk driving. Pressured by her father, Lea lies, letting her mom walk free and bearing the guilt of letting an innocent boy's death go unanswered. Months later, still weighed down by the guilt and her sister's comatose state, Lea decides to transfer schools, to the school where Parker Ashbury's younger brother, Seth, lives. She hopes to get a glimpse into the life of the family she devastated, believing them perfect for having kept together during the tough trial.
I went into this not knowing much and I honestly was not expecting this book to be so hard-hitting and emotional. By the end, I was in tears, because what the characters experienced was just so terrible and tragic. I couldn't help but feel for them. This book's cover is deceptively cute, because, although the relationship between Seth and Lea is sweet and cute, the main issues the characters struggled with were definitely not. I loved the characters. I think Seth was so wonderful and kind. He was definitely my favourite character. I also really liked Brie, Lea's room mate. There was a twist in her character development that I was not expecting, but fully appreciated, although I wish it was expanded upon more. The dynamic between the characters in this book was so funny. I found myself laughing along at the some of the dialogue exchanged between Lea and her new friends! That group of friendship reminded me of my own friends and how fun high school can be, so I really enjoyed it. I will say I felt like the ending was very rushed and I couldn't understand some of the motives behind Lea's more questionable actions and her family's own actions. I wish we could've delved more into Lea's family. I also feel like we never fully resolved an important part of the story between Lea and Seth, which I wish we could've got to see. For the most part though, I really enjoyed this; it was realistic and heartbreaking and cute, at times, and all in all, a great contemporary read.
September 3, 2016
(I received a copy via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review)
I absolutely loved this book and wish there was a second one! It was so cute and realistic in all the right ways. It talks about a girl's mom getting in a car accident and killing an innocent boy while also putting her youngest daughter in a coma. It shows how much you have to trust the truth and never give up hope.
I really loved the character's and how they show how amazing life at boarding school can be. The main character Lea is such a fantastic girl, who's shy yet has so much pride and hope in her. One of Lea's closest friends at boarding school and after, Brie, is such a sweet girl and an amazing role model. She makes Lea feel welcome in so many ways and is always so full of life and joy. My favourite character however was Seth, because even though there were so many things standing in his way he never gave up and always made sure that everyone around him was happy even if he wasn't.
I also really enjoyed the setting of this book because I love snow, and how it was always snowy and beautiful matched the plot of this book, and threw in so many different effects that made the book so much better. The novel was realistic but with a hint of fantasy, the ending was a little bit unrealistic but just what we needed to get closure. I wish that this book was longer and that the ending was kind of abrupt but that is literally like my only complaint.
Overall, this book was super sweet and exactly what I was looking to read. I honestly couldn't put it down and read until 1 am every night just to finish it sooner. I give it a 9.1/10 stars because it was that good. (And I like never give anything above 9) I loved this book and am so thankful to Netgalley and Olivia Rivers for letting me be a part of this experience.
I absolutely loved this book and wish there was a second one! It was so cute and realistic in all the right ways. It talks about a girl's mom getting in a car accident and killing an innocent boy while also putting her youngest daughter in a coma. It shows how much you have to trust the truth and never give up hope.
I really loved the character's and how they show how amazing life at boarding school can be. The main character Lea is such a fantastic girl, who's shy yet has so much pride and hope in her. One of Lea's closest friends at boarding school and after, Brie, is such a sweet girl and an amazing role model. She makes Lea feel welcome in so many ways and is always so full of life and joy. My favourite character however was Seth, because even though there were so many things standing in his way he never gave up and always made sure that everyone around him was happy even if he wasn't.
I also really enjoyed the setting of this book because I love snow, and how it was always snowy and beautiful matched the plot of this book, and threw in so many different effects that made the book so much better. The novel was realistic but with a hint of fantasy, the ending was a little bit unrealistic but just what we needed to get closure. I wish that this book was longer and that the ending was kind of abrupt but that is literally like my only complaint.
Overall, this book was super sweet and exactly what I was looking to read. I honestly couldn't put it down and read until 1 am every night just to finish it sooner. I give it a 9.1/10 stars because it was that good. (And I like never give anything above 9) I loved this book and am so thankful to Netgalley and Olivia Rivers for letting me be a part of this experience.
December 23, 2016
I read Olivia Rivers' other book, Tone Deaf this year as well and enjoyed it very very much. This book solidifies the fact that I really like this author's writing style. She captures characters in a realistic and raw light that sucks me right into the story. What I loved so much about this book is that the situation could literally happen to anybody, you just don't think it could happen to you. So much empathy went from me to Lea, because the moral dilemma that she was placed in was so complex and so screwed up, I applaud her for being so strong.
While I don't agree with how she used Seth for her own piece of mind and reconcilisation, I could not help falling in love with their relationship. And Seth. Seth is such a likeable character, honestly all I would ever want in a guy. He tries to be positive despite everything that's happened, he's caring and kind and introspective, he reads into people and actually cares if they're ok when they just say 'I'm fine'. It was simeltaneously heartbreaking and enjoyable to read from Lea's perspective. I really appreciated how her quietness and shyness was portrayed and the realistic awkwardness that was around Seth and Lea when they first met.
The author does grief very well. You can feel it, the raw ache through the characters even when they're trying to put on a mask, you hurt with them.
Overall, a really really great read, an intriguing concept and quite heavy for a contemporary.
While I don't agree with how she used Seth for her own piece of mind and reconcilisation, I could not help falling in love with their relationship. And Seth. Seth is such a likeable character, honestly all I would ever want in a guy. He tries to be positive despite everything that's happened, he's caring and kind and introspective, he reads into people and actually cares if they're ok when they just say 'I'm fine'. It was simeltaneously heartbreaking and enjoyable to read from Lea's perspective. I really appreciated how her quietness and shyness was portrayed and the realistic awkwardness that was around Seth and Lea when they first met.
The author does grief very well. You can feel it, the raw ache through the characters even when they're trying to put on a mask, you hurt with them.
Overall, a really really great read, an intriguing concept and quite heavy for a contemporary.
June 28, 2016
Olivia Rivers's "This is what goodbye looks like" is a beautiful story of loss, redemption and healing. Lea, the main character, is a young woman whose mother drunk drove, killing a young man, placing her younger sister in a coma, and making it hard for Lea to walk. In an effort to piece herself and her family back together, she travels to attend the private school at which Seth, the (blind) brother of the man her mother killed, attends. Lea holds herself together with lies and begins to fall in love with Seth, both of them healing in the process.
It's a beautifully written novel which tackles some big themes, including honesty, loss, what it means to be a family etc. It is an all around amazing story and difficult to put down. The plot flows well and the writing is very well done. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a deep and heartfelt story (not just young adults). The ending left me wishing for more, but it's positive and open ended-probably the right place to leave their story.
Please note that I received this novel from the publisher through netgalley for my honest review.
It's a beautifully written novel which tackles some big themes, including honesty, loss, what it means to be a family etc. It is an all around amazing story and difficult to put down. The plot flows well and the writing is very well done. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a deep and heartfelt story (not just young adults). The ending left me wishing for more, but it's positive and open ended-probably the right place to leave their story.
Please note that I received this novel from the publisher through netgalley for my honest review.
July 7, 2016
Olivia Rivers is such a good author and her writing is so engaging. This book grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. I loved all the characters and the plot. Also the story of how drunk driving not only destroys the lives of the people who are killed but the family's of those people, both the driver's family and the loved ones of the drunk driver.
This book is not lighthearted if that is what you are looking for. It is a deep and emotional at times story. Lea and Seth have both been hurt by Lea's mother's carelessness and Lea's lies to cover up what happened. Even through all that they fall in love. The supporting characters round out the story and bring more depth to it.
This is a story about doing what is right and telling the truth when it may hurt the people you love.
I highly recommend this book.
"I once told you that I never leave a chapter of my life behind without taking a souvenir. I still don't know what to take away from you, which makes me think it's not time to let you go."
This book is not lighthearted if that is what you are looking for. It is a deep and emotional at times story. Lea and Seth have both been hurt by Lea's mother's carelessness and Lea's lies to cover up what happened. Even through all that they fall in love. The supporting characters round out the story and bring more depth to it.
This is a story about doing what is right and telling the truth when it may hurt the people you love.
I highly recommend this book.
"I once told you that I never leave a chapter of my life behind without taking a souvenir. I still don't know what to take away from you, which makes me think it's not time to let you go."
June 18, 2016
Wow... This book was amazing. It is completely different from what I have read so far and it is simply captivating. The story is unique and heart breaking and just unbelievable.
I am in shock right now I do not even know what to think or write or.... Wow.
I am in shock right now I do not even know what to think or write or.... Wow.
July 1, 2016
I give it 4.5 stars. Full review to come on www.despicablebooks.nl
February 5, 2017
I was first introduced to Olivia Rivers when I received an ecopy of her book, In the Hope of Memories, via NetGalley. Rivers' phenomenal writing and story telling, as well as the refreshingly original plot of the book, had me quickly looking for more of her works to read. After reading the blurb of This is What Goodbye Look Like, I knew I had to read it and I was not disappointed!
17-year old Lea Holder's life has been shattered into pieces after being in a car accident, which not only left her with severe injuries, but also left her younger sister, Camille, in a coma on life support, and took the life of 21-year old college student Parker Ashbury. Even worse, it was Lea's mother who caused the accident by drinking and driving. As the only witness able to testify in the trial of her mother, Lea is racked with guilt as she is faced with either telling the court the truth of her mom's drinking problem, or going along with what her attorney father has told her to say: Parker Ashbury caused the fatal crash that took his life. In the end, Lea decides to protect her mother, and her family, and lies about who really caused the accident.
After the trial, Lea watches her family slowly fall apart. She refuses to speak to her mom. Her parents refuse to let her sit by her sister's bedside all day. Her older brother Jeremy also refuses to speak to his mom, and after a falling out with their father, decides to move from San Diego and start a new life for himself in Denver. On top of her family drama, Lea is overwhelmed with guilt from lying to the court and Parker's family.
Looking for a way to heal her family, Lea decides to attend a prestigious boarding school, Harting, in the middle of nowhere Vermont. However, it's not the picturesque scenery and architecture of the school that has drawn Lea to Harting; it's the fact that Seth Ashbury, the younger brother of Parker Ashbury, attends the school. After watching the Ashbury's during her mother's trial, Lea is convinced that if there is anyone who can help her figure out how to heal her family it is Seth. The problem lies with getting close enough to Seth that he opens up to her, while also making sure he never finds out who she really is.
Seth is determined to finish his late brother's photography thesis in order to complete Parker's photography degree. Introduced to Lea by his friends, Seth finds himself drawn to Lea and enlists her help in completing Parker's thesis. As the two become closer, Seth opens up to Lea about his family, and she soon realizes that what appeared as this tight knit family during the trial, is actually a family that is falling apart just like her own. As Seth and Lea open up to each other more, feelings soon develop. Feelings that Lea knows she needs to fight, but ultimately gives in to. As their relationship grows, Lea is faced with the realization that telling Seth who she really is, is going to be a lot harder than she anticipated because now her heart is also at stake.
Rivers once again blew me away with her writing. Her gift for storytelling, compelling characters and story lines, and her descriptive writing style is truly amazing for such a young writer. When reading this book, it is so easy to picture the scenes in your head, giving life to the story. The emotions of the characters are described so accurately, you can feel what the characters must be feeling. The entire time I was reading the book, I felt like I was watching a movie play out in my head. It takes a truly talented writer to accomplish such a feat.
The characters in this book are fantastic. Not only the main characters of Seth and Lea, but the secondary characters, especially Brie and Lea's father, are truly outstanding. Each character's personality and feelings are depicted so well that you feel as if you know the characters personally.
The reason this book was only a four star read for me and not a five star read, was solely based on some events in the story line that I personally found hard to believe. This fact didn't make me like the book any less and while I love happy endings, I can't help but feel that by not taking a more realistic approach to a certain part of the story, Rivers missed out on really hitting a home run. At the same time however, I can see how the way Rivers chooses to end the story inspires hope, which is a great meaning for a book.
Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend it. It truly shows that what you may view as perfect, can be anything but. Sometimes we see what others want us to see and it's up to us to really take a look and to see the true story.
I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
17-year old Lea Holder's life has been shattered into pieces after being in a car accident, which not only left her with severe injuries, but also left her younger sister, Camille, in a coma on life support, and took the life of 21-year old college student Parker Ashbury. Even worse, it was Lea's mother who caused the accident by drinking and driving. As the only witness able to testify in the trial of her mother, Lea is racked with guilt as she is faced with either telling the court the truth of her mom's drinking problem, or going along with what her attorney father has told her to say: Parker Ashbury caused the fatal crash that took his life. In the end, Lea decides to protect her mother, and her family, and lies about who really caused the accident.
After the trial, Lea watches her family slowly fall apart. She refuses to speak to her mom. Her parents refuse to let her sit by her sister's bedside all day. Her older brother Jeremy also refuses to speak to his mom, and after a falling out with their father, decides to move from San Diego and start a new life for himself in Denver. On top of her family drama, Lea is overwhelmed with guilt from lying to the court and Parker's family.
Looking for a way to heal her family, Lea decides to attend a prestigious boarding school, Harting, in the middle of nowhere Vermont. However, it's not the picturesque scenery and architecture of the school that has drawn Lea to Harting; it's the fact that Seth Ashbury, the younger brother of Parker Ashbury, attends the school. After watching the Ashbury's during her mother's trial, Lea is convinced that if there is anyone who can help her figure out how to heal her family it is Seth. The problem lies with getting close enough to Seth that he opens up to her, while also making sure he never finds out who she really is.
Seth is determined to finish his late brother's photography thesis in order to complete Parker's photography degree. Introduced to Lea by his friends, Seth finds himself drawn to Lea and enlists her help in completing Parker's thesis. As the two become closer, Seth opens up to Lea about his family, and she soon realizes that what appeared as this tight knit family during the trial, is actually a family that is falling apart just like her own. As Seth and Lea open up to each other more, feelings soon develop. Feelings that Lea knows she needs to fight, but ultimately gives in to. As their relationship grows, Lea is faced with the realization that telling Seth who she really is, is going to be a lot harder than she anticipated because now her heart is also at stake.
Rivers once again blew me away with her writing. Her gift for storytelling, compelling characters and story lines, and her descriptive writing style is truly amazing for such a young writer. When reading this book, it is so easy to picture the scenes in your head, giving life to the story. The emotions of the characters are described so accurately, you can feel what the characters must be feeling. The entire time I was reading the book, I felt like I was watching a movie play out in my head. It takes a truly talented writer to accomplish such a feat.
The characters in this book are fantastic. Not only the main characters of Seth and Lea, but the secondary characters, especially Brie and Lea's father, are truly outstanding. Each character's personality and feelings are depicted so well that you feel as if you know the characters personally.
The reason this book was only a four star read for me and not a five star read, was solely based on some events in the story line that I personally found hard to believe. This fact didn't make me like the book any less and while I love happy endings, I can't help but feel that by not taking a more realistic approach to a certain part of the story, Rivers missed out on really hitting a home run. At the same time however, I can see how the way Rivers chooses to end the story inspires hope, which is a great meaning for a book.
Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend it. It truly shows that what you may view as perfect, can be anything but. Sometimes we see what others want us to see and it's up to us to really take a look and to see the true story.
I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2016
This was one of those stories that captures your interest and tugs at your heartstrings. It was a beautiful story of loss, redemption, honesty, conviction and love.
Lea Holder was injured in the same accident that took the life of Seth Ashbury's brother, Parker. Lea's sister, Camille, was still in a coma nine months later, also. This tragedy was all caused by drunk driver. Unfortunately, the driver was Lea's mother. Lea's family had shattered after the accident and she saw how the accident brought the Ashbury family together and they supported each other. She wanted to learn how that could be after such devastating tragedy.
She wanted to get to know Seth better, so she decided to find out and was accepted to the same boarding school that Seth Ashbury attended in Vermont. Seth was blind and she knew he wouldn't be able to recognize her but she was worried that he might recognize her voice or somehow find out who she was. Coincidentally, she was asked to tutor Seth in Chemistry. And, as she began to make friends at the school and spent time with Seth she admired him and his determination, his love for his older brother, Parker, and his desire to see Parker's dream realized, even after his death. He asked Lea to be a part of that dream by helping him create his brother's final project that would allow him to receive his degree posthumously.
Lea had been "bullied" by her father into lying about the circumstances of the accident to cast down on her mother's guilt. Because she did as her father had asked, she carried unbearable guilt and as she saw the pain reflected in Seth, she began to question her need to protect her mother and deny the Ashbury family the closure they needed.
I won't give away the whole story but sufficeth to say it was an amazingly tender and gut-wrenching story. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to read this book and provide an honest review. I was given a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for that review, which I wholeheartedly recommend you read.
Lea Holder was injured in the same accident that took the life of Seth Ashbury's brother, Parker. Lea's sister, Camille, was still in a coma nine months later, also. This tragedy was all caused by drunk driver. Unfortunately, the driver was Lea's mother. Lea's family had shattered after the accident and she saw how the accident brought the Ashbury family together and they supported each other. She wanted to learn how that could be after such devastating tragedy.
She wanted to get to know Seth better, so she decided to find out and was accepted to the same boarding school that Seth Ashbury attended in Vermont. Seth was blind and she knew he wouldn't be able to recognize her but she was worried that he might recognize her voice or somehow find out who she was. Coincidentally, she was asked to tutor Seth in Chemistry. And, as she began to make friends at the school and spent time with Seth she admired him and his determination, his love for his older brother, Parker, and his desire to see Parker's dream realized, even after his death. He asked Lea to be a part of that dream by helping him create his brother's final project that would allow him to receive his degree posthumously.
Lea had been "bullied" by her father into lying about the circumstances of the accident to cast down on her mother's guilt. Because she did as her father had asked, she carried unbearable guilt and as she saw the pain reflected in Seth, she began to question her need to protect her mother and deny the Ashbury family the closure they needed.
I won't give away the whole story but sufficeth to say it was an amazingly tender and gut-wrenching story. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to read this book and provide an honest review. I was given a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for that review, which I wholeheartedly recommend you read.
October 6, 2017
"I once told you that I never leave a chapter of my life behind without taking a souvenir. I still don't know what to take away from you, which makes me think it's not time to let you go."
Ugh. I wanted to like this book so badly. And, I mean, I do like it...but.
Yeah, there's a but.
I feel like the characters weren't developed to their potential before all this romance starts happening. I feel like the story wasn't told completely as it could have been. It just...ends.
And I just don't feel satisfied.
Maybe the author wanted this, and I should just get over it. Not everything ends with a perfectly happy - cut and dry, all lose ends tied - ending, Danielle.
BUT WHY THOUGH.
I turn to books like this wanting it to drag my emotions around, yeah, but they always need to end on a happy note so I feel like skipping around. And sure, the ending wasn't sad. It wasn't necessarily happy either, though. It just felt...unfinished?
I don't know...maybe I'm just crazy. Still adore this author, though, and will read more of her books.
Ugh. I wanted to like this book so badly. And, I mean, I do like it...but.
Yeah, there's a but.
I feel like the characters weren't developed to their potential before all this romance starts happening. I feel like the story wasn't told completely as it could have been. It just...ends.
And I just don't feel satisfied.
Maybe the author wanted this, and I should just get over it. Not everything ends with a perfectly happy - cut and dry, all lose ends tied - ending, Danielle.
BUT WHY THOUGH.
I turn to books like this wanting it to drag my emotions around, yeah, but they always need to end on a happy note so I feel like skipping around. And sure, the ending wasn't sad. It wasn't necessarily happy either, though. It just felt...unfinished?
I don't know...maybe I'm just crazy. Still adore this author, though, and will read more of her books.
September 9, 2024
I remember the immense yearning I had for another story from Olivia Rivers as soon as I finished reading Tone Deaf. Now, after years of wait, I have devoured this one -to say the least.
In my humble opinion, Olivia Rivers is insanely good at creating stories that are heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. Also, they feel so realistic, so life-like. And the little play with words for the name of books is her signature. It is never just about the main theme but related to all the side-stories.The pacing is always on spot. Not too slow, not too fast, not stuffed with long details yet not shallow. All those aspects, with ways of exhibition that are unique to the author, were evident both in Tone Deaf and This Is What Goodbye Looks Like. For this one, it was also an unbelievable relief to find out that it was wrapped up in a lovelier way than I could imagine.
Undoubtedly, it left me thirsty to read all of her young adult works and with a wishful thinking for her to write novels again.
In my humble opinion, Olivia Rivers is insanely good at creating stories that are heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. Also, they feel so realistic, so life-like. And the little play with words for the name of books is her signature. It is never just about the main theme but related to all the side-stories.The pacing is always on spot. Not too slow, not too fast, not stuffed with long details yet not shallow. All those aspects, with ways of exhibition that are unique to the author, were evident both in Tone Deaf and This Is What Goodbye Looks Like. For this one, it was also an unbelievable relief to find out that it was wrapped up in a lovelier way than I could imagine.
Undoubtedly, it left me thirsty to read all of her young adult works and with a wishful thinking for her to write novels again.
July 27, 2017
Beautiful story
Beautiful story but I NEED more!!! It was heartbreaking, funny , tragic but beautiful! I loved it from the very beginning and it was hard to put down! I hope there's more to their story....I need closure!
Beautiful story but I NEED more!!! It was heartbreaking, funny , tragic but beautiful! I loved it from the very beginning and it was hard to put down! I hope there's more to their story....I need closure!
November 4, 2021
Above and beyond my expectations
I was totally engrossed in this story from the start. The author does a remarkable job expressing, through Lea, complex, complicated and conflicting emotion…all while balancing the grit of divulging what is true, no matter the cost.
I was totally engrossed in this story from the start. The author does a remarkable job expressing, through Lea, complex, complicated and conflicting emotion…all while balancing the grit of divulging what is true, no matter the cost.
January 5, 2018
Review coming soon.
May 15, 2018
Great read
Very good read!!! I could not put this book down.. 10/10. Good love story but as well tells a story as to why drinking and driving is horrible!!!
Very good read!!! I could not put this book down.. 10/10. Good love story but as well tells a story as to why drinking and driving is horrible!!!
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