YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

What if you could spend one last day with someone you lost?

One day Carver Briggs had it all—three best friends, a supportive family, and a reputation as a talented writer at his high school, Nashville Academy for the Arts.

The next day he lost it all when he sent a simple text to his friend Mars, right before Mars, Eli, and Blake were killed in a car crash.

Now Carver can’t stop blaming himself for the accident, and he’s not the only one. Eli’s twin sister is trying to freeze him out of school with her death-ray stare. And Mars’s father, a powerful judge, is pressuring the district attorney to open a criminal investigation into Carver’s actions.

Luckily, Carver has some unexpected allies: Eli’s girlfriend, the only person to stand by him at school; Dr. Mendez, his new therapist; and Blake’s grandmother, who asks Carver to spend a Goodbye Day with her to share their memories and say a proper goodbye to his friend.

Soon the other families are asking for a Goodbye Day with Carver, but he’s unsure of their motives. Will they all be able to make peace with their losses, or will these Goodbye Days bring Carver one step closer to a complete breakdown or—even worse—prison?

So the synopsis you have posted, is almost completely different to the synopsis on the back of my book.. how strange. Either way this book sounds great and I am keen to read it!

just popping in to say, I'll be reading this book at a slower pace than normal because I'm currently reading two books at the same time :)

Chapter 13
(view spoiler)[ I can't believe Mars's dad wants to press charges on Carver when his son was the one illegally texting and driving. Like honestly, wtf.
And I really like Carver and Jesmyn's relationship right now, but I really hope they don't become anything more than friends. I like how they are currently. (hide spoiler)]

Evelyn wrote: "Chapter 13
I can't believe Mars's dad wants to press charges on Carver when his son was the one illegally texting and driving. Like honestly, wtf.
And I really like Carver and Jesmyn's relationsh..."

Omg! (view spoiler)[ I literally wrote that in my notes for the book! I really hope Jessmyn and Carver don't become more than friends. There is something truly wholesome about a platonic opposite sex relationship, and more books need this rep! (hide spoiler)]

So just finished 100 pages, I must start with being livid! I am so mad that people actually blame Carver for the death, like he somehow made Mars text and drive! It really irked me.

But the writing is absolutely beautiful. I found my mood in a single quote:

"I sometimes look at my bookshelf now and think about how someday I am going to die without ever reading all the books there." - Page 86

Evelyn wrote: "just popping in to say, I'll be reading this book at a slower pace than normal because I'm currently reading two books at the same time :)"

I too am reading a bit slow, so please don't feel bad, we all have real life as well :D

Katie_Potatie wrote: "Evelyn wrote: "Chapter 13
I can't believe Mars's dad wants to press charges on Carver when his son was the one illegally texting and driving. Like honestly, wtf.
And I really like Carver and Jesm..."
(view spoiler)[Yesss, there is definitely something special about opposite sex platonic relationships, especially because it's so hard to come by. (hide spoiler)]

Alright. Just finished Chapter twenty three and have some feelings.

Firstly, I love Dr Mendez. (view spoiler)[What i really appreciate about this book, is the representation of Mental Health. I have never experienced such accurate Panic Attack descriptions in a novel. Also, one things that seems to happen a lot in novels, is a short session with the Psychologists, that we are supposed to believe lasts for a full hour. This is the first time I have read a novel where i full on believe the psych session lasted the full hour. (hide spoiler)]

Secondly Adair (view spoiler)[ I full acknowledge she is being a bitch to Carver. But I am fiercely protective of my family, and quite frankly, I would be just like Adair. I hope she gets redeemed later, because i think she is going to be an amazing character going forward. (hide spoiler)]

Thirdly Goodbye Day one (view spoiler)[ It has taken so long for the Goodbye Day to come to fruition, I almost forgot that was the whole plot of the book. But Chapter 24 is the full Goodbye Day for Blake, which I am very excited for. Nanna Betsy is such a wholesome character. (hide spoiler)]

Okay, so update for chapter 24: Blake's Goodbye Day. Ya girl shed some tears, and that does not happen often..

Katie_Potatie wrote: "Alright. Just finished Chapter twenty three and have some feelings.
Firstly, I love Dr Mendez. [spoilers removed]
Secondly Adair [spoilers removed]
Thirdly Goodbye Day one [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[ It's really interesting, what you said about Adair. She is being pretty nasty and I can kinda see where she's coming from, but Carver has also been affected by the accident so I don't think it's fair for Adair to act the way she is. Hopefully we do see some change in her though. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 24
(view spoiler)[ So Carver and Blake's Nanna had their goodbye day for Blake and I did like seeing how their day played out, but I will admit I still haven't formed any connection with any of the characters so we'll see how the rest of the book goes. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 35
(view spoiler)[ Ugh, of course Carver has feelings, likes her more than a 'friend'. WHY. okay, uh this is not how I wanted the story to go, but it's okay (kinda, not really), I'll deal with it.
Also, the Goodbye day with Eli's parents was just kinda really awkward, although understandably. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I liked this, but I didn't? I felt like it dragged for way too long, but the ending was alright I guess. Still, Carver being all jealous and literally telling his dead friend he hates him is like: just why? Just because of Jesmyn? I obviously know Carver doesn't actually hate Eli cuz like obviously, but still, idk. (hide spoiler)]