Six Goodbyes We Never Said - by Candace Ganger: Book Review

Title: Six Goodbyes We Never Said
Author: Candace Ganger
Pages: 416
Publisher: St Martin's Press
Release Date: September 24th 2019
Genre: YA, Teens
Format: Kindle

Over two months ago I finished reading this novel and I still think about how little I liked Naima, one of the main characters.

Before I proceed with this review, let me just say that that cover is on point. Kuddos & well done, person responsible!

I wanted to read this book because the premise was that it dealt with mental illness and I wanted to read more about that. It made me feel uncomfortable at times, but books should make you feel & see things outside your reading zone.

What made the novel scattered at times is that we find important information about Naima so far apart that it kept reconstructing the character for me. That's usually fun, but this time it was confusing. 

The characters' relationship felt unnatural. I am talking about Naima's family. Through throwbacks we learn about her father and mother, but the present day family of JJ, Kam, and Nell is not something to be desired. Naima is cruel to Nell, despite having been raised by her for years! I understand that Naima is keeping her at a distance, but that mean attitude and that tone were not necessary. I understand this does happen in real life, but it was uncomfortable and unpleasant to read about it. Also, Nell as a step mom was made to seem frail and an extra, as if always OK to overlook. For all she's done for Naima, that's unfair.

Dew is a darling and so are the Brickmans. I rooted for Dew and Faith, and especially for Stella and Thomas in their openness to help the two kids grow roots and feel safe. 

Overall the story was just OK for me. I liked it as I was reading it, but still have that feeling of not liking Naima, though. At times it was confusing to understand where the time line was and to piece the story parts together, but it's doable. Maybe it'd work better if read on paperback, not on Kindle as I did. 

I am sure this would appeal more to younger readers, someone who could relate more to the confusing feelings Naima and Dew have. 

I received a free e-book copy from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Characters List (might contain spoilers):
Naima Rodriguez - main character - OCD, GAD, PTSD; biracial
Staff Sergeant Raymond Rodriguez - Naima's dad - US Marine Corps - died
Josephine - Naima's mother, died when Ima was born
Penelope/ Nell - Naima's step-mom
Joelle/ JJ - grandma
Kameron/ Kam - grandpa
Hiccup - JJ and Kam's dog
Christian - step-brother
Caroline - Christian's girlfriend
Andrew/ Dew - his parents died; social anxiety; panic attacks triggered by his parents' death
Faith - Dew's sister
Phillip and Alejandra Diaz - Dew and Faith's parents, they died in a car accident
Stella and Thomas Brickman - Dew and Faith's foster parents
Baked and Caffeinated - Dew's workplace
Liam "Big Foot" Thompson - manager
Violet - employee B&C
Dodge Teagarden - senior at East Clifton High
Dr. Rose - Ima's therapist in Ft. Hood
Dr. Tao - Ima's doctor
Dr. Peterson - Dew's therapist

Rosie Colored Glasses - Brianna Wolfson: Book Review

Title: Rosie Colored Glasses
Author: Brianna Wolfson
No. pages: 336
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: 20.02.2018
Format: mobi Kindle

The one sure thing about this novel is that it's sad. I usually like the going back and forth between present and past, but this time it didn't help very much. It made the novel more difficult to piece together that it already was.
Rosie Thorpe, mother to two children, Asher and Willow, and ex-wife to Rex, suffers of mental illness. I honestly didn't know what that illness was. She was depressed, this I understood. She was a very energetic and happy person, marching to the beat of her own drum. Obviously, this proved to bring trouble long term, especially because her husband, Rex was the very opposite. Willow, their oldest child, is the one who suffers the most after their impending divorce. The novel is mostly told from Willow's and Rosie's perspectives, the author bringing the reader to understand what went wrong 15 years before and what can't function in the present.

What surprised me was that there were literally only six relevant people mentioned. The family of four, and Roy, Rex's best friend, and Chloe, Rosie's former roommate. With a family facing so many issues: a depressive mother, a father unable to show his love in a palpable way to his kids, a traumatized child who wets herself regularly - well, there had to be someone to do something. It usually surprises me how in some novels there just don't seem to be any other adults. Didn't Rex and Rosie have parents, siblings, close friends? Both kids were in school - why didn't a teacher, a counselor, someone intervene? 

I was drawn in by the novel, despite its shortcomings. I don't think there could have been a better ending to this story, because how can you make everything nice and clean and wrap it up in a bow with so many issues? However, I think Rosie's issues could have been explored deeper, Willow's trauma could have been handled better by the parents who seemed to accept it as something normal {A passage comes to mind: one day Willow comes to school with pencil shavings in her hair and Rosie, her mother!, remarks that she likes what Willow did to her hair. Really? The kid is being bullied.}, more involved adults could have been present in the novel. The premise was good, but the way it was carried out was not the best. I did like the idea of exploring mental illnesses and the way it affects families, although I wish it were more thoroughly presented. It repeats a bit too much when it is shown from Willow's perspective, but can you blame the poor kid?

A nice read, nonetheless, by a promising author.

I received a free advanced e-book copy of the novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

List of Characters: {contains spoilers}

Rosie Thorpe - 36 years old - happy-go-lucky kind of person. Was working in a flower shop when she met Rex.

Rex Thorpe - 43 years old - organised, type A personality 

Rosie+Rex= married for about 10-11 years

Willow - Rosie and Rex's girl, the oldest child

Asher -  their younger boy

Chloe - Rosie's roommate. drug addict. Rosie becomes dependent

Roy - Rex's best friend

Amanda Rooney, Patricia Bleeker, Roger Wallace, Robbie Hawkins - kids at Willow's school, bullies