Recent Reads: Hello, Goodbye by Kate Stollenwerck

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Hello, Goodbye by Kate Stollenwerck 

Publisher: SparkPress
Publication Date:  August 2, 2022

 

Format: Paperback

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Fifteen-year-old Hailey Rogers is sure her summer is ruined when her parents force her to spend a few days a week helping her grandmother, Gigi. Although she only lives across town, she never sees her grandmother and knows little about her. But Gigi is full of surprises--and family secrets. Throw in the gorgeous boy down the street, and Hailey's ruined summer might just be the best of her life.

Then tragedy strikes, lies are uncovered, and Hailey's life suddenly falls apart. After unearthing clues in an old letter written by her great-grandfather, she takes off on a road trip to solve the family mystery with the only person she can trust. In a forgotten Texas town, the past and the present collide--and Hailey is forced to choose what she truly values in life. 

Review: 

If you need a good cry, specifically for loved-ones lost, this is a book for you. I preface this review that way because there was a lot of tragedy in this story and I feel the need to prepare the readers of it, and I hope there are a lot of them. 

This book follows teen Hailey, she is somewhat forced to spend time with her grandmother this summer. Her grandmother is a bit eccentric and Hailey's mother does not get along with her. It makes for an interesting family dynamic. While Gigi lives right down the road, Hailey does not spend a lot of time with her, until now. Gigi is taking the time now to teach Hailey all about their family and the stories are amazing, even book-worthy in some cases. Hailey whie learning more about her family history and secrets is also learning who to trust and trying to understand who she is from their past. 

Hailey in the beginning is your typical teen, angsty, upset about ruined summer plans, but Gigi helps her with that swiftly. The pace of the book is wonderful and Gigi is hilarious and marvelous and I can see why she has lived such an exciting life. I enjoyed both Hailey and Gigi as characters throughout the book.

This book seemed to come to me at just the right time, a few months ago we lost my grandfather and recently we had his memorial. Every summer when we were younger, my sister and I would be dropped off at his house for a week. While we moaned and groaned about the situation, we always had a wonderful time... and looking back I really wish I would have kept up those visits into adulthood.  I think I cried so much more during this book thinking about the time I missed, but also remembering all the fun times we had together during those summers. 

Overall, the book was heartfelt and a wonderful coming-of-age story that I think both teens and adults will love to read.