The Last Time We Say Goodbye - Cynthia Hand

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Blurb (on back of book): There's death all around us. We just don't pay attention. Until we do.
The last time Lex was happy, it was before. When she had a family that was whole. A boyfriend she loved. Friends who didn't look at her like she might break down at any moment.
Now she's just the girl whose brother killed himself. And it feels like that's all she'll ever be.
As Lex starts to put her life back together, she tries to block out what happened the night Tyler died. But there's a secret she hasn't told anyone—a text Tyler sent that could have changed everything.
Lex's brother is gone. But Lex is about to discover that a ghost doesn't have to be real to keep you from moving on.
From New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand, The Last Time We Say Goodbye is a gorgeous and heart-wrenching story of love, loss, and letting go.

MY OPINION: *****

I can't not give this book a five stars. That would literally be like betraying Ty.

This book made me believe that Ty is a real person who's dead. Sad. Sad. Story.

Amazing story.
Sad story.
Beautiful story.

That's basically my opinion of this book.

This book isn't a ghost story. It isn't horror, it isn't paranormal. There's talk of ghosts and spirits, there's dreams, but this book is mostly realistic fiction and focuses on Lex. Not Ty.

I loved this book. It had a great plot, amazing characters, and a sad theme. Like I said in a previous post, I want to read sad books. I'm not a morbid person. I don't love reading about death or anything. But sad books are so good. They are literally perfection. They are amazing pieces of writing. Not that fantasy, romance, or just a quick novel isn't amazing. But sad stories always have some hidden meaning that makes the readers actually think.

This story made me actually think.

I loved it!

Ok, moving on.

Here's a quote that basically defines me. It really resonated. They're talking about a gym, by the way.

"I associate this place with physical punishment, PE and running the mile and the amount of pull-ups I've inevitably failed to do to meet high school fitness standards...I don't belong here...the safety of books and facts and soft lighting, not the bright fluorescent wash of the gym..." page 117

That sums me up in about fifty words. Amazing how the author really understands people who are athletically challenged. Like me. :)

So that was my happy part. Moving on.

Sad part.

SPOILER ALERT

SHE COULD HAVE SAVED TY! No matter what she says, no matter that Ty had all of the cards, no matter that she says it couldn't be stopped. I really feel as if she could have saved Ty.

The text was so sad. Oh my gosh. I wanted to cry. But I didn't. He even called her sis. I think I'm going to cry now. :(

All of the suicides in this book was so sad. I knew that Damian wasn't going to suicide because that would have been way too obvious (then again, I can't be the only one who thought otherwise, right?), but I still was so scared. What kind of poetry does this kid write? I'm drowning?? So scary.

This author really made me feel as if I was in the book. So amazing. That almost never happens to me unless I'm reading REALLY good writing.

The stupid dad. He annoyed me so much. I mean, I understand his character, but he was basically a major cause of his son's suicide. What kind of a guy walks out on his family because he's been cheating on his wife with a girl named Megan??? Not to be rude to anyone, but this father didn't even care to help his own children! He just left. Then they had no money because they had to pay for divorce. TY COULDN'T EVEN HAVE HIS OWN CAR. Oh my god. So annoying. This dad really ruined this kid's life. He seemed so nice when they were all still a family. But he wasn't. But I still felt bad for him when he was so hurt that Ty didn't put his picture inside of the collage. So sad.

The mom was really strange. I totally understand her character. Husband walks out abandoning her, son suicides and leaves her forever. SADDEST LIFE. I felt really bad for Joan, which is Lex's mom. But I hope that Joan had a great life after the story ended. I hope she felt as if her life was still important. I hope.

Sadie seemed like such a nice character, but then there's the factors of her being one of those girls that moms don't want their daughters to associate with. But I liked Sadie. She was nice, and she had a great character. It was really sad about her dad. So sad.

There was death in this whole story. Ty, Patrick, Sadie's dad, Patrick's mom. But I think that that was the point. It was so sad though.

Steven was so sweet, but I didn't like him. He was a very well-drawn character. But I didn't like him for whatever reasons. They're unknown. He was sort of...annoying. But the author did a great job of making him seem...real.

Damian. Wow. His character? Wow. I loved him. But then again, he sparked fear that he was going to die. The paper flowers? Sweet. But different than most male characters. He seemed so nice though, and I really felt bad for him when he got rejected. But honestly, despite being Ty's friend, I feel as if he was so stupid to believe that a senior would like him. A sophomore. I just hoped he wouldn't be the next domino to fall in the suicide train.

When she got accepted into MIT, it was awesome! That was such an awesome scene. I used the word "awesome" too much in this post. Wow. That's something I never do. I generally hate that word. Anyways, MIT seems so amazing and some place where Lex would fit in and move on with her life!

Dave was funny. Being a therapist, he was supposed to be helpful, but I honestly don't think that he was. It was weird to read his scenes. But he had a great idea of writing it all out. That was nice.

Giving Steven her journal? Did not see that one coming. I feel as if I would have expected Lex to give it to her mother. Or even her father. Not her ex.

I liked reading the journal entries. Definitely fun parts of the book.

I loved this book! I would recommend this book to people who are above sixth grade, only because it seemed a little bit mature. I also think that people who like a great read with lots of love and loss would like this book.

I definitely am reading more of Cynthia Hand's work.

I'm reading Attachments by Rainbow Rowell now, but expect to see Doomed by Tracy Deebs and possibly Walk On Earth A Stranger by Rae Carson (if I don't abandon it) up next. I'm reading the latter for a challenge where I have to read four books of each genre. I need to fill up historical fiction, nonfiction, and sci-fi/mystery. I am trying, but I tend to lean towards the fantasy or realistic fiction side a lot more. Trying to leave fantasy for a while, but definitely staying with realistic fiction. I couldn't live without my contemporary! Definitely my favorite genre of them all!

Main Character: Lex
Sidekick(s): Steven, Sadie, Beaker, mom, dad, Ty, Damian, El, etc
Villain(s): Death, suicide, Megan (in a way), etc
Realistic Fiction Elements: All of this could happen in real life, though it does not mean that it will.