Before We Say Goodbye by Boo Walker — A Poignant Farewell to Red Mountain
5 out of 5 stars — Book Review 
The literary landscape would feel incomplete without this book. Before We Say Goodbye is the final movement in the RED MOUNTAIN symphony — a wistful, graceful coda that brings the series to a resonant close.
Otis and Rebecca’s lifelong romance begins aboard a psychedelic purple school bus en route to Woodstock, NY from San Francisco. Otis, hunched and uncertain, watches as the bus halts for a late arrival. A slender girl with daisies in her hair, bellbottoms swaying, and a carefree grin bounds aboard. In that instant, Otis knows — she’s the one. His compass shifts.
A Prequel That Stands Alone
This novel is a gentle, evocative origin story — a prequel that enriches the RED MOUNTAIN universe. Yet it stands firmly on its own, even if you’ve never read another page by Boo Walker. I dare you not to dive deeper.
A Life Rewritten by Love and Wine
Otis’s future was charted by parental expectation: Berkeley, then a career in journalism, following in his father’s footsteps. But fate intervenes. His instant connection with Rebecca — and later, his intoxicating affair with the vine — reroutes everything. The vineyard doesn’t just capture his imagination; it claims his soul.
One Quibble
My only quibble lies in a narrative decision: the prologue reveals the ending. It softens the suspense, removing the question of how things will unfold. We know from the outset that Rebecca’s life will end, and that knowledge casts a shadow over the story’s emotional arc. Still, Boo made that choice deliberately — perhaps to focus not on the inevitability of death, but on the beauty of a life fully lived.
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Let me know what you thought of Otis and Rebecca’s journey in the comments below.
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BOOKS BY TRISHA SUGAREK
If you enjoyed this review, you might love my own stories — full of heart, grit, and unforgettable characters.
The Deep South Trilogy
Mother Mac’s Boarding HouseComing Soon: Book Three
Children’s Theater & Stories
Emma and the Lost Unicorn (now a stage adaptation!)Stanley the Stalwart Dragon (…..and more)Poetry & True Crime
Butterflies and BulletsWorld of Murder (series) 
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