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How to Say Goodbye
Amy has a secret: no one’s ever held her hand. She doesn’t even know how to hug. Everyone thinks she’s smart, but straight A's are way easier than making friends. Then she meets Dane, a golden-haired surfer whose easy charm and hot touch teach her what she longs to know.
Dane lives for the salty breeze and a sweet wave, because that’s all he has. He’s been on the streets since he was fourteen. A drifter. Homeless. Then he meets Amy. Smart and accomplished, she’s everything he’s not. He wants to be the sort of man who deserves her.
Except that means facing down his past—and that past might very well swallow them both.
Dane lives for the salty breeze and a sweet wave, because that’s all he has. He’s been on the streets since he was fourteen. A drifter. Homeless. Then he meets Amy. Smart and accomplished, she’s everything he’s not. He wants to be the sort of man who deserves her.
Except that means facing down his past—and that past might very well swallow them both.
243 pages, ebook
First published April 3, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
March 20, 2018
*FREE today at Amazon US, 3/20/18!*
Oh I REALLY liked this. Attention all fans of Pushing the Limits, here is another book for you to sink your angst-loving teeth into!
I usually have a really hard time with M/F new adult books. Frankly, they usually suck. This book sort of rides the line between YA and NA (there is sex on page but they are 18/19 year olds) and it was surprisingly, shockingly good.
It is easy to compare this book to Katie McGarry's series because they are so stinking similar. There are a lot of psychological issues due to parental shortcomings as well as the homeless factor (which is mentioned in the blurb, it isn't a spoiler). It has the same theme of an "against-all-odds" romance, and I was cheering hard for Amy and Dane, like I usually do for McGarry's couples. When I make these comparisons I mean it in the best way. I found this book to be strikingly addictive, and though it wasn't without it's flaws, I tend to go with my gut with rating these types of books and I enjoyed the bejesus out of this one.
Dane was a really interesting character. It isn't often that we see and I love that Amber Lin took a chance and included that in her book. I also liked that Dane acted age appropriate when it came to sex. There was no bizarre chastity oath or superhuman sexual resistance, like I just read in Shiver. He was a man, and though he was careful and respectful, he acted just like a guy that age would. I felt like I really understood Dane as a character.
Amy was also surprisingly unique. In a world where so many NA books have female MCs that are stunning but are too insecure to realize they are beeeeauuutiful and they need a man to show them, Amy was decidedly more accessible. I loved that she was Japanese (three cheers for non-white MCs!) and wore plain speedos on her "skinny and flat-chested" body. I liked that she didn't have a so-called perfect body and she seemed okay with that. Socially awkward and painfully shy, Amy was very different from the cookie-cutter MCs that I have come to hate. I got a sense of quiet self-assurance from her. When she started feeling more sensual and experimenting sexually, I never felt like she was ashamed of herself or what she desired. It was refreshing and wonderful.
Overall, this book was really well done. Just thoughtful, angsty, well-written NA that stands out from among the crowd.
**Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Oh I REALLY liked this. Attention all fans of Pushing the Limits, here is another book for you to sink your angst-loving teeth into!
I usually have a really hard time with M/F new adult books. Frankly, they usually suck. This book sort of rides the line between YA and NA (there is sex on page but they are 18/19 year olds) and it was surprisingly, shockingly good.
It is easy to compare this book to Katie McGarry's series because they are so stinking similar. There are a lot of psychological issues due to parental shortcomings as well as the homeless factor (which is mentioned in the blurb, it isn't a spoiler). It has the same theme of an "against-all-odds" romance, and I was cheering hard for Amy and Dane, like I usually do for McGarry's couples. When I make these comparisons I mean it in the best way. I found this book to be strikingly addictive, and though it wasn't without it's flaws, I tend to go with my gut with rating these types of books and I enjoyed the bejesus out of this one.
Dane was a really interesting character. It isn't often that we see and I love that Amber Lin took a chance and included that in her book. I also liked that Dane acted age appropriate when it came to sex. There was no bizarre chastity oath or superhuman sexual resistance, like I just read in Shiver. He was a man, and though he was careful and respectful, he acted just like a guy that age would. I felt like I really understood Dane as a character.
Amy was also surprisingly unique. In a world where so many NA books have female MCs that are stunning but are too insecure to realize they are beeeeauuutiful and they need a man to show them, Amy was decidedly more accessible. I loved that she was Japanese (three cheers for non-white MCs!) and wore plain speedos on her "skinny and flat-chested" body. I liked that she didn't have a so-called perfect body and she seemed okay with that. Socially awkward and painfully shy, Amy was very different from the cookie-cutter MCs that I have come to hate. I got a sense of quiet self-assurance from her. When she started feeling more sensual and experimenting sexually, I never felt like she was ashamed of herself or what she desired. It was refreshing and wonderful.
Overall, this book was really well done. Just thoughtful, angsty, well-written NA that stands out from among the crowd.
**Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
May 12, 2015
This wonderful story is on sale for just $0.99!!!! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J...
4 "Be near me so that I can be near you" stars!
I adore the worlds Amber Lin creates with their complex, damaged characters who often struggle with the same things I struggle with. People I'm seldom instantly drawn to, but who always win me over. How to Say Goodbye is this kind of story.
Description...
Amy has a secret: no one’s ever held her hand. She doesn’t even know how to hug. Everyone thinks she’s smart, but straight A's are way easier than making friends. Then she meets Dane, a golden-haired surfer whose easy charm and hot touch teach her what she longs to know.My review...
Dane lives for the salty breeze and a sweet wave, because that’s all he has. He’s been on the streets since he was fourteen. A drifter. Homeless. Then he meets Amy. Smart and accomplished, she’s everything he’s not. He wants to be the sort of man who deserves her.
Except that means facing down his past—and that past might very well swallow them both.
If you've read Amber Lin's stories you already know that she has an amazing talent for showing us the very best in people, but also the very worse in people and doing it in a way that no matter their past, no matter their crimes, we can't help but end up loving them. Amy and Dane are such provocative, emotionally complicated people and I truly wasn't sure, until the very end, if I'd be able to care what was to become of them - either apart or together. From childhood, they'd both been emotionally abandoned and didn't quite know how to feel for another person in a healthy relationship. To say I enjoyed watching them grow is true, and yet, I didn't enjoy watching their pain. My heart ached at how wounded and broken they had become over time, but they found in each other what they had lost. What they needed to be whole again.
The bottom line...
If you enjoy the 'coming of age' angsty feel of the New Adult genre but want a storyline that hasn't been done to death, I'll say to you... Stop reading reviews and buy this book. Amber Lin's stories will haunt you, uplift you, and make you want more.
An eARC was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2014
Something usual and something unusual for new adult. This is first new adult romance by Amber Lin. Her previous books, The Lost Girls series are more appropriate for adult audience. To be honest, I was a little bit surprised when I found out that she will publish new adult novel this month. How To Say Goodbye did not disappoint, there were few fresh turns, but also standard cliches of genre.
What did I like?
- Main character, Amy is half American, half Japanese so there is whole cultural issues. Different from what you'd expect.
- Dual point of view. It doesn't follow usual his chapter/her chapter one after the another scheme.
- Writing. Amber Lin has a way with words. She reminds me a little bit of Megan Hart.
- No alpha males. Dane is has his own quirks but being an typical alpha male of new adult genre is not one of them. He is musician, but not a rock star. He has his own secrets and darkness, but he's now troubled bad boy who finds release in violence and womanizing.
- Amy is smart girl who doesn't throw her whole future away because of the boy. And Dane is kind of the guy who would never let her do that.
What I didn't like that much?
- I didn't get captivated by story from the very beginning. It goes slow and you need to be patient to figure out few key points that will make you understand characters better.
- Main female character has a lot of usual issues - introvert, virgin, too shy... Painfully annoying.
- Convenient solutions for their problems. I'll leave it at that because I don't want to spoil the book for anyone interested in reading. I still loved How To Say Goodbye, I was happy for them and I swooned, but it's pretty much fluffy read.
Rating: 3.7 stars
Review posted at Ja čitam, a ti?
***Copy of the was provided by author, Amber Lin, in exchange for and honest review.***
What did I like?
- Main character, Amy is half American, half Japanese so there is whole cultural issues. Different from what you'd expect.
- Dual point of view. It doesn't follow usual his chapter/her chapter one after the another scheme.
- Writing. Amber Lin has a way with words. She reminds me a little bit of Megan Hart.
- No alpha males. Dane is has his own quirks but being an typical alpha male of new adult genre is not one of them. He is musician, but not a rock star. He has his own secrets and darkness, but he's now troubled bad boy who finds release in violence and womanizing.
- Amy is smart girl who doesn't throw her whole future away because of the boy. And Dane is kind of the guy who would never let her do that.
What I didn't like that much?
- I didn't get captivated by story from the very beginning. It goes slow and you need to be patient to figure out few key points that will make you understand characters better.
- Main female character has a lot of usual issues - introvert, virgin, too shy... Painfully annoying.
- Convenient solutions for their problems. I'll leave it at that because I don't want to spoil the book for anyone interested in reading. I still loved How To Say Goodbye, I was happy for them and I swooned, but it's pretty much fluffy read.
Rating: 3.7 stars
Review posted at Ja čitam, a ti?
***Copy of the was provided by author, Amber Lin, in exchange for and honest review.***
June 16, 2017
I spent 90% of this book fighting back tears. Not gasping, ugly cry tears. Just tears of pure and utter emotion. This is the story of Amy, who has never known the expression of love in any physical form. She only knows how to bend herself to her mother's will. She doesn't know how to recognize or even ask for anything she wants. And she meets Dane, a young homeless, beautiful beach bum, who has lived the last few years of his life on his own, doing what is necessary to fend for himself, always ready to pick up and move one when it needs to be done to keep himself safe. Their worlds collide in the most haunting and moving way possible. Amy is so brave. Even when Dane is trying to keep her at a distance, she just loves and accepts. Her love never fails. Dane is so achingly vulnerable, but he has such a beautiful and open heart, especially for Amy. And he wants so much to be better for her. To be what she needs and deserves. They make plenty of mistakes and plenty of assumptions based on their own pasts and insecurities. It was just a incredibly stunning story that I will think about for a long long time.
January 1, 2016
*4.5 stars*
I really enjoyed this book! I couldn't put it down. I had to know what happens with these two characters, both lonely in desperate need of love and acceptance. It was a beautiful, emotional, and at times heartbreaking story...
Amy, grew up without being hugged or even having her hand held. Dane, had to runaway at an early age to escape a very tragic situation that his father had unknowingly placed him in. He was so sweet to Amy and she was so strong for him. You could feel the love and complete acceptance they had for one another. Their love didn't come easy. They both had a lot to work through, Dane, especially.
The ending was very sweet. It was good to see them together and happy at last. I do wish that there was an epilogue. It would have been nice to see them together after some time had passed.
Amber Lin, has a real talent for drawing you in and keeping you captivated. One of the best books I have read all year.
I really enjoyed this book! I couldn't put it down. I had to know what happens with these two characters, both lonely in desperate need of love and acceptance. It was a beautiful, emotional, and at times heartbreaking story...
Amy, grew up without being hugged or even having her hand held. Dane, had to runaway at an early age to escape a very tragic situation that his father had unknowingly placed him in. He was so sweet to Amy and she was so strong for him. You could feel the love and complete acceptance they had for one another. Their love didn't come easy. They both had a lot to work through, Dane, especially.
The ending was very sweet. It was good to see them together and happy at last. I do wish that there was an epilogue. It would have been nice to see them together after some time had passed.
Amber Lin, has a real talent for drawing you in and keeping you captivated. One of the best books I have read all year.
April 6, 2014
How to Say Goodbye by Amber Lin is a 2014 publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As Amy begins her internship she once again finds herself feeling like an outsider. A chance meeting with Dane, an ordinary surfer dude changes both of them forever.
Amy's parents immigrated to the States believing they would be providing their child with the best opportunities available. But, Amy's father died and her mother , always feeling unhappy in America, heads home to Japan, leaving Amy with her Uncle. Her mother has placed an incredible amount of pressure on Amy through her life to not ony succeed, but to be the best of the best at everything. Her mother wants Amy to land a job in Silicon Valley and live a posh lifestyle. Amy has never had much of a say in any of these plans. Now that she is nearing the completion of her college education, Amy is beginning to think for herself and isn't so sure that she wants the same thing her mother does.
Dane is a beach dweller that opens up a new world for Amy. For the first time in a long while Dane has met a person that may have a had a sadder life than his own, or at least just as sad. He is now living on the streets and has managed, at least he thinks he has, to hide that from Amy. He does whatever he has to do in order to survive. This is a very ugly life compared to the one Amy has lived. Dane feels for Amy and the isolated life she has lived, never having experienced affection, even the simple act of holding hands.
Amy feels for Dane living hand to mouth out on the streets. She knows compared to his life, hers was not all that bad. She never worried about a roof over her head or food or clothes.
As unlikely as it may seem, the two of them forge a bond that turns into something more. Dane's current lifestyle and his dark past will slowly reveal itself making a long lasting relationship between him and Amy seem nearly impossible. They are just from two different worlds and have so many issues to work on in a personal way that it appears it would be for the best if they went their separate ways.
Well, goodness! What as story! My heart ached for both of these characters. Amy had the basics in life and was well provided for. But, she had no bond with her mother or other family members and because of her IQ and ambition she was always a staight A student striving to be at the top of her class. This took all her time and the other students didn't relate to her. She never had friends, much less dated, held hands, kissed, hugged and so on. By comparison, Dane was really touchy feely. He was very affectionate by nature and was stunned by Amy's confession that she had never had her hand held.
Dane's life on the street was depicted with realism, although not overly graphic. You get the idea without the real gritty stuff descriptions. Dane has a reason for living the way he does, but it isn't until well into the book that his troubled past comes to light. Dane has a lot to overcome and it will be a long time before he is back to being a productive citizen, but with Amy and her new found independence, the two of them just might set the world on fire.
The story is heartwrenching but watching the two main characters learn from one another and grow emotionally strong as a result was very satisfying. As a person that has begun to burn out on the New Adult genre, this one rises up above all the rest and gives me a little more faith in this category. Contemporary Romance lovers and even Women's fiction readers could enjoy this one, even if the characters are college aged. The characters act their age, but these are not spoiled college brats complaining and full of angst. This is a much more serious novel and I hope people will sit up and take notice of it.
There were a few weak points involving the relationship with Dane's father. This part was not explored enough for me and I was a little mixed up about some of this part of the story.
So, I will grade this one with an A and go with 4.5 stars- rounded to five.
As Amy begins her internship she once again finds herself feeling like an outsider. A chance meeting with Dane, an ordinary surfer dude changes both of them forever.
Amy's parents immigrated to the States believing they would be providing their child with the best opportunities available. But, Amy's father died and her mother , always feeling unhappy in America, heads home to Japan, leaving Amy with her Uncle. Her mother has placed an incredible amount of pressure on Amy through her life to not ony succeed, but to be the best of the best at everything. Her mother wants Amy to land a job in Silicon Valley and live a posh lifestyle. Amy has never had much of a say in any of these plans. Now that she is nearing the completion of her college education, Amy is beginning to think for herself and isn't so sure that she wants the same thing her mother does.
Dane is a beach dweller that opens up a new world for Amy. For the first time in a long while Dane has met a person that may have a had a sadder life than his own, or at least just as sad. He is now living on the streets and has managed, at least he thinks he has, to hide that from Amy. He does whatever he has to do in order to survive. This is a very ugly life compared to the one Amy has lived. Dane feels for Amy and the isolated life she has lived, never having experienced affection, even the simple act of holding hands.
Amy feels for Dane living hand to mouth out on the streets. She knows compared to his life, hers was not all that bad. She never worried about a roof over her head or food or clothes.
As unlikely as it may seem, the two of them forge a bond that turns into something more. Dane's current lifestyle and his dark past will slowly reveal itself making a long lasting relationship between him and Amy seem nearly impossible. They are just from two different worlds and have so many issues to work on in a personal way that it appears it would be for the best if they went their separate ways.
Well, goodness! What as story! My heart ached for both of these characters. Amy had the basics in life and was well provided for. But, she had no bond with her mother or other family members and because of her IQ and ambition she was always a staight A student striving to be at the top of her class. This took all her time and the other students didn't relate to her. She never had friends, much less dated, held hands, kissed, hugged and so on. By comparison, Dane was really touchy feely. He was very affectionate by nature and was stunned by Amy's confession that she had never had her hand held.
Dane's life on the street was depicted with realism, although not overly graphic. You get the idea without the real gritty stuff descriptions. Dane has a reason for living the way he does, but it isn't until well into the book that his troubled past comes to light. Dane has a lot to overcome and it will be a long time before he is back to being a productive citizen, but with Amy and her new found independence, the two of them just might set the world on fire.
The story is heartwrenching but watching the two main characters learn from one another and grow emotionally strong as a result was very satisfying. As a person that has begun to burn out on the New Adult genre, this one rises up above all the rest and gives me a little more faith in this category. Contemporary Romance lovers and even Women's fiction readers could enjoy this one, even if the characters are college aged. The characters act their age, but these are not spoiled college brats complaining and full of angst. This is a much more serious novel and I hope people will sit up and take notice of it.
There were a few weak points involving the relationship with Dane's father. This part was not explored enough for me and I was a little mixed up about some of this part of the story.
So, I will grade this one with an A and go with 4.5 stars- rounded to five.
April 4, 2014
3.5-3.75 Stars
She wouldn’t see him again, because she didn’t know how to be close to another human being. No textbook had ever taught her.
The premise of this story was very intriguing to me. This sounded different and the H/h were definitely out of the box: A heroine who has never neither hugged nor held hands paired with a homeless Hero. I wanted to know exactly why these characters were the way they were, like what made them this way and what exactly brought them together. How will their relationship work?
“No,” she said and then kissed him back, firmer now. This was falling and floundering, gasping for air and finding nothing but him. Only him. She never wanted to be okay again.
Amy was abandoned by her mother and was raised by her Uncle. Physical interaction was very lacking in her life - at home, at school – even her interaction with her mother was only through the phone. It’s no wonder all her focus was in succeeding academically.
As mysterious as Amy was, she was nothing compared to Dane. First off, I loved Dane. I didn’t care if he was homeless – he was such a great guy. He was sweet, caring and unbelievably tender. Though he struggled to come to terms with what a man like him in his situation can really offer a girl like Amy, he still treated her delicately and respectfully; he made me melt.
He groaned, his eyes closing. “Why do you put up with me?”
She could turn him away and find someone more stable to be with. But she’d always preferred the mysterious beauty of the sky to the ground she walked every day. If there was ever anyone prepared to wait for him, she was. She’d waited her whole life for someone to love her. She could wait for him too.
“Because there’s nothing else I’d rather do.”
I couldn’t really give this story a full four stars simply because it took a while for the story to get going. Not only that, but I wanted more development of Amy and Dane’s relationship. Not that it was rushed or anything, but I think it needed a little more something. However, I cannot stress how much I loved Dane. I understood his hesitance and his reluctance, but I admired at how much he respected her enough to want to become more for her.
** Complimentary Copy provided by author in exchange for honest review**
-----
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Blog: www.sweetspotbookblog.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SweetSpotBookBlog
Twitter:@thessamari
She wouldn’t see him again, because she didn’t know how to be close to another human being. No textbook had ever taught her.
The premise of this story was very intriguing to me. This sounded different and the H/h were definitely out of the box: A heroine who has never neither hugged nor held hands paired with a homeless Hero. I wanted to know exactly why these characters were the way they were, like what made them this way and what exactly brought them together. How will their relationship work?
“No,” she said and then kissed him back, firmer now. This was falling and floundering, gasping for air and finding nothing but him. Only him. She never wanted to be okay again.
Amy was abandoned by her mother and was raised by her Uncle. Physical interaction was very lacking in her life - at home, at school – even her interaction with her mother was only through the phone. It’s no wonder all her focus was in succeeding academically.
As mysterious as Amy was, she was nothing compared to Dane. First off, I loved Dane. I didn’t care if he was homeless – he was such a great guy. He was sweet, caring and unbelievably tender. Though he struggled to come to terms with what a man like him in his situation can really offer a girl like Amy, he still treated her delicately and respectfully; he made me melt.
He groaned, his eyes closing. “Why do you put up with me?”
She could turn him away and find someone more stable to be with. But she’d always preferred the mysterious beauty of the sky to the ground she walked every day. If there was ever anyone prepared to wait for him, she was. She’d waited her whole life for someone to love her. She could wait for him too.
“Because there’s nothing else I’d rather do.”
I couldn’t really give this story a full four stars simply because it took a while for the story to get going. Not only that, but I wanted more development of Amy and Dane’s relationship. Not that it was rushed or anything, but I think it needed a little more something. However, I cannot stress how much I loved Dane. I understood his hesitance and his reluctance, but I admired at how much he respected her enough to want to become more for her.
** Complimentary Copy provided by author in exchange for honest review**
-----
♥♥♥ FOLLOW ME ♥♥♥
Blog: www.sweetspotbookblog.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SweetSpotBookBlog
Twitter:@thessamari
September 3, 2014
⭐️⭐️ 2.5 stars ⭐️⭐️
A sweet read brilliantly written by Amber Lin, an author I just discovered.
I can't say I really enjoyed the story, but the writing alone made me read this flawlessly.
Part on my disinterest in the story was that I never connected with the heroine, Amy. She is shy, quiet, a virgin, and she grew up in a rather harsh environment, deprived from any emotions.
At first, I thought I was in for a treat, the writing style, so unique, almost like poetry -very unusual-, and the awkward heroine's behavior, I was really intrigued to see how she would evolve. She meets someone who's although being her opposite, is as broken as her.
Somewhere along the way, I felt like everything that was happening to Dane and Amy was a little too convenient, not necessarily rushed, but there were gaps or things I would have preferred to be told rather than left to wonder.
A sweet read brilliantly written by Amber Lin, an author I just discovered.
I can't say I really enjoyed the story, but the writing alone made me read this flawlessly.
Part on my disinterest in the story was that I never connected with the heroine, Amy. She is shy, quiet, a virgin, and she grew up in a rather harsh environment, deprived from any emotions.
At first, I thought I was in for a treat, the writing style, so unique, almost like poetry -very unusual-, and the awkward heroine's behavior, I was really intrigued to see how she would evolve. She meets someone who's although being her opposite, is as broken as her.
Somewhere along the way, I felt like everything that was happening to Dane and Amy was a little too convenient, not necessarily rushed, but there were gaps or things I would have preferred to be told rather than left to wonder.
July 8, 2015
3.5 stars
How to Say Goodbye was a New Adult story that vastly differed from the majority flooding the market right now. There is angst but it stemmed from Amy's emotionally sterile childhood and feelings of abandonment while Dane's involved childhood trauma and the issues that come with living on the streets.
Amy was dismayingly shy in the beginning, which fit in with how she was raised, but with every interaction with Dane, the reader saw and felt as she began to gain more confidence and come into her own.
Dane was our bad boy who fantastically didn't even come close to the word "bad" in all the ways that matter. He was kind, gentle, respectful, and always asking Amy how soon and how far; no pushy man whore here.
If you like New Adult genre reads, then you will definitely want to give this one a try. Amy and Dane's separate and together story had real heart to it and Amy's personal growth will invigorate your sense of hope.
Read full review at: Reading Between the Wines book club
How to Say Goodbye was a New Adult story that vastly differed from the majority flooding the market right now. There is angst but it stemmed from Amy's emotionally sterile childhood and feelings of abandonment while Dane's involved childhood trauma and the issues that come with living on the streets.
Amy was dismayingly shy in the beginning, which fit in with how she was raised, but with every interaction with Dane, the reader saw and felt as she began to gain more confidence and come into her own.
Dane was our bad boy who fantastically didn't even come close to the word "bad" in all the ways that matter. He was kind, gentle, respectful, and always asking Amy how soon and how far; no pushy man whore here.
If you like New Adult genre reads, then you will definitely want to give this one a try. Amy and Dane's separate and together story had real heart to it and Amy's personal growth will invigorate your sense of hope.
Read full review at: Reading Between the Wines book club
December 29, 2014
REVIEW COPY HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
If you've been following my reviews then you would probably be aware how much I love books with drama, real life issues and complex characters. This book has all of those.
New Adult/Young Adult books right now seem to be following a certain pattern. Characters name change. Settings change. But the flow of the story remains the same.
You guys all know what I'm talking about right?! Most of the NA/YA love story now a days have that that specific pattern and it makes the story old, dull and boring. Fortunately, How to Say Goodbye is not like that. Well it does have its share of cliches that I guess could not be avoided but all in all, the uniqueness of the story overpowered it.
The story revolves around Amy and Dane who both have their own demons to face.
Amy was smart but socially awkward. Her mother returned to Japan after her father died which caused her to learned how to live on her own. She's never been close to anyone. She never really had a person who would be able to tell her or advise her about stuff as she was growing up. Her mother only cares about her academic performance. She never really asks her if she was fitting in well or if she made any friends. Amy was curious but afraid to get close to people. *Did I forget to mention she was Japanese?*
Dane was not the type of guy you'd expect to be a homeless person. When you see him, he wasn't the type of person you'll think to have such a huge secret. When he was 14, something happened and he was never the same. That experience made him run away from home and chose to live alone, away from the people who love him. He stayed under the radar. He didn't work regular jobs just so that his parents wouldn't be able to find him. *Did I forget to mention he was a surfer??? A hot surfer??*
Amy and Dane's story started out pretty generic but then evolved into something beautiful. I thought Amy depended too much on Dane too soon. But then I guess it's just because she never really had anyone until Dane. What happened to Dane breaks my heart. I seriously feel for this guy. He is such a sweetheart and he doesn't deserve living a life he doesn't deserve.
Dane has so many secrets that he doesn't want Amy to know. He felt embarrassed about his past which was something he had no control over. He constantly felt that he wasn't good for Amy. Amy has a bright future ahead of her and he felt that he wasn't going to be good enough no matter what he does for Amy. It really breaks my heart everytime he talks like that. It really tears me apart.
THUMBS UP
* I didn't feel it was like any other NA book. It didn't follow that pattern I just earlier on this review
* I liked the interracial love story. It was a first for me.
* Writing style was impeccable.
* I LOVE the characters. There was just so many facets of them I was able to see.
* It made my heart ache. I just love that feeling. When books bring out emotions in me.. I just love that.
THUMBS DOWN
* I felt that the ending was a bit rushed. I liked that the story built up pretty well. The pace of the story was slow but became really fast and hurried for my taste towards the end.
* There were tini-tiny bits of cliche. Mainly though on Amy's character. (Example. She was a virgin who hasn't have any experience.)
FINAL RAMBLING
The story won't be as effective if the writing isn't good so I have to give kudos to Ms. Lin for writing such a moving story.
The pace was something I fell in love with. The words that were used seems to have been chosen perfectly. I think the story wouldn't be as effective if the wrong words were used.
What else??
Okay. I just have to say it again. I just love Dane. :)
If you've been following my reviews then you would probably be aware how much I love books with drama, real life issues and complex characters. This book has all of those.
New Adult/Young Adult books right now seem to be following a certain pattern. Characters name change. Settings change. But the flow of the story remains the same.
Innocent Girl meets Bad Boy.
Both experience INSTA-LOVE/INSTA-ATTRACTION whatever.
Bad Boy changes for Innocent Girl.
Innocent Girl loses her virginity.
Bad Boy does something stupid.
Innocent Girl tries to leave.
Bad Boy wins Innocent Girl back.
And they live happily ever after.
Blah. Blah. Blah,
You guys all know what I'm talking about right?! Most of the NA/YA love story now a days have that that specific pattern and it makes the story old, dull and boring. Fortunately, How to Say Goodbye is not like that. Well it does have its share of cliches that I guess could not be avoided but all in all, the uniqueness of the story overpowered it.
The story revolves around Amy and Dane who both have their own demons to face.
Amy was smart but socially awkward. Her mother returned to Japan after her father died which caused her to learned how to live on her own. She's never been close to anyone. She never really had a person who would be able to tell her or advise her about stuff as she was growing up. Her mother only cares about her academic performance. She never really asks her if she was fitting in well or if she made any friends. Amy was curious but afraid to get close to people. *Did I forget to mention she was Japanese?*
"Every other time in her life, she'd pretended not to want this. Friends and laughter. Easy camaraderie. Touch. Standing on the cooling sand, her stomach grumbling with hunger, she could no longer pretend."
Dane was not the type of guy you'd expect to be a homeless person. When you see him, he wasn't the type of person you'll think to have such a huge secret. When he was 14, something happened and he was never the same. That experience made him run away from home and chose to live alone, away from the people who love him. He stayed under the radar. He didn't work regular jobs just so that his parents wouldn't be able to find him. *Did I forget to mention he was a surfer??? A hot surfer??*
Amy and Dane's story started out pretty generic but then evolved into something beautiful. I thought Amy depended too much on Dane too soon. But then I guess it's just because she never really had anyone until Dane. What happened to Dane breaks my heart. I seriously feel for this guy. He is such a sweetheart and he doesn't deserve living a life he doesn't deserve.
Dane has so many secrets that he doesn't want Amy to know. He felt embarrassed about his past which was something he had no control over. He constantly felt that he wasn't good for Amy. Amy has a bright future ahead of her and he felt that he wasn't going to be good enough no matter what he does for Amy. It really breaks my heart everytime he talks like that. It really tears me apart.
THUMBS UP
* I didn't feel it was like any other NA book. It didn't follow that pattern I just earlier on this review
* I liked the interracial love story. It was a first for me.
* Writing style was impeccable.
* I LOVE the characters. There was just so many facets of them I was able to see.
* It made my heart ache. I just love that feeling. When books bring out emotions in me.. I just love that.
THUMBS DOWN
* I felt that the ending was a bit rushed. I liked that the story built up pretty well. The pace of the story was slow but became really fast and hurried for my taste towards the end.
* There were tini-tiny bits of cliche. Mainly though on Amy's character. (Example. She was a virgin who hasn't have any experience.)
FINAL RAMBLING
The story won't be as effective if the writing isn't good so I have to give kudos to Ms. Lin for writing such a moving story.
The pace was something I fell in love with. The words that were used seems to have been chosen perfectly. I think the story wouldn't be as effective if the wrong words were used.
What else??
Okay. I just have to say it again. I just love Dane. :)
kindle-freebies
June 1, 2016kindle freebie 6/1/16
Did Not Finish
January 23, 2024DNF @ 26% I am so glad that this book was free! It’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever read!! Everything is so vague. Amy is down in Cape Canaveral for some kind of internship. I never got the gist of what she does or why she’s doing this internship, just that it has to do with numbers. (Yet the MMC calls her a “rocket scientist” and I’ve seen nothing to confirm that.) Her “mentor” never gets her name right and she doesn’t stand up for herself. One day on her way home from work, she sees a guy building a sandcastle. She stops to help him and all of a sudden, she’s in love with him! Seriously? She’s already thinking of forever with this guy and she knows nothing about him! Amy has never held hands, been kissed, hugged or anything like that. She is the height of socially awkward. I DID really like that she’s Japanese and not the cookie-cutter white FMC that seem to be in most romance books.
Dane is very kind, but we don’t really know anything about him by the point I decided to throw in the towel. All we know is he builds sandcastles, plays the guitar, reads, draws, and surfs. Oh, and that Amy is in love with him. 🙄🙄🙄 From the blurb we know that he’s homeless, but nothing has been mentioned of that so far.
The thoughts are so disjointed and I constantly feel like I’m missing something. It’s as if the author is telling part of the story in her head and not getting it down on the paper. Some sentences are so strange!!! A soul-deep answer waited in his eyes, where she could seek out knowledge and solve for peace. What does that even mean??? “Solve for peace”? Is she looking for “solutions for peace” in this guy’s eyes? What 19 year old does that?
My brain hurts trying to figure this stuff out. 😵💫😵💫😵💫 I can’t say that I’d want to try anything else written by this author. She’s heading straight to my “authors to avoid” shelf.
Dane is very kind, but we don’t really know anything about him by the point I decided to throw in the towel. All we know is he builds sandcastles, plays the guitar, reads, draws, and surfs. Oh, and that Amy is in love with him. 🙄🙄🙄 From the blurb we know that he’s homeless, but nothing has been mentioned of that so far.
The thoughts are so disjointed and I constantly feel like I’m missing something. It’s as if the author is telling part of the story in her head and not getting it down on the paper. Some sentences are so strange!!! A soul-deep answer waited in his eyes, where she could seek out knowledge and solve for peace. What does that even mean??? “Solve for peace”? Is she looking for “solutions for peace” in this guy’s eyes? What 19 year old does that?
My brain hurts trying to figure this stuff out. 😵💫😵💫😵💫 I can’t say that I’d want to try anything else written by this author. She’s heading straight to my “authors to avoid” shelf.
April 9, 2014
Primero decir que tengo debilidad por las historias de gente sin techo, sin hogar, no sé explicar porqué, pero este tipo de historias me conmueven como pocas y por este motivo, no sé si esta crítica va a ser muy objetiva.
Me ha gustado la historia, me ha parecido realista sin profundizar en exceso en el tema de vivir en la calle siendo adolescente, es un tema duro y complicado y si se le da demasiada cobertura, evidentemente, ensombrece el romance y lo convierte en una frivolidad, con lo cual, los aspectos desagradables de la situación se dejan entrever, pero no se les da protagonismo.
Me ha parecido una historia valiente, que no convierte en santos a sus protagonistas y que los trata como lo que son, adolescentes, con problemas, egoístas a veces y sin saber muy bien lo que quieren o cómo conseguirlo… no puedo explicarlo mejor sin dar pistas sobre la historia…y no quiero darlas…
Hay drama, pero es predecible, al fin y al cabo se trata de una historia de amor entre un sin techo y una chica que no sabe lo que es un abrazo…pero es un drama justificado…
Los personajes son sólidos, están muy bien descritos y son fieles a sí mismos, no cambian de la noche a la mañana y no hacen tonterías y para ser justa, a lo mejor los secundarios sí han sido un poco planos y predecibles, pero imagino que era necesario para equilibrar la balanza.
Me ha parecido una historia dura (podría haberlo sido más), tierna, conmovedora y me ha encantado…
Le ha faltado un epílogo para poder recuperar el aliento…para cerrar capítulo…y también zanjar el tema de ella con su familia. Por lo demás, me ha encantado.
Me ha gustado la historia, me ha parecido realista sin profundizar en exceso en el tema de vivir en la calle siendo adolescente, es un tema duro y complicado y si se le da demasiada cobertura, evidentemente, ensombrece el romance y lo convierte en una frivolidad, con lo cual, los aspectos desagradables de la situación se dejan entrever, pero no se les da protagonismo.
Me ha parecido una historia valiente, que no convierte en santos a sus protagonistas y que los trata como lo que son, adolescentes, con problemas, egoístas a veces y sin saber muy bien lo que quieren o cómo conseguirlo… no puedo explicarlo mejor sin dar pistas sobre la historia…y no quiero darlas…
Hay drama, pero es predecible, al fin y al cabo se trata de una historia de amor entre un sin techo y una chica que no sabe lo que es un abrazo…pero es un drama justificado…
Los personajes son sólidos, están muy bien descritos y son fieles a sí mismos, no cambian de la noche a la mañana y no hacen tonterías y para ser justa, a lo mejor los secundarios sí han sido un poco planos y predecibles, pero imagino que era necesario para equilibrar la balanza.
Me ha parecido una historia dura (podría haberlo sido más), tierna, conmovedora y me ha encantado…
Le ha faltado un epílogo para poder recuperar el aliento…para cerrar capítulo…y también zanjar el tema de ella con su familia. Por lo demás, me ha encantado.
May 30, 2015
This was a very different story. I guess you'd call it New Adult, but it was barely that. We have Amy, who is 19. She's a genius who is about to graduate college, on an internship at a Cape Canaveral aerospace research company. Her mother went back to Japan when Amy was very young, and Amy stayed with her uncle, but she's received very little affection over the years. As a result, her social interactions are very stilted. No real physical interaction with anyone, ever. And we have Dane, who is 18. He seems to be very outgoing, and he's a musician. Something about him calls to Amy, and they forge this really odd, tentative relationship that grows over time. Amy has no idea that Dane is homeless, nor the circumstances that brought him to where he is today. It's interesting to me that, even once Amy realizes Dane is homeless, neither feels they are worthy of the other. Dane worries about becoming a mooch or Amy taking him in out of pity or hanging her making the money over him. Amy worries that Dane has so much potential and she's so reserved, he should probably be with someone more outgoing. Miraculously, they end up together.
I will say that while things happened, nothing was super momentous. Still, it was a very interesting story of two people with very different backgrounds destined to find one another. They may seem like a mismatched pair, but they each filled a need within the other. It was a really sweet story.
I will say that while things happened, nothing was super momentous. Still, it was a very interesting story of two people with very different backgrounds destined to find one another. They may seem like a mismatched pair, but they each filled a need within the other. It was a really sweet story.
April 15, 2014
”Why are you here?” he asked, shouting over the wind.
She blinked as water dripped from her eyelashes, as it ran rivulets down her cheeks.
“I came for you.”
Amy's family abandoned her. Her life has been nothing but education. She's never had a real hug, never had friends.
Dane abandoned his family. His teenage life has been nothing but struggle. He's living on the streets and fighting to survive.
Amy and Dane are the total opposite on the outside, but on the inside, they are soul-mates.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Definitely not for everyone.
Read it if you like:
Beautiful YA/NA crossover contemporary romance books
Slow and steady storyline
Serious (not petty teen) coming of age and angst issues
Don't read if you like:
High drama
Naughty sex
Fun and frolics
I thought 'How to say Goodbye' was extremely well written. I really felt the atmosphere and scene setting. I also thought the characters were interesting and detailed. But I became a little tired towards the end and it could have done with an epilogue.
March 24, 2018
I wish I could say the book surprised me but I can't. I think this is one of those books that's well written, characters are good, conversations are good, but I just couldn't seem to "get into it". I did, however, finish reading it! Most times, I would stop! I would recommend the book to others. I think I had a preconceived idea of what it was going to be & in my mind, it wasn't.
August 13, 2016
Gut-wrenching...
Heart-string pulling...
Much angst...
Abandonment...
Love and honesty. I could go on...
This book is nothing short of beautiful!!
An emotional 6 ***** from The Sassy Bookista!
♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞
Wow...that was really all I could say when I was finished with this book. Well, that's not really true - I was thinking Wow because I was utterly speechless! This book was supremely and profoundly poetic. Was incredibly and emotionally poignant. I felt more than I usually feel reading our run of the mill contemporary/new adult romances. Every little piece of this book fit nice and tight and created the most beautiful pictures my mind has ever created while reading a book. I was encased in all of my emotions. And let me tell you - I went through every single emotion reading this. I read it more than a week ago, yet I still find myself thinking even of the secondary characters like; Remy, Kurt and even Lizzy. They were all perfectly written and as for Amy and Dane. Forget about it!! They were stellar!
The intricacies of this book haunt me. Amy's this incredibly accomplished research scientist. Fulfilling her internship on Cape Canaveral. She's been holding onto some pretty amazing secrets. Well I guess I wouldn't say secrets, but she's naïve about many things. She's never touched anyone - and no one has touched her. A handshake I suppose, but nothing that matters. No hugs or hand-holding. No I love you's. Her family situation is just insane! I'm not going to give anything away which makes it a bit difficult to tell you my emotions regarding this part of the book. When I hear of the craziness I'm speechless, confused, and raging mad! I'll tell you now... it's not what you may think :) I yearned for her to FEEL something. I ached at the knowledge that no one had touched her, hugged her, kissed her goodnight as a child. I was heartbroken for her. And what was even sadder? Amy didn't feel any of these emotions. You can't miss what you never have. *sigh and collect myself*
"Every other time in her life, she'd pretended not to want this. Friends and laughter. Easy camaraderie. Touch. Standing on the cooling sand, her stomach grumbling with hunger, she could no longer pretend."
Dane's situation - well now this is really hard. Talk about hoarding a secret! I'm struggling to find a way to put into words how I felt about him.... He's this amazing man who has had one rough life. He's charming and flirtatious. He seems an anchor at first. Someone in charge of his own destiny. When you look further than surface - Dane is every one of those qualities - but more. Dane's childhood had some really great opportunities and then suddenly it didn't. He's broken and bruised. He's been through more than I can even imagine as a child, adolescent or adult. But Dane is unbelievably resilient! Bouncing back from everything life has thrown him. I know I may sound like I'm rambling, but finding a way to describe what happened to him would be like telling you his whole story. I don't want to give away any pieces that could lead you to figure it out. So as for Dane, I'll leave you with this. He's right up there with Archer. I see him this way because all those small pieces make up who he is. But you would never imagine him to be sweet - he's never had anyone show him. Show him how to be a man for someone, yet Dane is the most caring, compassionate Hero I've EVER read.
"Tell me to get lost, he thought. Tell me I'm not good enough for you. Because Lord knew he wasn't, in ways she wasn't even aware of yet."
The two of them together is... whoa! Knowing what each of them came from and the choices they made to get there, it was even more difficult to see them together. Yet I kept finding myself rooting and cheering them on from the depths of my soul. They are somehow MADE for one another. They were fated to meet! Dane is more than perfect for her. Takes his time with her and gives her the time to tell her secret. While Amy is just as unequalled for him. She wants and needs him but not because she's never had anyone to need or want. Because she see's who he really is and knows his secret before he has a chance to tell her, yet it doesn't change the fact that she's his. And that she wants him to still be hers. Their relationship is exquisite and more engaging than many other relationships we read of.
"...she wouldn't have worried about him. He was an anchor at sea, and she was bobbing, dizzy and breathless."
The whole of it is subtle - but hits you right in face at the same time. It's powerful and the writing style that brings such allure is out of this world. The crux of the book came as a gut-wrenching revelation - Amy should feel secure but she doesn't. She needs an anchor. Dane is a wayfarer , of sorts. He should need to be made to feel secure. However, he becomes her anchor.
Heart-string pulling...
Much angst...
Abandonment...
Love and honesty. I could go on...
This book is nothing short of beautiful!!
An emotional 6 ***** from The Sassy Bookista!
♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞♥∞
Wow...that was really all I could say when I was finished with this book. Well, that's not really true - I was thinking Wow because I was utterly speechless! This book was supremely and profoundly poetic. Was incredibly and emotionally poignant. I felt more than I usually feel reading our run of the mill contemporary/new adult romances. Every little piece of this book fit nice and tight and created the most beautiful pictures my mind has ever created while reading a book. I was encased in all of my emotions. And let me tell you - I went through every single emotion reading this. I read it more than a week ago, yet I still find myself thinking even of the secondary characters like; Remy, Kurt and even Lizzy. They were all perfectly written and as for Amy and Dane. Forget about it!! They were stellar!
The intricacies of this book haunt me. Amy's this incredibly accomplished research scientist. Fulfilling her internship on Cape Canaveral. She's been holding onto some pretty amazing secrets. Well I guess I wouldn't say secrets, but she's naïve about many things. She's never touched anyone - and no one has touched her. A handshake I suppose, but nothing that matters. No hugs or hand-holding. No I love you's. Her family situation is just insane! I'm not going to give anything away which makes it a bit difficult to tell you my emotions regarding this part of the book. When I hear of the craziness I'm speechless, confused, and raging mad! I'll tell you now... it's not what you may think :) I yearned for her to FEEL something. I ached at the knowledge that no one had touched her, hugged her, kissed her goodnight as a child. I was heartbroken for her. And what was even sadder? Amy didn't feel any of these emotions. You can't miss what you never have. *sigh and collect myself*
"Every other time in her life, she'd pretended not to want this. Friends and laughter. Easy camaraderie. Touch. Standing on the cooling sand, her stomach grumbling with hunger, she could no longer pretend."
Dane's situation - well now this is really hard. Talk about hoarding a secret! I'm struggling to find a way to put into words how I felt about him.... He's this amazing man who has had one rough life. He's charming and flirtatious. He seems an anchor at first. Someone in charge of his own destiny. When you look further than surface - Dane is every one of those qualities - but more. Dane's childhood had some really great opportunities and then suddenly it didn't. He's broken and bruised. He's been through more than I can even imagine as a child, adolescent or adult. But Dane is unbelievably resilient! Bouncing back from everything life has thrown him. I know I may sound like I'm rambling, but finding a way to describe what happened to him would be like telling you his whole story. I don't want to give away any pieces that could lead you to figure it out. So as for Dane, I'll leave you with this. He's right up there with Archer. I see him this way because all those small pieces make up who he is. But you would never imagine him to be sweet - he's never had anyone show him. Show him how to be a man for someone, yet Dane is the most caring, compassionate Hero I've EVER read.
"Tell me to get lost, he thought. Tell me I'm not good enough for you. Because Lord knew he wasn't, in ways she wasn't even aware of yet."
The two of them together is... whoa! Knowing what each of them came from and the choices they made to get there, it was even more difficult to see them together. Yet I kept finding myself rooting and cheering them on from the depths of my soul. They are somehow MADE for one another. They were fated to meet! Dane is more than perfect for her. Takes his time with her and gives her the time to tell her secret. While Amy is just as unequalled for him. She wants and needs him but not because she's never had anyone to need or want. Because she see's who he really is and knows his secret before he has a chance to tell her, yet it doesn't change the fact that she's his. And that she wants him to still be hers. Their relationship is exquisite and more engaging than many other relationships we read of.
"...she wouldn't have worried about him. He was an anchor at sea, and she was bobbing, dizzy and breathless."
The whole of it is subtle - but hits you right in face at the same time. It's powerful and the writing style that brings such allure is out of this world. The crux of the book came as a gut-wrenching revelation - Amy should feel secure but she doesn't. She needs an anchor. Dane is a wayfarer , of sorts. He should need to be made to feel secure. However, he becomes her anchor.
April 29, 2014
A stunning book. Written to perfection. Full review will be posted on my blog on the 29th April as part of my stop on the 'How to Say Goodbye' Blog Tour. http://www.oldvictorianquill.wordpres...
Well wow! What a refreshing read! I honestly loved how unique this storyline was, with the characters and situations being so unlike any other that I have read in the ‘New Adult’ genre.
Amber Lin has taken a brilliant concept and transferred it beautifully onto paper. The characters she created were real, broken and hopeful, everything that young people today feel on a regular basis. Amy and Dane were relatable characters, and were a brilliant example of how different stresses can cause different outcomes for some. Both Amy and Dane’s stories were different, but no less heartbreaking. For Dane, his emotional and physical scars come from a sexual abuse that he found the only way to escape from was to leave his life behind, whereas Amy’s issues come from a more neglectful past.
Amy was a wonderful character and I loved seeing her development throughout the story. We see her at the beginning of the book desperate to make her own way in the world, to take a job not forced upon her by her mother, and her gift of seeing beauty in the smallest things, after years of coldness and neglect from her mother leaving her insecure. It was heart-warming to see her blossom through Dane’s love to become a confident and sometimes sassy young woman who spoke her mind, and fought for the things that meant the most to her.
However, Dane was the character that stood out for me. I commend the author for her originality in having Dane being homeless not by circumstance, but by choice. It really got me thinking, and had me in the mindset of Dane, desperately trying to understand his reasoning for staying on the streets, when other options open up. His emotional scars were so deep and I felt my heart breaking for the internal pain he was suffering, and his desire to remain anonymous, just one in a crowd.
The relationship that developed between Amy and Dane was a rocky one, and at times had me feeling unsure on behalf of Amy. I felt for Amy so much as she struggled to understand why Dane would become sarcastic and hollow in his words, and how she desperately tried to help him live up to the potential he had to be a great man. I felt bereft on Amy’s behalf when Dane tried to shut her out, doing so in a seemingly cruel way when he was doing so to keep Amy’s heart safe. The psychological scarring he had made me understand his actions a little more, even when I didn’t agree with them, and that really shows the talents of the author for having created such multi-dimensional characters that like with real people you can’t understand the reasons for their behaviour and actions until you can see into their mindsets as we do with the altering points of view.
This story really is a beautiful and poignant one that I recommend to readers who like characters with layers and who have to fight their deep rooted instincts and fears to keep hold of the ones they love.
5 Stars!
*Review copy was kindly provided by the author as part of the 'How to Say Goodbye' Blog Tour*
Well wow! What a refreshing read! I honestly loved how unique this storyline was, with the characters and situations being so unlike any other that I have read in the ‘New Adult’ genre.
Amber Lin has taken a brilliant concept and transferred it beautifully onto paper. The characters she created were real, broken and hopeful, everything that young people today feel on a regular basis. Amy and Dane were relatable characters, and were a brilliant example of how different stresses can cause different outcomes for some. Both Amy and Dane’s stories were different, but no less heartbreaking. For Dane, his emotional and physical scars come from a sexual abuse that he found the only way to escape from was to leave his life behind, whereas Amy’s issues come from a more neglectful past.
Amy was a wonderful character and I loved seeing her development throughout the story. We see her at the beginning of the book desperate to make her own way in the world, to take a job not forced upon her by her mother, and her gift of seeing beauty in the smallest things, after years of coldness and neglect from her mother leaving her insecure. It was heart-warming to see her blossom through Dane’s love to become a confident and sometimes sassy young woman who spoke her mind, and fought for the things that meant the most to her.
However, Dane was the character that stood out for me. I commend the author for her originality in having Dane being homeless not by circumstance, but by choice. It really got me thinking, and had me in the mindset of Dane, desperately trying to understand his reasoning for staying on the streets, when other options open up. His emotional scars were so deep and I felt my heart breaking for the internal pain he was suffering, and his desire to remain anonymous, just one in a crowd.
The relationship that developed between Amy and Dane was a rocky one, and at times had me feeling unsure on behalf of Amy. I felt for Amy so much as she struggled to understand why Dane would become sarcastic and hollow in his words, and how she desperately tried to help him live up to the potential he had to be a great man. I felt bereft on Amy’s behalf when Dane tried to shut her out, doing so in a seemingly cruel way when he was doing so to keep Amy’s heart safe. The psychological scarring he had made me understand his actions a little more, even when I didn’t agree with them, and that really shows the talents of the author for having created such multi-dimensional characters that like with real people you can’t understand the reasons for their behaviour and actions until you can see into their mindsets as we do with the altering points of view.
This story really is a beautiful and poignant one that I recommend to readers who like characters with layers and who have to fight their deep rooted instincts and fears to keep hold of the ones they love.
5 Stars!
*Review copy was kindly provided by the author as part of the 'How to Say Goodbye' Blog Tour*
May 3, 2014
4/5 stars
*Received a copy from Xpresso Book Tours*
Amy has grown up without ever experiencing the feeling of love. Her Japanese mother blamed her for the death of her father and left her with an uncle when she was young. Now an adult, Amy is working as an intern in Florida. She doesn't expect to get anything out of the summer other than her credits, but then she meets Dane. Dane's been on the streets since he was fourteen and hasn't experienced much love in his life either. But when he meets Amy, he wants to change that, he wants to become a man who is worthy of loving her and of receiving her love.
Ahh, I absolutely adored Amy and Dane. They have such a sweet relationship that resonates so deeply with unconditional love. While it is fragile at times, their love for each other keeps it strong. Amy and Dane first met at the beach when Dane was building a sand castle and he asked her if she wanted to help. *squeals* Can this be any more cute? Throughout the entire story, their relationship (repeating myself a bit) is firmly rooted in unconditional love. Well, almost unconditional love. Amy can't believe that someone like Dane would actually love her. Dane is afraid that he'll never be good enough. It was absolutely lovely to read about how they overcame their insecurities around each other to strengthen their love.
Okay, I'll be completely honest, I did get a bit annoyed at Dane at times. Seriously, do guys always need it for the girl to spell it out for them. Amy loves him, but for approximately 90% of the book, he spends it as a victim to his insecurities. Around Amy, he can't seem to put up his macho man walls and instead finds himself slowly revealing his secrets. It took him a while, but thank the gods he came around. They really have a truly golden relationship.
Let me just be clear, this is a Contemporary Romance on so many levels so if you're not a big fan of those, you might want to steer clear. But there are so many more aspects of this story than just the romance. How to Say Goodbye also focuses on forgiveness. Amy's forgiveness of her mother's abandonment, Dane forgiving the demons of his past, and the two of them forgiving each other. This book is one of those beautiful warm your heart, put a smile on your face kind of book. It outlines how love can be the bridge between years of resentment and distrust and how forgiving is just the first step to rebuilding a broken relationship.
Oh, one last thing. I loved how the author started every chapter with the definition of a word that basically encompasses that specific chapter. For example, Chapter One's definition is: Gravity - the force of attraction between two bodies. I just thought it was a super fun way to start the chapter and some of the definitions aren't clear to what the chapter's about so that's just more fun, to read and slowly figure out the chapter's connection to the word.
Overall, definitely recommend How to Say Goodbye. It's a super beautiful book and I personally think, a perfect summer read. After all, Amy and Dane met in the summer. :)
Read my reviews:
https://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com
*Received a copy from Xpresso Book Tours*
Amy has grown up without ever experiencing the feeling of love. Her Japanese mother blamed her for the death of her father and left her with an uncle when she was young. Now an adult, Amy is working as an intern in Florida. She doesn't expect to get anything out of the summer other than her credits, but then she meets Dane. Dane's been on the streets since he was fourteen and hasn't experienced much love in his life either. But when he meets Amy, he wants to change that, he wants to become a man who is worthy of loving her and of receiving her love.
Ahh, I absolutely adored Amy and Dane. They have such a sweet relationship that resonates so deeply with unconditional love. While it is fragile at times, their love for each other keeps it strong. Amy and Dane first met at the beach when Dane was building a sand castle and he asked her if she wanted to help. *squeals* Can this be any more cute? Throughout the entire story, their relationship (repeating myself a bit) is firmly rooted in unconditional love. Well, almost unconditional love. Amy can't believe that someone like Dane would actually love her. Dane is afraid that he'll never be good enough. It was absolutely lovely to read about how they overcame their insecurities around each other to strengthen their love.
Okay, I'll be completely honest, I did get a bit annoyed at Dane at times. Seriously, do guys always need it for the girl to spell it out for them. Amy loves him, but for approximately 90% of the book, he spends it as a victim to his insecurities. Around Amy, he can't seem to put up his macho man walls and instead finds himself slowly revealing his secrets. It took him a while, but thank the gods he came around. They really have a truly golden relationship.
Let me just be clear, this is a Contemporary Romance on so many levels so if you're not a big fan of those, you might want to steer clear. But there are so many more aspects of this story than just the romance. How to Say Goodbye also focuses on forgiveness. Amy's forgiveness of her mother's abandonment, Dane forgiving the demons of his past, and the two of them forgiving each other. This book is one of those beautiful warm your heart, put a smile on your face kind of book. It outlines how love can be the bridge between years of resentment and distrust and how forgiving is just the first step to rebuilding a broken relationship.
Oh, one last thing. I loved how the author started every chapter with the definition of a word that basically encompasses that specific chapter. For example, Chapter One's definition is: Gravity - the force of attraction between two bodies. I just thought it was a super fun way to start the chapter and some of the definitions aren't clear to what the chapter's about so that's just more fun, to read and slowly figure out the chapter's connection to the word.
Overall, definitely recommend How to Say Goodbye. It's a super beautiful book and I personally think, a perfect summer read. After all, Amy and Dane met in the summer. :)
Read my reviews:
https://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com
May 21, 2014
Face it, who doesn’t like a WELL-DONE Contemporary Romance where the two damaged and destined-for-each-other main characters steal your heart within just a few pages? Amy is emotionally stunted, unsure, yet she is brilliant and well-educated. A U.S. citizen herself, her parents were from Japan, her father has passed away and her mother went back to her homeland years before, leaving Amy to be shuttled from boarding school to boarding school, while under the care of her distant uncle. She is like a dinghy, anchorless in the turmoil of the world around her, disconnected, alone. Dane has spent the past few years on the streets, stealing, conning, and playing his guitar for change, sleeping in his beat up truck. Born into a wealthy and famous family, he was left in the care of an abuser, and instead of facing the shame of what has happened, he runs away and his fate seems sealed, trust no one, and look out for yourself. And then they meet, Dane all mysterious and lighthearted, determined to give Amy what she needs, personal acceptance and friendship. Amy is introverted, shy, unable to make much conversation or even to touch another person, but she is drawn to Dane, his kindness, his joy of life, the smile in his eyes.
Two people, too many secrets, too much undeserved shame, each finding that missing piece of themselves, but afraid to risk being hurt again by yet another rejection. Who will break out of their shell first? Will Amy learn to take what she wants instead of being told what to do? Will Dane be able to realize his worth, that his past abuse was not a sign that he is less than others?
How to Say Goodbye by Amber Lin flows along almost dreamily, allowing me to savor each scene and absorb each nuance made by Dane and Amy’s actions. As we hear from both of them, see their POV, I just wanted to hug them both and sit down and say, okay, truth time, stop hurting yourselves and each other, now is the time to take a chance on love, learn to trust and go with what YOU want. I was completely taken by this uplifting story of love growing between two deserving people.
Amber Lin brings love to life on each page, as she allows it blossom slowly and sweetly.
Publication Date: April 4, 2014
Publisher: Amber Lin
ISBN: 149747132X
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Print Length: 243 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Two people, too many secrets, too much undeserved shame, each finding that missing piece of themselves, but afraid to risk being hurt again by yet another rejection. Who will break out of their shell first? Will Amy learn to take what she wants instead of being told what to do? Will Dane be able to realize his worth, that his past abuse was not a sign that he is less than others?
How to Say Goodbye by Amber Lin flows along almost dreamily, allowing me to savor each scene and absorb each nuance made by Dane and Amy’s actions. As we hear from both of them, see their POV, I just wanted to hug them both and sit down and say, okay, truth time, stop hurting yourselves and each other, now is the time to take a chance on love, learn to trust and go with what YOU want. I was completely taken by this uplifting story of love growing between two deserving people.
Amber Lin brings love to life on each page, as she allows it blossom slowly and sweetly.
Publication Date: April 4, 2014
Publisher: Amber Lin
ISBN: 149747132X
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Print Length: 243 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
April 7, 2014
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book. Wow. I don't even know how to feel. I am emotionally overwhelmed. And I mean that in the best way possible. This was like any other NA book I've ever read. The story, it's characters. Captivating. It holds you from the page and doesn't let go until the end. And then. You're left reeling. What was it that I just read? How can something so tragic be so beautiful? Well, it was.
“Why do you put up with me?”
“Because there’s nothing else I’d rather do.”
Amy has never been touched. Much less, by a man. The human touch is completely foreign to her. That is just the way she was raised. Making friends? Not too important as getting straight A's. She's gone this long without wanting to be touched. Until Dane. She meets him one random day and she finds herself craving the human touch in ways she never thought possible. But Dane also has a past. He is homeless. Has been since a young teen. And he wants Amy. He doesn't feel good enough for her, yet he is compelled to be the man he knows she deserves. As these two lives cross paths. Nothing is the same. Their lives are forever changed.
"She was his forever. Love meant accepting him however he came to her, with pleasure or with win. With buoyant smiles or dark,jagged secrets"
Your heart completely goes out to Amy and Dane. Because of their different life circumstances, neither one know love or emotions. Or how it feels to be needed by another. Until they meet. Their connection is felt from the very first page. You feel their fear, the want to avoid, and yet their yearning. These characters are real. Raw. Genuine. They are not perfect. And I loved them anyway. Love often goes where it is unheard of. It goes where there is darkness. The love between Amy and Dane went there. It saved them. From their selves. From the monotony of life that they lived. They learned that not only are they capable of love, but they deserve love too. They deserve to love and be loved despite what life handed them.
I enjoyed the writing style of this story. It grabs you and doesn't let you go. I literally felt like I was in a book coma by the end. I didn't want to let go of the characters who's world I was engrossed in. Giving away the complete story line would do the reader an injustice, so I won't go there. What I can and will say is that How To Say Goodbye goes where NA doesn't always go. It's painful, yet beautiful. Your heart is completely torn for two beautifully broken individuals. While this is a completed story, I am hoping that the author decides to expand on Amy and Dane. Their love is so deep. This NA has a realness factor. I think that is why I felt so emotionally attached to it. I recommend this to any fan of the NA genre looking for characters that will break your heart, yet make you fall in love with at the same time.
This book. Wow. I don't even know how to feel. I am emotionally overwhelmed. And I mean that in the best way possible. This was like any other NA book I've ever read. The story, it's characters. Captivating. It holds you from the page and doesn't let go until the end. And then. You're left reeling. What was it that I just read? How can something so tragic be so beautiful? Well, it was.
“Why do you put up with me?”
“Because there’s nothing else I’d rather do.”
Amy has never been touched. Much less, by a man. The human touch is completely foreign to her. That is just the way she was raised. Making friends? Not too important as getting straight A's. She's gone this long without wanting to be touched. Until Dane. She meets him one random day and she finds herself craving the human touch in ways she never thought possible. But Dane also has a past. He is homeless. Has been since a young teen. And he wants Amy. He doesn't feel good enough for her, yet he is compelled to be the man he knows she deserves. As these two lives cross paths. Nothing is the same. Their lives are forever changed.
"She was his forever. Love meant accepting him however he came to her, with pleasure or with win. With buoyant smiles or dark,jagged secrets"
Your heart completely goes out to Amy and Dane. Because of their different life circumstances, neither one know love or emotions. Or how it feels to be needed by another. Until they meet. Their connection is felt from the very first page. You feel their fear, the want to avoid, and yet their yearning. These characters are real. Raw. Genuine. They are not perfect. And I loved them anyway. Love often goes where it is unheard of. It goes where there is darkness. The love between Amy and Dane went there. It saved them. From their selves. From the monotony of life that they lived. They learned that not only are they capable of love, but they deserve love too. They deserve to love and be loved despite what life handed them.
I enjoyed the writing style of this story. It grabs you and doesn't let you go. I literally felt like I was in a book coma by the end. I didn't want to let go of the characters who's world I was engrossed in. Giving away the complete story line would do the reader an injustice, so I won't go there. What I can and will say is that How To Say Goodbye goes where NA doesn't always go. It's painful, yet beautiful. Your heart is completely torn for two beautifully broken individuals. While this is a completed story, I am hoping that the author decides to expand on Amy and Dane. Their love is so deep. This NA has a realness factor. I think that is why I felt so emotionally attached to it. I recommend this to any fan of the NA genre looking for characters that will break your heart, yet make you fall in love with at the same time.
June 9, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
How to Say Goodbye by Amber Lin is the kind of book that takes you through a wide range of emotions. I was happy, sad, angry, and frustrated. I smiled, sighed, and cried. Ms. Lin does a terrific job of making you feel what the characters feel as well as feeling for them. My heart broke for Amy and Dane and the situations they lived in growing up as well as the situations they found themselves currently in. They both grew up alone and lonely; they just did it in different ways. Then, they find each other. How do you go from being alone and trusting no one to being in a relationship and expected to open yourself up and share everything?
This story deals with the harsh reality of homelessness and the daily struggles that come with it…the things people have to do to survive. Dane’s reality is hard to read. The reason he finds himself alone and homeless is heartbreaking. Without saying too much, I will say, as a parent, it makes you stop and think.
I loved the way that Ms. Lin wrote both Amy and Dane’s characters. I felt they were both very believable. I enjoyed watching Amy bloom as she learned what it felt like to love and be loved. I loved watching Dane learn to open up and trust Amy with who he really was and what he had been through.
This was not an easy read for me. It wasn’t all happy and lovey-dovey. However, it was very sweet and moving in places. I loved Dane, and I loved how Amy approached everything with him. I loved the way Ms. Lin dealt with some very serious and hard to read issues. I’m glad I had the chance to read this story.
How to Say Goodbye by Amber Lin is the kind of book that takes you through a wide range of emotions. I was happy, sad, angry, and frustrated. I smiled, sighed, and cried. Ms. Lin does a terrific job of making you feel what the characters feel as well as feeling for them. My heart broke for Amy and Dane and the situations they lived in growing up as well as the situations they found themselves currently in. They both grew up alone and lonely; they just did it in different ways. Then, they find each other. How do you go from being alone and trusting no one to being in a relationship and expected to open yourself up and share everything?
This story deals with the harsh reality of homelessness and the daily struggles that come with it…the things people have to do to survive. Dane’s reality is hard to read. The reason he finds himself alone and homeless is heartbreaking. Without saying too much, I will say, as a parent, it makes you stop and think.
I loved the way that Ms. Lin wrote both Amy and Dane’s characters. I felt they were both very believable. I enjoyed watching Amy bloom as she learned what it felt like to love and be loved. I loved watching Dane learn to open up and trust Amy with who he really was and what he had been through.
This was not an easy read for me. It wasn’t all happy and lovey-dovey. However, it was very sweet and moving in places. I loved Dane, and I loved how Amy approached everything with him. I loved the way Ms. Lin dealt with some very serious and hard to read issues. I’m glad I had the chance to read this story.
August 6, 2016
3.5 Star Review by Jen Skewes
When I first read the synopsis for this book I was certainly intrigued. A homeless boy meets a young girl who in her own way is broken. I really enjoyed this one and the characters.
Amy was abandoned by her mother when she was little. And when I say abandoned I do not mean that her mother picked up and left the states never to be heard from again. Her mother and her still talk and have somewhat of a relationship, if you can even call it that. Her mother moved away and made the decision to leave Amy with her uncle. Growing up with her uncle, Amy never experienced the simple things in life, like being hugged or holding someone’s hand. She never had the physical connection with anyone. She is a very smart and beautiful young woman but has thrown herself into her schooling and work. She doesn’t know what it is like to feel someone else’s touch. Amy is interning for the summer when she meets Dane and things change for her.
When Dane and Amy first meet, Amy feels this connection towards him. She cannot explain what it is or why she feels it but she just knows that it is there. She doesn’t know much about him and she finds herself in the same spot each day hoping to run into him again. Dane and Amy connect and start seeing each other, but there is something very important that Dane is hiding form her. He is hiding the fact that he has no home and lives in his car. When Amy finds out the truth will her feelings for Dane change?
I honestly loved the characters in this book. Dane has a past that haunts him and one that he must face. It is also the reason why he ran away and is now homeless. And to be honest for someone who has been through his pain, who is homeless and will do what it takes to survive he was not the person that you would expect him to be. He is was so sweet and caring. I think in a way he was the person that who always was before he left home. And nothing about being homeless changed him. He didn’t feel like he deserved Amy at all but he was still very sweet, respectful and kind when it came to her. I loved his character and loved the connection and bond that these two formed.
I loved the storyline and the characters and really enjoyed this book. I think it was different from I have usually read. A homeless boy who meets a girl and wants to find his way again. He wants to become the person she deserves. It was really sweet read. For me personally I wanted a little more. I felt their connection but in a way I wanted to see more of it. I felt it lacked the emotional dialogue between the two characters. But overall this was an enjoyable read and definitely worth reading.
When I first read the synopsis for this book I was certainly intrigued. A homeless boy meets a young girl who in her own way is broken. I really enjoyed this one and the characters.
Amy was abandoned by her mother when she was little. And when I say abandoned I do not mean that her mother picked up and left the states never to be heard from again. Her mother and her still talk and have somewhat of a relationship, if you can even call it that. Her mother moved away and made the decision to leave Amy with her uncle. Growing up with her uncle, Amy never experienced the simple things in life, like being hugged or holding someone’s hand. She never had the physical connection with anyone. She is a very smart and beautiful young woman but has thrown herself into her schooling and work. She doesn’t know what it is like to feel someone else’s touch. Amy is interning for the summer when she meets Dane and things change for her.
When Dane and Amy first meet, Amy feels this connection towards him. She cannot explain what it is or why she feels it but she just knows that it is there. She doesn’t know much about him and she finds herself in the same spot each day hoping to run into him again. Dane and Amy connect and start seeing each other, but there is something very important that Dane is hiding form her. He is hiding the fact that he has no home and lives in his car. When Amy finds out the truth will her feelings for Dane change?
I honestly loved the characters in this book. Dane has a past that haunts him and one that he must face. It is also the reason why he ran away and is now homeless. And to be honest for someone who has been through his pain, who is homeless and will do what it takes to survive he was not the person that you would expect him to be. He is was so sweet and caring. I think in a way he was the person that who always was before he left home. And nothing about being homeless changed him. He didn’t feel like he deserved Amy at all but he was still very sweet, respectful and kind when it came to her. I loved his character and loved the connection and bond that these two formed.
I loved the storyline and the characters and really enjoyed this book. I think it was different from I have usually read. A homeless boy who meets a girl and wants to find his way again. He wants to become the person she deserves. It was really sweet read. For me personally I wanted a little more. I felt their connection but in a way I wanted to see more of it. I felt it lacked the emotional dialogue between the two characters. But overall this was an enjoyable read and definitely worth reading.
April 9, 2015
**This ARC was given to me by the author for review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.**
This was a pretty great story. I really enjoyed the concept and the personalities of the characters. Amber Lin is an author that I'm not familiar with, so it was a pleasure to read a book by her. And she has a really decent writing style. I enjoyed getting to know her writing. It flowed really well, it wasn't a lot of exposition, there was just enough inner dialogue and the perfect amount of outer dialogue. It was just a really fun read.
The main characters, Amy & Dane, are two lost souls looking to find some sort of connection. Amy, coming from a fairly strict household, isn't used to be shown affections (i.e. hugs, holding hands, kisses) - and not just from the opposite sex. Her mother wasn't that great at parenting and abandonde Amy with her Uncle, who ended up raising her. So Amy is trying to figure out life, as a young woman, as an adult on her own.
Dane is a mystery. You know there's more than meets the eye when it comes to him, but I can't discuss too much more about it because his story is part of the plot. He is a really sweet boy, who is just a little lost. And quite prideful, though given the situation that he finds himself in, I completely understand his need to be so. He's definitely trying to hold on to as much dignity as he can.
The sexy times were written really well. Not too graphic, but not too reserved. I enjoy a well-written sex scene and Lin definitely knows what she's doing.
This was a really quick read, I finished it in less than 8 hours. There were times where I felt relationships & happenings were a little too rushed; but even when I thought those things, I didn't think the story wasn't believeable. I enjoyed everything that I read. I believed the story Lin was telling. Amy and Dane were authentic characters to me. The only thing that bothered me were the supporting characters, on both Amy & Dane's sides. I saw no use for them really. Most of the character development for the main character happened when they were with each other. Although, Remy was a pretty good character, I felt like I needed more of him in order for his role to have fully worked for me.
Overall, a really decent read. I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed the journey. I ended the ending. It's almost a 4-star book for me, but I have to give it a 3.5 because while it was good, it lacked a bit of dimension. Minus one little plot twist. But even that could have been expounded upon a little more.
This was a pretty great story. I really enjoyed the concept and the personalities of the characters. Amber Lin is an author that I'm not familiar with, so it was a pleasure to read a book by her. And she has a really decent writing style. I enjoyed getting to know her writing. It flowed really well, it wasn't a lot of exposition, there was just enough inner dialogue and the perfect amount of outer dialogue. It was just a really fun read.
The main characters, Amy & Dane, are two lost souls looking to find some sort of connection. Amy, coming from a fairly strict household, isn't used to be shown affections (i.e. hugs, holding hands, kisses) - and not just from the opposite sex. Her mother wasn't that great at parenting and abandonde Amy with her Uncle, who ended up raising her. So Amy is trying to figure out life, as a young woman, as an adult on her own.
Dane is a mystery. You know there's more than meets the eye when it comes to him, but I can't discuss too much more about it because his story is part of the plot. He is a really sweet boy, who is just a little lost. And quite prideful, though given the situation that he finds himself in, I completely understand his need to be so. He's definitely trying to hold on to as much dignity as he can.
The sexy times were written really well. Not too graphic, but not too reserved. I enjoy a well-written sex scene and Lin definitely knows what she's doing.
This was a really quick read, I finished it in less than 8 hours. There were times where I felt relationships & happenings were a little too rushed; but even when I thought those things, I didn't think the story wasn't believeable. I enjoyed everything that I read. I believed the story Lin was telling. Amy and Dane were authentic characters to me. The only thing that bothered me were the supporting characters, on both Amy & Dane's sides. I saw no use for them really. Most of the character development for the main character happened when they were with each other. Although, Remy was a pretty good character, I felt like I needed more of him in order for his role to have fully worked for me.
Overall, a really decent read. I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed the journey. I ended the ending. It's almost a 4-star book for me, but I have to give it a 3.5 because while it was good, it lacked a bit of dimension. Minus one little plot twist. But even that could have been expounded upon a little more.
April 3, 2014
This is my 5 star review for How to Say Goodbye by Amber Lin for Eskimo Princess Book Reviews.
How to Say Goodbye is a sweet yet raw romance between Amy and Dane. Amy is a smart, beautiful young woman but she is so shy. She wasn’t raised with any affection from those around her. She has never been hugged, held when she was hurting, or even had her hand held. She doesn’t know how to act around people and is very robotic. When she meets a handsome guy on the beach building a sandcastle she doesn’t know how to act. Will she ever be able to act normal around other people? Will she ever see the handsome guy that walked away from her that evening again?
Dane is 18, handsome, strong, and believe it or not, homeless. He has been on the streets for a long time but you really couldn’t tell unless you actually paid attention. He was sweet and thoughtful most of the time. There were times when he would harden into something unknown. I am glad that he never gave up on himself and he never let Amy give up on herself. Would he ever be able to make something of himself? Would he ever allow himself to love someone as shy and timid as Amy and have that love returned?
I really like this book a lot. It was not the normally setting for a romance novel. I don’t think I have ever encountered a book where one of the leading characters was homeless. It really makes you think about what you have that others may not have the luxuries of having. This novel shows us that homeless or not, people with nothing are worth loving. The writing was good, no editing issues that I noticed. All in all a great read! I would have loved an epilogue though, so we could see where Amy and Dane are now.
If you are looking for something meaningful and sweet, with a touch of heat, this one is for you!
How to Say Goodbye is a sweet yet raw romance between Amy and Dane. Amy is a smart, beautiful young woman but she is so shy. She wasn’t raised with any affection from those around her. She has never been hugged, held when she was hurting, or even had her hand held. She doesn’t know how to act around people and is very robotic. When she meets a handsome guy on the beach building a sandcastle she doesn’t know how to act. Will she ever be able to act normal around other people? Will she ever see the handsome guy that walked away from her that evening again?
Dane is 18, handsome, strong, and believe it or not, homeless. He has been on the streets for a long time but you really couldn’t tell unless you actually paid attention. He was sweet and thoughtful most of the time. There were times when he would harden into something unknown. I am glad that he never gave up on himself and he never let Amy give up on herself. Would he ever be able to make something of himself? Would he ever allow himself to love someone as shy and timid as Amy and have that love returned?
I really like this book a lot. It was not the normally setting for a romance novel. I don’t think I have ever encountered a book where one of the leading characters was homeless. It really makes you think about what you have that others may not have the luxuries of having. This novel shows us that homeless or not, people with nothing are worth loving. The writing was good, no editing issues that I noticed. All in all a great read! I would have loved an epilogue though, so we could see where Amy and Dane are now.
If you are looking for something meaningful and sweet, with a touch of heat, this one is for you!
April 7, 2014
The premise of this book intrigued me. Can someone who hasn't been shown love know how to give and receive love?
Amy is socially awkward. At first I thought that perhaps she was somewhere on the autistic spectrum because she just didn't seem to be able to read people. It turns out she was never really shown love as a child. Although she was never shown love, she has a relationship with her mother, although she is thousands of miles away. Her mother values education and success and has put a lot of pressure on Amy to be successful.
She meets Dane at the beach. He catches her attention, but she has no idea how to handle the pull she feels toward him. I really felt bad for her, watching her trying to see him again without making her seem obsessed. She was so set in "her plans for the day" that she couldn't agree to have dinner with him the day they met.
Dane is such a proud and patient man. Although he's been living on the streets since he was 14, he won't take handouts. He's willing to accept Amy for who she is. He doesn't push her outside her comfort zone (at least not too often). He doesn't want Amy to know he's homeless and tries to keep that from her. Of course, that would never work. He just wants to be a better man for her, the type of person he feels she deserves.
The author gives us glimpses of the tough life Dane has lived without giving all the gory details. She gives just enough to make it realistic.
Overall, it was a good book. No angst, no cliffhangers, no violence. Just a love story between 2 people who deserve to be loved.
Amy is socially awkward. At first I thought that perhaps she was somewhere on the autistic spectrum because she just didn't seem to be able to read people. It turns out she was never really shown love as a child. Although she was never shown love, she has a relationship with her mother, although she is thousands of miles away. Her mother values education and success and has put a lot of pressure on Amy to be successful.
She meets Dane at the beach. He catches her attention, but she has no idea how to handle the pull she feels toward him. I really felt bad for her, watching her trying to see him again without making her seem obsessed. She was so set in "her plans for the day" that she couldn't agree to have dinner with him the day they met.
Dane is such a proud and patient man. Although he's been living on the streets since he was 14, he won't take handouts. He's willing to accept Amy for who she is. He doesn't push her outside her comfort zone (at least not too often). He doesn't want Amy to know he's homeless and tries to keep that from her. Of course, that would never work. He just wants to be a better man for her, the type of person he feels she deserves.
The author gives us glimpses of the tough life Dane has lived without giving all the gory details. She gives just enough to make it realistic.
Overall, it was a good book. No angst, no cliffhangers, no violence. Just a love story between 2 people who deserve to be loved.
August 11, 2016
Everyone knows how skeptical I've been of New Adult. So far, my experiences have been on both sides of the spectrum, and I'm still torn on knowing if New Adult is a genre I enjoy as a whole. How to Say Goodbye by Amber Lin definitely stands out. Just the writing alone is something that deserves praise. Lin has a beautiful way with words that I appreciated so much. She is able to weave a compelling story with a consuming prose. Let's just say that this book pushed me one step closer to accepting New Adult.
This wasn't an easy, lovey-dovey read. There were parts of it that were raw. It felt real. I found myself really invested in the relationship of Amy and Dane. I had such a connection to them, and I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. They were both such lonesome souls, and I was so eager to find out if they found their happy ending. And let me just say that the ending was perfect.
The pacing was on point, and I never felt that the book dragged. At times, the story was so heavy that I needed a break. Amber Lin writes with such realism that I needed a break from the emotions. That being said, I did enjoy this one. I would recommend it to New Adult romance fans. It's different than other NA reads, and I appreciated that change of pace.
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Amber Lin and Xpresso Book Tours.
This wasn't an easy, lovey-dovey read. There were parts of it that were raw. It felt real. I found myself really invested in the relationship of Amy and Dane. I had such a connection to them, and I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. They were both such lonesome souls, and I was so eager to find out if they found their happy ending. And let me just say that the ending was perfect.
The pacing was on point, and I never felt that the book dragged. At times, the story was so heavy that I needed a break. Amber Lin writes with such realism that I needed a break from the emotions. That being said, I did enjoy this one. I would recommend it to New Adult romance fans. It's different than other NA reads, and I appreciated that change of pace.
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Amber Lin and Xpresso Book Tours.
April 7, 2014
This was such a great, sweet and raw read for me. My heart breaks for Amy from the start. She has never been shown love not even from her own mother. She doesn't even have any friends. Until Dane. She meets him one day while at the beach while he is building a sand castle and one touch is all it takes for her to continue to crave more.
Dane is strong, handsome...and homeless. He has been on the run and on the streets for a long time. He was so sweet and caring when it came to Amy and didn't think Amy deserved to be with someone like him. When his father shows up one day at Amy's apartment, how will that change their relationship?
Amy and Dane both have their own struggles but in different ways but I think that is what makes them work so well together. I was rooting for these two from the start and just wanted them to shut everyone and everything else out and be happy together.
The only thing about this book I could complain about is that I wish it had an epilogue but only so I could see how Amy and Dane were doing in the future. Crossing my fingers that maybe the author could do a short novella or another story involving them. :)
Dane is strong, handsome...and homeless. He has been on the run and on the streets for a long time. He was so sweet and caring when it came to Amy and didn't think Amy deserved to be with someone like him. When his father shows up one day at Amy's apartment, how will that change their relationship?
Amy and Dane both have their own struggles but in different ways but I think that is what makes them work so well together. I was rooting for these two from the start and just wanted them to shut everyone and everything else out and be happy together.
The only thing about this book I could complain about is that I wish it had an epilogue but only so I could see how Amy and Dane were doing in the future. Crossing my fingers that maybe the author could do a short novella or another story involving them. :)
June 25, 2014
How to Say Goodbye was a very good read. The story flowed nicely and the characters were real enough to touch. This author pulled me into the book to the point I felt the rain on my face and smelled the ocean on the breeze. If you are looking for a weekend getaway, I recommend getting How to Say Goodbye.
Amy grew up in sort of a dysfunctional family. She has never been touched and doesn't really know how to touch, how to respond to touch. She excels at school and works hard on her internship.
Dane is living his life day to day, not looking for a relationship but then he meets Amy. There is something about her that draws him in. He sees something in her that he recognizes, something that he sees in himself.
I would recommend this book for the mature audience.
Amy grew up in sort of a dysfunctional family. She has never been touched and doesn't really know how to touch, how to respond to touch. She excels at school and works hard on her internship.
Dane is living his life day to day, not looking for a relationship but then he meets Amy. There is something about her that draws him in. He sees something in her that he recognizes, something that he sees in himself.
I would recommend this book for the mature audience.
June 11, 2016
Unbelievable. In a GOOD way! Amber Lin takes a far-fetched idea and two characters that could never even have met in any reasonable world, and weaves romance, growth and triumph out of pain and tragedy in a way that is not only believable but convincing. Come on - a girl who is twenty who has never even held hands? Kidding, right? Nope. A girl who is a rocket scientist - with a homeless bum, and all the gritty nastiness that entails? Seriously? Oh yes. I would have called this the impossible romance novel, if I hadn't just read it. And it is an amazing, wonderful, beautiful read that does not shy away from any aspect of the situation. My conclusion? I just added another author to my must-read list. Brilliant.
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