Post-It notes are fantastic. They now come in different
shapes and colors that can virtually stick anywhere! Just ran out of milk?
Leave a Post-It on the fridge to “Pick Up Milk!”. Been nagging your husband to
take out the trash? Leave a Post-It on the bathroom mirror to remind him! Now, I’ve
never known a Post-It to cause any damage until I read “The Last Time We Say
Goodbye”.
Ty, the protagonist’s brother, decided to commit suicide and
left his goodbye note on a Post-It for his family. Ty’s sister Alexis goes on a
journey of forgiveness and recovery in an attempt to come to terms with her
brother’s death. Not only does she begin to isolate herself from her friends
and family, but breaks up with her boyfriend and begins to see a therapist in
hopes to get her life back on track. Her raw emotional and realistic portrayal of
torment leaves the reader wanting to help shoulder some of the hardships Alexis
has been feeling ever since her brother committed suicide. Her journal entries
gives us insight on the flashbacks that led to her brother’s demise and the
previous relationships Alexis had with her boyfriend. The reader learns about
her Ty’s dark past and questions begin to arise for the reader. Could Alexis
have prevented her brother’s death? Was she part of the reason why he committed
suicide?
Don’t get me wrong, “The Last Time We Say Goodbye” still has
many laugh out loud moments and feel good ones to go along with it. There’s a
perfect balance of happiness and sadness due to the personality of Alexis and
the positions she happens to be in. You can easily identify yourself with her
because she embodies a bit of every emotion and her down to earth personality
really makes her a memorable character. I definitely recommend this book and I
hope you get a chance to read it!
Pros:
-Realistic and relatable characters.
-Consistent balance between the happy moments and sad moments.
Cons:
-Alexis could have saved her brother, so it could turn some
readers off.
-Anyone who had someone who died from suicide may get
triggered from this reading.
Want to buy it? Get it new or used here:
Cynthia’s Hands Blog, Future Events, and Book info:
Follow Cynthia on Twitter:
The Last Time We Say Goodbye Book Trailer:
While reading your post I thought about the new tv show on Netflix 13 Reasons Why. This book does not sound all that similar to the show but I think there could be some similar themes explored in each such as: suicide, guilt, or powerlessness. I have never had a family member or someone close to me commit suicide but I imagine it is extremely difficult for the family to deal with. I think anyone would question themselves and wonder what they could have done to prevent it. One of your cons is that Alexis could have saved her brother. I can see why that would be a con because someone who has lost their loved one to suicide might feel attacked by this. I have not read the book but maybe it would be better if Alexis could not have done anything to save her brother. I mean that puts a lot of weight on the character and the reader.
ReplyDeleteAt first when I stared reading your post I thought maybe its a fun book about teenagers sending posted notes to each other at school, but when you said "I’ve never known a Post-It to cause any damage until I read “The Last Time We Say Goodbye." My heart sunk because I knew what was coming. Im not sure if this is a book I will want to read just because it sound depressing and because I have lost someone recently. The thought we can do something to stop someone from committing suicide is the worst feeling ever, because we can't change the past. Good job on your post.
ReplyDelete