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whiskeyinthejar's review
3.0
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
saarahn's review against another edition
4.0
Sweet
You have the sweet, shy girl who is drawn in by the big bad guy- except, she doesn't know he's bad. He's the charming, sweet-talking guy who doesn't stick around. He tells her this, just as she tells him that she'll only be sticking around for as long as her internship.
They're too different individuals, with their own separate burdens...Can they find love, and will the big bad guy recognise it when it comes along?
With this book, I had no problem with the writing- the dialogue was smart, sweet and sometimes quite humourous. A book where Robin hood meets Snow white- can they make it work? But, this book is no fairy tale- it's just two people who are lucky in love, and learn to accept it, and discover it in the most unlikely of places.
The only trouble I had was believing that a woman deprived of human touch, for so long, could find herself in bed with a man (within hours of having met him). That and there was lot of sex: if they weren't having it they were thinking about it. I'm no prude but too much of something is not usually good. It made the book repetitive.
You have the sweet, shy girl who is drawn in by the big bad guy- except, she doesn't know he's bad. He's the charming, sweet-talking guy who doesn't stick around. He tells her this, just as she tells him that she'll only be sticking around for as long as her internship.
They're too different individuals, with their own separate burdens...Can they find love, and will the big bad guy recognise it when it comes along?
With this book, I had no problem with the writing- the dialogue was smart, sweet and sometimes quite humourous. A book where Robin hood meets Snow white- can they make it work? But, this book is no fairy tale- it's just two people who are lucky in love, and learn to accept it, and discover it in the most unlikely of places.
The only trouble I had was believing that a woman deprived of human touch, for so long, could find herself in bed with a man (within hours of having met him). That and there was lot of sex: if they weren't having it they were thinking about it. I'm no prude but too much of something is not usually good. It made the book repetitive.
slc333's review
3.0
2.5 stars. It was ok. It was a little too angsty and inside the H & h' s heads for my taste. I prefer more character interaction and dialogue as opposed to internal musings and introspection. Amy & Dane were two damaged people who helped each other grow and be better. I liked that even tho it was about their relationship it was also about what the relationship gave each of them so that they could move forward with their lives and do what was right for themselves in the long term, trusting that they would be together in the end if they did what was best for themselves.
wilovebooks's review
5.0
I just loved this. I couldn't help it. It starts a bit slow, but I was pulled in by the writing. Amy has never been one to connect with people, but she is drawn to Dane right away. He is drawn to her as well, but he doesn't think he deserves her because he is homeless and has some things in his past that he wants to keep her sheltered from. I loved watching these two connect and try to get past the obstacles in their way. A touching, sweet love story.
purplepages's review
3.0
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. :)
alleskelle's review against another edition
3.0
⭐️⭐️ 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.
booksuperpower's review against another edition
5.0
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.
brewtifulfiction's review against another edition
4.0
This book reads like poetry at times and the result is a wonderful love story but for me I felt it could have done without the sex scenes, almost tarnished the beauty of it and that's why I've given it 4 instead of 5 stars.
crazychriss93's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t know what to think about this novel.
People on Goodreads wrote that they love Lin's writing style and hey, I was intrigued, too, because it really was interesting and completely different from everything else that's out there in the whole New Adult shelf. Still...
In the beginning, it annoyed me thta it was so verbose and it just took me ages to get to know the characters.
Towards the end, … wow. I was so annoyed at one time and then I had to cry and weep until the end. Seriously, couldn’t stop crying my eyes out.
So much feeling, so much emotion. Hardcore.
But the thing was, I had to bring myself into that state meaning that it wasn't really delivered to me by the novel.
So, something was clearly missing. Maybe I was annoyed by the continuous repetitions. It was just like I was reading the same scenes and thoughts just written differently.
It took me some time to finish this novel because it was easy for me to just put it down and continue reading afterwards. So, it wasn’t really a page-turner…
Anyways, I grew to like the characters.
Yes, it was really hard for me to like them because of these constant ups and downs but yeah, their stories were heartbreaking so I kinda understood at least some of their actions.
Connecting with the heroine was especially difficult for me maybe because everything felt so rushed in the end. Noone had ever touched her but Dane totally could and after some time, she feels like it's all natural and stuff? I don't know, I didn't really get it...
Dane's story was pretty intense. I really felt for him but was also really mad at him because he continually made our 'heroine' (can't really say you should call her that, but hey) feel bad. I mean,
(SPOILER)
the way he took her virginity? Are you freaking kidding me?? What the ever-loving hell??
Not cool, buddy.
Also, can't believe the way he keeps pushing her away. Sure, he had his issues but hey, they were solved as if I were watching a Hollywood movie so grr, just take what you can get and don't push her away.
The ending...
Yeah, I don't know, too cliché probably but I love HEA so what am I even complaining about...
All in all, it was an okay book but nothing more.
People on Goodreads wrote that they love Lin's writing style and hey, I was intrigued, too, because it really was interesting and completely different from everything else that's out there in the whole New Adult shelf. Still...
In the beginning, it annoyed me thta it was so verbose and it just took me ages to get to know the characters.
Towards the end, … wow. I was so annoyed at one time and then I had to cry and weep until the end. Seriously, couldn’t stop crying my eyes out.
So much feeling, so much emotion. Hardcore.
But the thing was, I had to bring myself into that state meaning that it wasn't really delivered to me by the novel.
So, something was clearly missing. Maybe I was annoyed by the continuous repetitions. It was just like I was reading the same scenes and thoughts just written differently.
It took me some time to finish this novel because it was easy for me to just put it down and continue reading afterwards. So, it wasn’t really a page-turner…
Anyways, I grew to like the characters.
Yes, it was really hard for me to like them because of these constant ups and downs but yeah, their stories were heartbreaking so I kinda understood at least some of their actions.
Connecting with the heroine was especially difficult for me maybe because everything felt so rushed in the end. Noone had ever touched her but Dane totally could and after some time, she feels like it's all natural and stuff? I don't know, I didn't really get it...
Dane's story was pretty intense. I really felt for him but was also really mad at him because he continually made our 'heroine' (can't really say you should call her that, but hey) feel bad. I mean,
(SPOILER)
the way he took her virginity? Are you freaking kidding me?? What the ever-loving hell??
Not cool, buddy.
Also, can't believe the way he keeps pushing her away. Sure, he had his issues but hey, they were solved as if I were watching a Hollywood movie so grr, just take what you can get and don't push her away.
The ending...
Yeah, I don't know, too cliché probably but I love HEA so what am I even complaining about...
All in all, it was an okay book but nothing more.