Review: Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner

Authors must hate it when readers compare their current book to the one(s) that came before. It's got to be, at worst, like comparing one child to another or, at best, choosing between three or four favorite flavors of ice cream. You recognize the differences -- the strengths -- each one has and love each of them because of those differences.

Last year, I had the opportunity to read Jeff Zentner's first novel, The Serpent King, and said in my comments (posted to NetGalley and Goodreads) that, "Zentner's novel is a mix all the things that life brings: friendship, love, dreams, tears, the ordinary, and much more . . . all wrapped up in a bundle of hope. I cannot wait to see what Jeff Zentner writes next." Having now read his next book, I am definitely not disappointed.

Synopsis: Carver Briggs never thought a simple text would cause a fatal crash, killing his three best friends, Mars, Eli, and Blake. But now Carver can’t stop blaming himself for the accident and even worse, a powerful judge is pressuring the district attorney to open up a criminal investigation.

Luckily, Carver has some unexpected allies: Eli’s girlfriend, the only person to stand by him at school; Dr. Mendez, his new therapist; and Blake’s grandmother, who asks Carver to spend a “goodbye day” together to share their memories and say a proper farewell.

Soon the other families are asking for their own goodbye day with Carver—but he’s unsure of their motives. Will they all be able to make peace with their losses, or will these Goodbye Days bring Carver one step closer to a complete breakdown or—even worse—prison?

Jeff Zentner does not write books that are necessarily easy to read. He asks questions that don't have pat answers, if there are answers at all. He writes characters that leap off the page and into our heads and hearts, characters who somehow are all the more real because we each know people who share similar traits. Because of this, it is easy to find yourself laughing along with the antics of Carver, Mars, Eli, and Blake one minute and crying over how unfair it is that three teens died with only memories left behind for friends and family.

I have no idea what Mr. Zentner has planned next for readers, but I plan to be there -- ready to read -- when it's published. Highly recommended!

Rating: 5 Stars

I received a copy of this book from Crown Books for Young Readers through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.