The Last Wish of Sascha Cade begins with the day Sasha and her best friend Raquel have been planning for and dreading for months: Sasha’s cancer killing her. Raquel has spent every last possible minute with her best friend, they’ve made plans for Sasha’s funeral together, spent hours watching their favourite films and Sasha’s dog Sunny. When the day of Sasha’s death comes, Raquel is overcome with more grief than she could ever have prepared for. Brokenhearted and lonely, she is overjoyed when she discovers Sasha had made plans for Raquel before she died, starting with a letter that leads Raquel to discovering Sasha’s biggest secret in an unexpected meeting with a boy named Elijah. The pair follow Sasha’s adventures and quests, mending their hearts and meeting unexpected hurdles that make Raquel question: can she honour her best friend’s last wish or must she choose her own path?

I was immediately drawn into this beautiful book by the friendship of Sasha and Raquel. It’s always so refreshing to read a lovely female friendship, even one so bittersweet. It’s not very often that a book makes me cry within the first few chapters, but Cheyanne Young managed it with gorgeous writing and characterisation that just jumped off the page and straight into my heart. The friendship between Sasha and Raquel, how Raquel deals with life after her best friend is gone, and how Sasha’s letters and videos as part of her adventurous last wish keep Raquel breathing, is one of the best things about this book. It was a beautiful and heartbreaking friendship to read.

What entices me most in YA novels is the characters. If the characters and their relationships aren’t strong, I quickly get bored. Cheyanne’s characters made me kept reading and I couldn’t put them down. Sasha is beautiful, warm and lively character, Raquel is relatable and true in overcoming her grief and finding her feet, and Elijah is a boy I know everyone will root for. Sasha and Raquel’s families are also great in the story, especially when we see Raquel interacting with them after Sasha’s death; you can see how close knit they all are. There are a few great supporting characters, as well, which were lovely additions to a great cast within a beautiful story.

The concept of Sasha’s last wish is a super exciting and entertaining part of this book. Each of Sasha’s letters or videos are different and inspire Raquel and Elijah to work through their feelings about Sasha’s death and ultimately find each other as they spend more time together. Sasha’s letters were magical, funny and sad. It was wonderful to see how Raquel and Elijah developed throughout the novel as they waited for Sasha’s next adventure and took part in them, reaching an understanding of themselves and each other along the way. Raquel and Elijah both have to deal with some big issues that I can’t reveal without being spoilery, and while I thought some of those issues felt rushed in how they were introduced and how they were resolved, they worked well within the story as a whole and gave it a touching and meaningful ending.

The Last Wish of Sascha Cade is a hopeful, exciting and moving book, full of bright characters and important life lessons. The story has such a wonderful balance of the happiness in life and the sadness in death, and I honestly don’t know when I was laughing or crying. I’m really thankful I got to read the ARC and hope this book will go far.

This book made me envious of the love and friendship Raquel and Sasha had. Even just a half of their relationship would make the world a better place.

After just a few short years cancer took Sasha away from the people she loved most in the world but bought someone just as special as she into their lives when she passed.

Heartwarming at its best. Beautiful book.

Author Cheyanne Young will rip your heart out and toss it into an emotional blender from the very first page. Readers should prepare themselves for a roller coaster of feelings. Tears will be shed while reading so be sure to grab some Kleenex. Although there are sad, ugly cry parts to the story, it is balanced with laughter and happiness.

The story is about what happens after someone you love passes away and how people pick up the pieces and continue on. Death leaves a gaping wound in the lives of those who are left. This book does a beautiful job of letting readers see, feel, and learn from the characters how this emptiness can change over time. It is very well written and the characters are beautifully done. Despite the emotional roller coaster of emotions, it is a must read. Definitely recommend.

I do not have time to read this and the premise no longer interests me. I do not have time to read this and the premise no longer interests me. I do not have time to read this and the premise no longer interests me. I do not have time to read this and the premise no longer interests me.

Love and friendship are displayed through out this amazing book. I think the issue of death was handled in such a fresh and appropriate manner. I love that I was given the opportunity to read this book and I hope word gets out how great this story is.

I absolutely loved this book!!! It roped me in right at the beginning and couldn’t put it down. The beginning had a sort of feeling that I just can’t describe, but loved

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place here when it comes to giving this book a chance. On one hand, I didn't like this book almost immediately upon beginning to read it. On the other hand, I only read two chapters? Which is almost hard to believe, considering I've written a fairly lengthy review on those two chapters alone and I'm assuming an awful lot. Read this at your own risk, I guess.

There are several things stacked against this book for my favour: One, it's a contemporary, which is one of my least favourite YA genres. Two, it's about a girl who dies of cancer, which is not my favourite topic to explore (which is not to say it shouldn't be explored, but I don't tend to enjoy it). Three, it takes place in Texas, which is NOT a bad state - I just don't really like reading about it. Four, it involves an overarching "I have future plans for you" plot that shoves two people together where they inevitably fall into instalove and can't live without one another. I know this because even though I haven't finished reading the book, I can tell by the summary. Also other reviews. So my review is mostly going to be a review of the first two chapters (plus the prologue) that I did read, but judging by several things (including the publishing house it comes from and my experiences with them in the past), I can imagine the rest of the book is the same.

I think Sasha's struggle with cancer and dying is oversimplified and frankly disrespectful to those that do have to live their life knowing they are terminal. Half of the prologue is spent telling us how Sasha (+ her cancer) were basically fetishized just for the sake of the 'gram. Seriously. I don't know if this is meant to be a comment on how social media-focused young people are these days, or if this is just a poorly created plot device to create some sympathy for our main characters. But there is honestly 2 whole paragraphs dedicated to telling us how the second Sasha got sick her "friends" were surrounding her to get selfies and spend time with her because her having cancer was the "cool new thing." Like, she's dying, people. Get a grip. Because the book is in first person, we get a lot of inner thoughts by Raquel, our main character. We get to hear about how she's special because she's Sasha's only best friend, and if she wasn't she'd be a loner, and how they're all surrounded by fakes (I mean, true), and how they're now always getting invited to parties and to eat with the "popular" crowd. I just can't stand characters who go on about how plain and alone they are, but then actually have a life where they are surrounded by people who want to be their friend? I mean, I know I previously stated grievance at the fact they only want to do so because of the cancer, but still? It doesn't sound like you're alone to me.

Sometimes this feels more like an outline of a plot or story rather than the actual literature itself. There's no flair to the writing, and it's super plain. It reads like a list of things that the author wanted to put into the plot, but never fully connected the pieces together. There's an awful scene when we are introduced to Raquel's on-again off-again but currently off-again boyfriend that made me hate him with every ounce of my being. It reads like 1) introduce boyfriend. 2) have boyfriend say sorry for your loss. 3) have boyfriend be super inconsiderate to mourning character's feelings. 4) have him be more focused on kissing and touching his (reminder: off-again) girlfriend when she's clearly not feeling it. 5) have him tell her she can now move on with her life. That's essentially the whole paragraph! I've hardly even summarised! There's also a quote that's like "The time for moping is over. I have a funeral to plan." I'm not sure that describing a funeral as if it's a high-tech mission is really appropriate and grief is way more nuanced than that, but whatever. What I'm saying overall here, is that the writing is not great, and the story-telling is not great, and there doesn't seem to be much sympathy for the characters at all, and there really should be. Writing is super important, and I am a firm believer that good writing can pull an otherwise bad story, but unfortunately, a good story cannot pull bad writing. But that's in my own personal experience and opinion, so obviously your view could be quite different.

In the small bit that I read, there's a few interesting things. Sasha is described as dark-skinned, so points for POC rep. But she's also the dead person, which I feel like isn't a great message. I am quite obviously not a POC, so take this observance with a huge grain of salt. Raquel is actually in the room and sleeping next to Sasha when she finally passes away, which is a really interesting thing to write about. It would work in a darker novel about grief and the effects of cancer on a person, but I don't really think it fits in with the contemporary romance this book is trying to be. This is the third book published by Kids Can Press that I have been thoroughly unimpressed by (and I've only read three books), so I think at this point I'm going to have to avoid their books until someone I trust tells me they've found a good one. It's really unfortunate, because Kids Can Press publishes Franklin, which was my favourite picture book series as a wee small child, but I guess that doesn't necessarily mean that they can publish good YA books.

Anyway, if this if your kind of book, great! I won't shame you for that. But it's just not for me, and I'm really disappointed by that. I had high hopes, but perhaps that was my issue to begin with. Lots of people seems to love this, and it's a shame that I don't as well. I toyed with giving it another chance, but honestly there are too many books out there and so little time to read them all, I can't justify keeping with one that I never really liked from page one.

The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is a book about which I have mixed feelings. It disappoints and it doesn't as well. It deals with a teenager diagnosed with cancer. And when it turns terminal, her family and her best friend are by her side. Loved by everyone, Sasha deals with her illness with an enviable calm. But what of those she leaves behind? Raquel, Sasha's best friend is the one person who has been with her through the years. She is there as Sasha plans for her own funeral. There are no secrets between the two. And when Sasha says she plans on contacting Raquel from the other side, Raquel believes Sasha will do it. And how she does it! Sasha sends Raquel on a treasure hunt of sorts. She asks Raquel to consider the whole thing an adventure that she needs to do for Sasha. And on this adventure, Raquel unearths secrets that she did not know Sasha had.

I’ll be buying a copy of this book once it is published in October. I really loved the characters, relationships, writing style, and plot. It reminded me of Letters to the Lost. My only wish is that there was more development and involvement of Izzy’s character. This was a really great read.

The Quick Cut: A girl learning to adjust after her best friend dies of cancer is surprised when she starts receiving messages from her beyond the grave.

A Real Review:
Thank you to Kids Can Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cancer is a disease that affects everyone that the person whose dying from it touches. Something about watching a person's body betray them can really wreck you and those left behind can have a really difficult time adjusting to the new norm without that certain someone. In this tale, the girl with the cancer does everything she can to make sure her best friend moves on after her life ends.

Sasha and Raquel have been best friends for years. However, when the cancer diagnosis came for Sasha and continued to ravage her body, neither of their lives were the same again. In their small town, suddenly everyone was Sasha's friend and Raquel was spending all her time preparing for the today: the day her best friend died. There's one thing Raquel definitely wasnt ready for and that's Sasha's messages and videos after she died. She's sending her bestie on an adventure and she's NOT going alone.

The story here is very cute and the connection between the two girls really is the centerstone for the entire book. It's the thumping heart that the plot drives from and for this core piece, I applaud the author. They are more than just BFFs - they were really more like sisters. Yet, secrets come to light anytime someone dies and isnt there to protect them and its fascinating to see the play out for those moments. There's another character that plays a central role, but I can't talk about him without revealing too many details of the plot.

As enjoyable as the story is, it still has some flaws. The pacing for the major plot points is very odd and doesn't make for real smooth transition from one to the next. There's really 3 story sections and middle section felt too long while start and especially the end felt too short. It ends up feeling a bit like being on a malfunctioning car jerking back and forth.

Even with some odd pacing, this story about life after a death is quite charming and thoughtful with a strong heart at it's core.

I LOVED this book, I had no idea what to expect going into it but it was so good. I cried so much while reading it but apart from that I have no complaints. It reminded me a bit of 13 Reasons Why if the tapes were positive and about drawing people together, not getting revenge. I liked how it didn't focus or dwell on the cancer rather focusing on Sasha's life and helping Rocky move on while also remembering her friendship and bond she had with Sasha. The characters were great and I could not fault this book in the slightest.

The last wish of Sasha Cade had me feeling all the feelings. This book was absolutely adorable.It was an uplifting story of loss and finding love and a "new normal" after loss. It was fun, happy and sad all at once. More than a few times my eyes were damp from holdong back tears.

*I recieved an e-arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Okay but Cheyanne Young didn’t wait to leash the feels, she didn’t slowly test the waters and then hit us. No no no, she didn’t prepare us...she stabbed us in the heart with all the emotions all at once (literary as soon as you begin reading).
I was already near tears within the first chapter (and I don’t read and cry - that’s not me).
I love Young’s writing, I feel like I’m looking into a perspective of a high school student and not a writer trying to pretend to be a high school student, which I love!!!
1. I recommend this to EVERYONE AND ANYONE.
1a. I have the kindle version but I might treat myself to the novel version so I can hold and cherish this baby in real life. THAT’S HOW GOOD THIS BOOK IS!!
2. I’m adding more Cheyanne Young’s novels to my TBR list...that is all.

There is no way around it, we’ve come to the day where Raquel’s best friend, Sasha, dies. She has died of cancer. There’s nothing Raquel can do to change that. She’s left with overwhelming sadness, until the first letter arrives. She has planned an elaborate scavenger hunt, starring a boy - Elijah. Is he the answer to helping her move on?

Honestly, one of the best books I’ve read recently! It was beautiful and sad and heartwarming all at the same time. I read it in one day because I just couldn’t put it down. It teaches you to understand grief, to not judge a book (or a person) by its cover, and to have fun, despite the sadness that might be lingering. I wish the story of Sasha and Raquel could have been longer, but it was such a beautiful story!!

This novel is so good! Elijah and Raquel meet at the grave of her best friend, Sasha, both summoned by an email sent out by Sasha, set up before she died for exact dates’ delivery. It is Sasha’s last wish that Elijah, her brother who was not adopted with Sasha, could get to know her through her life experiences with Raquel. Raquel is the guide through surprise adventures but Sasha’s real intent is for Elijah and Raquel to find each other.

I received this ARC for an honest review.
A story of loss and friendship and dealing with the difficulties of losing a friend in high school. This was a book with it all. There were laughter, and tears and happy times and frustrating times. I could have sped through this book in one sitting, but I wanted to read it at a more leisurely pace. I was able to kind of guess how the story would wrap up, but it was still a good read.

This book was incredible. I laughed, I cried, I cheered. It gave all the emotions! Rocki and Sasha were the best of friends and it was so heartwarming to see the effort Sasha put into the videos and adventures that she set up for Elijah Raquel. Cheyanne Young is a talented author who conveyed the characters and everything that happened to them so well. I finished the book in 24 hours. I highly recommend it!

I got this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. When I read the synopsis I knew its going to be lit!! And it will totally worth breaking my vow (I vowed not to request any more books from netgalley until I am done with my current TBR pile :/ ) I know.. I know.. We are doomed -_-

“The Last Wish of Sasha Cade” is a cute-adorable-beautiful story of friendship. I don’t remember when was the last time I read such a pure beautiful friendship story. A friendship that lasts even after the death do them part.

Sasha is a bright sunny girl and the B_E_S_T friend of Raquel, aka Rocky!! Rocky can not think of a time when Sasha was not beside her, her one and only friend. She was happy living on the shadows of Sasha’s life, but what happens when Sasha is no longer there to protect her from bullies, or take her along on her wild rides? What happens when Sasha dies of cancer? How Rocky copes up with her loss?

Sasha has a perfect plan for that, for helping Rocky move on, for making everyone she loves happy again.. So she makes an elaborate plan that involves another person she loves and Rocky knows nothing about, and sends them of on an adventure. All Raquel has to do is trust her friend and do as she says.. Easy, no?!!

-".. I guess that's life, huh? Sometimes it's beautiful like the lake and hilarious like these movies. Other times.." She pauses and looks down at her hands, than her wide blue eyes seem to bore into mine. "Other times it hurts like a motherfucker."-

The whole story is described from Raquel’s point of view. And I really enjoyed how I get to know their story bits by bits as a part of the adventure. The narration was so great that in no time it makes the reader feel the same pain a person feels upon her closest persons death, the rush she feels when she expects the loved ones pre-posted letters, the guiltiness upon finding happiness too close to her death when them bigger part of you is still mourning.. I loved how the story portraits a picture where you don’t need to be blood related to be a family…

-"We walk out of the courthouse together, this weird group of people who are all somehow related in ways that aren't blood."-

I specially loved the characters!! I loved Sasha! I loved Raquel!! And I am in love with Elijah ❤ *moony eyes*

I loved how every single lead characters of this story has his/her own voice and despite of having flows they knew to shine and love. I specially loved that the writer truly did honer to the mourners by not making them hormonal teens who forgets all about their other relations, respects and starts making out as soon as they are alone in a room, period!! (I really hate when that happens -_-)

-"She will never again be the girl sitting across from me on my bed, eyes wide, the air smelling like wet nail polish, listening to my stories and telling me exactly what she thinks about them. For the rest of my life, I will only have moments like these. Moments I will treasure, but moments I can’t share with her."-

Its by all means a realistic fairy tale where Happily Ever After is NOT a MYTH!!

A BLINKING 4.5 STARS!!!!

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I absolutely loved this book. Raquel’s best friend is dying of cancer, they spend the most the time they have together . Sasha does die fairly quickly in the story but this book is more about letting us know they there is more to life after someone that we love passes.
When Sasha passes she leaves her bff one final gift, a series of things to do to help Raquel and Elijah deal wither her passing better by going on adventures. I wish that everyone would be able to experience that with there loved ones
This story was so heartfelt. You start the book with the smile on your face and as you read you feel all these different emotions, like you’re the one that lost there best friend. You see a story of love, loss, friendship and even romance.
The first few chapters were truly heart wrenching. I did get misty eyes reading it.
If you’re a lover of The Fault in Our Stars then I think you should check this book out.

Thank you to Kids Can Press for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

The story starts off on a hard note - Raquel has lost her best friend Sasha. But, before long, Raquel gets small messages from Sasha that was left before her demise. Raquel is off on an adventure with Sasha's long lost brother, Elijah. Join the two of them as they continue to get messages from Sasha while they mourn their loss and gain something special out of it.

Cue the tears! Oh, I loved this book so much! So many emotions. If you loved The Fault In Our Stars, you'll love this book. Highly recommend it. An adorable story of friendship and love. And, I feel like this is a really unique story line with Raquel and Elijah's relationship. A refreshing story.

5/5 Stars