I have started reading YA recently and surprisingly enjoyed it. To me, things that seem tacky or weird in Adult fiction novels seem sweet and cute in YA books 😂 ✨Book Review✨
‘Six Goodbyes We Never Said’ is a book about two teenagers, Dew and Naima, who have lost their parents and are trying to cope up with their loss. They connect with each other and try to help each other work through their grief and other mental health issues.

This book is definitely a heavy read, but I appreciated how head on it is about mental illnesses. It did fall a little flat in the middle but it still did keep the story going. The author’s note is very touching and personal, talking about her own struggles as well. All in all, worth a read.

This was such an emotional read and the emotions felt by the teens at the center of it were realistic and relatable. I enjoyed this one immensely.

3.5 stars

I love when books tackle tough issues like OCD and anxiety and I feel it was handled well in this book. The book didn't always flow well and felt disjointed at times. I hoped for more development with some of the side characters but the development for the two main characters was nicely done.

Thank you NetGalley and Publishers for granting me early access to "Six Goodbyes We Never Said". I'm currently in the middle of a major move, but I will come back at a later time and write out a full review and rating.

This was a great book. The focus is on two teens struggling with mental illness. Most of it stems from losing their parents. The author does a great job letting you into their minds and thoughts, You will instantly fall in love with Dew and the way he talks to Naima, You will find yourself feeling so much for Naima. The survivors guilt, the guilt of not saying goodbye and the guilt of not being kind as your last words to somebody you love. This books also focuses on the support that they receive from everyone around them. The amazing set of grandparents, two adoptive parents that really try so hard and are so kind, an evil stepmom that is not really evil, and two co-workers that accept them for who they are. Do they get picked on by others for being different. Yes, and the author mentions that in passing but the focus is really on understanding and kindness. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderfully written story about Naima and Dew, both of whom have had losses bring much grief in their lives. They both also experience mental health issues including OCD, GAD and PTSD, each struggling in their own way with their losses. Together they eventually are able to comfort each other and share a hope that they each so desperately need. A beautiful story of two broken teens trying to navigate their losses while also managing to develop and grow a supportive friendship full of understanding and acceptance. Beautifully written characters and story with many poignant moments that will make you laugh and cry. Definitely worth your time!

I was asked to review and feature this book for a blog tour. Honestly when I read the description I wasn’t sure I was actually going to like this book but I ended really enjoying it!

This books had characters that struggle with depression and the lose of a parent. Our main character Naima is trying to process the death of her father while struggling with her depression, OCD and GAD. She is the type of person who does not want your help or your sympathy but deep down she know she’s really need it. Though she will never admit it. Dew, short for Andrew, is trying to process and heal from the loss of both his parents. He has anxiety and major panic attacks that he learning how to work through.

When Naima moves into her grandparents house…Dew really wants to be the friend he knows she needs. Even though she only wants to push him away. It’s really sweet to see how their friendship develops through the book. Also how the characters grow and develop emotional through out the book.


The writing style of this book is unique and it took me a while to get use to it. It honestly matches the personality of the characters. Even though the book handles tougher topic…its an rather easy read.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for a eARC of this book!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

MY REVIEW
I love it when a great cover and an intriguing premise hold up to give you the read you were hoping for.
Six Goodbyes We Never said is a dual POV story following Dew and Naima as they cope with tragedy and their anxiety and other disorders they face every day.
Both characters were well-represented and consistent in their disorders, their coping, and their healing and interactions with others. The voices were strong and they invoked sympathy/empathy.
I love alternative formats in books and Ganger does well without pulling the reader out of the story.
This story is full of pain, grief, depression, sparks of happiness, and all sorts of emotions but has my favorite addition: HOPE.

SIX GOODBYES WE NEVER SAID author Candace Ganger
Candace Ganger is the author of Six Goodbyes We Never Said and The Inevitable Collision of Birdie & Bash as well as a contributing writer for HelloGiggles and obsessive marathoner. Aside from having past lives as a singer, nanotechnology website editor, and world’s worst vacuum sales rep, she’s also ghostwritten hundreds of projects for companies, best-selling fiction and award-winning nonfiction authors alike. She lives in Ohio with her family.
Twitter: @candylandgang + @WednesdayBooks
I sat down with Candace Ganger and asked her a little bit about SIX GOODBYES WE NEVER SAID.
How did you come up with the format for the book. From POV’s to other alternate formatting?
My editor had some great suggestions, such as adding international chapters for backstory in the vein of The Sun is Also a Star. I didn’t intend to give Dew his own full story, but after many drafts, it needed his voice. I also felt that the story needed more about Naima and Ray’s relationship without a ton of flashbacks, so this was how I thought it might work. This was originally in podcast form, but since the release of Courtney Summers’s amazing book, Sadie, I wouldn’t have stood a chance!
Where did the idea for this story come from?
A few places. I wanted to showcase the way my disorders present to help others understand and I’ve written about my struggle with identity and loss as long as I can remember, so this novel was a way to finally say goodbye. I’m still struggling with loss, so this was a way to navigate my own grief. That aside, my brother was a U.S. Marine, I have close friends who have fostered and adopted their children, and Six Goodbyes felt like the best place to tell all of these stories at once.
What is your favorite scene?
This will sound morbid, but the scenes with the urn. Anyone who knows me, knows I love cemeteries and feel a deep connection with the dead. Writing how Naima copes with a loss of this magnitude in this way is how I’d deal; sarcasm and wry humor to shield her from the pain of it.

Thank you Netgalley for sending me this arc. I will be reviewing this book in the near future with an honest rating and review.

4.5 stars - A wonderfully meaningful and beautifully touching story about loss, grief, friendship, hope and love.

Candace Ganger has penned a beautifully touching story about loss, grief, friendship, hope, and love. This isn’t an easy or lighthearted read, but I enjoyed all the achingly feels.

Naima and Dew have both lost people they love. They have their own issues and struggles that affect their daily lives and the people around them. They’re hurting and they’re scared, but they want to be happy. What happens when two broken souls meet? Will they be able to help each other heal, let go, and finally say their goodbyes?

This story is absolutely lovely and so meaningful. Both POVs and storylines touched my heart in so many ways and by the end, I definitely had so many wonderful feels. There are plenty of raw, real, and emotionally painful parts that affected me, but there are also so many heartwarming and sweet moments sprinkled throughout the story. Some scenes even made me smile and laugh and yes… there’s a bit of swooning too. There’s just so much honesty, hope and love in this story that even if my heart hurt so much for Naima and Dew, I felt some joy too.

The characters are not always easy to like at all times, but they’re charming and intriguing with so much realness. Naima’s pain and anger is so palpable that sometimes I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Her part of the story is definitely the most difficult for me to read. Naima’s relationship with her father broke my heart a thousand times. I didn’t see my dad before he passed because he lived in the Philippines, so this really hit me so hard.

I adored Dew so much. He’s sweet, caring, funny, honest, kind, loving, and always tries sees the best in people. He is just pure light and goodness so it’s literally impossible not to fall for him. I enjoyed reading his part of the story and his friendship with Violet is so cute and endearing. I love his quirks so much. Dew absolutely stole a piece of my heart and soul and I’m perfectly okay with that.

The supporting characters are just wonderful. Violet is eccentric in her own way, but I definitely liked her. She’s interesting and fun. Dew’s sister, Faith, can be a brat, but I liked her sassy personality. I love JJ and Kam and Stella and Thomas. I think they’re amazing — patient, supportive, kind, and loving. I liked Nell too. She seems to really care about Naima’s well-being and she tries to be there for her. Even though Ray is gone from Naima’s life, I could feel how much he truly cares and loves his daughter throught the messages he leaves her.

Wonderfully meaningful and utterly poignant, Six Goodbyes We Never Said by Candace Ganger is such a beautifully written story about grief, friendship, family, love, and having the courage to say goodbye and move on. I loved the writing, the loveable characters, the heartwarming relationships, the sweet moments, and all the emotions. It’s heartbreaking and difficult to digest, but there are so many amazing and uplifting moments that filled me with so much hope and love. Such a touching and lovely story and I honestly can’t recommend it enough.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher Wednesday Books via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review and for participating in a blog tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It is pretty difficult to come up with something unique in the YA field but Candace Ganger has managed to do that with Six Goodbyes We Never Said. I found it a bit choppy at times, and I wish it flowed a lot better, but it addresses and depicts a variety of mental health issues appropriately, respectfully and realistically.

The story is told from two perspectives - Naima Rodriguez who has been struggling to keep her anxiety and OCD under control, especially since the untimely death of her father, and Dew who is struggling with the death of both his parents. They both have so much in common so it makes sense that they would meet each other and get along, but that doesn’t happen at the all.

It is a very interesting story, but it drops to a 3 -start read for me as I feel like it needed a lot more to flow cohesively. It is slightly disjointed and underdeveloped at times and difficult to follow but was interesting enough to keep me engaged throughout.

It took me awhile to get into this one. I wasn't able to read more than a few pages at a time for some reason, so maybe it just wasn't for me.

This book was very unlike anything I have read before. I found the characters to be interesting but had a difficult time relating to them. This, in turn, made it hard for me to enjoy the story. I felt like the author tried a little too hard to make it relevant (with all of the references to non-binary, gender fluidity, etc.) I did like the message that acceptance comes in many forms and was interested in how the characters interacted and touched each other’s lives. It is a book that I am sure many will love, but the story was ultimately just not for me. For a full review, please see my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for a complimentary, pre-release, digital ARC of this book.

*I WAS PROVIDED AN e-ARC BY THE PUBLISHER FOR THE PURPOSES OF A BLOG TOUR. THIS DOESN'T AFFECT MY OPINION*

If you’re looking for an own-voices novel that pushes deep into the heart, this one is for you.

This book began with a note from the author that explains two things; one – why she wrote it, and two – the trigger & content warnings. I found that to be a really touching addition to this novel, as we are, for once, being exposed to some thought and generosity in the warnings department.

This book is not a love story. That’s something I’m not used to seeing, and I’ll admit, it kinda threw me off a little bit. It’s something we definitely need to see more of in YA, and I’m glad to see in this novel.

One thing that kind of set me off about this book, though, was the pacing. This book was super slow. And I mean, it took slow to a whole new level. I almost put it down because of that but ended up continuing it anyway.

The character development in this novel was great, and all in all, the plot came together nicely. For that, I rate this novel 3 stars.

This was a very emotional book to say the least. We have two characters who have had tragedies happen and who must learn to cope with their grief, and to try and continue to live their life. It wasn’t a perfect book, but the mental health representation was great. Naima had disorders like OCD, depression, and anxiety and Dew also had anxiety and panic attacks. So to have that rep and showing what it may be like to live with those disorders was very important and eye opening. Other pluses to this book included body positivity, feminism. What I didn’t like in this book was really how Naima treated Dew in the beginning. While I do see how he may have come off as creepy/slightly stalkerish, I still felt like she was unnecessarily cruel at times to him, when she knew he was going through his own issues. Their relationship develops more later on and there wasn’t really any romance between the two which I thought was great. As much as I love my romance, I felt like that was not needed between them in this book. Overall it was a really unique read, that really made me think and be grateful for the people I have in my life.

Thank you @WednesdayBooks for an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own. ⁣
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Six Goodbyes We Never Said ⁣
By: Candace Ganger ⁣
@candaceganger⁣
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*REVIEW* 💔💔💔💔⁣
This book, y'all. The author prefaces with a personal note about mental health which I found extremely relatable. It's something I've dealt with for the last decade, and my life has been changed by mental illness. Six Goodbyes We Never Said is the story of two teens struggling with grief and mental illness. Naima has lost her father to war and never knew her mother. Dew has lost both of his parents to an accident and now lives with his adoptive parents. These two are connected long before they ever meet in a six degrees of separation kind of way. It's quite interesting and so tragic once you read and understand these connections. Naima travels with her stepmother to her father's hometown with his ashes. Here, she meets Dew. He has major social anxiety and is more comfortable speaking to a recording device than actual people. Dew tries to stay positive. Naima suffers from OCD, GAD, PTSD and depression. She is basically negative about everything. The story alternately relates the struggles of both teens individually and together. I've read numerous reviews saying the story felt choppy, disjointed and boring at times. I don't disagree because it is confusing and drags in places, but I think it's purposely written this way. How do anxiety and grief feel? How does OCD feel? I'm certain it's not smooth or even or exciting, and the story mirrors the hellish reality of mental illness. Naima and Dew have their own perspectives, but they help each other, too, in unexpected ways. I honestly can't explain. It's best just to read it. Whatever your feelings about this story, mental illness is extremely important, and I'm glad the author is so personally invested with these issues and treats them with such respect.

This book is such a beautiful portrayal of grief from two teenagers POV’s and the unique friendship they build to help them get through the tough times.

Naima has the toughest of exteriors but on the inside is a tornado of emotions that she’s not sure how to navigate. Her dad was just killed in action and after not speaking to him for months she’s not sure exactly how to feel other than to take things out on others, especially her stepmom. When she goes to live with her grandparents she meets the strange boy next door. He seems to know a lot about her but she knows nothing about him. As she gets to know Dew, she starts to discover the keys to coping with her father’s loss, and finds ways to open up about how she feels. Her journey through such an extremely emotional time is so well done in Candace’s writing.

Dew lost both his parents in a car accident and is now living with his adoptive parents Stella and Thomas. He is a quirky person who always finds his parents words coming to mind whenever he’s faced with any kind of challenge. He is full of wisdom and when he meets a man in the coffee shop he works at a year prior he finally figures out what he’s to do with his interactions with him. When he meets Naima he tries his best to befriend her despite how much she fights against him and by the end they’ve build a friendship only they could understand.

I loved the way Candace portrayed grief within these two teenagers and showed that despite the differences in the way each person grieves they can also find common ground in how they learn to cope with it. There were so many beautiful quotes throughout this book and it will definitely hit you in the feels. If you love books that encompass mental health, grief, and friendship than you’ll love this wonderfully written YA contemporary!

Six Goodbyes is an incredibly powerful novel, unlike a lot of the other YA stories I've been reading recently. It's honest and raw, there's no hiding from the truth here. Naima and Dew feel like real teenagers you might meet one day.

The representations of mental health conditions, specifically OCD and GAD, within the book feel very accurate and true to life. There were times when, although I haven't been diagnosed with either of those conditions, I found myself nodding along. I could see parts of myself within the (e-)pages of Six Goodbyes We Never Said.

Equally impressive was the way Candace Ganger didn't shy away from the difficult aspects of having a mental health condition. I often see fictional representations of people with mental illness often suffer from the tendency to either demonise or glorify struggle. Naima is a person who has mental health conditions, not a mental health condition attached to a person, if that makes sense.

One of my favourite things about the novel, apart from its brilliant representation of what it is like to live with mental health challenges, was the use of an unusual narrative technique. The normal chapters are interspersed with voicemails which add a little more variety.

A point to note before I sign off: this novel does deal with some serious topics and there were times when I had to put it down and come back to it later. There are full lists of content warnings available elsewhere on the web, so please do take a look at those if you feel the need to do so.

I'm very happy to be one of the bloggers invited to review Six Goodbyes We Never Said ahead of it's publication date - thank you to Candace Ganger, NetGalley and St Martins for the opportunity to take part!

What I Thought:
*I received this book for free from Wednesday Books (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and St. Martin's Publishing for reaching out to me to be part of this blog tour! 

 When I first heard about this book, I was definitely intrigued. I have not read a ton of books that focus on mental health. The fact that both of the main characters are struggling with different diagnoses made for a very interesting narrative. Add in the fact that it is an #OwnVoices novel, and I was sold!

Of the two main characters, I liked Dew the most, but identified with some of Naima's struggle. I am generally not a big fan of reading characters that I don't really like, but I came around to Naima by the end. Dew was a special little sunflower the whole time, and I just wanted to give him a big hug.

I did wish that there was more interaction between Naima and Dew. It felt like their friendship didn't even really develop until pretty late in the game, and I wished that I could have gotten more of it, since their friendship was really fun to read about. Other than that though, I enjoyed all of the relationships in the novel. I loved Dew's relationship with his sister, and Naima's with her grandmother. I have always enjoyed a good family dynamic in a book.

I also learned a little bit more about living with mental health issues. It is so much more difficult than it appears on the outside. I think this is a very important novel, if for no other reason than to elicit compassion and understanding for those suffering through mental illness.



My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

I gave Six Goodbyes We Never Said 3.5 STARS!

DNF at 45%

I understand that Naima is grieving, but that doesn't excuse her behavior. Her OCD and GAD (as mentioned in the synopsis) are aspects of her life that she struggles with, but her treatment of Nell was inexcusable. Nell has been in her life for nearly a decade, obviously trying to make a family with her stepdaughter, and Naima was intentionally hurtful and unaccepting. I know there are children that behave similarly in real life, but it was very frustrating to read about. Nell made an effort to learn Naima's quirks and preferences, trying to be there for her however she could, but Naima was cold and indifferent. I really disliked this aspect of the story, and the portrayal of their relationship.

"...or why I use sarcasm and blatant disgust for her as a means of coping with all the things I hate about myself. It has nothing to do with her. I decide this is the first thing I like about her—how she ignores the very real fact that I do, in fact, like her (but don’t you dare tell her)."

Naima's attitude in general left a lot to be desired. She was easily annoyed by others, and only ever thought about herself and what she wanted. She was intentionally cruel and hurtful, which made me unsympathetic to her feelings. I'm not sure why Dew was so fascinated by this grumpy girl that only cared about her own miseries, but he was determined to befriend her despite the snarls and cutting comments. Dew was endlessly kind and thoughtful, and he always managed to put himself in other people's shoes. He imagined how they must be feeling in this or that scenario, and he reacted accordingly. He was patient with Faith (his new sister), understanding that she needed to be shown love despite her outbursts. He noticed fear and pain where others saw anger and aggression. I thought Dew was a remarkable character, and enjoyed his relationship with his adoptive family. His mental flashbacks and remembered sayings really made him a unique and memorable character.

I was a little confused by Naima's family and their dynamics. Her dad would stay with his parents while she lived with Nell and Christian (her stepmother and stepbrother)? Did he just stay with them briefly before deployments? Occasionally when Naima talked about him, it was like he lived separately from her, even when he wasn't deployed. Maybe I misread something, or the ARC was missing a detail or two, but I often found myself wondering where everyone was when the past was reflected on or mentioned.

Even Naima's grandparents kept Nell at a distance. They were polite and civil when she was around, but it was clear everyone wanted her to leave so they could reform their "unit" without her. Nell was married to their son for seven years. She has gone above and beyond for Naima, yet she's still treated like an outsider. Naima's father is also to blame, since he purposefully kept Nell out of the loop, or secretly confessed to his daughter that his wife and stepson "wouldn't understand" something. He perpetuated the problem.

Hiccup (the dog) had cataracts and was deaf in one year, but he was also violent. He attacked people's legs and bit until he pierced the skin. This is not okay. It's really not okay when the dog is around children. Naima's grandparents should have been more responsible with the dog, but he's aggressive with others on multiple occasions.

I really liked that the author chose to tackle mental health and the realities of living with a mind that's not entirely your own. I don't know what it's like to feel compelled to do things a certain way, or a specific number of times, and I've never experienced social anxiety, or an inability to breathe in large crowds. I thought those aspects of the story were wonderfully written and explained; however, Naima was a difficult character to like. She's mean because she can get away with it, and people let her because it's easier than the alternative.

Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on September 30,