This book is emotional and heavy but so so good! Think - John Green but without the manic pixie dream girl complex.

Every Time You Go Away is extremely YA with a whole lot of teen angst and trauma. There's a second-chance romance throughout the story but it's truly more about family and friends and pain and substance abuse and disabilities. There's a lot to unpack but it's beautifully written and I enjoyed the journey.

I found the book to be somehow both a quick and tough. I felt like I was along for a wild ride and I just couldn't put it down but so many of the events of the story made me want to scream or cry or find a way to hug these poor souls.

The story is told in a dual timeline but the past timeline isn't linear, it's more like relevant flashbacks. Both past and present were continuously breaking my heart in the best way.

I really loved Every Time You Go Away and I can't believe I put off reading it this long! I highly recommend this book for those who love an emotional and tragic read.

(I put some TWs in my review but loss of a parent and child neglect/abuse are also important ones to include)

*I voluntarily read a free copy in exchange for a review, all thoughts and opinions are my own*

Did not finish this book. When I started reading it, I did not realize it was not going to be something I enjoyed because of how one of my triggers wells portrayed.

Johnson created a compelling coming of age story. Both Rebecca and Ethan have a lifetime of tragedy on their shoulders. As they try to navigate their adult problems, they find comfort with each other, despite the years apart. The emotions run high in the novel.

Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson is a poignant and lovely story of loss and love and friendship, and how it can all be lost. And then, found again.

Ethan and Rebecca meet as kids verging on teenagers. They are kindred spirits and slight trouble makers who share secrets, jokes, and first kisses. While Rebecca has a solid home life, Ethan’s mom struggles with addiction and so his stays at his grandparents (next door to Rebecca) means he can leave at anytime. But the joy the two share when together keeps those absences bearable. That is until Rebecca is in a car accident, leaving her wheelchair bound and the moment she needs her friend, Ethan, the most- he abandons her.

Returning to his grandparents’ house, Ethan and Rebecca slowly work to reform their old bounds and rebuild what was broken in both of them over the past 8 years. And maybe find out that when wounds heal, you can be stronger for it.

Johnson has created a sweet, vulnerable, and endearing cast of characters, and you are immediately invested in the outcome. I was completely engaged in the story and the ending left me satisfied. I recommend this book if you are looking for a bit of young romance, a bit of coming-of-age, a bit of teen angst. Random rating 3.75/5.

This book was fabulous. I have recommended it to many friends and family, and appreciated the way that Abigail kept me wanting to read more.

"Every Time You Go Away" is an intense story. If you get emotional about books, there are times in this book that your emotions will be triggered. The story revolves around some difficult topics/events — substance abuse, neglect, partial paralysis, death of a parent, feelings of abandonment. However, there is also a lot of beauty in the story in the various relationships between some of characters, and the way they care for each other and support each other, even if and though they make mistakes and don’t always do the best job of showing they care.

3.5 stars

I really wanted to like this one more. I mean, look at that gorgeous cover! I like the author, the premise was great, the storyline was compelling and unique. Unfortunately, I didn’t find myself connecting with the characters. This is a story with very little plot so character is everything. There were plenty of details to build the characters, but it lacked depth somehow.

So many parts of the story felt overly dramatic in a Lifetime movie kind of way. I wanted to know what mental illness Rebecca’s mother was dealing with because nothing about her was normal.

It wasn’t a bad book, I was just hoping for better.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to review!

I really liked Every Time You Go Away. It was great for a young adult romance. The characters were mature but still had issues that made sense for a younger adult.

I did love the characters. I felt everything they were going through which was definitely a lot for 17/18 year olds.

It’s not often that a MC is disabled so I liked that Rebecca was paralyzed and heard about some of the struggles a person goes through when adjusting to their new life.

TW ⚠️: Parent death (not depicted) and drug abuse (discussed but not depicted)

Thanks to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for a copy of Every Time You Go Away in exchange of an honest review.

This book wasn’t my favorite and I don’t think it was meant for me. The writing style was good but I didn’t love the story. I will try more by this author in the future.

This book follows Ethan and Rebecca, childhood friends facing significant challenges. Ethan lives with his grandparents due to his mom's addiction, while Rebecca became paralyzed after an accident that killed her dad. Determined to find his mom, who left rehab, Ethan enlists Rebecca's help. Meanwhile, they navigate their growing feelings for each other.

The book is intense, with complex character dynamics. I found the relationship between Rebecca and her mom particularly difficult, as Rebecca's mom unfairly distanced herself. It was a relief when they finally talked. Ethan's inability to save his mom was heartbreaking.

The trauma bonding Ethan and Rebecca together makes their future uncertain, but I'm glad they chose to try. I highlighted many passages and am definitely glad I read this one.

Ethan and Rebecca met eight years ago when Ethan came to live with his grandparents next door to Rebecca. As quickly as Ethan would arrive, he often left again, never saying goodbye but leaving a flower on Rebecca’s windowsill.

When Ethan arrives this time, it’s been four years since he’s visited last. Having left to care for his mother who often struggles with addiction. A lot has changed in those four years including Rebecca’s world as she knew it. Two years ago, the same accident that took her father’s life also made her wheelchair bound. Ethan isn’t prepared for the new challenges that face him in spending time with Rebecca, but will he stick around long enough to figure them out or will he disappear at the drop of a hat if his mother reappears?

This is a great novel, and I would definitely recommend it to others. Teens face all sorts of challenges, many that they shouldn’t have to deal with at a young age—Ethan and Rebecca are no different.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. #NetGalley #EveryTimeYouGoAway

Thank you Net Galley for letting me review this book and give my honest opinions. I have mixed feelings about this book. I love that this book has a character that uses a wheelchair. I think this is the first book I have ever read where the character has a physical disability like this. There are plenty of books out there that talk about mental disabilities. So way to represent! I also like the representation of those that struggle with a family member in drug rehab. I like the theme of “you can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore to be happy”. My one complaint about this book is that it did drag and I felt the story could have been told in fewer pages.

This was amazing and so well written. It talks about hard subjects and was dense. The main characters seemed flawed which made them feel real.

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley from the publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

I can’t read an Abigail Johnson book without having a cry! I honestly felt all of the emotions in this book. It was such a moving and well written story. It’s both beautiful and absolutely heartbreaking.

Ethan and Rebecca grew up as neighbors and have been friends since they were kids. They have been in and out of each other’s lives and had to deal with a lot of hard things. There was a slow burn love story, but it was so much more than that. It was about the power of hope after a lot of loss.

If you love powerful contemporary romance, then I think you will love this one too! Just give me all of Abigail’s books please!

Well this book is heavy. Rebecca and Ethan’s lives are intertwined through the years of him coming and going with his mom. Both of their stories are tragic and yet hopeful. I did shed some tears at the end, really good read.

This book was a sweet healing journey of grief with childhood friends to lovers. I love books by this author that I’ve read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Ethan and Rebecca met 8 years ago and were instant best friends. And then Ethan had to leave with his mom. It's been four years since Rebecca saw him and since then she's been in a terrible car accident that's left her wheel chair bound and Ethan has been dealing with his mother's drug addiction. They have to learn to navigate each other again.

A story of redemption and acceptance that sucked me in right from the start.

This was a lovely story about two teenagers who have faced trauma in their life and are facing those challenges together. Told in alternating timelines, this story lets the reader get a full picture of their relationship and its evolution. Another beautiful story by Abigail Johnson. Thank you for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story was boring and I would not recommend this book. I could not relate to the main character in this book. It came across as boring at certain parts of the story.

Always an emotional treat from this author.

This book is a bit different from her other books. both Rebecca band the author are in wheelchairs.

Ethan met Rebecca years ago after she saw him move in with his grandparents.
He didn't stay though. He came and left a few times.

Rebecca is coping with the aftermath of a deadly car accident that took her fathers life and put her in a wheelchair.

when Ethan moves back again they struggle with reconnecting and communication.

Ethan has always felt responsible for his mother which is why he leaves so many times.

This book was realistic and brought out many emotions.

It is about grief and forgiveness too.

Just wow.


absolutely selling n this one!


Thanks to the author, publisher and net valley


4 stars