I really enjoyed this book. The character development was realistic and you can't help but love the two main characters. This book dealt with some difficult topics in a delicate way.

Love the disability rep. We need more of that in romances, whatever the subgenre. This is a slow burn, friends-to-lovers, second chance YA book between two teens with trauma and family drama. It’s heavy and the pacing is sedate, with flashbacks to help fill in the blanks.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the raw emotions, the overcoming childhood trauma, sticking true to emotions, and finally speaking up when the time was right for both characters, however it needed to happen. I feel like this book would be way better as a movie. It gave me movie visualizations while I was reading it.

Rating: 2.5 stars

The only thing worse than writing less-than-glowing review for a book you wanted to like is writing a less-than-glowing review for a book that was obviously very personal for the author that you really wanted to like.

Every Time You Go Away opens with this heartfelt author's note where Abigal Johnson talks about how she both hurt and healed while writing it and how, "Rebecca’s (and Ethan’s) story isn’t about disability. It’s about love and loss, joy and grief, struggle and success, guilt and forgiveness, and a million other things that people all over the world experience every day. More than that, this book gave me an opportunity to portray the lives of people living with disability in ways they might not often get to see, ways that I see, and ways that are wonderful and full and rich. And hopeful."

I think my biggest issue with Every Time You Go Away is that I felt disconnected from the characters and the story for most of the book. The pacing was too rushed in some areas and too slow in others, and the story kept cutting between the past and present unnecessarily. Even when subsequent chapters took place in the present ("Now,") they lacked the necessary transitions to help to story flow well.

Something about Ethan and Rebecca just fell flat for me. Their characters never felt fleshed out enough, and I had a really hard time caring about either of them. Their alternating POVs were basically indistinguishable. Neither of their personalities ever came to life for me, and I didn't find their motivations either compelling or believable. Despite their interesting backstories, both protagonists lacked any kind of meaningful growth. Their character arcs were more like lines with miniscule bumps, which made the entire story feel monotonous and one-dimensional. The only remotely interesting characters were Neel who somehow got the wittiest lines and Amelia, the spunky jewelry maker.

I liked the idea of Rebecca and Ethan's friendship more than the actual thing, in part, because Johnson spent so much time telling us they were BFFs but not enough time convincing me it was true. If we had to be subjected to flashbacks (which I'm still not convinced we needed,) we should have at least gotten to watch Rebecca and Ethan's friendship develop over time. What we got instead was a few throwaway pieces of dialogue where Rebecca and Ethan allude to or describe shared childhood memories that aren't quite as impactful. If the friendship between the two evoked a lukewarm response from me, the reaction I had to the romance was virtually nonexistent. The whole premise of their romance was that they're both attractive people who are best friends. There was no chemistry, no heartfelt moments, no swoon-worthy exchanges or proclamations of love. It was so painfully forced.

The best parts of Every Time You Go Away were the disability rep and the explorations of grief. The moments of insight into Rebecca's life (ex. the restaurant scene where she's forced to attempt to navigate a non-ADA-compliant space) were a definite highlight. The scenes toward the end when Rebecca and Ethan grappled with their respective grief were when the story started to hit its stride, but it was a little too late.

Every Time You Go Away was an ambitious book with good intentions that never came to fruition. I appreciated the attempt at addiction and tetraplegia awareness and wished some of the subplots involving family, guilt, and grief had been explored more. I can't say if the good moments outweigh the lackluster ones, but I wouldn't necessarily dissuade people from reading Every Time You Go Away to figure it out for themselves? 🤷🏻‍♀️

4.5 stars rounded up

✨Book Review!✨
“Every Time You Go Away”
Written By: Abigail Johnson
Netgalley ARC
Release date: December 5th, 2023
•••
Alexa, play Taylor Swift, Champagne Problems
•••
Rebecca and her best childhood friend, Ethan, reconnect after 4 years away from one another. Each of their lives have changed in more ways than one but they still feel like no time has passed at all. Until she remembers how easy it is for Ethan to leave her and he realizes how much she has pushed him away.
•••
Ethan has alternated between living with his grandparents and living with his addict mother his entire childhood. When his mom is checked back in to rehab, he is forced to return back to his grandparents home for the next few months. Ethan must decide whether he wants to continue bearing the weight of her struggles chasing after her or live his own life, putting his happiness first.
•••
Just two years ago, Rebecca was in a car accident that left her wheelchair bound. An accident that also killed her father and she internally blames herself for. Rebecca must decide if she can forgive herself and find happiness in her new life.
•••
Every Time You Go Away is a very well written novel with super heavy topics that really tug at your heart. If you’re searching for a light and fun book, this sure ain’t it. But if you need a story full of honest feelings, deep topics, love, heartache, found happiness and characters with an actual back story consisting of real world problems…I wouldn’t hesitate to add this to your list of books to read this winter.

My only complaint is the constant lack of communication between both main characters and pretty much everyone else in the book. After a while, it became redundant and frustrating. That’s the only reason it wasn’t rated a full 5 stars!

1- Characters: 9
2- Atmosphere/Setting: 10
3- Writing Style: 10
4- Plot: 10
5- Intrigue: 9
6- Logic/Relationships: 7
7- Enjoyment: 9

Total Score: 64
64/7 = 9.14
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you Inkyard Press and NetGally for the ARC! This was an emotional and very well-written book. Johnson told a beautiful story of love, hurt, betrayal, and loss.

I loved that these characters weren't your average, run-of-the-mill protagonists: Ethan chases after his mother who struggles with substance abuse, while Rebecca navigates life in a wheelchair after a car accident that killed her father. The characters had real struggles and as the reader, you get to work through those issues with them.

I haven't read this author's work before, but I look forward to reading more by Johnson in the future. Thank you again!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been a fan of Abigail Johnson since IF I FIX YOU came out, so I was excited to receive an ARC of her latest book, and EVERY TIME YOU GO AWAY didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed the “best friends when we’re together but have our own lives when we aren’t” trope, but I would have loved to know more about Rebecca and Ethan when they are apart. The book is divided into “Now” and “Before” chapters with the “Now” chapters telling the story of Rebecca and Ethan’s most recent reunion after years apart, and the “Before” chapters providing glimpses into their past. However, Ethan is transient, only coming to live with his grandparents when his mother’s addictions prevent her from keeping him, so his time with Rebecca has always been fleeting. What becomes of the two when he leaves is more difficult to piece together.

I enjoyed the fact that both Rebecca and Ethan are stuck on the cusp of adulthood, but they are still teenagers trying to figure out life primarily on their own. They felt real, not like ages down grown ups. They keep secrets from one another, fight, and screw up (a lot), and that makes them seem like real kids. Neither of them really knows how to make the leap into the next stage of life, but as 17-18 year olds they know they have to do something and are finally learning to speak up and advocate for themselves, whether in Rebecca’s case for her mother to see and accept her or for Ethan to be treated like an adult by his grandparents since he’s been the main caretaker for his mother (and his cat, who I adore) almost his entire life.

The story is excellent, and contemporary YA always steals my heart, but I felt like the plot was a bit rushed. There were places where I wanted a little more build up or some more background. I’m probably an outlier, but I feel like publishing often sacrifices plot and substance for shorter, punchier manuscripts, and this is one that could definitely use more room to completely unfurl the characters’ personalities and the complexities of their lives. A lot of Ethan’s past living with a strung-out mom is glossed over, and I’d appreciate seeing the grittier day-to-day realities and why he feels so protective of her and unable to relax with his grandparents. With Rebecca, the tension between her and her mother is great, but there are missing pieces about what happens when Ethan isn’t with her and how they’ve drifted so far into silence and frustration with each other.

Additionally, I found some editing issues that were mildly distracting. Despite my critiques, I really enjoyed the story and the characters and I was left wanting more! While it didn’t make me cry, it definitely kept me reading as fast as I could to find out what happened with the main characters and their respective mothers.

2.5 stars. So I wasn’t a big fan of this one. It’s cute and all but I feel like Ethan is so dramatic and the communication is weird and just off to me. I also feel like they just kept bringing up the accident so much and Ik it’s important to the story but it was just milked wayyyy too much. It got boring to me and should of been shorter in my opinion.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinions.

It was a fantastic read.. I could not put this book down it was so good!! I need a physical copy like yesterday!!

Things just didn’t progress the way I would like. Too much focus on the accident and not enough focus on moving forward and what comes after. Very stuck in the past. I feel like if it’s something that’s gonna change your whole life I would like to know more about how your life is changed and what can be done about it. Seemed like a cop out to me. I bit too “feel sorry for me” for my taste. Didn’t love either MCs personality either

Likes: This book took my emotions, strapped them to a rollercoaster and took off! There were so many scenes that had me jaw-dropped, laughing and teary-eyed. Abigail did an astounding job at highlighting the complexities of trauma, abuse, grief and emotional resiliency. I thoroughly enjoyed Rebecca and Ethan as main characters - they're real, genuine, relatable, and easy to fall in love with. The dual POV's and time jumps between 'then' and 'now', allowed for a front row seat into these characters' struggles and it made it easy to develop an attachment. I also loved seeing their growth and character development. Overall, this is a story that has a message that everyone needs to hear. I truly am walking away with a new perspective!

Dislikes: I liked Rebecca and Ethan as individuals and friends, but when it came to them forming a relationship beyond that, it didn't interest me. To put it simply, there was a lack of passion. Additionally, while some of the themes throughout the book were executed perfectly, there were some that were too repetitive (e.g., the whole 'I-like-you-more-than-friends-but-I-don't-trust-that-it'll-work-out-so-I'm-going-to-hide-my-feelings-but-I-secretly-want-more-but-I-don't-trust-you-enough'...). That theme was hammered excessively throughout the entire book and was shown in almost all of their interactions. Lastly, the pacing got a bit messy. The beginning started off strong, but then somewhere along the way, the pace felt all over the place. I think this was due to some 'filler' scenes that didn't need to be included to achieve the same effect.

Thank you so much for this advanced copy.

I am always on the hunt for books that I can recommend to students that match their family’s values but aren’t trite or cliche. This one delivers on so many levels. The story is strong. The characters deliver. The chance to consider daily living from the perspective of someone newly adapting to a wheelchair had a profound impact on me. One scene really provided a level of understanding that I didn’t realize I needed. I think it’s important to note that the author isn’t heavy handed & the wheelchair doesn’t become its own character (as too often happens when a different perspective is presented).

3/5 🌟🌟🌟

Every Time You Go Away is a YA novel about grief, friendship, family, and finding beauty in even the messiest things. I received an e-arc from Net Galley in exchange for my full, honest review.

The thing is, I really wanted to LOVE this book. Every aspect of it from an outside perspective told me this would have been one of my favorite YA novels, but I’m disappointed to say that (almost) every aspect of how Rebecca and Ethan handled their respective situations really, really frustrated me. Going into stories like this one, I am always aware that there will be a ‘third-act-conflict,’ but when it lasts about 50 pages (I lost count tbh) that is not enjoyable for ANY reader. I understood grief and anger in a different way in this book because the characters became so insufferable in a way that I had to put the book down certain days and didn’t even wanna come back to it later because I KNEW they would still be fighting and not COMMUNICATING. That’s one of my least favorite tropes to exist in any book, and it especially wasn’t desirable to see here based on how excited and invested I was in Rebecca and Ethan’s relationship. It honestly got to the point where I did not care if they ended up together at the end or not— I just wanted them to be friends!!!

It was so much to ask for. I wish I could recommend this story to friends and family, but when the couple finally makes up in the last 3 pages of the story, I simply cannot justify that.

Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson is a poignant and emotionally charged novel that explores the themes of grief, forgiveness, and the healing power of love. Johnson's compelling storytelling and well-developed characters make this book a captivating read from start to finish.

The story revolves around a young woman named Gabby Bishop, who has experienced her fair share of heartbreak and loss. After losing her parents in a tragic accident, Gabby is left feeling shattered and struggling to move forward with her life. When her estranged aunt, Merry, reaches out and invites her to spend the summer at her bed and breakfast, Gabby reluctantly agrees, hoping for a fresh start.

What follows is a beautifully woven narrative that takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and healing. Abigail Johnson skillfully delves into the complex emotions Gabby experiences as she navigates the unfamiliar territory of her aunt's small town and comes face-to-face with the ghosts of her past. Gabby's character is relatable and sympathetic, making it easy to root for her as she confronts her fears and confronts the secrets buried deep within her family's history.

One of the strongest aspects of this novel is Johnson's ability to capture the raw emotions of grief and the various ways people cope with loss. Through Gabby's interactions with the townspeople, including a handsome and mysterious musician named Caleb, the author explores the transformative power of friendship and love. The budding romance between Gabby and Caleb is tenderly portrayed, providing a glimmer of hope in the midst of her pain.

Additionally, the small-town setting adds an extra layer of charm to the story. Johnson vividly depicts the idyllic atmosphere, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and tastes of the quaint community. The secondary characters are well-drawn and play an integral role in Gabby's journey, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.

While Every Time You Go Away is a deeply moving and engaging novel, there are a few instances where the pacing feels a bit uneven. Some parts of the story could have been further explored or expanded upon to provide a more immersive experience. However, this minor flaw does not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the book.

In conclusion, Every Time You Go Away is a heartfelt and beautifully written novel that will resonate with readers who appreciate stories of love, loss, and the power of second chances. Abigail Johnson's skillful storytelling and authentic characters make this a memorable and touching read. If you're looking for a compelling contemporary novel that tugs at the heartstrings, this book should be at the top of your list.

think the premise is this story will really resonate with a lot of people. Going back and forth reading duel pov of Rebecca and Ethan past struggles, and also them learning how to navigate their future both together and separately. Some topics in this book will be triggering for some, especially if anyone has parental trauma. I struggled with my relationship in my teens with my parents, and this book gave me some good healthy cry. It’s important to note that it is YA, so if you’re expecting a spicy number, this isn’t it. I wish there was just a little less flashbacks, but I realize that they are a necessary evil and I didn’t mind them as much as I do in other stories. I wish more books had disability representation!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

WHEW. This is a heavy read and dealt with some hard topics. It was a beautifully written book and features great representation for wheelchair users. This was my first Abigail Johnson book, but I will definitely be checking out her other works.

As predicted, this book made me cry a few times, but not for reasons I originally anticipated. My Achilles heel was the relationships we saw between the parents/kids. Some of those moments hit hard and left me in tears.

This was a beautifully told, coming of age novel. Featuring two friends, Ethan and Rebecca, who are learning to navigate their current feelings for each other while trying to work through their own grief, pain, past trauma, and guilt.

Dual POV and alternating between past and present day, this story unfolds in a beautiful and heartbreaking way. It tackles some pretty heavy topics in a realistic way, which I found refreshing. The writing was enjoyable, pacing was great, the short chapters and dual pov really held my attention; I was engaged and invested in both Rebecca and Ethan's stories and was rooting for them both.

Some potential TW: substances abuse, child neglect, death of a parent,

This book releases December 5, 2023

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

📚: Every Time You Go Away
✍️: Abigail Johnson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Meet Rebecca and Ethan. Rebecca lives with her parents, next door to Ethan’s grandparents. Ethan’s mom, a drug addict, drops Ethan on their doorstep whenever she can’t care for him. Over 8 years, the two of them build a friendship that has it ups and downs - mostly when Ethan’s mom shows up to bring him “home.” Fast forward, Rebecca is in a life changing car accident. The two of them learn to live with their situations, while trying to figure out where they fit in each other’s lives.

This was another ARC for me. Good read, cute story. I really felt deeply for the characters in this book. The author did a great job creating lovable characters, ones you can’t help but root for. I love shorter chapters too, it always makes for an easy, fast read.

I loved this book. Rebecca and Ethan seemed so real. Their emotions, frustrations, disappointment, sadness, happiness. Abigail Johnson did a wonderful job in making her characters come alive. Thank you for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

title: Every Time You Go Away

author: Abigail Johnson

publisher: Inkyard Press

publication date: December 5, 2023

pages: 368

peppers: 2 of 5 (on this scale)

warnings:

child abuse and neglect
substance abuse
vomit
addiction
parent death
summary: When Rebecca was growing up, Joy would drop her son Ethan off at her parents' house every time she went to rehab and pick him up again as soon as she could. Though Rebecca and Ethan grew close, he was always an addict's whim from getting pulled away again. Now, he's back after four years, including the time two years ago when Rebecca became paralyzed in the car accident that killed her father. While they both struggle with Ethan's departures, they're trying to get to know each other again.

tropes:

abused/abandoned child
car accident
friends-to-more-than-friends
love triangle
fun mentor character
loving grandparents
the absent parent is the wanted one
what I liked:

They both have to work through a lot before they can be there for each other.
They don't shy away from talking about hard things.
what I didn’t like:

I don't have much to put here. I enjoyed this book. When I started reading it, I had forgotten that it's YA, but once I remembered that, I was all-in.
overall rating: 5 (of 5 stars)