When lonely author Autumn meets shy musician Bowie in New York, they fall head over heels and into their forever.

But not everyone gets their happily ever after.

Bowie has just six months left to live. And just like that, Autumn’s entire life has been rewritten.

Embraced by his loving, unconventional family, Autumn returns with Bowie to England to live out the rest of his life by his side. But over the course of that summer, the decisions Autumn makes will help her move on, even after love and loss.

Decisions, it emerges, that were orchestrated by Bowie before they said goodbye.

I thought this was an amazing book.

Autumn is a lone wolf who keeps people at arm’s length. She doesn’t do relationships and has few people in her life. She randomly encounters the chattiest, most outgoing person she’s ever met, who quickly becomes the best friend she’s never had. Life is starting to feel less lonely. Then, Autumn meets her best friend’s brother (Bowie) and immediately hits it off with him. Autumn’s biggest concern is how her best friend will react to this romantic encounter - little did she know that her entire life was about to completely change. Autumn receives devastating news and finds herself falling in love while simultaneously having her heart broken. She dives all in and commits to spending the limited time Bowie has left with him and his family.

The book’s official blurb makes it clear that characters grapple with the obvious grief/loss, terminal illness, and resilience. Going into it, I was a bit afraid it was going to be one of those books that emotionally destroys me, but I was glad it didn’t. It has a nice balance of predictability while still keeping you emotionally hooked. I also appreciated the liberal and feminist lens that drove the characters’ decision-making when facing complex and, at times, morally gray decisions. The only thing I wish would have been different is the ending felt too idealistic, but I get it because the book couldn’t keep going forever and harping on the same conflict.

If you like emotional books, this one's for you. It reminds me of some of Nicholas Sparks' classics.

Thanks to NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Heartbreaking story about finding friendship, love and coming to terms with loss, grieving and moving on. Characters were fairly one dimensional, some not very likable. I had a hard time with the flippant attitude of the characters toward boundaries and casual sex. I did appreciate the character development. Story held no great surprises, but it held my attention. Quick read.

Thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

This one hit a little too close to home. Having the love of your life with a terminal illness and wanting to spend every last minute with them.
I felt a lot of heartache and but I didn't want it to end. It shows us how to live and go on after a loss.

This is a tear jerker and makes you take a deep breath afterwards.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

Imagine meeting the love of your life. Now imagine only having a few months with him due to terminal illness. Autumn & Bowie have an instant connection. When Autumn learns of his illness she wants to spend every minute with him. She picks up her life and moves to another country with him and his large family. This is a story of love, grief and learning to live after such a profound loss.
I think the author did a good job balancing resilience and heartache. We learned all the reasons life had jaded Autumn but she still remained optimistic.
Before You Say Goodbye explores relationships and the challenges faced. How easily we can take those around us for granted and hurt the ones we love most.
Thanks you NetGalley for the opportunity to review and provide my honest opinion.

Oh this book just melted my heart on all levels!! It was fabulous! I loved the characters and the storyline. Such a great read

I truly did try to get through this book. Unfortunately for me, very quickly I discovered it’s extremely feminist throughout. To the point where it’s radical views takeover the storyline and project upon the reader. I am not trying to yuck anyone’s yum but it was not my type of read.

TLDR: truly truly truly insufferable

These characters are the most annoying people. So woke it hurts to read. It feels like Sarah wrote a book for the sole purpose of making sure everyone knows she’s radically left. I feel like even if I agreed with the opinions of these characters I’d still be annoyed, because the WHOLE FIRST CHAPTER is these women going back and forth about feminism, veganism, sexism, immigration, and sex over and over and over. Not in a fun way to read but in a “let me beat you over the head with this” way. They have a conversation about how they “have to end friendships” because they disagree on something political… literally grow up. If someone disagreeing with you hurts you so bad you need to end a friendship maybe don’t have friends. Maybe go to therapy. Maybe look at yourself and think am I as accepting of others as I preach. Maybe understand that people are more than the opinions they hold. It’s giving elementary schooler who was never told no throws a tantrum. Plus the amount of times this book said “privilege” in this first chapter alone. Killing me. Because everyone else has privilege but me. But I got my coffee for free, and am able to manipulate men, but that’s unrelated. Anyway, It is not how I’d start a book if I wanted people to keep reading. Chapter 4 at 16% is where I finally give up after another (probably 4th or fifth at this point) conversation about the woes of men wanting monogamy, weaponized femininity, and holier than thou veganism. If you have a political point you want to make, maybe try nuance and poise in prose rather than beating a dead horse over and over with the same baseless conversation between characters. I don’t regret dnfing this book and I don’t regret the negative review, even if it limits the books I receive as arcs. If you want to not allow me the opportunity to read your arc because of this review, I implore you to try and read this book yourself. Much love, thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc and for allowing me the freedom of an honest review.

This was insufferable. I spent the entire time cringing. Too woke.

So this book starts out with a self proclaimed feminist attempting to trick a man into buying her coffee because she doesn’t have any money to pay for it herself, assuming he’s a straight man and will therefore give in to her, but then two seconds later judges him for a gender-based microaggression 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

The commentary is just awful, the characters talk like they are robots. I also can’t stand when female authors write about casual sex knowing how detrimental it is to women’s mental health, not to mention STDs. But literally every character in this book is a vegan and we all know that vegans don’t care about their health.

If I could give this zero stars then I would.

Before You Say Goodbye by Sarah Gate is a diatribe on femininism, veganism and so much more. There is so much potential here, but the characters are unlikeable because they're constantly lecturing each other on everything. So much repetition that the novel gets bogged down. I struggled through to the end just to see I what I thought would happen do, and because it was so obvious what the conclusion would be, I wasn't surprised. Read if you want to be beaten over the head with feminism and veganism among other things. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

No. Just no. The synopsis showed such promise but this is so far left/woke/radical feminist that I just couldn't do it. Ending relationships due to differing political views is ridiculously immature and I wholeheartedly wish that wasn't a thing in today's world. The characters in this book did just that to an extreme level. The first chapter alone killed me with shoving certain views down the reader's throat. Just avoid this book.

The start didn’t appeal to me. I did keep trying but didn’t find the characters believable or the prose engaging. So I couldn’t continue. Sorry this one was really not for me. It wouldn’t be fair to say more as I didn’t finish it.

I'm not sure how to review honestly. It just wasn't for me. I had a hard time with it. It was hard to get through. It's very feminist, far left agenda. I can't provide anything more.

Did not enjoy the storyline or the pacing and I think due the writing that the trope really did not work for me and wasn't my cup of tea.

What an incredible story I was instantly drawn into it and couldn’t stop reading it. I loved the characters and how Bowie’s family just took Autumn in giving her what she needed without even knowing it. You get to see what an incredible bond twins have and how hard it is when one passes. Though you also see the gears turning as Bowie puts together this last act of death. I cried several times while reading this book and I don’t really cry over books so well done Sarah. This book was exactly what I needed to read at this time and I look forward to reading more from this author.

A Heartbreaking story about family, friendship, losing someone and going on with life again. Autumn never thought than meeting a perfect stranger in a coffee shop one morning will changer her life forever. Bluebell eventually became her best friend and rope her into her family. She wasn’t ready to open her heart to love fiercely even knowing the pain associated. But ultimately, she found a family, a man to love and a future she never dreamed of.

I just could not get into this book at all.
I wasn't keen on the characters either or the story.
Sorry just not for me.
Thanks Netgallery

A Heartfelt Journey of Love and Loss

Sarah Gate’s Before You Say Goodbye is an emotional masterpiece that beautifully explores the complexities of love, grief, and healing. The story follows characters who are deeply intertwined by tragedy, their lives irrevocably changed. Gate’s prose is both delicate and powerful, drawing readers into a world of raw emotion and profound connection.

What sets this novel apart is its ability to capture the nuances of grief and the enduring power of human spirit. The characters are complex and relatable, their journeys of heartbreak and hope resonating deeply. Gate's exploration of the complexities of relationships and the choices we make is thought-provoking and poignant.

Before You Say Goodbye is a testament to the human capacity for love and resilience. It’s a book that stays with you long after the final page, leaving a lasting impression on your heart and mind.

I tried, I really tried, I wanted a story of loss, loss, grief, and found family but unfortunately, that good plot got bogged down in a lot of commentary. I'm always up for a discussion of veganism and feminism but this became tiresome quickly. Thanks for the ARC. I'm sure others will enjoy it.