What an emotional read. Ethan and Kate have been best friends since they were children. Ethan has always loved Kate but Kate was hesitant until she realized that he’s more than her best friend. Love Ethan; you can feel his love for Kate. Love what Nick and Kate found in each other. Tomorrows are definitely guaranteed. The message was clear. The characters found out some revelations and misconceptions about themselves. Kate and Nick both evolved. Engaging read. Recommended read

Upstanding writing! !! I had so many emotions while reading this book, because I could related to the characters. Is a must buy book.

A completely real story of how the grief associated with the loss of a loved one can be debilitating...and the difficult journey that it takes to begin to heal. The characters are so real that I found many instances of heartbreak that hit hard. Ms Millikin has written a poignant well written story of devastation and healing.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Millikin’s book ‘The Day He Went Away’ is a touching tale of loss and acceptance. It is an emotional tale that I would give 4 stars.

Kate and Ethan had been friends and finally decided to accept that they were more and made plans to be together. However tragedy strikes and Ethan is killed in Afghanistan.

This devastates Kate and she does not know how or want to move on but is forced to face things because of Nick, Ethan’s army buddy. Kate has pushed everyone away and really struggles to deal with the loss of Ethan.

A big part of this book is dealing with loss and the aftereffects of grief. It was an emotional read and well written.

An absolutely beautiful book about second chances. This book totally tugged at my heart strings and brought tears to my eyes on more than a few occasions.

Jennifer Millikin certainly tells a tale about the power of love, family and friends who are not always in your inner circle.

Kate Masters had loved Ethan since they were both five years old, she has only recently realised that she no longer loves him but is in love with him. Ethan of course has always been in love with Kate he just didn't want to put pressure on her by telling her and thereby ruining their wonderful friendship. They lived across the road from each other, went to school together and even celebrated their birthdays on the same day. He was her lifelong friend, until he wasn't.

Ethan was home on his last leave time before he finished in the Army, ten months to go and he was counting the days. He spent ten wonderful days with Kate and in that time she finally told him of her true feelings.

They were heartbroken when Ethan had to leave for Afghanistan, messaging, emailing and skyping as much as they could, until Ethan stopped. Kate had a bad feeling, Ethan wouldn't stop for no reason and when tragedy strikes, Kate's life completely crumbled. Enter Nick Hunter, Ethan's best Army buddy, he promised Ethan if anything happened to either of them, they would look after their loved ones. What happens when Nick arrives turns Kate's world upside down and makes her question everything she ever believed, especially about Ethan.

This was a fantastic read, thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review it. Will definitelty be reading more from this author in the future.

I really love the idea of friends to lovers - and this was totally right up my alley! Ethan has been in love with Kate for 10 years reminding himself all the time that someday she will come around. During his leave from the Army, Kate finally realizes that they are a possibility and that she is in love with Ethan. I have to admit after the first couple of chapters, I was in love with Ethan, too! He was so incredibly sweet that I really didn't understand what took Kate so long.

The two of them are adorable together until the unthinkable happens. Ethan leaves to go on his last deployment prior to leaving the army. Kate and Ethan stay in constant touch despite the many miles apart and are eagerly looking forward to Ethan's return. However, Ethan's return is not in the way they had planned.

The last half of the book is about Kate's survival of unspeakable grief and finding the way to come out stronger on the other side. She finds out who her true friends are and that life does go on.

I really loved this story and the characters. I appreciated the fact that the author didn't gloss over the fact that Kate's life was devastated, but that life does go on - no matter how cliche the saying. I look forward to more books by this author.

The Day He Went Away is an emotionally gripping story of love, loss, and finding a way to move on.

Kate and Ethan are friends who lived across the street growing up, and have been the best of friends for twenty years. Just before the party for their 16th birthday, Ethan confesses to Kate that his feelings are more than just “best friends.”

There is a boy, And he loves a girl
She doesn’t love him back, He doesn’t care
One day she will love him
Until then, he waits

And wait he does. Ten years later, Kate is anxiously awaiting Ethan’s return for a leave from duty in the military. She’s finally decided her feelings match his, and for the first time they will be together as more than friends. Ethan is ecstatic, and they spend his nine-day leave making plans for their life together after his military duty is completed in 10 months. When tragedy occurs and Ethan is killed in Afghanistan, the bottom falls out of Kate’s perfectly orchestrated world.

Grief is a very independent thing, and no two people are going to mourn a loved one’s loss the same way. Unfortunately, Kate partakes in destructive behavior, pushes people away, and has an unsympathetic roommate/”friend” who is awful to her. She continues on a downward spiral until Nick - Ethan’s best friend from the Army - starts fulfilling his promise to Ethan to watch after Kate if something happens to him.

A good portion of this story is gut wrenching. Reading how hopeless Kate feels after losing her future was so emotional. But watching her, slowly, come back to life through the efforts of Nick was uplifting. As Nick gently urges Kate to step out of her comfort zone and build a new life, with a different future, you feel hopeful for Kate’s chances to have a happy life. With Nick by her side, she finally feels like she has an ally in her grief.

Shared grief is half the sorrow.

I can’t think of too many other books that made me feel so raw, but then pulled me up, leaving me feeling hopeful. I generally like books to have more of a happy-ever-after ending as opposed to the happy-for-now conclusion The Day He Went Away gave us, but the more I think about it I believe the way it ended was for the best. And while I was a little nervous about the writing because of the way the first couple of chapters with Kate’s inner dialog began (repeating the same things over and over), I was so pleased that once other characters were brought in, that stopped.

Ms. Millikin has written an emotionally compelling story, the effects of which are still with me several days after reading it. I am frequently brought to tears when I read, but I don’t often continue to think about a story after I’ve finished it. I loved how flawed Kate became, I loved Nick and his dogged determination to keep a promise, I loved the growth of the characters. I despised the “friends” who weren’t really friends. Even though this story was tough on the emotions, I’m so glad I read it!

*a free copy of this book given by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review