Goodbye Days
Binding: Paperback
Imprint: Andersen Press
Age 12+
Personal & Social Issues: Death & Bereavement Personal & Social Issues: Siblings Romance & Relationships Stories
Gorgeous, heartbreaking, and ultimately life-affirming' Nicola Yoon
'Hold on to your heart: this book will wreck you, fix you, and most definitely change you' Becky Albertalli
Can a text message destroy your life?
Carver Briggs never thought a simple text would cause a fatal crash, killing his three best friends, Mars, Eli, and Blake. Now Carver can’t stop blaming himself for the accident and even worse, there could be a criminal investigation into the deaths.
Then Blake’s grandmother asks Carver to remember her grandson with a ‘goodbye day’ together. Carver has his misgivings, but he starts to help the families of his lost friends grieve with their own memorial days, along with Eli’s bereaved girlfriend Jesmyn. But not everyone is willing to forgive. Carver’s own despair and guilt threatens to pull him under into panic and anxiety as he faces punishment for his terrible mistake. Can the goodbye days really help?
Creators
Jeff Zentner was a singer-songwriter and guitarist who released five albums and appeared on recordings with Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, and Debbie Harry. He is now an appellate attorney for the State of Tennessee and lives in Nashville with his wife and son. He wrote his debut novel The Serpent King in a month, writing on his mobile phone on his commute and at night, weekends and lunchtimes between court cases.
Reviews
One of the most stunningly heartfelt, lump-in-your-throat novels I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Hold on to your heart: this book will wreck you, fix you, and most definitely change you
Becky Albertalli
Written in his lyrical and clear-eyed style, Jeff Zentner’s Goodbye Days is a gorgeous, heartbreaking, and ultimately life-affirming meditation on grief and forgiveness
Nicola Yoon
Heartbreaking and life-affirming
Teen Vogue
Haunting, complex, heartbreaking
Metro
A fantastic novel with vividly realised characters – a story about friendship, loss and the importance of letting people see who you really are
INIS
From the opening line, Zentner expertly channels Carver’s distinctive voice as a 17-year-old writer turned “funeral expert”
Publishers Weekly
An absorbing effort with emotional and psychological integrity
Booklist, starred review
I cried, I gasped, and I laughed throughout this book. You feel yourself break and heal alongside Carver. This is one that will stick with you long after you read it.
Layla, Waterstones Bromley bookseller
Zentner skillfully depicts his protagonist’s inner turmoil and the beginnings of his recovery in an organic, frequently raw narrative.
Horn Book
The characterisation is masterful … Jeff Zentner is the real deal
LoveReading
Zentner’s debut, the Morris Award–winning The Serpent King, almost made me bruise a rib ugly-crying, and his sophomore novel promises to do the same.
Barnes & Noble
Tender, honest, moving, and lyrical. His characters live and breathe. Ahh, lucky me. Lucky us. Zentner is the real thing
Benjamin Alire Sáenz
A beautiful book which got more beautiful with every page. Effortlessly funny but sad, Goodbye Days is a remarkable book that will stay with you long after the final page.
The Bookbag
A fine cautionary tale and journey toward wisdom, poignant and realistic
Kirkus
A gorgeous, devastating novel … exquisite
Shelf Awareness
Jeff Zentner pulls no punches… this is far from an easy read, but it’s definitely worth the emotional investment it demands.
Teachwire
Heartbreaking and life affirming read about guilt, grief and recovery. Top class YA.
Askews & Holts Library Services
A story of acceptance and forgiveness
Shift Zine
There’s something magical about the way Zentner writes that transports the reader into the protagonist’s mind… It’s impossible not to think about your own loved ones and put yourself in Carver’s position while you’re reading – cue the streams of tears you’ll undoubtedly cry.
Writing from the Tub blog
This book pulled on my heart strings, the story was moving and enthralling
for lovereading4Kids.co.uk
A very thought provoking novel which definitely brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion
for lovereading4Kids.co.uk
I strongly recommend this book to everyone and anyone. It’s so raw and conveys a great moral!
for lovereading4Kids.co.uk
Pick up this book and read it! Just read it! It’s such an emotionally amazing story
for lovereading4Kids.co.uk
