Synopsis
Europe? Nope. Mexico? Nope. Key West?

Not me. This summer, I’m playing nursemaid to my sister. Yeah, I know. Relatively good looking twenty-two-year-olds don’t spend the summer bedside in the cancer ward, but that’s the plan – until my sister threatens me with bodily harm unless I get on the plane.

That’s when I met him. He likes me. Really likes me. But more than that, he loves my boobs — like can’t get enough. I have no idea how to tell him that they’ll be gone soon. Courtesy of a preventative double mastectomy. Yep. That’s what testing positive for the breast cancer gene mutation will do to a girl.

But don’t feel sorry for me. I’m enjoying him, holding on until the last possible minute, while I muster up the strength to tell him, and watch him walk away.

My Review
As the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, I was drawn to Thea’s story. It’s fresh twist on new adult romance, one with a darker core. Goodbye to You has one of the strongest opening chapters in the genre I’ve read in a long time. It hooks from the opening page. Thea and her friends head to the Florida Keys to squeeze in some hard partying before Thea undergoes a radical prophylactic mastectomy. This is not a decision any woman makes lightly and Thea approaches her decision with grace and humor, and possibly a little cynicism.

Plot
While on her party-til-you-drop trip, Thea meets Shay, who is too yummy for words and decides he’s the perfect boy to ride into her wild sunset. Because she’s sure once her boobs are gone, no guy will ever see her as sexy again. As a large-breasted girl, I can totally relate to your boobs being your “thing” so this really resonated with me.

What should have just been a summer fling turns into something more when Shay happens to be attending the same college as Thea. Things become complicated, heartbreaking, and raw. While these characters are still teens, they are on the older side of the spectrum, but angst still runs strong through their veins as they make poor decisions, stupid mistakes, and try to backpedal through it all.

Characters
I adore Thea. She’s witty, charming, and incredibly sweet, but she’s damaged and deeply flawed as a result. There are times I wanted to shake her for the idiotic things she does, but I always understood why she did said acts of stupidity. She has a deep and layered backstory that so perfectly shapes her character, that she is nearly a living, breathing person. Shay is not perfect, but he perfect for Thea. He puts up with a lot more than most guys would, but still manages to remain authentically a dude.

Bottom Line
Despite the dark underlying thread, this is a sweet romance with enough heat for the genre and solid characters. If you’re looking for something a little different in a contemporary new adult romance, give Goodbye to You a try.

Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

About the Book
Title: Goodbye to You
Author: A.J. Matthews
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Pages: 193
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Author
I wrote my first book at six. A retelling of The Three Little Pigs, illustrated by my grandmother, the book was never picked up and was self-published instead, glued to cardboard with a cover fashioned from wallpaper scraps.

Today, I write stories featuring nice guys (or nice guys in-the-making) in between my other jobs writing research reports for a commercial real estate company, refereeing two young daughters, navigating the teen waters with a too-cute-for-his-own-good son, spoiling a neurotic cat, and making my darling, patient husband shake his head. I’m also an autism mom, chocolate enthusiast, sports-watcher, nacho-eater, and beer-drinker.

A Maryland native, I live in North Carolina now, but dreams of the beach fuel my fantasties, and my characters can often be found strolling in the sand or sailing along a coast.

Where to Find A.J. Matthews
Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook

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