The Trouble With Goodbye
by Sarra Cannon
Genre: New Adult Conteporary Romance
Publisher: Dead River Books (self-published)
Published: May 21st 2013
Source: review copy for tour
Author's website | GoodReads

One night can change everything…

Two years ago, Leigh Anne Davis shocked everyone in tiny Fairhope, Georgia when she broke up with her wealthy boyfriend to attend an Ivy League university a thousand miles away. At school, she finds a happiness and independence she’s never known.

Until one terrifying night takes it all away from her.

With no place else to go, Leigh Anne heads home to reclaim her old life. A life she worked so hard to escape. On the outside, she seems like the same girl everyone has always known. But deep inside, she’s hiding a terrible secret.

That’s when she meets Knox Warner, a troubled newcomer to Fairhope. His eyes have the same haunted look she sees every day in the mirror, and when she’s near him, the rest of the world fades away. But being with Knox would mean disappointing everyone all over again. If she wants to save what’s left of her old life, she has no choice but to say goodbye to him forever.

Only, the trouble with goodbye is that sometimes it’s about courage and sometimes it’s about fear. And sometimes you’re too broken to know the difference until it’s too late.

I thought I knew everything about The Trouble With Goodbye before I even read it; the summary sounded so familiar because it seemed like every other new adult book I've read- and I thought I was right at first. It had all of the factors: a girl with a messed up past convenient meets a guy with a past just as messy, and almost everyone goes against their relationship but they made each other feel whole it just seemed so right. Once you get past all of the cliches, you'll feel the emotion brimming inside Leigh Anne, and that is what saved this book for me.

Leigh Anne was so much more than a broken doll. She was selfless, brave, headstrong, opinionated, and determined. The 'terrifying night' didn't take that away from her but buried it deep inside. Inchlings of her old self peeked out at all the right moments and made me cheer for her. Sarra Cannon also gave us a peek of what Leigh Anne's life was before she went to uni, and the change in her developed in a completely natural way. Leigh Anne has been giving in to her parents' wishes ever since she was young, and leaving home was the first thing she actually did for herself.

The second one was approaching Knox Warner. Knox also had an immensely messed up past that instantly made Leigh Anne's mom disapprove of his presence. He wasn't the bad boy type though, he's pretty passionate and caring, and surprisingly gentle. He was a great listener- he voiced out his opinion but supported Leigh Anne and whichever decision she made. Unlike other new adult books, their relationship wasn't focused on the sex and revolved around their emotions instead. Their relationship escalated fast, but it wasn't insta-love. He wasn't what I expected him to be. Some other characters, like Leigh Anne's ex-boyfriend Preston, surprised me as well. These characters didn't act like mere characters, they were like real people.

The core of the book lies in Leigh Anne's secret. It wasn't revealed straight out, but hints of what it was were scattered all around and I had my suspicions, but I couldn't help but gasp when Leigh Anne finally confided in Knox. It isn't something that should be treated lightly, and it was painful to think that Leigh Anne hid it all inside of her, dealt with it on her own, and actually blamed herself. It amazes me how Sarra Cannon brought it all out with such swift ease and truthfulness. It was like she took the hearts of all the Leigh Annes in the world and poured them onto the book.

Leigh Anne has her demons, and she has to learn how to face it all and stand up to it. Her fear and refusal to accept might have serious consequences and she has to decide if she is willing to pour it all out in order to save someone else. The Trouble With Goodbye had familiar aspects, but it's unique heart is in it's core. You can run away from your past, but it will eventually catch up with you- would you run away again? Or would you take a deep breath and learn to accept it? I wasn't satisfied with the ending, but Leigh Anne's journey to get there was one heck of a ride.

THE NUB AND GIST: 3 STARS

Sarra Cannon grew up in a small town in Georgia where she learned that being popular always comes at a price. She is the author of the young adult paranormal Peachville High Demons series, which she first began self-publishing in October of 2010. Since the series began, Sarra has sold over 120,000 copies and recently signed a contract with Sea Lion Books to create a graphic novel adaptation of Beautiful Demons, the first book in the series.

Sarra lives in North Carolina with her amazing husband, her new baby boy, and her teeny tiny Pomeranian, Snickerdoodle.