Thursday, February 7, 2013

CBB Blog Tours Presents Wish I Could Have Said Goodbye by Shari A. Brady Tour Stop

About the Book:
Before my older sister Francesca died, I worked at the bakery and wrote songs, but now I write lists. Lists like ten reasons why it's my fault Francesca's dead, or five reasons why I should try and win Howie back, or one reason why I need to stop lying to everyone, including myself.

Wish I Could Have Said Goodbye is an extraordinary novel about one family's struggle to make sense of their world after losing a family member to addiction. Through sixteen-year-old Carmella's eyes, we witness the courage and strength it takes to overcome the consequences of grief, guilt and co-dependency. WIth conviction and determination, Carmella shows us what can happen when we're open to love, feel the pain of our loss, and find the courage to accept the truth of our lives.

My Review
5 of 5 Wish I Could Have Said Goodbye

HOLY HADES! This is one read that had me laughing and crying because it hit a few nerves. I have to say that losing a friend at a young age to addiction was the worse thing I ever endured. I felt lost and confused and I blamed myself for never telling anyone that she had a problem. I figured it would go away just like everything else did but boy was I wrong.

Carmella has to live each day with the guilt she feels because her older sister died from addiction. She overdosed and the family is devastated and like most families who lose a child and have another one they over protect her. They take away her car and smoother her in the hopes that she will not go down the path her sister did. 

Instead what Carmella does is she starts writing lists of things she wants to do. She stops writing music and focuses on writing her crazy lists. That is until she meets Howie who makes her feel again. He makes her feel alive and she is so excited for that but then she starts to feel guilty for being happy and she starts writing her list about how she should stay away from Howie.

Will Carmella ever be free from the guilt she holds? Will she ever let Howie in and start living? This is a story about loss and love and how to find redemption in yourself. You have to let the grief go and learn to love again and move on from the guilt before it kills you. 
About Shari A. Brady:
Shari A. Brady is a native Chicagoan and previously had so many careers she’s lost count. A graduate of Loyola University’s Business School and University of Chicago’s Creative Writing program, she’s finally a full-time writer, a dream she’s carried with her since she was twelve. She lives in suburban Chicago with two of the best kids ever and their shelter dog, Betty Queen Elizabeth. This is her first novel and her last career.

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1 comment:

Candace said...

I agree with you Tee, losing someone to addiction is really hard especially when you feel guilt about it. I lost a friend to suicide, but she was also an addict so I felt like that helped lead her to it.
Anyway, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and hosting a tour stop!