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Today I have a review of my first book by Beth Harbison, Every Time You Go Away, which will be published by St. Martin’s Press on July 24, 2018. It has been well-loved by several of my reading buddies, and I did not want to miss out on this summer read!

My Thoughts:

Every Time You Go Away by Beth Harbison

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 emotional stars to Every Time You Go Away! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Willa lost her husband, Ben, suddenly, and after, she was not the most available mother to Jamie, her son. The loss shut her down and closed her off to the world, and unfortunately, she has not been able to move through her grief.

Several years later she returns to the beach house where Ben passed away. The house has been abandoned much like most of Willa’s life and relationships. She has decided to put the house on the market, but she is not aware of the condition of the house until she arrives. It looks like an abandoned house in every way.

Not only that, but Willa has to contend with all the memories of her life with Ben that come flooding back when she is confronted with the house. And when she is confronted with Ben’s ghost all over the house. Yes, Ben’s ghost. I know some readers do not prefer paranormal elements, but this was done with a light hand and only added to the sensitivity of the story.

Rather than be alone in the house with her husband’s ghost, and recognizing she needs some help getting everything in order, Willa asks her son, Jamie, her best friend, Kristin, and Kristin’s daughter, Kelsey, to spend the summer with her at the beach house to prepare it for sale. Memories are shared, feelings are brought to the forefront, and the summer becomes an exploration of second chances.

Every Time You Go Away is well-balanced in its emotional take on grief, living life, friendship, reconnection, and healing. I loved it!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for a beautiful physical copy to review. Every Time You Go Away will be published on July 24, 2018.

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Synopsis:

In New York Times bestselling author Beth Harbison’s most emotional novel ever, a fractured family must come together at a beach house haunted by the past.

Willa has never fully recovered from the sudden death of her husband, Ben. She became an absent mother to her young son, Jamie, unable to comfort him while reeling from her own grief.

Now, years after Ben’s death, Willa finally decides to return to the beach house where he passed. It’s time to move on and put the Ocean City, Maryland house on the market.

When Willa arrives, the house is in worse shape than she could have imagined, and the memories of her time with Ben are overwhelming. They met at this house and she sees him around every corner. Literally. Ben’s ghost keeps reappearing, trying to start conversations with Willa. And she can’t help talking back.

To protect her sanity, Willa enlists Jamie, her best friend Kristin, and Kristin’s daughter Kelsey to join her for one last summer at the beach. As they explore their old haunts, buried feelings come to the surface, Jamie and Kelsey rekindle their childhood friendship, and Willa searches for the chance to finally say goodbye to her husband and to reconnect with her son.

Every Time You Go Away is a heartfelt, emotional story about healing a tragic loss, letting go, and coming together as a family.

Have you read any of Beth Harbison’s books, and if so, do you have a favorite? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR