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.
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.
Well, now I have to check this out! Thanks for a wonderful review.
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Thank you, Jonetta! It’s a lovely emotional read for summer!
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Now, are we talking an actual ghost here? Or are we talking “confronting the ghost of him” as in the memories of him in the house LIKE a ghost. I was thinking it was the memories until you threw in the comment about a paranormal element!
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There is an actual ghost in the story! But it worked for me here because it just added more emotion. It didn’t become central to the story, and I think that helped, too.
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Great review. I added to my tbr list. This will be my first BH read also.
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Thank you, Virginia! I hope you enjoy it, too, if you are able to fit it into your reads.
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Not read anything from her but this one does sound good. Wonderful review!
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Thanks, Marialyce! It was a lovely emotional read!
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Awesome review Jennifer! Personally I loved this one too but I can see how some would be turned off having the ghost in the story.
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Carrie, it was thanks to you and Stephanie that I requested this one at the last minute! I loved your reviews!
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Well then I’m certainly happy you enjoyed it. 🙂
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This book sounds so wonderful!!!
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It was lovely, Mack!
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Sounds wonderful! Lovely review 😊
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Thank you, Tina! 💕
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Another tempting review Jenn!
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Thanks, Holls!
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Awesome review Jen!😊💖 I think I have this one too! I better go look because I love Beth’s books!💖💖
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Thanks, Sus! I hope you have it, too! Now I have a backlist to explore! I started Sold on a Monday last night! 💗
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I have quite a few too! How do you like Sold so far?😊💖
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Hooked by first chapter! We both knew that would happen, right?! ♥️
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Another one to add to the list. Lovely review! 😊
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Thank you, Kerry! I hope you find this one enjoyable if you are able to fit it in. 💕
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This sounds good! Like a nice summer read. I read something else by Beth Harbison and I had really liked it!!
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Oh, good, Theresa! If you’ve liked another book of hers, I think you will adore this one! Perfect for summer, you are right!
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I’m so glad you loved it! Wonderful review (and lol that you have your review written and posted before I do…it’s one of the ones that I’ve been too lazy to finish, haha). Definitely the perfect summer read!
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Thank you! It was your early thoughts along with a couple others that let me know I had to have it! That is funny about me getting mine posted first! I am still behind on a couple June reads, but I was able to gobble this one up!
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I’m so glad you grabbed it and read it…and enjoyed it! ❤ I don't think I even have this scheduled to be posted until publication date since I've been so lazy, lol. At least I've read all my July ARCs and only have 4 more Aug ARCs to read…now just to get as ahead on my reviews as I am with my reading, lol. I need to be as review organized as you are 🙂
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I think I had the wrong pub date down for this one! I searched for it for a while! I have only started one August book, and only because it’s a fave author and I can’t wait to read it- Sold on a Monday. ♥️
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I’ve not heard of that one, but I’ll be waiting for your review! I’ll probably have all my August books read and still be trying to write my July reviews, hahaha!
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Great review! This does sounds like a beautiful, emotional read and I don’t mind a friendly ghost 🙂 Glad to see that you enjoyed it.
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Thanks, Diana! Yes, definitely beautiful and emotional, and a great way to put that- a friendly ghost! 👻 💕
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