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The Things You Kiss Goodbye
Bettina Vasilis can hardly believe it when basketball star Brady Cullen asks her out, and she just about faints when her strict father actually approves of him.
But when school starts up again, Brady changes. What happened to the sweet boy she fell in love with? Then she meets a smoldering guy in his twenties, and this “cowboy” is everything Brady is not—gentle, caring, and interested in getting to know the real Bettina.
Bettina knows that breaking up with Brady would mean giving up her freedom—and that it would be inappropriate for anything to happen between her and Cowboy. Still, she can’t help that she longs for the scent of his auto shop whenever she’s anywhere else.
When tragedy strikes, Bettina must tell her family the truth—and kiss goodbye the things she thought she knew about herself and the men in her life.
Leslie Connor has written a lyrical, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story about family, romance, and the immense power of love.
But when school starts up again, Brady changes. What happened to the sweet boy she fell in love with? Then she meets a smoldering guy in his twenties, and this “cowboy” is everything Brady is not—gentle, caring, and interested in getting to know the real Bettina.
Bettina knows that breaking up with Brady would mean giving up her freedom—and that it would be inappropriate for anything to happen between her and Cowboy. Still, she can’t help that she longs for the scent of his auto shop whenever she’s anywhere else.
When tragedy strikes, Bettina must tell her family the truth—and kiss goodbye the things she thought she knew about herself and the men in her life.
Leslie Connor has written a lyrical, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story about family, romance, and the immense power of love.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 24, 2014
43 people are currently reading
6071 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Connor
11 books432 followersFrom the author's website:
My life began suddenly (you can even ask my mother) in an antique farmhouse outside of Cleveland, Ohio. I was born right on the family room floor ~ no time to get to the hospital! I swear, I’ve been in a hurry ever since.
When I was in fourth grade we moved to a neighborhood full of kids outside of Schenectady, New York. My Dad worked for a company that sold some of the finest printing papers in all the land. He often brought home big, beautiful, heavy books that pinned me to my chair when I held them in my lap, and I loved to turn the pages, look at the photography and illustrations and smell the ink.
As a kid I took dancing lessons and did gymnastics. I could be found upside-down in odd places like the middle of the stairway, not that I recommend it! My bedroom was a messy nest full of paint sets and paper scraps, embroidery threads and sewing projects. In school I was good at some things and not at all good at others. Still, I found my passions. I went to college, first at SUNY, Cobleskill, where I received an associate’s degree in agriculture, and later at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Ct. where I earned a bachelor’s degree in fine art.
At first, I was interested in children’s books from an illustrator’s point of view. But the writing part surprised me ~ came up from behind and tapped me on the shoulder. I realized that my head and heart were very full of stories and that I should pay attention! My ideas come from everyday life, and I write for readers of all ages.
I live in the Connecticut woods with my husband and three children. (Well, the kids are getting big and they all drive cars now so they come and go a lot these days.) We keep our bird feeders full, do a little gardening and stack a lot of firewood. I hike the trails near my home almost every morning. Then I make a pot of tea and get to work. Usually, my loyal Writing Dogs are right by my side. (Sometimes I even borrow dogs from my neighbors. You can’t have enough dogs.)
I love making artisan pizzas and pots of soup and my favorite treat is dark chocolate. I also love to ride my bike down to the diner to meet my friends for breakfast and more tea. (Hmm...that’s a lot of eating, isn’t it?)
Life is fine!
My life began suddenly (you can even ask my mother) in an antique farmhouse outside of Cleveland, Ohio. I was born right on the family room floor ~ no time to get to the hospital! I swear, I’ve been in a hurry ever since.
When I was in fourth grade we moved to a neighborhood full of kids outside of Schenectady, New York. My Dad worked for a company that sold some of the finest printing papers in all the land. He often brought home big, beautiful, heavy books that pinned me to my chair when I held them in my lap, and I loved to turn the pages, look at the photography and illustrations and smell the ink.
As a kid I took dancing lessons and did gymnastics. I could be found upside-down in odd places like the middle of the stairway, not that I recommend it! My bedroom was a messy nest full of paint sets and paper scraps, embroidery threads and sewing projects. In school I was good at some things and not at all good at others. Still, I found my passions. I went to college, first at SUNY, Cobleskill, where I received an associate’s degree in agriculture, and later at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Ct. where I earned a bachelor’s degree in fine art.
At first, I was interested in children’s books from an illustrator’s point of view. But the writing part surprised me ~ came up from behind and tapped me on the shoulder. I realized that my head and heart were very full of stories and that I should pay attention! My ideas come from everyday life, and I write for readers of all ages.
I live in the Connecticut woods with my husband and three children. (Well, the kids are getting big and they all drive cars now so they come and go a lot these days.) We keep our bird feeders full, do a little gardening and stack a lot of firewood. I hike the trails near my home almost every morning. Then I make a pot of tea and get to work. Usually, my loyal Writing Dogs are right by my side. (Sometimes I even borrow dogs from my neighbors. You can’t have enough dogs.)
I love making artisan pizzas and pots of soup and my favorite treat is dark chocolate. I also love to ride my bike down to the diner to meet my friends for breakfast and more tea. (Hmm...that’s a lot of eating, isn’t it?)
Life is fine!
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June 29, 2014
I didn't think I would like this book so much. In April I decided that it was finally time to clear out my ARC folder, so I randomly picked my next read. The Things You Kiss Goodbye sounded interesting, I thought the cover was cute and I opened it just to glance at first page. Before I knew it, clock showed two in the morning and I was still reading.
What happens when... your family has Greek origins, you start dating basketball player, your best friend moves away and you meet an older guy? All hell breaks loose. Honestly, I don't know what will other people think about Leslie Conor's debut, but I'm guessing that most of them will have a lot of high and mighty opinions about how weak Bettina is, why doesn't she act differently, how can she let her father treat her that way, why doesn't she break up with Brady... And I'm afraid that a lot of readers won't get her family dynamics. Why? Because this book deals with a lot of cultural issues. Think in the terms of Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta.
All of the Balkans families are similar no matter the religion or nationality - even the most modern communities still have traditional values and rules. Some of families are more traditional and more patriarchal than the others. If you are a child growing up in any of those, there are certain rules you always respect - if your parents tell you to do something, you do it. You might not like it, but you do it. Because they are your parents. You respect older members of your family. If your sick aunt tells you to come and help her out, you go. There are still a lot of people who treat their daughters and their sons differently. But we are not closed off community and in the end everyone makes decisions for themselves. Your father might be overbearing while you are 16 year old girl, but later he doesn't breath down your neck on every corner. You realize that he was right in most of the situations he said no to you (but you won't admit that out loud).
I could relate... with main character when it comes to her family interaction. Sneaking out to go places they won't approve, going out of the house in respectable clothes and changing in bathroom of your school, arguing pros and cons of owning mobile phone.
We should talk more about topics like abuse. I'd really like that more books like this are translated on my native language. Abuse comes in various ways and there are a lot of factors that let something like verbal abuse slip under radar because of the cultural differences. It's one thing to respect your father and do as he says and it's completely different matter when your own father doesn't notice how bad for you is guy you're dating. Or that being a girl means that you don't have your own aspirations and your only purpose in life is to stand by your man. Leslie Connor approaches to the subject from so many angles and she offers to readers personal and cultural insight.
Who should read this book? Fans of Melina Marchetta, Laura Buzo and Courtney Summers.
Copy of this book was provided by publisher, Katherine Tegen Books, via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
What happens when... your family has Greek origins, you start dating basketball player, your best friend moves away and you meet an older guy? All hell breaks loose. Honestly, I don't know what will other people think about Leslie Conor's debut, but I'm guessing that most of them will have a lot of high and mighty opinions about how weak Bettina is, why doesn't she act differently, how can she let her father treat her that way, why doesn't she break up with Brady... And I'm afraid that a lot of readers won't get her family dynamics. Why? Because this book deals with a lot of cultural issues. Think in the terms of Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta.
All of the Balkans families are similar no matter the religion or nationality - even the most modern communities still have traditional values and rules. Some of families are more traditional and more patriarchal than the others. If you are a child growing up in any of those, there are certain rules you always respect - if your parents tell you to do something, you do it. You might not like it, but you do it. Because they are your parents. You respect older members of your family. If your sick aunt tells you to come and help her out, you go. There are still a lot of people who treat their daughters and their sons differently. But we are not closed off community and in the end everyone makes decisions for themselves. Your father might be overbearing while you are 16 year old girl, but later he doesn't breath down your neck on every corner. You realize that he was right in most of the situations he said no to you (but you won't admit that out loud).
I could relate... with main character when it comes to her family interaction. Sneaking out to go places they won't approve, going out of the house in respectable clothes and changing in bathroom of your school, arguing pros and cons of owning mobile phone.
We should talk more about topics like abuse. I'd really like that more books like this are translated on my native language. Abuse comes in various ways and there are a lot of factors that let something like verbal abuse slip under radar because of the cultural differences. It's one thing to respect your father and do as he says and it's completely different matter when your own father doesn't notice how bad for you is guy you're dating. Or that being a girl means that you don't have your own aspirations and your only purpose in life is to stand by your man. Leslie Connor approaches to the subject from so many angles and she offers to readers personal and cultural insight.
Who should read this book? Fans of Melina Marchetta, Laura Buzo and Courtney Summers.
Copy of this book was provided by publisher, Katherine Tegen Books, via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2014
Actual Rating 2.5
***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato
One thing I did learn from this book was that making your readers feel intense emotions isn't always going to help them like a book, because while I definitely felt the intensity of the emotions the author tried to convey, I never fell in love with it. There were certain scenes that really got to me but never really changed how I felt about it. I must say, though, while I didn’t enjoy The Things You Kiss Goodbye very much, I think this is the kind of book that would be perfect in the hands of the right readers.
The blurb promises a story that deals with the effects of an abusive relationship and I don’t think the book dealt with that issue nearly as well as it could have.
In fact, throughout the book, the issue was rarely dealt with. Bettina has an abusive boyfriend, but even his abusiveness was downplayed in the way Bettina thought about it. She was bothered by it, but it never set off any alarms for her, which to ME was alarming. The readers could tell the change their relationship had taken, yet Bettina took the blame and said she wasn’t trying hard enough. To escape the relationship, she didn’t break up with him. She acknowledged that the relationship was doomed but she didn’t break up with him and instead ran into the arms of another guy (I’ll get back to that bit). When she found out that Brady might have also been cheating on her, she STILL didn’t do anything and that just didn’t make sense to me. I KNOW that abusive relationships are a complicated thing and I won’t even try to claim I understand them, but to me as a reader, the fact that Bettina did nothing about the relationship didn’t bode well. I couldn’t wrap my head around this.
Bettina was also a difficult character for me to get behind. She is an artist, a dancer, and has a greek heritage so she definitely has the makings of an interesting character, but somewhere along the way I stopped liking her. I never hated or even disliked her; I just wasn’t enthusiastic about her. She seemed so desperate to get out of her house because she felt her father suffocated her that she lost sight of what really mattered. She didn’t care if getting out didn’t actually make her any happier (which is evident from some of the incidents that took place), she seemed to want to get out just to get out.
She had a great relationship with her brothers going, but this negative portrayal of her father really bothered me. Her parents are apparently ‘not proud of her’ and I sensed some favoritism too. Plus she seems to miss the most obvious things about her family. I also found it weird how she constantly sees her father as a bad guy but not Brady when Brady, as anyone can see, is a douche bag.
On the topic of Brady, I really didn’t understand him. He was all nice at first and then turned into an asshole because he became popular? REALLY? Yeah, that didn’t work out too well for me, either.
The romance itself was another issue. I really couldn’t wrap my mind around the difference between their ages. I mean, the author portrayed it well enough that you didn’t notice it, but that was also an issue. I mean what does it say about the characters when both of them seem like they are the same age? Add to that the slow burn romance also didn’t work. It was really slow burn and under any other circumstances I would have liked it, but… in the end, when the ‘I love you’s’ came, it made no sense to me since they really didn’t seem to know each other well. There were some scenes, but I cannot think of one decent conversation they had where they really got to know each other well aside from their ‘pasts’.
This could also be the result of the narrative technique the author used where it was more of a re-telling of the past but it did make it hard to get behind not just their romance but the story the author was trying to sell to us, one where the main character grows as a result of tragic circumstances. In all honesty though, I didn’t see much growth in Bettina. She seemed almost exactly the same way as she was in the beginning aside from that fact that she would probably always carry the aftermath of the tragedy in her heart.
The tragedy did not come as a surprise to me, but boy did it hurt. It really twisted my heart and I have to say the author wrote those scenes beautifully. I felt the grief rolling off the main character and I felt myself drowning in those emotions.
In spite of the intensity of my emotions (I could barely breathe), the book couldn’t be redeemed for me because sometimes feeling intense emotions isn’t enough.
Another thing the author should get kudos for are the great relationships amongst friends. The main character didn't have friends at the beginning of the book, but she finds some along the way. Her friends however weren’t the highlight of this book for me, Regina was. Regina is Tony’s grandmother and she is such a great secondary character. You cannot help but love her. She is funny and she is supportive of Bettina and what else can one ask for in a secondary character?
With that said, I also had issues with the ending. It just seemed too neat to me. I felt like there were so many things that could have been talked about and some relationships even could have been explored as a result of the tragedy but they weren't.
This was just the kind of book I was glad to be done with and while I didn’t like it, I know there are people out there who will love it. I’d recommend this to anyone who wants to read something more emotional (don’t get tricked by the pretty cover this book is NOT happy).
***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato
One thing I did learn from this book was that making your readers feel intense emotions isn't always going to help them like a book, because while I definitely felt the intensity of the emotions the author tried to convey, I never fell in love with it. There were certain scenes that really got to me but never really changed how I felt about it. I must say, though, while I didn’t enjoy The Things You Kiss Goodbye very much, I think this is the kind of book that would be perfect in the hands of the right readers.
The blurb promises a story that deals with the effects of an abusive relationship and I don’t think the book dealt with that issue nearly as well as it could have.
In fact, throughout the book, the issue was rarely dealt with. Bettina has an abusive boyfriend, but even his abusiveness was downplayed in the way Bettina thought about it. She was bothered by it, but it never set off any alarms for her, which to ME was alarming. The readers could tell the change their relationship had taken, yet Bettina took the blame and said she wasn’t trying hard enough. To escape the relationship, she didn’t break up with him. She acknowledged that the relationship was doomed but she didn’t break up with him and instead ran into the arms of another guy (I’ll get back to that bit). When she found out that Brady might have also been cheating on her, she STILL didn’t do anything and that just didn’t make sense to me. I KNOW that abusive relationships are a complicated thing and I won’t even try to claim I understand them, but to me as a reader, the fact that Bettina did nothing about the relationship didn’t bode well. I couldn’t wrap my head around this.
Bettina was also a difficult character for me to get behind. She is an artist, a dancer, and has a greek heritage so she definitely has the makings of an interesting character, but somewhere along the way I stopped liking her. I never hated or even disliked her; I just wasn’t enthusiastic about her. She seemed so desperate to get out of her house because she felt her father suffocated her that she lost sight of what really mattered. She didn’t care if getting out didn’t actually make her any happier (which is evident from some of the incidents that took place), she seemed to want to get out just to get out.
She had a great relationship with her brothers going, but this negative portrayal of her father really bothered me. Her parents are apparently ‘not proud of her’ and I sensed some favoritism too. Plus she seems to miss the most obvious things about her family. I also found it weird how she constantly sees her father as a bad guy but not Brady when Brady, as anyone can see, is a douche bag.
On the topic of Brady, I really didn’t understand him. He was all nice at first and then turned into an asshole because he became popular? REALLY? Yeah, that didn’t work out too well for me, either.
The romance itself was another issue. I really couldn’t wrap my mind around the difference between their ages. I mean, the author portrayed it well enough that you didn’t notice it, but that was also an issue. I mean what does it say about the characters when both of them seem like they are the same age? Add to that the slow burn romance also didn’t work. It was really slow burn and under any other circumstances I would have liked it, but… in the end, when the ‘I love you’s’ came, it made no sense to me since they really didn’t seem to know each other well. There were some scenes, but I cannot think of one decent conversation they had where they really got to know each other well aside from their ‘pasts’.
This could also be the result of the narrative technique the author used where it was more of a re-telling of the past but it did make it hard to get behind not just their romance but the story the author was trying to sell to us, one where the main character grows as a result of tragic circumstances. In all honesty though, I didn’t see much growth in Bettina. She seemed almost exactly the same way as she was in the beginning aside from that fact that she would probably always carry the aftermath of the tragedy in her heart.
The tragedy did not come as a surprise to me, but boy did it hurt. It really twisted my heart and I have to say the author wrote those scenes beautifully. I felt the grief rolling off the main character and I felt myself drowning in those emotions.
In spite of the intensity of my emotions (I could barely breathe), the book couldn’t be redeemed for me because sometimes feeling intense emotions isn’t enough.
Another thing the author should get kudos for are the great relationships amongst friends. The main character didn't have friends at the beginning of the book, but she finds some along the way. Her friends however weren’t the highlight of this book for me, Regina was. Regina is Tony’s grandmother and she is such a great secondary character. You cannot help but love her. She is funny and she is supportive of Bettina and what else can one ask for in a secondary character?
With that said, I also had issues with the ending. It just seemed too neat to me. I felt like there were so many things that could have been talked about and some relationships even could have been explored as a result of the tragedy but they weren't.
This was just the kind of book I was glad to be done with and while I didn’t like it, I know there are people out there who will love it. I’d recommend this to anyone who wants to read something more emotional (don’t get tricked by the pretty cover this book is NOT happy).
Read
December 2, 2014Just a heads-up that this story is pretty bleak.
Fifteen year-old Bettina loves dance and steampunk and wishes her Greek parents weren't so strict -- she's not allowed to date until she's sixteen. When hunky basketball star Brady Cullen (yep!) shows interest in Bettina, she's flattered and begins to plot ways be with him.
All that sounds like the set-up for a romantic, love-against-the-odds YA contemporary, but yikes, did this story get dark. If you don't want to know more than that, don't read on, because this is not so much a review as a heads-up on what to expect, without major spoilers.
If you're still with me, I want to start out by saying that I think it's fine for parents to have age-appropriate rules for their teenaged children regarding dating and curfews and stuff. I liked the idea of a first-generation American teen who clashes with her parents' more conservative values, because I think that's something a lot of readers can relate to. But I don't think that's what's going in this book. At all. Bettina's father isn't strict, he's controlling. For part of the book, he won't let his sixteen year-old daughter attend sports events at school or have a cell phone. He doesn't want her to learn to drive or go to college. Seriously.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Bettina is drawn to Brady, who's a bit possessive. (This is why I began to think the fact that his last name was Cullen was to make some kind of a point? idk...) Actually, Brady turns out to be not a vampire but a monster -- he's physically and psychologically abusive to Bettina, deliberately and repeatedly injuring her when she doesn't do what he wants. This was really hard to read. Bettina knows that what's happening is wrong, but she feels trapped. And then she begins to understand that her mother is just as trapped in her own unhappy (though not physically abusive) marriage.
I thought there was a bright spot coming when Bettina meets a guy she calls Cowboy. (The book has a very odd thing going on with names. Brady calls Bettina "P'teen-uh" which she hates. Isn't that pretty much how Bettina is pronounced? Cowboy calls her Beta for some reason related to her being Greek.)
In any case, as soon as I realized that Cowboy is ten years older than Bettina and has also been physically abused, I realized that there was no way this could end well. Bettina starts secretly seeing Cowboy and then more depressing stuff happens. Then she cuts off all her hair -- that's not a spoiler; it's in the prologue. Then the book is over.
I love gritty books and books with dark elements, but this one just wasn't for me.
Fifteen year-old Bettina loves dance and steampunk and wishes her Greek parents weren't so strict -- she's not allowed to date until she's sixteen. When hunky basketball star Brady Cullen (yep!) shows interest in Bettina, she's flattered and begins to plot ways be with him.
All that sounds like the set-up for a romantic, love-against-the-odds YA contemporary, but yikes, did this story get dark. If you don't want to know more than that, don't read on, because this is not so much a review as a heads-up on what to expect, without major spoilers.
If you're still with me, I want to start out by saying that I think it's fine for parents to have age-appropriate rules for their teenaged children regarding dating and curfews and stuff. I liked the idea of a first-generation American teen who clashes with her parents' more conservative values, because I think that's something a lot of readers can relate to. But I don't think that's what's going in this book. At all. Bettina's father isn't strict, he's controlling. For part of the book, he won't let his sixteen year-old daughter attend sports events at school or have a cell phone. He doesn't want her to learn to drive or go to college. Seriously.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Bettina is drawn to Brady, who's a bit possessive. (This is why I began to think the fact that his last name was Cullen was to make some kind of a point? idk...) Actually, Brady turns out to be not a vampire but a monster -- he's physically and psychologically abusive to Bettina, deliberately and repeatedly injuring her when she doesn't do what he wants. This was really hard to read. Bettina knows that what's happening is wrong, but she feels trapped. And then she begins to understand that her mother is just as trapped in her own unhappy (though not physically abusive) marriage.
I thought there was a bright spot coming when Bettina meets a guy she calls Cowboy. (The book has a very odd thing going on with names. Brady calls Bettina "P'teen-uh" which she hates. Isn't that pretty much how Bettina is pronounced? Cowboy calls her Beta for some reason related to her being Greek.)
In any case, as soon as I realized that Cowboy is ten years older than Bettina and has also been physically abused, I realized that there was no way this could end well. Bettina starts secretly seeing Cowboy and then more depressing stuff happens. Then she cuts off all her hair -- that's not a spoiler; it's in the prologue. Then the book is over.
I love gritty books and books with dark elements, but this one just wasn't for me.
April 17, 2021
3 stars
I'm going to be upfront with you guys and let you know that I did not have particularly high expectations for this book. I actually traded for this ARC with Mel because she had no interest in reading it, and I thought, why not. I thought it would be an easy-to-read, easily digestible romance. Probably corny. The synopsis was majorly focused on a love triangle, so I thought there would be some melodrama... but this book surprised me in the best way.
The Things You Kiss Goodbye is not a particularly happy book. I would argue that the synopsis is not a particularly good one. To me it seemed like there might be some light troubles in Bettina's relationship - that the guy doesn't pay enough attention and that maybe they argue. Um. No. In the prologue, it becomes clear that this story is about an abusive relationship. When Brady first courts Bettina, he's a super sweet guy, who genuinely just makes Bettina super happy, but after some months, he changes completely. He pressures her into sex, gets jealous and controlling, and starts bullying her under the guise of "teasing".
So normally I would not ever ever EVER be okay with infidelity, but when Bettina meets Cowboy, who genuinely cares for her and is so sweet to her, I totally understand where she's coming from. I mean, low expectations aside, I definitely felt drawn in by Bettina's circumstances and felt so much sympathy for her. No one deserves what she was going through. And it's not hardcore abuse in that she doesn't get the living shit beat out of her, but it's a lot of emotional abuse and some instances that leave her with bruises when Brady holds her just a little too tightly, but I think that's also an important issue to show. I love the message that this book sends out. Even if you try to rationalize it and make it out to be "not a big deal" - abuse in every form is a big deal. I was genuinely afraid for Bettina and praying for her to get out of those circumstances, but I knew how realistic it was that she went through phases of denial and rationalization. It was extremely human and thus struck me in the heart.
Bettina and Cowboy's relationship was truly really sweet. I loved seeing them gradually grow closer, in spite of Bettina's obvious reluctance to let people too close to her. I did flinch a little at their age difference (almost 10 years, while Bettina is in high school, I mean, ermmm), so maybe I didn't ship them that much on a romantic level, but I liked the support they offered each other. Cowboy's had his own troubled past, which helps him to relate to what Bettina's going through. This is also the part where in other novels I might have gagged because it got pretty sappy, but in this novel, it worked. With Bettina's situation, I was just happy that she was able to have these small moments of happiness.
I also must say that I overall really liked the secondary characters. Bettina's brothers, Avel and Faviel, and pretty much her only friend at school, Bonnie, were lovely to read about. Her family has a Greek heritage, which really made the novel have a unique angle, to me, although I really disliked her father. I could also relate to Bettina's other struggles in high school - wanting to fit in, but disliking a lot of the people and expectations. She's at her strongest in her art classes, and I loved reading the passages about her genuine inspiration for art. So this has all been rather positive until now, but I'm still not blown away by this book. In spite of its realistic characters, circumstances, and emotions, I still had trouble connecting.
To be honest, it's probably the last plot twist that is bothering me the most. It did shock me, seriously -- my jaw dropped, but it was so unresolved later. I guess I just don't really see the point of it. If you want a happy ending, you shouldn't read this book, probably. I'm left feeling pretty numb, but that's for obviously spoilery reasons.
Summing Up:
This book really threw me for a loop. I didn't know what I was getting into, but it surprised me in the best way. It's an eye-opening story that will evoke a lot of emotions. The writing leaves a bit more to be desired (short fragmented sentences), and I didn't have the strongest connection to the main character (in spite of all the sympathy I felt for her)... but mostly it's that plot twist that keeps me from really praising this book. The ending kind of fell apart for me. However, with all of its realism and emotions, I think that in different circles The Things You Kiss Goodbye could be a serious hit.
GIF it to me straight!
Recommended To:
Fans of stories relating to tough subjects, unafraid of sad endings.
*This review is of an ARC, traded for with a friend.
I'm going to be upfront with you guys and let you know that I did not have particularly high expectations for this book. I actually traded for this ARC with Mel because she had no interest in reading it, and I thought, why not. I thought it would be an easy-to-read, easily digestible romance. Probably corny. The synopsis was majorly focused on a love triangle, so I thought there would be some melodrama... but this book surprised me in the best way.
The Things You Kiss Goodbye is not a particularly happy book. I would argue that the synopsis is not a particularly good one. To me it seemed like there might be some light troubles in Bettina's relationship - that the guy doesn't pay enough attention and that maybe they argue. Um. No. In the prologue, it becomes clear that this story is about an abusive relationship. When Brady first courts Bettina, he's a super sweet guy, who genuinely just makes Bettina super happy, but after some months, he changes completely. He pressures her into sex, gets jealous and controlling, and starts bullying her under the guise of "teasing".
So normally I would not ever ever EVER be okay with infidelity, but when Bettina meets Cowboy, who genuinely cares for her and is so sweet to her, I totally understand where she's coming from. I mean, low expectations aside, I definitely felt drawn in by Bettina's circumstances and felt so much sympathy for her. No one deserves what she was going through. And it's not hardcore abuse in that she doesn't get the living shit beat out of her, but it's a lot of emotional abuse and some instances that leave her with bruises when Brady holds her just a little too tightly, but I think that's also an important issue to show. I love the message that this book sends out. Even if you try to rationalize it and make it out to be "not a big deal" - abuse in every form is a big deal. I was genuinely afraid for Bettina and praying for her to get out of those circumstances, but I knew how realistic it was that she went through phases of denial and rationalization. It was extremely human and thus struck me in the heart.
Bettina and Cowboy's relationship was truly really sweet. I loved seeing them gradually grow closer, in spite of Bettina's obvious reluctance to let people too close to her. I did flinch a little at their age difference (almost 10 years, while Bettina is in high school, I mean, ermmm), so maybe I didn't ship them that much on a romantic level, but I liked the support they offered each other. Cowboy's had his own troubled past, which helps him to relate to what Bettina's going through. This is also the part where in other novels I might have gagged because it got pretty sappy, but in this novel, it worked. With Bettina's situation, I was just happy that she was able to have these small moments of happiness.
I also must say that I overall really liked the secondary characters. Bettina's brothers, Avel and Faviel, and pretty much her only friend at school, Bonnie, were lovely to read about. Her family has a Greek heritage, which really made the novel have a unique angle, to me, although I really disliked her father. I could also relate to Bettina's other struggles in high school - wanting to fit in, but disliking a lot of the people and expectations. She's at her strongest in her art classes, and I loved reading the passages about her genuine inspiration for art. So this has all been rather positive until now, but I'm still not blown away by this book. In spite of its realistic characters, circumstances, and emotions, I still had trouble connecting.
To be honest, it's probably the last plot twist that is bothering me the most. It did shock me, seriously -- my jaw dropped, but it was so unresolved later. I guess I just don't really see the point of it. If you want a happy ending, you shouldn't read this book, probably. I'm left feeling pretty numb, but that's for obviously spoilery reasons.
Summing Up:
This book really threw me for a loop. I didn't know what I was getting into, but it surprised me in the best way. It's an eye-opening story that will evoke a lot of emotions. The writing leaves a bit more to be desired (short fragmented sentences), and I didn't have the strongest connection to the main character (in spite of all the sympathy I felt for her)... but mostly it's that plot twist that keeps me from really praising this book. The ending kind of fell apart for me. However, with all of its realism and emotions, I think that in different circles The Things You Kiss Goodbye could be a serious hit.
GIF it to me straight!
Recommended To:
Fans of stories relating to tough subjects, unafraid of sad endings.
*This review is of an ARC, traded for with a friend.
February 20, 2015
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I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher HarperCollins (Katherine Tegen Books) for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
2.5 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). My preconceived notions about my feelings on the plot/outcome of this book could not have turned out more different than what happened with The Things You Kiss Goodbye. I remember reading the synopsis of this book and thinking to myself that this book would be a great fluffy and easy read; I could not have been more wrong. When I started The Things You Kissed Goodbye I was in a little bit of a reading slump, and it was hard for me to engage myself into the story when I first started reading. I would read the first chapter over and over again because I just wasn't "feeling the story". After a few days of not reading, I finally continued on into the story, and found myself in this limbo zone where I was flying through pages and almost "enjoyed" the story, but it almost "too brutal" for me to continue reading. What I mean by this is that Bettina's boyfriend Brady was inhumanly abusive of her, and this was really hard for me to take in because of my belief in non abusive relationships. I would find myself literally looking away from the page while reading because it was too much for me. I'm really glad that this only lasted for a period of time because Bettina met Cowboy. What bothered me about Bettina and Cowboy's relationship was how naive Bettina was about him. I definitely liked Bettina and Cowboy's relationship much more than the one she had with Brady, but don't you think a girl should ask a guy what's his name before falling in love with him? Nonetheless I did end up loving their relationship and was really devastated by the ending of the book. I also really liked how Bettina was of Greek heritage; this made the book really unique and relatable to to because of the strong culture and tradition that Bettina grew up with.
My rating system: (I do use half stars.)
5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....
I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher HarperCollins (Katherine Tegen Books) for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
2.5 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). My preconceived notions about my feelings on the plot/outcome of this book could not have turned out more different than what happened with The Things You Kiss Goodbye. I remember reading the synopsis of this book and thinking to myself that this book would be a great fluffy and easy read; I could not have been more wrong. When I started The Things You Kissed Goodbye I was in a little bit of a reading slump, and it was hard for me to engage myself into the story when I first started reading. I would read the first chapter over and over again because I just wasn't "feeling the story". After a few days of not reading, I finally continued on into the story, and found myself in this limbo zone where I was flying through pages and almost "enjoyed" the story, but it almost "too brutal" for me to continue reading. What I mean by this is that Bettina's boyfriend Brady was inhumanly abusive of her, and this was really hard for me to take in because of my belief in non abusive relationships. I would find myself literally looking away from the page while reading because it was too much for me. I'm really glad that this only lasted for a period of time because Bettina met Cowboy. What bothered me about Bettina and Cowboy's relationship was how naive Bettina was about him. I definitely liked Bettina and Cowboy's relationship much more than the one she had with Brady, but don't you think a girl should ask a guy what's his name before falling in love with him? Nonetheless I did end up loving their relationship and was really devastated by the ending of the book. I also really liked how Bettina was of Greek heritage; this made the book really unique and relatable to to because of the strong culture and tradition that Bettina grew up with.
My rating system: (I do use half stars.)
5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....
February 21, 2019
I can not even with this book. I'm totally gutted! I have not ugly cried at a book like this for quite some time. If you want a powerfully emotional book to read, pick this one up.
A little background, I found this book in my library's display for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. So, be prepared for that aspect of the book. I think it's very important for teens to learn the warning signs of an abusive personality. I think there is a great value in teaching our kids that love should not hurt, that it's ok to tell someone that how they are treating you is not ok, and that if you feel like something is not right there are places you can go.
Kudos to the author for showing a relationship that started out "perfect" and turned sour without the person involved being aware of it right away. It was written very well. I also felt that the familial aspect added to the story and the lessons learned. Do not stay with someone for any reason other than being in love and happy.
A little background, I found this book in my library's display for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. So, be prepared for that aspect of the book. I think it's very important for teens to learn the warning signs of an abusive personality. I think there is a great value in teaching our kids that love should not hurt, that it's ok to tell someone that how they are treating you is not ok, and that if you feel like something is not right there are places you can go.
Kudos to the author for showing a relationship that started out "perfect" and turned sour without the person involved being aware of it right away. It was written very well. I also felt that the familial aspect added to the story and the lessons learned. Do not stay with someone for any reason other than being in love and happy.
July 8, 2014
My thoughts…
Another review from a blogger friend I enjoyed reading: The Lifelong Bookworm
The problem I had with the book
No real plot
It was frustrating not really uplifting
The angst and emotional content weren’t at all effective
Horrible ending
Plot twist did not end well for me
Writing wasn’t special
Speed was too slow; resulted to many readers DNFing the book
Honestly, I don’t know what else to think of when you voice out “The things you kiss goodbye.” This is a really depressing and frustrating book, and this is why I don’t like handling realistic fiction. Usually, I’d end up pissed, upset or depressed…mostly depressed. I’ve been used to reading euphoric books. And so, I did not find any solace in this novel…only regret that I’ve pushed on.
Leslie Connor created a powerful book, but the dynamism of the story couldn’t get a grip on me. I just didn’t like the way the story came to be. Sad…traumatic and dark. The cover is a fool! You’d expect a lovely story with happy endings-but no!
Btw this should not be categorized as YOUNG ADULT because it has more New Adult factors. Sex & cussing plus violence.
Protagonist problems:
She’s an idiot
She doesn’t voice out her feelings
She is not brave at all
I don’t like the way she lead her life
She’s the main reason I ended up hating the book
There are a lot of things in this book I really wish to rewrite. I couldn’t add any spoilers because that would really ruin the book for you, it’s not the type of book I’d recommend to my friends and followers since we usually have the same taste. The slow and ever controlling pacing didn’t help the progressing development of our main character. Her idiocy was overwhelming, she’s a bit selfish in her part ( I can’t tell you why because that would mean spoiling you.)
That ends my short review for TTYKG. I’d rather pass this up or give away my ARC copy.
Another review from a blogger friend I enjoyed reading: The Lifelong Bookworm
The problem I had with the book
No real plot
It was frustrating not really uplifting
The angst and emotional content weren’t at all effective
Horrible ending
Plot twist did not end well for me
Writing wasn’t special
Speed was too slow; resulted to many readers DNFing the book
Honestly, I don’t know what else to think of when you voice out “The things you kiss goodbye.” This is a really depressing and frustrating book, and this is why I don’t like handling realistic fiction. Usually, I’d end up pissed, upset or depressed…mostly depressed. I’ve been used to reading euphoric books. And so, I did not find any solace in this novel…only regret that I’ve pushed on.
Leslie Connor created a powerful book, but the dynamism of the story couldn’t get a grip on me. I just didn’t like the way the story came to be. Sad…traumatic and dark. The cover is a fool! You’d expect a lovely story with happy endings-but no!
Btw this should not be categorized as YOUNG ADULT because it has more New Adult factors. Sex & cussing plus violence.
Protagonist problems:
She’s an idiot
She doesn’t voice out her feelings
She is not brave at all
I don’t like the way she lead her life
She’s the main reason I ended up hating the book
There are a lot of things in this book I really wish to rewrite. I couldn’t add any spoilers because that would really ruin the book for you, it’s not the type of book I’d recommend to my friends and followers since we usually have the same taste. The slow and ever controlling pacing didn’t help the progressing development of our main character. Her idiocy was overwhelming, she’s a bit selfish in her part ( I can’t tell you why because that would mean spoiling you.)
That ends my short review for TTYKG. I’d rather pass this up or give away my ARC copy.
September 28, 2014
My Summary: Bettina has grown up in a strict Greek household where her father's word is law and nothing is permitted unless he says it is. Forced to give up dance and with no friends in sight, Bettina turns to her art and Brady Cullen - a boy who seems like everything she's ever wanted and more.
But a few months into the relationship, Bettina begins to notice a change. Gone is the sweet, gentle boy she fell in love with, and in his place is an impatient and abusive boy whose idea of a joke is pulling too hard on his girlfriend's braid. Caught between breaking up with Brady and sacrificing her freedom, Bettina decides to ignore his insults, jabs, and the pain.
She finds a safe haven: a classic car restoration shop. The owner - known only to her as Cowboy - is everything Brady isn't, and Bettina quickly realizes that love doesn't have to hurt.
My Thoughts:I seriously did not expect this novel to as dark as it did.
When I began reading, I figured that it would be a sweet novel about struggling against strict parents in order to become yourself. I had no idea where the story was headed, but I'm very glad that I picked it up when I did.
Bettina was a very likable character, and extremely easy to relate to. I cringed every time she mentioned her boyfriend's abusive behaviour, and reading her thoughts on the abuse she was suffering was tough. I liked that the author didn't set Brady up as this horrible, villain-like entity, choosing instead to show him as a multi-faceted character. I felt like it really helped the reader understand the ways that people can enter into abusive relationships without knowing what's in store, and the reasons that some people might have for not leaving right when the abuse begins. Leslie Connor did a great job addressing the many forms of abuse (emotional and physical, romantic and familial).
She also did a great job of ripping my heart out and stomping on it, but that's the price you pay when you pick up a great novel.
The writing was engaging and easy to get into. I flew through this novel in a little over three hours, refusing to stop until I found out how Bettina's story ended. It was worth every minute.
Final Thoughts: I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys edgier contemporary literature.
But a few months into the relationship, Bettina begins to notice a change. Gone is the sweet, gentle boy she fell in love with, and in his place is an impatient and abusive boy whose idea of a joke is pulling too hard on his girlfriend's braid. Caught between breaking up with Brady and sacrificing her freedom, Bettina decides to ignore his insults, jabs, and the pain.
She finds a safe haven: a classic car restoration shop. The owner - known only to her as Cowboy - is everything Brady isn't, and Bettina quickly realizes that love doesn't have to hurt.
My Thoughts:I seriously did not expect this novel to as dark as it did.
When I began reading, I figured that it would be a sweet novel about struggling against strict parents in order to become yourself. I had no idea where the story was headed, but I'm very glad that I picked it up when I did.
Bettina was a very likable character, and extremely easy to relate to. I cringed every time she mentioned her boyfriend's abusive behaviour, and reading her thoughts on the abuse she was suffering was tough. I liked that the author didn't set Brady up as this horrible, villain-like entity, choosing instead to show him as a multi-faceted character. I felt like it really helped the reader understand the ways that people can enter into abusive relationships without knowing what's in store, and the reasons that some people might have for not leaving right when the abuse begins. Leslie Connor did a great job addressing the many forms of abuse (emotional and physical, romantic and familial).
She also did a great job of ripping my heart out and stomping on it, but that's the price you pay when you pick up a great novel.
The writing was engaging and easy to get into. I flew through this novel in a little over three hours, refusing to stop until I found out how Bettina's story ended. It was worth every minute.
Final Thoughts: I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys edgier contemporary literature.
February 7, 2015
Oh this book was so awful. I don't even give it a one... I give it a 0.1... And i don't even know if that should be what it gets. It was painful trying to keep reading. I didn't understand the way anyone acted. LIKE COME ON. ITS THE DUMBEST PLOT AND STUPIDEST WAY TO END A BOOK. Usually I would be in tears and a mess but I didn't even freakin care. Thats how awful it was. Worst book I have ever read. And I'm not exaggerating.
August 13, 2014
This is a book that lingers in the mind. The protagonist, Bettina, is only 16, but the problems she faces are those that can happen to any woman at any age. This book captures this young woman's voice perfectly, as well as her lack of experience, which has her putting up with more subtle abuse than we want her to. I think most women can relate to being pressured when young to have sex before one wants to, yet not knowing how to prevent it from happening. Just saying 'no' doesn't always hack it, as Bettina finds out How she comes to realize the way she's being manipulated, and how she learns to assert herself against a very domineering father, make for a gripping read. I read this in two days, and couldn't put it down. I can see that it might be tough to market to a high school readership, because the subject matter is difficult. But I think it makes perfect sense for a mother/daughter book group, or for adults who'd like to check it out before passing it on to a teenage daughter. There's plenty here to discuss.
March 12, 2015
Minusta tuntuu, että minun pitäisi lukea useamminkin contemporarya, sillä ainakin joskus realististen ongelmien lukeminen herättää enemmän ajatuksia kuin eeppinen fantasia tai dystopia.
En tarkalleen muista, mikä sai minut kiinnostumaan tästä kirjasta, mutta olen kyllä tyytyväinen lukemaani. Kirja herätteli monenlaisia ajatuksia ja tuntemuksia ja välillä kiristelin hampaita niin lujasti, että leukoihin sattui - parisuhdeväkivalta on nimittäin perseestä. En voinut olla kannustamatta päähenkilöä ja toivoa, että hän lemppaisi koko jätkän.
Bettinan ja Cowboyn suhde tuntui realistiselta ja suloiselta, mutta silti minulla oli vähän epämukava olo sitä lukiessa. Tyyppi on kymmenen vuotta vanhempi... Toivoin kylläkin, ettei se heidän suhteensa olisi muuttunut romanttiseksi, koska heidän ystävyyttään oli paljon mielenkiintoisempaa lukea.
Lopusta en sitten tykännyt. En tykännyt siitä, millä nuotilla tässä erään tapahtuman jälkeen jatkettiin. Ääh, jäi harmittamaan.
3.5 tähteä.
En tarkalleen muista, mikä sai minut kiinnostumaan tästä kirjasta, mutta olen kyllä tyytyväinen lukemaani. Kirja herätteli monenlaisia ajatuksia ja tuntemuksia ja välillä kiristelin hampaita niin lujasti, että leukoihin sattui - parisuhdeväkivalta on nimittäin perseestä. En voinut olla kannustamatta päähenkilöä ja toivoa, että hän lemppaisi koko jätkän.
Bettinan ja Cowboyn suhde tuntui realistiselta ja suloiselta, mutta silti minulla oli vähän epämukava olo sitä lukiessa. Tyyppi on kymmenen vuotta vanhempi... Toivoin kylläkin, ettei se heidän suhteensa olisi muuttunut romanttiseksi, koska heidän ystävyyttään oli paljon mielenkiintoisempaa lukea.
Lopusta en sitten tykännyt. En tykännyt siitä, millä nuotilla tässä erään tapahtuman jälkeen jatkettiin. Ääh, jäi harmittamaan.
3.5 tähteä.
June 14, 2014
We were told that this is not the saccharine type. Upon knowing, I felt it was necessary to toss away the possible cutesy stuff and expect something…serious? But it wasn’t all that intense. Sure, there was that last part where I wasn’t expecting. Shocking? Not really but it did surprise me. How this book illustrated how the protagonist said goodbye to this man, to this boy, and to her past. It was something...almost profound?
Ignore the vibrant blue cover and don’t focus on the word ‘kiss,’ as I said this not the sweet and fluffy type. But it wasn’t the entirely heavy story that I though it’ll be. Now, now, I know I’m being too hard on books lately but I did appreciate the overall message of this book. Bettina looked to me just a simple girl being in this situation; then fell in love with equally shy boy. One that her dearest Bampas approved of. Things progressed between them as good it can be until it wasn’t anymore. Brady was now different, so unlike the boy she first met. When she run away from her boyfriend, she met a man—a ‘cowboy.’ He wasn’t like Brady, the cowboy made her feel things, good things…until it was too late.
I’ve been racking my brains on how to explain my likes and gripes without giving so much of the story. I think the reason that last part affected me was because I didn’t foresee it. The truth of the matter, I had expected something entirely different. It was good that it was not what I had in mind. The girl’s relationship with Brady and with cowboy offered more of her character’s development than flourishing the romance aspect. Brady made her see what they really stood for, where she stood and how she needed extract from it. Brady, the shy and sweet boyfriend was long gone. The nature of Brady and Bettina’s relationship became deprecating. Now the cowboy on the other hand was different. I admit the summary misled me to think this might be another May-December affair but in my opinion, it is definitely not. Yes, she has feelings for him but his company also led her to think and eventually learn. I just didn’t expect what has happened to him and to the possibility of them, as I said it was too late for that. Thinking about it, it’s quite sad to know that it didn’t happen.
Most definitely it is about goodbyes. It was painful for her to let go of this person. Many nights she cried for him. Many nights she ached for him. With that, I was looking at the bigger picture. And while it looked like a romance story at first, it wasn’t what it all that to me. Bettina’s love for this person was actually good for her despite of what has happened.
3.5/5
Originally published at The Aeropapers. Please leave any comments there.
Ignore the vibrant blue cover and don’t focus on the word ‘kiss,’ as I said this not the sweet and fluffy type. But it wasn’t the entirely heavy story that I though it’ll be. Now, now, I know I’m being too hard on books lately but I did appreciate the overall message of this book. Bettina looked to me just a simple girl being in this situation; then fell in love with equally shy boy. One that her dearest Bampas approved of. Things progressed between them as good it can be until it wasn’t anymore. Brady was now different, so unlike the boy she first met. When she run away from her boyfriend, she met a man—a ‘cowboy.’ He wasn’t like Brady, the cowboy made her feel things, good things…until it was too late.
I’ve been racking my brains on how to explain my likes and gripes without giving so much of the story. I think the reason that last part affected me was because I didn’t foresee it. The truth of the matter, I had expected something entirely different. It was good that it was not what I had in mind. The girl’s relationship with Brady and with cowboy offered more of her character’s development than flourishing the romance aspect. Brady made her see what they really stood for, where she stood and how she needed extract from it. Brady, the shy and sweet boyfriend was long gone. The nature of Brady and Bettina’s relationship became deprecating. Now the cowboy on the other hand was different. I admit the summary misled me to think this might be another May-December affair but in my opinion, it is definitely not. Yes, she has feelings for him but his company also led her to think and eventually learn. I just didn’t expect what has happened to him and to the possibility of them, as I said it was too late for that. Thinking about it, it’s quite sad to know that it didn’t happen.
Most definitely it is about goodbyes. It was painful for her to let go of this person. Many nights she cried for him. Many nights she ached for him. With that, I was looking at the bigger picture. And while it looked like a romance story at first, it wasn’t what it all that to me. Bettina’s love for this person was actually good for her despite of what has happened.
3.5/5
Originally published at The Aeropapers. Please leave any comments there.
April 29, 2014
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
16-year-old Bettina is happy with her boyfriend Brady, until he starts raping her and beating her up.
After one such attack Bettina meets a man who has an auto repair shop, a man she calls ‘Cowboy’, and she comes to rely on him for support when Brady is bothering her.
Does Bettina really deserve to be treated that way Brady treats her? And can Cowboy help her to understand that what her boyfriend is doing to her is wrong?
This was an okay story, but certain things just didn’t sit right with me.
Bettina was an okay character, but I couldn’t help but hate the way she let her boyfriend beat her up, and thought that it was fine! The number of times he lost his temper and injured her was just ridiculous, and she continued to make excuses for him, and tried to hide her bruises from people. I really wanted her to just break up with him, and stop letting him hurt her, but she wouldn’t.
The storyline in this was okay, but things just didn’t work out the way I wanted them to. I disliked the way that Brady treated Bettina, and I liked the way she could be herself around ‘Cowboy’. Cowboy treated her nicely; he didn’t push her to change her life, but did let her know in small ways how he felt about the way her boyfriend hit her.
There was a bit of romance in this, but not a lot really. Most of the time Brady was beating Bettina up rather than being romantic towards her!
The last 15% of this book was just really upsetting and disappointing, and completely ruined this book for me. After everything that Bettina had gone through with Brady, I wanted her to get a happily-ever-after, but unfortunately that just didn’t happen. The event that happened towards the end was really not nice, and I wasn’t impressed that the author chose to end the story the way she did.
Overall; a story about a girl being abused by her boyfriend, with a not so happy ending.
6.5 out of 10.
16-year-old Bettina is happy with her boyfriend Brady, until he starts raping her and beating her up.
After one such attack Bettina meets a man who has an auto repair shop, a man she calls ‘Cowboy’, and she comes to rely on him for support when Brady is bothering her.
Does Bettina really deserve to be treated that way Brady treats her? And can Cowboy help her to understand that what her boyfriend is doing to her is wrong?
This was an okay story, but certain things just didn’t sit right with me.
Bettina was an okay character, but I couldn’t help but hate the way she let her boyfriend beat her up, and thought that it was fine! The number of times he lost his temper and injured her was just ridiculous, and she continued to make excuses for him, and tried to hide her bruises from people. I really wanted her to just break up with him, and stop letting him hurt her, but she wouldn’t.
The storyline in this was okay, but things just didn’t work out the way I wanted them to. I disliked the way that Brady treated Bettina, and I liked the way she could be herself around ‘Cowboy’. Cowboy treated her nicely; he didn’t push her to change her life, but did let her know in small ways how he felt about the way her boyfriend hit her.
There was a bit of romance in this, but not a lot really. Most of the time Brady was beating Bettina up rather than being romantic towards her!
The last 15% of this book was just really upsetting and disappointing, and completely ruined this book for me. After everything that Bettina had gone through with Brady, I wanted her to get a happily-ever-after, but unfortunately that just didn’t happen. The event that happened towards the end was really not nice, and I wasn’t impressed that the author chose to end the story the way she did.
Overall; a story about a girl being abused by her boyfriend, with a not so happy ending.
6.5 out of 10.
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July 28, 2014I'm going to go ahead and not rate this one. There's not exactly a
Anyway, this was very well written, and it completely sucked me in, but this was not my kind of book. I kind of wish I hadn't read it, but when you are so completely taken in by the story and characters it can't be a bad book!
This is probably a 4 star read for quality, but I can't 4-star it when I'm really unhappy with the book and depressed by it.
Emotionally I want to 2-3 star it, but it's quality is way too high for that.
So basically, I'm not rating it. If you are a stickler for a HEA, don't read this book. If you like emotional reads that really make you feel everything the main character does, you'll really love this one.
Conditionally recommended.
Anyway, this was very well written, and it completely sucked me in, but this was not my kind of book. I kind of wish I hadn't read it, but when you are so completely taken in by the story and characters it can't be a bad book!
This is probably a 4 star read for quality, but I can't 4-star it when I'm really unhappy with the book and depressed by it.
Emotionally I want to 2-3 star it, but it's quality is way too high for that.
So basically, I'm not rating it. If you are a stickler for a HEA, don't read this book. If you like emotional reads that really make you feel everything the main character does, you'll really love this one.
Conditionally recommended.
August 21, 2015
This was a well written book. It brought you teen love, dating violence, first 'true' love, loss of a loved one, and family drama. The story opens your eyes to the difference of summer love and love during the school year. They are two different things in the sense that the surrounding audience is different. When faced with dating violence, it is hard for young people to end things as they will continue to see the other person in school. When you do find your true love, it just feels right even if it may seem wrong in someone else's eyes/opinion. Reading this book I knew there would be a loss and I somewhat predicted it but was still shocked and pleased with the story line. Good read for mid-year teenagers.
March 28, 2014
Guys? This one made me cry. As much as I wanted to kick Bettina in the butt to make her wake up and realize what an ass she was letting hurt her, I still kinda loved her. So watching her in the last ten chapters or so broke my heart. Everyone needs a Cowboy in their lives, someone who makes them feel valued and loved. And if they gain some friends along the way like Bettina did, all the better. Now I'm going to go and write a long thing about all the crap this book made me realize about myself. Only the best books can do that to a person. :)
April 30, 2014
4.5 stars.
Beautiful & heartbreaking. Loved the family dynamics here.
Full review to come.
Beautiful & heartbreaking. Loved the family dynamics here.
Full review to come.
Read
April 9, 2015i think this is a beautiful story
October 26, 2014
It is about loss and pain. And love. And I loved it. I hurt with them. I ached. I lost. I smiled.
May 5, 2020
3.50 STARS
I'm not really sure how to rate this book. Everything about this book were realistic but that plot twist just came out of nowhere. I'm honestly upset and sad about what happened but I also think it was forced to make the book look "heartbreaking" enough.
The first time I read the blurb for The Things You Kiss Goodbye, I thought it had potential. I immediately held unto this book while I was strolling to a book fair. The beginning was actually pretty good. The pace of the story just went slow in the middle that i started to lose interest at some point. There were lots of interesting parts but there were also questions left unanswered. The story was realistic as it gets and I understand the way Bettina acted throughout the book but I was hoping it would somehow indeptly explained why Bettina choose to just kept quiet about Brady's abuse.
Overall, this was okay. It was sad but it'll still hit you so many realization in life.
I'm not really sure how to rate this book. Everything about this book were realistic but that plot twist just came out of nowhere. I'm honestly upset and sad about what happened but I also think it was forced to make the book look "heartbreaking" enough.
The first time I read the blurb for The Things You Kiss Goodbye, I thought it had potential. I immediately held unto this book while I was strolling to a book fair. The beginning was actually pretty good. The pace of the story just went slow in the middle that i started to lose interest at some point. There were lots of interesting parts but there were also questions left unanswered. The story was realistic as it gets and I understand the way Bettina acted throughout the book but I was hoping it would somehow indeptly explained why Bettina choose to just kept quiet about Brady's abuse.
Overall, this was okay. It was sad but it'll still hit you so many realization in life.
Read
August 12, 2014I’ve had The Things You Kiss Goodbye on my list of books to review for a while now. I have really mixed emotions now that I’ve finished the book. I both loved the novel, and found it insanely frustrating as well. I went into the book rather blindly, even though I had read the synopsis, I was expecting a love story of sorts, but what I got instead was a story that was much darker instead.
When basketball star Brady Cullen asks Bettina out, she can hardly believe her luck, especially since her super strict family seems to approve of him. So she jumps on the chance to get some time out of the house. But things start to change when the summer ends, and school begins, and with these changes, comes great turmoil.
Bettina had the makings to be a really amazing character. She was Greek, artsy, and all kinds of awesome, but she’s also pretty much a pushover. Her father was overbearing and rarely ever even let her out of the house. So when she saw a little bit of rebellious freedom in her future when Brady asks her out, she jumped on it. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out well for her after Brady changed. I really wish that she had stuck up for herself earlier in the novel, both to Brady and her father. It really bothered me that she didn’t tell anyone close to her what was going on in her life. It’s never good for one to hold in so much information, especially if you are only doing it for reasons such as getting to spend time away from your family or getting out of the house. Yes, her father was insanely overbearing, and I can see why she would need a break from time to time, but she definitely went about it the wrong way. One thing I always stress to my daughters is to never, ever let someone hurt you, and to always go to someone for help if they do. Easier said than done, I know, especially when you are a teenager with raging hormones, and just want a little freedom in life. I just really with Bettina would have stepped up and at least talked to someone. People were there, willing to listen, but she never really even tried to talk to them, and that made me very sad for her.
Brady, the ‘boyfriend’ in the novel, was a jerk. Flat out, jerk. Bettina stayed with him a heck of a lot longer than she ever should have. While we know from the blurb that he changes over the summer, it’s never really said as to why he changed. I can’t see how just ‘becoming popular’ could have turned him from such a sweet, shy guy into the cruel being that he had become. What’s worse is that he’s never really held accountable for the abuse that he caused.
While I’m glad that Bettina had found a caring soul in “Cowboy”, someone that treated her kind and actually listened to her, I barely felt the connection between the two. Cowboy was someone that she should have been able to open up to, and while she did in a way, but she really didn’t. Also, I don’t see how they came so close over such a short amount of time that they were together to have warranted an ‘I Love You’ from each other. It never really seemed like they had gotten that close to me. Both of these characters had experienced abuse, and that totally could have bonded them, but it was rarely ever discussed between the two. These two characters, despite the major age difference, could have been really great friends until Bettina was of legal age.
There were some really great secondary characters in the book that I really enjoyed. Two being Tony and Bonnie, who were friends from school whose relationships with Bettina grew over the course of the book, and who I found myself wishing that Bettina would talk to about what she was going through. Another was Tony’s grandmother, Regina, and I would have to say that this woman was really the highlight of the book for me. Such a caring, wonderful woman, even if she was insanely scary at times. I also loved the sweet relationship between Bettina and her younger brothers. As for her father, on the other hand, I didn’t care about him so much. He didn’t seem like much of a father to her, always seemed to be overlooking her while also being insanely controlling. Luckily he does redeem himself a bit in the end, but there for a while, I pretty much hated him.
The storyline for the book was quite engrossing, and I found myself reading this book very quickly. There were quite a few parts in the novel, especially near the end, that made me ugly cry. That doesn’t happen a lot with books, but with this one, I just couldn’t hold it back. I think this book would make a great book to discuss as a group read, especially between teenage girls. It would definitely make for an interesting discussion for teens and parents as well.
Overall; while you may thing after reading this review that I didn’t like the book, please know that I really did enjoy it. Some things were insanely frustrating, and some things I wish were different, but in the end, it really did make for a great read. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author in the future.
Happy Reading!
July 30, 2017
I cried so hard, this book murdered me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2018
Not as good as I expected but had some good messages.
December 16, 2019
I liked the audio. I will never be ok w a 26 year old dating a 16 year old, it I ended up liking this one more than I thought I would.
January 21, 2020
This book was very good and definitely worth the read. The characters were developed nicely and I like what they contributed to the story. Bettina was naive and that helped push the story forward along with Brady Cullen's aggressive and abusiveness. Cowboy was my favorite character in this novel. He was caring and sweet when Bettina needed him the most. He had a giant heart and I loved reading about him. My favorite event was when Bettina and Cowboy went to the mountain to watch the sunset. It was a beautiful moment and very easy to picture with all of it's great details. The pace of the novel was quite slow but I realize now that it was building up the plot, showing how harsh Bettina's life is. Overall, I would suggest this book to anyone who likes realistic fiction and love stories. This was definitely worth my time to read.
September 13, 2017
my heart...it can't take this ;(
February 26, 2019
I would give this book a 2.5-3 stars. I thought it had potential, but I almost gave up on it. I like romance books and have read many and I don't think this book was nearly as good as others that i have read. This book lacked charter development and and a clear plot/setting.
November 7, 2014
Originally posted on Books of Amber
The Things You Kiss Goodbye is a book that I was very much looking forward to. It’s one of those books that everyone was freaking out about before its release, but then for some reason, as the release date rolled closer and eventually passed, there was radio silence. I read it back in July after staying away from reviews, and I must say that I was not impressed at all.
Going into the book, I didn’t know that it was about abusive relationships. It’s my own fault because I don’t read synopses of books before I read them. I know, I’m asking for trouble. But anyway, I can handle abusive relationships and so that wasn’t a fault at all. Basically, Bettina, the main character, is in an abusive relationship with her jock boyfriend, and she has trouble getting out. This part of the story was okay. I wouldn’t say it was particularly well done in the end, since there didn’t seem to be much of a conclusion, but I thought that Leslie Connor dealt with Bettina’s thoughts and feelings well. To begin with, at least.
Bettina herself was not a main character that I enjoyed. She seemed very ignorant at times due to her sheltered lifestyle. Her father treats her very much like a child and keeps her on a tight leash. In a lot of cases, this trait was very understandable, but then there’s a certain reveal and apparently the entire town already knew. Except Bettina. Which wasn’t realistic in the slightest because wouldn’t her friends at school or her horrible boyfriend have told her? Probably.
There was a second romance, aside from the abusive one, which was absolutely crap. In fact, it was rather creepy, even by my standards. The love interest, Cowboy – yes, that’s what they call him – is ten years older than the sixteen year old protagonist. Normally I can deal with age gaps. Small ones. But ten years when the protagonist is sixteen is a hell of a lot. I’m twenty one, and I view fifteen/sixteen year olds as children – that’s my brother’s age! – so to have a twenty six year old guy “fall in love” with a sixteen year old girl is weird to me. I wasn’t here for it AT ALL.
Another thing I didn’t like was the ending. I thought it was ridiculous. I suppose it was meant to be tragic, but there wasn’t enough development there for me and I didn’t feel anything for the characters at all by that point. So the effect was lost on me, unfortunately.
I wouldn’t recommend it. At all.
The Things You Kiss Goodbye is a book that I was very much looking forward to. It’s one of those books that everyone was freaking out about before its release, but then for some reason, as the release date rolled closer and eventually passed, there was radio silence. I read it back in July after staying away from reviews, and I must say that I was not impressed at all.
Going into the book, I didn’t know that it was about abusive relationships. It’s my own fault because I don’t read synopses of books before I read them. I know, I’m asking for trouble. But anyway, I can handle abusive relationships and so that wasn’t a fault at all. Basically, Bettina, the main character, is in an abusive relationship with her jock boyfriend, and she has trouble getting out. This part of the story was okay. I wouldn’t say it was particularly well done in the end, since there didn’t seem to be much of a conclusion, but I thought that Leslie Connor dealt with Bettina’s thoughts and feelings well. To begin with, at least.
Bettina herself was not a main character that I enjoyed. She seemed very ignorant at times due to her sheltered lifestyle. Her father treats her very much like a child and keeps her on a tight leash. In a lot of cases, this trait was very understandable, but then there’s a certain reveal and apparently the entire town already knew. Except Bettina. Which wasn’t realistic in the slightest because wouldn’t her friends at school or her horrible boyfriend have told her? Probably.
There was a second romance, aside from the abusive one, which was absolutely crap. In fact, it was rather creepy, even by my standards. The love interest, Cowboy – yes, that’s what they call him – is ten years older than the sixteen year old protagonist. Normally I can deal with age gaps. Small ones. But ten years when the protagonist is sixteen is a hell of a lot. I’m twenty one, and I view fifteen/sixteen year olds as children – that’s my brother’s age! – so to have a twenty six year old guy “fall in love” with a sixteen year old girl is weird to me. I wasn’t here for it AT ALL.
Another thing I didn’t like was the ending. I thought it was ridiculous. I suppose it was meant to be tragic, but there wasn’t enough development there for me and I didn’t feel anything for the characters at all by that point. So the effect was lost on me, unfortunately.
I wouldn’t recommend it. At all.
October 31, 2016
Personal Response- I absolutely loved this book because it was very intense, but romantic. I enjoyed how the situations that the main character was going through were relatable to most females. I think that Leslie Connor did an excellent job of telling the story of a teenage girl going through relationship problems.
Plot line- In the beginning of the book, Bettina Vasilis falls in love with Brady Cullen over the summer. Her parents are very strict, but approve of Brady; therefor letting Bettina go out more with him. She loves this new freedom and she loves Brady, until Brady starts to change from the person she met over the summer. One day when running away from Brady after he hurt her, she stumbles across a 22 year old guy who helps her, she decides to nickname him Cowboy. Bettina and Cowboy start to hang out more and Cowboy turns into a safe place for Bettina to talk about her relationship with Brady. She continues to see cowboy throughout her relationship with Brady. After a couple months, Cowboy and Bettina realize they love each other. She decides to tell her mother about Cowboy. Her mother is accepting of him, but warns Bettina about her strict father. The day after Bettina tells her mother, a horrible tragedy occurs and Cowboy is killed. Bettina is grief stricken and misses a lot of school. Brady is furious when he finds out about Cowboy and breaks up with her. Bettina realizes that she needs to get her life together and starts saving money to go to art school.
Recommendation- I would recommend this book to females in 9th grade and up because the main character is a female and most of the story revolves around her. I think you should be 9th grade and up because the situations in this story are slightly more mature. This is a very good book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys young adult romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Plot line- In the beginning of the book, Bettina Vasilis falls in love with Brady Cullen over the summer. Her parents are very strict, but approve of Brady; therefor letting Bettina go out more with him. She loves this new freedom and she loves Brady, until Brady starts to change from the person she met over the summer. One day when running away from Brady after he hurt her, she stumbles across a 22 year old guy who helps her, she decides to nickname him Cowboy. Bettina and Cowboy start to hang out more and Cowboy turns into a safe place for Bettina to talk about her relationship with Brady. She continues to see cowboy throughout her relationship with Brady. After a couple months, Cowboy and Bettina realize they love each other. She decides to tell her mother about Cowboy. Her mother is accepting of him, but warns Bettina about her strict father. The day after Bettina tells her mother, a horrible tragedy occurs and Cowboy is killed. Bettina is grief stricken and misses a lot of school. Brady is furious when he finds out about Cowboy and breaks up with her. Bettina realizes that she needs to get her life together and starts saving money to go to art school.
Recommendation- I would recommend this book to females in 9th grade and up because the main character is a female and most of the story revolves around her. I think you should be 9th grade and up because the situations in this story are slightly more mature. This is a very good book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys young adult romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2014
"The bad stuff goes away when I'm around you."
I'm going to write some specific things that I noticed about this book and that, maybe, are relevant for other readers:
- the writer touches the subject of 'abuse' between two people in a relationship and between two people with a family bound. It's something that happens in real life and it's not an easy subject to write about.
- the dramatic ending. Well, I can say that I didn't see that coming. It was a shocking twist. First I thought, yeahhhhh finaly some sparks are showing and there aren't many pages left so it will happen soon and then BAM! I won't give any spoilers but I felt so sad ...
- I loved the growing love between Bettina and Silas (Cowboy). It was so cool and nice to read about their friendship and the development of that.
- I sometimes freaked out because of Bettina's father. What a control freak! Man .... I'm glad I don't have a father like that.
- I got frustrated at Bettina because of her reactions towards Brady. COME ON! She was so naive in particular moments.
It was an okay book. I give it 3/5 stars!
I'm going to write some specific things that I noticed about this book and that, maybe, are relevant for other readers:
- the writer touches the subject of 'abuse' between two people in a relationship and between two people with a family bound. It's something that happens in real life and it's not an easy subject to write about.
- the dramatic ending. Well, I can say that I didn't see that coming. It was a shocking twist. First I thought, yeahhhhh finaly some sparks are showing and there aren't many pages left so it will happen soon and then BAM! I won't give any spoilers but I felt so sad ...
- I loved the growing love between Bettina and Silas (Cowboy). It was so cool and nice to read about their friendship and the development of that.
- I sometimes freaked out because of Bettina's father. What a control freak! Man .... I'm glad I don't have a father like that.
- I got frustrated at Bettina because of her reactions towards Brady. COME ON! She was so naive in particular moments.
It was an okay book. I give it 3/5 stars!
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