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Just the Good Parts
From the New York Times bestselling author of If I See You Again Tomorrow comes a stunningly romantic, speculative novel about a teen looking for his missing dad, who keeps getting pulled into others’ memories and crossing paths with a handsome stranger who also doesn’t belong there.
Caspen Coolsby’s dad is missing. But even though it’s only been a few months, everyone has given up on finding him. Except for Caspen.
He finally gets a break in the case when he meets his new upstairs neighbors and discovers he can somehow transport himself into each of the college students’ memories using candle scents that remind them of important moments. No one loved candles more than his dad, so Caspen is sure there must be clues pointing toward where to find him hidden in the memories.
His thinking hits a snag, though, when a handsome boy named Lars keeps popping up in memories where he also doesn’t belong. As the lines between memory and reality begin to blur, Caspen can’t help but fall for the mysterious boy who keeps chipping away at the rose-colored lens he’s always seen life through. But will Caspen be able to find his dad and his crush outside of these stolen moments if it means reliving the hard truths of his past and not just the good parts?
Caspen Coolsby’s dad is missing. But even though it’s only been a few months, everyone has given up on finding him. Except for Caspen.
He finally gets a break in the case when he meets his new upstairs neighbors and discovers he can somehow transport himself into each of the college students’ memories using candle scents that remind them of important moments. No one loved candles more than his dad, so Caspen is sure there must be clues pointing toward where to find him hidden in the memories.
His thinking hits a snag, though, when a handsome boy named Lars keeps popping up in memories where he also doesn’t belong. As the lines between memory and reality begin to blur, Caspen can’t help but fall for the mysterious boy who keeps chipping away at the rose-colored lens he’s always seen life through. But will Caspen be able to find his dad and his crush outside of these stolen moments if it means reliving the hard truths of his past and not just the good parts?
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Published October 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 1, 2026
I’ve read almost all of Robbie Couch’s books (YA and adult), and therefore, I was eager to dive into Just the Good Parts.
The title is already giving it away: Caspen mainly remembers the good parts of his life. But now his dad is missing, and no one seems to care. When three college students, who are dealing with stuff too, move into the apartment above Caspen and his mom, Caspen starts to share their memories through the scents of candles.
Even though Just the Good Parts is about a missing dad, it’s on the sweeter side of Robbie Couch’s books and is heartwarming, sometimes even whimsical. And like all of Robbie’s latest books, it’s speculative fiction and pretty short, probably making it a good fit for younger teens. The romance was not a main theme in the story, but I still really liked Lars and Caspen together.
Thank you, Simon & Schuster Children’s Books and NetGalley, for this arc.
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The title is already giving it away: Caspen mainly remembers the good parts of his life. But now his dad is missing, and no one seems to care. When three college students, who are dealing with stuff too, move into the apartment above Caspen and his mom, Caspen starts to share their memories through the scents of candles.
Even though Just the Good Parts is about a missing dad, it’s on the sweeter side of Robbie Couch’s books and is heartwarming, sometimes even whimsical. And like all of Robbie’s latest books, it’s speculative fiction and pretty short, probably making it a good fit for younger teens. The romance was not a main theme in the story, but I still really liked Lars and Caspen together.
Thank you, Simon & Schuster Children’s Books and NetGalley, for this arc.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another excellent entry in Robbie Couch's ever-growing catalog. I remember first reading The Sky Blues, and can't believe this is his fifth YA novel now.
I think that Robbie Couch has really excelled when he's exploring the speculative fiction genre. His last few books have been entries in that genre, and he always manages to find a really cool concept and build relatable, three-dimensional characters around it. In general, there's just the right amount of world-building.
This was an interesting take on memory and identity, and when we finally have all the information by the end of the book, everything just felt ... correct. It's not his longest book, but I think it's the perfect length for what he was doing here.
I really loved Caspen as a main character. He was written with a great deal of nuance and depth, and I appreciated getting to see his emotional arc.
I am a longtime fan of Robbie's work, and at this point, another great book like this just solidifies the fact that if he writes it, I'll read it.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this wonderful novel!
I think that Robbie Couch has really excelled when he's exploring the speculative fiction genre. His last few books have been entries in that genre, and he always manages to find a really cool concept and build relatable, three-dimensional characters around it. In general, there's just the right amount of world-building.
This was an interesting take on memory and identity, and when we finally have all the information by the end of the book, everything just felt ... correct. It's not his longest book, but I think it's the perfect length for what he was doing here.
I really loved Caspen as a main character. He was written with a great deal of nuance and depth, and I appreciated getting to see his emotional arc.
I am a longtime fan of Robbie's work, and at this point, another great book like this just solidifies the fact that if he writes it, I'll read it.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this wonderful novel!
October 9, 2026
I really liked this but wish it was longer. I didn’t really understand the romance sub plot because it didn’t really serve the story, and felt disjointed. Otherwise I absolutely loved the storyline with the missing dad and Caspen. Magical realism and Robbie go hand in hand.
October 25, 2026
As someone who's read every Robbie Couch book and has recently discovered that I'm actually a fan of his writing, picking this up was a no brainer and I wasn't disappointed. I liked the magical realism aspect and the reveal at the end was one of the better plot twists/endings I've actually read. I do still think this would be better enjoyed by it's target audience.
October 22, 2026
The tables by the door of Coolsby Candle Company are supposed to look like autumn on steroids: pine cones, fake leaves, towers of pumpkin and maple scents, and a box of old festival photos, including every year that a Coolsby man cut the Red Fest ribbon in a suit printed with maple leaves. This October there is a sign with a QR code and a mirror inviting customers to take a selfie with a candle. Caspen, sixteen, reads it as his mother erasing his father, who walked upstairs to finish renovating the empty top-floor flat six months ago and never came down. Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch begins with that fight over two shop tables, and it turns out to be the whole book in miniature: what a family keeps on display, and what it quietly packs away.
The Father on the Pedestal
The supernatural engine arrives on page one of the plot. Three college students rent the renovated flat, Caspen's mother leaves a candle on the counter for each of them, and when he rests a hand on a tenant's shoulder while that tenant breathes in a scent, Caspen falls through white light into the memory it calls up. He cannot be seen there and his footprints vanish in the snow. He decides at once that this is his father, reaching out through the shop's own stock, and he goes looking for clues.
The memory travel is the hook, but the stronger thread in Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch is the father Caspen carries in his head. Kevin Coolsby is a scatterbrained, beloved local fixture who loses his tape measure in plain sight, keeps a black licorice candle in stock that nobody asks for, and talks about the day his son will run the shop. Caspen will hear nothing against him. His best friend Quinn declares herself Switzerland when the displays come up, and Caspen takes her neutrality as a betrayal.
Couch is patient about taking that idol apart. The best scene in the novel is a stress-baking session in which Caspen demands the real reason for his parents' divorce, and his mother answers question by question while slowly disappearing under a burst bag of powdered sugar. Her case is not about an affair. It is about arithmetic: three extra staff the shop could afford, the forty days a year the family might have had together, and the father who chose control of the store anyway. Then she names two of Caspen's photography exhibitions that his father missed, and he realizes that he had filed both evenings away somewhere he never looks. It is a quiet, adult piece of writing in a book for teenagers, and it gives the story its real subject, which is selective memory as a way of loving someone.
The small-town texture helps. A police chief buying a cinnamon candle for his wife's birthday gets an icy interrogation at the register, and Couch makes that scene sting by letting the chief be decent and the boy be unfair.
Just the Good Parts and the Boy Who Gets Stuck
Running against the grief is a romance, and it is where the novel has its fun. In every memory Caspen meets the same boy, Lars, who can see and hear him when nobody else can. Lars always arrives in an outfit that does not belong to him and is always trapped by it, most memorably pinned against an Italian church wall by an enormous harp while dressed in a leopard-print tuxedo at a stranger's wedding. He is a self-described science nerd from Washington, DC, with a rocket emoji in his bio and a place at MIT that he may turn down so as not to leave his mother alone.
The banter in Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch is sweet, and the pair's rule-testing has a pleasing detective rhythm: which candle did each of them light, why does time pass differently for him, what does the folded note in his pocket mean. Buck's lasagna and Ana's colour-coded study cards give the tenants enough life that their memories matter for their own sake, too.
This is also a strong pick for anyone hunting the found family and slow-reveal patterns that keep teen readers coming back.
Where Just the Good Parts Gives Ground
The ending explains itself. The final act is built from guided conversations in which characters ask Caspen what he would tell each of the others, and he answers with the lesson. It is moving, but it is a summary of the book delivered by the book.
Lars is more device than person. He gets a city, a college and a mother, then spends most of his page time stuck in costumes. The chemistry is charming; the relationship has little room to develop.
The rules stay loose. How candles, time and who-lit-what fit together is raised often and settled vaguely, which will frustrate readers who like their magic tidy.
Seasoned readers will see the shape early. Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch plants its clues generously. Younger readers will enjoy the click; adults may wait a while for Caspen to catch up.
The Verdict
This is a soft, generous novel about a boy who has been curating his father, and its best pages are the ones where the curation fails: a powdered-sugar confession, an empty chair at an exhibition. The magic is loose and the last act talks too much, but the heart of Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch is sound, and the idea that real affection needs the bad memories too is worth handing to any teenager stuck in the limbo of a loss with no answer.
Light a candle for the people you miss, and let them be the whole of who they were.
The Father on the Pedestal
The supernatural engine arrives on page one of the plot. Three college students rent the renovated flat, Caspen's mother leaves a candle on the counter for each of them, and when he rests a hand on a tenant's shoulder while that tenant breathes in a scent, Caspen falls through white light into the memory it calls up. He cannot be seen there and his footprints vanish in the snow. He decides at once that this is his father, reaching out through the shop's own stock, and he goes looking for clues.
The memory travel is the hook, but the stronger thread in Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch is the father Caspen carries in his head. Kevin Coolsby is a scatterbrained, beloved local fixture who loses his tape measure in plain sight, keeps a black licorice candle in stock that nobody asks for, and talks about the day his son will run the shop. Caspen will hear nothing against him. His best friend Quinn declares herself Switzerland when the displays come up, and Caspen takes her neutrality as a betrayal.
Couch is patient about taking that idol apart. The best scene in the novel is a stress-baking session in which Caspen demands the real reason for his parents' divorce, and his mother answers question by question while slowly disappearing under a burst bag of powdered sugar. Her case is not about an affair. It is about arithmetic: three extra staff the shop could afford, the forty days a year the family might have had together, and the father who chose control of the store anyway. Then she names two of Caspen's photography exhibitions that his father missed, and he realizes that he had filed both evenings away somewhere he never looks. It is a quiet, adult piece of writing in a book for teenagers, and it gives the story its real subject, which is selective memory as a way of loving someone.
The small-town texture helps. A police chief buying a cinnamon candle for his wife's birthday gets an icy interrogation at the register, and Couch makes that scene sting by letting the chief be decent and the boy be unfair.
Just the Good Parts and the Boy Who Gets Stuck
Running against the grief is a romance, and it is where the novel has its fun. In every memory Caspen meets the same boy, Lars, who can see and hear him when nobody else can. Lars always arrives in an outfit that does not belong to him and is always trapped by it, most memorably pinned against an Italian church wall by an enormous harp while dressed in a leopard-print tuxedo at a stranger's wedding. He is a self-described science nerd from Washington, DC, with a rocket emoji in his bio and a place at MIT that he may turn down so as not to leave his mother alone.
The banter in Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch is sweet, and the pair's rule-testing has a pleasing detective rhythm: which candle did each of them light, why does time pass differently for him, what does the folded note in his pocket mean. Buck's lasagna and Ana's colour-coded study cards give the tenants enough life that their memories matter for their own sake, too.
This is also a strong pick for anyone hunting the found family and slow-reveal patterns that keep teen readers coming back.
Where Just the Good Parts Gives Ground
The ending explains itself. The final act is built from guided conversations in which characters ask Caspen what he would tell each of the others, and he answers with the lesson. It is moving, but it is a summary of the book delivered by the book.
Lars is more device than person. He gets a city, a college and a mother, then spends most of his page time stuck in costumes. The chemistry is charming; the relationship has little room to develop.
The rules stay loose. How candles, time and who-lit-what fit together is raised often and settled vaguely, which will frustrate readers who like their magic tidy.
Seasoned readers will see the shape early. Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch plants its clues generously. Younger readers will enjoy the click; adults may wait a while for Caspen to catch up.
The Verdict
This is a soft, generous novel about a boy who has been curating his father, and its best pages are the ones where the curation fails: a powdered-sugar confession, an empty chair at an exhibition. The magic is loose and the last act talks too much, but the heart of Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch is sound, and the idea that real affection needs the bad memories too is worth handing to any teenager stuck in the limbo of a loss with no answer.
Light a candle for the people you miss, and let them be the whole of who they were.
Read
August 17, 2026Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch is a first person-POV YA contemporary speculative novel with a cozy feel.
This is on the shorter end and felt very age appropriate for a younger YA reader, so I feel this would be a really useful book to hand to tween reluctant readers. The themes are handled more maturely than what is found in middle grade, so tween readers won't feel talked down to while also having a bit of a challenge as there are several mystery elements. The overall theme is really about grief and moving on, but it's handled in a very gentle way while also mentioning young people getting cancer and divorce.
I would not call this a romantic speculative book, but more a speculative book that has a romance C-plot. There's a lot of other stuff that is going on and, ultimately, if Lars was not present, Caspen would still go on a fairly similar journey. The romance is pretty independent of the grander plot and is threaded in in the same ways that I expect of a regular speculative book.
What sets this book apart is how it utilizes scents, specifically with candles. I don't know about anyone else, but I spent a decent amount of my childhood helping my mom pick out candles, so there's an inherent nostalgic element there for me that adds to the coziness. Scent memory is a whole thing and seeing it used here was pretty cool.
I would recommend this to YA readers who are intrigued by the idea of scent memories and middle grade readers ready to move into YA
Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch is a first person-POV YA contemporary speculative novel with a cozy feel.
This is on the shorter end and felt very age appropriate for a younger YA reader, so I feel this would be a really useful book to hand to tween reluctant readers. The themes are handled more maturely than what is found in middle grade, so tween readers won't feel talked down to while also having a bit of a challenge as there are several mystery elements. The overall theme is really about grief and moving on, but it's handled in a very gentle way while also mentioning young people getting cancer and divorce.
I would not call this a romantic speculative book, but more a speculative book that has a romance C-plot. There's a lot of other stuff that is going on and, ultimately, if Lars was not present, Caspen would still go on a fairly similar journey. The romance is pretty independent of the grander plot and is threaded in in the same ways that I expect of a regular speculative book.
What sets this book apart is how it utilizes scents, specifically with candles. I don't know about anyone else, but I spent a decent amount of my childhood helping my mom pick out candles, so there's an inherent nostalgic element there for me that adds to the coziness. Scent memory is a whole thing and seeing it used here was pretty cool.
I would recommend this to YA readers who are intrigued by the idea of scent memories and middle grade readers ready to move into YA
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
For Caspen Coolsby and family, no season means more to them than Fall in the quaint town of Crimson, Michigan. "Red Fest", the town's annual fall festival, is more than a family event; it's a tradition started by the family patriarch, Grandad Coolsby. It's time to embrace the change of seasons with all the colours, scents and sounds autumn delivers and for Caspen's family, Fall is also a time to cash in.
Coolsby Candle Company is the family business, and custom scents are big business. The season should be a reason to rejoice, but not this year. 6 months earlier, Caspen's dad disappeared. The last time Caspen saw his father was when he saw him go upstairs to work on the vacant apartment.
Clues to what happened or to the whereabouts of Mr. Coolsby don't materialize. His phone, wallet and keys were found in the apartment. His car was in the driveway. After six months without any updates or leads, the case goes cold. To make things worse, for Caspen, no one seems to care very much. The police are clueless, directionless and motionless.
Then there's Caspen's mom, Katy; she hardly seems to care about her missing husband at all. Her focus is on the candle store and on expanding its customer base via QR codes and social media campaigns. If her behaviour wasn't disconcerting enough for Caspen, learning that their parents agreed to a divorce certainly ramps up suspicion and tension. The above-store apartment wasn't going to be a rental; Caspen's dad was preparing it for himself.
While dealing with those circumstances, Caspen's mom moves forward with life. She's rented out the apartment and the new tenants, local college students, Clyde, Buck and Ana, arrive. Mrs. Coolsby welcomes the three tenants with a housewarming gift: each receives a candle of their chosen scent.
And that's about where things get weird because when one of the tenants lights their candle with Caspen next to them, the sky splits open and Caspen time-travels and finds inside the candle-burner's memories.
These memory-time-dimension leaps don't last long, despite landing in Italy, deep in the forest or in the classroom of an unfamiliar high school, and when Caspen returns to reality, time hasn't moved forward at all, and no one is the wiser.
To this point, the story, told mostly in first person through Caspen, moves with a nice pace, good dialogue and efficient prose. Couch delivers chapters brief enough to keep you reading another. He's set up enough intrigue to get your wheels turning, but there's no steering around a few plot holes.
It's no secret that literacy and reading for pleasure have fallen off a cliff for today's kids, and to me, that's a tragedy, but for those young adults who are readers, I believe that authors must not underestimate how keen those kids are. They notice gaps in logic and have a critical eye for what needs to make sense.
I feel that Couch is right on the border between leaving Easter eggs compelling enough for kids to read on and having them drop the book, frustrated by plot holes.
It's also fair to say that Couch has faith in his readers and provides enough avenues to keep the pages turning. Caspen being gay is a subplot, but a minor one. Couch treats Caspen as any other teenager dealing with hormones and sexuality, which is how it should be.
Couch introduces a slow-developing romance between Caspen and Lars, a young man who appears in each of Caspen's candle-induced memory trips, but readers will question why he is there and whether he is even real.
Just The Good Parts offers a fair mystery and stays true to the YA genre, moving quickly (the book is only 264 pages) while remaining entertaining and avoiding getting too dark. However, I wonder if the page count played a role in this novel's layout.
Couch does a good job of plot development, lays some good foreshadowing and suggests various conclusions, but then takes a rapid plunge toward the resolution.
I'm conflicted with how the answers came. On the one hand, Couch puts a tidy bow on things, and, given the realism, his resolution is plausible. On the other hand, as a reader, I felt a little robbed and found that the bow needed a fair amount of untangling. In particular, the question of Lars felt unanswered.
I did very much enjoy the tone of the book's conclusion, where Couch moved from a fiction narrative to that of a memoir. It's a nice touch that makes Caspen and his experiences feel more real.
Robbie Couch has authored successful YA books, If I See You Again Tomorrow, a NYT Best Seller and his debut work, The Sky Blues, which was a Barnes & Noble YA Book of the Year finalist.
Considering my age (50s) versus that of young adult readers, I can appreciate that impressions may differ drastically. However, I also consider that readers of that age have digested some spectacular literature, such as The Grapes of Wrath, Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men, Catcher in the Rye, Little Women, and To Kill a Mockingbird. I'm not suggesting that Just the Good Parts should be measured against those mentioned; I'm only suggesting that YA authors keep in mind that our kids are smart and capable of absorbing complex plots.
Based on its unique premise, entertainment, mystery, same-sex romance and efficient prose, I give Just the Good Parts 3 out of 5 stars.
Coolsby Candle Company is the family business, and custom scents are big business. The season should be a reason to rejoice, but not this year. 6 months earlier, Caspen's dad disappeared. The last time Caspen saw his father was when he saw him go upstairs to work on the vacant apartment.
Clues to what happened or to the whereabouts of Mr. Coolsby don't materialize. His phone, wallet and keys were found in the apartment. His car was in the driveway. After six months without any updates or leads, the case goes cold. To make things worse, for Caspen, no one seems to care very much. The police are clueless, directionless and motionless.
Then there's Caspen's mom, Katy; she hardly seems to care about her missing husband at all. Her focus is on the candle store and on expanding its customer base via QR codes and social media campaigns. If her behaviour wasn't disconcerting enough for Caspen, learning that their parents agreed to a divorce certainly ramps up suspicion and tension. The above-store apartment wasn't going to be a rental; Caspen's dad was preparing it for himself.
While dealing with those circumstances, Caspen's mom moves forward with life. She's rented out the apartment and the new tenants, local college students, Clyde, Buck and Ana, arrive. Mrs. Coolsby welcomes the three tenants with a housewarming gift: each receives a candle of their chosen scent.
And that's about where things get weird because when one of the tenants lights their candle with Caspen next to them, the sky splits open and Caspen time-travels and finds inside the candle-burner's memories.
These memory-time-dimension leaps don't last long, despite landing in Italy, deep in the forest or in the classroom of an unfamiliar high school, and when Caspen returns to reality, time hasn't moved forward at all, and no one is the wiser.
To this point, the story, told mostly in first person through Caspen, moves with a nice pace, good dialogue and efficient prose. Couch delivers chapters brief enough to keep you reading another. He's set up enough intrigue to get your wheels turning, but there's no steering around a few plot holes.
It's no secret that literacy and reading for pleasure have fallen off a cliff for today's kids, and to me, that's a tragedy, but for those young adults who are readers, I believe that authors must not underestimate how keen those kids are. They notice gaps in logic and have a critical eye for what needs to make sense.
I feel that Couch is right on the border between leaving Easter eggs compelling enough for kids to read on and having them drop the book, frustrated by plot holes.
It's also fair to say that Couch has faith in his readers and provides enough avenues to keep the pages turning. Caspen being gay is a subplot, but a minor one. Couch treats Caspen as any other teenager dealing with hormones and sexuality, which is how it should be.
Couch introduces a slow-developing romance between Caspen and Lars, a young man who appears in each of Caspen's candle-induced memory trips, but readers will question why he is there and whether he is even real.
Just The Good Parts offers a fair mystery and stays true to the YA genre, moving quickly (the book is only 264 pages) while remaining entertaining and avoiding getting too dark. However, I wonder if the page count played a role in this novel's layout.
Couch does a good job of plot development, lays some good foreshadowing and suggests various conclusions, but then takes a rapid plunge toward the resolution.
I'm conflicted with how the answers came. On the one hand, Couch puts a tidy bow on things, and, given the realism, his resolution is plausible. On the other hand, as a reader, I felt a little robbed and found that the bow needed a fair amount of untangling. In particular, the question of Lars felt unanswered.
I did very much enjoy the tone of the book's conclusion, where Couch moved from a fiction narrative to that of a memoir. It's a nice touch that makes Caspen and his experiences feel more real.
Robbie Couch has authored successful YA books, If I See You Again Tomorrow, a NYT Best Seller and his debut work, The Sky Blues, which was a Barnes & Noble YA Book of the Year finalist.
Considering my age (50s) versus that of young adult readers, I can appreciate that impressions may differ drastically. However, I also consider that readers of that age have digested some spectacular literature, such as The Grapes of Wrath, Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men, Catcher in the Rye, Little Women, and To Kill a Mockingbird. I'm not suggesting that Just the Good Parts should be measured against those mentioned; I'm only suggesting that YA authors keep in mind that our kids are smart and capable of absorbing complex plots.
Based on its unique premise, entertainment, mystery, same-sex romance and efficient prose, I give Just the Good Parts 3 out of 5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I'm a fan of Robbie Couch's young adult novels, so I was excited for an early opportunity to check out Just the Good Parts. Just like his previous two novels, this one is also surreal and poignant.
This novel reminded me of a novel I read a long time ago, mainly because of the premise where the main character got to witness the memories of other characters. There is a lot of mystery and speculation in this story as Caspen is trying to figure out where his father is and also what the memories of some people he just met are telling him about his father's disappearance. There's someone who shows up in each of the memories and he's the only one who can see and hear Caspen. So he has to figure out why they're both experiencing the same memory.
The story held my interest the entire time and I breezed through it in a few hours. I just had to know what the answers would be and where the story would go. Having said that, there was a lot to be questioned even after some answers were revealed. I felt like the book needed to be longer to answer those questions. I enjoyed the small town feel and that it took place in autumn.
Overall, this is a likeable novel that is unique, even with reminding me of the novel I read a while back. There were a lot of things that were different between the two stories. It will be available in September, so it's worth taking a look for yourself. There's a lot to think about, for sure!
(Trigger warnings below. May contain spoilers.)
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the book in exchange for an honest review.
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TW: Disappearance of parent, death of significant other, divorce
This novel reminded me of a novel I read a long time ago, mainly because of the premise where the main character got to witness the memories of other characters. There is a lot of mystery and speculation in this story as Caspen is trying to figure out where his father is and also what the memories of some people he just met are telling him about his father's disappearance. There's someone who shows up in each of the memories and he's the only one who can see and hear Caspen. So he has to figure out why they're both experiencing the same memory.
The story held my interest the entire time and I breezed through it in a few hours. I just had to know what the answers would be and where the story would go. Having said that, there was a lot to be questioned even after some answers were revealed. I felt like the book needed to be longer to answer those questions. I enjoyed the small town feel and that it took place in autumn.
Overall, this is a likeable novel that is unique, even with reminding me of the novel I read a while back. There were a lot of things that were different between the two stories. It will be available in September, so it's worth taking a look for yourself. There's a lot to think about, for sure!
(Trigger warnings below. May contain spoilers.)
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the book in exchange for an honest review.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
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TW: Disappearance of parent, death of significant other, divorce
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars
I just love Robbie Couch's work. Couch penned one of my favorite books of last year, _Bloom_. I was pretty convinced at the time that this book came to life while Couch was sitting somewhere surrounded by thriving houseplants. Now, I'm convinced a particularly fragrant candle was burning in this space. However they came to be, these books are winners!
Caspen Coolsby, the protagonist of this speculative YA piece, is not thrilled with his dad's disappearance. The most frustrating part isn't even that his dad is gone. It's that his mom isn't as involved as he'd like her to be in finding out what happened. Yes, they were moving toward a divorce, but this doesn't mean she should check out altogether. Caspen has questions and growing frustrations.
Things become increasingly strange, hence the speculative tag, when Caspen begins to lose time and do some pretty shocking things with candles. Fortunately, the latter dovetails with his family's business. As Caspen tries to make sense of what's happening to and around him, readers start to uncover a different story altogether.
This book is quirky, imaginative, and deeper than one might anticipate from YA, but not from Couch's YA for those in the know. It's an emotional roller coaster, with a lot of opportunities for character growth, empathy building, and readers' developing understanding of what will surely be relatable content in many ways.
I really enjoy Couch, and I can't wait to see what's up next from this fantastic writer.
*I'll add that I received the alc from Libro.fm recently and got to listen to the audio version. I recommend that option when and where accessible.
*Special thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, and of course Libro.fm for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I just love Robbie Couch's work. Couch penned one of my favorite books of last year, _Bloom_. I was pretty convinced at the time that this book came to life while Couch was sitting somewhere surrounded by thriving houseplants. Now, I'm convinced a particularly fragrant candle was burning in this space. However they came to be, these books are winners!
Caspen Coolsby, the protagonist of this speculative YA piece, is not thrilled with his dad's disappearance. The most frustrating part isn't even that his dad is gone. It's that his mom isn't as involved as he'd like her to be in finding out what happened. Yes, they were moving toward a divorce, but this doesn't mean she should check out altogether. Caspen has questions and growing frustrations.
Things become increasingly strange, hence the speculative tag, when Caspen begins to lose time and do some pretty shocking things with candles. Fortunately, the latter dovetails with his family's business. As Caspen tries to make sense of what's happening to and around him, readers start to uncover a different story altogether.
This book is quirky, imaginative, and deeper than one might anticipate from YA, but not from Couch's YA for those in the know. It's an emotional roller coaster, with a lot of opportunities for character growth, empathy building, and readers' developing understanding of what will surely be relatable content in many ways.
I really enjoy Couch, and I can't wait to see what's up next from this fantastic writer.
*I'll add that I received the alc from Libro.fm recently and got to listen to the audio version. I recommend that option when and where accessible.
*Special thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, and of course Libro.fm for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75⭐
(+) :
- It’s a sweet story about grief and hope. Not necessarily revelatory in its conclusion but it didn't need to be for what it was trying to say.
- The candle motif was lovely. Olfactory memory is so important to so many different emotions, nostalgia, longing, happiness, etc., that it made so much sense as an illusion.
- The themes of this book feel evergreen from an age perspective. Loss. Change. Etc.
- The author dedicating every book to a feeling is fascinating. I'm not sure if this actually made me feel wistful at all but it also didn't not i guess
- Really good title for what the book is saying in its story.
(-) :
- I wanted more from the 3 tenants. Especially Buck. He felt very untethered from the rest by the end.
- I did not like Quinn. I get that Caspen is is irksome and more of the problem in their friendship, but we don’t really get to know Quinn as his friend. Maybe I’m too old and it was just teen angst or whatever.
- I don’t think this cover does a good job conveying what the story is actually about. It’s not about these two and their romance at their core. And I think it does a disservice by projecting that as the foremost facet.
(?) :
- Red Fest is a WILD name to use for a fall festival. Yes, I get that the town is named Crimson, but I could not stop thinking about the Red Scare.
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : Possibly.
*Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'Find My Way Down to You' by Julian Winters
- 'They Both Die in the End' by Adam Silvera
- 'Cemetery Boys' by Aiden Thomas
(+) :
- It’s a sweet story about grief and hope. Not necessarily revelatory in its conclusion but it didn't need to be for what it was trying to say.
- The candle motif was lovely. Olfactory memory is so important to so many different emotions, nostalgia, longing, happiness, etc., that it made so much sense as an illusion.
- The themes of this book feel evergreen from an age perspective. Loss. Change. Etc.
- The author dedicating every book to a feeling is fascinating. I'm not sure if this actually made me feel wistful at all but it also didn't not i guess
- Really good title for what the book is saying in its story.
(-) :
- I wanted more from the 3 tenants. Especially Buck. He felt very untethered from the rest by the end.
- I did not like Quinn. I get that Caspen is is irksome and more of the problem in their friendship, but we don’t really get to know Quinn as his friend. Maybe I’m too old and it was just teen angst or whatever.
- I don’t think this cover does a good job conveying what the story is actually about. It’s not about these two and their romance at their core. And I think it does a disservice by projecting that as the foremost facet.
(?) :
- Red Fest is a WILD name to use for a fall festival. Yes, I get that the town is named Crimson, but I could not stop thinking about the Red Scare.
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : Possibly.
*Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'Find My Way Down to You' by Julian Winters
- 'They Both Die in the End' by Adam Silvera
- 'Cemetery Boys' by Aiden Thomas
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I adored this story! Caspen’s family has run a candle shop in their small town of Crimson Michigan for years. And every year the towns Red Fest brings in lots of business. His family has been cutting the ribbon to start of Red Feat for a while as well, first his grandpa, then his dad. But this year Caspen’s dad is missing had Red Fest is right around the corner. There’s no way his dad would miss it but he seems to be the only one who cares that his dad is missing. His mom is even renting out the third floor apartment that his dad was going to move in after their divorce/separation. Something strange happens when a Caspen meets the tenets as they light candles that remind them of their past, if Caspen touches them he’s sucked into their memories. They can’t see or hear him but he sees everything that happened to them. But he’s not alone. Another boy joins him, one who only he seems to be able to see and hear. The two will work together across different memories to figure out what is happening to them and what all of these memory shares have to do with his father. But will Caspen risk losing himself in the process? Speculative fiction is always so interesting and I love the candle aspect of this one! I’m a huge candle fan and I loved the descriptions of candle smells and the connection to memories! Robbie Couch is a favorite author so I’m so happy I got to read this! It’s heartwarming, charming, sweet, creates the feeling of nostalgia, but also heartbreaking! Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 ⭐️
Caspen’s dad was missing and trying to deal with the heartbreak and confusion of his sudden disappearance. But there are other strange things happening to him, cracks in his memory, finding himself put into other’s memories triggered by candle scents. When he figures this out he takes the opportunity to find clues on his dad’s disappearance.
This was such a cool concept, the plot was engaging and it put a unique spin on telling a story. The story was kinda fast-paced but well balanced and I loved the characters so much. There was great depth and character development by the end of the book. The romance was on the lighter side, the plot being the main focus and the main character trying to figure things out.
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)
POV: First Person
Sad Level: 💧💧💧💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Lars
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🕯️🌲🪓
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Caspen’s dad was missing and trying to deal with the heartbreak and confusion of his sudden disappearance. But there are other strange things happening to him, cracks in his memory, finding himself put into other’s memories triggered by candle scents. When he figures this out he takes the opportunity to find clues on his dad’s disappearance.
This was such a cool concept, the plot was engaging and it put a unique spin on telling a story. The story was kinda fast-paced but well balanced and I loved the characters so much. There was great depth and character development by the end of the book. The romance was on the lighter side, the plot being the main focus and the main character trying to figure things out.
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)
POV: First Person
Sad Level: 💧💧💧💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Lars
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🕯️🌲🪓
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Caspen lives above his family’s candle store with his mother. His father was renovating the apartment above them to live close by during his parent’s impending divorce. Caspen’s father disappears and after six months with no movement on his case, three new tenants have arrived to live in the apartment; Clyde, Buck and Ana. Caspen spends time with them and discovers that when they each light a candle from the store that holds a memory to them, Caspen has the ability to be in their memory with them. He goes undetected along with a boy named Lars. As he and Lars spend time together in the memories, they grow closer to one another. Caspen feels the memories are tied to his father’s disappearance but struggles to fit the pieces all together and senses he’s running out of time. This book’s mystery had me captivated-I finished the book in a day. The characters are charming and just like Caspen, I was also trying to figure out how everything would come together in the end. I received an ARC copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch to review! Robbie Couch is always an auto-read for me, especially his YA stuff. I like the speculative aspect of this one; being transported into memories with candle scents? Such a unique concept. Especially since scents and memories tend to be so intertwined.
As always, Couch excels at writing strong characters who will immediately draw you into the story. In addition to his love for his dad, you can see his complicated relationship with his mom and his best friends. While the romance isn't the main focus of the story, the chemistry between him and Lars is sweet.
There's a bit of a twist at the end that is hinted at throughout, and it's nice the way it all comes together. Honestly, I think the ending makes the whole story. It draws the focus on the message of the book, and gives good closure to Caspen's story. If you're lookign for something wholesome to read this fall, definitely check this one out.
As always, Couch excels at writing strong characters who will immediately draw you into the story. In addition to his love for his dad, you can see his complicated relationship with his mom and his best friends. While the romance isn't the main focus of the story, the chemistry between him and Lars is sweet.
There's a bit of a twist at the end that is hinted at throughout, and it's nice the way it all comes together. Honestly, I think the ending makes the whole story. It draws the focus on the message of the book, and gives good closure to Caspen's story. If you're lookign for something wholesome to read this fall, definitely check this one out.
October 13, 2026
This was an interesting YA read, but I don’t know how to classify it. Fiction with a touch of magical realism?
It was on the shorter side, and was a quick read. I was waiting for an answer on what was happening, and it came in a big way at the end. I had my suspicions about it, but wasn’t entirely correct, and it all fit together in a nice and touching way.
The characters in the book and who they all turned out to be were a little on the random side. It didn’t entirely make sense to me how they all fit together or why these particular ones were chosen.
There’s one glaring unanswered question at the end, and I think I needed more of an explanation on how things worked for Lars in order to be fully satisfied. It made sense from Caspen’s perspective and what happened to him, but there’s no explanation from Lars’ side and that left me a little unsatisfied.
Overall, this was a sweet and sad YA novel about loss and grief and coping with both.
It was on the shorter side, and was a quick read. I was waiting for an answer on what was happening, and it came in a big way at the end. I had my suspicions about it, but wasn’t entirely correct, and it all fit together in a nice and touching way.
The characters in the book and who they all turned out to be were a little on the random side. It didn’t entirely make sense to me how they all fit together or why these particular ones were chosen.
There’s one glaring unanswered question at the end, and I think I needed more of an explanation on how things worked for Lars in order to be fully satisfied. It made sense from Caspen’s perspective and what happened to him, but there’s no explanation from Lars’ side and that left me a little unsatisfied.
Overall, this was a sweet and sad YA novel about loss and grief and coping with both.
October 18, 2026
I have loved all Robbie Couch’s books and this is not an exception. It felt so magical and mysterious and the romance wasn’t the most fleshed out (which I didn’t mind and still liked it) the way the rest of the book had me gripped! I had my suspicions and I still cried at the reveal as I wasn’t entirely right about what was going on. And learning who the three teenagers actually are made me cry even more. I think there was kind of a plot hole at the end or just not explained to us, but I loved the book and was satisfied with the rest of the reveals so I didn’t care much to be honest. When I saw the length of the audiobook I thought I would think it was too short, but I actually think the length was perfect for how fast the story was going and maybe the romance would have benefited of more time, but that really wasn’t the main point of the story. It was also a great autumn read so I’m glad I picked it up right away after release (I hadn’t realised it was pushed back a couple of weeks).
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I love Robbie couch and this book wasn't an exception. This was an enjoyable read that kept me invested the entire time. I was trying to figure out what was happening with the candles and memories. I liked the mystery of it. There was a little bit of a romance happening but it was definitely a subplot. But the little bit that there was I was invested in. If you love a story with a surrealistic mystery element with a bit of romance and great characters that have amazing character development then you should check this one out.
Content warning:
thank you to simon teen for the gifted copy. all thoughts are my own
Content warning:
thank you to simon teen for the gifted copy. all thoughts are my own
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of Just the Good Parts and leave this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed reading Just the Good Parts, especially the last 20-30%, which is when everything started to make sense and there was more at stake. The beginning felt a bit lack luster (struggled to engage) and the middle felt a bit confusing (lots of unanswered questions), but it is in a way that feels intentional now that I am reflecting back on it. I believe that it was 100% worth reading through until the end.
I enjoyed reading Just the Good Parts, especially the last 20-30%, which is when everything started to make sense and there was more at stake. The beginning felt a bit lack luster (struggled to engage) and the middle felt a bit confusing (lots of unanswered questions), but it is in a way that feels intentional now that I am reflecting back on it. I believe that it was 100% worth reading through until the end.
Read
October 2, 2026Graded By: Regina
Cover Story: Dream Boys
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Surreally Funny
Bonus Factor: Family Business
Anti-Bonus Factor: Suspension of Disbelief
Relationship Status: Happy Fall Festival
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Dream Boys
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Surreally Funny
Bonus Factor: Family Business
Anti-Bonus Factor: Suspension of Disbelief
Relationship Status: Happy Fall Festival
Read the full book report here.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this ARC for free and here is my review!
This is one of my first ARCs and I'm still new to reviewing so bear with me.
Honestly, I loved this. For me, it had suspense without anxiety. I loved Caspen and the apartment trio. To keep it spoiler free: This book was a wild ride, surfing on scents and I loved every second of it.
This is one of my first ARCs and I'm still new to reviewing so bear with me.
Honestly, I loved this. For me, it had suspense without anxiety. I loved Caspen and the apartment trio. To keep it spoiler free: This book was a wild ride, surfing on scents and I loved every second of it.
October 29, 2026
This was such a cute story, but also a little sad, mysterious, and full of moments that kept me guessing!
I LOVED the concept. I spent much of the story feeling a little confused, trying to piece everything together as Caspen was, wondering if he had some newfound magic to take him into memories of others, but when the reveal finally came and everything clicked… I got little teary over here!
I loved how Lars was in such random outfits each time they met, but their time together so short! Their interactions were so sweet.
And THAT LAST CHAPTER. Was so dang cute!
A fairly feel good teen story with lovely moments, wrapped in underlying themes of grief and loss.
I LOVED the concept. I spent much of the story feeling a little confused, trying to piece everything together as Caspen was, wondering if he had some newfound magic to take him into memories of others, but when the reveal finally came and everything clicked… I got little teary over here!
I loved how Lars was in such random outfits each time they met, but their time together so short! Their interactions were so sweet.
And THAT LAST CHAPTER. Was so dang cute!
A fairly feel good teen story with lovely moments, wrapped in underlying themes of grief and loss.
October 5, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced review copy of this book. This was a very interesting concept uniquely written from an unexpected angle. The story explores death, a specific medical condition, memories, and family relationships. A great addition to a YA collection.
Read
October 14, 2026As much as I love Robbie Couch and his writing, I really think this book is kind of a mess, exacerbated by my general dislike of magical realism/speculative fiction. This wasn't horrible, but I think I'll just not think of it again and look forward to his next release.
Did Not Finish
August 29, 2026The pacing was too slow for me. I DNFed at about 25%. No rating due to not finishing.
October 23, 2026
A sweet, quick read. There's a touch of magic and fantasy interwoven throughout this book. It had all the cozy, warm, fuzzy vibes and a touch of romance. Worth the read for sure!
October 29, 2026
This is my second Robbie Couch book, and I just know speculative novels are what he excels at. Just the Good Parts is a sweet and quick read that touches on grief and healing while also being warm and cozy. I do wish there were more tenants because that was my favorite part, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The ending was also rushed, and I finished wanting more. It definitely could've been longer!
October 31, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. I wish it was a bit longer, though. The ending thought a little rushed.
October 31, 2026
Commas and time traveling candles?? Sorry. Never got into this and didn’t connect to any of the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A solid read, if not a smidge repetitive. I really enjoyed the characters, and this felt wholly unique. I especially liked the idea of Caspen meeting Lars within the candle, it was such an interesting concept. The ending was, of course, quite sad, although I did have an inkling that something along those lines was brewing. Robbie Couch’s writing was excellent, and the story was easily digestible and very quick to finish.
I do wish we had dived a little deeper into certain aspects, particularly the three tenants. I would have loved more from them and more interactions with them throughout the story. Still, it was an enjoyable read overall. One thing to note: this book isn’t really a romance, so if you’re picking it up specifically for the romance, I’d definitely put that expectation on the back burner.
I do wish we had dived a little deeper into certain aspects, particularly the three tenants. I would have loved more from them and more interactions with them throughout the story. Still, it was an enjoyable read overall. One thing to note: this book isn’t really a romance, so if you’re picking it up specifically for the romance, I’d definitely put that expectation on the back burner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Speculative fiction and magical realism aren't genres I really enjoy, but I liked If I See You Again Tomorrow, so I was looking forward to Couch's new book. The plot was interesting, but I wasn't a huge from of the romance sub-plot. I think the book would've been fine without, probably because I didn't think Lars' character added much to the plot and he didn't seem to have much depth/development. The romance felt lacking and slightly out of place in the story.
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