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How many goodbyes
Set in a small town by the sea, How many goodbyes is a simple and touching love story that draws you in and warms your heart.
A boy quietly ruled by a fear of change he never recognized, and a girl who learns she doesn’t owe the world her constant smile or her endless kindness.
Drawn to each other at seventeen, Ella and Miles form a connection neither of them knows how to handle. Time passes, and life moves on, yet chance keeps weaving their paths together. And their connection returns, crystal clear once more, after every different kind of goodbye.
The first time, they didn’t say goodbye.
The second time, they said goodbye, but her heart returned home confused, embarrassed, and empty.
The third time, they’re back in Evermere, saying goodbye, and her heart feels heavy, tight, disoriented.
But destiny isn’t done leading them back to each other.
How many goodbyes does it take?
A book that makes you believe some things are meant to be.
A boy quietly ruled by a fear of change he never recognized, and a girl who learns she doesn’t owe the world her constant smile or her endless kindness.
Drawn to each other at seventeen, Ella and Miles form a connection neither of them knows how to handle. Time passes, and life moves on, yet chance keeps weaving their paths together. And their connection returns, crystal clear once more, after every different kind of goodbye.
The first time, they didn’t say goodbye.
The second time, they said goodbye, but her heart returned home confused, embarrassed, and empty.
The third time, they’re back in Evermere, saying goodbye, and her heart feels heavy, tight, disoriented.
But destiny isn’t done leading them back to each other.
How many goodbyes does it take?
A book that makes you believe some things are meant to be.
343 pages, Paperback
Published December 30, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 27, 2026
I really loved this book, especially the end. It was just so amazing to get to know Ella and Miles when seventeen, trying to understand the meaning of life and how to truly live it.
It felt magical to view Ella’s perspective of life, by always noticing the little things and apreciating them. She always tried to help everyone, but forgot that she didnt had to be with a smile on her face all the time, because it’s ok to be sad sometimes.
Miles was so misunderstood when he was younger. He passed trough a lot and just wanted some estability in the middle of so much confusion. I’m glad he met new friends who helped him pass that phase. They helped Miles express his feelings by making him feel understood.
It felt so real to read the next pages, where they meet again after 10 years, when each of them has already experienced many things. Experiences that where lived in accordance with what they had learned from one another. Although many things had changed naturally by time, their relationship remained the same. This way, it was precious to see Ella letting go bad parts of her life and Miles getting to know good ones, all with the help of each other.
Sometimes, you really just need a shoulder to lean on and let your tears fall while saying how you feel. And that shoulder is from someone who you can also have fun and let your inner child be free. And it was so enchanting to see these 2 caracthers completing each other and teaching the other life lessons that they carried for the rest of their lives. This is a fantastic story that describes how many goodbyes are necessary to finally declare true love.
It felt magical to view Ella’s perspective of life, by always noticing the little things and apreciating them. She always tried to help everyone, but forgot that she didnt had to be with a smile on her face all the time, because it’s ok to be sad sometimes.
Miles was so misunderstood when he was younger. He passed trough a lot and just wanted some estability in the middle of so much confusion. I’m glad he met new friends who helped him pass that phase. They helped Miles express his feelings by making him feel understood.
It felt so real to read the next pages, where they meet again after 10 years, when each of them has already experienced many things. Experiences that where lived in accordance with what they had learned from one another. Although many things had changed naturally by time, their relationship remained the same. This way, it was precious to see Ella letting go bad parts of her life and Miles getting to know good ones, all with the help of each other.
Sometimes, you really just need a shoulder to lean on and let your tears fall while saying how you feel. And that shoulder is from someone who you can also have fun and let your inner child be free. And it was so enchanting to see these 2 caracthers completing each other and teaching the other life lessons that they carried for the rest of their lives. This is a fantastic story that describes how many goodbyes are necessary to finally declare true love.
August 21, 2026
I read this book in three days and, it was a 5-star book from the very beginning. I think is important to mention that this is my first book in English, and I could understand everything!
How many goodbyes made me laugh, think, get emotional, and feel so many things.
I felt like I was Miles and Ella. I felt the fear of change, the happiness of having a “highest-quality-friend”, and the feeling of not needing to always be smiling and caring about others. These are just some of the many life lessons Miles, Ella and Miss Amara gave me.
They were made for each other and seeing them grow up and realize that was so satisfying!!
One scene from this book that I’m going to carry with me for life is when, at the beginning, Miles and Ella were with the children at CIC talking about feelings. My heart felt complete.
And a quote I will always remember is one Ella once said: “Time is the most precious thing you could offer someone.” That was so inspiring to read.
So, I recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt complete during summer days, at the beach, or in a small town surrounded by people who care.
How many goodbyes made me laugh, think, get emotional, and feel so many things.
I felt like I was Miles and Ella. I felt the fear of change, the happiness of having a “highest-quality-friend”, and the feeling of not needing to always be smiling and caring about others. These are just some of the many life lessons Miles, Ella and Miss Amara gave me.
They were made for each other and seeing them grow up and realize that was so satisfying!!
One scene from this book that I’m going to carry with me for life is when, at the beginning, Miles and Ella were with the children at CIC talking about feelings. My heart felt complete.
And a quote I will always remember is one Ella once said: “Time is the most precious thing you could offer someone.” That was so inspiring to read.
So, I recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt complete during summer days, at the beach, or in a small town surrounded by people who care.
March 14, 2026
4,5 ⭐️
This book is written in such a beautiful way. It’s light but still carries the weight of time and change.
It has a slower but necessary development for us to understand these characters, specially Miles.
I was so immersed in the story that I read it super fast!
Sometimes I would like to be a little more like Ella, and take the time to better appreciate the moments that life gives us.
There’s two quotes that I really liked:
- “Life is a book filled with beginnings and endings of chapters, and if we were meant to stay put in one place, we would have roots instead of feet"
- “If you love life, life will love you back”
This book is written in such a beautiful way. It’s light but still carries the weight of time and change.
It has a slower but necessary development for us to understand these characters, specially Miles.
I was so immersed in the story that I read it super fast!
Sometimes I would like to be a little more like Ella, and take the time to better appreciate the moments that life gives us.
There’s two quotes that I really liked:
- “Life is a book filled with beginnings and endings of chapters, and if we were meant to stay put in one place, we would have roots instead of feet"
- “If you love life, life will love you back”
June 29, 2026
Eu tenho a certeza que este foi o romance mais leve e bonito que eu já li! Estou farta de chorar. Amo este casal!❤️
Obrigada por isto Catarina
Obrigada por isto Catarina
July 29, 2026
4,5 stars
this was so cute!! such a good and easy read, i couldn't put the book down so much that i finished it very fast. books from national authors always have a special place in my heart because it's not common to see portuguese authors writing in english so every time i found one i have to read it instantly and every time i have the best time while reading it!! this book like i said is really cute, it's easy to read, i loved reading about the main characters story and loved that this is second chance and it's so well done as well. it made cry a little obviously, loved the little portuguese expression in the book that made it even better. i had a really good time and if catarina writes another book i will be reading it too!!
this was so cute!! such a good and easy read, i couldn't put the book down so much that i finished it very fast. books from national authors always have a special place in my heart because it's not common to see portuguese authors writing in english so every time i found one i have to read it instantly and every time i have the best time while reading it!! this book like i said is really cute, it's easy to read, i loved reading about the main characters story and loved that this is second chance and it's so well done as well. it made cry a little obviously, loved the little portuguese expression in the book that made it even better. i had a really good time and if catarina writes another book i will be reading it too!!
August 10, 2026
Really enjoyed this book! | loved the community of Evermere✨ Everyone, but specifically Miss Amara has my heart. however the romance didn't hit a lot for me. I think I would have preferred to read the actual scenes and cute moments between Ella and Miles, rather than reading simply that they happened in their pov's.
Idk, I throughout the book I found myself thinking I'd rather have more pages to read, than to not see as much cute and falling in love scenes.
Nonetheless, love the quotes and messages that were written in this book❤️🩹
Idk, I throughout the book I found myself thinking I'd rather have more pages to read, than to not see as much cute and falling in love scenes.
Nonetheless, love the quotes and messages that were written in this book❤️🩹
March 10, 2026
I just loved it. It felt like summer in early march.
Ella's warm personality and Miles's growth throughout the book grabbed my attention. The coziness of Evermere, oh how I wish I were there right now.
And the surprise in the last chapters? I've not seen that coming. Nice move.
Congrats to Catarina on her debut novel, it was a wonderful way to start.
Ps: I really hope we'll have a book for Mira and Leonard, that next-door-neighbor romance needs to be written.
Ella's warm personality and Miles's growth throughout the book grabbed my attention. The coziness of Evermere, oh how I wish I were there right now.
And the surprise in the last chapters? I've not seen that coming. Nice move.
Congrats to Catarina on her debut novel, it was a wonderful way to start.
Ps: I really hope we'll have a book for Mira and Leonard, that next-door-neighbor romance needs to be written.
January 31, 2026
This book just made my heart feel full. It was sweet, thoughtful, and beautifully written, and it made me smile more than once. I really loved the characters and felt so attached to them. It surprised me in the best way and was an easy five-star read for me!
February 16, 2026
3,5✨
uma historia muito bonita sobre a amizade das duas personagens principais. para primeiro livro acho que está muito bem escrito.
para quem gosta de um friends to lovers, small town e livros sem spice!
um romance que diria bastante realista até.
ansiosa para ver mais da Catarina. 💞
uma historia muito bonita sobre a amizade das duas personagens principais. para primeiro livro acho que está muito bem escrito.
para quem gosta de um friends to lovers, small town e livros sem spice!
um romance que diria bastante realista até.
ansiosa para ver mais da Catarina. 💞
February 24, 2026
This book is so pure. The way the female main character sees the world, she’s always people watching and i just love it. Every page there’s a phrase that you just think “so right”, “same”, “that’s true”. i annotated the hell out of this book!
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
January 29, 2026
Adorei! Li todas as noites e adormecia feliz! Um livro com frases que nos ficam na cabeça e pormenores que nos fazem sorrir Recomendo!
January 29, 2026
Best choice ever for 1st book of the year. Absolutely Loved it. Will be recommending
January 31, 2026
Comecei agora a ler e estou a adorar. É uma leitura que nos prende e nos faz sentir parte do enredo. Podemos esperar um segundo livro desta autora?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2026
Nunca li um livro tão rápido, é daquelas histórias que nos agarra, daquelas que ficamos com curiosidade sobre a página seguinte em todas as páginas!! Recomendo muito :)
February 15, 2026
Adorei o livro!
História leve mas viciante, com aquele gosto de querer saber sempre mais e mais a cada página!
História leve mas viciante, com aquele gosto de querer saber sempre mais e mais a cada página!
February 25, 2026
um livro TAAAAO especial. escrita perfeita. autora ainda mais!!!!!
May 5, 2026
This book is a light and wonderful companion for everyday life. I also really liked the way it is written, creating an interesting way to explore different perspectives on the same events.
June 23, 2026
Perfeitinho 🥹🩵
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews