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The Last Wish of Sasha Cade
The day Raquel has been dreading for months has finally arrived. Sasha, her best friend in the whole world, has died of cancer. Overwhelmed and brokenhearted, Raquel can't even imagine life without her. And then a letter from Sasha arrives. Has she somehow found a way to communicate from beyond the grave? In fact, Sasha spent her final weeks planning an elaborate scavenger hunt for the friend she would have to leave behind. When Raquel follows the instructions to return to Sasha's grave, a mysterious stranger with striking eyes is waiting for her. There's a secret attached to this boy that only Sasha --- and now Raquel --- knows.This boy, Elijah, might be just who Raquel needs to help her move on from her terrible loss. But can Raquel remain true to herself while also honoring her friend's final wish? Cheyanne Young's compulsively readable breakout novel offers abiding friendship and forbidden romance, along with an incisive look at how class differences shape who we are and who we grow to be.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 2, 2018
41 people are currently reading
2395 people want to read
About the author
Cheyanne Young
15 books584 followersCheyanne Young lives in Houston, Texas and is an award-winning author of several books for young adults, including The Last Wish of Sasha Cade, which is being adapted into a TV mini-series by Waterside Studios. She has a Master of Library Science degree from Texas Woman’s University and works as a Teen Librarian.
Cheyanne has a fear of cold weather and a coffee addiction that probably needs an intervention. She loves books, glitter, and sarcasm. Her hidden talents include being able to say the alphabet backwards and typing 130 words per minute. She lives with her family, two spoiled rotten dogs, and a cat that is most likely plotting to take over the world.
Cheyanne has a fear of cold weather and a coffee addiction that probably needs an intervention. She loves books, glitter, and sarcasm. Her hidden talents include being able to say the alphabet backwards and typing 130 words per minute. She lives with her family, two spoiled rotten dogs, and a cat that is most likely plotting to take over the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews
November 16, 2018
🌼 Sasha Cade is a heartwarming story of friendship, love, loss and life! 🌸
This book was absolutely heartbreaking. The premise was sad but it was so infused with hope and love that it actually made me happy through my heartbreak and tears - as illogical as that might sound.
Sasha Cade is larger than life! She is 17, in high school and dying of cancer. Upon her death a letter arrives for her best friend, Raquel. The letter sends her on an adventure - one of many that arrive spontaneously and with perfect timing. These adventures help Raquel mourn, heal and find love. Sasha's personality, heart and essence shone through her letters and video clips. We got to know her through this amazing act of selfless love she concocted as she was slowly dying. She may have been deceased for 99% of the book but she was such an amazing character. Young did an amazing job bringing her to life in this unique way throughout the book.
I don't want to give too much away but this book was simply adorable. The extraordinary bond of friendship, the heartwarming family aspect and the feel good love story - all blended and worked perfectly together to create a story that will both break your heart and fill it up again. Then there was the ending! I'll simply say that it left me smiling, in a content and satisfied way as I turned the last page. This is a heartfelt novel not to be missed.
Thank you to Cheyanne Young, Kids Can Press and NetGalley for an advance copy to read and review.
This book was absolutely heartbreaking. The premise was sad but it was so infused with hope and love that it actually made me happy through my heartbreak and tears - as illogical as that might sound.
Sasha Cade is larger than life! She is 17, in high school and dying of cancer. Upon her death a letter arrives for her best friend, Raquel. The letter sends her on an adventure - one of many that arrive spontaneously and with perfect timing. These adventures help Raquel mourn, heal and find love. Sasha's personality, heart and essence shone through her letters and video clips. We got to know her through this amazing act of selfless love she concocted as she was slowly dying. She may have been deceased for 99% of the book but she was such an amazing character. Young did an amazing job bringing her to life in this unique way throughout the book.
I don't want to give too much away but this book was simply adorable. The extraordinary bond of friendship, the heartwarming family aspect and the feel good love story - all blended and worked perfectly together to create a story that will both break your heart and fill it up again. Then there was the ending! I'll simply say that it left me smiling, in a content and satisfied way as I turned the last page. This is a heartfelt novel not to be missed.
Thank you to Cheyanne Young, Kids Can Press and NetGalley for an advance copy to read and review.
June 25, 2019
I started reading The Last Wish of Sasha Cade on 6/21/2019 and finished it on 6/24/2019. This book is a great read! I love the friendship between Sasha and Raquel. Sasha sounds like a wonderful person even when she was only 6 years old. I cried buckets at the beginning of this book and smiled at other times. I like the focus on adoptive parents because I have a co-worker that went through it. I do believe there are good adoptive parents out there because my co-worker is good to her girls. The surprise adventures reminds me of the book called All the Bright Places where she goes on different adventures with the guy. This book though, is cuter and a happier read than that one because there’s the bit of romance and friendship humor. I also like some good people in this book including Mr. and Mrs. Reinhart.
This book started out with a prologue, told in the first person point of view following Raquel, 17, senior in high school. Her best friend is Sasha Cade and she is battling cancer and eventually lost. Then the story goes on to discuss about their friendship, how Raquel shaved her own head when Sasha lost all of her hair to chemo. Few days after the funeral, Raquel receives a postcard with Sasha’s handwriting telling her to go to the cemetery where Sasha was buried. When she got there, a stranger was waiting and when they finally introduced each other, they both got the shock of a lifetime. Raquel also learned from the meeting that Sasha has surprise adventures planned, a way to keep and share Sasha’s memory.
The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is well written and a fast paced read. I enjoyed the adventures and those surprises that Sasha planned, even one for her mom’s birthday. I dislike Raquel because she’s so obsessed at Elijah’s (new crush) good looks, pushes him to quit his toxic job, but when he’s in need of a helping hand, she got mad at him and left him to fend for himself. I lost respect for her after this point on even though she sounds like a great person and friend in the beginning of the story. This book is a bad influence to young teens because Raquel constantly lies to her parents as soon as she crushes on a boy she hardly knew. Though I understand the reason for lying but if she could introduce him at Halloween, she could introduce him earlier as a friend. Though it’s a fiction book, the adventures left by Sasha is sweet and I couldn’t fathom how she has the energy to do all that during her terminal days. Not thinking too deep into the realistic of it all, this book is still a good read and I recommend everyone to read it.
Pro: fast paced, page turner, friendship, adopted vs not adopted, adventures, book cover,
Con: not liking Raquel, Raquel constantly lying to her parents, Raquel’s instalove only focuses on the boy’s good looks
I rate it 4 stars!
***Disclaimer: I won a copy of this book from the Author via Twitter. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
This book started out with a prologue, told in the first person point of view following Raquel, 17, senior in high school. Her best friend is Sasha Cade and she is battling cancer and eventually lost. Then the story goes on to discuss about their friendship, how Raquel shaved her own head when Sasha lost all of her hair to chemo. Few days after the funeral, Raquel receives a postcard with Sasha’s handwriting telling her to go to the cemetery where Sasha was buried. When she got there, a stranger was waiting and when they finally introduced each other, they both got the shock of a lifetime. Raquel also learned from the meeting that Sasha has surprise adventures planned, a way to keep and share Sasha’s memory.
The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is well written and a fast paced read. I enjoyed the adventures and those surprises that Sasha planned, even one for her mom’s birthday. I dislike Raquel because she’s so obsessed at Elijah’s (new crush) good looks, pushes him to quit his toxic job, but when he’s in need of a helping hand, she got mad at him and left him to fend for himself. I lost respect for her after this point on even though she sounds like a great person and friend in the beginning of the story. This book is a bad influence to young teens because Raquel constantly lies to her parents as soon as she crushes on a boy she hardly knew. Though I understand the reason for lying but if she could introduce him at Halloween, she could introduce him earlier as a friend. Though it’s a fiction book, the adventures left by Sasha is sweet and I couldn’t fathom how she has the energy to do all that during her terminal days. Not thinking too deep into the realistic of it all, this book is still a good read and I recommend everyone to read it.
Pro: fast paced, page turner, friendship, adopted vs not adopted, adventures, book cover,
Con: not liking Raquel, Raquel constantly lying to her parents, Raquel’s instalove only focuses on the boy’s good looks
I rate it 4 stars!
***Disclaimer: I won a copy of this book from the Author via Twitter. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
September 29, 2018
This book made me envious of the love and friendship Raquel and Sasha had. Even just a half of their relationship would make the world a better place.
After just a few short years cancer took Sasha away from the people she loved most in the world but bought someone just as special as she into their lives when she passed.
Heartwarming at its best. Beautiful book.
After just a few short years cancer took Sasha away from the people she loved most in the world but bought someone just as special as she into their lives when she passed.
Heartwarming at its best. Beautiful book.
September 26, 2017
Oh, this book. This compelling, beautiful book that had me crying in the first few pages. There aren't enough superlatives for it. Not only was it stuffed full with characters I wish I knew, but it was brimming with hope, love, family, and friendship. <3
AND THE ENDING.
ABSOLUTE PERFECTION.
Highly recommended.
AND THE ENDING.
ABSOLUTE PERFECTION.
Highly recommended.
Want to read
April 15, 2018Sounds like a friendship version of P.S. I Love You, so I'm obviously in.
September 27, 2018
If you look at my Goodreads updates, you will see that I spent a good part of the beginning of this book in tears, but it was all worth it. Believe me, Young paid me back ten-fold for all my tears with that ending.
• Pro: Though Sasha died in the beginning of the book, I still felt like I got to know her so well via her letters, videos, and the flashbacks. I could absolutely see why she was Raquel's best friend, and was able to understand what a huge hole was left in Raquel's life without her.
• Pro: Sick kids will always elicit a strong emotional response from me, but that part was short-lived in the book. Most of this book was a celebration of the friendship Raquel and Sasha shared. It was quite sweet, heartwarming, and endearing.
• Pro: I really liked the romance. These two were so adorable together. It was a slow burn, but when it finally happened, I was all sorts of giddy.
• Pro: I LOVED Elijah! I have a soft spot for those, who are able to overcome tough situations or who don't allow difficulty to hamper them or harden them. Elijah's circumstances could have played out in a negative way, but he looked for the silver linings, established some goals, and tried his hardest to work towards them.
• Pro: The whole story was steeped in hope, and helped along by the auxiliary characters. Young assembled a fantastic supporting cast, who actually gave a lot of support to both Raquel and Elijah. Raquel's parents, her boss, the Reinharts (seriously, that couple put the heart in Reinhart), they were all top-notch.
• Pro: The ending!!! It is well-known in these parts, that I need a lot of closure, and Young gave me an ending with so many answers. I was jumping for joy at the conclusion, and left with happy tears wetting my face.
Overall: I may have started this book with tears of pain, but I ended it with tears of joy. A beautiful and heartwarming tale of love, friendship, and those bonds that last forever.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
• Pro: Though Sasha died in the beginning of the book, I still felt like I got to know her so well via her letters, videos, and the flashbacks. I could absolutely see why she was Raquel's best friend, and was able to understand what a huge hole was left in Raquel's life without her.
• Pro: Sick kids will always elicit a strong emotional response from me, but that part was short-lived in the book. Most of this book was a celebration of the friendship Raquel and Sasha shared. It was quite sweet, heartwarming, and endearing.
• Pro: I really liked the romance. These two were so adorable together. It was a slow burn, but when it finally happened, I was all sorts of giddy.
• Pro: I LOVED Elijah! I have a soft spot for those, who are able to overcome tough situations or who don't allow difficulty to hamper them or harden them. Elijah's circumstances could have played out in a negative way, but he looked for the silver linings, established some goals, and tried his hardest to work towards them.
• Pro: The whole story was steeped in hope, and helped along by the auxiliary characters. Young assembled a fantastic supporting cast, who actually gave a lot of support to both Raquel and Elijah. Raquel's parents, her boss, the Reinharts (seriously, that couple put the heart in Reinhart), they were all top-notch.
• Pro: The ending!!! It is well-known in these parts, that I need a lot of closure, and Young gave me an ending with so many answers. I was jumping for joy at the conclusion, and left with happy tears wetting my face.
Overall: I may have started this book with tears of pain, but I ended it with tears of joy. A beautiful and heartwarming tale of love, friendship, and those bonds that last forever.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
September 26, 2018
4.5 stars.
I am not going to give too much away in this short review as I'm part of the blog tour for this book but I will tell you this: This book hit me hard. This was one of those books I didn't know I needed until I read it. I'm so blown away.
FRTC
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Full review and blog tour info can be found here: https://agingerlyreview.wordpress.com...
If you follow me on GR (which you totally should…) you would have seen the brief updates I gave while reading this story. There were only a few as I devoured this book. This was one of those books that I tore through. I wanted to read it when I wasn’t reading it because I couldn’t stop thinking about it. That is the sign of an incredible story. As this is an ARC review, I will do my best to not give anything away but I will be hard pressed to contain my love for Sasha, Rocki, and Elijah.
This story broke my heart, put it back together, shattered it again, and then helped me heal. I will never be the same after this wonderful and heart-breaking story. I admit the characters are what really stole the show in my eyes. There are elements to the overall story that had me shedding tears within the first 20 pages, and many more times as the adventures continued. But it was the depth and development of the characters themselves that really captured my heart. Sasha herself was incredible. While she had a short presence in the beginning of the story, she most certainly did not fade away. She was ever-present and the way she loved Rocki and Elijah was the she did everything – fiercely and without regret. Who doesn’t want a friend like that? Who doesn’t want to be like that? Rocki, aka Raquel, was a powerhouse player herself. She also loved with no shame and with no fear. I adored her and wanted to be friends with her in real life. She was powerful and complex, I couldn’t get enough of her. And we also had Elijah, who I will secretly covet and swoon after. (Do you hear that, Cheyanne?! Claiming him as a book boyfriend NOW.) He was a bright and shinning star that helped make this story so magical.
Now you already know the premise of the story, how Sasha left tasks and adventures for these two people to complete. I am not going to give any of them away because please believe me when I say you want to experience them for yourself. I was grinning like a fool in public and crying tears of happiness at the same time. It was just breath-taking to be a part of.
The way the entire scavenger hunt plays out and the overall story unfolds was spellbinding. I knew Young could write but this blew my hair back. I was captivated the entire time and tried like hell to savor every page. This story went by too fast and I only say that because I loved it so much I didn’t want it to end. And talk about endings! HOLY CROW! I was laughing, crying, and screaming in frustration but in the best ways possible. I don’t say this often but that ending was perfect.
If you want a story that will stay with you long after you put the book down, this is what you want to read. I did not know I needed this story in my life until I read it. I know that sounds cliche but I promise you this book will make you think, it will make you feel, and it will touch your heart. This book needs to be on your list because you don’t want to miss out on getting to know Sasha Cade.
I am not going to give too much away in this short review as I'm part of the blog tour for this book but I will tell you this: This book hit me hard. This was one of those books I didn't know I needed until I read it. I'm so blown away.
---------
Full review and blog tour info can be found here: https://agingerlyreview.wordpress.com...
If you follow me on GR (which you totally should…) you would have seen the brief updates I gave while reading this story. There were only a few as I devoured this book. This was one of those books that I tore through. I wanted to read it when I wasn’t reading it because I couldn’t stop thinking about it. That is the sign of an incredible story. As this is an ARC review, I will do my best to not give anything away but I will be hard pressed to contain my love for Sasha, Rocki, and Elijah.
This story broke my heart, put it back together, shattered it again, and then helped me heal. I will never be the same after this wonderful and heart-breaking story. I admit the characters are what really stole the show in my eyes. There are elements to the overall story that had me shedding tears within the first 20 pages, and many more times as the adventures continued. But it was the depth and development of the characters themselves that really captured my heart. Sasha herself was incredible. While she had a short presence in the beginning of the story, she most certainly did not fade away. She was ever-present and the way she loved Rocki and Elijah was the she did everything – fiercely and without regret. Who doesn’t want a friend like that? Who doesn’t want to be like that? Rocki, aka Raquel, was a powerhouse player herself. She also loved with no shame and with no fear. I adored her and wanted to be friends with her in real life. She was powerful and complex, I couldn’t get enough of her. And we also had Elijah, who I will secretly covet and swoon after. (Do you hear that, Cheyanne?! Claiming him as a book boyfriend NOW.) He was a bright and shinning star that helped make this story so magical.
Now you already know the premise of the story, how Sasha left tasks and adventures for these two people to complete. I am not going to give any of them away because please believe me when I say you want to experience them for yourself. I was grinning like a fool in public and crying tears of happiness at the same time. It was just breath-taking to be a part of.
The way the entire scavenger hunt plays out and the overall story unfolds was spellbinding. I knew Young could write but this blew my hair back. I was captivated the entire time and tried like hell to savor every page. This story went by too fast and I only say that because I loved it so much I didn’t want it to end. And talk about endings! HOLY CROW! I was laughing, crying, and screaming in frustration but in the best ways possible. I don’t say this often but that ending was perfect.
If you want a story that will stay with you long after you put the book down, this is what you want to read. I did not know I needed this story in my life until I read it. I know that sounds cliche but I promise you this book will make you think, it will make you feel, and it will touch your heart. This book needs to be on your list because you don’t want to miss out on getting to know Sasha Cade.
July 10, 2018
Apparently I didn't read the same book that everyone else did. I went into this assuming it would be some fluffy romance with a dash of sadness, but it was pure illogical romance. The entire book could be summarized by saying it's unrealistic.
I've always been bitter about insta-love, but it made me cringe extra during this book, especially when Raquel says this new boy, who she's known for maybe a month tops, is the love of her life and her best friend. But the only reason she knows about him is because of her actual best friend - and I'm not saying you can only have one of those in your lifetime, but it threw away the importance of Sasha's character in the blink of an eye. Raquel is never truly sad about her friend's death, because she's more excited about a guy who is a total stranger to her. She pours her entire soul into bending over backward for a boy she doesn't know, and it's supposed to be deemed as romantic.
There's one part in particular about their "relationship" that bothered me, which was when .
The ending of the book is eye-roll inducing, as everything pans out absolutely perfectly. There is exactly one hardship in the entire book, and naturally, everyone works together to solve the problem in the blink of an eye so everything can go back to being happy and perfect. Again, considering Sasha's parents' behavior and actions in the beginning of the book, it was unrealistic to watch them completely 180. The epilogue should have never been written.
I've always been bitter about insta-love, but it made me cringe extra during this book, especially when Raquel says this new boy, who she's known for maybe a month tops, is the love of her life and her best friend. But the only reason she knows about him is because of her actual best friend - and I'm not saying you can only have one of those in your lifetime, but it threw away the importance of Sasha's character in the blink of an eye. Raquel is never truly sad about her friend's death, because she's more excited about a guy who is a total stranger to her. She pours her entire soul into bending over backward for a boy she doesn't know, and it's supposed to be deemed as romantic.
There's one part in particular about their "relationship" that bothered me, which was when .
The ending of the book is eye-roll inducing, as everything pans out absolutely perfectly. There is exactly one hardship in the entire book, and naturally, everyone works together to solve the problem in the blink of an eye so everything can go back to being happy and perfect. Again, considering Sasha's parents' behavior and actions in the beginning of the book, it was unrealistic to watch them completely 180. The epilogue should have never been written.
February 20, 2019
I have a feeling no other book will be able to top this one in 2019.
October 19, 2018
Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
Cancer may have taken Sasha's life, but in the months leading up to her passing it didn't dim her light. Knowing her best friend, Raquel, would be lost without her she created a mission of sorts. Letters, videos, and a mysterious boy lead Raquel on a scavenger hunt, one that will bring her closer to her best friend even after she is gone and one that will ultimately test her.
Oh my, I had no idea what I was getting into with this book, none at all. The blurb for The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is mysterious, giving you just the bare minimum of information to pull you in. I love a good Young Adult read with fairly adult storylines. In this case, Raquel "Rocki" has just lost her best friend and in mourning her passing, as well as losing the comfort of fitting in, she is gifted Sasha's last wish, a scavenger hunt that will reveal parts of Sasha that Rocki thought she knew, but clearly didn't. Sasha, though gone, is an incredibly powerful character in this book, her videos and Rocki's reflections of the past revealing that she was incredibly prideful, self confident, vivacious, and holding onto a few secrets. Rocki is smart, shy, and unaccustomed to life without her best friend, the leader of their two man pack. I could relate to her in so many ways, even in her youth, as she realized she had lost both her crutch and her friend in life and as she realized she didn't have as much sense of self as she had once thought. The Last Wish of Sasha Cade reads so much like a coming-of-age story for Rocki, just as the scavenger hunt reveals more of Sasha it reveals more of Rocki too. And Elijah, oh Elijah, he is handsome, sweet, far more mature than I expected, and a sort of knight in not-so-shiny armor for Rocki. The three go on an adventure, one that takes them through Rocki and Sasha's hometown, one that explains who Elijah really is, and one that takes Rocki on a memory trip through their lifelong friendship.
This one gets to you, so if you're going to read it prepare to use a lot of tissues. It's heartbreaking and yet still filled with a hopeful message. Cheyanne Young creates a world for the characters that is believable, the situations incredibly realistic, and she uses descriptive language to make the emotion feel like it is your own. Some of the events, like Elijah's almost too-perfect nature and Rocki's incredibly nice boss, are hard to believe, but even those things couldn't take away from this read for me. The strength of Rocki and Sasha's friendship, Rocki's family bonds, and the feelings of first real love made this book a homerun for me. The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is a heartwarming story of timeless friendship that will stay with me forever.
ARC provided.
Cancer may have taken Sasha's life, but in the months leading up to her passing it didn't dim her light. Knowing her best friend, Raquel, would be lost without her she created a mission of sorts. Letters, videos, and a mysterious boy lead Raquel on a scavenger hunt, one that will bring her closer to her best friend even after she is gone and one that will ultimately test her.
Oh my, I had no idea what I was getting into with this book, none at all. The blurb for The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is mysterious, giving you just the bare minimum of information to pull you in. I love a good Young Adult read with fairly adult storylines. In this case, Raquel "Rocki" has just lost her best friend and in mourning her passing, as well as losing the comfort of fitting in, she is gifted Sasha's last wish, a scavenger hunt that will reveal parts of Sasha that Rocki thought she knew, but clearly didn't. Sasha, though gone, is an incredibly powerful character in this book, her videos and Rocki's reflections of the past revealing that she was incredibly prideful, self confident, vivacious, and holding onto a few secrets. Rocki is smart, shy, and unaccustomed to life without her best friend, the leader of their two man pack. I could relate to her in so many ways, even in her youth, as she realized she had lost both her crutch and her friend in life and as she realized she didn't have as much sense of self as she had once thought. The Last Wish of Sasha Cade reads so much like a coming-of-age story for Rocki, just as the scavenger hunt reveals more of Sasha it reveals more of Rocki too. And Elijah, oh Elijah, he is handsome, sweet, far more mature than I expected, and a sort of knight in not-so-shiny armor for Rocki. The three go on an adventure, one that takes them through Rocki and Sasha's hometown, one that explains who Elijah really is, and one that takes Rocki on a memory trip through their lifelong friendship.
This one gets to you, so if you're going to read it prepare to use a lot of tissues. It's heartbreaking and yet still filled with a hopeful message. Cheyanne Young creates a world for the characters that is believable, the situations incredibly realistic, and she uses descriptive language to make the emotion feel like it is your own. Some of the events, like Elijah's almost too-perfect nature and Rocki's incredibly nice boss, are hard to believe, but even those things couldn't take away from this read for me. The strength of Rocki and Sasha's friendship, Rocki's family bonds, and the feelings of first real love made this book a homerun for me. The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is a heartwarming story of timeless friendship that will stay with me forever.
ARC provided.
October 6, 2018
Sigh. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I'm not the biggest contemporary romance fan. But every now and then, a book comes along (most of them are very gay, let's not lie) and it turns out to be something special. I didn't have high hopes for this one, not exactly, but I did think it would be the kind of emotional book that makes you value life, you know? Everyone needs one like that every now and again. The Last Wish of Sasha Cade holds up to expectations for whole 50 percent of the book. After it hits that mark, all you get is disgustingly sappy romance. If there something I hate more than I hate commercial radio stations, it's diabetes-inducing love scenes. "Oh my gooood, look at the way he blinks, the way he breaths, the way his hair grow! I want his babies. My toes are TINGLING." I'm not here for it. When a book, most of all a book that is portrayed as a book about grief, puts romance above all else, it makes me physically angry. The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is a book you can easily finish in one sitting if you had the time. It took me five days because I couldn't get though the last twenty percent without wanting to smash my phone against a wall. But that's a very 'me' problem. I don't think most people get anger management issues from teeth-rotting blabber. Seriously, this is probably why I'm single.
As I have mentioned above and as you may be aware of from reading the blurb, The Last Wish of Sasha Cade's main selling point is its focus on cancer, death, grief and eventual healing. I would have loved to read that. One of my classmates dropped out of school after being diagnosed with cancer last year. It wasn't pretty, truly, but I have never seen a stronger person. She still smiles a lot, posts pictures online, goes out. She's getting the most out of her life while she can and I adore that about her. In a way, Sasha reminded me of her. I have lost my grandpa to cancer. My grandma has it. I like books that don't alienate it, that don't portray it as the end of the world even though it often feels like one. Cancer is a topic that is anything but foreign to me. But as much as I wish it would have been the case, Sasha wasn't the main focus of the book. At first glance, I might have seem like she was, but when I sat down and really thought about it, she was nothing but a plot device. 320 pages and what do you find about her? That she was rich, liked her grandma and liked playing at Harry Potter at a luxurious children hang out. Wonderful. Where's any depth? No, Sasha was just the reason for our main character to spend her time obsessing over the love interest. When you ask someone to give you writing advice, the first thing that they tell you is that there has to be a reason behind everything your characters do. Jane Doe can't go to the forest and randomly find a dead body "just because." You catch my meaning? Sasha was the reason for them to meet, for them to spend time together, for them to even go to a freaking hotel and hang out. She was the reason why they had enough money and she was the reason why their plot progressed. It becomes painfully obvious in the second half of the book how insignificant Sasha's wishes really are once they do not align with what Raquel wants. This is a pure, unblemished romance book, don't be fooled by its facade. And that's why it gets two stars. Not because Raquel was annoying and super extra horny (ah, my toes are curling because he, wait for it, exhaled - I swear, if her toes didn't tingle a hundred times, I'll eat my leg) and Elijah was , above all else, boring, but because what should have been the main focus of the book, was turned into a way to further the love story. Yay for diversity, yes, but that’s not something that should be outstanding and praise-worthy, it’s something that should be natural and crucial.
A very minor not-really-wroth-mentioning side note - perhaps this is just me (a singular issue for the resident horror addict) but there's something about sending out videos that strikes me as inherently creepy.
Also, the writing isn't superb either. I'm giving it two stars for effort.
As I have mentioned above and as you may be aware of from reading the blurb, The Last Wish of Sasha Cade's main selling point is its focus on cancer, death, grief and eventual healing. I would have loved to read that. One of my classmates dropped out of school after being diagnosed with cancer last year. It wasn't pretty, truly, but I have never seen a stronger person. She still smiles a lot, posts pictures online, goes out. She's getting the most out of her life while she can and I adore that about her. In a way, Sasha reminded me of her. I have lost my grandpa to cancer. My grandma has it. I like books that don't alienate it, that don't portray it as the end of the world even though it often feels like one. Cancer is a topic that is anything but foreign to me. But as much as I wish it would have been the case, Sasha wasn't the main focus of the book. At first glance, I might have seem like she was, but when I sat down and really thought about it, she was nothing but a plot device. 320 pages and what do you find about her? That she was rich, liked her grandma and liked playing at Harry Potter at a luxurious children hang out. Wonderful. Where's any depth? No, Sasha was just the reason for our main character to spend her time obsessing over the love interest. When you ask someone to give you writing advice, the first thing that they tell you is that there has to be a reason behind everything your characters do. Jane Doe can't go to the forest and randomly find a dead body "just because." You catch my meaning? Sasha was the reason for them to meet, for them to spend time together, for them to even go to a freaking hotel and hang out. She was the reason why they had enough money and she was the reason why their plot progressed. It becomes painfully obvious in the second half of the book how insignificant Sasha's wishes really are once they do not align with what Raquel wants. This is a pure, unblemished romance book, don't be fooled by its facade. And that's why it gets two stars. Not because Raquel was annoying and super extra horny (ah, my toes are curling because he, wait for it, exhaled - I swear, if her toes didn't tingle a hundred times, I'll eat my leg) and Elijah was , above all else, boring, but because what should have been the main focus of the book, was turned into a way to further the love story. Yay for diversity, yes, but that’s not something that should be outstanding and praise-worthy, it’s something that should be natural and crucial.
A very minor not-really-wroth-mentioning side note - perhaps this is just me (a singular issue for the resident horror addict) but there's something about sending out videos that strikes me as inherently creepy.
Also, the writing isn't superb either. I'm giving it two stars for effort.
April 12, 2020
There’s no way I was leaving this story with anything but a puddle of feels with a title like The Last Wish of Sasha Cade but damn, I did not expect to feel as many thing as I did!
I’ve had this book on my TBR for ages but it took a pandemic to pick it up. What a bad choice I made in waiting because once I started, I did not want to stop! What a gift Cheyenne has given us readers, much like Sasha gave Raquel.
Losing your best friend is a traumatic experience, no matter what the circumstance. Losing your best friend to cancer during your senior year? Just not ok. We get a good sense of how important these girls are to each other from the get-go, even though we don’t spend much time with them before we lose Sasha. Not to worry, though, because she has a posthumous adventure for two of her people to take together.
Oh, did I mention those two people don’t know each other? Sasha, you genius.
This could have easily been your typical romance where the good girl (Raquel) saves the dark, angsty boy (Elijah) but that isn’t the story Cheyenne gave us. She dropped pieces of these characters along the way, allowing us to discover who they were through their actions. We, as the reader, get to draw our own conclusions. I fell for both of them as they fell for each other, with me wanting to break the fourth wall to cheer for them in person.
More heartwarming than sad, this is a unique take on friendship that stands out. I can’t wait to see what Cheyenne gives us next!
I’ve had this book on my TBR for ages but it took a pandemic to pick it up. What a bad choice I made in waiting because once I started, I did not want to stop! What a gift Cheyenne has given us readers, much like Sasha gave Raquel.
Losing your best friend is a traumatic experience, no matter what the circumstance. Losing your best friend to cancer during your senior year? Just not ok. We get a good sense of how important these girls are to each other from the get-go, even though we don’t spend much time with them before we lose Sasha. Not to worry, though, because she has a posthumous adventure for two of her people to take together.
Oh, did I mention those two people don’t know each other? Sasha, you genius.
This could have easily been your typical romance where the good girl (Raquel) saves the dark, angsty boy (Elijah) but that isn’t the story Cheyenne gave us. She dropped pieces of these characters along the way, allowing us to discover who they were through their actions. We, as the reader, get to draw our own conclusions. I fell for both of them as they fell for each other, with me wanting to break the fourth wall to cheer for them in person.
More heartwarming than sad, this is a unique take on friendship that stands out. I can’t wait to see what Cheyenne gives us next!
October 1, 2018
4.5 Stars
The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is a book full of heartfelt moments. I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did but I loved it! Such a moving story with a strong message. I wish more people knew of it!
I can't even count how many times I teared up while reading The Last Wish of Sasha Cade. It's about love, lost and hope. The story will make you feel- for the deep sorrow, the bitter realizations and the sweet possibilities. I was particularly fond of the innocent romance.
Sasha is an incredible character with a strong presence. Even after her death she's taking care of her best friend. I was so touched by what she planned for Raquel and the mystery boy. Sasha thought of everything.
Raquel wasn't confident like her best friend was but she knew herself well enough. I sympathized with how much she struggled to carry on without Sasha. For the most part Raquel was brave and didn't let anyone take advantage of her. There was one instance of hypocrisy but I let it go because of her young age.
I had an inkling of who Elijah might be. It wasn't hard to guess but I was excited to see how his identity would play into the story. Elijah was dealt a bad hand at life but he didn't let that lead him astray. He's a good boy and deserved good things/people.
As a fan of slow-burn romances I waited with eager anticipation for Elijah and Raquel to become a thing. They felt destined but happened in a natural way. The more time the two spent in each other's company (courtesy of Sasha) the closer together they grew. It was funny and swoony to see Raquel ogle Elijah. I think any teenage girl would react similarly ;)
The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is a book I will hold close to my heart. It's beautiful, it's sincere. I very much look forward to what Cheyanne Young writes next.
The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is a book full of heartfelt moments. I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did but I loved it! Such a moving story with a strong message. I wish more people knew of it!
I can't even count how many times I teared up while reading The Last Wish of Sasha Cade. It's about love, lost and hope. The story will make you feel- for the deep sorrow, the bitter realizations and the sweet possibilities. I was particularly fond of the innocent romance.
Sasha is an incredible character with a strong presence. Even after her death she's taking care of her best friend. I was so touched by what she planned for Raquel and the mystery boy. Sasha thought of everything.
Raquel wasn't confident like her best friend was but she knew herself well enough. I sympathized with how much she struggled to carry on without Sasha. For the most part Raquel was brave and didn't let anyone take advantage of her. There was one instance of hypocrisy but I let it go because of her young age.
I had an inkling of who Elijah might be. It wasn't hard to guess but I was excited to see how his identity would play into the story. Elijah was dealt a bad hand at life but he didn't let that lead him astray. He's a good boy and deserved good things/people.
As a fan of slow-burn romances I waited with eager anticipation for Elijah and Raquel to become a thing. They felt destined but happened in a natural way. The more time the two spent in each other's company (courtesy of Sasha) the closer together they grew. It was funny and swoony to see Raquel ogle Elijah. I think any teenage girl would react similarly ;)
The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is a book I will hold close to my heart. It's beautiful, it's sincere. I very much look forward to what Cheyanne Young writes next.
July 23, 2018
“Hello favorites! Here is your favorite dead person again with an adventure for you both.”
Sasha Cade is the bestest best friend Raquel could’ve ever wished for. Selfless, loving and ever caring and now- she is dying. While the entire school is forming some sort of ‘Dying Sasha-fanclub’, Raquel is enjoying the final moments she has with her bff.
The last wish of Sasha Cade is lovely; it’s a sad story wrapped in sarcasm, humour and a whole lot of love. Though the main character dies very quickly (that miiight be a spoiler.. ), the story continues. Teaching us that our life is not over once one of our favourite people dies.
The storyline is easy to follow, there is nothing very special going on and the characters are easy to love. Everything about this book makes it a lovely, quick read.
Sasha Cade is the bestest best friend Raquel could’ve ever wished for. Selfless, loving and ever caring and now- she is dying. While the entire school is forming some sort of ‘Dying Sasha-fanclub’, Raquel is enjoying the final moments she has with her bff.
The last wish of Sasha Cade is lovely; it’s a sad story wrapped in sarcasm, humour and a whole lot of love. Though the main character dies very quickly (that miiight be a spoiler.. ), the story continues. Teaching us that our life is not over once one of our favourite people dies.
The storyline is easy to follow, there is nothing very special going on and the characters are easy to love. Everything about this book makes it a lovely, quick read.
April 7, 2019
I went into this expecting "P.S. I Love You meets Since You've Been Gone" (which sounded pretty damn good) but the story turned out to be so much more than that. Young does a great job of giving Sasha (who dies near the beginning) a voice and a personality throughout this story. She serves as a guide to help her best friend Raquel and [spoiler] come to terms with her death and Young puts so many unique spins on this idea that the plot kept me guessing and the characters kept me flipping the pages until the end: Bonus factors: a realistic look at what some kids who grow up in the foster system go through and a very good dog :)
A heartfelt contemporary novel that touches on family dynamics, grief, and relationship issues. Highly recommended.
A heartfelt contemporary novel that touches on family dynamics, grief, and relationship issues. Highly recommended.
March 2, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
December 30, 2020
* Reread December 2020
Still one of my favorite stories. Only 4 chapters ito the book and I couldn't keep my tears at bay. And reading my initial review the only thing that has changed, is that it is on my favorites list now. Even with the small disappointment near the end... All the rest I still support.
* First read March 2019
4.5*
OMG, I so totally loved this book. This type of story is the drug I'm craving. The type I will never ever can get enough of. I just couldn't put it away and read it in one go till it started to get light outside again (Hello sleep deprived me). This book could have made it in to my all time favorites list, if it didn't let me down a little just before the ending.
I loved the idea that someone can so precariously plot a plan to help his/her best friend and family to cope with the grief and go on with their lives. Cherishing memories and making new at the same time without feeling guilty. To bring people together and give them hope for happiness, a better future or even hope.
It all seemed to be so nicely planned and thought trough that when I was almost at the end of the book I suddenly felt betrayed and abandoned. Suddenly what seemed a quiet important and huge twist in the story that had or could have a gigantic influence on someones life was described shallow and brief, like it wasn't that important. And okay the outcome was what you would expect or what you wish for Raquel and Elijah to happen. But the way it happens, seems so straight forward, so easy and I can't imagine something like that to be easy and simple at all.
And now I stop rambling because otherwise I will give away spoilers.
Still one of my favorite stories. Only 4 chapters ito the book and I couldn't keep my tears at bay. And reading my initial review the only thing that has changed, is that it is on my favorites list now. Even with the small disappointment near the end... All the rest I still support.
* First read March 2019
4.5*
OMG, I so totally loved this book. This type of story is the drug I'm craving. The type I will never ever can get enough of. I just couldn't put it away and read it in one go till it started to get light outside again (Hello sleep deprived me). This book could have made it in to my all time favorites list, if it didn't let me down a little just before the ending.
I loved the idea that someone can so precariously plot a plan to help his/her best friend and family to cope with the grief and go on with their lives. Cherishing memories and making new at the same time without feeling guilty. To bring people together and give them hope for happiness, a better future or even hope.
It all seemed to be so nicely planned and thought trough that when I was almost at the end of the book I suddenly felt betrayed and abandoned. Suddenly what seemed a quiet important and huge twist in the story that had or could have a gigantic influence on someones life was described shallow and brief, like it wasn't that important. And okay the outcome was what you would expect or what you wish for Raquel and Elijah to happen. But the way it happens, seems so straight forward, so easy and I can't imagine something like that to be easy and simple at all.
And now I stop rambling because otherwise I will give away spoilers.
March 3, 2018
I read an advanced copy of this book and loved it! Best friends Sasha and Raquel find balance in each other’s personalities and ambitions. When Sasha learns she has cancer, she leaves Raquel with one final gift – a series of notes and letters. The messages help Raquel remember the best parts of their friendship and also reveal a secret that Sasha has kept from everyone. In a story packed with emotional moments, Raquel looks back on a friendship that shaped her life and slowly finds ways to move forward.
May 21, 2019
5/5 Sterne
Jeden Tag ein Wort von dir
von Cheyanne Young
HarperCollins Germany
„Sasha ist gestorben, aber sie hat ihre beste Freundin nicht im Stich gelassen. Fast jeden Tag erhält Rocki eine Botschaft. Sie soll Sashas leiblichem Bruder Elijah erzählen, wer seine Schwester gewesen ist. Dafür hat Sasha einen Bootsauflug organisiert, einen DVD-Marathon mit ihren Lieblingsfilmen, ein Rollenspiel und einen Konzertbesuch. Nur eines hat sie nicht vorhergesehen: dass Rocki sich in Elijah verliebt.
»Jeden Tag ein Wort von dir wird dir das Herz brechen und es dann wieder heilen.« SPIEGEL-Bestsellerautorin C.C. Hunter“
Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley und dem HarperCollins Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar des Buches.
Dieses Buch geht unter die Haut und tief in die Seele. Es beschreibt den Umgang mit dem Verlust eines geliebten Menschen, eines Menschen der einem von Kindesbeinen an zur Seite stand. Wir haben hier die lebensfrohe Sasha, die eines Tages unheilbar erkrankt und es nur eine Frage der Zeit ist bis sie sterben wird und dann ist da noch ihre beste Freundin Raquel. Sie ist ein eher in sich gekehrter Typ, der nichts mit der Oberflächlichkeit der Welt anzufangen weiß und sich lieber zurückzieht. Um ihr die Zeit nach ihrem Ableben leichter zu machen, hat Sasha ihr kleine Videobotschaften hinterlassen als ihr Erbe, mit Aufgaben die sie erfüllen soll. Aber es gibt eine Bedingung bei der Erfüllung. Sasha darf sich nicht allein daran machen, sondern muss Sashas Bruder darin einbeziehen. Sasha hatte auch Emails und Briefe hinterlassen um ihrer Freundin wieder Lebensmut auf den Weg zu geben. Gemeinsam erfüllen die beiden jungen Menschen nun die letzten Wünsche von Sasha. Wodurch sie in den Gedanken der beiden nochmals aufzuerstehen scheint. Dieses Buch ist eine Achterbahnfahrt der Emotionen und dabei so realistisch und nachvollziehbar geschrieben, dass es dem Leser nicht leicht gemacht wird den Verbrauch an Tempos gering zu halten. Man wird unweigerlich mitten hinein gezogen und vollkommen involvert in das Geschehen und ich glaube jeder der schon einen geliebten Menschen verloren hat, wünscht sich insgeheim solche Botschaften zu erhalten. Sasha ist absolut bewundernswert für das was sie für ihre Lieben, die Familie und alle die ihr wichtig waren getan hat, obwohl sie selbst diejenige war, die am meisten verlor. Aber nicht nur sie verlor durch ihren Tod, denn alle um sie herum verloren einen Teil ihrerselbst und genau an diesem Punkt setzte sie an um ihnen zu helfen. Eine absolut rührende und emotionale Geschichte, alle Empfindungen und Emotionen übertrugen sich beim Lesen 1:1 direkt auf den Leser. Ob es Freude oder Trauer war, man war so tief in diesem Buch involviert, dass man keine Chance hatte sich dem Geschehen zu entziehen, es sei denn man hätte das Buch zur Seite gelegt und nie wieder aufgeschlagen. Doch selbst nach beendigen des Buches kann man die Geschichte nicht einfach vergessen oder ad acta legen. Sie wühlt auf, beschäftigt und zerreist einen. Der eindringliche, emotionale Schreibstil der Autorin trägt sein übriges dazu bei. Ich denke dieses Buch ist ein absolutes Lesemuss und erinnert mich stark an Romane von Cecelia Ahern. Also Leute lest dieses Buch aber habt einige Packungen Tempos bei der Hand. Von mir gibt es die volle Punktzahl.
#youngadult #jugendbuch #rezension #rezensionsexemplar #roman #bookstagram #cheyanneyoung #harpercollins #harpercollinsverlag #bücher #bücherliebe #booklover #reading #bookadict #jedentageinwortvondir #leseratte #bücherwurm #bookworm #bookaholic #lesen #lesenmachtglücklich #instabooks #booknerd #readingtime #ilovebooks #netgalley #netgalleyde #ichliebelesen #buchnerd #ichliebebücher
Jeden Tag ein Wort von dir
von Cheyanne Young
HarperCollins Germany
„Sasha ist gestorben, aber sie hat ihre beste Freundin nicht im Stich gelassen. Fast jeden Tag erhält Rocki eine Botschaft. Sie soll Sashas leiblichem Bruder Elijah erzählen, wer seine Schwester gewesen ist. Dafür hat Sasha einen Bootsauflug organisiert, einen DVD-Marathon mit ihren Lieblingsfilmen, ein Rollenspiel und einen Konzertbesuch. Nur eines hat sie nicht vorhergesehen: dass Rocki sich in Elijah verliebt.
»Jeden Tag ein Wort von dir wird dir das Herz brechen und es dann wieder heilen.« SPIEGEL-Bestsellerautorin C.C. Hunter“
Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley und dem HarperCollins Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar des Buches.
Dieses Buch geht unter die Haut und tief in die Seele. Es beschreibt den Umgang mit dem Verlust eines geliebten Menschen, eines Menschen der einem von Kindesbeinen an zur Seite stand. Wir haben hier die lebensfrohe Sasha, die eines Tages unheilbar erkrankt und es nur eine Frage der Zeit ist bis sie sterben wird und dann ist da noch ihre beste Freundin Raquel. Sie ist ein eher in sich gekehrter Typ, der nichts mit der Oberflächlichkeit der Welt anzufangen weiß und sich lieber zurückzieht. Um ihr die Zeit nach ihrem Ableben leichter zu machen, hat Sasha ihr kleine Videobotschaften hinterlassen als ihr Erbe, mit Aufgaben die sie erfüllen soll. Aber es gibt eine Bedingung bei der Erfüllung. Sasha darf sich nicht allein daran machen, sondern muss Sashas Bruder darin einbeziehen. Sasha hatte auch Emails und Briefe hinterlassen um ihrer Freundin wieder Lebensmut auf den Weg zu geben. Gemeinsam erfüllen die beiden jungen Menschen nun die letzten Wünsche von Sasha. Wodurch sie in den Gedanken der beiden nochmals aufzuerstehen scheint. Dieses Buch ist eine Achterbahnfahrt der Emotionen und dabei so realistisch und nachvollziehbar geschrieben, dass es dem Leser nicht leicht gemacht wird den Verbrauch an Tempos gering zu halten. Man wird unweigerlich mitten hinein gezogen und vollkommen involvert in das Geschehen und ich glaube jeder der schon einen geliebten Menschen verloren hat, wünscht sich insgeheim solche Botschaften zu erhalten. Sasha ist absolut bewundernswert für das was sie für ihre Lieben, die Familie und alle die ihr wichtig waren getan hat, obwohl sie selbst diejenige war, die am meisten verlor. Aber nicht nur sie verlor durch ihren Tod, denn alle um sie herum verloren einen Teil ihrerselbst und genau an diesem Punkt setzte sie an um ihnen zu helfen. Eine absolut rührende und emotionale Geschichte, alle Empfindungen und Emotionen übertrugen sich beim Lesen 1:1 direkt auf den Leser. Ob es Freude oder Trauer war, man war so tief in diesem Buch involviert, dass man keine Chance hatte sich dem Geschehen zu entziehen, es sei denn man hätte das Buch zur Seite gelegt und nie wieder aufgeschlagen. Doch selbst nach beendigen des Buches kann man die Geschichte nicht einfach vergessen oder ad acta legen. Sie wühlt auf, beschäftigt und zerreist einen. Der eindringliche, emotionale Schreibstil der Autorin trägt sein übriges dazu bei. Ich denke dieses Buch ist ein absolutes Lesemuss und erinnert mich stark an Romane von Cecelia Ahern. Also Leute lest dieses Buch aber habt einige Packungen Tempos bei der Hand. Von mir gibt es die volle Punktzahl.
#youngadult #jugendbuch #rezension #rezensionsexemplar #roman #bookstagram #cheyanneyoung #harpercollins #harpercollinsverlag #bücher #bücherliebe #booklover #reading #bookadict #jedentageinwortvondir #leseratte #bücherwurm #bookworm #bookaholic #lesen #lesenmachtglücklich #instabooks #booknerd #readingtime #ilovebooks #netgalley #netgalleyde #ichliebelesen #buchnerd #ichliebebücher
August 4, 2018
I got sent this book in exchange for a honest review, all my opinions are my own and thank you so much to the publishers for sending me this book!
In this book we follow Raquel, who has recently lost her best friend to cancer and is now left with a video of Sasha telling her to show her biological estranged brother around the places of her life for him to have a better understanding of his sister.
So this book worked really well for me.
Raquel was such a fantastic character, she was so fun to follow and also I loved her realistic point of view.
Elijah was so realistic as well, he was still mysterious and flirty but also a massive softy and when he cried at the start I was in tears as well.
The romance was super good and I love how Sasha left little videos for Raquel and Elijah kinda hinting you two should be together and it was just hilarious.
The chemistry was really good and the pacing of their relationship was also very gradual and real.
I loved how we didn't dive into the friendship dynamic but slowly learned more about the two girls as we got deeper into the book which I can really appreciate.
I also really just liked the family aspect and the fact that both families were really supportive, had their flaws but were still so there for Raquel and Elijah nearer the end.
Overall I would highly suggest you pick up this book because it rocks! It hits shelves 2nd October 2018 so pick it up.
In this book we follow Raquel, who has recently lost her best friend to cancer and is now left with a video of Sasha telling her to show her biological estranged brother around the places of her life for him to have a better understanding of his sister.
So this book worked really well for me.
Raquel was such a fantastic character, she was so fun to follow and also I loved her realistic point of view.
Elijah was so realistic as well, he was still mysterious and flirty but also a massive softy and when he cried at the start I was in tears as well.
The romance was super good and I love how Sasha left little videos for Raquel and Elijah kinda hinting you two should be together and it was just hilarious.
The chemistry was really good and the pacing of their relationship was also very gradual and real.
I loved how we didn't dive into the friendship dynamic but slowly learned more about the two girls as we got deeper into the book which I can really appreciate.
I also really just liked the family aspect and the fact that both families were really supportive, had their flaws but were still so there for Raquel and Elijah nearer the end.
Overall I would highly suggest you pick up this book because it rocks! It hits shelves 2nd October 2018 so pick it up.
November 29, 2018
I loved the values of friendship in this story. I think everyone deserves the kind of friendship these lovely girls had.
As the story progresses it was a huge thing of slow but progress. You don’t see much in the way of grief stages but you do notice that each in some ways learns the acceptance and happiness in which to move forward.
The secret of the boy was pretty obvious without saying so I wasn’t to impressed with that tid bit BUT it works in favor for the story and let’s more escalate towards the end. With that being said I wasn’t much of a fan of the last 4/5 chapters it was lack luster more of a wham bam ok that’s a wrap. I wish something else could’ve happened to make that work better, and I’ve sat in this ending for almost a day and still can’t figure out why it feels empty. I had an incredible adventure with these two and the family and I don’t know why I feel that empty robbed feeling. It’s a happy ever after but not in my head.
As the story progresses it was a huge thing of slow but progress. You don’t see much in the way of grief stages but you do notice that each in some ways learns the acceptance and happiness in which to move forward.
The secret of the boy was pretty obvious without saying so I wasn’t to impressed with that tid bit BUT it works in favor for the story and let’s more escalate towards the end. With that being said I wasn’t much of a fan of the last 4/5 chapters it was lack luster more of a wham bam ok that’s a wrap. I wish something else could’ve happened to make that work better, and I’ve sat in this ending for almost a day and still can’t figure out why it feels empty. I had an incredible adventure with these two and the family and I don’t know why I feel that empty robbed feeling. It’s a happy ever after but not in my head.
February 10, 2020
Meine Meinung:
Vorab möchte ich mich noch einmal herzlich beim Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar bedanken. Ich habe mich wirklich sehr darüber gefreut!
Besonders angesprochen an dem Buch hat mich natürlich erst einmal das Cover, denn es ist wirklich wunderschön und ein echter Hingucker. Daran kann man einfach nicht vorbeigehen. Nachdem ich auch noch den Klappentext gelesen hatte und dieser mich auch sofort für sich gewinnen konnte, war für mich klar: Das Buch musst ich lesen!
Schon von der ersten Seite an konnte mich das Buch packen und mit sich reißen. Die Geschichte konnte mich einfach so tief berühren, wie schon länger kein Buch mehr und ich freute mich jedes mal darauf, in dem Buch weiterzulesen. Denn auch wenn es auf der einen Seite natürlich ein Thema beinhaltet, welches jetzt nicht gerade vor Fröhlichkeit schreit und das Buch vor allem auch mit Trauer zu tun hat, so fand ich die Umsetzung einfach grandios und das Buch an sich auch total schön. Es ist niemals schön einen geliebten Menschen zu verlieren und verständlicherweise bricht für Rocki eine Welt zusammen, als ihre beste Freundin Sasha stirbt, aber ich muss sagen, dass ich Sashas Aufgaben und Briefe einfach so toll und süß fand, dass man gar nicht mehr so sehr an die Trauer denkt und Rocki dadurch auch ein Stück von ihrer besten Freundin behält. Das machte die Geschichte auch zu etwas ganz Besonderem, denn dadurch lernen wir auch Sashas Leben besser kennen.
Raquel, auch genannt Rocki, war mir von Anfang an einfach sympathisch, ich mochte sie total gerne und konnte mich super in sie hineinversetzen. Besonders toll fand ich einfach auch, dass man gemerkt hat, wie wichtig ihr ihre beste Freundin war und was sie alles für sie getan hat oder auch getan hätte. Es war auch schön sie dabei zu begleiten, wie sie in dem Buch teilweise über sich hinauswächst und sich auch einigen Gefahren stellt. Es war wirklich toll, sie auf ihrer Reise zu begleiten und ich weiß jetzt schon, dass ich das Buch definitiv noch öfter lesen werde. Auch Elijah mochte ich wirklich gerne. Er hat eine ziemlich aufopferungsvolle Art und kümmert sich sehr rührend um Rocki. Er konnte sich einfach total in mein Herz schleichen. Auch die Liebesgeschichte der Beiden konnte mich total abholen, es ging nicht zu schnell, sondern entwickelte sich langsam, was mir sehr gefallen hat.
Generell mochte ich den Verlauf der Geschichte sehr gerne. Ich hatte nicht einmal das Gefühl, dass irgendetwas zu schnell vonstattenging. Hier hat die Autorin wirklich großartige Arbeit geleistet, denn es war alles total stimmig, was ich wirklich bewundernswert finde, denn es fehlte mir wirklich an nichts, obwohl das Buch auch nicht so viele Seiten aufweist. Ich habe da auch schon Bücher gelesen, bei denen das anders war. Dieses hier war aber wirklich sehr tiefgründig und ich habe auf jeder Seite mitgefühlt und alles in mich aufgesogen. Die Aufgaben von Sasha haben mein Herz erweicht und ich musste bei dem Buch auch nicht nur einmal weinen, weil ich das Ganze einfach so süß fand. So hatte man wirklich das Gefühl, dass Sasha einfach noch nicht ganz weg ist und das war unglaublich schön. Auch das Ende war für mich perfekt, es hat die Geschichte schön abgerundet und es war auch nicht zu schnell vorbei. Einen schöneren Abschluss dieser wunderschönen, berührenden und für mich grandiosen Geschichte, hätte es nicht geben können. Ich kann an dieser Stelle nur eine klare Leseempfehlung aussprechen!
Fazit:
Ein wunderschönes, berührendes und tiefgründiges Buch, das ich bestimmt noch einige Male lesen werde. Ich habe es von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite geliebt und vergebe deswegen auch verdiente 5/5 Sternen.
Vorab möchte ich mich noch einmal herzlich beim Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar bedanken. Ich habe mich wirklich sehr darüber gefreut!
Besonders angesprochen an dem Buch hat mich natürlich erst einmal das Cover, denn es ist wirklich wunderschön und ein echter Hingucker. Daran kann man einfach nicht vorbeigehen. Nachdem ich auch noch den Klappentext gelesen hatte und dieser mich auch sofort für sich gewinnen konnte, war für mich klar: Das Buch musst ich lesen!
Schon von der ersten Seite an konnte mich das Buch packen und mit sich reißen. Die Geschichte konnte mich einfach so tief berühren, wie schon länger kein Buch mehr und ich freute mich jedes mal darauf, in dem Buch weiterzulesen. Denn auch wenn es auf der einen Seite natürlich ein Thema beinhaltet, welches jetzt nicht gerade vor Fröhlichkeit schreit und das Buch vor allem auch mit Trauer zu tun hat, so fand ich die Umsetzung einfach grandios und das Buch an sich auch total schön. Es ist niemals schön einen geliebten Menschen zu verlieren und verständlicherweise bricht für Rocki eine Welt zusammen, als ihre beste Freundin Sasha stirbt, aber ich muss sagen, dass ich Sashas Aufgaben und Briefe einfach so toll und süß fand, dass man gar nicht mehr so sehr an die Trauer denkt und Rocki dadurch auch ein Stück von ihrer besten Freundin behält. Das machte die Geschichte auch zu etwas ganz Besonderem, denn dadurch lernen wir auch Sashas Leben besser kennen.
Raquel, auch genannt Rocki, war mir von Anfang an einfach sympathisch, ich mochte sie total gerne und konnte mich super in sie hineinversetzen. Besonders toll fand ich einfach auch, dass man gemerkt hat, wie wichtig ihr ihre beste Freundin war und was sie alles für sie getan hat oder auch getan hätte. Es war auch schön sie dabei zu begleiten, wie sie in dem Buch teilweise über sich hinauswächst und sich auch einigen Gefahren stellt. Es war wirklich toll, sie auf ihrer Reise zu begleiten und ich weiß jetzt schon, dass ich das Buch definitiv noch öfter lesen werde. Auch Elijah mochte ich wirklich gerne. Er hat eine ziemlich aufopferungsvolle Art und kümmert sich sehr rührend um Rocki. Er konnte sich einfach total in mein Herz schleichen. Auch die Liebesgeschichte der Beiden konnte mich total abholen, es ging nicht zu schnell, sondern entwickelte sich langsam, was mir sehr gefallen hat.
Generell mochte ich den Verlauf der Geschichte sehr gerne. Ich hatte nicht einmal das Gefühl, dass irgendetwas zu schnell vonstattenging. Hier hat die Autorin wirklich großartige Arbeit geleistet, denn es war alles total stimmig, was ich wirklich bewundernswert finde, denn es fehlte mir wirklich an nichts, obwohl das Buch auch nicht so viele Seiten aufweist. Ich habe da auch schon Bücher gelesen, bei denen das anders war. Dieses hier war aber wirklich sehr tiefgründig und ich habe auf jeder Seite mitgefühlt und alles in mich aufgesogen. Die Aufgaben von Sasha haben mein Herz erweicht und ich musste bei dem Buch auch nicht nur einmal weinen, weil ich das Ganze einfach so süß fand. So hatte man wirklich das Gefühl, dass Sasha einfach noch nicht ganz weg ist und das war unglaublich schön. Auch das Ende war für mich perfekt, es hat die Geschichte schön abgerundet und es war auch nicht zu schnell vorbei. Einen schöneren Abschluss dieser wunderschönen, berührenden und für mich grandiosen Geschichte, hätte es nicht geben können. Ich kann an dieser Stelle nur eine klare Leseempfehlung aussprechen!
Fazit:
Ein wunderschönes, berührendes und tiefgründiges Buch, das ich bestimmt noch einige Male lesen werde. Ich habe es von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite geliebt und vergebe deswegen auch verdiente 5/5 Sternen.
July 7, 2018
Louden Nelson was a slave who came to California and was able to buy his freedom by working in the gold fields. From there, he went to Santa Cruz, where he was one of only two black men in the entire city. He was very concerned about education, and when he found that the local school had closed, because of lack of funds, he left his entire estate, all $372, to the school board to make sure it reopened. The school was named after him, is now a community center.
That is local history, to where I live. Kids are taught state history and local history in school to give them a connection, to know what came before.
Local history, is important to world building. We often only think about world building with fantasy stories, not contemporary stories, but in this book, The Last Wish of Sasha Cade, the author has taken a real town that was founded by a former slave, Peyton Roberts, and taken it from being a ghost town, which it now is, to being a town with residences and shops, such as Izzy's Flowers, where Raquel, the main character, ends up working.
She also brings in a real church, Mount Horeb Baptist Church, a church that is the center of this now ghost town, a church that ends up being important in the story.
(I created the image above, for Instagram, because I thought the book deserved novel aesthetics.
This is a story of two children, siblings, separated, not at birth, but when they were very young. This is also the story of first love, and this is also the story of death.
When I originally read what this book was about, I rolled my eyes. I don't usually like love stories, and it sounded sort of hocky that Sasha would make Raquel do her last wishes, after she died.
But, the book hooked me, pulled me in, made me morn Sasha, and made me feel what Raquel was feeling, both for the death of her friend, as well as for the brother that Sasha never got to meet.
It is a journey, sort of story, the kind I don't usually like, but the journey was of memories. Sasha wanted to have her bother Elijah, know everything there was to know about her, and so, she has them go on missions, to recreate Sasha's childhood.
It is a real, and true and delightful journey. I loved that Sasha and Raquel's favorite movies were also some of mine, Ever After, The Princess Bride, Mean Girls, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
This is a solid 5 star, but I have one little quibble, which is also a spoiler .
#LastWishOfSashaCade,The #NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
That is local history, to where I live. Kids are taught state history and local history in school to give them a connection, to know what came before.
Local history, is important to world building. We often only think about world building with fantasy stories, not contemporary stories, but in this book, The Last Wish of Sasha Cade, the author has taken a real town that was founded by a former slave, Peyton Roberts, and taken it from being a ghost town, which it now is, to being a town with residences and shops, such as Izzy's Flowers, where Raquel, the main character, ends up working.
She also brings in a real church, Mount Horeb Baptist Church, a church that is the center of this now ghost town, a church that ends up being important in the story.
(I created the image above, for Instagram, because I thought the book deserved novel aesthetics.
This is a story of two children, siblings, separated, not at birth, but when they were very young. This is also the story of first love, and this is also the story of death.
When I originally read what this book was about, I rolled my eyes. I don't usually like love stories, and it sounded sort of hocky that Sasha would make Raquel do her last wishes, after she died.
But, the book hooked me, pulled me in, made me morn Sasha, and made me feel what Raquel was feeling, both for the death of her friend, as well as for the brother that Sasha never got to meet.
It is a journey, sort of story, the kind I don't usually like, but the journey was of memories. Sasha wanted to have her bother Elijah, know everything there was to know about her, and so, she has them go on missions, to recreate Sasha's childhood.
It is a real, and true and delightful journey. I loved that Sasha and Raquel's favorite movies were also some of mine, Ever After, The Princess Bride, Mean Girls, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
This is a solid 5 star, but I have one little quibble, which is also a spoiler .
#LastWishOfSashaCade,The #NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
September 10, 2018
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this!
3.5*
raquel just lost her best friend, sasha, to cancer. but instead of grieving and throwing herself into life without her best friend, sasha has something planned from the grave. through letters and e-mails, raquel discovers things she never knew about her best friend, herself and the world she lives in.
i went into this expecting a hard hitting, sad contemporary. and it wasn't? despite the synopsis, and the fact that the subject matter is literally the death of a loved one, this didn't strike me as sad, or super hard hitting. i think it was the writing that did this. don't get me wrong, this book definitely had me in my feelings. i teared up, and i felt for the characters, but i don't feel that it was written in a way that has a huge emotional impact on you.
okay so, the characters. our narrator is raquel, who is, understandably, very sad. and i honestly feel like that's all i can say about her. i never felt like she was whole, she just kind of felt like a piece. which okay, considering the fact that she's grieving her best friend's death, i can understand, but usually even those characters i have an image of in my head - i don't have one of raquel.
sasha, even in death, manages to be more interesting and distinguishable than raquel. i think where raquel lacked in herself, she made up for in sasha. because it is through raquel, and sasha's letters and e-mails, that we get to know sasha. sasha was fire, where raquel seemed to be ashes.
elijah, sasha's biological brother, was also a lot more interesting than raquel. i think both he and sasha were/are forces of nature, and it really showed in him.
to pin point where this book went wrong for me, i think it's the writing. it felt like it was lacking something. but don't get me wrong, i did actually enjoy the book. i liked the story, and aside from our sort of boring main character, i liked following the characters.
i hate saying books are average and nothing special, because obviously they are something special! hello! it's a published book! that in itself is something special, but this book was just a little above okay. it was good - not good enough to trigger any strong feelings, but it was good.
3.5*
raquel just lost her best friend, sasha, to cancer. but instead of grieving and throwing herself into life without her best friend, sasha has something planned from the grave. through letters and e-mails, raquel discovers things she never knew about her best friend, herself and the world she lives in.
i went into this expecting a hard hitting, sad contemporary. and it wasn't? despite the synopsis, and the fact that the subject matter is literally the death of a loved one, this didn't strike me as sad, or super hard hitting. i think it was the writing that did this. don't get me wrong, this book definitely had me in my feelings. i teared up, and i felt for the characters, but i don't feel that it was written in a way that has a huge emotional impact on you.
okay so, the characters. our narrator is raquel, who is, understandably, very sad. and i honestly feel like that's all i can say about her. i never felt like she was whole, she just kind of felt like a piece. which okay, considering the fact that she's grieving her best friend's death, i can understand, but usually even those characters i have an image of in my head - i don't have one of raquel.
sasha, even in death, manages to be more interesting and distinguishable than raquel. i think where raquel lacked in herself, she made up for in sasha. because it is through raquel, and sasha's letters and e-mails, that we get to know sasha. sasha was fire, where raquel seemed to be ashes.
elijah, sasha's biological brother, was also a lot more interesting than raquel. i think both he and sasha were/are forces of nature, and it really showed in him.
to pin point where this book went wrong for me, i think it's the writing. it felt like it was lacking something. but don't get me wrong, i did actually enjoy the book. i liked the story, and aside from our sort of boring main character, i liked following the characters.
i hate saying books are average and nothing special, because obviously they are something special! hello! it's a published book! that in itself is something special, but this book was just a little above okay. it was good - not good enough to trigger any strong feelings, but it was good.
August 5, 2018
This was cute! I already cried during the first few chapters, which never happens. It had a great ending and was a quick read! :)
- BooktubeAthon 2018 book 10! 🙊
- BooktubeAthon 2018 book 10! 🙊
July 27, 2019
Sasha war die beste Freundin von Rocki, doch nun ist sie gestorben und Rocki bleibt alleine zurück. Sasha war der wichtigste Mensch in ihrem Leben, sie haben alles zusammen gemacht so haben sie z.B auch Sashas Beerdigung zusammen geplant, den durch eine Krankheit war abzusehen, dass Sasha sterben wird. So hatte Sasha auch genung Zeit, ihren Plan in die Tat umzusetzen. Sie möchte nämlich unbedingt, das Rocki ihren biologischen Bruder Elija. Sodass die beiden sich gegenseitig halt geben können und das so Elijah durch Rocki, seine Schwester kennenlernt. Dabei hat sie sich so einiges einfallen lassen und Rocki und Elijah kommen sich immer näher...
Das hört sich nach einer richtig tollen Geschichte an? So richtig mit Gefühl und Herzschmerz.Und das Cover ist auch ein Traum. Doch leider hat mich die Geschichte von Rocki und Elijah kalt gelassen. Die Gefühle von Rocki wurden gut aus der Ich-Perspektive übermittelt, man bekam einen Einblick wie es ihr geht nach dem Tod ihrer besten Freundin. Und Rocki sowie Elijah, der Bruder von Sasha waren mir auch sympathisch, es wären nicht diese Art von Protagonistinnen, die man am liebsten erwürgen würde ^^
Aber die Lovestory die sich langsam zwischen den beiden entwickelt, konnte mich nicht packen. Es war nett zu lesen und auch unterhaltsam, aber nicht fesselnd oder stark berührend für mich.
Die Geschichte sticht für mich leider nicht heraus und konnte mich einfach nicht mitreißen. Vielleicht war es auch einfach nicht mein Buch. Denn ich kann auch nicht sagen, dass etwas wirklich schlecht war. Deswegen, wenn euch das Buch interessiert, bildet euch eure eigene Meinung.
Das hört sich nach einer richtig tollen Geschichte an? So richtig mit Gefühl und Herzschmerz.Und das Cover ist auch ein Traum. Doch leider hat mich die Geschichte von Rocki und Elijah kalt gelassen. Die Gefühle von Rocki wurden gut aus der Ich-Perspektive übermittelt, man bekam einen Einblick wie es ihr geht nach dem Tod ihrer besten Freundin. Und Rocki sowie Elijah, der Bruder von Sasha waren mir auch sympathisch, es wären nicht diese Art von Protagonistinnen, die man am liebsten erwürgen würde ^^
Aber die Lovestory die sich langsam zwischen den beiden entwickelt, konnte mich nicht packen. Es war nett zu lesen und auch unterhaltsam, aber nicht fesselnd oder stark berührend für mich.
Die Geschichte sticht für mich leider nicht heraus und konnte mich einfach nicht mitreißen. Vielleicht war es auch einfach nicht mein Buch. Denn ich kann auch nicht sagen, dass etwas wirklich schlecht war. Deswegen, wenn euch das Buch interessiert, bildet euch eure eigene Meinung.
August 12, 2018
A powerful beginning hallmarks what can only be described as a beautiful, heartbreaking and very sweet story. A story of sad endings transformed into just-the-beginnings, a story of broken hearts slowly healing, a story of friendship bonds so strong that time nor death holds any sway. The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is an ode to friendship.
Raquel knew this day was coming, but the death of her best friend Sasha still hits her hard. In the midst of her grief she receives a surprise letter from Sasha outlining a series of adventures that will unfold over the next few weeks - a scavenger hunt of memories and fond moments. But Sasha has one other big secret that she shares with Raquel - a boy with whom she shared a special connection. As Elijah and Raquel complete Sasha’s adventures, they become close, brought together through shared grief. But a future together would mean revealing Sasha’s secret.
The Last Wish of Sasha Cade had me tearing up in the very first chapter. Really. This book should come with a warning not to start reading it in public. The depth of Sasha and Raquel’s friendship is clear right from the start and that makes their parting and Raquel’s grief all the sharper. What starts out sad quickly morphs to sweet and sentimental as Raquel meets Elijah and they begin Sasha adventure trail, sharing old memories made new and touching little moments.
Raquel and Elijah are comfortable together almost from the moment they meet. There is an attraction, certainly, but they start as people sharing a friendship and then a loss and that makes their romance more slow burn than hot sizzle. For those concerned about betrayal, Elijah and Sasha’s relationship was not romantic at all.
Elijah quickly became my favourite character. His story of a childhood that was a sharp contrast to Sasha’s, the challenges he has overcome and his goals for the future really kept me hooked to the story. While Raquel for the most part is a simple character, still grieving her best friend and eager to help Elijah, at times she would boss Elijah around or continually whine about his delayed communication - sometimes sounding very much like a spoiled brat - which lessened my interest in her story. The book is written in first person from Raquel’s perspective, which limits the story to Raquel’s feelings and interpretation of events.
The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is a fun and sweet story of love, celebrating the love of best friends and the love that can grow in the hurt of loss.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Raquel knew this day was coming, but the death of her best friend Sasha still hits her hard. In the midst of her grief she receives a surprise letter from Sasha outlining a series of adventures that will unfold over the next few weeks - a scavenger hunt of memories and fond moments. But Sasha has one other big secret that she shares with Raquel - a boy with whom she shared a special connection. As Elijah and Raquel complete Sasha’s adventures, they become close, brought together through shared grief. But a future together would mean revealing Sasha’s secret.
The Last Wish of Sasha Cade had me tearing up in the very first chapter. Really. This book should come with a warning not to start reading it in public. The depth of Sasha and Raquel’s friendship is clear right from the start and that makes their parting and Raquel’s grief all the sharper. What starts out sad quickly morphs to sweet and sentimental as Raquel meets Elijah and they begin Sasha adventure trail, sharing old memories made new and touching little moments.
Raquel and Elijah are comfortable together almost from the moment they meet. There is an attraction, certainly, but they start as people sharing a friendship and then a loss and that makes their romance more slow burn than hot sizzle. For those concerned about betrayal, Elijah and Sasha’s relationship was not romantic at all.
Elijah quickly became my favourite character. His story of a childhood that was a sharp contrast to Sasha’s, the challenges he has overcome and his goals for the future really kept me hooked to the story. While Raquel for the most part is a simple character, still grieving her best friend and eager to help Elijah, at times she would boss Elijah around or continually whine about his delayed communication - sometimes sounding very much like a spoiled brat - which lessened my interest in her story. The book is written in first person from Raquel’s perspective, which limits the story to Raquel’s feelings and interpretation of events.
The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is a fun and sweet story of love, celebrating the love of best friends and the love that can grow in the hurt of loss.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
November 3, 2018
All my reviews can be found at: http://jessicasreadingroom.com
**This review will post November 5, 2018
~~~~~~~~
The Last Wish of Sasha Cade captures everything it intends to: Friendship, love, loss, grief, and new beginnings. From the start you are pulled into Sasha and Raquel’s friendship. They are true best friends about to be separated because Sasha has cancer. You know they would have been best friends into adulthood. Not many people get to experience that.
Though we only briefly meet Sasha, we care about both her and Raquel and what will happen next. When Raquel starts receiving the communications from Sasha from beyond the grave, you want to know what the next adventure will be. Sasha herself helps Raquel through the grieving process; Sasha shares a secret that she was unable to tell Raquel while she was alive.
This is a truly touching read and one I will not forget. I surprised myself by not tearing up at all…Until I read the epilogue…. Though a complete story, I would love a second book where Raquel continues to receive letters from Sasha throughout the important events in her life. Even though death separates them, you can see that these two girls are BFF’s for life.
Thank you so much to KCP Loft for my copy I received! I really enjoyed this read.
**This review will post November 5, 2018
~~~~~~~~
The Last Wish of Sasha Cade captures everything it intends to: Friendship, love, loss, grief, and new beginnings. From the start you are pulled into Sasha and Raquel’s friendship. They are true best friends about to be separated because Sasha has cancer. You know they would have been best friends into adulthood. Not many people get to experience that.
Though we only briefly meet Sasha, we care about both her and Raquel and what will happen next. When Raquel starts receiving the communications from Sasha from beyond the grave, you want to know what the next adventure will be. Sasha herself helps Raquel through the grieving process; Sasha shares a secret that she was unable to tell Raquel while she was alive.
This is a truly touching read and one I will not forget. I surprised myself by not tearing up at all…Until I read the epilogue…. Though a complete story, I would love a second book where Raquel continues to receive letters from Sasha throughout the important events in her life. Even though death separates them, you can see that these two girls are BFF’s for life.
Thank you so much to KCP Loft for my copy I received! I really enjoyed this read.
October 1, 2018
I started reading this book and Sasha Cade dies in chapter one. My first thought was, oh no, it's going to be a sad book about her friend dying and I'm going to cry the whole time. I'm not a fan of crying books because they are so sad and too true. But something about the writing made it difficult for me to stop reading.
So I kept reading, and reading, and reading until I finished. And yes, there were tears. But I was okay with that.
This story, with all the feels, about a girl trying to recover from the loss of her best friend, meeting a boy, and learning about life and what matters most, is now one of my favorites. I loved learning about Sasha right along Raquel and Elijah, and I feel like I lost my best friend along with Raquel. That's the mark of a great author. One who can pull you so far into the story that you are left feeling hollow when the book ends. Not only is the story over, you no longer have the friends you just made along the way, and you feel raw.
I LOVED IT.
So I kept reading, and reading, and reading until I finished. And yes, there were tears. But I was okay with that.
This story, with all the feels, about a girl trying to recover from the loss of her best friend, meeting a boy, and learning about life and what matters most, is now one of my favorites. I loved learning about Sasha right along Raquel and Elijah, and I feel like I lost my best friend along with Raquel. That's the mark of a great author. One who can pull you so far into the story that you are left feeling hollow when the book ends. Not only is the story over, you no longer have the friends you just made along the way, and you feel raw.
I LOVED IT.
August 14, 2018
Hmm, I'm slightly mixed on this one. I think there are a fair amount of pros and cons but I was happy with the ending... so that always leaves me with a positive feeling ;) I didn't love the relationship development or the main characters that much initially, but they did slooowly grow on me. I felt like Raquel put Sasha on a pedestal, which I obviously understand to an extent, but c'mon - this girl never did a single thing wrong in her life?! Raquel was constantly in Sasha's shadow and spent her whole life defined by Sasha, and that didn't change enough for me by the end of the story. I liked Elijah, the Cade parents, and the overall premise of the book SO much. The scavenger hunt/ list of things to do from Sasha once she passed = right up my alley. I always add books like this to my TBR. That element of the story was executed very well too.
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