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Hello, I Must Be Going
A tender, witty ghost story – and an exciting new direction for the internationally bestselling author of Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen .
Celeste and Sorrel, Reuben and Orlando: high school friends who hang out together all the time. When Sorrel gets hit by a car one rainy night, it’s not surprising the others fall apart in various ways. But it’s not just grief they’re struggling with – it’s parents. Unfair, demanding, challenging parents who are, quite frankly, making their lives a misery. That’s why Sorrel decides she’s not going to be properly dead till she’s sorted out her friends' lives and can leave them with a clearer sense of what they want out of life. From the bestselling author of Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen , this is a tender comedic ghost story which touches on some important issues, like bullying, coming out, and the life-denying way the old want to live through the young and impose their failures on them. It’s about the importance of being the person you want to be – or else, being miserable.
“Dyan Sheldon is smart and generous, tough and funny.” The New York Times
Celeste and Sorrel, Reuben and Orlando: high school friends who hang out together all the time. When Sorrel gets hit by a car one rainy night, it’s not surprising the others fall apart in various ways. But it’s not just grief they’re struggling with – it’s parents. Unfair, demanding, challenging parents who are, quite frankly, making their lives a misery. That’s why Sorrel decides she’s not going to be properly dead till she’s sorted out her friends' lives and can leave them with a clearer sense of what they want out of life. From the bestselling author of Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen , this is a tender comedic ghost story which touches on some important issues, like bullying, coming out, and the life-denying way the old want to live through the young and impose their failures on them. It’s about the importance of being the person you want to be – or else, being miserable.
“Dyan Sheldon is smart and generous, tough and funny.” The New York Times
304 pages, Paperback
Published July 5, 2018
10 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Dyan Sheldon
93 books197 followersDyan Sheldon is the author of many novels for young adult readers, including the #1 New York Times bestseller CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN, which was made into a major motion picture. American by birth, she lives in North London.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 27, 2018
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Sorrel, Celeste, Rueben, and Orlando have been friends for a long time. Just after her eighteenth birthday Sorrel is hit by a car during a storm and instantly killed. The three friends are obviously grief-stricken, so when they start seeing Sorrel in various weird outfits and in strange places, they individually believing that they are hallucinating.
It soon becomes clear that Sorrel hasn’t passed over to the ‘other side’, she has chosen to stick around and help each of her friends deal with issues, especially their parents.
Celeste’s mum has a ‘what about me?’ attitude. She relies on Celeste for everything, from cooking, shopping to babysitting. Even if Celeste has other things booked, her mum believes that her life is more important. She also doesn’t like Celeste and her lazy, bone idle sister, seeing their father and plays the emotional card if they want to.
Rueben’s mum is a famous author, yet she has a fear of electricity after her husband was killed by a lightning strike. She has become a recluse and won’t leave the first floor of their home, nor use any electricity.
Orlando’s dad is a police officer and expects the best from his son all the time. He is super strict. Orlando’s brother died a few years ago and he want’s Orlando to take his brother’s place and become a brilliant sports star. Orlando would rather be dancing, but his dad won’t hear of it.
After Sorrel spent years being pushed around by her mum, she doesn’t want the others to do the same, she wants them to live their lives, especially now that she can’t live hers.
I would say the book is marketed towards the younger end of YA readers. Whilst the book deals with some serious issues, none are really mentioned in any depth and the story is more of a gentle, easy read.
The plot is told in the third person and mainly from Sorrels view. Although the three friends see Sorrel and have conversations with her, neither of them tells the others, so the stories are all kept separate. Plus it was strange that none of them were happy to see her, telling her to go back to the other side and leave them alone – I’m not sure how many people would really do this if they got to spend time with someone who had died.
Some might think that this book is about parent bashing, but being the mother of three boys ranging from 12 to 21, I can honestly say that I disagree with the way the parents treated their children – with the exception of Rueben’s as she clearly was going through some kind of mental issue, most likely brought on my depression after the death of her husband.
Hello, I Must Be Going is an interesting read and one I’m sure younger adults or older children will most likely love. I’m more used to books with depth to them and I suppose a plausible storyline. However, it was a welcome change to read something different from the norm.
Sorrel, Celeste, Rueben, and Orlando have been friends for a long time. Just after her eighteenth birthday Sorrel is hit by a car during a storm and instantly killed. The three friends are obviously grief-stricken, so when they start seeing Sorrel in various weird outfits and in strange places, they individually believing that they are hallucinating.
It soon becomes clear that Sorrel hasn’t passed over to the ‘other side’, she has chosen to stick around and help each of her friends deal with issues, especially their parents.
Celeste’s mum has a ‘what about me?’ attitude. She relies on Celeste for everything, from cooking, shopping to babysitting. Even if Celeste has other things booked, her mum believes that her life is more important. She also doesn’t like Celeste and her lazy, bone idle sister, seeing their father and plays the emotional card if they want to.
Rueben’s mum is a famous author, yet she has a fear of electricity after her husband was killed by a lightning strike. She has become a recluse and won’t leave the first floor of their home, nor use any electricity.
Orlando’s dad is a police officer and expects the best from his son all the time. He is super strict. Orlando’s brother died a few years ago and he want’s Orlando to take his brother’s place and become a brilliant sports star. Orlando would rather be dancing, but his dad won’t hear of it.
After Sorrel spent years being pushed around by her mum, she doesn’t want the others to do the same, she wants them to live their lives, especially now that she can’t live hers.
I would say the book is marketed towards the younger end of YA readers. Whilst the book deals with some serious issues, none are really mentioned in any depth and the story is more of a gentle, easy read.
The plot is told in the third person and mainly from Sorrels view. Although the three friends see Sorrel and have conversations with her, neither of them tells the others, so the stories are all kept separate. Plus it was strange that none of them were happy to see her, telling her to go back to the other side and leave them alone – I’m not sure how many people would really do this if they got to spend time with someone who had died.
Some might think that this book is about parent bashing, but being the mother of three boys ranging from 12 to 21, I can honestly say that I disagree with the way the parents treated their children – with the exception of Rueben’s as she clearly was going through some kind of mental issue, most likely brought on my depression after the death of her husband.
Hello, I Must Be Going is an interesting read and one I’m sure younger adults or older children will most likely love. I’m more used to books with depth to them and I suppose a plausible storyline. However, it was a welcome change to read something different from the norm.
September 12, 2018
My review on www.bookread2day.wordpress.com
A splendid story. It may start a little bit sad, but every now and then I like to find a contemporary story with a difference, so I can escape from all the crime books I usually read. Sorrel Groober was a fairly normal attractive teenage girl, not an iconic, much loved celebrity or world leader. She was only a teenage girl loved by a few and Unknown to most. But she was dead too soon to make a difference to the world. Almost everyone in connection to Sorrel, family, friends relatives, neighbours, teachers and a few who didn’t know the Groobers attended Sorrel’s funeral. But just yards away she watches her best friends at her graveside. This book is so well written, that’s why I recommend it. I would also like to thank walker for being so kind and sending this book to review.
A splendid story. It may start a little bit sad, but every now and then I like to find a contemporary story with a difference, so I can escape from all the crime books I usually read. Sorrel Groober was a fairly normal attractive teenage girl, not an iconic, much loved celebrity or world leader. She was only a teenage girl loved by a few and Unknown to most. But she was dead too soon to make a difference to the world. Almost everyone in connection to Sorrel, family, friends relatives, neighbours, teachers and a few who didn’t know the Groobers attended Sorrel’s funeral. But just yards away she watches her best friends at her graveside. This book is so well written, that’s why I recommend it. I would also like to thank walker for being so kind and sending this book to review.
March 5, 2023
After reading, I had the most peculiar feeling ever, one that I've never had before, yet it was a good one. I guess it's true, death is not the end.
June 11, 2023
I keep telling new readers not to trust reviews when the book comes out. Words of book addict wisdom: TRUST THAT REVIEW AND RATING WHICH COMES YEARS LATER WHEN THE BÓOK IS FORGOTTEN.
This book is worth reading. Handles many issues many teenagers face. The adults are struggling. This is a totally serious read. The cover is somewhat misleading with all that fun, kid vibes. Not it's not. The teen characters are much older than what it seems from the cover.
June 2023 Wrap Up
Review coming up when life gets back to normal.
This book is worth reading. Handles many issues many teenagers face. The adults are struggling. This is a totally serious read. The cover is somewhat misleading with all that fun, kid vibes. Not it's not. The teen characters are much older than what it seems from the cover.
June 2023 Wrap Up
Review coming up when life gets back to normal.
December 25, 2018
This was a fun read with a brilliant message about staying true to who you are. Celeste, Ruben and Orlando have just been to the funeral of their best friend Sorrel, who was hit by a car after turning eighteen. The three of them miss their friend, and slowly get used to living their lives without Sorrel. But are they really living their lives? Sorrel doesn’t think so, and she’s determined to fix their lives for the better, before she truly moves on.
I enjoyed this book which was easy and quick to get into. It is told in the third person and begins with the funeral of Sorrel, before moving onto alternating between the three friends. Each chapter is told from the point of view of one of the three: Celeste, Ruben or Orlando, but still remains in the third person. Each of the teens has problems of their own, specifically parental problems. Celeste’s mother wants her to follow the path she’s chosen for her, Orlando’s father is very tough on him, and Rueben’s mother has problems which make it hard for Ruben to lead a normal life. The three of them struggle to cope but then a ghost Sorrel shows up, determined to fix them, and she has quite a lot to say for someone who is dead.
I don’t want to give away more of the plot but the whole story is good. It wasn’t a dark or very tense or gripping novel but felt more like a light-hearted read, something easy to read and get into, however it still dealt with some very tough subjects and in particular, the issues around parents who want to force their children to follow the path they choose for them. Each of the three friends has their own story and I like the way that all three of them conclude nicely, and how everyone’s lives ultimately end up. The story of Sorrel is a good one, I do like stories featuring spirits and ghosts and this one is actually quite funny, with Sorrel being an interesting character, I especially liked her wardrobe choices and how she pushes each of the teens in the end.
The ending is a good and satisfying one, with the last line being a brilliant conclusion. There isn’t anything very dark in this book and there is only a few uses of the s swear word. I do wish there had been more on Sorrel’s story with her parents, maybe for her to have a satisfying conclusion to her own issue with them, but apart from that this was a good and complete book and the lack of Sorrel’s own story with her parents doesn’t take away from the story in this book. Although it wasn’t the most exciting read, it was still a very good one and I do think I’ll give this another read. I think any teen or older will enjoy the book, although I don’t think it will appeal to children as one reviewer has suggested, given the things that are happening and the fact the characters are around eighteen and nearly adults.
Overall a great book and with a really good message about following your own path, being who you are and not doing what others want you to do. For that message alone I really like this book, it’s a message I would have liked reading when I was younger.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
I enjoyed this book which was easy and quick to get into. It is told in the third person and begins with the funeral of Sorrel, before moving onto alternating between the three friends. Each chapter is told from the point of view of one of the three: Celeste, Ruben or Orlando, but still remains in the third person. Each of the teens has problems of their own, specifically parental problems. Celeste’s mother wants her to follow the path she’s chosen for her, Orlando’s father is very tough on him, and Rueben’s mother has problems which make it hard for Ruben to lead a normal life. The three of them struggle to cope but then a ghost Sorrel shows up, determined to fix them, and she has quite a lot to say for someone who is dead.
I don’t want to give away more of the plot but the whole story is good. It wasn’t a dark or very tense or gripping novel but felt more like a light-hearted read, something easy to read and get into, however it still dealt with some very tough subjects and in particular, the issues around parents who want to force their children to follow the path they choose for them. Each of the three friends has their own story and I like the way that all three of them conclude nicely, and how everyone’s lives ultimately end up. The story of Sorrel is a good one, I do like stories featuring spirits and ghosts and this one is actually quite funny, with Sorrel being an interesting character, I especially liked her wardrobe choices and how she pushes each of the teens in the end.
The ending is a good and satisfying one, with the last line being a brilliant conclusion. There isn’t anything very dark in this book and there is only a few uses of the s swear word. I do wish there had been more on Sorrel’s story with her parents, maybe for her to have a satisfying conclusion to her own issue with them, but apart from that this was a good and complete book and the lack of Sorrel’s own story with her parents doesn’t take away from the story in this book. Although it wasn’t the most exciting read, it was still a very good one and I do think I’ll give this another read. I think any teen or older will enjoy the book, although I don’t think it will appeal to children as one reviewer has suggested, given the things that are happening and the fact the characters are around eighteen and nearly adults.
Overall a great book and with a really good message about following your own path, being who you are and not doing what others want you to do. For that message alone I really like this book, it’s a message I would have liked reading when I was younger.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
July 22, 2018
Supernatural 'change your life' teenage story.
3.5 stars.
A teenager is killed in an accident, a beautiful girl pushed to perfection by her mother. Her friends mourn Sorrel but each finds they are still 'seeing' her.
Celeste was close to Sorrel and is trodden on by her working mother who doesn't take her musical aspirations seriously (and who also possesses a seriously annoying younger sister). Orlando is pushed by his policeman father into the sports career his dead brother never managed to achieve when his own dreams lie elsewhere. And Ruben is pushed away from his own artistic aspirations by the mental deterioration of his own author mother.
Some of the worst parenting I've come across in a YA novel! Awful parents. Hard to believe that a group of friends would have such a high average of terrible role models and progenitors. The teens themselves are likeable enough, you can't help but be on their side.
I have never been keen on 'ghost stories', too convenient, unexplained and unbelievable. I suppose the reason for Sorrel 'haunting' her friends is 'unfinished business' but it's never made particularly clear, though I did enjoy seeing the dead girl able to say things to the horrific parents that she had never been able to see in her lifetime.
It's all a big ask of course, but certainly readable and enjoyable enough. All tied up very neatly, it never feels as though it goes into any issues deeply - Ruben's mum is able to recover all by herself for example, and it makes you wonder how those without a dead friend to guide and motivate them are able to overcome adversity and stand up for themselves.
I'm not trying to be mean when I say I'd rather read the story from the perspective of seeing three friends counselling each other through their family issues than being inspired by an all-knowing ghost who doesn't even get to resolve her own family issues - it sounds as though Sorrel's mum was controlling but this is never followed through on.
If you like stories of the supernatural, you'll probably love this. I enjoyed it well enough when reading but had to force myself at times to pick up again, it's really not a genre I can sustain interest in - sorry.
For ages 13 and above. While the main character is dead, we do not see her car crash death scene, though there are mentions of violence towards young people and short scenes of psychological abuse.
With thanks to Walker Books for the sample reading copy.
3.5 stars.
A teenager is killed in an accident, a beautiful girl pushed to perfection by her mother. Her friends mourn Sorrel but each finds they are still 'seeing' her.
Celeste was close to Sorrel and is trodden on by her working mother who doesn't take her musical aspirations seriously (and who also possesses a seriously annoying younger sister). Orlando is pushed by his policeman father into the sports career his dead brother never managed to achieve when his own dreams lie elsewhere. And Ruben is pushed away from his own artistic aspirations by the mental deterioration of his own author mother.
Some of the worst parenting I've come across in a YA novel! Awful parents. Hard to believe that a group of friends would have such a high average of terrible role models and progenitors. The teens themselves are likeable enough, you can't help but be on their side.
I have never been keen on 'ghost stories', too convenient, unexplained and unbelievable. I suppose the reason for Sorrel 'haunting' her friends is 'unfinished business' but it's never made particularly clear, though I did enjoy seeing the dead girl able to say things to the horrific parents that she had never been able to see in her lifetime.
It's all a big ask of course, but certainly readable and enjoyable enough. All tied up very neatly, it never feels as though it goes into any issues deeply - Ruben's mum is able to recover all by herself for example, and it makes you wonder how those without a dead friend to guide and motivate them are able to overcome adversity and stand up for themselves.
I'm not trying to be mean when I say I'd rather read the story from the perspective of seeing three friends counselling each other through their family issues than being inspired by an all-knowing ghost who doesn't even get to resolve her own family issues - it sounds as though Sorrel's mum was controlling but this is never followed through on.
If you like stories of the supernatural, you'll probably love this. I enjoyed it well enough when reading but had to force myself at times to pick up again, it's really not a genre I can sustain interest in - sorry.
For ages 13 and above. While the main character is dead, we do not see her car crash death scene, though there are mentions of violence towards young people and short scenes of psychological abuse.
With thanks to Walker Books for the sample reading copy.
July 14, 2018
"The dead don't hang around once the job is done".
We've all been guilty of denying that second glance at a shadow on the stairs, squinting at a fracture in the light,seeing a familiar face in a crowd we can't catch a glimpse of again and we've all wondered why, explained it away, claimed a trick of the light. Have you wondered if maybe the people we thought we saw may have manipulated that light. Does being dead necessarily mean being gone?
This book looks at exactly that - just because we can't see them, doesn't mean they can't see us. I like to think people stick around from time to time, to give a helping hand, and I think Dyan Sheldon might do too.
Sorrel passed away at eighteen; hit by a car, she is tragically killed and instead of celebrating reaching adulthood she is instead standing on the edge of her own funeral. Imagine how frustrating it would be, not only to see those you love mourning your passing, but also seeing those fake girls from school pretending to! Sorrel has some unfinished business, and she'll be sticking around until it's sorted.
I liked this book a lot. It's walking that very fine line between being a bit too close for comfort - it's far easier to NOT think about what happens after than it is to explore it, right? But I like Sheldon's daring, I enjoyed the ideas and I thought the story was unique. A strange, but strangely compelling read.
ARC provided free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
We've all been guilty of denying that second glance at a shadow on the stairs, squinting at a fracture in the light,seeing a familiar face in a crowd we can't catch a glimpse of again and we've all wondered why, explained it away, claimed a trick of the light. Have you wondered if maybe the people we thought we saw may have manipulated that light. Does being dead necessarily mean being gone?
This book looks at exactly that - just because we can't see them, doesn't mean they can't see us. I like to think people stick around from time to time, to give a helping hand, and I think Dyan Sheldon might do too.
Sorrel passed away at eighteen; hit by a car, she is tragically killed and instead of celebrating reaching adulthood she is instead standing on the edge of her own funeral. Imagine how frustrating it would be, not only to see those you love mourning your passing, but also seeing those fake girls from school pretending to! Sorrel has some unfinished business, and she'll be sticking around until it's sorted.
I liked this book a lot. It's walking that very fine line between being a bit too close for comfort - it's far easier to NOT think about what happens after than it is to explore it, right? But I like Sheldon's daring, I enjoyed the ideas and I thought the story was unique. A strange, but strangely compelling read.
ARC provided free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2024
This book starts on the day Sorrel Groober’s friends and family gather to mourn her tragic and sudden passing. But though she may be gone in body her spirit remains. Sorrel had unfinished business and she is determined that her three friends Celeste,Ruben and Orlando will not make the same mistakes. Each of her friends has a special talent Celeste the musician Ruben the artist and Orlando the dancer. She makes it her mission to see her friends nurture these talents that are their passion and not settle for what pleases others. This was a funny heartwarming book about life loss and being true to yourself. This YA novel was a very unique book.
June 22, 2019
Moving and heart-warming. I cried.
January 10, 2019
This was a very different book, but none-the-less a very good one. It's funny and lighthearted (an easy read) but still deals with some tough themes; like death, pressure from parents, growing up, following passions, a small part on sexuality (spoiler alert), and plain old teenage struggles.
For some reason this book hit me hard because of how S A D and NOTGOOD some of the parent-child relationships were, i was really rooting for the kids.
(SPOILER ALERT)
I was superr sad when it was revealed that Celeste and Sorrel were lowkey 'together' in secret but couldn't make it official or do much about it because of homophobic parents and fear of rejection and i felt sorry for Orlando too; because he really did care about Sorrel, but she had used him as a beard and he didn't even realise (but I found it sweet how they still stayed friends and that he fully accepted and forgave Sorrel when she told him about Celeste). Speaking of Orlando, I was soo happy that his mother was always supportive of his dancing, and that Tylor+Jake were super supportive of Celeste's musical aspirations. But I think the character i really connected with was Ruben. I really related to the struggles of bein told that the one thing you're really passionate about can't be a 'real job'. It hurts to know that your role-models think that what you really love isn't worth pursuing as a job; but i was really happy when he kept on doing art.
(SPOILER OVER)
overall a good read, i reccomend this.
For some reason this book hit me hard because of how S A D and NOTGOOD some of the parent-child relationships were, i was really rooting for the kids.
(SPOILER ALERT)
I was superr sad when it was revealed that Celeste and Sorrel were lowkey 'together' in secret but couldn't make it official or do much about it because of homophobic parents and fear of rejection and i felt sorry for Orlando too; because he really did care about Sorrel, but she had used him as a beard and he didn't even realise (but I found it sweet how they still stayed friends and that he fully accepted and forgave Sorrel when she told him about Celeste). Speaking of Orlando, I was soo happy that his mother was always supportive of his dancing, and that Tylor+Jake were super supportive of Celeste's musical aspirations. But I think the character i really connected with was Ruben. I really related to the struggles of bein told that the one thing you're really passionate about can't be a 'real job'. It hurts to know that your role-models think that what you really love isn't worth pursuing as a job; but i was really happy when he kept on doing art.
(SPOILER OVER)
overall a good read, i reccomend this.
January 8, 2021
Positives:
- The first chapter was interesting enough that it left me with questions and wanting to keep reading to find out what would happen next.
- I liked the moral of the story being that life is short so it is important to live it the way we want to.
- The ending wrapped the story up nicely and didn't leave me with too many unanswered questions.
Negatives:
- It would have been nice if the author had included at least one good parent or maybe even shown more of Tyler.
- I found it hard to tell the difference between Orlando and Ruben's narrative. I felt like they should have been more different or easier to tell apart.
- Although it was believable, it was a shame Celeste's mother couldn't behave with more maturity when it came to Tyler.
- It was a shame the reader didn't find out whether what happened to Sorrel was an accident or not.
- Even though I knew Sorrel meant well, she did come across as quite mean at times and not considering her friends feelings.
- The story isn't too memorable for me and I don't think I will remember or think about it for a long time after reading this book.
- The first chapter was interesting enough that it left me with questions and wanting to keep reading to find out what would happen next.
- I liked the moral of the story being that life is short so it is important to live it the way we want to.
- The ending wrapped the story up nicely and didn't leave me with too many unanswered questions.
Negatives:
- It would have been nice if the author had included at least one good parent or maybe even shown more of Tyler.
- I found it hard to tell the difference between Orlando and Ruben's narrative. I felt like they should have been more different or easier to tell apart.
- Although it was believable, it was a shame Celeste's mother couldn't behave with more maturity when it came to Tyler.
- It was a shame the reader didn't find out whether what happened to Sorrel was an accident or not.
- Even though I knew Sorrel meant well, she did come across as quite mean at times and not considering her friends feelings.
- The story isn't too memorable for me and I don't think I will remember or think about it for a long time after reading this book.
August 17, 2018
“If secrets were water the whole planet would drown.” -Sorrel Groober
Though this was a pleasant read, it didn’t have much of a plot. The story itself is really good, but there were a few things that threw me off.
Dyan Sheldon didn’t introduce any of the characters properly, which led to a lot of confusion in the first few chapters.
The main characters are supposed to be best friends, but don’t spend al lot of time together. Not even for mourning about their loss. It also doesn’t seem like they’ve ever been really close. So the death of Sorell didn’t necessarily drive them apart from one another in this case.
The maincharacters also aren’t in awe at all to see their best friend again. To me Sorrell now comes across as a girl whose friends didn’t really, truly like her. To me, the storyline would’ve been much stronger if the maincharacters would’ve loved getting to spend time with Sorrel again.
Though this was a pleasant read, it didn’t have much of a plot. The story itself is really good, but there were a few things that threw me off.
Dyan Sheldon didn’t introduce any of the characters properly, which led to a lot of confusion in the first few chapters.
The main characters are supposed to be best friends, but don’t spend al lot of time together. Not even for mourning about their loss. It also doesn’t seem like they’ve ever been really close. So the death of Sorell didn’t necessarily drive them apart from one another in this case.
The maincharacters also aren’t in awe at all to see their best friend again. To me Sorrell now comes across as a girl whose friends didn’t really, truly like her. To me, the storyline would’ve been much stronger if the maincharacters would’ve loved getting to spend time with Sorrel again.
December 6, 2020
i hate to say it but this book was bad. real bad. i rarely rate books any lower than three stars but I just couldn’t handle this one.
the characters felt really disjointed, the plot was poor: half of the book pretty much consisted of filler chapters and cringeworthy dialogue. if i were to be honest, i would say that the only good chapter worth reading was the last one.
plus, what kind of names are sorrel groober and celeste redwing?
the characters felt really disjointed, the plot was poor: half of the book pretty much consisted of filler chapters and cringeworthy dialogue. if i were to be honest, i would say that the only good chapter worth reading was the last one.
plus, what kind of names are sorrel groober and celeste redwing?
July 15, 2018
Lovely read with a lot of important messages and sentiment in it.
October 14, 2018
Amazing book! If you ever get a chance to read this please do!
January 3, 2022
On the whole, I enjoyed this book. An easy read, simple storyline but nonetheless, a nice book.
Three main characters, each with their own story, told in third person. Each chapter being the story of one of the characters, throughout the book.
I enjoyed how relatable this book could be to readers (excluding the ghost), Sheldon included issues which many teens could relate to, such as difficult parents, fear of rejection, lgbt+ issues, and also loss. I also enjoyed how each character’s story is separate, yet the reader knows that they are all struggling with the death of Sorrel and also their parents. Sorrel connects these characters and this keeps the flow of the story throughout the book.
However, I felt there was no strong plot, no climax in the book. It felt as if the book ended quite suddenly, to me, there were some questions left unanswered, like- ‘Was Sorrel’s death really an accident?’.
But, overall it was a nice read, and filled a few hours. Would recommend to a young person who enjoys a casual read every now and then.
Three main characters, each with their own story, told in third person. Each chapter being the story of one of the characters, throughout the book.
I enjoyed how relatable this book could be to readers (excluding the ghost), Sheldon included issues which many teens could relate to, such as difficult parents, fear of rejection, lgbt+ issues, and also loss. I also enjoyed how each character’s story is separate, yet the reader knows that they are all struggling with the death of Sorrel and also their parents. Sorrel connects these characters and this keeps the flow of the story throughout the book.
However, I felt there was no strong plot, no climax in the book. It felt as if the book ended quite suddenly, to me, there were some questions left unanswered, like- ‘Was Sorrel’s death really an accident?’.
But, overall it was a nice read, and filled a few hours. Would recommend to a young person who enjoys a casual read every now and then.
June 5, 2019
I wish I had liked this book more than I did. The plot looked promising and I found it interesting because I knew it would tackle the topic of grief and mourning when your best friend passes away. What caused me to not appreciate this book as much as I had hoped for, is that when the spirit of Sorrel (the deceased girl) visits her friends, they all act as if they are just pissed that she's here. When she's not appearing, they are all visibly grieving, but when she's with them, they just want her to leave, and it gives the impression that they did not care one bit about her at all. As though she had never been their friend. Even Celeste, her best friend, wants her gone.
What saved it for me though is the plot twist towards the end, revealing why and how Sorrel's accident came to happen. It can be seen as an easy choice to make to explain the plot, but I thought it was rather well done nonetheless.
What saved it for me though is the plot twist towards the end, revealing why and how Sorrel's accident came to happen. It can be seen as an easy choice to make to explain the plot, but I thought it was rather well done nonetheless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2025
Heartwarming read 🥹❤️
I picked this one up during my low moments in life when I was thinking about death a lot. It’s about Sorrel, an 18-year-old girl who tragically dies on a random rainy night due to a car accident. However, as I believe, death doesn’t always mean gone, and it’s definitely not the end. This book tells how Sorell helps her three closest friends cope with their grief and encourage them to take brave decisions on their personal problems.
She takes huge advantage of being dead. Love this book and I relate to Sorrel very well.
I picked this one up during my low moments in life when I was thinking about death a lot. It’s about Sorrel, an 18-year-old girl who tragically dies on a random rainy night due to a car accident. However, as I believe, death doesn’t always mean gone, and it’s definitely not the end. This book tells how Sorell helps her three closest friends cope with their grief and encourage them to take brave decisions on their personal problems.
She takes huge advantage of being dead. Love this book and I relate to Sorrel very well.
June 28, 2022
i have mixed emotions on this book.
for the most part, i found it boring and i felt as if the storyline didn’t move on quick enough. i didn’t understand the visits from Sorrel in the beginning and i felt like the majority of the book wasn’t focusing on the right things.
however, at the very end, i did like the fact that Sorrel helped each of the friends to do the right thing/have a happy ending.
i just think the book wasn’t what i was hoping it would be and that i didn’t live up to the blurb.
for the most part, i found it boring and i felt as if the storyline didn’t move on quick enough. i didn’t understand the visits from Sorrel in the beginning and i felt like the majority of the book wasn’t focusing on the right things.
however, at the very end, i did like the fact that Sorrel helped each of the friends to do the right thing/have a happy ending.
i just think the book wasn’t what i was hoping it would be and that i didn’t live up to the blurb.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2025
Hello, I Must Be Going by Dyan Sheldon follows three friends grappling with the death of a close friend. While dealing with their grief, the story is also a humorous take on making life choices—figuring out what you truly want, not what your family expects. It’s a funny, heartfelt exploration of friendship, loss, and finding your own path.
March 23, 2020
The book was quite good, however slightly tedious in one way, and the ending was not as fulfilling as I'd hoped and did not tie off quite a lot of loose ends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2020
Read this one with Charlotte
August 16, 2021
Honestly found this a bit of a slog to get through.
September 10, 2021
A light read book to accompany your days. The messages are interesting and awakening. "Dead doesn't always mean gone, but the dead don't hang around once the job is done" it said.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2024
Very human and very sweet.
It was good, but nothing special or incredibly memorable.
It was good, but nothing special or incredibly memorable.
November 6, 2024
Great concept
February 15, 2021
This is a rather sweet story about a group of four close friends (all teenagers) all of whom turn out to have secrets and none of whom are actually handling those secrets in ways that will ultimately bring them happiness. One of them gets hit by a car on a rainy night and is killed. But this girl is incredibly persistent, and her spirit is not going anywhere till it has seen her friends on paths to better futures.
This book does try to tackle lots of issues that teenagers often face, one of the most important being the tendency of parents to want their children to live the lives they wish they had led, whether it is what their child wants or not. It also looks at lots of possible reactions to losing a close family member.
I might have given it 3 and a half stars had I not found its insistence on starting the words summer and autumn with a capital letter every single time they occur. I found that incredibly irritating!
This book does try to tackle lots of issues that teenagers often face, one of the most important being the tendency of parents to want their children to live the lives they wish they had led, whether it is what their child wants or not. It also looks at lots of possible reactions to losing a close family member.
I might have given it 3 and a half stars had I not found its insistence on starting the words summer and autumn with a capital letter every single time they occur. I found that incredibly irritating!
March 24, 2023
Sorry but this book is soooo damn slow. The end was kinda cute but everything else was the same shit over and overrrr. Just didn’t like it
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