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WHY NOT GOODBYE?
KENDALL
Jay found me that night, my own personal hero.
The man that chased the monsters out from under my bed when I was little.
But the next morning, he left me, without a goodbye and without my virginity, not even a smack on the butt or a good job.
Over four years later, he's back; now it's my turn to run away from him.
JAY
I left that morning thinking it was the right thing to do, only to find out years later that I led her right into the arms of a monster.
The "Golden Couple" may have the rest of the town fooled. But that white picket fence around their house holds secrets that she can't hide from me.
Kendall has always been my girl. No amount of time, a wedding ring or last name is going to change that.
Jay found me that night, my own personal hero.
The man that chased the monsters out from under my bed when I was little.
But the next morning, he left me, without a goodbye and without my virginity, not even a smack on the butt or a good job.
Over four years later, he's back; now it's my turn to run away from him.
JAY
I left that morning thinking it was the right thing to do, only to find out years later that I led her right into the arms of a monster.
The "Golden Couple" may have the rest of the town fooled. But that white picket fence around their house holds secrets that she can't hide from me.
Kendall has always been my girl. No amount of time, a wedding ring or last name is going to change that.
- GenresRomance
ebook
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135 people want to read
About the author
Arika Maxwell
3 books49 followersArika Maxwell is new to the author community, with her debut novel WHY NOT GOODBYE? RELEASE DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON
www.facebook.com/authorarikamaxwell
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"I love you to me is a story... Whether it be a tragedy, heart-warming, heart breaking, or HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
There is always a STORY; before I LOVE YOU!"
-Arika Maxwell
www.facebook.com/authorarikamaxwell
www.instagram.com/authorarikamaxwell
"I love you to me is a story... Whether it be a tragedy, heart-warming, heart breaking, or HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
There is always a STORY; before I LOVE YOU!"
-Arika Maxwell
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 10, 2020
I can't possibly get into everything I loved about this story here. If I tried, you'd be reading for an hour at the very least! Romance, heartbreak, a touch on cheating and domestic violence, and oh, so much more. And did I mention some steamy sex?
The entwined storylines are intense, boiling hot, and even that so needed touch of humor. As for the characters: Oh, boy, do I want to see more of every one of them, even if it's just so I can see them get what they've got coming! And I can't wait for each one of the featured characters to have their own book!
Then there's the depth of this story and the main characters, not to mention the writing... Talk about a debut. Here, my friends is a new author you will definitely want to follow!
The entwined storylines are intense, boiling hot, and even that so needed touch of humor. As for the characters: Oh, boy, do I want to see more of every one of them, even if it's just so I can see them get what they've got coming! And I can't wait for each one of the featured characters to have their own book!
Then there's the depth of this story and the main characters, not to mention the writing... Talk about a debut. Here, my friends is a new author you will definitely want to follow!
May 13, 2020
The subject of spousal abuse makes this book a hard read. Such a young couple with young children makes it even that much more so. The author got her message out there and well-done in this regard.
But that's where this story just kind of dried up and blew away. There was so much potential for fully developed characters and plot line. Nothing felt fully defined. A heroine who was supposed to be a strong and fully functional woman seemed to shrivel up and change right before our eyes. The hero, in my opinion, was sort of a jerk in many ways from beginning to ending. For such a pronouncement of love, he sure ran the other way more often than not. And the third party involved (yes, there's that issue of a triangle) -- well, he was just a despicable creep from start to finish.
There's a mixture of childhood friendship to lovers to enemies and a second chance with a third-party involved and small children, too. It's a mess of a story. I really got tired of the "doll baby" sticker attached to our female lead. And there were a lot of dangling threads to this story and an ending that didn't quite get readers over the hump and into happy-ever-after. That's a big no-no in my books. Everything was whim-wham-bam & thank you ma'am and we're done.
So, what started out as a story with real potential fizzled fast and became somewhat of a dud.
But that's where this story just kind of dried up and blew away. There was so much potential for fully developed characters and plot line. Nothing felt fully defined. A heroine who was supposed to be a strong and fully functional woman seemed to shrivel up and change right before our eyes. The hero, in my opinion, was sort of a jerk in many ways from beginning to ending. For such a pronouncement of love, he sure ran the other way more often than not. And the third party involved (yes, there's that issue of a triangle) -- well, he was just a despicable creep from start to finish.
There's a mixture of childhood friendship to lovers to enemies and a second chance with a third-party involved and small children, too. It's a mess of a story. I really got tired of the "doll baby" sticker attached to our female lead. And there were a lot of dangling threads to this story and an ending that didn't quite get readers over the hump and into happy-ever-after. That's a big no-no in my books. Everything was whim-wham-bam & thank you ma'am and we're done.
So, what started out as a story with real potential fizzled fast and became somewhat of a dud.
February 15, 2020
Wonderful read! Heartbreaking, romantic and inspiring. Well written and worth every page turn.
February 15, 2020
This is a beautiful story. I cannot believe it is a debut novel. The writing is excellent and I didn't spot spelling or gramatical mistakes which I normally see easily. Jay was the wonderful hero of the book and I felt a connection between him and Kendall. Read this in half a day. I would definitely recommend.
February 16, 2020
I love it... Waiting to see what's next from Ms. MAXWELL. YOU ARE AN EXTREMELY TALENTED WRITER. I really enjoyed this book.
February 28, 2020
This book hit me in ALL THE FEELS. To an outsider (aka my poor husband) I probably looked like a total crazy person because my emotions ran the gamut in this DEBUT book from author Arika Maxwell.
Please note that this review may contain spoilers. As one of the topics in this book is rather sensitive, please note this may be a trigger for victims of domestic violence.
The Story
Kendall Brooks best friend and crush Jayson Stone is being deployed and in an attempt to avoid the pain of facing him leaving, attempts to run into the arms of her on-again, off-again boyfriend Drew. But upon arriving at his dorm, finds him in bed with her cousin and ex-best friend. With no one to help her nurse her pain, she goes to the party Jayson is hosting and drowns her sorrows in a bottle of Crown.
Jayson finds Kendall in the bathroom, and after swooping in to save the day, the two confess their feelings for one another
Four years later, and not a peep from Jay, Kendall finds herself in “domestic bliss” with her husband Drew – a future politician – and her twins. She seems to have it all, but things aren’t always what they seem.
Jay’s stint in the army is over just in time for his best friends engagement party and after landing, he goes immediately to his house for the celebration. His reappearance into Kendall’s life triggers a series of events that force her to face her fears and escape from lies she’s buried for over four years.
The Characters
Jayson, aka Jay, Stone: I liked Jay because he did have a keen sense of right and wrong, but some things really bothered me about the choices he made regarding Kendall. I feel like a lot could have been resolved between these two with just a simple conversation.
He definitely wore his heart on his sleeve and wasn’t afraid to confront those feelings in the present. One thing that bothered me about him was he didn’t quite respect that Kendall wasn’t in a place where she could explore intimate feelings for him. He wasn’t willing to go out on a limb for her when she was available, but now that she’s unavailable, he’s willing to take that step, which I don’t think is fair to Kendall. I get that him seeing her again stirred all these feelings, but I just think some of his actions put her in a really tough spot.
Kendall Brooks: I liked Kendall a lot. I thought she had some spunk and that first chapter made me CRACK UP with laughter. She was super feisty and adorable. I think Maxwell did an amazing job of taking you through her journey “into the void”. Not only is Kendall being pushed into feeling 4 years worth of guilt from Drew, she’s also put herself into that guilt spiral and can’t seem see through to the otherside.
She wants to do what is best for her family and that means she’s willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of her family. At times, the experiences she faces almost make you feel sick to your stomach and you want to yell “JUST LEAVE”, but Maxwell does such a job of provoking empathy that you understand her “need” to stay.
Character Honorable Mention
Phoebe: So I’ve never done a feature on a supporting character but PHOEBE F*CKING DESERVES IT. I’m obsessed with this character and I want to be her friend. She’s Kendall’s BFF and she’s un-apologetically promiscuous, super charming, and was just f*cking hilarious. Loved her.
Let’s Talk About (the) Sex, Baby!
Racy Reader - Medium Rating
Call my dentist because I have a sweet tooth! This book had some sweet love scenes that were described really well and just made your heart warm. Very intimate, very vulnerable – just plain sweet.
While there is a pretty harsh scene in here, Maxwell protects the reader from experiencing too much of the “scary” side of the situation. But overall, the scenes were very sweet and delicate.
The Writing
In this book, Maxwell delicately guides you through the cycle of domestic abuse. While some of us who haven’t experience anything like this may not understand how someone can stay in an environment that’s abusive, it’s important to understand that the control doesn’t happen overnight. Throughout the book, you get glimpses of the past where Drew has been grooming his control over Kendall, and then you get to experience his escalation first-hand from Kendall’s perspective.
Jay’s return, and the return of Drew’s perceived betrayal, is the catalyst that pushes Drew to physical abuse. Little by little, Kendall’s shame and guilt get in the way of her rational thinking, and she can’t seem to get out from drowning from Drew’s control.
THIS BOOK IS A DEBUT BOOK. Seriously, it’s really good. That being said, I just have a few comments and notes. I wish we could have seen more of the relationship between Jay and Kendall from when they were kids – like maybe pepper in a few “when we were young” chapters so you can see the full extent of their love leading up to their conflict. It’s not that the book is “missing” anything, I just find these two so endearing that I want to see more about where they came from and how their long relationship developed.
I also wish I could have seen more of Drew and Kendall’s backstory. Young marriage is a bizarre concept to me and I personally needed more context to understand the why of that.
I think if Jay’s backstory had a little bit more about his time in the military, his experience seeing other families torn apart, or some kind of context that would have helped you understand his side of the story, it would have been easier to understand his choice to leave her alone.
Listen, this is me working to PICK THIS BOOK APART because I thought the writing was phenomenal. Not often do I actually have an outward reaction to comedy or pain within a book, but Arika Maxwell was able to run me through my spectrum of emotions.
PLEASE GIVE US MORE, ARIKA!
Please note that this review may contain spoilers. As one of the topics in this book is rather sensitive, please note this may be a trigger for victims of domestic violence.
The Story
Kendall Brooks best friend and crush Jayson Stone is being deployed and in an attempt to avoid the pain of facing him leaving, attempts to run into the arms of her on-again, off-again boyfriend Drew. But upon arriving at his dorm, finds him in bed with her cousin and ex-best friend. With no one to help her nurse her pain, she goes to the party Jayson is hosting and drowns her sorrows in a bottle of Crown.
Jayson finds Kendall in the bathroom, and after swooping in to save the day, the two confess their feelings for one another
Four years later, and not a peep from Jay, Kendall finds herself in “domestic bliss” with her husband Drew – a future politician – and her twins. She seems to have it all, but things aren’t always what they seem.
Jay’s stint in the army is over just in time for his best friends engagement party and after landing, he goes immediately to his house for the celebration. His reappearance into Kendall’s life triggers a series of events that force her to face her fears and escape from lies she’s buried for over four years.
The Characters
Jayson, aka Jay, Stone: I liked Jay because he did have a keen sense of right and wrong, but some things really bothered me about the choices he made regarding Kendall. I feel like a lot could have been resolved between these two with just a simple conversation.
He definitely wore his heart on his sleeve and wasn’t afraid to confront those feelings in the present. One thing that bothered me about him was he didn’t quite respect that Kendall wasn’t in a place where she could explore intimate feelings for him. He wasn’t willing to go out on a limb for her when she was available, but now that she’s unavailable, he’s willing to take that step, which I don’t think is fair to Kendall. I get that him seeing her again stirred all these feelings, but I just think some of his actions put her in a really tough spot.
Kendall Brooks: I liked Kendall a lot. I thought she had some spunk and that first chapter made me CRACK UP with laughter. She was super feisty and adorable. I think Maxwell did an amazing job of taking you through her journey “into the void”. Not only is Kendall being pushed into feeling 4 years worth of guilt from Drew, she’s also put herself into that guilt spiral and can’t seem see through to the otherside.
She wants to do what is best for her family and that means she’s willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of her family. At times, the experiences she faces almost make you feel sick to your stomach and you want to yell “JUST LEAVE”, but Maxwell does such a job of provoking empathy that you understand her “need” to stay.
Character Honorable Mention
Phoebe: So I’ve never done a feature on a supporting character but PHOEBE F*CKING DESERVES IT. I’m obsessed with this character and I want to be her friend. She’s Kendall’s BFF and she’s un-apologetically promiscuous, super charming, and was just f*cking hilarious. Loved her.
Let’s Talk About (the) Sex, Baby!
Racy Reader - Medium Rating
Call my dentist because I have a sweet tooth! This book had some sweet love scenes that were described really well and just made your heart warm. Very intimate, very vulnerable – just plain sweet.
While there is a pretty harsh scene in here, Maxwell protects the reader from experiencing too much of the “scary” side of the situation. But overall, the scenes were very sweet and delicate.
The Writing
In this book, Maxwell delicately guides you through the cycle of domestic abuse. While some of us who haven’t experience anything like this may not understand how someone can stay in an environment that’s abusive, it’s important to understand that the control doesn’t happen overnight. Throughout the book, you get glimpses of the past where Drew has been grooming his control over Kendall, and then you get to experience his escalation first-hand from Kendall’s perspective.
Jay’s return, and the return of Drew’s perceived betrayal, is the catalyst that pushes Drew to physical abuse. Little by little, Kendall’s shame and guilt get in the way of her rational thinking, and she can’t seem to get out from drowning from Drew’s control.
THIS BOOK IS A DEBUT BOOK. Seriously, it’s really good. That being said, I just have a few comments and notes. I wish we could have seen more of the relationship between Jay and Kendall from when they were kids – like maybe pepper in a few “when we were young” chapters so you can see the full extent of their love leading up to their conflict. It’s not that the book is “missing” anything, I just find these two so endearing that I want to see more about where they came from and how their long relationship developed.
I also wish I could have seen more of Drew and Kendall’s backstory. Young marriage is a bizarre concept to me and I personally needed more context to understand the why of that.
I think if Jay’s backstory had a little bit more about his time in the military, his experience seeing other families torn apart, or some kind of context that would have helped you understand his side of the story, it would have been easier to understand his choice to leave her alone.
Listen, this is me working to PICK THIS BOOK APART because I thought the writing was phenomenal. Not often do I actually have an outward reaction to comedy or pain within a book, but Arika Maxwell was able to run me through my spectrum of emotions.
PLEASE GIVE US MORE, ARIKA!
May 19, 2020
I dont even know where to begin with this story! It popped up as a suggestion on my kindle, gave the blurb a quick once over and thought I'd give it a go. Holy cow! If this is the author's first book, I cant wait to read more she brings out! This story hit a little close to home, but it was still a very beautiful tale, and I just couldnt put it down. The words just flowed off the pages, and I felt every emotion Kendall and Jay felt, and from both perspectives. Brilliant job writing this one! If I could give a higher rating, I would!
February 17, 2021
I can't possibly get into everything I loved about this story here. If I tried, you'd be reading for an hour at the very least! Romance, heartbreak, a touch on cheating and domestic violence, and oh, so much more. And did I mention some steamy sex?
The entwined storylines are intense, boiling hot, and even that so needed touch of humor. As for the characters: Oh, boy, do I want to see more of every one of them, even if it's just so I can see them get what they've got coming! And I can't wait for each one of the featured characters to have their own book!
Then there's the depth of this story and the main characters, not to mention the writing... Talk about a debut. Here, my friends is a new author you will definitely want to follow!
The entwined storylines are intense, boiling hot, and even that so needed touch of humor. As for the characters: Oh, boy, do I want to see more of every one of them, even if it's just so I can see them get what they've got coming! And I can't wait for each one of the featured characters to have their own book!
Then there's the depth of this story and the main characters, not to mention the writing... Talk about a debut. Here, my friends is a new author you will definitely want to follow!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews