How to Say Goodbye Lib/E

by Katy Colins, Rachel Louise Miller (Reading)

A heart-wrenching story of love and loss--and how to say goodbye to those who aren't around to hear it.

No-one is ever happy to see Grace Salmon.

As a funeral arranger, she's responsible for steering strangers through the hardest day of their lives. It's not a task many would want--but, for Grace, giving people the chance to say a proper goodbye to the ones they love is the most important job in the world.

From the flowers in the church to the drinks served at the wake, Grace knows it's the personal touches that count--and it's amazing what you can find out about someone from their grieving relatives ... or their Facebook page. But when she accidentally finds out too much about someone who's died, Grace is finally forced to step out of the shadows ... and start living.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook

Audio CD

First published June 13, 2019

About the author

Katy Colins is a bestselling author of uplifting, feel-good fiction.

The acclaimed travel blogger's experiences inspired her to pen 'The Lonely Hearts Travel Club' series and saw her labelled the 'Backpacking Bridget Jones' by the global media, when she sold all she owned, filled a backpack and booked a one-way ticket to south east Asia and never looked back.

Nowadays, Katy has swapped backpacking for writing books and trying to tame toddlers. If you want to find out more about Katy's new releases you can sign up to her newsletter at www.katycolins.com.

She loves to procrastinate on social media when she should be writing, so please do stop by and say hi! You can find her @notwedordead or @katycolins.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Say Goodbye is a wonderful contemporary novel about death and learning to live again. We follow Grace Salmon, a funeral director who uses Facebook to learn more about her clients and to make their funeral special. One day Grace gets a bit too invested in a clients online life and this makes her think twice about the way she is living.

This was an emotional read with the key message of coping, living and letting go. There is lots of discussion around getting used to a new normal and working through grief. It may sound gloomy but it was really uplifting and sweet.

Grace is such a lovely protagonist and she really goes the extra mile for everyone she works with, she wants to honor the dead and make their send off the very best it can be for those they have left behind. Its such a lovely thing to do, even if it does cause some drama in the end!

There was a rather unique mixture of characters experiencing grief throughout the novel. This means that Grace makes some wonderful friends. In particular, I was a fan of Mrs Norris who is an elderly lady that shares her recipes with Grace and is generally there to support her. But we also have a shopkeeper who enjoys doing stand up and people grieving public figures like Princess Diana and Bowie.

It is so wonderful that the author created such an touching book from her own personal loss. Katy has been so brave at such a tragic time and channeled her grief in a way that I’m sure so many people will connect with.

[Julie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable story that anyone who has lost someone will be able to relate to. It tells of how death affects people in different ways and how they can learn to live again.

Grace Salmon is a funeral arranger with a difference as it is her mission to provide the perfect goodbye. Grace has passion and drive and puts her all into making each send-off unique, this unfortunately comes with leaving Grace exhausted. Having to deal with her own losses Grace finds it comes from an unexpected source.

My thanks to Net Galley for the ARC of this great book, which I am sure is going to be a best seller.

[Elizabeth Doyle-davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Aw. I've loved every part of this book. I've laughed and cried. I've realised that grief comes in all shapes and sizes. I've championed Amazing Grace and wanted to her to have a lovely life. But this novel isn't about death and saying goodbye. It's about living and celebrating life. It's about all of us and none of us. It's about you and it's about me. It's about shared emotions.
It's wonderful.

[Karen Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely told sweet story. But for me, undermined by the fact that the protagonist was just SO wet . . . and her backstory honestly wasn't enough to rationalise the personality flaw that made her, simply, not believable. Unlike, for example, Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic, who is equally infuriating, but somehow always manages to redeem herself, come good, and overcome my instinct to want to give her a good slap by the final page.

[Lisa Bentley · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Say Goodbye is the beautiful story of how it is heartbreaking but healing to deal with grief. Our protagonist – Grace Salmon – works as a funeral arranger however, she feels that her job is more than that. Her job is allowing people to say goodbye to their loved ones and making their goodbyes memorable. It is this level of concern and care that leads her in to trouble.

I loved How to Say Goodbye. Considering the setting and topic of the novel it is surprisingly uplifting. We get completely swept up in this small world of grief and the healing power of friendship. 

I am not ashamed to say that I shed a little tear when reading this book. Colins storytelling was simple but effective. Colins adds twists to the story to keep you on your toes which only adds to the drama and serves to keep you reading. How to Say Goodbye is a triumph of a novel.

How to Say Goodbye by Katy Colins is available now.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read but very enjoyable book about death and dealing with feelings surrounding death. The story follows Grace, a funeral organiser who likes to be control, after what seems to be a few rocky years in her life Grace manages to start helping herself by helping others through starting up a 'grief club'.

[Julie Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely lovely read. For a book about funerals and death and loss, it is the most uplifting story. It has it's very dark sides, but it's a story about the people left behind after they have lost someone close. It shows how people cope differently and how we can all learn from one another if we just have the bravery to go out there and talk to someone.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story I recognise alot of my own experience with grief in the story. It made me smile and cry in equal measure xx

[Hattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in 24 hours. A beautiful book that encourages you to look at death from a completely different perspective.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

minus points for the bad ending

[Rhoda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grace is a funeral arranger who takes her job very seriously and always strives to organize the perfect goodbye for each of the families she works with, using social media to try to form a picture of the deceased so she can add a personalized touch to each funeral.

When Grace gets a bit too obsessed with one of the people whose funeral she arranges, she puts her job at risk and her own fragile state of mind looks set to unravel.

As this book reads very much as a chick lit style book, which is not a genre I particularly like, I would have to say that this book wasn’t really for me. I found Grace and her actions to be cringey and the story to be a little predictable.

If chick lit is your jam though, I’m sure this would be something you would enjoy as there are some lovely friendships in this book, as well as some comforting words regarding death and grief. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[Madeline Sly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this twice now! Absolutely love this book ❤️

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

How To Say Goodbye by Katy Collins is a beautiful contemporary novel about death and learning to live again. It is a novel that will make you cry and it will make you smile. It will certainly tug at your heartstrings.
There are a wonderful mix of unique characters united by their loss. Death affects us all. We never really ‘get over it’ but we have to learn to live with a new ‘normal’. The characters can bloom again. They (and the reader too) learn the importance of talking about your feelings in a safe place where people care for you. “I want to know… when I’m going to start feeling happy again.”
I loved the main character. We get to know her intimately as the book is written in the first person and from her point of view. I also loved Ms Norris with her eccentricities and her huge heart. Her interactions with others were priceless.
“We only get one shot at a goodbye.” It is important to get it right. No one wants to be left with regrets. Funeral arranger Grace goes above and beyond to provide the perfect, unique funeral every time.
Loss produces a range of emotions – sadness, anger, denial – all are perfectly normal. There are “little empty spaces left behind. Spaces that only she could fill.”
The novel shows there are individual losses and collective losses where many people come together united by grief for a public figure. “I felt exactly the same when Princess Diana passed… No one could understand how she made me feel.” I can echo those words of the character as I too, remember a feeling of loss when Princess Diana was killed.
It is important to face our loss. We can never move forwards if we do not come to terms with our pasts. “You carry the past around with you, especially when love is involved.” We need to know that it is okay to smile again.
I found How To Say Goodbye a truly beautiful read. You may be thinking that it is a gloomy read but that is not the case. It is funny, touching, poignant and at times, sad. It is a book that celebrates friendship and love. There is an air of care that pervades the whole novel. I was left feeling very serene. Katy Collins is clearly a talented author who has soothed my heart and soul with her beautiful novel. I cannot wait to read more by her.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful novel that I very much enjoyed. It follows Grace Salmon. She works at a funeral parlour and she goes above and beyond in giving her clients the very best send off. She spends her time researching the deceased so she can make each funeral service personal and special. Grace seems quite a lonely person, she’s so focused on her job. One day she sets up a group for people to come and ask a funeral organiser questions and while the first group isn’t as busy as she’d hoped, she does begin to make connections with people who all have something in common. Grace begins to talk about her own life and you start to really understand who she is and why she is so conscientious in her job. This is such a brilliant novel – it’s a fun, light read whilst exploring loss in a very real way. It’s such a talent to mix the two and I was so impressed with this book. I cried whilst reading it but I also laughed out loud. I can’t wait to read more of Katy Colins’ writing. I highly recommend this book!

This review was originally posted on my blog https://rathertoofondofbooks.com

[caz]

Severely mediocre, 400 pages was far too long. One dimensional characters, plot was cliched, nothing to write home about and neither was the writing.

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure a lot of us give any thought to the people who ensure our loved ones get a good send off. It's really the last thing you want to think of. The thought of somebody you love dying and then having to arrange how everyone else gets to say goodbye to them. In a way the funeral isn't for the dearly departed, but rather for the living who grieve them.

I'll admit I have asked my mother to plan her funeral. I was pulling her leg a little, but it actually gave her the chance to think about the way she wanted people to say goodbye to her. Her playlist is something else I tell ya! Saying that, lately she has been telling me it's perfectly fine to pop her in a cardboard box and whip her round to the crematorium and Bob's your uncle. (Apparently that's legal here).

Grace is the kind of character readers tend to warm to, because she is like all of us. She is perfect with all of her imperfections. Part of her is afraid to live and to love. Hindered by the memories of a lost love and unwilling to confront what is keeping her from moving on.

I'm intentionally not going to go into the most emotional part of the book. I think It's best readers experience that for themselves. What I will say is that it makes this more than just Chick Lit and it ventures soundly into women's fiction.

The group meeting aspect of the story is emotional and heartfelt. In fact the whole book is, despite the light-hearted humour and the realistic characters. It's women's fiction with a lively tone and an emotional thread woven throughout.

I think one of my favourite paragraphs by far is the last one. It just speaks volumes about how far Grace has come and the difference in the way she sees life and lives it. Something so simple, and yet perfect in every way. It's a lovely read.
*I received a courtesy copy*

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book that has a funeral arranger as its main character and is all about creating the perfect goodbye, and grief, it is surprisingly not depressing at all, and in fact rather uplifting and a sensitive look at the topic.

If Grace has any faults it would be caring too much, she is clearly struggling to come to terms with things in her personal life, but at the same time is giving her all at work in order to create memorable send offs for the departed for all the right reasons.

She even stalks the deceased's social media to be able to add a more personalised touch to each funeral.

Grace doesn't have the largest group of friends, but those she has are completely wonderful, and a rather eclectic group.

There is far more to book than I'm really able to find the words to describe properly in this review. Rest assured, that it's a rather touching story, and I was interested to see what different people want for funerals, memorials and how they grieve.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the authors's Lonely Hearts Travel Club series, which is a lot more light hearted than this, I was very happy to see that she is able to write in multiple styles and still tell a fabulous story.

Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[CenReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

When HQ asked me if I would like to take part in their latest social Blog Blast I just couldn't say no.

Now I must confess that this is the first book by Katy Collins that I'd read. I certainly was not disappointed.
It is an emotionally charged book but with that there are parts that will make you smile- which I felt with this kind of story gave the book some balance.
Grace is an undertaker who puts her work before anything else. She puts everything into her work. She seems to have an invisible barrier between her and other people.
But all that changes when she is asked to arrange the funeral of Abbi who sadly died from a road accident. Abbi who on the outside appears to have the perfect life- but as the saying goes 'never judge a book by its cover' not everything is as perfect as it seems. Abbi had some dark secrets that are to be uncovered.
This for Grace is almost like a wake up call/ reality check and she has to start to face up to things that she has kept hidden from others and herself. This could be the very reason why she is stuck in a rut with her life.
Beautifully written. Emotional story and topic but it does work.
Highly recommended read.


[Helena Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings on this book. The pluses are: the author has written a lovely, quirky, touching and unpredictable story about love, loss and the lies we tell ourselves and others. She has a good eye for human dynamics and interactions and the plot has some really good twists. The minus is in the way they are sometimes expressed: I cringed at a number of clichés which, had they been caught and edited out with something more original, would have lifted the writing significantly. Some examples that set my teeth on edge were: whisky being described as amber liquid, hot drinks were steaming mugs, people waddled, jogged or bounded here and there, their eyes darting all over the place....you get the picture. I'm giving this author 3 stars as I think she's written an original story, which with a more sophisticated use of language, could show good promise.

[Alison Goss · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a delightful surprise. I thought it might be a sweet little story, and at first it was playing out nicely.
Grace is living a constrained life, putting all her energy into her work as a funeral arranger. Going above and beyond to create a farewell that reflects each individual. Her circle of friends is quite small. Her social life is non-existent.
Then there is a twist. And we learn a little about Grace's life and how she has found herself in a small town, with a controlled life.
Then there is another twist.
Both caught me by surprise - a sign of a great writer. Lulling you into a comfortable place, before dropping a mini bomb.
This story weaves through the lives of people as they deal with the trauma of loss, and yet there is more joy than heartbreak. There is more hope than sadness.
Thoroughly enjoyed.

[DrJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Library Lockdown complete risk book as you have to browse the shelves and once you touch a book, take it or have it decontaminated!!!

The spine was enticing ...

I wasn't sure when I started reading it as it seemed a bit too surface driven without any depth. But it became a really lovely, insightful and touching story. There were quite a few moments of intrigue and mystery when events or people's reactions are dangled in front of the reader and we have to wait to find out more. There are some lovely characters who are allowed to develop over time. It did drag a little for me towards the end. It could have been made sharper and the prose tighter, but for a complete spin of the wheel, I landed on win. I'd give it 7.5 out of 10.

[Abbi Beattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest and hopeful.

The blurb accompanying the title is for once fairly accurate.
This is an emotional and uplifting tale and does feature love, friendship and letting go but it is also a gentle peek into the lives of a mixed group who come together at the instigation of an older lady with a big heart who gives guidance, albeit unwittingly to the "heroine", who is struggling to find her way whilst determinedly supporting others.
Each character was credible and the various outcomes left you feeling hopeful.
The theme could be painful for some readers but has been written with clarity, comprehension and, yes, love.....from the heart.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been a lovely , sensitively written and at times surprising read.
When I picked this up in a charity shop , it was the title then the book cover that caught my attention.
Grace was a very unique and intriguing character with much more going on than you realised, She was kind and sensitive to the people she was helping plan funerals for their loved ones , going above and beyond .
It's a touching read , but also a book that finds the main character finding herself again as she realises that she can't keep hiding from the truth that she's been ignoring . Her self discovery at the end was so integral to the story and leaves you hoping that she finds happiness .

[Louise Bookmac82 Mackin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audio book rather than read it.

This was my first book by Katy Colins, I was drawn in by the cover and instantly captivated by the story.

I really liked the main character Grace and was very keen to read her story.

I felt that the book flowed really well and I'll definitely look out for more by this author in the future.

[Vikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and heartfelt story. Absolutely loved the main character, Grace, she is such a genuinely kind and caring person with a good heart. Loved reading about her different relationships with different friends/characters throughout the book. Katy Colins manages to tackle a difficult subject, yet keeps a positive and uplifting message flowing throughout. Recommend

[eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story about how everyone deals with grief differently and how everyone knows at some point what losing someone feels like but when we suffer we think we're the only ones that can comprehend what we're going through. It portrays how getting better consists of forgiveness; to others and to ourselves as well as how everyone moves at their own rhythm.

[Danni Strange · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been on a bit of a slow reading spell, but an Easter holiday getaway allowed me to crack on with this lovely book and get it finished. You can tell that Katy has written from the heart I’m sure this book will help a lot of people who are finding the journey of grief tricky to manage. I found it reminded me to appreciate the little things and never forget to tell someone you love them.

[carmen_jimenezv]

A heartwarming novel about grief and how we can cope with it - the imporant of friendships and to be there for one another. It took me a bit to get into it but I enjoyed the feeling of hope I was left with when I turned the last page. Plus, I've never read anything about funeral homes before so that was really interesting.

[Dragonf1y · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unexpected story about Grace Salmon who assists in arranging funerals. She strives to find the perfect details to help the grieving give their loved ones the send off they deserve. In doing so she starts to get too involved and crosses the line between her work and the lives of her clients. It's a lesson in going towards life rather than avoid participating for fear of disappointment.

[Sueiso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely read fiction but this book has opened up a new world. The story line draws you straight in to meet wonderfully believable characters who you find yourself befriending and relating to. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Please write a sequel.