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Days of the Week #7

Time to Say Goodbye

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The final book in Rosie Goodwin's bestselling 'Days of the Week' collection

'A vibrant page-turner with entrancing characters' Margaret Dickinson

'Rosie writes such heartwarming sagas' Lyn Andrews

Nuneaton, 1935.

Kathy has grown up at Treetops home for children, where Sunday and Tom Branning have always cared for her as one of their own. She enjoys her life at Treetops Manor, surrounded by her beloved horses, and with a future as a nurse ahead of her, she could wish for nothing more.

Her foster sister Livvy is not as driven as Kathy. Sunday is keen to see both her girls married, but Livvy has no intentions of settling down and would much rather spend time with her friends. When Kathy falls for the wrong man, her ambitions are soon forgotten as she embarks on a secret affair.

The Branning family is overwhelmed with grief when Tom dies suddenly in a riding accident. The running of the estate falls into chaos and life at Treetops will never be the same again. As their financial difficulties begin to mount, they are forced to leave their home.

The women of Treetops think that things can't get any worse. But then it is announced that the country is at war once more . . .

474 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 5, 2020

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231 people want to read

About the author

Rosie Goodwin

103 books369 followers
Before becoming a writer, I was a Placement Support Worker and foster carer, and worked in the social services department after completing a teacher training course. Many children have joined my family over the years. I still live in Nuneaton, where many of my books are set, with my husband, Trevor, and our beloved dogs.

I was thrilled to discover that I'd become one of the top 250 most-borrowed library authors in the UK, and would like to thank all of you who have taken out my books over the last few years! I love meeting my readers and am always pleased to hear from you. I hope you will all continue to get in touch and please do sign up for my newsletter!

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5 stars
654 (71%)
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186 (20%)
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65 (7%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Profile Image for Louise.
35 reviews19 followers
January 20, 2021
Finished them all for you, Nanny. 🌻
Profile Image for Sandra.
566 reviews22 followers
February 12, 2020
I have really loved reading this series Rosie Goodwin always writes a story that draws you into the lives of the characters.This book is full of heartache and at times tissues are needed and i was happy that the series ended with Sunday and her family a BRILLIANT book/series 5*
Profile Image for Simone McKenna.
54 reviews
October 27, 2025
Wow. Just friggin' wow. This has to be my new record, having finished this in three days, so I think that says a lot. There was just so much to take in with this book, which was pretty overwhelming to be honest, having been very eventful, but also of course made it a particularly absorbing and exciting read.

I have to start by saying though that I was really disappointed to see how much they ruined and corrupted the character of Ben, who was a always a very nice, decent guy in the previous book 'The Little Angel", who had a very depressing fall from grace as he went from being a very nice guy and dedicated member of the Treetops family to the main antagonist of this story. He goes from being a nice, caring guy to taking advantage of his much younger stepsister (or adoptive stepsister-the family relations in this book could honestly get so confusing!), robbing Sunday of all her money and leaving her and the family financially broke, to kidnapping two children that are his but nevertheless who he is no more than a stranger to due to his long estrangement (though the latter was a result of being mentally disturbed rather than malice). He really underwent the ultimate Face-Heel turn and that was really disappointing and devastating to see, though it did also show what an incredibly complex, nuanced character he was. I mean you actually go from hating him and wanting him to get his comeuppance to feeling real concern and sympathy for him and wanting him to reconcile with Sunday and the rest of his Treetops family. That is what really disappointed me, as while I could see his fate coming as soon as he wrote a will for "just in case he didn't make it" (for why else would this be included) as well as just seeing how it would all fit in, I knew he would meet his tragic demise. However, I was hoping that before he did that he would at least get to reconcile with Sunday, but unfortunately, this never happens, with Sunday only seeing his letter of apology and giving all the money he stole off her back after he dies, having left it in his will. He really did become a tragic character and what you'd call a sympathetic villain, and despite all he's done, you really can't help but feel sympathy for him in the end, and seeing him fall so far from grace and become so corrupt was really upsetting to see, as well as how much he'd burned his bridges. His suicide scene was very upsetting too-we learn early on in the story that Maggie, who he starts a romantic relationship with at the end of The Little Angel and he is revealed to have married here, ended up dying a while back from childbirth, which was also a blow, even if her death was off-page, for she had already suffered so much and had been hoping she would get a nice new start to life, only to end up tragically dying. It turns out that this is what started Ben's mental downfall, having been heartbroken over losing her and their child, with everything having gone downhill for him since then. He only seeks solace in joining her when he finally decides to end things towards the end, feeling he has nobody or nothing left in his life, having burned his bridges the way he did. A redemption arc would have therefore been complicated, but nevertheless, I wish just even one scene of him and Sunday reconciling could have happened. I'm glad anyway that she accepted him back into the family after learning of his death by having him buried next to Tom.

That's another thing-Tom literally only appears for one second in this story at the very beginning, and it is his tragic death that kicks everything off. This story is definitely what you'd call coming full circle by the end of it, and is by far the most tragic and heartbreaking, having found myself very emotionally overwhelmed and in total emotional whirlwhind. The first book started with Sunday's birth, and this final book ends with her death, which only happens on the very last page, and it really is incredibly heartbreaking and upsetting. While only the first, second and this final book were the only ones of the series to heavily feature Sunday and the Treetops gang as a prominent character, they have still I think essentially covered the life story of Sunday herself, for you go from seeing her early adventures and experience of adversity in the workhouse, depicting her whole journey, from being raised in the workhouse to raising her own family at Treetops. I had a strong feeling the story was going to end with Sunday's demise as I was just sure that the title 'Time to Say Goodbye' meant more than just saying goodbye to Treetops-there was clearly a very heavy meaning to that, knowing it was the end of the series. There were also subtle hints about Sunday's fate throughout the book, that only get less and less subtle.

Like in The Little Angel, there is a war going on throughout most of the story, as we see how it tragically affects many of the characters in some way or another, only this time it is World War II and you see just how much worse it actually is, and longer lasting of course. There are actually so many deaths in this book, too many, which you might expect because it is set during World War II, but most of them aren't even as a result of the war. Goodwin decides to take her most ruthless approach yet as she ends up killing off most of the main cast by the end of the story. The most sudden and unexpected one though was Kathy's death, whose death was far too sudden as she just ends up getting ran over and it doesn't even fit in with anything, like it was pretty unnecessary as it didn't even really add a lot, mainly just to act as the last straw for Sunday realising she has no need for life anymore, but I still don't think this was necessary for that. It was pretty cruel to just suddenly kill off a main character like that, and after everything seemed to finally be going happily for her as well, and it was all just too rushed. Couldn't she have killed any of the more minor, supporting characters instead, like George, Cissie's husband, who while is a nice guy is really just that of a supporting character and doesn't actually do a lot. But no, it's the major characters that we get to know the most and become most attached to that are killed off, including John, who was perhaps the kindest character in the book, and the fact him and Sunday never get together, as you kept expecting Sunday to change her mind and accept his proposal, but no, he dies, again despite how happily things had been going, and Sunday follows him about a year later.

It was interesting actually at the beginning, as I actually thought that Ben was supposed to be Kathy's main love interest and that the 'wrong man' she falls for would be the doctor guy, David, or someone else, but it ends up being the total other way round of course. Poor Ben, he died with nobody, they couldn't have at least given him a bit of happiness in the end, for what he did was no doubt despicable but he was clearly very troubled and had once been a loving member of the family. It was so sad remembering all the loving memories of him with the Treetops family then seeing him turn against them and take such a face-heel turn, going corrupt and becoming the main antagonist. I just wish his end had been a little less tragic and had a little more closure. Ugh why couldn't you have kept him as the nice, good, lovely guy we all remember from The Little Angel?!

It was incredibly gripping, seeing all the events taking place and how World War II affects everyone, highlighting the real history of it all. I really found myself absorbed, reading about the tragic events of World War II as well as everything that was going on with the Branning family. The ending could be seen as bittersweet, but overall I think it was a very dark and tragic story with all the deaths of such major characters and of course the corruption and tragic end of a previously good and nice character. It makes you realise just how long it's been since the beginning of the series when we see the start of Sunday's adventures when she's merely a teenager, taking place a good 50-60 years after then. I was surprised to see Verity and Edgar still alive, as Lavinia, Sunday's mother had been stated to die of old age before the start of the story, and they were about the same age as her. It was possible of course, though what was kind of weird was that it was ambiguous whether they were still alive by the end or not, as I don't think they were mentioned amongst the guests at the party they had nearer the end. I'd be surprised if they outlived Sunday though. What was kind of disappointing as well was to see that there was no mention of most of the characters from the first book, like Mrs Spooner and Daisy, and even the bad ones like Miss Frost and Mr Pinnegar, as while two of them had died in the first book and the other two obviously would have been long dead by now, it would have been a nice little bit of nostalgia to look back to the very beginning of it all. Daisy is mentioned in the narration, with one of Kathy's children being named after her, but not in dialogue, and Sunday's harsh beginnings in the workhouse is mentioned but only briefly and vaguely. It just would have been a nice little nostalgic throwback to be honest. It also would have been interesting to know what happened to Kathy's dad, who was seemingly Richard from The Little Angel, as we never really had any closure on that.

Flora and Jamie from A Maiden's Voyage are mentioned a few times, but don't actually make an official appearance with actual dialogue. I was never quite sure that it was a good idea shoehorning them into the Treetops/Sunday saga, as A Maiden's Voyage felt like a whole different story in its own right, and there was enough going on with Sunday as it was.

Overall was a remarkable and particularly emotional read-definitely not recommended for if you are looking for a light and fluffy read at all. It was very upsetting, heartbreaking and tragic-especially by the end, and definitely the most emotional of finales I have come across. I'd say that you have to have read the first and second book in the series before reading this one, otherwise you might have trouble understanding and connecting to the characters and everything going on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Carol Anne.
264 reviews17 followers
June 19, 2022
Ho Hum.. 🙃 Maybe I needed to have started this series at #1 ? I simply found I couldn’t connect with any of the characters.
Profile Image for Justine Hodgson.
164 reviews1 follower
March 31, 2022
I enjoyed this book so much, but didn't realise it was the last in a season of 7 books. Can't believe I've not discovered Rosie Goodwin until now will definitely read her books again.
Profile Image for Leigh.
1,178 reviews
March 30, 2020
The end of the week has arrived with Saturday's child. It brings us full circle back to the lady who started it all Sunday. Although they no longer run a home for children Sunday and Tom continue to breed horses alongside his son Ben and their daughters, Livvy who is their child and Kathy who was Kitty's child that she died giving birth too. It started off each with a fatal accident, then took a turn that nearly had me throwing the book. Not again! A horrible con man gets an innocent girl pregnant and deserts her. Seriously with the exception of book one and maybe four that's been a driving plot throughout the series. But it moved on quickly and actually was one of the best in the series almost. After Ben betrays the family, he's a total asshole throughout this book and even in the end I couldn't feel bad for him, they are forced to move out of Treetops. A charming man John buys it and he and his grandson Giles move in and take over the business. The story takes us through the second world war Kathy goes back to nursing, Livvy a radio operator in the WAAF and Giles a pilot. It was good but confusing at times. Giles was a fighter pilot to start but then flew bombers which I didn't think happened, but maybe it did. I also didn't understand why an RAF pilot who was no doubt in uniform was put in a concentration camp instead of a POW camp. I guess it added to the plot and suspense but it made no sense to me. POWs were treated decently by the Germans from my own research of the war. Along with Kathy's twins they take in two evacuees from the East End so the house is alive with children again. The ending also had me screaming in rage. One unnecessary death that was really stupid and made me want to knock off yet another star bringing it to three. There was no need for that to happen and it left me feeling disappointed in how she choose to wrap up the story. I get what happened to John and Sunday and that ending would've been perfectly fine, but she went too far. There was too much death in this story, some I get, casualties of war, a horrible character getting his comeuppance but without spoiling that one particular death ruined the book for me. It's an anxiety ridden time and I needed a happy escape got it until the last ten pages or so. It could've been a wonderful full circle ending to this mostly delightful series and it almost was.
Profile Image for Sarah Davies.
464 reviews13 followers
March 4, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity of reviewing this book.

Time to say goodbye is part of a series (which I didn't realise), but I read it as a stand alone book as I haven't read the others in the series.

This is a great story about Sunday and her family starts in the early 30's and finishes after World War 2. Sunday in her family live in a Manor house called Treetops, they also have a stud farm on the ground which is a profitable company run by Sunday's husband Tom.

Sunday is devastated when Tom has an accident and dies, she is heart broken and doesn't know how to exist without her soul mate. But lots of changes are ahead and very troubled times ensue.

Well written, with a lovely mixture of characters and a fascinating storyline to go with it. Highly recommended!!
51 reviews
April 17, 2021
Such a beautifully written book. The last pages made really cry and I don't cry easily. It's a story that resolves around world war 2 which makes me to be grateful on how blessed we are at this era. This book is a must read for everyone who loves old school romance i.e true love.
92 reviews
February 22, 2024
Time to Say Goodbye reminded me of the rumors my granny would tell me about at the family reunion. The story indeed feels like it: a bunch of people whom I have no true connection with (or even don't care about at all) facing many trials, troubles, and challenges. There were not many happy events, to be honest. The book is mostly composed of characters trying to solve their issues during the war.
Also, it was rather hard for me at the beginning when the story switched perspectives because that switch wasn't emphasized structurally or visually (almost never). Then I kind of got used to it.
Surprisingly, the book has many deaths. I mean, I suspected it, since the story is centered during World War II, but that many? Wow.
In the end, particularly in the last few chapters, I got a feeling that the author was trying to cram as many events as possible but was so sick and tired of writing that she just didn't address them all properly. That spoiled my overall impression, sadly.
Overall, I don't regret reading the book. It was a nice route off my typical reading preferences but I don't think I would go back to this author.
71 reviews
April 25, 2020
Good but a few flaws

I have enjoyed reading all the books in this series but I noticed that Kathy wasn't quite seventeen when she began nursing, I trained a nurse for an while in the sixties and you had to be eighteen to start. I'm sure this also applied in the thirties, also it is given to believe that she became a nurse immediately with the responsibility she was given. There was no talk of any training and she left at nineteen to have the twins, she would have only been half way the her training them yet was welcome back later as if she was fully qualified. The twins were only four when starting school and again in those days it was five at least. When they were taken by Ben they were only four and yet they ran away and found their way around London I don't think so. At four even in those days they wouldn't have been so grown up . It just seemed ridiculous of that happening and they were lost for nearly two weeks and . I for one would have been frantic and out of my mind if that had happier to my children. Kathy was distraught but it didn't seem natural.
48 reviews
August 9, 2020
A suitable ending to the Days of the Week saga

This book commonwealth days of the week saga. It brings together many of the characters from earlier books as well as a few new ones. It is a gripping read with its ups and downs at every turn. A fitting end to this group of books and to the life of Sunday Branning. Rosie Goodwin is a great story teller who pulls you into the lives of her characters, sharing their trials and tribulations. . A book you cannot put down until you have reached the end. It is a shame that there will be no more books about these characters but every good thing has to come to an end and as Rosie says, "It is time to say goodbye".
Thank you Rosie Goodwin for sharing the stories in this Days of the Week saga with us.
Profile Image for Sarah Davies.
464 reviews13 followers
October 15, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity of reviewing this book.

Time to say goodbye is part of a series (which I didn't realise), but I read it as a stand alone book as I haven't read the others in the series.

This is a great story about Sunday and her family starts in the early 30's and finishes after World War 2. Sunday in her family live in a Manor house called Treetops, they also have a stud farm on the ground which is a profitable company run by Sunday's husband Tom.

Sunday is devastated when Tom has an accident and dies, she is heart broken and doesn't know how to exist without her soul mate. But lots of changes are ahead and very troubled times ensue.

Well written, with a lovely mixture of characters and a fascinating storyline to go with it. Highly recommended!!
227 reviews10 followers
February 11, 2020
I have loved reading this series and it was fitting that it ended as it began with Sunday and her family.
From the beginning I was gripped with the trials and tribulations of the family as war once again looms. There is plenty of heartache along the way and at times I was close to tears as events unfolded, particularly towards the end.
Rosie Goodwin is one of the queens of the saga and dn I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
68 reviews
July 10, 2020
Poor editing

Three stars because yet again the editing is poor. Got to page 210 and Livvy became Libby. Numerous mistakes throughout the book was very outputting. I don't know if these historical romances are all edited by the same editor but I've found they're all the same for errors.
Profile Image for Dafydd.
50 reviews14 followers
December 10, 2025
Something between 4 and 5 but decided to give 5.
I didn't expect it to be a war book (I thought it would reach the war at the end) but this is on me. This wasn't my first war book and they all have something in common. However, I loved the characters and their relationships. Some things were predictable (mainly love part) but others surprised me. It's a good book for the genre lovers.
185 reviews
March 30, 2020
What am amazingly warm and lovely book to read amd the strength of the women throughoutkept me reading and reading to see what happened next i have to admit towards the end of the book it started getting so sad and emotional but all in all a brilliant read
619 reviews2 followers
May 1, 2020
Oh WOW that was the best book of the series, Rosie excelled herself on this one. But I will warn anyone about to read this you will need tissues at the ready. Rosie Goodwin you certainly saved the best till last. I would have given this many more than 5 stars if I could have.
Profile Image for Gail Marchant.
507 reviews2 followers
May 23, 2020
Rosie Goodwin you have done it again a story from 1930 to after the WW2 1946
This story of Sunday, her family & friends
The long life of happiness and sadness
I have read the books before but explanations of what had gone before made the book flow
Great book with a tear in my eye when it ended
Profile Image for Trudie.
743 reviews2 followers
December 3, 2020
This is the final in the Days Of The Week series which I have really enjoyed. Although this is supposed to be about Kathy it also features Sunday who was in the first book. Brilliantly wrapped up, excellent ending to a great series.
Profile Image for Nicci.
67 reviews1 follower
April 4, 2021
The last book in the 'Days of the Week' series and it did not disappoint! I never realised how involved I had got with the various characters and I was reading this one and going through every emotion with them.
Profile Image for Mrs J Watson.
99 reviews2 followers
November 2, 2021
Amazing

Could not put this book down. Loved it from the very first page. Read all the books in the days of the week series and throughly enjoyed them all. Would definitely recommend. Will definitely read more of this author books.
Profile Image for Emily.
125 reviews3 followers
August 27, 2024
A really beautifully written book that covers some really touching themes. Fantastic characters that were so believable and real. The only downside for me was I felt the ending was slightly dragged out, but still a fab book regardless.
179 reviews1 follower
October 12, 2024
an easy holiday read, had not realised it was part of a long series.
It went dark a lot of times... her indication that someone had died. I am not planning to go back and read the earlier books in the series!!!
Profile Image for Judy Tolley.
291 reviews3 followers
November 20, 2025
Goodbye

This series was heartwarming and enjoyable. Granted there were many predictable scenes and perhaps a little corny but I definitely enjoyed all of the books. I loved how characters continued with each book and making their final bow in the end. Brava!!
18 reviews
April 10, 2020
What a poignant end to a brilliantly well written series of books! Did not want this read to end
80 reviews
April 19, 2020
Excellent.

I do enjoyed reading this last book in the series. I don't wish to spoil it for others, but would definitely recommend!!!!!
Profile Image for Annemarie Farthing.
237 reviews4 followers
May 16, 2020
I couldn't seem to get in to this book. Took me ages to finish it. Shame really as I was so looking forward to reading Rosie 😞
Profile Image for Karen Regent.
27 reviews1 follower
May 26, 2020
Fantastic read. Was sad to finally come to the end of the 7th book in series but it was done so perfectly
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews

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