Book Review: It Started with Goodbye by Christina June

This is a nice story; particularly good for YA and Teens.
It Started with Goodbye
by Christina June

File Size: 990 KB
Print Length: 272 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0310758661
Publisher: Blink (May 9, 2017)
Sold by: HarperCollins Publishing
Language: English
ASIN: B01HAKH5LY
Genre: Family Life, Teen & YA
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0.

Sixteen-year-old Tatum Elsea is bracing for the worst summer of her life. After being falsely accused of a crime, she's stuck under stepmother-imposed house arrest and her BFF's gone ghost. Tatum fills her newfound free time with community service by day and working at her covert graphic design business at night (which includes trading emails with a cute cello-playing client).
When Tatum discovers she's not the only one in the house keeping secrets, she finds she has the chance to make amends with her family and friends. Equipped with a new perspective, and assisted by her feisty step-abuela/fairy-godmother, Tatum is ready to start fresh and maybe even get her happy ending along the way.
A modern play on the Cinderella story arc, IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE shows us that sometimes going after what you want means breaking the rules.
IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE will appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen, Stephanie Perkins, and Jennifer E. Smith.

Review:
Tatum was only trying to protect her best friend (bff), Ashley, when she got caught up in a crime situation. The accusations put Tatum in a tough spot and it hurts that her father not only is severely disappointed in her but he won’t even believe her explanation. As her father heads out of town for his job, Tatum is grounded for the summer with her stepmother. Tatum is only allowed out of house to do her job and perform her community service.

Tatum has always worked the summer sitting for two girls but that has changed this year. She doesn’t tell her stepmother the full story so she can still get out of the house. Tatum also is keeping secret that she has started an online graphic design business to earn the extra money she will need to pay fines and still purchase the item she has on her wish list.

Tatum is frustrated that her former bff has gone silent and won’t return here emails or calls. But Tatum is making new friends, one engaging young cello player online and a couple during community service. Tatum is chafing against her ‘house arrest’ and her friendships are tempting her to violate her house rules.

Tatum has a friend at home with her step-abuela (step grandmother) who challenges Tatum to see a broader perspective. A surprising situation reveals other secrets in her household and Tatum begins to see a way to make amends with her family and find a way to come clean. Maybe the summer will turn out better than she could have expected.

Tatum is sixteen – which says a lot. She is questioning if her dad really loves her, if her stepmom cares at all and if her stepsister is human beyond her ice ballerina image. She only finds support from her step-abuela and her new friends. The story is sweet and has a bit of Cinderella uplifting ending. I like the overall conflicts which include (not unexpectedly) teen angst. I liked the light teen romance, but I didn’t care for the sneaking and less that honest activities that Tatum engages in. Fortunately, I enjoyed the final resolution.

I’ll be interested to hear the reaction of the other ladies in the ladies book club. I recommend this as a light, easy read with a nice final message.

Source: Print books discounted through Christianbook.com. I picked up the Kindle version 2019. This is a book for ladies book club.