It Started With Goodbye by Christina June

Hi everyone, this week’s review is a teen read I finished not too long ago. I had initially planned a few others to tag along with this story but I thought I should let this lovely story about a young teenager who has a passion for graphic design speak its own truth…

Title: It started with goodbye

Author: Christina June

Genre: Fiction – Contemporary

Publication details: Blink; USA, 2017

ISBN: 9780310758662  (Paperback)

What this book is about: Tatum Elsea is bracing for the worst summer of her life. After being falsely accused of a crime, she’s stuck under house arrest by her step-mother and her BFF’s gone radio silent. 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. If Tatum is reading his emails right, her virtual Prince Charming is funny, smart, and talented – and he seems to think the same about her. Too bad he’s spending his summer across the ocean in Ireland… not that Tatum would be allowed to go on a date anyway. But over the course of the summer, Tatum discovers she’s not the only one in the house keeping secrets, and she might just get the chance to make amends with her friends and family. With the help of her step-abuela/fairy godmother, Tatum is ready to start fresh and maybe even find her happily-ever-after along the way. A modern play on the Cinderella story, It Started With Goodbye shows that sometimes going after what you want means breaking all the rules.

My review: This lovely read took me by surprise!! A modern diverse twist on the traditional fairy-tale of Cinderella, this story was in equal parts amusing and heartwarming. The way she pours her heart into her graphic design business was depicted wonderfully in June’s writing. I found myself enjoying Tatum’s company and towards the end the step-family proved to be a colourful cast of characters. The soft love story across the seas that unfolded in the emails she shared with her ‘Prince Charming’ was delightful to read. This is a great read for fans of Kasie West and Jennifer E. Smith.

My rating: 4 ⭐