The Trouble with Goodbye by Sarra Cannon

Source:  Purchased (free book on Google Play before the release of the sequel)
Genre:  New Adult
Publisher: Dead River
Date Published: May 21, 2013
Number of Pages: 330

One night can change everything…

Two years ago, Leigh Anne Davis shocked everyone in tiny Fairhope, Georgia when she broke up with her wealthy boyfriend to attend an Ivy League university a thousand miles away. At school, she finds a happiness and independence she’s never known.

Until one terrifying night takes it all away from her.

With no place else to go, Leigh Anne heads home to reclaim her old life. A life she worked so hard to escape. On the outside, she seems like the same girl everyone has always known. But deep inside, she’s hiding a terrible secret.

That’s when she meets Knox Warner, a troubled newcomer to Fairhope. His eyes have the same haunted look she sees every day in the mirror, and when she’s near him, the rest of the world fades away. But being with Knox would mean disappointing everyone all over again. If she wants to save what’s left of her old life, she has no choice but to say goodbye to him forever.

Only, the trouble with goodbye is that sometimes it’s about courage and sometimes it’s about fear. And sometimes you’re too broken to know the difference until it’s too late.

I really don't know how to feel about this.  It handles a touchy topic beautifully until the end.  I would really like to read, for once, a rape story where the family doesn't try to cover it up and brush it under the rug.  Sure be angry, you can even victim shame (I've gone through it), but for the love of God please don't just go "well if this gets out it will DESTROY our family."  It won't.  Rape destroys a person, not a family.  A family should be there to help hold the pieces that were scattered around the floor, not sweep all those pieces under the dirty old rug.

Leigh Ann is a wonderful character, and her coming to a decision about whether to press charges or not is very realistic and something that a lot of rape victims go through.  And I loved how supportive Knox was.  Not enough guys are supportive through a rape.  Knox was very much the perfect boyfriend figure.  I swooned a couple times because of him.

Sophy played a great supportive friend, and I enjoyed the story of how Knox and Leigh Ann met and got together.  

My only problem is with her family, and I know that it's just how the story played out, but it did make me angry.  It doesn't detract from the story for me, but grr that family.  So unsupportive.  So bad.

I'd recommend this, though it's not technically a new adult novel.  Looking for steamy scenes and swoon worthy love?  This book doesn't have that.

                                        4 out of 5 Happy Clouds :)