Publisher: Mira Ink
Pages: 336
Formats Available: Paperback, Kindle
BLURB from Goodreads
‘If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.’
Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.
When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going, California.
Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.
Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.
MY REVIEW
I was really pleased when Mira Ink sent me a paperback copy of Saving June for me to read and review for my blog. I had been wanting to read this one for a while. so what do I think about the cover? I think the cover could actually represent either Harper or June. Either of their characters could want to be hiding behind the red jumper/cardigan, trying to hide from the world.
The book is basically Harper's story of what happens when her elder sister June commits suicide. It comes as a total surprise and large shock to Harper, as in her opinion June always seemed happy enough, sure she was a bit upset about splitting up with her boyfriend Tyler but not upset enough to kill herself! Unfortunately Harper's parents have not been together for a while so they come up with the idea of actually splitting Junes ashes into two urns so they can both have piece of their daughter. Harper doesn't agree with this, she hates how her auntie has arranged the mantel piece for Junes ashes to stand there on display. Harper knows this is not what June would have wanted. Harper knows that June's dream was to go to California, so she decides to steal the urn with Junes ashes and take her sister to California.
Harper's companions on her trip to California are her best friend, and a boy who June used to tutor. The book tells of their "adventures" and goes through the emotions of each of them and their connection to June. It's also about Harper accepting her sister is gone and won't be coming back. The book has death, sorrow, grief, alcoholism, but it also features, life, acceptance, and hope for the future too.
I really enjoyed this book, it's well written, descriptive without being overly so and flows well. You go through a range of emotions with Harper as well as seeing how she helps her friends when they have problems in their lives too. I would compare it to One Moment by Kristina McBride, Read Me Dead by Emerald Barnes and Temptaion by Karen Ann Hopkins. There are some really great YA lit novels available at the moment and Saving June is one of them! Kristina describes how Harper is feeling so well that you, "feel" for the character, you kind of want to give her a hug and be a friend to her. Another common trait in the YA books I have read lately is the younger characters taking the lead and the parents being the weaker characters.
Available at Saving June
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