This is a novel about finding love, yet also ultimately about loss and grief. We meet Autumn who has discovered her soulmate, the brother of her dear friend. Autumn is a solitary soul, a writer. She encounters a reserved musician named Bowie while in New York. Unlike her common practice of love them and leave them, Autumn and Bowie fall quickly and fiercely in love. However, not everyone is blessed with a fairy tale ending. Bowie disappears, only to return with the news that he has a terminal illness, with only six months to live.

In an instant, Autumn's life is turned upside down. Does Autumn continue the relationship? Does she choose to leave New York for England (the place she has vowed never to return to) in order to spend Bowie's remaining days with her and with his unconventional family? Throughout the summer, the choices Autumn make, will aid her in moving forward despite experiencing heartbreak and loss.

This story was not quite what I expected, however it was lovely. Yes, there was a focus of some conversations about feminism and vegan lifestyles, but that was definitely not the premise of the story. These were topics that brought Autumn to connect with Bluebell, Bowie's sister, and ultimately the family as a whole. In fact, a lot of sensitive topics were dealt with including assisted suicide, sexual assault, abandonment issues, grief and loneliness. among others I definitely felt a connection to the characters. Sarah created imperfect people who grow together over the course of the book. As a reader, I don't have to agree with the choices made along the way, but I appreciate the learning, development, and life changes that ultimately tells the purpose of the story.. I loved how fiercely this family loved, even if it was at times toxic, and how they treated Autumn like one of their own. I loved how Autumn grew as a person and as a member of a family unit. This book was cerebral as well as emotionally heavy, but I feel better for having read it. Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advanced reader copy.

I do enjoy a good romance book. I wish I liked Before You Say Goodbye more, but it just didn’t do it for me. It wasn’t horrible, but it definitely wasn’t the best book I’ve ever ever read. This would be one that you could skip.

I wish the author had written an epic love story *just* between Autumn & Bowie. And left it at that. Because there was great potential there.

I've read 'love triangle' trope books regarding 2 brothers before and i usually love the angst and emotional drama this brings, but as I was reading (and could see where this was going) I spent the whole time hoping it wouldn't!

I do want to say though, that I thought the author did a great job of showing the devastation that is to loose someone you love. Grief is a very personal journey and I can absolutely see where the author was going with this. The execution just wasn't great for me.

Sarah's book presents a narrative that heavily emphasizes a radical left perspective, making it difficult to enjoy for readers of varying viewpoints. The characters are portrayed as exceedingly annoying, with the dialogue feeling more like an incessant lecture than a narrative flow. From the opening chapter, the focus is overwhelmingly on topics like feminism, veganism, sexism, immigration, and sex, but the discussion is executed in a relentless and repetitious manner. It feels as though the author is intent on hammering these ideas into the reader, rather than allowing the story to unfold naturally. This approach detracts from the reading experience, making it less enjoyable and more of a chore to get through.

Furthermore, the characters' extreme reactions to political disagreements, such as ending friendships over differing opinions, come off as immature and lacking in perspective. This portrayal suggests an unrealistic level of intolerance and fails to acknowledge the complexity of human relationships. It would have been more impactful to explore these themes with nuance and depth, showing that people are multifaceted beyond their political views. A more balanced approach could have made the book more accessible and engaging, allowing readers to reflect on the issues presented without feeling overwhelmed or alienated.

Struggled a bit to get into it. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind for this book. Will
Give it another go soon. Grief is very raw depending on you! Thanks netgalley

A lovely but sad story to get lost in. Grief is different for everyone, and I enjoy reading about people that have handled it and navigated after only being with someone for a short amount of time instead of years and years of marriage. I think Gate gives a voice to this genre. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.