“It Started with Goodbye” is a wonderful modern-day retelling of Cinderella. Tatum has always felt like an oddball in her family with her “wicked” (maybe just misunderstood), helicopter stepmother, Belen, and distant stepsister, Tilly (Matilda). Her father is frequently out of town for business and she is left with her extremely strict stepmother watching her every step (or misstep as the case may be). The book begins when she takes her BFF, Ashlyn, and her boyfriend who spells trouble, Chase, to a store- and then, without knowing it, becomes an accessory to theft. Her father and stepmother don’t believe her that she didn’t know what was going on, but their lawyer helps her make a deal to identify the other two (Chase and Ashlyn) in exchange for community service and a small fine.

In addition to the legal punishments, Belen is putting Tatum under house arrest for the whole summer, and since her father is out of town, she has also brought her mother, Blanche, to stay and watch Tatum whenever she can’t be there. Tatum is suffocating and lonely- Ashlyn won’t speak to her and she is already isolated from her stepmother and stepsister. Luckily, she makes some friends at community service, Abby and Hunter, plus she has her stepgrandmother, who looks after her like a fairy godmother. Tatum also begins a business of graphic/web design, and she is going to earn back the money to pay for her fine, as well as build a portfolio for future college applications. Ultimately, Tatum learns some bigger lessons about empathy and honesty during the book.

This is a fantastic retelling of Cinderella, and I really loved Tatum’s character- she grows a lot during the book and is a wonderful example for a teenager to try to see the world from someone else’s point-of-view. Blanche was a really fun character, and I instantly caught the fairy godmother vibe from her. There’s just a touch of romance in the story, and it was like icing on the cake- nice but not necessary. The biggest aspects of the story were Tatum’s personal growth and familial/friend relationships.

There is also an undercurrent about the value of creativity and the arts/music, which was a lovely touch. The Cinderella aspect was really interesting, and none of her situations seemed as bad as she thought they were (of course, all stories are a matter of perspective) and it gave an interesting spin to the overall concept. This is a really clever debut of a talented author from whom I’ll be interested in seeing more!

Overall, this is a really fantastic read, and I enjoyed it! I read it pretty fast, as it was hard to put down and the perfect length for a one-sit reading. It’s a feel-good book and a perfect holiday/summer read! Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

It Started with Goodbye was a great read. I loved the retelling of Cinderella and I found Tate’s character very charming and relatable. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Great for young teen or pre-teen girls. I am WAY past that stage of my life--but, I was still able to enjoy the story this book told. There is a lot of teen-aged drama lived through by Tatum, the main character, and she learns some good life lessons too. Though the book does not dive in too deep, it still manages to make you care about the characters. They are really likable. They were just a bit to perfect to be believable to a middle aged woman like myself. The main reason I rated this a four star book is that I know that my 13 year old self would have really liked this book-like-totally, like, liked it..:)
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read and give an honest review on this book..

It Started With Goodbye by Christina June is just a fantastic book. The story was realistic, as were the characters - as the saying goes, "they came to life on the page." Tatum is a girl that I would have wanted to be friends with in high school, Like Tatum, I would have found myself friends with the other characters, and infatuated with SK.

I hope that in the future, Ms. June continues with other books in this universe. Prequels, sequels, other characters' stories - there is so much left in this world to discover.

IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE
January 28, 2017

Not entirely what I was expecting.
I loved the cover art when I saw it and then read the synopsis. I know, I know, “don’t judge a book by its cover”! I am very guilty of doing just that as that is what grabbed my attention first. After reading its synopsis I put it on my Netgalley wish list and the publisher granted my wish. The synopsis makes the story seem like it is going to be a dark low key thrilling kind of book and that it is not. Not that I didn’t enjoy it. It is really a book about truth, family relationships and trials of friendship. Its a good book for teens and maybe young adults. I happen to like almost all genre of book in some capacity so though it wasn’t what I expected it was still worth reading. I also have no clue what the title has to do with this at all because events get rolling well before there are any goodbyes. And there ally isn’t any permanent goodbyes either.

Abuela Stepsister Tatum
It Started with Goodbye explores the trials of friendship after a major life altering event and the relationship of a stepfamily, that may just be misunderstood. Tattum is our darling self absorbed teenager who finds more than herself during the worst summer of her life after she is arrested and charged with a from she did not commit. Her sentence? A hefty fine and community service, invasive plant removal from the park.

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Practically on house arrest and her dad out of the country she struggles with how to connect with her best, or former, best friend, her stepmother who is over barring and her disappointed father. She starts a graphic design business which she keeps a secret for some reasdon, finds new friends and finds a new understanding of the stepmother she thought hated her. And along the way she also finds the perfect boyfriend, so was her summer really all that bad?

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I will give this a 3.5/5 rating and hope that the publishers will tone down the synopsis to be more aligned with what the story is actually about.

Be well my little booklings!

This was such a fun read.. The author did such a good job

I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would given that I'm not big on romance books. Some of the YA aspects of this were cloyish and annoying (the stepmother's inexplicable coldness doesn't sit well with me) but overall I liked it, especially the peripheral characters.

Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel, received in exchange for an honest review.
“It Started with Goodbye” is the newest YA contemporary fiction novel from author, Christina June. In “Goodbye”, Tatum Elsea is sixteen years old and confined to her house, under the supervision of her stepmother, after being charged for a crime she didn’t commit. While she is adapting to what is sure to be her “summer of solitude”, Tatum unexpectedly finds new friends through her community service project, strengthens bonds that previously were broken- or at least chipped- and discovers surprising new talents in herself.
This novel was described as having a “Cinderella arc” and that is evident right from the beginning, with the “evil stepmother” and “stepsister” roles of Belen and Tilly. However, that is about as far as the comparisons go to the classic fairy tale.
This novel was YA in every sense of the genre- it was overly cheesy and extremely predictable, with young “misunderstood” characters who clumsily discover themselves while struggling with angst-y teenage dramas.
I kept waiting for this novel to start. Tatum was a great character at first, however I found it hard to pick a focus for the plot. First, she’s arrested and has a falling out with her best friend. Then, she is on house arrest and the plot changes to her developing her home business. Then she meets a boy, and some new friends, and the plot changes again to Tatum’s social life. Than a step grandmother is introduced and the plot switches to Tatum building relationships with her step family. All very confusing, none of it very interesting.
To a modern-day teenager, I am sure this novel would speak to them, as it details the day-by-day doldrums of teenaged Tatum. However as an adult (who perhaps is biased because I work with teenagers and am surrounded by their drama all day long), this novel did not really keep my interest. It was a quick read so I wanted to finish it, as I expected a dramatic ending (which didn’t happen). The plot line was cheesy and predictable and the characters were overly ordinary and I did not really form a bond with any of them. The writing was well done, however, and the novel was an easy read with quick chapters and a simplistic, non-pretentious style.
This novel is definitely worth investigating if you are a pre-teen or teenager. Hard-core YA fans that are NOT adolescents (like myself) will find the novel a bit dull and again, cheesy. I have not read any of June’s other books, so I have nothing to compare this novel to, but this one did not quite have the impact I thought it would.
The cover was pretty though.

3.5 stars. Cinderella retellings are one of my favorite things in the world when done well, but this one was very light on the fairy tale.

The book is well written and well edited and for the most part I really liked Tate's voice and sense of humor, except when she would out of the blue contradict herself and "understand" where the "wicked stepmother" was coming from. I have 2 problems with that premise. The first problem is that the stepmother was completely in the wrong (in my opinion) and the second is that no 16 year old is that self aware and forgiving, particularly not in the circumstances in this book. (Trying hard to avoid spoilers here.)

The romance was very back burner, which is unfortunate because the "prince" was one of my favorite characters. Would have loved to see more of him.

I think overall this book tried to shoehorn a message of coming of age growth onto a character who didn't really need it and to get us to sympathize with the villain, because, well I am not sure why. Maybe I missed the why.

I would try this author again, because the writing was solid and I didn't want to stop reading it. I just hope for a better story next time.

Highly recommend this book. very interesting storyline, and interesting characters. found it difficult to put down which is when i know ive found a good book

This story of Tatum Elsea and the journey she goes on for a summer is a sweet story that sucked me in.
Tatum is in the wrong place at the wrong time and finds herself being arrested along with her best friend and her best friends delinquent boyfriend. Her parents are extremely disappointed in her decisions. They work with a lawyer to have her punishment lessened. So with a $500 fine and 100 hours of community service and her Stepmonster's house arrest rules at home, Tatum begins her summer. You will follow along as she learns to navigate the rules, starts her own business, pulls weeds in the park, makes new friends and crushes on a very handsome musician.
This book had all the good stuff that I enjoy in a Young Adult novel, friendship, new love, family turmoil/reconciliation and self discovery. This is an enjoyable read!

I loved this story! I've mentioned before that I really enjoy fairy tales and reading retold fairy tales. It Started With Goodbye is my very favorite kind of retelling, since it was a Cinderella story while being totally original too. I loved the characters and that Tatum isn't the only one we connect with. I highly recommend this one, since it was delightful and surprisingly deep. It also is clean, which can be hard to find in a YA title.
I look forward to reading more by Christina!
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Tatum's summer got off to a rocky start. She happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time when her best friend's loser boyfriend decided to steal from a department store and then use her as the getaway car. Unfortunately for Tatum, the police and her parents don't think she was just being a not-so innocent bystander is forgivable, so she is sentenced to a summer of community service, a $500 fine, and house arrest as deemed fit by her parents. To make matters worse, her BFF is made at her for ratting them out and her father has to go out of the country for work leaving her with her super controlling stepmonster and evil golden child stepsister for the entire summer. The only ally she seems to have is her Golden Girls loving her step-grandmother, Blanche, who is visiting for the summer to help assist with Tatum's punishment. Thankfully the summer turns out to not be as bleak as it seemed at first once she realizes an acquaintance from her school is doing community service with her. Tatum also launches a graphic design business since she has so much free time on her hands and ends up emailing with a client who turns out to be something a little more special. Tatum does a lot of growing up in her solitude with a little help from Blanche and her new friends. By the end of the summer, she is not the same girl she was at the beginning and has a new appreciation for herself, her friends, and her family. it-started-with-goodbye
Let me preface this review by saying that I immediately wanted to read this book because Tatum is one of my absolute favorite names. Once I saw that was the MC's name, I knew I had to have this book. I didn't realize until I started reading that It Started With Goodbye is a modern day spin on Cinderella. It works perfectly and ends up being just familiar enough with the fairy tale without feeling cheesy or forced.

This is very much a character driven story, which are my favorite kind. Tatum is a great MC and does a full character arc by the end. I was able to relate to her easily and remember feeling similar things when I was 16. Tatum's friends are realistic and really feel like these could be actual people.

There is so much diversity in the characters, and it made the book so unique from anything I've ever read. Tatum's stepmom and step-grandmother are immigrants from Chile, her stepsister is half Chilean/half white, and SK is half Irish/half Kenyan and the son of immigrants. The author did a great job of incorporating the heritage of each of the characters by using their language, names, and food from their home countries. I really enjoyed learning about the characters and seeing how their backgrounds influence them as people. The characters also have a wide variety of interests- dance, graphic design, art, music, and journalism, to name a few. It was refreshing to be able to relate with so many varying hobbies.

Overall I am super happy with this book. If you love a good contemporary like I do and love authors similar to Kasie West, then you need to add this book to your TBR immediately. You will not be disappointed!

While this book ended up being a completely different read than I thought I was going to get, I really enjoyed it!

First off, the writing style is perfect for me - quick paced, down to earth without all the flourishes of long winded books. Secondly, the main characters SK and Tatum were very well developed and engaging and the best part - this book wasn't all about them and their romance. While there is quite a lot of that, there are also other relationships being explored, which gave the book more warmth and made the story realistic for me.

I know a lot of people love the whole Cinderella retelling, with a modern day twist, but that made very little difference to me. The fact that the characters spoke to me is what I take away from this wonderful story.

Sometimes there is nothing better to read to unwind than a nice breezy YA novel. This one was a complete pleasure. It is filled with a surprising amount of heart that is borne of the characters that are allowed to slowly become just a little bit more than their typical stereotypes would suggest.

I haven't actually stayed up way too late reading a book that wasn't a mystery/thriller/horror type novel in a really long while, but I lost track of time while I was reading this one. It was far too easy to get lost in Tatum Elsea's life, and far too hard to abandon her and put the book down.

This novel is a sort of modern take on the Cinderella story, with the updates making you completely forget that's what it is at its core. Actually, what I found much more interesting than the spark of romance, was Tatum's relationships with all the people in her life. She was easy to like, and easy to root for, even when you may not exactly agree with her decisions (though they are not particularly horrible decisions, she is our Cinderella character, after all.) Her narrative style was fun, earnest, sometimes funny and always just plain delightful.

It Started With Goodbye is due to be published in May 2017, just in time to be a go-to beach read!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So many things about this book spoke to me when I previewed it on NetGalley. Stereotypically, the cover grabbed my attention and had me wanting to know more. Because of the synopsis I requested the book as an early reader, and I was not at all disappointed!

Tatum is such a likeable character who - through circumstances she couldn't predict - ends up in quite a bit of trouble (involving the police). With her father leaving on business for the summer, he defers to her "stepmonster" to oversee Tatum's discipline. Basically, this leaves her working through hard labor, outdoor (in the hot summer sun) community service and no life to speak of. The novel is an interesting play on the Cinderella story; however, because of Tatum's step-Abeula, she comes to understand, if not appreciate, the strict discipline her stepmother Bélen dishes out.

The novel had a wonderful flow and a nice variety of characters that would interest many different readers. Overall, It Started with Goodbye had a neat and tidy end, but with the summer Tatum had, she deserves it!

Took me only a few days to start & finish this one. It was that good. I loved getting to know the main character, and felt like I could see all of the characters so clearly. The story line was great & the book was written so well. I'm definitely recommending this title, on all of my social media platforms including my blog. I'll be keeping an eye out for more titles by Christina June!

3.5 stars

It Started With Goodbye is a modern Cinderella retelling that manages to not be too formulaic and boring.
The writing style isn't particularly memorable but that's the truth with all the contemporary books I've read.
Of course the baseline story is predictable, but most of her people felt real and did stuff regular people might do.
Tatum is a well-rounded character who grows throughout the book, becoming a better person by the final page. Her family is flawed, but doing their best. Her friends weren't just placed in there for filler and you could imagine the rest of their lives when they weren't on the page. There was action that you couldn't see, an element important in first-person tales.
The SK parts were my favorite, but because he didn't have much page time he lacked the depth I needed to like him beyond the repartee. We didn't see his flaws and weaknesses.
In the end it was a fun and easy read with the aspects you'd expect from it.

But the title doesn't carry any meaning for me. Not sure what the "it" and "goodbye" are. Her life changed when her friend and father left?

Let me start by saying the first 70% of this book gets 4 stars, the rest 2 because I only have a certain cheese tolerance level before I overload and the last part of this far exceeded it.

While the writing made this a quick and smooth read for me the development lacked. There is little conflict and it's all resolved quickly and easily with flowers and glitter and happy happy people . Okay I exaggerated, we are told she has learned a lot and grown up over the summer but I never felt that she had. And that was the issue.

Now contemporaries aren't usually my style but I was pleasantly surprised with this book. The relationships felt real and that is precisely what kept me reading. It never felt forced or false, the stories felt genuine like I was watching someone else's life unfold. It had a good hook that drew me in and I kept reading to see where Tatum's story went. I loved how the ending made me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. And after finishing this story I think I might have a new otp.