Review: How to Say Goodbye by Amber Linn

Amy has a secret: no one’s ever held her hand. She doesn’t even know how to hug. Everyone thinks she’s smart, but straight A's are way easier than making friends. Then she meets Dane, a golden-haired surfer whose easy charm and hot touch teach her what she longs to know.

Dane lives for the salty breeze and a sweet wave, because that’s all he has. He’s been on the streets since he was fourteen. A drifter. Homeless. Then he meets Amy. Smart and accomplished, she’s everything he’s not. He wants to be the sort of man who deserves her.

Except that means facing down his past—and that past might very well swallow them both.

3.5 Star Review by Jen Skewes

When I first read the synopsis for this book I was certainly intrigued.  A homeless boy meets a young girl who in her own way is broken.  I really enjoyed this one and the characters.

Amy was abandoned by her mother when she was little.  And when I say abandoned I do not mean that her mother picked up and left the states never to be heard from again.  Her mother and her still talk and have somewhat of a relationship, if you can even call it that.  Her mother moved away and made the decision to leave Amy with her uncle.  Growing up with her uncle, Amy never experienced the simple things in life, like being hugged or holding someone’s hand.  She never had the physical connection with anyone.  She is a very smart and beautiful young woman but has thrown herself into her schooling and work.  She doesn’t know what it is like to feel someone else’s touch.  Amy is interning for the summer when she meets Dane and things change for her.

When Dane and Amy first meet, Amy feels this connection towards him.  She cannot explain what it is or why she feels it but she just knows that it is there.  She doesn’t know much about him and she finds herself in the same spot each day hoping to run into him again.  Dane and Amy connect and start seeing each other, but there is something very important that Dane is hiding form her.  He is hiding the fact that he has no home and lives in his car.  When Amy finds out the truth will her feelings for Dane change?

I honestly loved the characters in this book.  Dane has a past that haunts him and one that he must face.  It is also the reason why he ran away and is now homeless.  And to be honest for someone who has been through his pain, who is homeless and will do what it takes to survive he was not the person that you would expect him to be.  He is was so sweet and caring.  I think in a way he was the person that who always was before he left home.  And nothing about being homeless changed him.  He didn’t feel like he deserved Amy at all but he was still very sweet, respectful and kind when it came to her.  I loved his character and loved the connection and bond that these two formed. 

I loved the storyline and the characters and really enjoyed this book.  I think it was different from I have usually read.  A homeless boy who meets a girl and wants to find his way again.  He wants to become the person she deserves.  It was really sweet read. For me personally I wanted a little more.  I felt their connection but in a way I wanted to see more of it.   I felt it lacked the emotional dialogue between the two characters.  But overall this was an enjoyable read and definitely worth reading.