It didn’t even take a full page for me to become attached to Alyvia, Tyler, and the rest of the characters. Maybe it’s because they tend to think like I do, and I share a lot of aspects of Alyvia’s aesthetic, or the fact that much of the story is set in a bookstore. Or maybe the author is a genius. Honestly, I don’t know, I just know that these characters are extremely easy to care about, which makes the story engaging from the beginning. Some books you can enjoy reading even if you don’t click with the main characters, Never Say Goodbye demonstrates how effective a narrative can be when the reader is able to connect with and invest in the protagonist.

My one criticism regarding the characters comes from Tyler. I would have liked to see him grieve his lost wife more. His response isn’t inappropriate, but multiple times throughout the book Tyler or another character say something about how he should be more over her by now…but she has only been gone about two years. Obviously I have never been in a situation anything like that, but it seems like an awfully short time to process everything and be ready for another relationship. I think I would have appreciated his side of the story more if it had taken place a few years later.

Never Say Goodbye fits so well in the world of Grzy’s first book, Live Without You. I enjoyed getting to see characters from that book and learning where they are now. At the same time, I like that Never Say Goodbye isn’t exactly a true sequel – it doesn’t directly continue any story lines from Live Without You. Instead, it fleshes out the world of both books. They fit together perfectly, expanding the world and scope of each other while not being reliant on one another for feasibility. Never Say Goodbye would still make sense without reading Live Without You, but it is more vibrant for the connection.

That said, I do have a few questions that are not entirely answered regarding characters from Live Without You. We already knew that Ezra and Tyler are work partners and best friends, but Alyvia just seems dropped into their sphere with almost no context. How did she meet them? They act like they have all known each other for a while, but sometimes they don’t know things about each other which seem like things they should know. I’m not going to push too hard at this, but it’s snagged in my mind so I felt it should be mentioned.

The Verdict -

Five stars because it’s adorable and clean and enjoyable while also dealing with real spiritual and emotional topics which could have easily become overwhelming. Sarah Grace Grzy writes the most beautiful places, and I want to live in one of her books. Can she design my dream house? Because basically every place that she writes would fit. The bookstore sounds every bit as wonderful as Piper’s house from Live Without You, which, if you don’t remember from my review of that book (and honestly why would you), I completely adore.

I really enjoy the balance this book presents of tackling important topics and everyday enjoyable fluff. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys fiction and doesn’t mind or eagerly enjoys romance. ( )

RTC......

3.5 Stars

Sweet and uplifting, Never Say Goodbye is a story about forgiveness and giving everything—including the most important things—to God.

Tyler and Alyvia’s friendship is natural and unassuming. Each of them struggles in different areas of their lives and strives to encourage the other. Murrae (Tyler’s little girl) steals every scene she’s in.

While my personal preference is for bit more chemistry and realization between Tyler and Alyvia in the shift from friendship to more (at the very least, I expected Tyler to hold Alyvia’s hand near the end), Sarah Grace Grzy’s focus on the journeys her characters take, internally and with each other is well written.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. ( )

“He’d take off his paramedic hat and put on his daddy hat. Spend some time with Murrae before her bedtime. And then he’d put on his lonely hat, sit on the empty, too-soft hotel bed and hope that sleep claimed him before his thoughts did.”

Looking at Tyler Collens, you might see the dream guy. A strong, dedicated paramedic by day and then, at night, a sweet Daddy consumed with loving and protecting his baby girl. But even dream guys have their issues and he can't seem to get past losing his wife. And then, he meets Alivia Emmerson, who's my type of gal! She's carrying her own personal baggage but she now seems to be on the right track---she's the new owner of the Happy Haven Bookstore and enjoying a great support system in her brothers. It is when Ty and Alivia get to know each other that their inner hurts are exposed. Ty admits that he still can't let go of the wife who died eighteen months ago. "I never wanted to say goodbye. I never thought I would have to." Alivia is estranged from her father until she finally realizes that “She had to forgive him. The bitterness would only eat away at her own heart until there was no light left.”

Never Say Goodbye has some heavy topics along the way. Death, depression, single parenting, feeling abandoned by a parent, and letting go of the past are all a part of this very believable story. Author Sarah Grace Grzy incorporates all of these but I'm still very glad to have read it because, above all, it is an encouraging story that reminds us that second chances are possible and forgiveness is the key to finding true happiness! Not to mention the characters: it's hard to resist Ty, Alivia, and baby Murrae and I was able to catch up with Piper and Ezra, two friends from Live Without You.

I recommend Never Say Goodbye to anyone who is looking for a sweet, contemporary Christian romance.

I received a digital copy of this book to review but I was under no obligation to post a positive review. These are my own thoughts. ( )