About the Book
After being falsely accused of a crime, Tatum is confined to her house under the watchful eye of her step-mother. But when a twist of fate comes in the form of a mysterious client to her graphic design business, maybe there's a bit of fairytale luck after all.
Sixteen-year-old Tatum Elsea is bracing for the worst summer of her life. Trapped under her stepmother-imposed house arrest and her BFF ghosting her, Tatum pours herself into the assigned community service. With a helpful push from her fellow community service member, Abby, Tatum fills her time at homebuilding her covert graphic design business, right under her stepmother's nose. When a cute cello-playing client sweeps Tatum off her feet, she's left breathless and eager to get out of these four walls.
But Tatum discovers she's not the only one in the house keeping secrets as she takes the chance to make amends with her family and friends. Encouraged by her feisty step-abuela/fairy-godmother, and filled with a new perception of life, Tatum is ready to start fresh and maybe even get her happy ending along the way.
A contemporary twist on the Cinderella tale, It Started With Goodbye features:
- secret admirer and hidden identity trope
- a strong, spunky female lead
- for fans of Elise Bryant, Meg Cabot, and Sarah Dessen
About the Author :
Christina June writes young adult contemporary fiction when she's not writing college recommendation letters during her day job as a school counselor. She loves the little moments in life that help someone discover who they're meant to become--whether it's her students or her characters. Christina is a voracious reader, loves to travel, eats too many cupcakes, and hopes to one day be bicoastal--the east coast of the US and the east coast of Scotland. She lives just outside Washington, D.C., with her husband and daughter.
Review :
"[A] fun, contemporary take on the Cinderella tale that explores what it takes to be yourself while finding your place in life, love, and your family. June's characters are vividly drawn, complex people that you'll want to root for, and Tatum's story will strike a chord for anyone who's felt like they were misunderstood." Lisa Maxwell, author of Unhooked, Sweet Unrest, and Gathering Deep-- "Lisa Maxwell"
"A heartfelt and refreshing take on a classic fairytale, with a modern Cinderella that you will root for. Tatum is a complex and realistically drawn protagonist, and the slow-burn romance with her Prince Charming had me grinning and yearning for more." Caroline Tung Richmond, author of The Only Thing to Fear and The Darkest Hour-- "Caroline Tung Richmond"
"A sweet and satisfying portrait of family, friendship, and discovering your own path. Tatum's journey from fear and disappointment to honesty and freedom to be herself is one that will resonate with many readers." Ashley Herring Blake, author of Suffer Love-- "Ashley Herring Blake"
"An unfailingly entertaining and thoroughly engaging read from cover to cover ... highly recommended." Midwest Book Review-- "Midwest Book Review"
"Bold, empowering, and all-around fun. A perfect summer story." Anna Michels, author of 26 Kisses-- "Anna Michels"
"Christina June's contemporary retelling of Cinderella is a delightful debut that addresses family, friendship, trust, and going for what you really want. A lovely story that's full of heart." Lauren Gibaldi, author of The Night We Said Yes-- "Lauren Gibaldi"
"Honest, fun, and entirely compelling, this is a story about how being in the wrong place at the wrong time can lead to a whole lot of right. Tatum is a character you'll relate to, cheer for, and want to befriend." Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of Firsts-- "Laurie Elizabeth Flynn"
"Tatum's complex and realistic relationships with her friends, family, and a potential love interest will have you savoring every chapter while heavily anticipating the next. It Started with Goodbye is an adorable and clever contemporary that will enthrall you with its fairytale-esque charm." Ami Allen-Vath, author of Liars and Losers Like Us-- "Ami Allen-Vath"
"With an adorably charming heroine and a swoon-worthy love interest, Christina June has created true YA perfection." Heather Van Fleet, author of the Reckless Hearts series-- "Heather Van Fleet"
"You won't be able to put this book down. This heartfelt read totally sucked me in." Miranda Kenneally, bestselling author of Catching Jordan-- "Miranda Kenneally"
After being falsely accused of a crime, Tatum is faced with a summer of community service. To make matters worse, her best friend is not speaking to her, and she is being kept under her stepmother's watchful eye. Looking for a way to be herself again after this tailspin, Tatum secretly starts a graphic design business. With a new friendship blossoming at her community service project, a flirty e-mail correspondence with a client, and a supportive stepgrandmother, Tatum's summer begins to turn around. In this modern take on Cinderella, Tatum embarks on a summer of learning, during which she tries to figure out who she is and to understand different points of view, leading to a changed perception of her family. While a few references feel dated and some of the supporting cast underdeveloped, Tatum's journey of understanding and self-reflection is relatable and appealing. Steer readers who enjoy the updated fairy tale angle toward this book and follow with Ashley Poston's Geekarella (2017). A nice addition where contemporary fiction is popular.--- Sarah Bean Thompson-- "Booklist"
