It was a tear-jerker story. The friendship of Rocki and Sasha knows no bounds, I've ached for their love and loyalty. I hate that I was hoping in the end that Sasha is still alive but I guess that's the beauty of this story - no expectations. This is a good story for all ages. Though I have a hit or miss feeling about this. The plot or intention for this is great, however, there are certain situations where it lacks, some justification on the back story and insta-love.

I read this book during a very difficult time of my life due to the passing of a family member . So i actually didn't finish it. what i did read was amazing and very emotional which is why i stopped. However i truly feel it was due to my own situation and not the book as it had been one of my most anticipated.

“The Last Wish Of Sasha Cade” by Cheyanne Young was a beautiful and heartbreaking read. It was a story of friendship, of hope, mixed with the promise that those we love never truly leave us. The characters were believable, and the storyline flowed perfectly. There is not enough that I can say about this book. Be sure to check it out! This was my first read by Author Cheyanne Young but it definitely will not be my last!

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

I tried to pick this book up twice, sadly I could not get into the story or connect with the main character. I will try to read this again in the future and edit my review if I am successful. I did, however, recommend this book to a friend who told me she really loved it, so that gives me hopes that maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this book at the time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Full disclosure, this has to be a flail review because I have no better way of expressing my love for The Last Wish of Sasha Cade.

From the first page, I knew I would love this book. One of the benefits of having such a small cast of characters is that each one of them can have the chance to shine, and they all did in this book. The bonds between characters, whether friends or relationship or parental, were so well developed and all the emotions absolutely killed me.

I loved Sasha immediately. Even though she passes, her character is still so developed because of the adventures she sends to Raquel. Their love for each other was so clear, and I am honestly kind of jealous of their dynamic. Best friends are so rare, and Sasha's passing made me so sad for Raquel. I sometimes have a hard time liking characters who we don’t meet in real time, but I didn’t have that problem with Sasha, because the flashback chapters were clearly written and weren’t hazy.

As a narrator, I liked Raquel. She wasn’t super complicated and didn’t have many hidden facets, but I admired her honesty in her feelings and intentions and how she genuinely cared for everyone in her life and tried her best to fight for them, Elijah especially. She added balance to the adventures planned, between Elijah’s caution and Sasha’s crazy plans.

The romance was sweet without being too much, and I liked how Raquel and Elijah bonded over Sasha’s treasure hunt. As a reader, it was fun to experience Sasha and Raquel’s time together from the outside, as Elijah did, and learn about her in the same timeline as he did.

Family! Both Sasha and Raquel’s families were active in the story in a non-toxic, supportive way, which I love. I think YA has some issues with family, specifically Absent Parent Syndrome in many books, and it was refreshing to see a narrator learn that she has a set of people (besides friends and partners) to guide and assist her.

5/5 stars from me because cuteness! If anyone reads The Last Wish of Sasha Cade, send me a note! I’d love to hear what you think!

When I first picked this one up I was thinking it would be a mash-up of A Walk to Remember and P.S I Love You. Well, sorta. And my expectations weren't wrong exactly. It was a tale of a friendship that lasts beyond a lifetime and the ways one copes with such a significant loss.

I really enjoyed the friendship between Sasha and Raquel.

I really did not enjoy much else of the book besides that. It just became way, way, WAY too bleh. I don't really even know what to say about the "romance" between Raquel and Elijah and how it really fit into the overall plot. I just did not enjoy it on any level.

That said, it was ok. I think teens would enjoy it. Enough said.

Mini review:

DNF

Trigger warning: Death and mention of cancer symptoms. Up till the point I read.

I received this E-ARC via Kids Can Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I heard about this book through Twitter. It sounded like I would enjoy it. Unfortunately I didn’t.

There isn’t really much to say. I just didn’t like it. The writing style, the plot, and the characters.

This just wasn’t for me. Still recommend.

What an enjoyable YA Book! Raquel's best friend Sasha Cade has been fighting cancer but living life to the fullest. The day Raquel dreaded comes, and Sasha passes away. Then, Raquel receives a note in the mail from Sasha days after she has died, sending her on a scavenger hunt of "must do" activities that will help her grieve and meet the boy of her dreams. Sad but poignant, a great book about friendships and love.

This was emotionally powerful for the age group its written. I felt like there were echos of A bridge to Terabithia and P.S. I love you. A nice new spin on an old trope.

The first time I read the synopsis of this book, I already knew, right then and there, that it would make me cry. I just didn’t expect that I would cry as early as the prologue and would still cry towards its end.

The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is a book that will make you treasure more your friendship with other people, your relationship with your family, and quite surprisingly, yourself.

“You got this. You’re so much stronger than you think you are.”

The friendship of Sasha and Raquel that was shown in this novel is really fascinating and amazing. It actually made me wish for a best friend like Sasha (without the sick part), or a best friend like Raquel (without the having a sick best friend part).

All throughout the novel, Cheyanne Young has consistently shown us [the readers] how good of a friend Sasha and Raquel are in their own ways. But even if they are the image of a really good best friend, Young has never given us the connotation that they are perfect. She [Young] made sure that the characters are as real and authentic as they can be. Yes, they are really good friends, but no, they aren’t perfect and they also make some not so nice things.

What impressed me the more about their friendship is how much they believed in each other and how much they really know each other. Sasha had always wanted what’s best for Raquel that’s why she really made sure that Raquel would never feel alone once she’s already gone. Raquel, in return, had never doubted Sasha’s decisions and wishes.

I never once saw this whole setup as Sasha being the bossy and superior friend and Raquel being the inferior one because the writer just made everything so smooth and heartwarming. Maybe that’s what a book does to a reader who has made a connection with the characters.

They may not be talking personally anymore and it’s a one-way communication only, but it’s amazing how everything just gets together in pieces because Sasha and Raquel both already know how the other will react or what the other would really want.

“We may all have different last names, but we’ve chosen to be together.”

This book doesn’t show perfect families but that’s what makes it feel real: the families in this book are real because they are the kinds of families we really see in the real world. Sasha and Raquel hide things from their parents. They’re not comfortable talking about love or “boys” with their moms. But this does not mean that they have bad families or that they don’t have a good relationship with their parents. We’re just all about being real in this book.

Towards the end of this book, it is really inspiring how the characters all feel like one big happy family! (I cannot say more because I’m keeping this review spoiler-free.)

“I want to stop hiding and lying just to keep a promise we made to Sasha after she died. I love her more than anything, but she’s gone now. We have to live for us.”

Even if Raquel is always saying that she’s happy being Sasha’s shadow all this time, we still get a glimpse of her development as a character in the last few chapters of this book, and I was just so proud of her! She respects her best friend’s wishes, but she’s smart enough to still do what she knows will be the best for the common good.

Raquel’s character development is the development I’ve been waiting for in this book. Through the first few chapters that I’ve read her point of view, I was knowing her bit by bit, and I just felt that she can be a lot better and that’s exactly what she did. First, she listened to her best friend. Second, she listened to herself. That’s the kind of virtue I’m always looking for in fictional characters. I always love reading about a character who can do both: respect what others are saying while also respecting herself (or himself) and following what he/she knows will be the best for everyone.

Kids Can Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Last Wish of Sasha Cade. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Sasha Cade and Raquel Clearwater will always be best friends, despite the stark realization that they will soon be parted. Sasha's fatal cancer diagnosis gives her the clarity that she needs to provide a legacy for those she loves. When she sends Raquel a special message and a quest from beyond, will the young woman heed her best friend's last wish? Will Sasha's carefully orchestrated plan come tumbling down on Raquel and a mysterious stranger or will the pair find something special hidden among the clues?

The exploration of a fatal illness inflicted on someone so young is never easy to read about, but author Cheyanne Young did a great job of balancing the heavy subject with a little bit of hope and happiness. Sasha, Raquel, and Elijah's voices all come through clearly and I like the fact that the author did not conjure them all to be perfect, model citizens. The fact that the three teenagers each have their own struggles mimics the real life of the target audience for this book. The beginning of The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is exceedingly sad, but the plot does lighten up as the story continues. The novel is a quick read, but one I would recommend to those who like YA realistic fiction with a little romance.

The Last Wish of Sasha Cade was an incredible journey of love shared between two best friends yet it tore my heart apart leaving me in a perpetual set of tears. Sasha is diagnosed with terminal cancer, but is such a caring selfless soul who creates adventures through letters and video clips to Raquel to complete after her passing. As Raquel proceeds through the tasks she is able to overcome the loss and we are provided insight to the memories they once shared. By the end I was smiling through my tears at the perfect ending.

This is a wonderful book that I devoured. I read it in about 2 days and I i enjoyed every minute of it. It is a beautiful story of friendship and moving forward after loss. The characters were well developed and likeable. Some of the plot was a little predictable, but overall, this is a very satisfying book that I would recommend to many teens.

Neonila's review Oct 27, 2018 · edit
liked it

3.5 stars

I can confidently say that this book left me looking like a mess, but I pretty much knew that from page one. The friendship dynamic was honestly everything, and I love Raquel and Sasha so much. Plus, their parents were wonderful.

The romance was enjoyable, but it had some cringey moments and it felt almost too rushed. Other than that, this was a decent read and I'm glad I read it

Never has there been a book I've so deeply connected with on a raw and intimate level until now.
Having been diagnosed with carrying both cancer genes it's prevalence in my life is a dark cloud always hanging over and having had pre-emptive surgery it's fear that keeps me from reading books like this. When you have a deep rooted family history with the big 'C' word it scares you and shapes you differently.
A good friend implored me to step outside my comfort zone and read this beautiful story "it's about a magnetic friendship" she said "trust me" she furthered so I leapt and boy am I glad I did.

The beautiful bond and sisterhood that dominates every aspect of this story is unlike any other.
A love that is eternal between Sasha and Raquel-Rocki radiates in every page all born from a dollar store pair of shoes when they were young girls.
Despite preparing alongside Sasha, Rock isn't prepared for the overwhelming grief and loss she feels when one half of her soul is missing. Sasha was the outgoing of the two Rock shy and quiet but she never minded for she just adored Sasha yet without her best friend she doesn't know who to be and walks solitary and detached in her grief.
Sasha and Rocki had laughed and plotted how Sasha would send her a message from beyond the grave and it comes perfectly in the form of a scavenger hunt in which Sasha had set in motion before her passing.
As the scavenger hunt commences we are introduced to Elijah and you can see that instant magnetism between him and Rocki both longing for a friend.
Elijah and Rocki are set on a path of discovery one that challenges Rocki to hear truths that her best friend had kept hidden and you see thier friendship blossom and a forbidden at first love begin to form.

The strong influence of Sasha is felt distinctly throughout this book despite her passing which I really enjoyed.
The journey through grief and self discovery that Rocki travels also opens up like a coming of age story as you watch this chrysalis emerge from Sasha's enormous shadow to spread her wings and stand on her own.
Cheyanne's writing is beautiful and fast paced and despite need an entire box of tissues there are so many beautiful messages of love, friendship, hope, happiness and forever that is so much more powerful to take away.
The world is easily connectible the characters are beautifully complex yet very relatable each with flaws like so many of us in our late teens and Cheyanne translates this perfectly.
The unbreakable bond and love of family and the ability to find joy after a loved ones passing is peppered throughout and I really engaged with the scene where Rocki and her mum were watching Mean Girls (her and Sasha's favourite movie) and she looks at her mum and sees her new normal her new best friend and that filled my heart and my eyes with tears.
The true joy from experiencing this story has left it's imprint on my heart and will be a forever tale I share so thank you Cheyanne Young.

Thanks to Netgalley and KCP Loft Publishing for sending me an ARC copy for an honest review.

This is an absolutely beautiful and very emotional book. I loved the writing and the story itself was amazing. This book deals with grief in a way that you can smile through your tears. I would absolutely recommend this book.

In the beginning, this was so well written. The author manages to invest a lifetimes worth of love and friendship in to just a few short pages. Almost immediately I was holding back tears. Unfortunately, the writing goes downhill almost as soon as Raquel and Elijah meet. Raquel’s beautiful friendship with Sasha gets a bit reduced to a means for connecting her with a boy over and over again. It’s very P.S. I Love You, but muddied down. The story felt very rushed and contrived, jumping from one event to the next. The best stories are the ones that I can really imagine myself in, and have moments where I forget that this isn’t real, and that never happened in this story. The adoption storyline is very unrealistic and simplistic (coming from someone who has adopted through the state) and seems to have been written by someone who doesn’t have experience in the realities of it. The conclusion is hasty and ignores a lot of complicated emotions Elijah would likely have towards the Cade’s. The best parts of this story were Sasha, and she ended up being sadly lacking after the first few chapters.

Cancer may have taken Sasha's life, but in the months leading up to her passing it didn't dim her light. Knowing her best friend, Raquel, would be lost without her she created a mission of sorts. Letters, videos, and a mysterious boy lead Raquel on a scavenger hunt, one that will bring her closer to her best friend even after she is gone and one that will ultimately test her.

Oh my, I had no idea what I was getting into with this book, none at all. The blurb for The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is mysterious, giving you just the bare minimum of information to pull you in. I love a good Young Adult read with fairly adult storylines. In this case, Raquel "Rocki" has just lost her best friend and in mourning her passing, as well as losing the comfort of fitting in, she is gifted Sasha's last wish, a scavenger hunt that will reveal parts of Sasha that Rocki thought she knew, but clearly didn't. Sasha, though gone, is an incredibly powerful character in this book, her videos and Rocki's reflections of the past revealing that she was incredibly prideful, self confident, vivacious, and holding onto a few secrets. Rocki is smart, shy, and unaccustomed to life without her best friend, the leader of their two man pack. I could relate to her in so many ways, even in her youth, as she realized she had lost both her crutch and her friend in life and as she realized she didn't have as much sense of self as she had once thought. The Last Wish of Sasha Cade reads so much like a coming-of-age story for Rocki, just as the scavenger hunt reveals more of Sasha it reveals more of Rocki too. And Elijah, oh Elijah, he is handsome, sweet, far more mature than I expected, and a sort of knight in not-so-shiny armor for Rocki. The three go on an adventure, one that takes them through Rocki and Sasha's hometown, one that explains who Elijah really is, and one that takes Rocki on a memory trip through their lifelong friendship.

This one gets to you, so if you're going to read it prepare to use a lot of tissues. It's heartbreaking and yet still filled with a hopeful message. Cheyanne Young creates a world for the characters that is believable, the situations incredibly realistic, and she uses descriptive language to make the emotion feel like it is your own. Some of the events, like Elijah's almost too-perfect nature and Rocki's incredibly nice boss, are hard to believe, but even those things couldn't take away from this read for me. The strength of Rocki and Sasha's friendship, Rocki's family bonds, and the feelings of first real love made this book a homerun for me. The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is a heartwarming story of timeless friendship that will stay with me forever.

This book was such a great read. Narrated by Raquel, she is off on an adventure guided by Sasha who planned it all out before she died. Kind of like a friend version of PS I Love You, you get to learn about the friendship between Sasha and Raquel, and join along as Raquel learns to say goodbye to her dear friend. She is not alone on the adventure, however. She is joined by another friend of Sasha's, which adds even more depth to the story. This book was a great read and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.

The Last Wish of Sasha Cade
Cheyanne Young
KCP Loft Publishing
5 stars

Sasha and Raquel have been preparing for the day since Sasha was diagnosed with cancer. But when the day comes and Raquel is left to navigate her world without her best friend, she’s not sure she’ll be able to do it. Then the most surprising thing happens. A letter arrives. From Sasha. And so begins the new chapter of Raquel’s life. Sasha has planned an adventure to top all adventures. Raquel is first led to a stranger who is supposed to be sharing this adventure with her. Who is this gorgeous boy who shares Sasha’s eyes? Sasha’s wishes show up in the forms of letters and each contain something related to her childhood experiences with Raquel. Can Raquel be true to herself and still honor her best friend’s wishes?

This book is so moving. It makes you laugh. It makes you cry. Your heart will break but you know that is what is supposed to happen. The characters are real and believable. The story is neither contrived nor even remotely unbelievable. As the reader, I want so very much to experience all the highs and lows of Raquel’s journey. There are so many places through the store where I became frustrated with the injustice visited on Elijah in so many ways. The ending is exactly how the story needed to end.

The books published by KCP Loft are super reads and are under rated and under appreciated. Search out books by this publishing house. They are not well known but they have so many wonderful little gems.

Many thanks given to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) to review. All opinions expressed are my own.