This was one that didn't take me long to read. Told from the perspective of Ethan and Rebecca through their childhood this is a coming of age story that deals with some pretty big issues. Each character has trauma to deal with and each tend to keep their feelings to themselves. They first met when Ethan came to live with his Grandparents while his mom, "was sick". The friendship that developed over time was beautiful and also painful. I don't want to give too much away but, I can say that I cried A LOT. If you have students who are looking for a story about resilience, real life situations, or you are looking for a story about a character in a wheelchair, this could be the one. It had an Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon vibe to it, maybe with a little less romance but I know YA readers will really like this one.

Thank you to Netgalley for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

EVERY TIME YOU GO AWAY is an incredible YA novel full of yearning and trauma and growth. The disability rep in it is wonderful and much-needed, the slow-burn romance gave me chills, and overall this one just hit a sweet spot for me. Be prepared to get emotional over this fantastic book!

Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson was a good read for the summer. It was authentic and gave readers a view of the struggle the protagonists had. More importantly, it gave the readers a sense of how these two young people were able to push on through adversity and to keep positive even when it was difficult to do so. Both of the main characters were likeable even when they were struggling. Although Rebecca's support system extended beyond her family, and Ethan's was not the part of his family that he longed for, each still had important people in their lives to be there for them. I cheered them on.

I feel like this book brought a lot of awareness around the difficulties someone in a wheelchair can have in this world and expressed how everyplace should be wheelchair accessible. You never really think about it really unless it is affecting you, or at least I haven’t; but it really made me think about it. I really connected with Ethan’s story having to deal with a family member who struggled with addiction her whole life and how that effected me as a child. I also related a little bit to Rebecca and her Relationship with her mother. I was so emotionally invested in this story right from the beginning.

Ethan and Rebecca have been friends for years, and every time his mom goes to rehab Ethan stays with his grandparents and he gets to see Rebecca. Two years ago, Rebecca, a paraplegic, was in an accident and is now in a wheelchair. Now that they’re 17, Ethan is back at his grandparents because his mom once again is in rehab. When they find out his mom checked out of rehab, Ethan wants to look for her. Rebecca knows Ethan will leave again, and feels unsettled because every time he leaves it hurts more. Ethan says if our friendship isn’t enough maybe we shouldn’t be in each other’s lives. Can they mend their friendship? Does Ethan find his mom?

Every time you go away is a heart wrenching story of drug abuse, neglect, loss, and absent parents. Ethan and Rebecca must learn to grow through their own childhood trauma to love fulfilled lives together.

I really enjoyed reading this story. Ethan and Rebecca were both very relatable characters, and the author did a nice job conveying the grief, pain, and conflict each of them felt. I liked how the author displayed their growth with the help of others, because anyone who has been through what Rebecca and Ethan had experienced knows you can’t get through it alone.

Thank you NetGalley and ink yard press for my ARC.

"Every Time You Go Away" by Abigail Johnson is a deeply emotional and poignant contemporary YA novel that delves into themes of grief, forgiveness, and self-discovery. Told from alternating perspectives, the story follows Tegan and her older brother Gabe as they navigate the aftermath of their father's sudden death. Johnson's evocative prose and well-developed characters create an immersive reading experience, making it impossible not to empathize with the characters' struggles and emotions. This heartfelt and beautifully written novel explores the complexities of family dynamics and the healing power of love and acceptance.

Title: Every Time You Go Away
Author: Abigail Johnson
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Publishing Date: Dec 5, 2023
Pages: 368
Genre: YA, Romance
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

This book was soooo emotional.
I actually really enjoyed it more than I thought, and I was already looking forward to it. It was very tough to read because of the subject matter, so I would definitely warn readers (especially the YA ones) with CW before diving into this one.
It was so well written with really raw elements. The characters were believable and realistic. The dialogue was so real and really added to the story. I definitely felt for all the characters and felt an emotional connection to the book.
IMO, for a book to be 5 stars it needs to be epic, world building, exciting, and something that I can’t ever forget. This was a very well written, amazing story that I really enjoyed but it just missed that last star because I don’t feel like I’ll be thinking of this book for the rest of my life. I would definitely recommend (with CWs!) and definitely loved reading it though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for sending this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson
Publisher Ink Yard Press
Release Date December 05, 2023


Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 5/5


I am almost in tears as I write this review because this book is a book about more than just romance and friendship. It is also about overcoming challenges. Both characters had to deal will very hard trials that can either make you strong or bitter. Johnson’s writing is very immersive and thought provoking. The author has the ability to tell a beautifully crafted story and keep the readers engaged and immersed in the story. I honestly do not think I can say enough about how great this book is. Even though it is a YA genre, it crosses over as well and anyone that reads it will feel the powerful emotions it evokes. I cried, I laughed, and I cried some more. It is a powerful story about love, friendship, and overcoming trials.
In this book we meet Ethan and Rebecca. Both very strong, well developed, flawed characters. They met roughly eight years ago and Ethan had to move with his mother who was an addict his whole life. Rebecca’s life changed in an instant. After an accident that killed her father, she lost the use of her legs and was wheel chair bound. However, now the two of them have a choice to make. Will this bring them closer or will it tear them apart?
I love, love, love this book and KNOW that you will as well. Get your copy on release day.

5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

This book was one I did not want to put down! The main characters, Rebecca and Ethan, were written so beautifully. One could not help but feel like they knew them personally. For myself, the emotions of these two young adults and the struggles and guilt they felt can be relatable to many young adults...especially those that find themselves in situations like Ethan and Rebecca. Abigail Johnson really took me on a rollercoaster ride with this story of self-reflection and friendship and learning to speak up while taking control of one's own life.

Every Time You Go Away - Abigail Johnson
Everytime Ethan shows up at his grandparents house, Rebecca tries to cherish their time together, but every time he leaves, only saying goodbye by leaving a flower on her windowsill, it hurts a bit more.
Ethan became her best friend, her partner in crime, and her very first kiss. His life with his mom is one Rebecca doesn't fully understand, but tries to be there for him regardless.
Three years ago is the last time they have seen each other. Ethan leaving to take care of his drug addict mother.
Two years ago, Rebecca and her father were in a car accident that left Rebecca in a wheelchair and her father dead.
When Ethan finally returns, they try to navigate their friendship and newfound feelings that are there between them. But will the pains from their individual pasts keep them apart, or will they figure out how to move on from the past and be the people they want to be?
I needed a change from all the dark novels I've been reading, and thought "hey, this looks cute!" I never expected the heart wrenching coming of age story but I absolutely devoured it. It's definitely a YA novel but was such an easy read. You could really feel both Rebecca and Ethan's pain and rooted for them from the very beginning to become more than their tragedies. This one doesn't come out until December, but definitely needs added to you TBR list. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. The character development was realistic and you can't help but love the two main characters. This book dealt with some difficult topics in a delicate way.

Love the disability rep. We need more of that in romances, whatever the subgenre. This is a slow burn, friends-to-lovers, second chance YA book between two teens with trauma and family drama. It’s heavy and the pacing is sedate, with flashbacks to help fill in the blanks.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the raw emotions, the overcoming childhood trauma, sticking true to emotions, and finally speaking up when the time was right for both characters, however it needed to happen. I feel like this book would be way better as a movie. It gave me movie visualizations while I was reading it.

Rating: 2.5 stars

The only thing worse than writing less-than-glowing review for a book you wanted to like is writing a less-than-glowing review for a book that was obviously very personal for the author that you really wanted to like.

Every Time You Go Away opens with this heartfelt author's note where Abigal Johnson talks about how she both hurt and healed while writing it and how, "Rebecca’s (and Ethan’s) story isn’t about disability. It’s about love and loss, joy and grief, struggle and success, guilt and forgiveness, and a million other things that people all over the world experience every day. More than that, this book gave me an opportunity to portray the lives of people living with disability in ways they might not often get to see, ways that I see, and ways that are wonderful and full and rich. And hopeful."

I think my biggest issue with Every Time You Go Away is that I felt disconnected from the characters and the story for most of the book. The pacing was too rushed in some areas and too slow in others, and the story kept cutting between the past and present unnecessarily. Even when subsequent chapters took place in the present ("Now,") they lacked the necessary transitions to help to story flow well.

Something about Ethan and Rebecca just fell flat for me. Their characters never felt fleshed out enough, and I had a really hard time caring about either of them. Their alternating POVs were basically indistinguishable. Neither of their personalities ever came to life for me, and I didn't find their motivations either compelling or believable. Despite their interesting backstories, both protagonists lacked any kind of meaningful growth. Their character arcs were more like lines with miniscule bumps, which made the entire story feel monotonous and one-dimensional. The only remotely interesting characters were Neel who somehow got the wittiest lines and Amelia, the spunky jewelry maker.

I liked the idea of Rebecca and Ethan's friendship more than the actual thing, in part, because Johnson spent so much time telling us they were BFFs but not enough time convincing me it was true. If we had to be subjected to flashbacks (which I'm still not convinced we needed,) we should have at least gotten to watch Rebecca and Ethan's friendship develop over time. What we got instead was a few throwaway pieces of dialogue where Rebecca and Ethan allude to or describe shared childhood memories that aren't quite as impactful. If the friendship between the two evoked a lukewarm response from me, the reaction I had to the romance was virtually nonexistent. The whole premise of their romance was that they're both attractive people who are best friends. There was no chemistry, no heartfelt moments, no swoon-worthy exchanges or proclamations of love. It was so painfully forced.

The best parts of Every Time You Go Away were the disability rep and the explorations of grief. The moments of insight into Rebecca's life (ex. the restaurant scene where she's forced to attempt to navigate a non-ADA-compliant space) were a definite highlight. The scenes toward the end when Rebecca and Ethan grappled with their respective grief were when the story started to hit its stride, but it was a little too late.

Every Time You Go Away was an ambitious book with good intentions that never came to fruition. I appreciated the attempt at addiction and tetraplegia awareness and wished some of the subplots involving family, guilt, and grief had been explored more. I can't say if the good moments outweigh the lackluster ones, but I wouldn't necessarily dissuade people from reading Every Time You Go Away to figure it out for themselves? 🤷🏻‍♀️

4.5 stars rounded up

✨Book Review!✨
“Every Time You Go Away”
Written By: Abigail Johnson
Netgalley ARC
Release date: December 5th, 2023
•••
Alexa, play Taylor Swift, Champagne Problems
•••
Rebecca and her best childhood friend, Ethan, reconnect after 4 years away from one another. Each of their lives have changed in more ways than one but they still feel like no time has passed at all. Until she remembers how easy it is for Ethan to leave her and he realizes how much she has pushed him away.
•••
Ethan has alternated between living with his grandparents and living with his addict mother his entire childhood. When his mom is checked back in to rehab, he is forced to return back to his grandparents home for the next few months. Ethan must decide whether he wants to continue bearing the weight of her struggles chasing after her or live his own life, putting his happiness first.
•••
Just two years ago, Rebecca was in a car accident that left her wheelchair bound. An accident that also killed her father and she internally blames herself for. Rebecca must decide if she can forgive herself and find happiness in her new life.
•••
Every Time You Go Away is a very well written novel with super heavy topics that really tug at your heart. If you’re searching for a light and fun book, this sure ain’t it. But if you need a story full of honest feelings, deep topics, love, heartache, found happiness and characters with an actual back story consisting of real world problems…I wouldn’t hesitate to add this to your list of books to read this winter.

My only complaint is the constant lack of communication between both main characters and pretty much everyone else in the book. After a while, it became redundant and frustrating. That’s the only reason it wasn’t rated a full 5 stars!

1- Characters: 9
2- Atmosphere/Setting: 10
3- Writing Style: 10
4- Plot: 10
5- Intrigue: 9
6- Logic/Relationships: 7
7- Enjoyment: 9

Total Score: 64
64/7 = 9.14
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you Inkyard Press and NetGally for the ARC! This was an emotional and very well-written book. Johnson told a beautiful story of love, hurt, betrayal, and loss.

I loved that these characters weren't your average, run-of-the-mill protagonists: Ethan chases after his mother who struggles with substance abuse, while Rebecca navigates life in a wheelchair after a car accident that killed her father. The characters had real struggles and as the reader, you get to work through those issues with them.

I haven't read this author's work before, but I look forward to reading more by Johnson in the future. Thank you again!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been a fan of Abigail Johnson since IF I FIX YOU came out, so I was excited to receive an ARC of her latest book, and EVERY TIME YOU GO AWAY didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed the “best friends when we’re together but have our own lives when we aren’t” trope, but I would have loved to know more about Rebecca and Ethan when they are apart. The book is divided into “Now” and “Before” chapters with the “Now” chapters telling the story of Rebecca and Ethan’s most recent reunion after years apart, and the “Before” chapters providing glimpses into their past. However, Ethan is transient, only coming to live with his grandparents when his mother’s addictions prevent her from keeping him, so his time with Rebecca has always been fleeting. What becomes of the two when he leaves is more difficult to piece together.

I enjoyed the fact that both Rebecca and Ethan are stuck on the cusp of adulthood, but they are still teenagers trying to figure out life primarily on their own. They felt real, not like ages down grown ups. They keep secrets from one another, fight, and screw up (a lot), and that makes them seem like real kids. Neither of them really knows how to make the leap into the next stage of life, but as 17-18 year olds they know they have to do something and are finally learning to speak up and advocate for themselves, whether in Rebecca’s case for her mother to see and accept her or for Ethan to be treated like an adult by his grandparents since he’s been the main caretaker for his mother (and his cat, who I adore) almost his entire life.

The story is excellent, and contemporary YA always steals my heart, but I felt like the plot was a bit rushed. There were places where I wanted a little more build up or some more background. I’m probably an outlier, but I feel like publishing often sacrifices plot and substance for shorter, punchier manuscripts, and this is one that could definitely use more room to completely unfurl the characters’ personalities and the complexities of their lives. A lot of Ethan’s past living with a strung-out mom is glossed over, and I’d appreciate seeing the grittier day-to-day realities and why he feels so protective of her and unable to relax with his grandparents. With Rebecca, the tension between her and her mother is great, but there are missing pieces about what happens when Ethan isn’t with her and how they’ve drifted so far into silence and frustration with each other.

Additionally, I found some editing issues that were mildly distracting. Despite my critiques, I really enjoyed the story and the characters and I was left wanting more! While it didn’t make me cry, it definitely kept me reading as fast as I could to find out what happened with the main characters and their respective mothers.

2.5 stars. So I wasn’t a big fan of this one. It’s cute and all but I feel like Ethan is so dramatic and the communication is weird and just off to me. I also feel like they just kept bringing up the accident so much and Ik it’s important to the story but it was just milked wayyyy too much. It got boring to me and should of been shorter in my opinion.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinions.

It was a fantastic read.. I could not put this book down it was so good!! I need a physical copy like yesterday!!