EXCERPT: My sister, Sherri. when was the last time I'd talked to her? She texted me on New Year's Day from her son Cody's house in Fayetteville, where she was spending the holidays. We used to talk more, but time seemed to get away from us - or me. I glanced at my smartwatch. Ten thirty. She should be sitting crisscross on the rug in her kindergarten classroom in Kerrville, reading The Little Blue Truck to her students. Or trotting in a single-file line to recess. Her life a a teacher had always struck me as idyllic. Not fair, I knew, but so hopeful and full of tomorrows. She gave her students the key that opened the door to a lifelong love of reading. What a gift.

Know yr busy but need to talk. When u can

Tonight? She went to bed so early, and I worked. I stabbed a response with my rapid-fire index finger.

Will try to call you on lunch break. are u on cafeteria duty today?

Not at school. in car. Doctor's office parking lot.

The hair on my arms prickled. A cold breeze wafted over me that had nothing to do with the overactive AC. My older sister had always been the picture of health. She loved Zumba, Billy Blanks Tae Bo, and spin classes. Her weight was perfect for fifty-two, likely so were her cholesterol and blood pressure. Last year she finished fourth in the San Antonio Rock'n'Roll Marathon's female fifty to fifty-five age division.

Why? whats up? are u sick?

Suddenly lightheaded, I waited, staring at the little twitching bubbles that meant she was typing a response.

not sick. have cancer.

ABOUT 'THE YEAR OF GOODBYES AND HELLOS': Two sisters work to heal lingering childhood wounds and seek a new balance in work, family, marriage, and love when one receives a diagnosis that sets the clock ticking. Determined to save Sherri’s life, Kristen drops everything to guide her sister on the harrowing cancer treatment journey. When she’s unable to balance the strain of caring for her patients, being a wife and mother, and her frantic efforts to save her sister, Kristen’s carefully balanced life crumbles, starting with her marriage. Desperate to regain her footing, she vows to rebuild her broken relationships . . . as soon she’s sure Sherri will beat the odds stacked against her. Unlike her sister, Sherri Reynolds has worked to cultivate balance in her life. Her children, her job as a teacher, and her strong faith keep her grounded—until her diagnosis sends her spiraling into the scary world of what-ifs and unknown outcomes. Sherri faces the agonizing realization that family history may be about to repeat itself. With the clock ticking, she’s determined to use whatever time she has left to heal old wounds and restore relationships. Together, the sisters are forced to reexamine their priorities, address the still tender wounds of their childhood, and delve more deeply to discover what it means to live each day to its fullest.

MY THOUGHTS: Firstly, I would like to thank author Kelly Irvin for writing this book. It cannot have been an easy task as she has written it since being diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer, the seven years since her diagnosis being her 'research' period. She says in her acknowledgements that every appointment, every blood draw, every scan, every surgery and every healthcare provider she came in contact with served as fodder for the big and small details needed to accurately and authentically write Kristen's and Sherri's stories. And it shows. Kelly Irvin is obviously a very strong person, and I would like to thank her for sharing her story with us through this novel.

Secondly this is a book that every woman (and man) needs to read. We need to be more aware. We need to learn to listen to our bodies. We need to be our own health advocates and not bow down to our doctors whom we presume to know more than we do. They do know more than we do, generally. They just don't know our bodies like we do.

I was blessed to receive both a digital and an audio version of this novel and made great use of both formats. It is an emotional read, and definitely not an easy one. We are all touched by cancer in one form or another and, like with Kristen and Sherri, everything else going on in our lives doesn't stop because of it. Some relationships fracture, some are mended. Some people adjust their lives to encompass what is most important to them, some don't. Some people die, some don't.

I loved that we see the full story from both the perspective of the patient (Sherri) and the Oncologist (Kristen). This is an emotionally complex story involving not only the relationship between the two sisters, but a historical marriage breakdown on Sherri's part, a widening rift in the marriage of Daniel and Kristen, infidelity, Sherri and Kristen's estranged father coming back into their lives, the difficulties in achieving a work/life balance as a health professional, and the birth of a new generation into the family.

The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos is an important book. The characters are realistic and relatable, the story both devastating and hopeful.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#TheYearofGoodbyesandHellos #NetGalley

I: @kelly_irvin

X: @Kelly_S_Irvin

THE AUTHOR: Kelly Irvin worked in public relations for the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department for 22 years before retiring earlier this year. Kelly has been married to photographer Tim Irvin for twenty-eight years. They have two children, four grandchildren and two ornery cats. In her spare time, she likes to write short stories, read books by her favorite authors, and looks forward to visits with her grandchildren.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins Christian Publishing, and Thomas Nelson Fiction via NetGalley for providing both a digital and an audio ARC of The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos by Kelly Irvin for review. The audiobook is superbly narrated by Jessica Holten and Jeremy Childs. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Thank you Thomas Nelson publishing for the audiobook ARC! All thoughts are my own.

This is the story of two sisters working to find a balance in their crazy lives. Kirstin and Sherri lost their mom to cancer so when Sherri gets an unexpected diagnosis. Kirstin goes into fully supportive sister mode. It helps she also is a practicing cancer doctor. Kirstin can't help but want to fix it however at what cost to get marriage.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. I thought the narrators did a great job portraying the characters. I thought this story was so honest. I thought it talked about important topics that are not always discussed. Marriage struggles especially and how to overcome them.

Content: death, cancer, marriage problems, cheating

Read if you like reading about:
Marriages
Growing
Main Characters facing adversity
Cancer stories

I enjoy reading well researched books. I was so disappointed by the medical inaccuracies in the first chapter that I was unable to complete the book. I recommend to the author and publisher to consult with a medical doctor prior to publishing a medical themed book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins Christian and Thomas Nelson for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this wonderful book by Kelly Irvin and perfectly narrated by Jessica Holtan and Jeremy Childs - 5 stars!

Sisters Kristen and Sherri processed their childhood trauma differently. Their mom passed away and their dad left. Kristen became an oncologist and was all focused on her career, to the detriment of her husband and daughters. Sherri led a much more balanced life until her diagnosis of ovarian cancer threw her world off orbit. Kristen swooped in to manage and control every aspect of Sherri's care, moving her into the home she shares with her husband, Daniel. While Sherri is doing her best to mend relationships and live her remaining days with grace and happiness, Kristen's focus on her work implodes her marriage and family.

While this is certainly a serious subject, this book was just so wonderful that I couldn't put it down. I started reading it but quickly switched to the audio so that I could listen more. You can't help but feel for the sisters, and while Daniel could have been a bit more understanding, he was certainly at his wit's end as well. It's not a depressing story; it's instead filled with hope and faith bringing light into such darkness. The author's note with her own cancer experience makes it all more real.

I’m not sure how this book landed on my TBR but I’m so glad it did. Two sisters - one is a workaholic oncologist and the other is recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. The book perfectly illustrates the peace that comes with living a balanced life and the upset that occurs to the relationships that are supposed to matter most when your priorities are misaligned.

This book is categorized as Christian Fiction however you do not need to be a Christian to enjoy the story. I personally appreciated the references to the power of prayer and questions of faith.

This was a great book. What drew me to it is that my sister had been diagnosed with cancer three times and I’m a nurse, whereas one of the narrators was a doctor. There were so many parallels in this story to mine, and so many differences as well. It’s interesting to get different perspectives on how people feel about getting cancer or their loved ones getting cancer, and when is it ok to be selfish while going through it. What irked me about the story is that the husband, Daniel, could only think about how his wife had no time for him while his wife’s sister was going through this horrible cancer diagnosis and treatment and she was an oncologist also dedicating her time to try and save other’s lives. He knew what she was when they married, why is it all suddenly not enough? How is that fair to her to now want to demand her time? That part drove me nuts. And Daniel went on dates with another woman and she’s the bad wife??? What is wrong with men? Why is that ok? It usually takes me a while to get through an audio book because I often forget about them, but this one was so riveting that I couldn’t wait to have an opportunity to throw my earbuds in and listen to it. I finished it quickly because it was so good! Best audiobook I’ve read in a long time.

What an exceptionally beautiful book. I cried. I laughed. I reminisced. 🩵 My heart bled and healed and bled again.

I didn’t realize before picking this up that the diagnosis would be ovarian cancer, and Sherri battling through stage 4 cancer with the help of her sister, Kristen.
An amazing story of family, love, careers, and healing.

In 2012 I lost my best friend to ovarian cancer. Her name was Sherry. So much of the book resonated with me.

Kelly, thank you for this beautiful story, and for sharing your own journey with the readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio for this early audiobook in return for my honest opinion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date: 5 Dec 2023

The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos written by Kelly Irvin delves into the emotional complexities of two sisters navigating the challenges of ovarian cancer. As a cancer survivor herself, this author brings an authentic and deeply personal perspective to this tender story. The narrative skillfully weaves through the highs and lows of the older sister’s cancer journey, offering a heartfelt exploration of family, faith, and the profound impact of a life-altering diagnosis.

The characters, particularly sisters Sherrie (older sister) and Kristen (younger sister), are portrayed with depth and realism, drawing readers into their world of grief, love, and resilience. Irvin skillfully intertwines multiple themes, including marriage, career dynamics, and the delicate balance between life's priorities. The emotional depth is a testament to Irvin's ability to convey the profound impact of cancer on individuals and their relationships.

The overall narrative remains a powerful exploration of life, loss, forgiveness, steadfastness, and the strength found in family bonds. I longed for a more profound exploration of the Christian faith within this narrative; had it been present, it would have undoubtedly secured a five-star rating from me.

The audiobook version of this novel captivated me, particularly due to the compelling voices and, in particular, the exceptional portrayal of the male main character. His performance was nothing short of amazing, adding a layer of depth, authenticity, and emotions to the story that enhanced my overall listening experience.

I received a copy of the audiobook via HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review no paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book/audiobook review are my own ensuring transparency and reliability.

What an emotional story of love and loss and restoration! My heart ached for Daniel who struggled to ask his wife for the way he longed to be loved and taken care of. I understood Kristen’s need for wanting to take her job seriously because of the loss she and her sister experienced but she was losing her marriage right before her eyes. I love and respect her love and passion for what she did and her loved ones but we can be so distracted fighting for certain things that we don’t prioritize those right in front of us. Very well written!

😭😭😭😭 This book broke my heart!!! It was insanely beautiful. I'm a better person to have read it.

Many thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook review : At first I did not really enjoy the audiobook as the female narration was plain and devoid of emotions, but later it got better. First hour or so I even wondered if I mistakenly picked up a non fiction book. As it got better, I found myself more engaged in the book.

This is a story of two sisters, Kristen a dedicated and motivated oncologist who wants to save as many patients as she can and her sister Sherry who is diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

This is a beautiful story of their bond, a life with hope, love, betrayal and ultimately family dynamics. It is personal for Kristen as their mother died of breast cancer when she was just 14 and Sherry has always taken care of her. I had to grab on tissues a lot many times and had to stop because book was making me overwhelmed. If you like some tear jerkers, this book is definitely for you.

Daniel - Kristen's husband and Sherry's ex husband - Chance both are my favorite characters from the whole book. They are actually too good to be true. But I like when women write these kind of men even though they do not exist in reality.

What makes The year of goodbyes and hellos special is it is also a part of author's journey. Kelly Irvin herself suffers from stage 4 ovarian cancer and physical disability. A loss is sometimes so difficult to deal with and yet people find courage to carry on which I really find admirable.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins Christian publishing for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Kristen is a driven oncologist, determined to save as many patients as she can from the disease that killed her mom. When her older sister calls with news of a stage 4 ovarian cancer diagnosis, Kristen immediately focuses on Sherri’s battle. As the ripple effects of the diagnosis spread, they challenge Kristen’s already-stressed relationship with her husband and daughters, while Sherri, her children and her ex- have to come to terms with what this could mean.

If anyone has struggled with work-life balance, has been a caregiver, or known someone with cancer, they will relate to this story. Despite dealing with heavy topics like why some people are healed and others not, this is balanced by family bonds, love and hope. No character is without flaws, but Sherri’s faith keeps her going. Multiple points of view and flashes back in time show the impact of family history as well as the current situation on the family and friends. Dual narrators support this, although at times I struggled to identify which character was speaking during the male perspective. This was my first novel by Kelly Irvin but it won’t be my last. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review audiobook copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

An absolutely heartbreaking story of grief, faith, family, and hope. This is easily one of the books that will stick with me most this year.

Premise - a workaholic oncologist learns of her sister’s ovarian cancer diagnosis as her marriage falls apart.

All I can say is you HAVE to read this. The message about ovarian cancer screening is important, the characters are SO real, and the story is moving without ever veering into trauma porn or melodrama. It’s a deeply sad story and yet it leaves the reader with a sense of hope and an appreciation of life and love. Bravo.

Readers who enjoyed ‘When Breath Becomes Air’ should check this out.

Thanks, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.