Never Say Goodbye {blog tour + book review}

Just over a year ago, I had the honor to read and review Sarah Grace Grzy's first novel, "Live Without You", and I absolutely loved it.  So when Sarah Grace announced her second novel, I was super excited about it.  And I'm happy to report that it did not disappoint.

I devoured this in a day (yesterday, when I'm writing this), because I'm in this weird headspace during quarantine where I either read nothing for a week or I devour three books in three days.  It's strange, but the world is strange, so I'm not really surprised.  Anyway, I really loved it, so let's go ahead and get into the review.


Never Say Goodbye



((this cover, though *all the heart eyes*))

Author: Sarah Grace Grzy
Genre: Christian fiction
Content: None
Main Characters: Tyler Collens and Alyvia Emmerson

Synopsis:
Tyler Collens has seen grief and loss in his years of experience as a paramedic—but he never expected it to touch his life in such a personal way. The death of his wife eighteen months ago shook his steady world and changed him in more ways than he can count. Time and routine have steadied his feet, and he looks toward the future as he raises his infant daughter—but the past has a tighter grip on him than he knows.
Alyvia Emmerson has never been certain of who she is or where she belongs. Her dad’s abandonment as a teen broke a fragile piece of her heart, but ten years later, she has moved on. Living on her own, she at last has a project to devote herself to: revitalizing a shabby bookstore. But she didn’t count on her dream job revealing the shattered pieces of herself she thought mended long ago.
In this sophomore novel featuring beloved characters from Live Without You, Sarah Grace Grzy explores themes of grief, hope, and second chances in a story that touches both the heart and spirit.

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon 

What I Thought:

This was so wonderful.  I'm always a fan of a good friends-to-lovers trope, and it's in full swing here.  Sarah Grace's books are ones that you pick up and can't put down because you never know what's going to happen.  There's a lot to love about this story, but I think the thing that I adored most was the characters.

Tyler and Alyvia were such wonderful protagonists, full of hopes and dreams and hurts that felt real and raw.  I loved both of them from Live Without You, so seeing them step into their own story was wonderful.  Tyler and baby Murrae was the CUTEST relationship ever, oh my goooosh.  Also the line about "being a single dad looks a lot easier on Hallmark" cracked me up.  Alyvia was so relatable.  She's a full-fledged optimist who just wants to open her own bookstore and live above it.  Like, what a dream, right? 

And the two of them together were just the cutest oh my word.  Like I said, I love a good friends-to-lovers story, and the way their love story progresses is so perfect.  And they just go together so well, and I'm emotional.

The faith content was utterly perfect, woven in in such a beautiful way, with such a true message about letting go and letting God.  And as I expected, I teared up a little at the end.  The way everything came together was so beautiful, and I was just so proud of the journey that the characters went on.  I already can't wait to re-read it.

Overall Rating: 5 park playdates out of 5

About the Author:
Sarah Grace Grzy is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called 'Life,' she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a wood stove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other.
A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. Sarah Grace is a freelance web and graphic designer, and when not working, spending time with her ever-growing family, or reading, she can be found painting, playing the piano, or fangirling with her sisters and friends. She inhabits the State of Great Lakes, and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else—unless it meant she could have a baby penguin, in which case, she’d gladly move to the South Pole.

Connect with Sarah Grace: Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Clean contemporary romance was never one I would put on my favorite genres list, but the past couple of years, and a few lovely authors, have changed that.  Sarah Grace Grzy is definitely on that list of "I didn't know I loved this genre 'til I read your book" authors, so even if you're not typically a contemporary fan, you should 100% check out her work!

A huge thank you to Sarah Grace for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!  Have you read either of Sarah Grace's books?  What did you think of them?  Let me know in the comments below!

~ Abby