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Saving June
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Saving June
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Saving June
Ebook321 pages4 hours

Saving June

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

About this ebook



Everyone's sorry. But no one can explain why.

Harper Scott's older sister, June, took her own life a week before high school graduation, leaving Harper devastated. So when her divorcing parents decide to split up June's ashes, Harper steals the urn and takes off cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of goingCalifornia.

Enter Jake Tolan, a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and an unknown connection to June. When he insists on joining them, Harper's just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanor and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what Harper needs. Except Jake's keeping a secret that has the power to turn her life upside downagain.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarlequin
Release dateDec 1, 2011
ISBN9781459201682
Unavailable
Saving June
Author

Hannah Harrington

Hannah Harrington resides in Michigan with one dog and too many cats. When she isn’t busy writing like a crazy person, she enjoys arguing about politics, watching documentaries, playing guitar (very badly), and speaking about herself in the third person. You can find her online at hannahharrington.blogspot.com, facebook.com/hannahharrington and on Twitter @hharrington_.

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Reviews for Saving June

Rating: 4.203448296551724 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    When I first set out to read Saving June, I wasn't at the best place in my life. So I shelved it for a bit and waited until I felt more able to tackle the sad content in this book. I picked it back up a few days ago, and instantly fell in love. Hannah Harrington has built a set of characters who are easy to love, and also who are extremely realistic. While Saving June isn't the happiest of stories, it definitely is true to life.

    Harper Scott is a character that a lot of people will easily connect with. She is the younger sister, and therefore feels a lot of times like she's in her sister's shadow. For Harper, life is all about being nothing like her older sister. The rebel of the family. However it is when June takes her own life that things really come into focus. I won't ruin anything for you, but what follows is a road trip of the most poignant kind. Harper learns what it means to be a sister, what it means to be an individual, and how sometimes life is just worth living.

    What I loved most about Harper is how realistically she deals with her sister's death. She shows blatant and misplaced anger. She exhibits the feelings of depression. She curses June and wonders why she left her behind. Harper goes through everything that a normal, mourning person would and it is beautifully done. This isn't a story about a person who commits suicide, this is a story about the people that they leave behind. By the time I was a few chapters in, I was rooting for Harper. I just wanted everything to be okay again for her.

    What I didn't like so much was some of the side stories that mingle in with Harper's journey. Again, no spoilers, but Harper's best friend finds a problem of her own on their trip and I felt like it kind of took away the spotlight from June and Harper. I also wasn't sure about the romance aspect. Jake, for me, was just kind of there. An available love interest. I don't necessarily think it took away from Harper's story line, but for me it didn't really add anything either.

    At the end of the day Saving June is a tough read, but one that is well worth your time. Everything you can possibly imagine in a teenage life is explored here, and it is done amazingly well. Grab a box of tissues. You'll need them.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    "To believe so concretely that there's someone--something--out there watching guard, keeping us safe, testing us only with what we can handle. I've never believed in anything the way Aunt Helen believes in God."Harper has lost her sister, June, to suicide. Her big sister, the golden one, the one that did no wrong, as opposed to Harper, the rebel, the misfit. Why did June do it? She didn't leave a note, but she left notebooks with stories about California. Harper's parents were divorced and not coping well and Harper wanted to give June her wish of going to California, so she devises a plan with her best friend, Laney. The problem is Harper only has a driver's permit and Laney's car is toast. Enter Jake. He seemed angry the first time Harper met him at June's funeral, so why would he give them a ride to California? He says that he and June were friends, but was that all?This is a coming of age story of three young lives who discover the beauty of living. Harper discovers the truth about herself and about her sister, Laney discovers that there are consequences to her behavior and Jake discovers that he should strive for his dreams. I liked the trip they took and the people they met on the way. You don't want to miss a second.Thank you to Ms. Harrington, Harlequin and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    it was a decent read but I felt like I had read it before but I guess that's inevitable in young adult
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What would you do if you sister killed herself without any explanation as to why she felt the need to end it? what if you were the one who found her? Sadly for Harper, it wasn't just 'what if's. Her seemingly perfect sister decided to opt out without so much as a note and left Harper feeling that maybe she didn't know her sister as well as she thought she did.In the coming days since Harper found her body, she is trying to come to terms with whats happened. Only since her mum and dads divorce her dad has been awol, and not even the death of one of her daughters seems bring him back, and her mum is a wreck. She is being told by everyone how hard it must be on her mother, and when her Aunt Helen comes to stay, Harper feels less and less able to grieve her sister leaving her unable to even cry over whats happened.That's when she hatches a plan to drive to California, somewhere she's convinced June wanted to end up, and spread her ashes with her best friend Laney and tag along Jake, a guy that works in a record store and not only was tutored by June but seemed to have a bigger understanding of who she was and what she wanted.I loved this book, I thought it was really well written and the characters where well developed and thought out. I loved the relationship between Laney and Harper. Its nice to know that even though she might not have had the best of relationships with her sister or parents she had her to rely on. I also loved Jake, of course I loved Jake, I'm a sucker for a well written boy in a YA book haha. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that I felt June's reason was never truly explained, I know this book is more about Harper's griefe and how she deals with the new things she found out about her sister, I my self would just have like to read more about June's reason's. I'm probably the only one that feels that way hahaThis book really reminded me of Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers both main character on the quest to find out why a loved one ended their life, has a road trip in it and a pretty boy haha. So for people that have read Saving June I would recommend it.(
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was a surprisingly emotional read for me. I knew it wouldn't be the easiest of subjects. I have never experienced anything like this at all, so I don't know why I should be such an emotional wreck whilst reading this.

    I think maybe because it was so easy to understand Harper's tone and character. So well written and provocative it stirred the emotional strings right away. (Other than Aunt Helen and Grace) I don't think there was a single character in this book I didn't love. Despite the emotional difficulty of the story, the first half of the book took a while to get through, after about the 35% mark I read the rest in more or less an afternoon.

    I loved the plot and the music filtering through. More than a few times certain songs have brought me to floods of tears, so the music aspect was something easy for me to understand. Harper's best friend Laney was a pretty awesome friend. Loyal and understanding. And Jake even though he could be a dick was a pretty decent guy. Not swoon worthy for me, but certainly a good hero for the book.

    The only thing that bugged me was it did get a little repetitive in Harper's inner monologue sometimes, going on a lot about how hard things were, how things would never be the same and how things were not fine when she kept saying yes she was fine. But given the nature of the story, its something that could be easily over looked.

    I thought it wrapped up in a very honest and believable way too. And yes, I cried my eyes out more than a few times.

    All and all a fantastic read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    What do you do when your seemingly perfect sister suddenly and unexpectedly commits suicide? That is the question Harper struggles to answer when just that happens to her. This book covers a range of emotions while Harper tries to deal with the aftermath of her sister's death. While I personally couldn't relate with any of the main characters - the book was well written and I love that it covered a subject not commonly done in YA - what happens after suicide for the family and friends that are left behind. How do they move forward?
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Since I’m not exactly sure how I feel about this book, I’m going to do things a little differently with this review.Things I Liked – The writing. I really enjoyed Harringtons writing style. It was easy to read and the way the characters talked, it seemed real. If that makes sense.The road trip. Who doesn’t like books with road trips?The music. I really loved all the information and references to all the music. I also loved that one of my favorite bands, Siouxsie & the Banshees, were mentioned.Jake. I’m just going to say he’s just an all around good guy.Laney. Again, I’m just going to say she’s a great friend.Things I Didn’t Like – Harper. At times I really liked her and at other times I didn’t. I understand she was going through a lot, but she was still completely horrible at times for no reason.The Plot. I just found it far too predictable. I knew everything that was going to happen way before it did. This made the book hard to pick up after I’ve put it down for a while. However, I will say that after I started reading, it wasn’t like I was bored and wanted to stop reading.All in all, I do recommend you give it a read, but I don’t think this books if for everyone.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Saving June by Hannah Harrington

    We all know the feelings that accompany losing a loved one, but when the loved one has taken her own life those feelings I hope not everyone has had to feel. Guilt, anger, pain, grief and not truly knowing why or if you could of stopped it somehow, all those unanswered question are left for you to somehow deal and resolve.

    This novel is about a young woman named Harper, who is a strong, confident, and says what she thinks, you feel for her so fast while you’re reading this book. Harper grew up in the shadow of her sister June, June was smart, pretty, organized, kind, seemed to have it all. Harper knew her parents wished she was more like June. Harper’s parents now divorced, her dads with a younger woman so many conflicting emotions going on inside her. Now Harper has to live her life not understanding why her sister committed suicide, no note left behind Harper starts to look around to find any clue possible.

    This is where the journey begins, Harper steals June ashes and takes off for California to spread June’s ashes in the ocean, and this is where June always wanted to be this was June dream. Harper, Laney her best friend and Jake a young man somehow connected to June offers his help plus he is their ride.

    Laney is the type of best friend you hope you had growing up or have, she is supportive and always there for Harper no matter what. Jake appears to be the bad boy type, obsessed with classic rock music, he believes music can solve everything. Harper knows Jake has a secret he isn’t telling anyone.

    Put these three together on a road trip and what you get is a great story, it is funny and real and full of emotions. When Jake and Harper argue you can feel the attraction between them happening. The romance is yummy and you can’t stop reading.

    The music is the other part of this novel that was great I found I wanted to go find the songs and download them, and the best part is the author added the playlist at the end of the book.

    Overall this book was a great debut novel for Hannah Harrington; I would recommend this to anyone who loves YA romance. I will definitely read anything Hannah writes in the future.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Not bad. A little predictable, at least if you're a person who has already experienced life events. A little too melodramatic - but at least the author acknowledged it, by having Harper admit (? brag?) that the kids had enough issues for a dozen Lifetime movies (I paraphrase from memory).

    I'm not sure the author actually ever has gone on a road trip, because it didn't seem accurate against my experience. (V. little about the very long distances involved, and scuzzy gas stations every 300 miles, and the totally cliched diner waitress, etc.)

    Not subtle. Everything is explained, clarified, emphasized. Aunt Helen & Dad and Laney's parents are caricatures and Mom isn't much more.

    I never 'got' Harper. She's a total blank slate, has in her sixteen years been never anything more than a response to June and a shadow to Laney. She's probably perfect for the purpose of the book, though, as most any young reader can then see herself in Harper.

    Y'know what - I was going to give this 3 stars, but I'm having trouble coming up with anything nice to say, so I'll let those who love it relay its strengths, and leave my own reaction at 2 stars.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Saving June was one of those books that I was sure I would love. I know what it feels like to be a less than stellar younger sister to a stellar elder sister and thus I should have felt a personal connection with the characters and their situations. I did not.

    Saving June is a good book – it takes a very significant issue of identity crisis among teenagers and shows the journey of a girl who is trying hard to step out of her elder sister’s shadow. The story is beautiful in that regard. But I feel Hannah Harrington did not give enough depth to her characters. She failed to properly use the idea of ‘show, don’t tell’ and what we got were characters we knew about but never got to know. I would have loved to read more about Jake’s music obsession – I don’t think enough space was given to the book about it (and yes, though I was mentioned twice in every page I didn’t really feel the passion). I also wanted Laney to be a more significant character than a tagalong in Harper and Jake’s romance.

    I did not like the ending. It was far too predictable. I did not like how the issues of Aunt Helen and Harper’s parents were tackled. I wanted more from this book, I expected more from this book and it just left me… bereft.

    But I really, really, really liked the way the relationship between June and Harper was shown. And also the way the issue of teenage depression and suicide was shown – the simplicity of June’s inner chaos and the complicated way Harper thought – it seemed like a real problem with very real consequences.

    Saving June is not a bad book. It is good. It is one of those books that I was excited while diving into because it sounded EXACTLY like the kind of book I would love and now that I am done with it I can’t really point out what didn’t work for me, except that something didn’t.

    I got this book from Harlequinn UK via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A solid contempory story. Usually I don't go for sad stories about teen suicide, not my thing. But this one was heartfelt and honest. Some of the relationships, parental, could have been drawn better. Added plus of a slow building romance with lots of smolder and a solid road trip. Liked the playlist at the end of the book, since the music played such an important part to the story.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Though supposedly about a teenage girl whose sister commits suicide, the story is about more than that. It is about a girl who doesn't believe in herself, about a friend who has her own troubles, and a bout a boy who has a secret. It is about the journey and the music that brings them together. Despite being so full, though, the story is told at a realistic pace, unfolding in a way that keeps the reader curious to learn more but not frustrated at the pace. Characters are easily relatable, and the soundtracks at the end allow for further immersion into the story. While June's letter is somewhat disappointing, the ending as a whole is believable, and yet also satisfying.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It's been a long time since I've loved a book as much as SAVING JUNE... I think my excitement about this book can be compared to how I felt about ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS and THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE - which means that I love this book with a passion. I've said before that there are certain books that feel like they've been written just for you. They don't come along very often, but, when they do, it's one of the best feelings in the world. These books usually leave you a bit breathless and teary-eyed. Once you recover, you recommend that book like your life depends on whether others read it. That pretty much sums up how I feel about Hannah Harrington's debut novel!I easily connected with Harper, the main character of SAVING JUNE. Part of me wonders if this was due, in part, to Harper's roots. Like me, Harper was raised in a small Michigan town. Perhaps I'm just imagining that this detail makes her character easier for me to relate to... or maybe Harrington truly understands how big of impact small town Michigan can have on person and has successful woven this into her character. I tend to believe the latter. Where you're from can have a monumental impact on how you view and interpret the world... and Harper and I are eerily similar.I've yet to be disappointed by a book which features a road trip. There is something magical about the open road, the right music, and the right person sitting next to you. Harrington has all three elements locked down in SAVING JUNE.I must say that I was especially impressed by the song selection and play lists in this novel. There are so many great songs that fit perfectly into either specific scenes or the book in general. To top it off, this book deals with some pretty heavy topics, including suicide and teen pregnancy. It's difficult to find a novel that can discuss tough subjects truthfully and tactfully while maintaining a tense, yet realistic love story. Often, one aspect is lacking, but this is definitely not the case with SAVING JUNE. I can't complain about any element of this novel... if there was anything I found bothersome, it must have been only a small detail, as I can't recall anything distracting or disappointing.Please, take the time to pick up Harrington's debut... Not only did I adore SAVING JUNE, I truly believe Harrington is a contemporary author to watch.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Saving June should have a lot of appeal for teen girls who are in the mood for an edgy, angst-filled story. After the suicide of her perfect older sister June, sixteen-year-old Harper finds herself attracted to the mysterious Jake Tolan, who was somehow connected to her sister, and who agrees, against his better judgment to drive Harper and her best friend on a road trip to California to scatter June's ashes in the place she always dreamed of going.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    "To believe so concretely that there's someone--something--out there watching guard, keeping us safe, testing us only with what we can handle. I've never believed in anything the way Aunt Helen believes in God."Harper has lost her sister, June, to suicide. Her big sister, the golden one, the one that did no wrong, as opposed to Harper, the rebel, the misfit. Why did June do it? She didn't leave a note, but she left notebooks with stories about California. Harper's parents were divorced and not coping well and Harper wanted to give June her wish of going to California, so she devises a plan with her best friend, Laney. The problem is Harper only has a driver's permit and Laney's car is toast. Enter Jake. He seemed angry the first time Harper met him at June's funeral, so why would he give them a ride to California? He says that he and June were friends, but was that all?This is a coming of age story of three young lives who discover the beauty of living. Harper discovers the truth about herself and about her sister, Laney discovers that there are consequences to her behavior and Jake discovers that he should strive for his dreams. I liked the trip they took and the people they met on the way. You don't want to miss a second.Thank you to Ms. Harrington, Harlequin and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Saving June was my favorite contemporary of 2011. I absolutley loved this book from the music talk throughout the book, to the road trip. THIS IS NOT A BOOK TO MISS IF YOU'RE A FAN OF YA CONTEMPORARY. Harper lost her sister, and this to me was heart-renching, my sister is my best friend, and I cannot imagine having to go through this. Harper dosn't show emotion easily, she's keeping it all bottled up inside, until she meets Jake, who was nothing like Harper's sister, but knows some kind of secret her sister had, and had a connection to a part of her sisters life, Harper didn't know even exsisted. Harper, her best friend Laney, and Jake who has the van, the Janis Joplin, take a road trip to the West Coast with Harper's sisters ashes to bring them to the ocean that she had always dreamed of visting, but never got to. This roadtrip isn't just about putting her sisters memory to rest, but about discovering herself, figuring out that her best friend may be a different person then she thought she was, and that Jake may be housing a secret that will turn Harper's world upside-down again. I couldn't put this book down, I loved Harper and Jake, and their slow-melt relationship was like a delcious chocolate bar that I just didn't want to end. It developed slowly which are usually the relationships I love the most, I don't like that we kiss-we're in love within 10 pages stories, and like a slow build up of emotion. This book was a rollar-coaster of emotions (but in a good way, a really good way). This book is one I think anyone would love, but if you love music, heart-break, roadtrips, and swoon-worthiness, then you NEED to get your hands on this book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Harper was always jealous of her older sister June. June had the perfect life- great grades, great looks, great boyfriend. When June suddenly commits suicide, Harper is sent into a bit of a tailspin. Harper desperately wants to know why June did it or if anything could have stopped her. While going through June's room, Harper discovers a mix CD that was unlike anything June ever listened to. Harper decides that June's ashes need to go to the one place June always wanted to escape to- California. The mix tape leads Harper to Jake, someone so unlike anyone June ever associated with that Harper can't figure out his connection to June. Harper, her best friend Laney, and Jake soon embark on the road trip of a lifetime to see that June gets to California.This book turned out much different than I ever imagined it would. For me, the most marvelous part was how tightly things were tied in to music. I love music so much, and I think it really helped heighten the emotional response I had as a reader. Harper, Laney, and Jake were all kind of misfits in different ways. They came together to make a wonderful trio though. The road trip vibe was alive and well, and it made me remember so many random journeys I made when I was younger. There's a certain feel of freedom from the real world that you get while road tripping, and you could feel that throughout the book. This disassociation from real life allowed Harper to really search through her feelings on everything, and you get the feeling this trip was as much for her as it was to deliver June to where she always wanted to be.Like any good book, there are secrets and conflicts and all kinds of interesting plot points. They never take away from the real plot though-Harper discovering how she feels about life. At first I thought Harper was a trying a bit too hard to be a rebel, but as I got to know her through the plot and the music associated I saw where she was coming from. By the end of the book I loved Harper, Laney, and Jake so much. I read this book so fast because I was just drawn into the story, and I really wanted to know how everything was resolved. A little bit rock and roll, a little bit therapy, I thought this was an amazing book that I would highly recommend to everyone.Galley provided for review.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    “Saving June” is one of the best – if not the best – contemporary novels I’ve ever read.Harper Scott’s older sister, June, took her own life. It’s a tragedy that no one seems to understood, one that no one saw coming – especially Harper. Unlike everyone else around her who seems to be falling apart, Harper finds it impossible to even cry at her sister’s death. It isn’t because she isn’t upset. But for some reason, she can’t truly process the certainty of the situation – June’s gone and she’ll never come back.Desperate to save what’s left of June and give her what peace she can, Harper plans a trip to California with her best friend Laney where she plans to spread her ashes. But they won’t get there without Jake – a stranger somehow connected to June. When Jake offers to bring Harper and Laney to California, Harper’s initial reaction is to say no. She doesn’t understand why he’d want to tag along or what kind of relationship he had with her sister. But when Laney insists that Jake’s offer is just what they needed, Harper forces herself to tell Jake yes, still wary about his reasons for offering to help them.I really enjoyed reading along as Harper, Jake, and Laney made their way to California. Between staying at the vegan house, the protest, the concert, and the motel – there was never a dull moment. But what I really enjoyed best was watching the romance develop between Harper and Jake. They are both struggling to deal with a loss – one more so than the other – and they still don’t know much about each other, but you can feel that connection there, that longing.And let’s not forget the music. Talk about a book with a fantastic soundtrack! Yet another reason why I loved Jake’s character. He was a bit of a music snob, albeit one with fantastic taste. To him, music needs to tell a story. And the music in “Saving June” only helped to enhance the story.I’d highly recommend “Saving June” to anyone who loved “If I Stay” and “Where She Went” by Gayle Forman.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Harper Scott's older sister recently - and unexpectedly committed suicide shortly before her high school graduation. . . Just a few more weeks and she would have been June who died in June, Harper thinks. But she didn't make it long. Harper's divorcing parents plan to divide June's ashes.Harper plans to take them to the only place June ever really wanted to go: California. On a road trip with her best friend Laney and a guy, Jake who has a mysterious connection to June, Harper learns things about herself, June and life.Saving June is an excellent story with very distinct characters. From Harper to Laney to Jake, each character is most definitely their own and when they're in a group, the novel really comes a live. Each of the characters has their own quirks and traits that make them, them - and different not only from each other but characters in other books.The road trip of Saving June is, admittedly, not one that everyone reading would want to take. The characters do engage in some activities that are not for everyone. Yet, that's part of what makes it great. Whether you're one of the readers who thinks their trips sounds like the greatest one ever and will spend the book working out way to hide out as a stow-a-way or one who knows right a way it's a trip you would not work out on, it's still a book for you.Neither Saving June's story nor its characters alienate anyone. Love everything the characters are and do or be incredibly put-off by some of it, it's okay. If you're the latter, you can still enjoy the trip vicariously. Harrington doesn't ask that you be the same as her characters to enjoy her book. The closest I can think to compare it to is I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert (yet much lighter).All of that is not even talking about the absolute music love that is in Saving June. It's a great book for someone who's always watching Behind the Music but you want them to read a book - because it's almost Behind the Music in book form but with plot and emotion and greatness. (And playlists in the back!)Saving June is really unlike any book I've read in a long, long while and I absolutely love that - and it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wow. Saving June was FANTASTICALY AMAZING. Such an intense and moving story filled with steamy romance and mega tears and an awesome road trip.Wait, that review isn’t sufficient enough? I don’t know how else to put it. Saving June was, hands down, one of my favourite books this year. I LOVED Harper and Jake’s witty banter and musical debates and their actual fights and the steamy romance and the witty and fun best friend Laney in the backseat with her own commentary and her own drama.Oh, speaking of drama – HEARTBREAK. The build up to the road trip and the grieving and the gah IT’S SO SAD. One of my favourite things to read about is the way different people deal with grief and all sorts of different ways and let me just say – Saving June is a wonderful story of grief and loss and it made me cry. Big fat tears in the middle of class.I also read some steamy scenes during class (yeah, I ought to stop reading books in class) and had to put it down cause my face was all flushed. But I legit think Harper and Jake were my favourite couple of all the books I read this year. I think. Probably. Definitely up there in the running.Overall, if you love contemporary YA books featuring road trips, build-up romance with a side of steamy, wonderful best friends, achingly upsetting grief, and music, please oh please pick up Saving June. You will love it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Harper Scott is the trouble maker, the instigator, she is everything her sister June is not. June is the “good” daughter…good student, tutor, golden child, everything comes easy to her. When June takes her own life, Harper has to come to terms not only with the loss of her sister, but also the changes in her that her sister’s death brings…and she does it via a road trip to California with her best friend and one Jake Tolan, who Harper suspects was in love with June. I loved this book! It’s about suicide and a sister’s attempt to deal with the aftermath. It’s not condescending drivel…it’s witty, and snarky, and dark, and funny. The author’s handling of the subject matter was all the things you would expect…gut-wrenching, emotional, as well as the overwhelming thought of “what did I miss”. I haven’t experienced a loss through suicide, but the author nailed my perception of what it might be like.Harper’s grief is like a cloak…it covers and absorbs you. Harper is sharp and complex…and watching her evolve during this road trip is something worth reading. Harper’s best friend, Laney, can be pretty shallow and self-absorbed and provides some of the best comic relief. Everything Laney does is with her best friend in mind. Laney is an only child and imagined June as her big sister as well. Laney and Harper are as different as night and day, and complement each other equally well. Which leaves Jake. Jake knew June in a different way and is able to provide insight into parts of her life Harper wasn’t privy to. He also provides a musical backdrop to the journey…his musical choices complement the story and bring it to another level. The version of this book I read, had the playlists listed in the back, I wish I had known because I would have loved to create playlists to listen to while I was reading. Just so happens Jake and I have similar musical tastes.My only complaint would be the first stop on the trip…that was a strange group of friends and the whole “demonstration” just seemed out of place. Not quite sure what it’s purpose was other than to show that June had met this group in the past.This was a wonderful book…I can’t recommend it highly enough.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Three teens go on a journey to save a girl that influenced their lives. Only, she’s already dead, and they’re the ones that really need saving. June was the perfect girl, perfect daughter. No one would have suspected her of being suicidal. I never really understood this, but Harper, June’s younger sister and the narrator, gets the idea that June can be saved only if her ashes are scattered in the Pacific Ocean bordering California. Somehow, she ends up driving there with her best friend (Laney) and a mysterious guy (Jake) with a connection to June. While the journey pops almost out of nowhere, everything falls into place. Harper, Laney, and Jake need the journey to get over June’s death, and they need to do it together. They don’t always get along. At first, Harper has a thing against Jake because she doesn’t understand his relationship with her sister, and he won’t tell. Even Laney has her moments... her secrets. Their feelings are completely understandable. Harper doesn't understand how her sister could have gotten close to a guy like Jake. Laney is brazen and confident on the outside, but she has issues of her own. And as for Jake, he too is dealing with June's death. None of them know who to blame. Harper is a relatable narrator all around. She’s the rebellious child, but only because she knows she can never compare to her sister and it was the only way she could create her own identity. Inside, she’s a teenage girl with teenage emotions. Hormonal as she is, she cannot deny her attraction to a certain annoying guy, but it doesn’t mean she has to give in. The relationship is sweet, filled with both love and hate, and it takes time to develop. It was as real as everything else about this book, and I enjoyed watching it progress. Overall, I cannot praise this book enough. It was fun, witty, and very real. I got so much out of reading this book, including a bigger appreciation for life. Saving June is about death, friendship, and love. It is about life and dealing with the messes that come with it. Hannah Harrington has debuted with a stunning novel, and I will definitely be looking out for new works by her! Note: Music plays a big role in the novel, and I will be listening to the tracks the next time I read Saving June! (And I will be rereading it!!)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Harper Scott’s life is drastically changed when her older sister, June, commits suicide. Her family was already reeling after the divorce of her parents, and before those wounds can heal, June, the perfect daughter, kills herself, leaving Harper with a huge hole in her life. The day of June’s funeral, Harper discovers a postcard from California on which June had written “I’m coming home”. June was obsessed with California, and dreamed of living there some day. When Harper’s parents decide to split June’s ashes, each taking half for their homes, Harper takes matters into her own hands.With the help of her best friend Laney, and a mysterious boy named Jake, who somehow knew June, Harper sets out on a cross-country road trip with June’s ashes in tow. She plans to take June to the one place she’d always longed to be.Saving June is a heartfelt tribute to sisterhood. Every single character felt real to me, and each one brought their own unique personality. I enjoyed Harper’s journey to “save” her sister, while at the same time, saving herself. I especially liked the message of the healing power of music, though I have a feeling most teens won’t know who Janis Joplin or Jimi Hendrix are. My suggestion is to find some of the music mentioned in this book while reading it to enhance your experience. There were only a couple of scenes that I felt were random and unnecessary (I won’t mention them so as not to spoil the book). Despite these minor scenes, the story flowed well and definitely taps into many emotions. Highly recommended.(Review based on an Advanced Reader's Copy courtesy of the publisher)
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Where do I begin? To put it simply, this book is amazing. After falling into to it, I could not put it down. It held me from the first page till the last. It gave me something different to see.The plot line of this book is just wonderful. Looking back at this book, I must have wanted to cry from anger several times. Ms. Harrington gives the reader so much emotions, secrets a little bit at a time. It's like following the bread crumbs down a road leading to something greater, better!The characters of this book had my heart. I love that while the characters faced some real life tragedy, Ms. Harrington caught the redemption of the characters spot on. The reader clearly sees the growth and change of them, but also coming into a peace they deeply needed. I adored that the love interest feel so much deeper then what I expected but also gave me more. The way the love interest collapse and came back together had me smiling. I love that while the ending it not an all together "Happily Ever After", but the characters are where they need to be.Over all, this is an amazing book. I loved that it gave the reader a whole new insight of thoughts and feelings. The characters are realistic and are plagued by everyday real world tragedy. Do you want a book that will steal your heart away? Read this.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Saving June is an emotional, gripping and romantic read and is my favorite kind of book. The characters are distinct and interesting, and the story captured my attention from beginning to end. Though the book covers a heavy topic, it is also a book about healing, growth and self-discovery that manages to be uplifting as well.Harper Scott has just lost her older sister June to suicide. Harper has always felt second best to her seemingly perfect sister and that she was the glue holding the family together. Her family is reeling from her shocking death, and June did not leave a note of explanation. While going through June’s belongings Harper finds some clues that indicated June dreamed of moving to California. She plans to run off with her best friend Laney and scatter June’s ashes in the golden state as her final tribute to her sister. Jake, a boy with a mysterious connection to June, wants to accompany them on their journey.The book continues with the characters getting to know themselves and each other better through their epic cross-country road trip. They get acquainted through their musical selections and by making some detours along the way.I appreciated the uniqueness of Harper’s character and her tough nature. Her world is shattered but she can’t bring herself to cry over June. She is torn between her divorced parents, and doesn’t feel she is able to live up to June and replace her as the support system to her mother. She is fearless though and has a great sense of humor. She is the photographer of the group and documents their adventures. Her friendship with Laney feels very realistic, even though they are complete opposites. Laney is more extroverted and reckless, but is also a devoted friend to Harper.The romance between Jake and Harper is slow building and sweet. You get the sense that they get each other, and feel comfortable enough to be themselves even though they have just met. They have great chemistry and an easy banter that makes their scenes memorable.And what road trip would be complete without music? Each member of the trio has different musical tastes, but Jake is the one with the most eclectic taste who likes to school the girls on different musical icons. Jake also works in a record store and plays guitar to continue the musical theme of the book. The musical element made the story even more compelling for me and I was pleasantly surprised to see Jake’s playlists at the back of the book.The writing flows effortlessly and with an even pace. The contemporary story is realistic and the characters are well defined and believable. It has a similar vibe to Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, another road trip book with a great soundtrack. The light-hearted moments, friendship and romance balance out the grieving story so it never gets too heavy. This is an impressive first novel by Hannah Harrington and I’ll be sure to look for her other books. Saving June hits stores November 22.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Struggling to deal with her perfect older sister June’s suicide, Harper sets off on a road trip to California, accompanied by her best friend, Laney, and Jake Tolan, a boy who was somehow connected to June. Harper is not sure what their road trip will accomplish, except that it was always June’s dream to go to California. However, their journey takes unexpected twists and turns as Harper learns about Laney, Jake, June, and herself in a trip that none of them will forget.SAVING JUNE is a debut YA contemporary novel that lives up to its hype: it is a wonderfully told story that weaves standout characters and a genuine passion for music into a journey that is moving for Harper as well as for us readers.To be honest, I wasn’t sure I’d like SAVING JUNE at first. The beginning one-fifth of the book had more than its fair share of features that are all too common to YA books dealing with grief—or, for that matter, any YA contemporary story: the main character with suppressed anger towards her dead sibling, the dead sibling, the more outgoing best friend, the good-looking mysterious boy with secrets, the over-the-top ridiculous mean relative. I mean, there is a “life-changing road trip,” for goodness’ sake. Once Harper, Laney, and Jake finally, finally hit the road, however, it was like someone had flipped the switch and turned on the life to this story. Spending weeks together in a car is really a great way to get to know characters: personalities clash, secrets are revealed, and unshakeable bonds develop. The three main characters completely grew on me. Harper’s grief became less plot-driven (i.e. there for the sake of the story) and more character-driven (genuine poignant grief over June’s death). Laney started out as simply the outgoing best friend, but grew to have more depth than I initially thought.As for Jake, well, his character development definitely impressed me the most. You’d have to be slightly naïve not to guess what role he plays in the story, but what impressed me was that his “ideal love interest” character developed not from a set of parameters thrown at us at the beginning, but, rather, gradually through the course of the story, each new chapter revealing another lovable aspect of him. Authors, take note of how to write a truly swoon-worthy love interest, please.All in all, SAVING JUNE pleased me to no end. It broke the constraints it imposed on itself by having a rather tired premise and, through genuine and memorable characters, makes itself stand out in the crowd. If you love YA contemporary, please, do yourself a favor and give this a try. Odds are you won’t regret it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Before I begin, 3 stars is good review. It's not a bad review like so many of you think. When I give a book a 3 star rating, it's usually because I still liked it, but didn't find it particularly memorable. It didn't stand out to me. And that was the case with Saving June. I really liked the story. I enjoyed reading it while I was reading it. I even cried. It was a heartbreaking story. But in the end, I felt it wasn't good enough to reward with a 4 star rating. I tend to avoid books that deal with difficult topics. I will not read books about Dementia and Cancer. They hit too close to home for me. I don't know anyone that has been affected by suicide, but it still was a hard topic for me to read about. I can only imagine how it would affect someone who had been close to the topic of suicide. But here's the thing. As sad as this book was, I still found the characters kind of flat and I lacked an emotional connection with them. And that's the other reason why I gave Saving June a 3 star rating. The road trip itself was great. That was totally fun to read about. I loved the different situations Harper found herself in. I loved all the different music recommendations. And I must have great taste in music, because I knew and liked most of the artists and songs. Jake and Laney were great supporting characters, but again, they were not particularly memorable. You may find yourself with a completely different opinion than me though on this. Saving June is getting a lot of 4 star and 5 star reviews. I loved the ending. It was soooo sad. It was the perfect conclusion to the story, but it wasn't enough to make it a favorite. Read it for yourself and see if you agree with me. And then be sure and let me know when you do.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Saving June was a very emotional account of the roller-coaster ride that ensues after a loved one has committed suicide. I was expecting this book to be on the darker side with a lot of grief and sorrowful moments, and while it did have its fair share of those, it was also a very fun read. I'm always up for reading a good book about a road trip, and this one was no disappointment. There were definitely some interesting characters in the book that I enjoyed getting to know, such as Harper's crazy Jesus-freak aunt, but most of the story focused around three main characters. First, there's Harper, who I felt completely sympathetic towards. I could clearly feel her pain through the snappy, bitter tone she displayed most of the time, and it made my heart ache to imagine being in her situation, always feeling inferior to June while she was alive and then still being compared to her after her death, knowing that she'll never live up to the expectations of everyone around her. Then there's Laney, Harper's best friend whose parents let her pretty much do as she pleases with little expectations, and Jake, who has had his fair share of problems as well, is completely obsessed with music, and holds a mysterious connection to June that Harper can't quite figure out.There are so many amazing things in this book: the friendship between Harper and Laney, and relationship that forms between Harper and Jake, the music that narrates the story and provides the soundtrack to their road trip, all of the fun touristy things that take place along the way, and the more serious moments that each character experiences. While "saving" June, Harper also learns a lot about herself along the way. With the help of Jake, Harper goes from trying to build up a wall around everything to block out her emotions, to being able to let them out and feel comfortable with what she feels. Saving June was a very powerful and very well-written book that provided a wonderful mixture of heavier issues and fun experiences, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a moving yet fun read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I know that summary doesn't really tell you much about this book. But trust me, it will blow you away. I know I have mentioned it before and I will say it again. There is something in the water amongst YA authors writing about the death of a sibling, be it by suicide or accident. But each time I read a novel where that is a key plot point it is done differently. Sometimes it is done extraordinarily. Saving June is one of those books. It pulls you in from the opening scene during June's wake and it keeps your attention the whole way through to the end.I felt an immediate connection with Harper. It wasn't exactly that I felt for her because she didn't even know what to feel. She was sad, angry, numb. Name a negative emotion and I guarantee Harper was feeling it during June's wake. Her older sister, thought by all to be happy go lucky, perfect all the time had just curled up in the backseat of her car and swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills. How would you feel?During a brief repreive from the houseful of mourners Harper runs into Jake, a mysterious boy who seems to hold a grudge against Harper though she has never seen him before in her life. Though he seemed to have known June. After a series of event unfolds Harper winds up deciding to travel cross country with Jake and her best friend Laney in an effort to come to peace with her sister's death. But she never intended to fall in love along the way.A huge factor in this book is the saving grace of music. How it brings people together and also brings peace to the soul because a song can take every emotion you have bottled up inside and express it in a way that you yourself never could. There is even a playlist at the end of the novel of all the songs mentioned in the book. Instead of most books, which talk about bands that don't exist and songs that the reader can never hear, this book features real bands and songs that you will most likely hear if you switch on the radio right now. It makes the book more relateable that it already is.What didn't I like about the book? Nothing major. I didn't connect well with Harper's name for some reason. You know the feeling. Where you love the character but halfway through the book you can't for the life of you remember what their name is? Yeah, it was like that for me. And that's really the only issue I had. The characters were well developed and I fell in love with each one of them. I would definitely read anything else by this author.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is one of those types that get you intrigued very early on in the book and continue to command your attention throughout. It was an absolute page turner!Harper's sister June committed suicide and Harper is left not understanding why she did it. Her divorced parents are fighting over June's ashes and plan on splitting them in two and keeping half each. Harper - feeling like June wouldn't have wanted this decides that she is taking the ashes to California (a place that June always wanted to go to) to scatter them.Whilst the book starts off looking like it's a story about grief.. it's about so much more than that. Harper plans on going to California with her best friend Lacey, and then she meets Jake - a friend of her sisters who insists on driving with the girls to California.What starts out as a story about life and death becomes the ULTIMATE road trip story (complete with song lists at the back if you feel so inclined!) about self discovery, and building relationships, and all the other types of drama that come with being a teenager.One thing I really loved about this story was it felt so true. It didn't feel contrived at all - it was honest and raw at times, but it was true throughout which as a reader that is a little bit older, I truly appreciated where it was coming from. The characters had so much depth that I could truly imagine them whilst I was reading.This story ultimately whilst based on a girl trying to come to terms with the loss of her sister is also a romance, and a story about friendship, families and life on the road!LOVED this book, if I had a rating system higher than 5 it would be scoring even higher.