To learn more about why I started doing this Save The Date feature and how it differs from my reviews — go here!
* Release date according to Amazon
When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney
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What When You Where Here Is About: Three weeks before Danny’s graduation, his mom loses her battle with cancer and Danny becomes an orphan. Amidst his grief and hopelessness, a directionless Danny has to try to make it through his graduation and deliver a hopeful Valedictorian speech while trying to make adult decisions about what to do with their home and his mother’s things. On top of it all, the girl who broke his heart by just shutting him out of her life suddenly reappears in his life. When the manager of his family’s apartment in Japan, where Danny’s mom had spending some of her final months for treatment, sends a letter that reveals to him that maybe he didn’t know all about his mother’s final months and why she seemed so happy in them. With nagging questions and sense of purposelessness that has made him numb, Danny takes a trip around the world to Japan to if he can find the answers and reconnect with his mother through these memories.
Why You Should Be Saving The Date:
1. This book is BEAUTIFUL though it will steamroll right through your heart. It was an intensely emotional book in so many ways. I knew going into it I would connect with it on a personal level having lost my mother to cancer but there were whole other levels that I found myself connecting to it and I certainly don’t think you need to have experienced a loss like this for this book to shake you up. So don’t be frightened and think it’s just another “grief” story. It’s much more than that though obviously the profound loss is a big part. Luckily Daisy Whitney has this ability to so subtly make sure, upon finishing, that your heart is in tact; stitched back up by Danny’s story of loss and love and how it takes strength and courage to get through both.
2. Danny’s time in Japan stirred up the travel bug in me. I loved that part of his very emotional journey was also a physical one set in Tokyo. As he looks for answers and tries to feel the spirit of his mom in a city they loved so much, Daisy Whitney makes you feel like you are at the fish market, or ambling along the twisted streets or smelling the cherry blossoms. I loved exploring the city through Danny’s eyes and especially with Kana. She was such a bright and spunky character that just added this whole lightness to the dark that Danny was feeling.
3. Daisy Whitney’s writing is flawless. Whether it was the dialogue or the descriptions of Tokyo or passages showing Danny’s grief — it was just so flawless and natural and I just floated right through the story. I just really love the way she writes!
Who Should Save The Date: Fans of contemporary YA, Fans of stories that seriously give you ALL OF THE FEELS — not just make you cry but make you feel hopeful or in love or intense mourning alongside the character.
Have you read this one? Are you excited for it?? Putting it on your TBR list? Have you read Daisy Whitney’s previous works? I have them on my shelf but haven’t yet read them! Be on the lookout for my FULL review coming closer to the release date.
Brittany @ The Book Addict's Guide says
CUTE. I love the Save the Date idea! 🙂
Sarah Laurence says
Thanks for telling us about Daisy’s new novel. I loved her debut.
alicejane011 says
This book sounds amazing! It sounds so interesting already and the Tokyo setting makes it even more interesting! I love the Save the Date idea too!
Julie@my5monkeys says
Oh I need to read this book. She is a local author to me 🙂 I love books in different locations. Adds to reading pile
Taylor @ Reading is the Thing says
I’m SO excited for this book! I love Daisy Whitney and I especially like books that make you feel all the feels! Can’t wait!
Isa says
From the moment I saw this cover I knew it’d be a book that I would most definitely read but I didn’t think about how much it had to offer. Reading you post just makes me all the more excite for it’s release, I can’t wait to read it. 🙂
Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit says
Been on my TBR since I heard about it. I’m in love with the concept, and I knew that this would be a big one for me. Thanks for sharing your initial thoughts – I can’t wait!
Jen @ Almost Grown-up says
This sounds like it will make me cry, THEREFORE… *adds to TBR*
Mrs. Heise says
So glad you loved it! I adore all of Daisy’s books (you really need to read The Mockingbirds!), but this one was just incredible. Broke me apart and stitched me back up. I agree that her writing lets you flow right through her books. I’m so glad you got to read it early. Can’t wait for more people to join our discussion about its amazingness.
Alexa Y. says
I am SO excited for this book! It sounds like just the kind of book I will really enjoy, and I cannot wait for it to come out. I’m dying just knowing that it’ll be about 5 months until I can get my own copy!
Asheley Tart (@BookwormAsheley) says
Sounds so great! I’ll be on the lookout for this one. I haven’t read anything by this author yet. WHAT!? I know, I know.
Molli says
I already can’t wait to read this one, but after this post…man. I’m sure I’m going to need tissues, right? Cancer stories hit me pretty hard usually – I’ve lost two grandparents to them, and my life is still not the same, even with their losses being a few years ago now. I’m definitely going to look for this one, and for the travel factor!
Tara says
OMG I NEED THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!!!
Kara @ Great Imaginations says
Yes, yes, yes! A Tokyo setting? GIMME!! I need this. NEEEEEED. 🙂
Laura Ashlee says
I LOVE the idea of this feature. So awesome! Plus, this book sounds amazing.
Hannah @ so obsessed with says
I will DEFINITELY be saving the date for this one! You’ve really peaked my interest, Jamie. Great teaser that’s made me really excited for this book 🙂
Leandra Wallace says
I really like the cover- it’s unusual to see it featuring only a guy. And I love the sound of his relationship w/Sandy, cute!
Savindi says
A lot of people have talked about Kana being the best character in the book. I feel like I’d probably read this book just for her. She sounds like such a great character! Was she your favourite character in the book?