Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Saving June
by Hannah Harrington

Published: May 1st 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
Format: Ebook
Pages: 288
Source: Through NetGalley for review
Amazon |
Book Depository

Your sister is dead. Nineteen songs can tell you why.
Only one boy can help you understand.

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 going - California.

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 demeanour 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 down again.

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*

There is so much beauty in just existing. In being alive.
I don't want to miss a second.

One of my favorite sentences in this book. And yeah, I know, this review should've been out yesterday, but since this was such an inspirational book, I spent few nights listing up my favorite songs from the 60's and the 70's, aka. My Saving June soundtrack.

My Saving June soundtrack

Uriah Heep - Lady in Black

Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water

Animals - House of the Rising Sun

The Doors - Riders On The Storm

The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreamin'

Scott McKenzie - San Francisco

Eagles - Hotel California

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody

Blondie - Heart of Glass

Aerosmith - Dream On

Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven

The Beatles - Yesterday

Percy Mayfield - Hit the Road Jack

America - A Horse With No Name

My dad was one of those tortured artistic souls, who was young at 70's, so at least I got to listen some good music! When I was around 7yo, my favorite songs were House of the Rising Sun, Hotel California, California Dreamin', San Francisco, Heart of Glass, Dream On and Hit the Road Jack. So this book ended up as my own little trip down the memory lane. Guess that shows how inspirational this book was. Yeah, I got little sidetracked here, so back to business!

Harper's sister, June, is dead. She was intelligent, beautiful, just perfect in every way possible. That's why it's even harder for everyone to understand how someone that perfect could take her own life.
Harper wants to honor her sister's wish, and starts a road trip, destination California, June's dreamland. Of course her best friend leaves with her, but along comes also Jake, mystery guy, who somehow knew June. Was there something between Jake and June, or what is going on? That's the question Harper ends up thinking more and more.

I already used the word "inspirational" from this book, so I'm not going to say that again. But really, that's pretty accurate word for this.
It's also really romantic, occasionally funny and exciting, sometimes really sad. It describes families, friendships, suicide, hope, lost.. The list goes on and on, so yeah, you should just read it.

So why only four cupcakes? The ending. First you read one of the most amazing books, and then there's the same old ending that just says "I need to wrap this up, so let's just give them happily ever after, they ride in the sunset and that's it". This was exceptional book, so where's the exceptional ending?? And I'm the one who always wants happilyeverafters, but it just didn't work.
But this is still something worth checking out, now I totally get the hype!


Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin UK for providing a review copy!