For teens grappling with the aftermath of a sudden loss, this story explores processing guilt, confusion, and finding unexpected support during a difficult time.
A parent might reach for this book when their teenager is grappling with the complex and often guilt-ridden grief that follows the sudden death of a friend or loved one. The story follows seventeen-year-old Ginny, who is isolating herself as she processes overwhelming guilt about her boyfriend's fatal accident. This quiet, character-driven novel explores how unexpected support, in this case from her father's new tenant, can create a safe space for healing. Appropriate for older teens, it gently navigates themes of grief, self-forgiveness, and rebuilding one's identity after a tragedy. It is an excellent choice for a teen who needs a realistic, non-dramatic story that validates the messy, internal process of moving forward.
There are brief scenes involving underage drinking at parties.
Romantic ContentMild
A gentle, healing romance develops over the course of the story, including some kissing.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly and frankly with the death of a romantic partner. The approach is entirely secular, focusing on the psychological and emotional experience of grief and guilt. The resolution is realistic and hopeful: Ginny does not achieve a magical cure, but she finds a way to begin forgiving herself and re-engaging with her life, acknowledging that grief will be a part of her.
Ideal Reader
An introspective teen, 14 to 17, who is processing a personal loss and feeling alone in their grief. This book is for the reader who needs a quiet story that mirrors their internal state, validating the complex and sometimes confusing emotions, like guilt and anger, that can accompany the death of a loved one.
Parent Prep
No specific pages require previewing. The book is a gentle character study that can be read cold. However, parents should be prepared for potential conversations about survivor's guilt, risky behavior, and the nature of responsibility in relationships. It's a great catalyst for talking about how we process grief differently. A parent has noticed their teen has become withdrawn and isolated after the death of a friend. The teen may be pushing away people who try to help or expressing feelings of responsibility for the event, saying things like, "I should have been there," or "If only I had..."
Age Experience
A younger reader (14-15) might focus on the slow-burn romance and the idea of finding new love after loss. An older teen (16-18) is more likely to appreciate the nuanced exploration of Ginny's complex guilt, her shifting identity, and the mature realization that her relationship with Michael wasn't perfect.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many YA grief novels that rely on high-stakes drama, this book's strength is its quiet, internal focus. It uniquely captures the subtle, day-to-day reality of living with grief and presents a powerful portrait of how healing can come from quiet companionship and shared vulnerability, rather than from grand gestures or dramatic events.
Read plot summary
Seventeen-year-old Ginny is paralyzed by survivor's guilt following the death of her daredevil boyfriend, Michael, in a climbing accident. She pushes away her best friend and family, unable to escape the feeling that she is responsible. Her isolated world begins to change when Caleb, a quiet young man with his own past sorrows, moves into the spare room her father is renting out. Through their gentle, tentative connection, Ginny slowly begins to confront her painful memories and untangle her complicated feelings about love, loss, and her own identity.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Ginny is consumed by guilt over Michael's death. Do you believe she was responsible in any way? Why do you think people so often blame themselves when a tragedy happens to someone they love?
2
Caleb helps Ginny not by giving advice, but by listening and sharing his own quiet presence. Why was this approach more effective for Ginny than her best friend's attempts to cheer her up?
3
Before he died, Michael told Ginny, 'Don't you ever change.' How did this statement affect Ginny's grieving process? In what ways does she change by the end of the book?
4
Grief changes Ginny's relationships with her father, her best friend, and Michael's parents. Pick one of these relationships and discuss how it was altered by the tragedy and how it started to heal.
