For those navigating complex romantic attachments, this novel explores the challenging decisions involved in letting go of a past love to embrace a new future.
A parent might reach for this book when their older teen or young adult is struggling to move on from a significant first love. This story helps validate the intense grief that comes with letting go of a relationship, especially one that felt perfect but is no longer viable. The book follows a young woman torn between holding onto the memory of a past love and embracing the potential of a new one. It explores themes of romantic grief, personal identity, and the importance of friendship during emotional transitions. For an 18 year old, it offers a gentle, relatable narrative that normalizes the heartache of moving on and provides a hopeful model for choosing a future that prioritizes personal happiness.
The central theme is grief over a lost love, which is handled directly and emotionally. The pain of the breakup and the struggle to let go are the main focus. The approach is entirely secular. The resolution is hopeful, emphasizing the protagonist's agency and emotional growth in making a healthy choice for herself, rather than simply waiting for a past that may never return.
Ideal Reader
An 18 year old who is having trouble moving on from a serious high school relationship. They may be idealizing their ex and the past, preventing them from engaging with new people and experiences as they transition into college or adulthood. This reader feels stuck and needs a story that validates their sadness while also showing a gentle path forward.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold. While it is part of a larger fantasy series (W.I.T.C.H.), this installment's emotional plot is self contained and easy to understand without prior knowledge. The fantasy elements are a light backdrop to the realistic romantic dilemma. A parent hears their young adult child say something like, "No one will ever compare to him/her," or sees them withdrawing from social opportunities to dwell on a past relationship that has clearly ended.
Age Experience
As this book is recommended for an 18 year old, the experience is one of mature reflection. An 18 year old will connect deeply with the theme of navigating romantic attachments while simultaneously forging an independent adult identity. They will see the story not just as a simple love triangle, but as a metaphor for the larger life task of letting go of the past to embrace the future.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many contemporary new adult romances that focus on intense drama or explicit content, this book offers a gentle, introspective exploration of heartache. Its connection to a beloved fantasy franchise provides a unique layer of female friendship and empowerment, making it a story as much about the support system that helps us heal as it is about the romance itself.
Read plot summary
This chapter book, part of the W.I.T.C.H. series, focuses on Cornelia Hale. She is deeply heartbroken and still in love with Caleb, who has left her world. As she grieves, she finds herself growing closer to Peter, the brother of her friend Taranee. The story centers on Cornelia's internal conflict: should she remain loyal to the memory of Caleb, waiting for his potential return, or should she allow herself to move on and build a new relationship with the kind and caring Peter? Her friends, the other Guardians, offer support and advice as she navigates her feelings and ultimately makes a difficult choice about her future.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Cornelia feels guilty about her growing feelings for Peter while she still loves Caleb. Do you think it's possible to care for two people at once? Why was this so confusing for her?
2
Elyon tells Cornelia that loving someone means wanting them to be happy, even if it is not with you. How does this advice help Cornelia make her final decision about Caleb and Peter?
3
Throughout the story, Cornelia's friends in W.I.T.C.H. offer her different kinds of advice and support. Whose approach did you find most helpful for Cornelia, and why?
4
How did Cornelia's idealized memory of Caleb prevent her from seeing the positive qualities in Peter and the real possibilities in front of her?
5
The book is titled 'Farewell to Love'. Do you think she is saying farewell to love itself, or just to a specific kind of love? What is the difference?
