Saving June Book Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway
June 14th, 2012 || Posted in 2012, finished Giveaway, Review, Young Adult || 32 comments
Author: Hannah Harrington
blog | twitter | goodreads
Title: Saving June
Publisher: Harlequin Teen US | Mira Ink UK
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Published: November 22nd 2011 US | June 1st 2012 UK
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Source: ARC from publisher
Get it: Amazon UK
‘If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.’
Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.
When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going, California.
Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and 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 she needs.
Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.
(Source: goodreads)
Saving June is an emphatic book about mourning and how family members deal with being left behind. In this case Harper’s older sister June killed herself without leaving any written good-bye and nobody understands why she committed suicide. Especially Harper, who wasn’t even close to her sister anymore, is afflicted by serious doubts if she could have prevented June’s suicide. Luckily I was never personally affected by a suicide. I guess most people just can understand why somebody would “give up” on life. I don’t think that there is ever a satisfying reason and that’s exactly what this book shows you once more.
The story starts in the aftermath of June’s suicide and Harper and her family are still numb from the shock. Everybody tries to deal with the loss on their own and they are blind or to the pain of the others. Except Harper, who feels even more responsible as she found the dead June. Harper is the perpetual second of the two siblings: she isn’t as pretty, popular or sportive nor as brilliant in her studies. And she is unable to help her mother to overcome her grief. So she is breaking out, rebelling in her way by going on a road-trip to California with June’s ashes. In the beginning Harper is full of anger and pain and it was amazing to see her develop through out the book. How she started to actually grieve and forgive.
I loved the other main characters as well. Laney is a quirky, feisty and smart girl who supports Harper unconditionally. Only after a while you realise that she has to fight her own demons as well. And then there is Jake. Opinionated, witty, bright, abrasive and gorgeous at the same time, he has hidden deeps and plenty of secrets. He is June’s secret friend, so secret that nobody even knew that he was June’s friends. And he clearly isn’t very fond of Harper, at least in the beginning. By offering his van he enables the whole road-trip.
And this road-trip is clearly the heart and soul of Saving June. You will laugh, you will be angry, you will cry (at least I did) and you will enjoy the music. This is something not even hinted at in the blurb, but music is an essential part of this novel. Hannah Harrington is masterfully using songs to tell the story and feelings of her main characters. The whole road-trip evolved in a way I wouldn’t have guessed, ever. All three surprised me with their actions, mainly positively. And they meet weird, intriguing and quite diverse people during their adventure, who will enrich the story. Being finally arrived in California it comes down to a major revelation, which I once again didn’t see coming and which was hard to deal with. But the end was great, hopeful and promising.
The strength of this book lies in his story-telling. It is surprisingly easy to relate to all main characters. To feel their doubts, sorrows, joy and to laugh with and about them. I was thinking how they are feeling, how they are coping. What I would do in such a situation? Overall it’s an awesome contemporary read with well-developed characters and a captivating story-line.
I will give away my review copy of Saving June. To enter the giveaway use the rafflecopter toll below. Good luck!
32 comments
I so loved this book! Saving June totally surprised me with it’s awesomeness and I especially loved the characters just like you! This was a very powerful debut!
DannyBookworm recently posted..Transcendence by C.J. Omololu
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My favorite song? Hmmm…it always depends on my mood. But my most listened song at my ipod must be Avril Lavigne’s Runway. It’s so happy and strong at the same time. It totally makes me feel better when i’m sad.
Thanks for the giveaway :)
Yiota recently posted..Movie Review: Snow White & The Huntsman
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Really great review =) I loved this book it was my favorite road trip book so far! Also the question about my favorite song is hard but my favorite song write now is What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction but it changes like every month lol
Paige recently posted..Crazy Dangerous Tour: Review + Giveaway
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My favorite song is “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel because I love all of the references.
Ricki recently posted..March Story 1
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It’s so hard to pick a favorite song because there’s just too many. I mean it really depends on my mood. Right now, the only song that is on my mind is “Defying Gravity” the one that Rachel and Kurt sung on Glee.
I also love “Welcome to my Life” I don’t know.. lol! I think they’re very different types of songs, right?!
Krishna recently posted..ARC Book Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
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I love Defying Gravity, it’s so powerful. I’m not sure I could pinpoint my favourite song either :)
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Right now it`s It`s Time by Imagine Dragons. It`s the OST of the Perks of Being a Wallflower movie, so.. : )
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I have loads of favourite songs, one is Fix You, because the words mean a lot to me.
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My favorite song right now is Skinny Love. It’s such a beautiful song, but it’s heartbreaking and sad.
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My favourite song is walk this way – aerosmith and run dmc! Just makes me happy every time I hear it
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My favourite song is Dare you to move by Switchfoot….I can’t find a reason for liking it but I just love this song :)
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Hmmm…favourite song. One of my favourite ever songs is ‘Love will come through’ by Travis. I just think it’s really whimisical and sad but hopeful too. Thanks for the chance to win!
Caitlin recently posted..Review: If I Die by Rachel Vincent
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I love sad songs. And I have a few songs from Travis, now I have to check out this one.
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I don’t know about having a favorite song, but Alejandro by Lady GaGa will not get out of my head.
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I love ‘Don’t speak’ by NoDoubt. When I first heard it years ago, the song really spoke to me and words meant so much!
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That’s a hard question to answer! I have lot’s of favorite songs but I think anything by Keane is awesome…they are my all time favorite band <3 I think it would be a tie between Somewhere Only We know from their album Hopes & Fears and The Starting Line off of their new album Strangeland <3 <3
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I have been watching Glee as well so a lot of their songs come to mind but I really also like “Sweet Dreams” by the Eurythmics. This book sounds really interesting. I will definitely be adding it to my TBR pile. Thanks for the review!
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My favorite song is ‘Firework’ by Katy Perry.
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I love There’s No Place Like Home by Michael Giacchino from Lost OST. It’s so sad and moving.
Thanks a lot for the giveaway!
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Favorite song…well that’s pretty hard considering how much I love music and how much music has been a part of my own life. But I’d say The Scientist by Coldplay is right on up there. One because the lyrics are awesome. The music is awesome. LOVE Coldplay. But my now husband once put it on a mixed CD for US before we were officially together. Love it!
Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know recently posted..In My Mailbow – # 8
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I have sooooo many! The Maine’s I Must Be Dreaming is awesome :)
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My favorite song right now?? Definitely It’s Time by Imagine Dragons. It talks about just being who you are and never changing that for anyone. It also sounds really awesome, and just kind of makes me feel good when I listen to it.
Megan recently posted..The Immortal Rules
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This sounds like such a touching story and it sounds like the author nailed it..thanks for sharing your review!
kimbacaffeinate recently posted..Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel
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My alltime favorite song is “Bohemian Rhapsody”. No, I’m not that old. Yes, I am a dork. ;-)
Kayla B. recently posted..June New Release Giveaway Hop
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It’s hard to choose just one favorite song :D Recently I listen a lots of Christina Perri music, so I’m gonna go with Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri! She is absolutely amazing!
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Currently my favorite song is Goodbye California by Jana Kramer.
Emily R recently posted..{Mini-Review} Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout
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My favorite song is Boston by Augustana.
:).
Lisa Marie
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I really like book with suicide themes. It’s kind of crazy, but I really feel them. Thank you, I’d love to read it :)
disincentive recently posted..[32] DARK LIGHT tour – guest post & giveaway
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I read Saving June earlier this year. It turned out to be one of my favorite reads. I love reading books where a family deals with losing someone important, because they capture a lot of emotion.
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I have been seeing this book everywhere. Everyone seems to love this book. I should get my hands on a copy as soon as possible!
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Great review. I’ve been waiting to read this book since so long. Hope I can get to read it soon.
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I love this one. already added it to my wishlist. the cover is gorgeous. Great review.
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