This book is a definition of goodness. It's full of good stuff that will give you good feels. I love everything about it - the main character, her attitude, the family and friend issues and how it was resolved in the end, and of course, the mysterious SK. I love him. Haha.

Tatum felt like Cinderella for being kept as a "prisoner" by her "stepmonster" after getting involved in a crime that she don't have anything to do about. She feels like everything in her life crumbled - she lose the trust of her father and stepmother, her bestfriend is mad at her, and she can't go anywhere except the places approved by her stepmother. Her summer is a nightmare!

But then, she found a little light in her newly found friends at community service, in her new business, and in her step grandmother, who seems like her fairy godmother. Then she got to know one of her clients, SK, who, even though is a complete stranger, can manage to make her smile by his emails.

I really love the mystery behind SK and how the revelation about who he was in the end played out. It's so cute! And also, I love how Tatum and her stepsister, Tilly, got closer to each other. I love the element of family in this story, how Tatum realized that her stepmother really cares for her even though she seems so strict.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fast-paced and heartwarming.

In this modern day retelling of Cinderella, Tatum Elsea is arrested for a crime she didn’t commit and must work 100 hours in community service. To make matters worse, her best friend’s shady boyfriend was the person to set Tatum up, and her best friend excommunicated her once Tatum told the truth to the police. Unfortunately, she was still arrested which started the beginning of problems with her father and stepmother as well as a summer filled with plucking weeds from the park and any other time spent under house arrest.

I was intrigued from the beginning since I connected to the main character. I understood the dilemma of being punished for something in which you are one hundred percent innocent. I was on Tatum’s side and wanted to see some kind of justice for everything she endured as an innocent and clueless bystander.

But that justice didn’t happen. The story focused on Tatum’s summer under house arrest based on military like rules from her strict stepmother and stoic stepsister. Both her father and stepmother established an array of punishments and didn’t even bother to listen and understand Tatum’s side of the story. While Tatum is pulling weeds under the hot Southern sun every day, she decides to secretly start her own graphic design business and slowly takes on clients so she can pay for her arrest fine. She does all of this without her father and stepmother knowing as well as lie about her side job of babysitting turned pet sitting, which I didn’t agree with. She bonds with one of her clients, SK, over an exchange of emails which escalate from business professional to complete flirtation.

Even though the story wasn’t focused on romance, there were moments where Tatum would obsess over the emails with SK which was a tad bit annoying. I understood that she found her escape through her business, but I didn’t care for the obsessive thoughts that controlled her mind and actions and her relying on SK for her happy moments of her summer under lock down.

The plot kept my attention until the end despite the early connection of the identity of SK and where Tatum’s missing key chain disappeared to. I liked how Tatum and Tilley transformed from stepsisters who ignored one another to friends at the end, and the reconciliation within the family unit. This was a great read and better than I expected, even though there wasn’t a sense of justice amongst the happy ending.

I received an ARC of It Started with Goodbye through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This is light fluffy read is perfect for those days when you just want something that doesn't make your head ache with angst and screaming with annoyance at the main characters. 'It started with goodbye' is the kind of summer read I needed.  It was simplistic, the characters have very singular motivations, the plot doesn't get overcome by complexity, the love interest is cute and funny and perhaps a singular highlight on his own, and it is very much a Young Adult that young teens will fall in love with.  

Like I said, the love interest is almost to die for.  I loved SK, and I love that Tatum meets him and really gets to know him via email before being overcome by a face-to-face interaction.  Truthfully, I think we can all guess who he was before the reveal at the end of the book, but it was nice to see Tatum falling for the personality first, and then loving the physical later.  My only gripe about that, is that Tatum finds herself really liking the guy through their online interactions, and well, she’s lucky to find the guy not bad looking face-to-face, but I think it’s safe to say, in many cases, this is just an unrealistic reality.  In some realities, it’s just friendships that come out things, and physical attractiveness does influence whatever prior feelings that were developed before, and that human interactions are a whole lot more complicated than that. 

BUT in saying that, this book, for a light fun read, is perfect.  It’s not too serious.  The relationships between Tatum and her parents were to some degree fleshed out, and I like seeing Tatum’s growth.  What the author has done well in ‘It Started With Goodbye’ is developing the relationships between herself and her family, at least for this early to mid-teen YA novel, it’s enough.  There is the conflict, there is Tatum, and there is her trying to sort out her summer.  If this was aimed at an Older YA audience, then some of the relationships would have been too simplistically sketched out.

I love this contemporary version of Cinderella's story. I didn't even realize it right away until Tate got stuck with all the cleaning, and then suddenly, everything clicked into place - absent father, overbearing step-monster, not-so-nice step-sister, and Blanche - the step-fairy-godmother-Abuela! I just loved this story and this author's voice. I work with teens (as well as have 3 of my own) and it's hard to find books with characters they can relate to. Further, it's a story that doesn't preach to them. It shows realistic situations that teens face in day-to-day life, and the choices teens need to make when they might not be ready or equipped to handle the consequences of said choices. Life handed Tate a bowl of lemons to chew on one summer, and she managed to make lemonade with the help of a few good friends. Her choices may not have always been ideal, but she had a strong will and sense of self-worth, and I enjoyed that about her. Seamus was swoon worthy.  I loved how their relationship unfolded organically rather than insta-love or insta-lust. I look foward to reading more from this author.

A fun if predictable YA love story. The story revolves around Tate and her summer after being arrested when her best friend's sketchy boyfriend is caught shoplifting. Her relationship with her stepmother and step sister also play a role. Overall, it is a quick read and if you like teen romance fiction, you will be pleased. Otherwise, I would skip it. You will be disappointed if looking for anything more than that.

A fresh look at the Cinderella story where magic isn’t necessarily needed and evil isn’t what it seems; after all Cinderella doesn’t always need a prince to change her perspective and save herself. 

“I hadn’t allowed myself to think about that possibility, it seemed so unreal, but in that moment, there was nothing else on my mind.”

Tatum starts off the summer with court ordered community service after her unknowing participation in a shoplifting incident that netted over two hundred dollars. Her father has to leave town for work still angry and untrusting, her best friend isn’t speaking to her, and her demanding step mother has put her on house arrest. Overwhelmed by the lack of trust, Tatum starts a graphic design business on the sly. The creative outlet buoys her self-confidence and grants her a way to earn the money she owes. It also serves as the impetus for an email exchange with a flirtatious cello playing client. The summer teaches Tatum that all people are hiding secrets, from her new friends with their hidden crushes to her step sister with her hidden talent.   

“I felt like I’d just been transported to some alternate universe where everything I thought I knew was wrong.”

Christina June’s debut brings a fresh perspective to the Cinderella story where Prince Charming exists, but isn’t necessary to save the girl. The princess relies on her confidence and changing outlook on life to grow. Even her rebellion forces proves her integrity, as she owns up to it, changing for the better. Backed by stalwart friends and the love of a family that she didn’t fully realize, the princess comes into her own slowly over time as any coming of age story proves. I do wish that more time had been spent on solving the hurt feelings between Tatum and her family to add to the realism because Tatum had a lot of rejection to deal with. As a modernized Cinderella, It Started With Goodbye is an authentic coming of age story with relatable characters and lots of humor.   

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley

**I received a free copy of the book through Netgalley, and I know the author**

It Started With Goodbye is a book filled with characters you won't want to say goodbye to! 

Tate is your average good girl, close to her father, accepting of her stepmother and stepsister, and a great friend to her bff.  I could totally relate to good girl Tate getting in trouble by trying to protect her friend from her friend's sketchy boyfriend- I was that girl, once upon a time.  Finding herself grounded for the summer and under her stepmother's harsh rules while her father is away on business, Tate turns to her computer and begins her own graphic design company as a way to earn money and to also not lose her mind from boredom.  

So we've got a (semi)wicked Stepmother, a perfect stepsister, and a missing item (no glass slipper, this time it's a key chain), and a fairy godmother in the form of an adorable and eccentric step-mother-in-law (Blanche, who's love of the Golden Girls is almost as intense as my own).  But the magic doesn't come from wands and mice, instead the magic is in the relationships Tate forges over the summer, the magic of not walking away from friendship, and the magic of learning to understand where other people are coming from.  

And then there's the romance!  Whether it's a meet cute, or online flirting, or watching as Tate's new friends fall for one another, the romance is YA Contemporary at it's best!  Like Kasie West, Claire LaZebnik, and Miranda Kenneally,  the romance is wonderful, but it's not all the heroine is going through.  It was a completely refreshing take on a Cinderella tale!

What is it like to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?  Well, for Tatum it's horrible.  Since her arrest, Tatum and her best friend no longer see eye to eye, her stepmother, whom she never really got along with in the first place, is making Tatum's life even more difficult, and on top of that she has to do community service.  Since her dad is away on a business trip, Tatum's stepmom Belen, has brought her mother Blanche to live with them for the summer to help out around the house.  Blanche is someone Tatum seems to like and trust.  Blanche helps Tatum to see things in a different light, especially when it comes to Belen.  Tatum realizes that things aren't really as bad as they seem, and sometimes our actions whether good or bad can lead us to a new chapter in life.

I wanted to like this, but the story just didn't grab me. The first half wasn't interesting at all. The second half was better, but I just wasn't a fan of this book.

I really liked this book and will recommend it to my followers, full review in links

An enjoyable read. I liked the character growth of the main, and supporting characters. I didn't think the online correspondent was in any way a mystery.

I really enjoyed this book. I was not excited about the idea of another "wicked step-mother" book, but this book was done well. Tatum was a great character with a lot of depth and it dealt with the issues of friendship and family really well. I also enjoyed how it was realistic in the depiction of the arrest happened, and how you can not be involved in an illegal event but still be held responsible. I know this will be a great read for my students looking for more with their characters.

What a cute escape from reality. I loved the main character & it was a nice change to the book rut that I had been finding myself in. 

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this novel.

This was a really great debut for Christina June.  This isn’t your typical YA book, sure there are YA characters in it but it’s not about insta love, crushes, and all that romantical stuff.  No, this book was about reality, family, forgiveness, and understanding and finding out the person you are and want to become.  It’s not a comping of age story but more of a coming of understanding story.  It really was endearing. 

We meet Tate as she’s about to experience something unexpected and completely not her fault, but here she is at the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people and things happened.  Because of this one event everything just starts to tumble downhill, or does it?  She’s been accused of something she didn’t do and now she is suffering those consequences by doing community service and being under the strict eye of her stepmother while her dad is away.  Things have never been easy for Tate and Belen, there’s always been something keeping Tate from understanding her stepmother.  That is until this summer of course, the same could go for her stepsister Tilly.  

Throughout the book you watch as Tate continues to grow as a person, outside of her normal bubble.  Learns how to interact with new people, learns that she is really good at something that can help her make a better future for herself.  She also learns about the importance of family and trust.  There are so many great things about this book but I don’t really want to give the plot away too much because it’s something you should definitely pick up and read for yourself.  Don’t worry there is a bit of flirting and romance that will make you feel very hopeful for Tate. 

Tate was an overall relatable character, she could very well have been a friend of yours and her experiences are all based in realistic terms.  There are no rainbows and unicorns in this book, just the nitty gritty truth and that’s what I liked most about it.  Yes there were some definite Cinderella undertones, but it wasn’t even about that.  (Because we all know how Cinderella turned out) This book gave you more of a view into Tate and her families’ lives and bought you the understanding that sometimes you just have to look at things from a different perspective.  Great book!

It Started with Goodbye is a fresh, modern story loosely based on the Cinderalla tale.  Tatum Elsea feels like she can never do anything right. She just landed in hot water - again - and is now in more trouble than ever with her dad and stepmom. And, to make matters worse, her dad is headed out of the country on business, so she is under the rule of her stepmom for the summer.  To add insult to injury, Tatum's stepsister is cold as ice and won't give her the time of day.  It's looking like it's going to be a long, long summer for Tatum.

However, when Tatum discovers some new friends right in front of her, as well as a way to make a difference in the lives of those around her, she realizes that there might be more to the people in her life than she realized.  Tatum sets out on a journey of discovery - of who she is, and how she relates to her family and friends.

This is a sweet, fresh young adult novel.  It's so well written that I breezed through it and enjoyed every moment.  Tatum's discoveries are refreshing and by the end of the book you've watched her grow and lived with her through a little mystery and romance. All in all, I loved this book and Christina June will be going on my list of authors-to-purchase. Can't wait to read more of her work!

Rated PG-13: This is a great book for tweens and teens. Not only will they enjoy the story itself, but it makes a great conversation starter

Five stars is not enough for It Started With Goodbye. I absolutely love Tatum's story. She grows so much over such a short period of time and the lessons she learns are quite beautiful.

Will be buying copies for loved ones and definitely will read again.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel racing through it at breakneck pace. I would definitely read more by this author.

I seriously enjoyed reading this, such an incredible debut. Everything about it from the characters to the dialogue to the descriptions just felt so authentic. 
It seems like a very loosely based modern spin on Cinderella but I didn’t find myself pinpointing out parts that were the same and it actually took me a while to even realise it was Cinderella-esque. I’ve read a lot of Cinderella retellings recently but this didn’t feel like the same old story rehashed, it was refreshing. 
I really liked that the “evil step-mother” character was more of a subtle unpleasant than out and out heinous child abuse, it makes it seem more real than fairytale. 
I adored Tatum, the main character - which is something I don’t find myself saying enough within the YA genre - she was outspoken, knew exactly who she was and what she wanted, had a rebellious streak and was generally just a pleasure to read. It would’ve been so easy to make her come across as bratty so I think it’s a credit to the author that she comes across as bad-ass the whole way through.
The romance aspects weren’t overpowering, while romance is a theme, it’s more about Tatum as a person, navigating her way through life, family and friendship which is really interesting. Having said that, the one negative I do have is that I would’ve liked to read a little bit more interaction between Tatum and Seamus so that it didn’t feel so insta-lovey but that’s a very minor negative. I would highly recommend giving it a read!

An extremely remarkable debut from Christina June. A modern take on the Cinderella story, I loved Tatum's clever spirit. I read this book in a few hours and enjoying watching the main character gain more confidence in herself and come to terms with the bad thing that happened in the middle of the summer.  This would be a perfect read for the summer- it is hard to put down. I will definitely be buying Christina June’s next books and look forward to them.

I really like Tatum!  The main character of this sweet, YA read.  I wanted to take this girl away from all the shady people in her life.  I spent most of the read internally screaming and fuming about how those in her family treated her.  I took a step back, reread the synopsis and realized instantly that this is a retelling, a reboot of Cinderella.  Now calmed and appeased, I indulged in Tatum's well written voice.  The author nailed her personality, allowing us to see Tatum the way others failed to.  Any reader immediately will become Team Tatum.  Watching this resilient young lady triumph over so much stacked against her.  3.5 stars