Review: Saving June by Hannah Harrington

‘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.

My Review:

Saving June was a book that I completely loved.  I loved the characters, the places they visited on their road trip, and the story.  With scenes both happy and sad, this book contains an amazing portrayal of grief after a family member's death.  

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

First, there was the protagonist, Harper.  She had just lost her older sister to suicide, and her grief seemed realistic.  She wanted to know the answer to why her sister would do this to her and her family.  She was an amazing character.  I do not think stealing her sister's urn from her family was a good choice, though.  She spent parts of the book pushing away those who care about her, but she learned to open up to them.

Then there were the two people on the road trip with Harper - her best friend Laney, and the mysterious Jake Tolan.  Laney was a great character, probably my favorite in the book.  She had her own problems, but she never stopped supporting Harper.  She understand that Harper was grieving her sister's death, and she wanted to help her friend through the hard times.  Then there was Jake.  He was a guy who had a connection to June.  He was tutored by her and was her friend as well.  He loved music and loved to introduce Harper and Laney to new songs and artists.  He spent some of the road trip bantering with both girls.  The romance that developed between Jake and Harper was realistic and slow.  At times, it was a love-hate relationship, but they both needed each other.  He kept some secrets from her, but she was able to forgive him eventually.  I loved their relationship.

If you like YA contemporary with grief and a road trip, read this book.

Katie