Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson - HIGH

Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson, 368 pages. Inkyard Press, 2023. $20.

Language: R (53 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Rebecca lives next door to Ethan’s grandparents, and all she’s ever wanted is for Ethan to stay, but his mom keeps taking him away. After this longest period of separation, Rebecca (17yo) and Ethan (17yo) are coming back together changed by the lives they’ve lived apart. This last reunion might be their last—for better or ill.

Life is not always kind, and Rebecca and Ethan suffer in different ways—different from each other and different from readers—but the underlying insecurities and questions about trust are the same. Through their story, readers see how no one can talk us out of our dark places. We have to choose to turn away from the pain, knowing that it will probably always be there, and that’s okay. Moving forward is still possible. It’s always still possible.

Rebecca is described as having “light” skin, Ethan is depicted on the cover as white, Neel is at least half Indian, and Amelie is Latina. The mature content rating is for partial nudity, innuendo, underage drinking, and drug use. The violence rating is for mentions of domestic violence.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen