(Review) Never Eighteen

Title: Never Eighteen

Author: Megan Bostic
Paperback (Trade paperback):204 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Thomas Allen & Son Ltd
Pub Date: January 4th, 2012

Source: I received an Advance Readers Copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.

Description of the book:

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.

But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.

This is a debut novel for 2012 and I am super excited that I am being the new year with a review from a brand new author and I am excited to read her upcoming books. I thought Megan did a fantastic job with this one.

I knew going into this book that it wouldn’t be a light or fun read. I admit that I even cried at the end. This is a fantastic book about friendship (Austin & Kaylee), love (Austin’s really cares about Kaylee)  and loss. (Austin is dying from his leukemia)

I loved Austin from the beginning and as I read the story I knew it wouldn’t end good. Austin has discovered that his leukemia is progressing and he has been told that he doesn’t have that much longer to live even with treatment. So he takes it upon himself to make sort of an amends over the course of a weekend. He wants to know that he did all the he could before dying.

He recruites his friend, Kaylee (and his one true love) to help me out even if it means just driving him to places. He is enjoying the time they are spending together. I loved Kaylee as well. I thought she was the perfect person for Austin. As you read you can’t help but feel something for these two and that hopefully they will be able to share their true feelings with each other before its too late.

Will Austin reveal his true feelings before its too late?

Thank you Thomas Allen & son for sending me this book to review.