Rebecca 'Rebel' Blue is not a good kid. She frequently gets detention, smokes, and makes a habit of pissing off her aunt. One day in detention, a normal, preppy girl tries to talk to her while they make their assigned bucket lists. Rebel pushes her attempts away, but is shaken the next day when she finds out that girl died. Now, she feels like she needs to do something and that something comes in the form of completing the dead girl's bucket list. Completing it won't be as easy as she thinks, especially when very good boy, Nate, is thrown into the picture.

GOODBYE, REBEL BLUE by Shelley Coriell is touching, quirky, and hilarious. Rebel's character flies off the page from the first chapter, and you can't help but love her. She has a major chip on her shoulder, but there is clearly something else going on with her. Much in the same zone of Katie McGarry's emotionally challenging characters, Rebel is a character that stays with you long after you say goodbye to her. Her humor and snarky attitude throughout the story, as well as her phenomenal and blossoming development as she slowly completes the bucket list, keep you turning the pages. I especially love the places here and there that show what she put on her own bucket list. Her journey of self-discovery is excellent for anyone, especially young adults, who bury his or her real emotions under wit.

Alongside Rebel is Nate. Nate is dynamic, hot, and so good you just want to know what exactly is going on in his head. His own side development (as shown through Rebel's point of view) is a lovely addition to the story, and I am so glad both characters are as relatable and flawed as they are. Though I am normally not big on side stories or enovellas that tell part of the story through a different character's eyes, I would happily read one about his.

I love this story. GOODBYE, REBEL BLUE by Shelley Coriell is a fantastic read for anyone who likes Pushing the Limits or Looking for Alaska, and I highly recommend it.

Book Summary

Rebecca Blue is a rebel with an attitude whose life is changed by a chance encounter with a soon-to-be dead girl. Rebel (as she’s known) decides to complete the dead girl’s bucket list to prove that choice, not chance, controls her fate. In doing so, she unexpectedly opens her mind and heart to a world she once dismissed—a world of friendships, family, and faith. With a shaken sense of self, she must reevaluate her loner philosophy—particularly when she falls for Nate, the golden boy do-gooder who never looks out for himself. Perfect for fans of Jay Asher’s blockbuster hit Thirteen Reasons Why, Coriell’s second novel features her sharp, engaging voice along with realistic drama and unforgettable characters.