Review: The Last Wish of Sasha Cade by Cheyanne Young

The Last Wish of Sasha Cade
by Cheyanne Young

October 2, 2018

320 pages

Goodreads     Indigo

Goodreads Summary:
The day Raquel has been dreading for months has finally arrived. Sasha, her best friend in the whole world, has died of cancer. Overwhelmed and brokenhearted, Raquel can't even imagine life without her.

And then a letter from Sasha arrives. Has she somehow found a way to communicate from beyond the grave?

In fact, Sasha spent her final weeks planning an elaborate scavenger hunt for the friend she would have to leave behind. When Raquel follows the instructions to return to Sasha's grave, a mysterious stranger with striking eyes is waiting for her. There's a secret attached to this boy that only Sasha --- and now Raquel --- knows.

This boy, Elijah, might be just who Raquel needs to help her move on from her terrible loss. But can Raquel remain true to herself while also honoring her friend's final wish?

Cheyanne Young's compulsively readable breakout novel offers abiding friendship and forbidden romance, along with an incisive look at how class differences shape who we are and who we grow to be.

Review

The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is a book full of heartfelt moments. I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did but I loved it! Such a moving story with a strong message. I wish more people knew of it!

I can't even count how many times I teared up while reading The Last Wish of Sasha Cade. It's about love, lost and hope. The story will make you feel- for the deep sorrow, the bitter realizations and the sweet possibilities. I was particularly fond of the innocent romance.

Sasha is an incredible character with a strong presence. Even after her death she's taking care of her best friend. I was so touched by what she planned for Raquel and the mystery boy. Sasha thought of everything.

Raquel wasn't confident like her best friend was but she knew herself well enough. I sympathized with how much she struggled to carry on without Sasha. For the most part Raquel was brave and didn't let anyone take advantage of her. There was one instance of hypocrisy but I let it go because of her young age.

I had an inkling of who Elijah might be. It wasn't hard to guess but I was excited to see how his identity would play into the story. Elijah was dealt a bad hand at life but he didn't let that lead him astray. He's a good boy and deserved good things/people.

As a fan of slow-burn romances I waited with eager anticipation for Elijah and Raquel to become a thing. They felt destined but happened in a natural way. The more time the two spent in each other's company (courtesy of Sasha) the closer together they grew. It was funny and swoony to see Raquel ogle Elijah. I think any teenage girl would react similarly ;)

The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is a book I will hold close to my heart. It's beautiful, it's sincere. I very much look forward to what Cheyanne Young writes next.

 

*I received an Advance Reading Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way.