Goodbye for Now

No, I'm not going anywhere, that's just the name of the book that I got the advance copy of because the internet is a magical, magical place.

I finished it last night and wow, it was definitely thought provoking. Here's the description from GoodReads:


Sam Elling works for an internet dating company, but he still can't get a date. So he creates an algorithm that will match you with your soul mate. Sam meets the love of his life, a coworker named Meredith, but he also gets fired when the company starts losing all their customers to Mr. and Ms. Right.


When Meredith's grandmother, Livvie, dies suddenly, Sam uses his ample free time to create a computer program that will allow Meredith to have one last conversation with her grandmother. Mining from all her correspondence—email, Facebook, Skype, texts—Sam constructs a computer simulation of Livvie who can respond to email or video chat just as if she were still alive. It's not supernatural, it's computer science.


Meredith loves it, and the couple begins to wonder if this is something that could help more people through their grief. And thus, the company RePose is born. The business takes off, but for every person who just wants to say good-bye, there is someone who can't let go. 


In the meantime, Sam and Meredith's affection for one another deepens into the kind of love that once tasted, you can't live without. But what if one of them suddenly had to? This entertaining novel, delivers a charming and bittersweet romance as well as a lump in the throat exploration of the nature of love, loss, and life (both real and computer simulated). Maybe nothing was meant to last forever, but then again, sometimes love takes on a life of its own.


I was expecting a complete and total tear jerker from that, but it wasn't. I mean, yes, parts of it most certainly brought on the water works, but not cover to cover like I feared. And it definitely kept me thinking about technology and just because you can do something should you? At times I felt the answer to that question was a yes and at times a definite no.

This was SO different than the author's (Laurie Frankel) first book, Atlas of Love, that I'm already completely intrigued to see what she'll come up with next. Cause yes, I am the quintessential book fan - as soon as I finish one I want another. Now.

So anyway dear readers who are readers, I think this is one you should read. (Try saying that five times fast.) It doesn't come out until August but I'm happy to lend my galley out if you're interested - I just want to make sure I get it back because it's a pretty cool thing for a book dork like me to have.

I'm also happy to take your suggestions on what I should read next. I've been devouring books lately. This one was the fourth book I've finished in the first five days of the month. I'm trying super hard to be a library loyalist because all of this reading can put a big dent in the wallet for sure! I've got 15 books on reserve right now but I'm down to only one in the 'to-read' stack so any tips would be much appreciated! Especially older faves that are more likely to be hanging out on the shelves at my local branch ready to come home with me immediately!